bttrflyvld Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 What are some of your favorite extras to add to your homeschool? Like using spelling city to enhance your spelling lessons, using a butterfly raising kit with your science lessons. Things like that. What have to done to make your lessons more fun and enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 We use Prodigy Math to spiral review math concepts (https://www.prodigygame.com/referral.php?referralCode=7A1E6A3262C4&referralName=Crystal%2BGracioso&referralOrigin=link). I also use it to target a weak concept, and to take a mastered concept a bit deeper/see it from a different perspective. It's great...free...and the kids love to play. We did upgrade to the paid membership, because we got a great deal during a group buy. But the paid membership just gives extra in-game options for the player...it doesn't impact the educational content. The game will implement a diagnostic tool to decide which grade level your student is at and adjust as needed while they play. You can also go in and hand select assignments from a large list of content topics. So that's our current fav around these parts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Lots of science kits - ASK and Thames and Kosmos especially Piles of library books Games for language, math, and logic. Piles and piles of games! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YsgolYGair Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Memoria Press Enrichment Kit - Read Alouds, Music, Art, Crafts. It's not necessary, but the kids really enjoy it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonibee Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Pattern Blocks. Math counters (teddy bears). A number line. A 100-chart. Classical music. Stuff that can keep them busy without needing Mom is always a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsbrack Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 We love Geopuzzles for geography practice, Madlibs for grammar, and a deck of cards for math games of all sorts. We have other games but these get used most often. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 -Lots of kid-friendly science projects. Our favorites have been raising caterpillars, growing strawberries, and time spent with the microscope and telescope (there are lots of affordable models for kids). -Math manipulatives to play with, especially pattern blocks, base-10 blocks, clocks, and play money. -Field trips to museums, the zoo, the aquarium, and our local planetarium. -Family vacations to historical sites that connected with our studies. We've visited Williamsburg & Jamestown, Philadelphia, Monticello, Washington D.C., and we were able to visit Gettysburg for the big 150th anniversary. Those are the trips my kids all remember and talk about (maybe more than Disney!). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivingHope Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 (edited) audiobooks (especially through audible...Using the monthly membership, the deal of the day email, and audio discounts when purchasing the kindle book too, I have over 150 audiobooks through audible...and my dh has listened to most of them during his long commutes.) ETA: We knocked out James and the Giant Peach today...3 hours while we packed the house for our move next week. Black Stallion, The Incredible Journey, Sign of the Beaver were some of the audiobooks listened to last week. Clementine was a recent deal of the day for 99 cents that has been relistened to three times too. During busy times like packing to move, we finish more audio books in place of family read alouds. I save my favorites for me to read aloud. For example, we have the audiobook Understood Betsy, but I didn't let them listen to it until I read aloud that one. Edited April 3, 2016 by LivingHope 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkateLeft Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 My youngest son and I start our school day with board games each morning. Sometimes one or both of the older kids will join us if they have the time. Then we usually do some arts and crafts stuff. My son also really likes Tinkercrate. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsbrack Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 We use Prodigy Math to spiral review math concepts (https://www.prodigygame.com/referral.php?referralCode=7A1E6A3262C4&referralName=Crystal%2BGracioso&referralOrigin=link). I also use it to target a weak concept, and to take a mastered concept a bit deeper/see it from a different perspective. It's great...free...and the kids love to play. We did upgrade to the paid membership, because we got a great deal during a group buy. But the paid membership just gives extra in-game options for the player...it doesn't impact the educational content. The game will implement a diagnostic tool to decide which grade level your student is at and adjust as needed while they play. You can also go in and hand select assignments from a large list of content topics. So that's our current fav around these parts. I tried Prodigy today with my 2nd grader and he loved it. I still need to play around with adding assignments based off of what he needs the most practice with. Thanks for the recommendation! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Horrible Histories videos. Schoolhouse Rock. Teddy bear counters. Feet by the foot. Centimeter cubes. Beethoven's Wig CD. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoes+Ships+SealingWax Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I choose very hands-on, active curricula then supplement with games. Logic puzzles, topic-specific board games, card games, apps like Splash Math & BrainPOP... all the games! We play a lot with math manipulatives & science tools (balance, eye droppers, measuring devices, etc). I see many science kits in our future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bttrflyvld Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 These are great ideas. Thanks for sharing. I've got to get more science kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bttrflyvld Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 (edited) We have enjoyed these games for math: Tri facta, math war, and speed multiplication game. Edited April 1, 2016 by bttrflyvld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roseto27 Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 I love everyone's suggestions so far! I would add a few more games that we love: Blokus Color Code Rush Hour Some toys that are wonderful for their addition to stem play: Simple Machines Snap Circuits Cheap microscope and set of prepared slides Also, we just received our Times Tales DVD on Monday. I cannot tell you how I wish we would have had this a year ago for my oldest. It is magic. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bttrflyvld Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 I love everyone's suggestions so far! I would add a few more games that we love: Blokus Color Code Rush Hour Some toys that are wonderful for their addition to stem play: Simple Machines Snap Circuits Cheap microscope and set of prepared slides Also, we just received our Times Tales DVD on Monday. I cannot tell you how I wish we would have had this a year ago for my oldest. It is magic. ;) We love times tales. And those games look great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earthmerlin Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Horrible Histories videos. Schoolhouse Rock. Teddy bear counters. Feet by the foot. Centimeter cubes. Beethoven's Wig CD. What is 'feet by the foot'? I assume measuring practice? I looked it up on Amazon but didn't come away with anything... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 We love the 10 Days in...(Europe, Africa, Asia, the US) games for geography. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 What is 'feet by the foot'? I assume measuring practice? I looked it up on Amazon but didn't come away with anything... Yes, they are big foam feet that are exactly 12 inches long. http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Feet-The-Foot/dp/B000T1OMUE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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