Instead of having a “Lesson Plans” section, I am going to blog on each homeschool day about what worked, didn’t work, etc. I will go into more details about how I reteach skills that my son stumbles on and different tricks that I “pull out of my sleeve” from time to time. I am looking forward to a super New Year!

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Here are examples of the ideas I used:

• An angel’s heart is filled with love and so is yours.
• Bolder Boulder (my uncle has run this race 23 years in a row!)
• Christmas tree (decorated with things that the person loves)
• Dog lover (with photo of beloved pet)
• Enjoys baking gingerbread people
• Fishing with _________.
• Great Grandpa!
• Have a twinkle, jingle, ringy-ding Christmas
• It’s a dog’s life!
• Jerry (a poem for Jerry)
• Kind
• Loved
• Merry Christmas
• Note (I wrote a personal note to this person about a very special memory I had with the person)
• Oh, how we love you (with pictures of the person)
• Poem written especially for the person
• Quite the storyteller (with a special story told by the person)
• Really fun uncle!
• Santa loves golfers, too! (for my father-in-law who is an avid golfer)
• The Finish Line ( a pretend magazine cover for my running-lover uncle)
• U color our lives!
• Vacation fun! (with photos of the person and our family on a vacation)
• Will loves you!
• Xtra Special Person (I glued a heart-shaped mirror on this page.)
• Yes, you are beautiful! (for the girls)
• Zzz… (I had some great pictures of napping family members. This was a fun page to make!)

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Anyway, I wanted a list of the different types of writing at my fingertips. I will use this blog entry many times over the years to make sure I am not teaching the same type of writing over and over. Again, I hope these sites help you and yours in your writing adventures!

• Kids Konnect: Write Away “Write Away” is one of the best “how to write for kids” that I have seen! A must have!
• Kamehameha (Hawaii) Schools Distance Learning: Writing Resources - Types of Writing Good site for the basic kinds of writing.
• Write on Reader: Forms of Writing I like this site! Lots of info.
• University of Maryland University College: Types of Writing Assignments Gives ideas on assignments for different types of writing.
• English Works! (Gallaudet University): Guide to Different Kinds of Essays

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Hope these sites help you as they have helped me!

• Types of Poetry This site gives you poems in ABC order with definitions and examples for each kind of poem!
• Mrs. Mitchell’s Virtual School: Different Types of Poems for Kids Poetry for kids with great definitions and super examples!
• Poem of Quotes.com: 51 Types of Poetry In ABC order with definitions
• Shadow Poetry: Types of Poetry More poems in ABC order and examples
• Buzzle.com: Types of Poetry Poems in ABC order with definitions
• ReadWriteThink: Student Materials - Diamante Poems I LOVE this site!! It walks you through how to write a diamante poem in a fun way!
• Three great sites that show examples of concrete, or shape, poems:
  • Oregon State University: Court (Smith)’s Concrete Creation
  • Literacy Rules!: Concrete Poems
  • ReadWriteThink: Student Materials - Shape Poems This Web site walks you through how to write a shape poem!
• Types of Poetry: Ballad Poems Defines ballad poems
• Giggle Poetry: How to Write a Limerick Shows you how to write funny limerick poems
• ReadWriteThink: Student Materials - Acrostic Poems Walks you through how to write an acrostic poem
• Hyperborea: Free-Verse Poems Examples of free-verse poems

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• BillyBear4Kids.com: Merry Christmas for Kids, Family and Teachers!
• Northpole.com
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• All Things Christmas: Christmas Games

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I am posting this blog early because when you hand-make Christmas gifts, it takes extra time. I am already starting to make my gifts, because I want each one to be unique and special.

This idea is great for close family members and friends. Here is what I do:

1. I buy a photo album for each person (on sale, if possible).
2. The first page says, “Merry Christmas from (the names of our immediate family members)”. I make this page extra special with fancy letters, ribbons, and such.
3. Each immediate family member writes a letter to the gift recipient.
4. We include a variety of poems for the gift recipient.
5. We write about special memories and decorate the pages with stickers and craft embellishments.
6. I include what the person’s name means and other ideas that are unique to the person, like their astrological sign.
7. I make a unique bookmark to put in the album.
8. I also include a hand-made ornament.
9. In the end, the gift recipient ends up with an album all about them. I include photos, clip art, and other personal information like the names of their pets.
10. I try to buy everything on sale and save scraps of everything: ribbon, paper, etc.

The following are some resources that our family will use to make the gifts:

• Christmas Printable Book (Grades 3-8) (TeacherVision.com)
• Snowman Mobile (TeacherVision.com)
• Brown Paper Christmas Stockings (Enchanted Learning)
• Kaboose: Christmas Cards
• Merry-Christmas.com: Kid’s Zone
• Activity Village: Christmas for Kids!
• DLTK’s Holiday Activities for Kids: Christmas Activities
• kiddyhouse.com: Christmas Activities for Kids and Teachers

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I will be blogging a little about my favorite Christmas sites and some other ideas I come across. Happy Holidays!

Jo

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Hands On Crafts for Kids: Pizza Game Instructions for a great pizza game

Wikipedia: Pizza What is pizza?

Wikipedia: Anchovy What is an anchovy?

Cocco’s Pizza: Cocco’s Pizza Game Matching game

Passariello’s Pizzeria: Pizza Pac Man

Chevron: Pizza Pong

PrimaryGames: Pizza Fractions Fraction game

FamilyFun.com: Pizza Cake Recipe Fun pizza recipe

Yahoo! Kids: Perfect Pizza Game

Michigan Kids!: Pizza History

What’s Cooking America: History & Legends of Pizza

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It’s more fun to celebrate history than “study” it.  I hope it is as fun for your children as it is for mine!

Happy “Great Wall of China Day” Monday (Nov. 10)

On November 10, in 1970, the Great Wall of China opened for world tourism. So what you may ask? Look at the Web sites below to find the incredible answer!!

• National Geographic: Great Wall of China Crumbling Video of the crumbling wall (after a brief advertisement)
• National Geographic: Diving to China’s Great Wall Video of divers looking at the wall underwater (after a brief advertisement)
• Metacafe: Great Wall of China, Badaling Pass, near Beijing Great video with no ads!
• The China Guide: Great Wall of China Lots of info. and pictures here. FYI: I had to turn down the volume on my computer on the home page; nice music, but too loud for my older ears!
• Activity Village: The Great Wall of China Love this site for kids!
• YouTube: Danny Way jumps the Great Wall This is kind of a silly site, but I think kids will love it!
• Wikipedia: Great Wall of China
• wiseGEEK: What is the Great Wall of China? Great site! This site will also lead you to other wonderful sites!

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