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Homeschool Ideas & Tips >
Homeschool Ideas & Tips Newsletter April, 2004
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*** Hello from Charmaine ***
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Dearest Reader,
I bet it’s really Spring where many of you are! Well, here
in the great north woods of Wisconsin, there’s still a
layer of ice covering our pond (believe it or not!) and the
6 foot snow banks we had in our yard are now down to only 2
feet! A couple of tulips are pushing their way up around my
front porch. There’s hope that spring really will come!
I want to give a big thank you to all you wonderful readers
who took the time to answer my questionnaire. It was
immensely helpful! I’m working hard to get all my ducks
in a row for my vendor’s booth for the MACHE conference
(see note about this in What’s New). Your thoughts and
ideas have really helped me and your kind words have been
so encouraging.
If you're feeling like you need a bit of a break from the
routine, read on for some great ideas for "Fun Fridays".
Blessings on your day,
Charmaine
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In this issue:
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1. Ideas: "Fun Fridays"
2. Tips: Include the Children
3. What's New?
4. About Charmaine
5. Testimonial
6. Quote of the Month
7. Funny of the Month
8. The Small Print
9. In Our Next Issue
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*** Ideas ***
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About this time of year I think most of us begin to get a
wee bit weary of “doing school”. If that is true for your
family then this may be a great time to try adding a "Fun
Friday" to your school schedule. You might like it so much
that you decide to keep it in the schedule for next year!
For many years now, we have tried to schedule in some fun
things on Fridays. We usually still work on math or science
in the morning, but then, every Friday afternoon, we plan
something that is educational, yet fun and different. This
adds a much needed break from the regular routine. It
gives all of us something to look forward to and helps end
the week on a pleasant note.
The easiest "Fun Friday" thing to plan is an education
board game (or card game). Once you’ve purchased or
borrowed several games, all you need to do is haul one out
and start playing. We’ve had some favorites over the years
that I’d like to share with you. Because I know how busy
you are, I will also give a website where you can either
purchase or read more about the game.
General Knowledge:
BrainQuest Game For Grades 1 – 6 (all levels can play
together) by University Games.
The object is to be the first player to finish a race
around the game board, designed to mimic a school
playground, by correctly answering questions from the Brain
Quest cards. Each of the 256 cards contains questions and
answers in categories such as math, science, social
studies, English, and grab bag (a euphemism for cultural
literacy). Brain Quest's folded cards prevent the
I-saw-the-answer-on-the-back problem while allowing even
the player asking the question to guess the answer.
www.brainquest.com or www.amazon.com
Vocabulary/Language:
Rummy Roots (and More Rummy Roots)
This is a go-fish type card game using Greek and Latin
roots. The game can be played on several levels and
provides a fun and easy way to learn 42 Greek and Latin
roots, over 190 vocabulary words, and the ability to at
least partially decipher over 2,000 words!
www.rainbowresource.com Item # 007729
Bethump’d With Words
This game will challenge your knowledge of everyday words
and test your strategic skills. It is expressly designed
for parents and children or teachers and students to play
together. It enables teachers to stretch brain muscles
while stimulating a fundamental interest in words,
language, and, ultimately, reading. Bethump’d with Words
board game comes in two editions: Discovery Edition and
Senior Edition. There is also a book edition available. For
2-8 players.
www.rainbowresource.com Discovery Edition Grades 4 –
Adult. product # 008467
Literature/Shakespeare:
The Play’s The Thing by Aristoplay.
The game presents quotes, plots and characters from one
Shakespeare play at a time in a fun way. (3 different plays
included with the game but you can buy more later.) As
players piece together sets and perform scenes, the play
begins to make sense. Soon, players are ready to go on to
the next Shakespeare play. And then the next.
www.aristoplay.com
Math:
Family Math (book) Author/Editor: V. Thompson
This is not a board game but a book that has many
interesting math activities. Includes many games and
reproducible charts. Comes in 3 versions: Family Math
(grades 1-6) Family Math for Young Children PK-3, and
Family Math: The Middle School Years Grades 5-8.
www.LifetimeBooksandGifts.com Look in the Store under Math
and then games.
Science:
Somebody Game by Aristoplay
As a puzzle activity, players draw body part cards and
place a body part on the body board. Level 2 teaches the
locations and functions of major body parts. Learn the
names, functions and locations of major body parts.
www.aristoplay.com
Inventors, Explorers, Scientists Card Games by Aristoplay
Three different card decks present facts and achievements
of noted figures. Instructions for a rummy game are
included and decks can also be used for standard card
games.
www.aristoplay.com
Geography:
Where in the World by Aristoplay.
Play as a card game to learn the countries on the
continents. Play with the cards and boards to learn the
location of the countries as well as the capital,
population, flag, major religion, languages, currency,
major imports and exports, literacy rate and seacoasts.
www.aristoplay.com
Music:
Musopoly.
This fun board game for all ages turns learning music
theory and reading into a creative, fun time together.
Students work together, not against each other, and
everybody wins! The game comes with answers and ideas for
beginning through advanced play. Includes more than a 175
cards, dictation slate & notes, dice, bright gold coins,
and a very clear rule book. Use with 2 to 6 players, up to
12 in a group.
www.musicmotion.com Product #6130 Look under Teaching Aids
& Games. You’ll find tons of other games related to music
as well.
Logic/Thinking Skills
Set Card Game.
It sounds simple; players race to see which three cards (of
the twelve showing) form a “set”. There are no turns, no
waiting - the quickest to deduce a logical set wins the
point. There is no age advantage; your children can beat
you if their visual perception in sharper than yours. Even
when played alone, the game is a mental challenge. MENSA
chose this game as a top mind game in 1991 - chosen for
originality, intellectual challenge, aesthetics, quality
and longevity (you won’t quickly tire of this game!).
Grade 1 – Adult.
www.rainbowresource.com Product # 008706
In addition to games, you might use your "Fun
Fridays" for any of the following:
-Movies/videos (the ones you wish you had time to watch but
never seem to get to)
-Field trips / nature walks
-Craft and art projects
-Music time…listening to a particular composer, playing
music together, dancing.
Whatever you choose to do on your "Fun Fridays", I’m sure
that you will quickly learn that the time is well spent. We
have such precious little time with our children (my oldest
graduates next month!). Play (and learn) together whenever
you can!
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*** Tips ***
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Let the children be involved with planning your "Fun
Fridays". Take some time to brain storm with them. Come
up with all sorts of ideas…from wacky to practical. Have
fun with this and let the imaginations run wild (a trip to
the moon?). Then, once you have your "Fun Friday" wish
list, choose 4 things you can schedule into the next 4
Fridays. Get them on the calendar and start having some
end-of-the-school-week fun!
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What's New?
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Meet me at the MACHE Conference! (Minnesota Assoc. of
Christian Home Educators Annual Conference. Duluth,
Minnesota. April 16 - 17, 2004). I will have a vendor's
booth for my coaching practice and I'd dearly love to meet
some of you. If you're planning to be there, please,
please, pretty please stop by my booth. My sign will read:
Victory Coaching - Helping Homeschool Moms Thrive...not
just survive. My booth number is 315. If you stop by,
please identify yourself as one of my readers.
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*** About Charmaine ***
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Charmaine Wistad has homeschooled her own two children
from birth. As they work through their 12th year of
homeschooling, Charmaine is currently turning her attention
to helping other homeschool moms.
Through personal coaching, Charmaine helps homeschooling
moms thrive...not just survive!
You are invited to try a complimentary no-obligation
telephone coaching session. You'll be pleasantly surprised
at how much can be accomplished in just one session!
Simply send an email to:
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com and ask for a
Fr*ee Sample Coaching Session.
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*** Testimonial ***
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"Charmaine Wistad is awesome...she has helped me get
clarity on what the real issues are that hinder me in
making my homeschool all God wants it to be. Her warmth,
honesty and genuineness make me feel so encouraged and
supported. I thank God for her presence in my life."
Wanda Yeatman
ex-harried homeschooler!!
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*** Quote of the Month ***
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"We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing."
--George Bernard Shaw --
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*** Funny of the Month ***
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I was out walking with my then 4 year old daughter. She
picked up something off the ground and started to put it in
her mouth. I asked her not to do that.
"Why?"
"Because it's been outside and is dirty and probably has
germs."
At this point, she looked at me with total admiration and
asked, "Wow! How do you know all this stuff?"
"Uh," I was thinking quickly, everyone knows this stuff,
"Um, it's on the Mommy test. You have to know it, or they
don't let you be a Mommy."
"Oh."
We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was
evidently pondering this new information.
"I get it!!!!" she beamed. "Then if you flunk, you have to
be the Daddy."
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***The Small Print ***
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If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to
everyone you know!!! Thanks!
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Honoring Your Privacy:
Your privacy is completely and utterly protected.
I will not sell or give away your name or email. You have
my word on it!
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I would love to hear from you! But please do not reply to
this newsletter. It is sent out automatically and I will
not receive your reply. Instead, send your comments and
ideas for future issues to:
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com
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Homeschooling Ideas and Tips Copyright 2004,
Victory Coaching
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com
All rights in all media reserved.
The content of Homeschooling Ideas and Tips
may be forwarded in full without special permission
provided it is used for nonprofit purposes and full
attribution and copyright notice are given. For other
purposes, please contact:
Charmaine Wistad
P.O. Box 343
Spooner, WI 54801
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com
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*** In Our Next Issue ***
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I don't know yet...but I'll think if something! If you have
a topic you'd like to read about, please email me and let
me know.
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