Archive for the ‘Language Arts’ category

Free K-5 Language Arts Lessons and More (CSAW)

February 24th, 2010

 

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, February 24, 2010 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
LessonPathways.com

Age Range: 4-10 (Grades PreK-5)

ClickScholar Heike Reagan recommended this formerly subscription-based website that has just converted to offering complete lesson plans, unit studies, and individual resources for core subjects in grades PreK-5 for free! Instead of charging a fee, the site will now be ad-supported.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu. Below it is a button that says, “Take a Tour.” Click on that to get an idea of the magnitude of what is archived at this website. You can also bypass the tour and explore the menu items – but in order to see the content, you will have to register (it’s free).

The learning content is divided into three segments and includes:
 
1) A Guided Journey – This is a complete 36-week lesson package available for Language Arts, Reading and Phonics, as well as Science, History, and Math! Follow the complete lesson plan (or path) for the grade you select, or mix and match to create your own course of study. These lesson plans are made up of individual units called “Pathways”.

2) A Pathway – This option provides a single unit study on a given topic. For example, a guided study of the book Charlotte’s Web or an exploration of “Newton’s Three Laws of Motion.” Each unit is designed for one week of study. Each “Pathway” is composed of individual “Stepping Stones” (see description in #3 below). Click on a unit of interest and a new page opens that includes:

  • Description of Learning Unit
  • List of Objectives
  • Materials List
  • Instructions and Directions for Experiential Learning Activities
  • Links to Free Online Resources for Further Learning
  • Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests)

3) A Stepping Stone – This segment is composed of a single resource that, as the website explains, “may be a lesson, video, worksheet, hands-on project, ebook, online game, or other activity (i.e., Create a Spider Life Cycle Poster).”
 
The idea here is to either follow the recommended learning “pathways” or mix-and-match subjects and grade levels to suit the needs of your students and customize their curriculum. You can keep track of it all in the online Planner.

This site was created with lots of input from homeschool parents, which is probably why it’s so user-friendly. You’ll appreciate the encouragement to customize this to your child’s interests and needs.

This is a traditional “homeschool curriculum queen’s” dream-come-true. Unschoolers can access fun ideas and activities to explore as desired.  There’s something for everyone at this website, and it earns a ClickSchooling Award for Excellence!

That said, in reading some of the material about this site, the longevity of the project is uncertain. They weren’t earning enough revenue from subscription sales to support their operating costs, which is why they converted to an ad-supported model. They are hopeful that advertising will sustain them and make the endeavor profitable. That remains to be seen. They need your support to keep this resource available and free. Tell your friends.

Language Arts Songs!

February 17th, 2010

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, February 17, 2010 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Mrs. Jones Room: Sing Along Songs

Age Range: 3-9 (Grades PreK-4, approximately)

A Maryland ClickScholar recommended this website that offers a variety of free songs that teach language arts, including:

  • The Alphabet
  • Short & Long Vowel Sounds
  • Consonant Digraphs
  • Learn To Spell Songs

It also offers:

  • Sing-Along Theme Songs (A huge treasure trove of songs about Science, Math, and Social Studies.)

A classroom teacher, Mrs. Jones, has created the lyrics that teach these concepts and set them to familiar tunes such as, “Farmer in the Dell,” “Bingo,” and “The Hokey Pokey.” Each song has printable lyrics and an audio version of the tune – so you can sing along!

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of choices. Select the topic of interest and a new page opens with a menu of songs. Click on any one and a new page opens where you can read the lyrics and hear the tune.

Setting things that require rote memorization to music, makes learning easier and a whole lot of fun! Plus, as the website explains, “Singing gives us playful opportunities to practice oral language, dramatic expression, creative movement and motor skills.”

If you need more convincing, don’t miss the archive of articles and links to websites (located on the homepage below the menu of songs) that cite research studies about the role of music in brain development and learning.

How to Write a Letter

February 10th, 2010

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, February 10, 2010 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Here are some websites that will inspire your kids to learn to write a letter…

Recommended Website:
Suite101.com: Valentine Letter Writing

Age Range: 4-14 (There are 3 websites included in this review; age range varies.)

This website offers a free lesson plan for classroom teachers on how to teach letter writing to students using Valentine’s Day as inspiration. It includes a basic outline of the traditional letter format, along with suggestions for brainstorming what to write about and who the recipient should be. (It suggests sending “love” letters to parents, siblings, and grandparents.)

You’ll notice that the article refers to the free ”Valentine Remailingprogram offered by the post office in Loveland, Colorado. If you send your pre-addressed and stamped valentines to the post office in Loveland, Colorado they will mail them with a “Loveland” postmark. Cards and letters were due by February 9th to guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day. Don’t despair! Your Valentine may enjoy a love-letter postmarked “Loveland” – even if it is a little late. This remailing program is available year-round. Learn more at the Loveland website.

Oh! There’s more! Loveland also offers a free “Email Valentine Remailing” program – and it’s not too late to send your sweetie an eValentine with a “LoveWithLoveland.com” email address. Get the instructions and send an eValentine today!

These things may inspire your students to write a letter. If they need a little more information on how to write a proper letter here’s a website that provides free step-by-step instruction for grades PreK-6:

Teach Your Child How To Write A Letter

Homeschool Curriculum Your Kids Will Want To Use

February 4th, 2010
Time4Learning Homeschool Curriculum Makes Learning Fun
Click Here if You Can’t See the Images

Time4Learning.com0 Ready for a homeschool curriculum
that your kids want to use?

Kids love the computer, so take advantage! Time4Learning combines the technology they love with the lessons they need to make learning fun.

Time4Learning was selected as one of the “Top 100 Educational Websites” by Homeschool.com for the second year in a row. Their product testers like the combination of animated lessons, interactive activities and exercises because they bring language arts, math, science and social studies to life. Kids like that they can progress at their own pace. Parents find that the lesson plans and detailed reporting make record keeping simple.

Try Sample Lessons
Whether mainstream, gifted or special needs, Time4Learning offers preschool to eighth grade students a refreshing change from textbooks and workbooks.Members get access to:

  • Online curriculum for preschool to eighth grade
  • Over 1,000 interactive animated lessons
  • Math exercises and worksheets from the basics through algebra
  • Language arts lessons from phonics through reading comprehension
  • Three grade levels of curriculum for each available subject
  • Automated reporting for easy record keeping
  • Detailed lesson plans for parents
  • Lessons correlated to state standards

Time4Learning is entirely web based, so there is no software to download. Use it as a core curriculum, as part of an eclectic program or as an afterschool skill sharpener. There are no contracts and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Learn more, view screenshots or try our sample lessons.

Time4Learning has helped tens of thousands of families. Why not yours?

Visit us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Visit us on LinkedIn

Homefires

Spelling for Those with the Spelling Gene

February 3rd, 2010

 

Hi! It’s Wednesday, February 3, 2010 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!
 
Recommended Website:
Merriam Webster: Spell It!

I’ve always maintained that some people are born with a “spelling gene” and some are not. Interestingly, current brain research supports the idea that some brains are hard-wired for spelling. They just “get it”. For that segment of the population, spelling is fun! It’s a joy! Words and their root forms and origins are fascinating.

For students of all ages who excel at spelling, this website (sponsored by the Scripps National Spelling Bee in cooperation with Merriam-Webster) offers free spelling exercises that are interesting and challenging. It’s a little slice of heaven for those with spelling in their DNA.
 
When you get to the website, you’ll see a brief introduction and a menu titled “Words From” that include:

  • Latin
  • Arabic
  • Asian Languages
  • French
  • Eponyms
  • German
  • Slavic Languages
  • Dutch
  • Old English
  • New World Languages
  • Japanese
  • Greek
  • Italian
  • Spanish

Click on any one and a new page opens with a brief explanation and a list of “Study Words.” Click on a “study word” and a new page opens in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary with audio pronunciations. You’ll find the word’s function (part of speech), etymology, definition, and synonyms.

Some words have a “dialog bubble” that contains a spelling tip for that word.

Click on “Challenge Words” to find an assortment of more difficult spelling words.

There is a function that allows you to print out the spelling words to practice offline too.  

Now for the fun part – click on “Now You Try” to participate in an interactive exercise to challenge your knowledge of words, parts of words, word roots, and knowledge of spelling rules and exceptions. Wordsmiths and spellers will gleefully spend hours here testing their skills.

You’ll also see “Words You Need to Know.” As explained at the website, “These words appear frequently in student essays, and every writer should become familiar with them.”

This site’s main purpose is to provide visitors with the official list of study words for the 2010 spelling bees. However, it stands alone as a terrific and challenging educational tool for those who love words and spelling.

Free Audio Literature

January 27th, 2010

 

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, January 27, 2010 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
LoudLit.org

Age Range: 4-104 (As always, parents should preview content to determine suitability.)

Once again, I have a Maryland ClickScholar to thank for this recommendation. LoudLit.org pairs great literature with high quality audio performances that you can read and listen to online or download to your MP3 player for free.

When you get to the site you’ll see the new and featured literature selections along with a menu of novels, poetry, children’s stories, historical literature, and short stories that include titles such as:

  • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  • The Scarlett Letter
  • Rime of the Ancient Mariner
  • Briar Rose
  • The Little Match Girl
  • The Gettysburg Address
  • The Gift of the Magi
  • The Pit and the Pendulum

As explained at the website, “by putting the text and audio together, readers can learn spelling, punctuation and paragraph structure by listening and reading masterpieces of the written word.”