Chalkboard Publishing
I recently went to the local teacher supply store and wandered around with a pen and paper, on the search for Canadian publishers and materials, games and toys. I was sadly disturbed by the lack of these products, but I did find a few great discoveries that I will share with you over the next …
Peppermint Stick Learning Co.
One of my readers recommended this company and after some research I’m excited to bring to you a Canadian curriculum company called Peppermint Stick Learning Company. Based out of Bracebridge, ON, this homeschooling family of 6 children ranging from infant to jr. high, has developed a curriculum based on the needs of their children and …
Progressive Phonics
I just wanted to share with you a resource that I was shown recently and have FINALLY had a chance to start using. It’s called Progressive Phonics and it’s completely free! (I love free!)
BOOK-IT!
Every year since 1985, Pizza Hut in the States offers a program called Book-It! This reading encouragement program offers incentives to encourage kids from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to read more and develop their literacy skills. It’s run from October to March. The idea of the program is to create a monthly reading goal and …
Family Literacy Day
Today, January 27,2011 is Family Literacy Day. Of course, I only found out this morning, but I’ll be reading with the kids anyway. Maybe a trip to the library is in order! If you want to know if there’s an activity near you, you can visit http://abclifeliteracy.ca/en/fld/celebrate-family-literacy-day This website also has some great ideas …
Storyline Online
Not Canadian, but still a great resource. Thanks to the Screen Actors’ Guild, StoryLine Online features well known actors like Betty White, James Earl Jones, Sean Austin and Amanda Bynes, reading kids’ stories. You get to watch the illustrations come to life as the story is read and enjoy a great storytime!
NaNoWriMo
Sorry for another non-Canadian resource this week, but this one starts soon and is very exciting! National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) starts on Nov.1! There are 2 main streams for this great idea – one for adults which challenges it’s participants to write a 50,000 word novel from scratch within the 30 day deadline, …
Basic Cozy Spelling Course
If you’ve been looking for a way to develop the spelling skills of your child in the Grade 6 to 8 range, let me introduce you to the Basic Cozy Spelling course. This course is completely free – which already makes it a valuable resource, but is also Canadian – which means our children learn …