Homeschool

We have been diving back into our summer school program. In the winter we can get a bit lazy as the days turn so short but in the summer we have so much more energy and will often complete more than our 180-day requirement between April and November. This year we are going to kick off with a nature theme and a letter theme for the younger kids we are also adjusting to work for all of the kids with things like word searches and spelling lists. I have been Putting together these units and will share them here. You will notice that they are not all in alphabetical order but this is the best way to teach the letters to avoid kids simply going over the alphabet song. Letter A books While we dug through our children's book collection for the younger kids for some books that give plenty of practice reading the letter A I went ahead and put "The Scarlet Letter" on my teen's reading list. I love when there are fun ways to connect the oldest kids with the younger ones. "Are You An Aunt?" by Judy Allen. This makes a great addition to an Aunt Unit Study. "The Littlest Airplane" by Brook Hariman Letter A videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?vKGZFmW3uPJE https://www.youtube.com/watch?vhBAuIzZttP4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?vtFG_wchwpUk https://www.youtube.com/watch?vgsb999VSvh8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?vhKEVDFIiqg4 Foods that start with the letter A Apple Slices: You can serve them plain, or make them more exciting by adding a little peanut butter or almond butter for dipping. Avocado Toast: Mash up some ripe avocado and spread it on whole-grain toast. You can cut the toast into fun shapes for an extra treat. Apricot Skewers: Skewer dried apricots and cubes of cheese for a quick and easy snack. Almond Joy Energy Balls: Combine dates, almonds, and shredded coconut in a food processor. Roll the mixture into balls and you have a healthy treat that tastes like a candy bar. Ants on a Log: This is a classic snack that kids love. Just spread some almond butter (or any nut butter) on celery sticks and top them with raisins. Apple and Almond Butter Sandwiches: Core an apple and cut it into round slices. Spread almond butter on one slice, and then put another slice on top to create a little sandwich. Avocado and Banana Smoothie: Blend avocado, banana, yogurt, and a little honey to make a creamy, nutritious smoothie. Animal Crackers: These are a fun treat for kids. You can find healthier versions made with whole grains and less sugar in many stores. The Complete Letter A Printable Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of the letter 'A' with our "Awesome A" printable pack. This all-inclusive educational resource is designed to make learning the letter 'A' a fun and interactive experience. Let's have a look at what's inside: 1. Handwriting Sheet: Our handwriting sheet is perfect for introducing your little ones to writing the letter 'A'. It includes both uppercase and lowercase versions, with dotted lines for children to trace over. There are also clear instructions to guide the correct stroke order and direction. Plus, there's plenty of room for practice! 2. Word and Picture Flash Memory Match: This engaging memory game will help your children connect 'A' words with corresponding pictures. Each card features a brightly colored illustration and the corresponding word. Just cut out the cards, shuffle them, and lay them face down to start the game. Matching pairs will reinforce vocabulary that starts with the letter 'A', like "apple", "ant", "alligator", and "astronaut". 3. Sight Word Cards: These cards are an excellent resource for teaching common sight words that start with 'A', such as "and", "are", "as", "at", "an", "after", "again", and "always". Use these cards for a memory match game or as flashcards. Recognizing these words on sight can greatly improve your child's reading fluency. 4. Word Search Sheets: Word searches are a fun way to help kids recognize letters and words. Our word search sheets contain a number of 'A' words hidden in a grid of letters. Searching for these words will not only reinforce their vocabulary but also improve their letter recognition and spelling skills. Our "Awesome A" Printable Pack is perfect for both classroom and at-home learning. It's a comprehensive, fun-filled toolkit to introduce your child to the letter 'A', helping them to learn and grow their reading and writing skills. Download the pack, print it out, and let the 'A' adventures begin! ---> Get your free awesome A printable here <-- Letter A Activities for kids Apple Stamping: Have children use halved apples dipped in paint to stamp 'A' shapes onto a piece of paper. This tactile activity helps reinforce the shape of the letter. Ant March: Draw a large 'A' on a piece of paper and ask the children to place toy ants along the lines of the letter. This not only reinforces the shape of the letter 'A' but also introduces a word that begins with 'A'. 'A' Collage: Gather a variety of pictures and items that start with 'A', such as apples, ants, alligators, and astronauts. Have the children glue these items onto a big letter 'A' cut-out. Letter 'A' Hunt: Hide pictures of things that start with 'A' around the room. Have the children hunt for these pictures and say the words out loud when they find them. Alphabet Cooking: Make foods that start with 'A', such as apple pie, avocado sandwiches, or apricot jam on toast. This not only helps children relate the letter 'A' with its sound but also introduces them to new vocabulary and tastes. 'A' is for Art: Have an art session where kids can draw or paint pictures of things that start with 'A'. This could include animals like alligators or ants, or objects like an anchor or an arrow. Remember to have fun and enjoy using these activities to help your younger kids become familiar with the letter A and older kids to jump in along and work on reading or spelling skills.