The Family Guide to Homeschool Conventions

Finding Inspiration to Refresh and Renew Your Homeschool:

The Family Guide to Homeschool Conventions

Homeschool convention season is in full swing. Conventions are a wonderful way to connect with other local homeschooling families, discover new curriculum, hear expert talks, and find refreshment. Often by this time of the year, we’re in the winter doldrums and may be beginning to feel burnt out on homeschooling. Perhaps we’re using a curriculum that’s not working well for our children, perhaps we’re struggling to find time management to get it all done or feeling pressure from family members about our homeschool choices. Find yourself a great convention to renew and find inspiration for the rest of our school year and the year to come.

 

However, they can also be incredibly overwhelming. With of people, tables, information overload. We hope to help you navigate homeschool conventions and get the most out of your experiences.

 

· Don't feel like you have to pick just one.  Deciding between your state convention or a destination event? Each event has its own flavor. Going to more than one homeschool conference does NOT mean redundancy. Plus, road trips offer tons of learning opportunites for the whole family.

· Use the buddy system. If you have another homeschooling friend, go together! Especially if one of you has been to this conference before.

· Connect in-person. Homeschool conventions are a fantastic way to meet people you know from online groups. Make sure to exchange numbers or pick a time & place for the members of your group to meet. Beautiful friendships can form from meeting your digital friends at conventions!

· Get help with the kids. Many homeschool conventions offer a kid’s program. If not, consider getting a sitter or attending with your spouse, mom, mother-in-law, etc. Having another set of hands to help with kids ensures you can get all the information you want, ask lots of questions to vendors, and have a well-deserved break.

· Make a schedule. Your convention will provide a master schedule of events. There will most likely be more to do than you’re able to do in your time there. Make your own schedule so you can get everything in that you’re hoping for. Make sure to think about what you’re hoping to accomplish most. If you’re most in need of curriculum, budget more time for looking through the tables. If you’re most going for the social time, budget that in. Allow some wiggle room too.

· Check the rules. Yes, homeschool conventions have rules. Some have rules regarding what you can and cannot bring, as well as helpful suggestions on what to wear.

· Familiarize yourself with the area. Do you need to bring your own food? If you have food allergies, make sure there is a restaurant nearby that you can safely eat at or see if there is a cafeteria or tables at the convention for you to eat a sack lunch. Scope out a park for the kids to burn off some energy at, and check out local attractions If you can tack on some extra time.

· Budget your money and bring cash. It can be tempting to splurge on the sales you’ll find. Before you know it, you’ve spent an entire paycheck! Make sure to budget BEFORE you go. And bring cash, oftentimes at the end of conventions, vendors will have deep discounts on the materials left on-hand for cash payments only.

· Look over the vendor list first. Your convention materials will provide a vendor list. Scope out their website, blog, and social media outlets before the conference. Make a list of questions you want to ask any vendors and know who your “must see" and “would like to see" vendors are. Stay open to new possibilities.

· Know what you need and want. Before you go, make sure to make a list of your top priorities for what to buy, who to meet, and what to learn.

· Scope out the venue. If you can, scope it out BEFORE the event & you create your schedule. This will help you get an idea for how big the event is. Sometimes larger conventions will even have a map on their website beforehand. When you arrive at the convention, do a quick walk through of the venue. Don’t stop, don’t talk to anyone yet. Just get a feel for it and scope out where your “must see” tables are.

· Bring a rolling suitcase or comfortable bag. If you’re planning to buy a lot, bring a rolling suitcase or small cart for all of your purchases. This will help you avoid having to haul heavy books through the exhibition hall. ShillerLearning offers free shipping at conventions (on top of fabulous deals), so you don't have to lug around large heavy boxes, but still don't have to pay shipping. It's a win win!

· Keep an extra bag on hand (or 2). Having an extra small-bag for flyers is always a clever idea. Then you can quickly sort out the flyers you’re interested in and what need to go in the recycling bin. A second bag for freebies is a good idea too.

· Bring address labels. These conventions have giveaways galore- you could spend the entire time filling out entry forms, or bring sticky labels to plop on and go! Make sure they include address, number, and email address.

· Hydrate, eat, and be comfortable. Those cute shoes you have that are super uncomfortable?   Don’t even think about them. Wear comfortable shoes, your feet will thank you. Drink plenty of water & make sure to keep a snack in your bag for each member of your family. It’s easy to lose track of time in great convention halls that have no windows!

· Don’t forget a notebook. You’re going to want to take a lot of notes. Bring a notebook and a couple pens.

· Take some time to reflect afterwards. Give yourself time to discuss what you learned with family and friends, to incorporate any changes you learned, and to journal. Perhaps you can get together with friends from the convention and talk about what you all learned together.

· Enjoy!!! Homeschool conventions can feel like summer camp for grownups 😊 Enjoy, ride the post-convention joy for a while and find refreshment & renewal from your convention experience.

Come visit ShillerLearning at the following conventions:

NDHSA Home Educators Convention

Jamestown Civic Center

212 3rd Ave NE
Jamestown, ND 58401

February 28 -March 2, 2019

  • GHC 2019 Great Homeschool Conventions' Texas Homeschool Convention
    Fort Worth Convention Center
    1201 Houston St.
    Fort Worth, TX 76102
    March 7-9, 2019

Rogers, AR 72758
March 21 - 23, 2019

Indianapolis, IN 46205
March 22 - 23, 2019

Nashville, TN 37214
March 28 - 30, 2019

St. Charles, MO 63303
March 28 - 30, 2019

Kansas City, MO 64153
April 4 - 6, 2019

  • MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) Homeschool Convention
    Saint Paul River Centre

175 W Kellogg Blvd

St Paul, MN 55102
April 11 - 13, 2019

Waco, TX 76701
April 11 -13, 2019

Wichita, KS 67202
April 12 - 13, 2019

Cincinnati, OH 45202
April 25 - 27, 2019

Worcester, MA 01608
April 25 - 27, 2019

  • Birmingham Homeschool Fair and Convention
    Wynfrey Hotel

1000 Galleria Cir

Birmingham, AL 35244
April 26 - 27, 2019

Oklahoma City, OK
May 2 - 4, 2019

Dallas, TX 75201,
May 9 - 11, 2019

Mobile, AL 36602
May 9 - 11, 2019

Lansing, MI 48933
May 17 - 18, 2019

  • TTD 2019 Teach Them Diligently Denver Homeschool Convention
    Gaylord Rockies and Convention Center

6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard

Aurora, CO 80019

May 23 - 25, 2019

Orlando, FL 32819
May 23 - 25, 2019

Vienna, VA

May 30 - 31, 2019

Bourbonnais, IL 60914

May 30 - June 1, 2019

NCHE 2019 THRIVE Homeschool Conference
Benton Convention Center

301 W 5th St

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

May 30 - June 1, 2019

 1601 Lake Robbins Dr

The Woodlands, TX 77380,

May 30 - June 1, 2019

400 N High St,

Columbus, OH 43215

May 30 - June 1, 2019

Richmond, VA 23219

June 6 - 8, 2019

Denver, CO 80239

June 13 - 15, 2019

Ontario, CA 91764

June 13 - 15, 2019

Lancaster, PA 17603

June 14 - 15, 2019

Tacoma, WA 98421

June 21 - 22, 2019

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

June 21 - 22, 2019

3700 Knox Butte Rd E

Albany, OR 97322

June 28-29, 2019

July 11 - 13, 2019

July 11-13, 2019

July 18 - 20, 2019

Atlanta, GA 30339

July 25 - 27, 2019

Rochester, NY 14604

August 1 - 3, 2019

GHC 2019 Great Homeschool Conventions' Florida Homeschool Convention
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
11000 Water St.,

Jacksonville, FL 32204

August 8 -10, 2019

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Amanda Osenga

Amanda is a former Montessori teacher, now homeschooling her dear son - an only child. Her family resides in an Airstream parked in Washington State and loves Washington's outdoor opportunities. When not homeschooling, Amanda blogs, loves reading, and creates hand-lettering pieces.

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Turn Table Scraps into Ooey Gooey Wormy Goods

Turn Table Scraps into

Ooey Gooey Wormy Goods

Do you ever wonder what can be done with the scraps left over from preparing meals? As I was preparing dinner one night, I thought to myself, there seems to be so much waste from our family’s kitchen scraps. Egg shells, potato peels, celery, carrots, squash, and the list goes on. This observation inspired some research. I found something called “vermicomposting.” Simply put, it’s using worms to break down food waste.

 

Did your homeschool mom mind shout, “Science project!” as you read that? Yes, this practical life activity can also check off the homeschool science fair display box.

 

Worms produce “castings” which are in turn used for fertilizing plants. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, vegetables nourished with worm castings, produced 30% larger vegetables. Results like that make for impressive charts and graphs.

 

In this blog post, I’ll show you how to create your own vermicomposting worm bin. You may already have a lot of the supplies on hand. This is a great way to teach your child how even the smallest organism contributes in a big way to our daily life; to be more mindful about what they are throwing out; and about recycling.

 

You could offer extension activities to maximize learning with your worm bin. Extensions ideas include:

Research Projects:

What Worms Eat
How Worm Composting Works
Worms Life Cycle
Different Species of Worms

 

Early Homeschool Math Skills:

Using your ShillerLearning number tiles, work with your child on number recognition. Set a number in front of your child and have your child make worms out of playdough. For example, if you set the number 7 in front of your child, have your child create 7 worms and place them under the number.

 

You can use the same approach for working with addition and subtraction as well. These extensions are perfect for students in Math Kit I.

 

Homeschool Language Skills:

Provide your child with a science journal to keep with their worm bin. They can write about their worm bin and record observations of what is happening. You can even offer creative writing to allow your child to use their imagination and create a story about their worms. This activity is a perfect accompaniment to Language Arts Kit B.

 

Complete vermicomposting bin instructions are below. I encourage you to allow your child to look for and collect the red wiggler worms needed for their bin. You can easily find red wigglers on the soil surface where the grass has been covered. If you have a flower pot that has been sitting on the grass for awhile, you will probably find red wiggler worms under it.

 

Allow your child to gather the dirt as well. Children love collecting materials; it feels like a treasure hunt!

 

To start you will need some basic items:

 

  • Two Plastic Bins

 

  • One lid to fit the bins

 

  • ¼” drill bit or a screw tip

 

  • Drill

 

  • Shredded newspaper

 

  • Dirt or compost starter

 

  • Worms - be sure to use red wigglers

 

  • Permanent marker, stickers, decals, or bedazzler to decorate your bin (This is not a must, but can be an enjoyable part of the project.)

 

What to do:

Step 1: Using your stickers or decals, decorate your bin using decals and stickers if you wish. Set this bin aside.

 

Step 2: Using the second plastic bin, a drill, drill bit or screw tip, drill holes at the bottom of one plastic bin. Be sure to NOT drill holes in the bin you decorated.

 

Step 3: Using the same plastic bin from Step 2, drill holes on the side all the way around ONLY at the top, using the same items from Step 2. You do not want your worms getting out.

 

Step 4:  Using the drill, drill bit or screw tip and lid, drill holes in the lid.

 

Step 5:  Put the plastic bin with the holes in it inside the bin you decorated with stickers and decals.

 

Step 6: Line the bottom of the plastic bin with newspaper or a paper bag.

 

Step 7:  Add shredded newspaper. Make sure to spray water on the newspaper.

 

Step 8:  Add dirt or compost starter. Make sure to spray water on your soil. You want it to be damp like a dampened sponge.

 

Step 9:  Mix dirt and newspaper together.

 

Step 10:  Add worms.

 

Final Step: Add veggie scraps.

Make sure you feed your worms at least once a week. And always keep their environment damp like a dampened sponge.

Jessica Zahner

Jessica Zahner has been working in education for 15 years - in both AMI and AMS Montessori schools. Assisting children with learning challenges, including students on the Autism Spectrum and other at risk students, is one of her specialties. As a homeschool mom she and her daughter are traversing the unique experience of home education of an only child. Jessica is fondly known for her passion for Practical Life and loves teaching parents why and how these skills are foundational for their children. The Zahners live on a working ranch and enjoy farming, gardening, and country life. When not caring for their livestock, enjoying practical homeschooling with her daughter, or working with Shiller Learning customers, you might find Jessica enjoying a perfectly brewed cup of tea from herbs grown in their abundant tea garden.

 

Want to See Inside Our Montessori-Based Kits?

Language Arts Kit A (PreK/K-G1)

Language Arts Kit B (G1-G4)

This DIY project is a great way to teach your child how even the smallest organism contributes in a big way to our daily life; to be more mindful about what they are throwing out; and about recycling. Extension activities for math and language arts!

Tags: activities for kids, at home schooling, FREE activities for kids, homeschool curriculum, homeschool science, Homeschooling Tips, learn numbers, Montessori, montessori at home, montessori education, montessori homeschooling, montessori preschool, New Homeschoolers, Seasonal montessori activities, sensory activities for kids, visual learner

FREE Montessori-style Summer Activity Pack for Homeschoolers

FREE Montessori-Based Summer Activity Pack for Homeschoolers

Summertime is often when many of us take a break from homeschooling. Even if we school year-round, we usually go a bit lighter in the summer to enjoy those nice warm days. It’s the perfect time to work on nailing down skills our students have previously struggled with and explore a new subject of interest. We are thrilled to bring you this free summer activity pack. It’s perfect for homeschoolers or families looking for engaging activities for kids on summer break.

Summer Activities for Kids

 

In this over 30-page activity pack, you’ll find gobs of easy to put together activities and the free printables you’ve come to know and love from ShillerLearning. In addition to the activities in this pack, here are more ideas to curb hearing “Mom, I’m bored!” this summer.

 

  • Create Your Own Lesson- Kids sometimes say, “If I was in charge, I would...” Give them the chance to do it their way! Set them loose with materials and let them design their own dream homeschool or summer lesson plan. Guide they in researching something they are interested in, encourage them to create their own learning, and see what they come up with! You might be pleasantly surprised as they come up with something to implement in your homeschool, create an awesome game, or (shhhh, don’t tell them) learn a new skill.

  • You-Pick Farms- This is always fun way to create family memories. Find a local you-pick farm and head out to pick your own food. Oftentimes these farms are growing berries and sometimes what you eat as you pick is free. Then bring them home and enjoy baking, canning, or freezing of your bounty. Check out fallingfruit.org to see free local you-pick options too!

 

  • Amazing Race- Let the kids come up with their own version of the Amazing Race. Have them create activities and pit stops to do around your house, the block, or your town. Then let them get together with friends and play out their show. Older kids might even enjoy filming and making their own episode.

 

  • Progressive Game Night (or afternoon)- Some participation and help coordinating might be needed on the part of parents for this one, but it is so fun! (Plus, of course, parental supervision.) Get together with neighbors and nearby friends. Have each family pick a lawn game, board game or outdoor activity (like sidewalk chalk or sprinklers). The kids can work together to decide who will do which activity, make a master map ahead of time and set the schedule. Each home can host something different for a fun afternoon, or evening, of time together and exercise as you bike, or walk, between houses. Make sure to invite lots of friends, have plenty of healthy snacks & water, and have a blast!  

How to Use This Free Activity Pack

 

There’s no right or wrong way to implement this pack. We’ve provided you with a book list covering all reading abilities. The rest of the pack is pretty open-ended. You can work through it in order, pick and choose the activities you’d like to do, let the kids pick, do one a day or do them all in a week. It’s really up to you! Most require little to no prep-work and only a few need materials. It’s good to peek ahead and see what you might need to pre-purchase or borrow from a friend.

 

What’s Inside?

 

You'll find over a dozen activities. We have Montessori-inspired works like nomenclature cards, map work, and even a matching game. We’ve also included a couple easy summer crafts followed by nature activities. Many of these nature activities would be awesome to do on a camping trip but can easily be done in your own yard or at a local park. Lastly, we end the pack with a couple delicious recipes of some ice-cold treats to enjoy on these hot summer days!

 

We hope you’ll enjoy this pack and have a great summer, no matter how far you are able to venture from home.

 

See Inside Our Montessori-Based Kits

Math Kit I - PreK to 3rd Grade

Language Arts A - PreK to 1st Grade

Amanda Osenga

Amanda is a former Montessori teacher, now homeschooling her dear son - an only child. Her family resides in an Airstream parked in Washington State and loves Washington's outdoor opportunities. When not homeschooling, Amanda blogs, loves reading, and creates hand-lettering pieces.

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Tags: Free activity pack, montessori based activities, summer activities for kids

Free Montessori Based Spring Activities For Kids

FREE Montessori Based Spring Activities For Kids

We’re proud to bring you these FREE Montessori based activities for kids to work on reading, language, math, and more.  

 

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does the spring activity pack help your child grow?

With Montessori works and reading great books

And flower crafts all in a row!"

Educational Activities For Kids To Help Your Child Bloom

 

Here at ShillerLearning, we want nothing more than to see kids love learning. Many of our families homeschool year round. If you’ve been looking for something free and fun to do, this pack is perfect for you. We’ve included some classic Montessori works, as well as a few fun arts and crafts. This pack is all about flowers, gardens, birds, and getting outside. We’re certain these activities will help your kids bloom right on into summer!  

 

  • Reading Comprehension

In this pack, we’ve included two works based on The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. These are both designed to help with reading comprehension. These same works could be applied to the six additional books listed. Or download a few audio books and enjoy listening to them while you work on making Washi tape flowers and arranging fresh-cut flowers. Reading comprehension is something children sometimes struggle with and a skill our free activity packs will help with.

 

  • Scheduling This Pack

We have over 15 Montessori works in this homeschool freebie.

 

A couple of suggestions would be to have a “nature study” day one day a week where, for example, your family takes a nature hike to find flowers for the pressed flower work, and completes a couple additional activities afterward.

 

Another option would be to have all of these works prepared and save them for rainy or hot afternoons. Several activities are also good for keeping kids entertained while you work on other things - especially the lacing cards! If you have a Montessori shelf set up, place these activities for your kids out along with the books on the booklist to enjoy seeing them reading and learning about flowers.

  • Additional Suggestions For Kids And Parents

Local flower guides, state parks, and agricultural centers at universities make great field trips - fun ways to learn about and identify local wildflowers. Local herbal apothecaries and community groups often host foraging walks where you can learn about local edible plants and how to prepare them.  

 

 

  • Parents Might Enjoy Reading the Following Books

Last Child in the Woods and Vitamin N by Richard Louv

The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs by Tristan Gooley

Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman

 

As Maria Montessori herself said,

“Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and when the grass of the meadows is wet with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning.”

We hope this pack will encourage you to enjoy and learn more about the great outdoors. Plus this pack is just as free as fresh air and sunshine! Download it now and start reading with your child.

 

Don't let the fresh air and warm breezes pass you by!

See Inside Our Montessori-Based Kits

Math Kit I - PreK to 3rd Grade

Language Arts A - PreK to 1st Grade

Amanda Osenga

Amanda is a former Montessori teacher, now homeschooling her dear son - an only child. Her family resides in an Airstream parked in Washington State and loves Washington's outdoor opportunities. When not homeschooling, Amanda blogs, loves reading, and creates hand-lettering pieces.

Tags: activities for kids, Montessori, reading

Homeschool History with US President Nomenclature Cards

Homeschool History with US President Nomenclature Cards

A popular Montessori material for learning new words, definitions, and even historical figures is the nomenclature card, also called the 3-part card. Nomenclature cards are a simple way to make learning new information fun. ShillerLearning created a complete set of US President Nomenclature Cards to add to your homeschool history or language arts lessons.

Nomenclature cards are cards with a picture and a word or phrase underneath the picture. They’re used to help with reading, language development, vocabulary, object identification, matching, and yes, learning about historical figures. The cards are often printed on full sheets of cardstock, then cut apart. With budget, ease, and convenience in mind, this set is designed to be printed individually on unruled 3"x5" cards. The only cutting you will need to do is between the picture and label cards!  Download your set today to start or build your collection.

3"x5" cards can be found inexpensively online, at your local office supply store, or even some dollar stores. Alternatively, they may be printed 4-or-6-up on 8.5"x11" cardstock. Printing instructions are in the pack.

 

The beautiful ShillerLearning US President Nomenclature Cards are a perfect addition to your homeschool plans and work well for all ages. Typically first introduced in preschool and ideal for ages 3 to 6, nomenclature cards can be used throughout elementary.

 

How do you use nomenclature cards?


Nomenclature cards are introduced using the three-period-lesson. There are two cards for each president. The control card (or whole picture card) is the card without a line between the picture (in this case presidential portrait) and label (name of the president).


The other card will be cut along the line to separate the picture and label. Now you have the three parts (see where that 3-part card terminology comes from).


Depending on developmental level, some children will work only with the control cards; children who are emergent or fluent readers will work with both sets. Generally, three cards are introduced at a time. Once the child can match the label to the picture, subsequent groups of three new cards will be added to the work. Here is an example of how to use the US Presidents Nomenclature Cards.

 

For the non-reading child:

  • Lay the control card of George Washington in front of the child. Say, “This is George Washington.”

 

  • Have the child repeat, “George Washington."
    Continue with two more control cards (until you have three cards out).

 

  • Point to each card and say the name of the president.

 

 

  • Rearrange the three control cards and ask the child to point to each president, "Can you show me Thomas Jefferson? Can you show me George Washington? Can you show me John Adams?" As the child becomes familiar with the pattern of the work, you can drop, "Can you show me" after the first request.

 

  • Once the child is able to show you all the presidents in that selection, point to a control card and ask, “Who is this?”

 

  • If your child is unable to give the name, you can just back up to the first step in the three period lesson and re-introduce it as if for the very first time (without any hints in your voice that we’ve covered this already).

 

  • Very young children may wrestle with correct pronunciation of names; this is ok and will correct over time.

 

  • Repeat the above steps with a unique combination of cards each time until the child has competency and closure. This activity makes a nice compliment to ShillerLearning Language Arts Kit A.

 

For the emergent reader/reading child:

  • After completing the above, get out the cut picture and label cards for the three presidents.

 

  • Lay out three picture cards in order. With the randomly ordered label cards, select a label and see if the label matches the picture, one at a time, from left to right. Place the label below the matching picture.

 

  • Give the child the mixed picture and label cards to lay out in order and match the names to the proper presidential portraits as you just demonstrated.

 

  • The control card enables the child to self-check their work and control for error.

 

  • The child can practice as desired until the entire set can be matched.

 

US President Matching Game

To turn your nomenclature cards into a matching game, print a second set of the control cards. As with a standard matching game, players take turns turning over two cards in the hope of finding a match, until all matches have been made.


Add presidential flavor to your language arts curriculum while mastering alphabetizing skills. If you are my age, the library card catalog was where you polished your alphabetizing skills. Nomenclature cards provide a convenient material for practice of abc order. This activity is a nice compliment to ShillerLearning Language Arts Kit B. With the president cards, your student may alphabetize by first name; or last name; or by last name, first name. In the process, your child will take a walk through US history.

 

Download your cards today.


We’d love to see your students using the US President Nomenclature Cards. Tag us on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Have an idea for the next set you would like to see? Comment below and let us know!


Want to learn more about the Three Period Lesson used to present nomenclature cards? Be sure to check out this video.

Antoinette LaGrossa

Veteran homeschool mom of five children (now ages 11 to 3 adults), Antoinette LaGrossa has been homeschooling since 2001. Having experienced her family’s frustration with multiple math programs, Antoinette understands the struggle that can come with teaching math. Everything changed in 2004 when she tried ShillerMath. She quickly joined the ShillerLearning team and has been supporting home educators for almost two decades - sharing hands-on learning tips, encouragement, and practical experience from homeschooling five very different children (no cookie-cutter molds here). Antoinette speaks at conventions across the country and is host of ShillerLearning’s Tuesdays@2.

 

Want to See Inside Our Montessori-Based Kits?

Language Arts Kit A (PreK/K-G1)

Language Arts Kit B (G1-G4)

Tags: activities for kids, at home schooling, DIY Montessori Materials, FREE activities for kids, free homeschool, free Montessori printables, free printables, homeschool history, Homeschool lesson, visual learner

Kids Love This Homeschool Freebie Bundle

Freebies are a great way to try a variety of homeschool curriculum resources. ShillerLearning has the best pack of free samples around! We have over two hundred pages of homeschool freebies for you in our ShillerLearning Homeschool Freebie Bundle. You’ll find math activities for pre-k through pre-algebra, language arts lessons for preschoolers through 4th grade students, as well as homeschool planners for both parents and students.

And it’s all free.

To try no-lesson prep, Montessori-based, multisensory lessons, download your ShillerLearning Homeschool Freebie Bundle today. These activities will help your child reach his or her full potential and have fun while doing so.

You and your family will enjoy the samples activities from:

 

Math Lesson Book 1 (Math Kit I)
Shapes
Finding 1’s on the number grid
Absolute and relative estimation
Inequalities using the number line

 

Math Lesson Book 2 (Math Kit I)
Number Patterns
Addition to 6 with pictures
Roman numeral X
Counting by squares

 

Math Lesson Book 3 (Math Kit I)
4-digit subtraction with exchange
Days of the week review
Mirror images
Geometry: area of a rectangle

 

Fractions Lesson Book (Fractions Kit)
Identifying fractions
Naming fractions
Writing fractions
Fraction equivalence
Fraction addition: same denominator (ninths)
Fractions of an hour
Fraction sequences
Fraction strips
Least common denominator using prime factors
Multiplying fractions

 

Math lesson Book 4 (Math Kit II)
Law of commutativity
Percent etymology and symbol
Operations
Average
Visual addition and subtraction
Decimal numbers: thousandths


Math Lesson Book 5 (Math Kit II)
Absolute value
Lines, segments, and rays
Logic
Strange magic square
Geometry solids
Appropriate time measures
The protractor and the radius
Sequencing using division
Multiplication patterns for even and odd
Set unions and intersects

 

Math Lesson Book 6 (Math Kit II)
Cube views
Graphing curves
Sum of the angles in a triangle
Playing cards: counting points
Solving for unknowns
Rational numbers
Area of a circle
Degrees in a triangle

Language Arts Lesson Book 1 (LA Kit A)
Montessori insets (shapes): triangle
The letter d
Words that begin with d
Words starting with d
The four seasons
Aural training game
Mother Goose rhyme
Posture

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 2 (LA Kit A)
Introducing oneself
Retelling a story
Parts of speech: verb
Montessori insets (shapes): oval
Holding the pencil: tripod grip
Days of the week
Pattern practice

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 3 (LA Kit A)
Retelling a story
Story-telling practice
Montessori insets (shapes): circle
Color identification
Peripheral vision
Short-term memory practice

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 4 (LA Kit A)
Telling a story
Comparatives
Identifying unknown things
The months of the year
Touch typing: no peeking!
Geography: etymology
Parts of speech: adjective
Geography: land and water
Rhyme ee
Introduction to Shakespeare

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 5 (LA Kit B)
Introduction to the circle kit
Typing introduction/review
Parts of speech: verb
Parts of speech: noun grammar symbol
Other languages: Spanish
Consonant blends: /ch/
How to tell a story: suspense
Book report

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 6 (LA Kit B)
Keeping the eyes and head still
Shakespeare Sonnet #18
Other forms of communication
Part of speech: adjective
Long u: silent e
Diagramming parts of speech: preposition
Trees and measurement

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 7 (LA Kit B)
Short a words
Principled thinking
Song for 10 tough words
Script-writing your name
Dollars
Nonfiction: biography
Touch typing: emails and phone numbers

 

Language Arts Lesson Book 8 (LA Kit B)
Synonyms
First, second, and third person singular
Infinitives
Puns
Can vs. may
Contractions
Diagramming parts of speech: adverb
Parts of speech: conjunction
Subjects and predicates

 

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Antoinette LaGrossa

Veteran homeschool mom of five children (now ages 11 to 3 adults), Antoinette LaGrossa has been homeschooling since 2001. Having experienced her family’s frustration with multiple math programs, Antoinette understands the struggle that can come with teaching math. Everything changed in 2004 after trying ShillerMath. She quickly joined the ShillerLearning team and has been supporting home educators for almost two decades - sharing hands-on learning tips, encouragement, and practical experience from homeschooling five unique children. Antoinette speaks at conventions across the country and is host of ShillerLearning’s Tuesdays@2.

 

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Montessori Free Listening Skills For Kids Activity Book

Free Listening Skills For Kids Activity Pack

Working on listening skills with kids can feel like playing a broken record. We want our children to be attentive and aware, yet we’re not quite sure how to *get* our children to listen and comprehend. These important skills can be difficult to teach. I can’t tell you how many frustrated parents I’ve talked to who say “My kids don’t listen to me!”

If we’re honest, we work on listening skills our whole lives. To this day I am still working on how to better hear and pay attention to the auditory input I have coming my way. Teaching our kids ways to listen, equipping them with comprehension skills, and helping them appreciate silence helps set them up for success.

Tips For Teaching Listening Skills to Children

 

Appreciate silence- Recent studies have shown immense benefits of silence for the human brain. In a society that is constantly receiving auditory stimulation, silence is more golden than ever before. By allowing times of silence in our homes, we can help build listening skills. Our brains benefit from a break from all the sensory input, especially children’s brains! Plus when we embrace silence, we open our ears up to hear things we might otherwise not notice.

 

Repeat back- This one might seem silly. However, it’s a key tenant of communication skills. It is a highly valued listening skill. Teaching our children to “tell back” what they’ve heard helps them listen more carefully. It also helps the speaker ensure everything has been heard appropriately. Asking children to tell back what they’ve heard during story time can be a great way to build this skill. For young children, you may need to have the child tell back every few sentences. As children get older- you can move up to every few paragraphs, every few pages, and every chapter. This skill can be added to conversations as well. It’s especially helpful in conversations with details you don’t want to be missed. Have your child tell back details in their own words so you’re sure they are interpreting information as well.

 

Give them your full attention- I get it, hearing about Minecraft for the bazillionth time today is not exactly what you are interested in hearing about. However, our kids are watching. When we display positive listening skills, our kids learn from our example. Taking our eyes off whatever else we might be doing to fully engage in conversation is the first step. This demonstrates we’re not distracted and can be fully present. How often have we asked our children a question while they were engrossed in a show only to realize later on they totally didn’t hear us at all? One of the top reasons kids don’t “hear” is because they’re distracted and not actually listening. We may respond while watching TV or browsing social media. The truth is our minds are not fully aware and we’re responded by rote habit, not true attentive listening. If we model attentiveness, eye contact, and active listening it helps our children become better listeners. It will also benefit communication in your home too.

 

Read-a-loud and audiobooks- Nothing can capture a child’s attention better than a story! Sometimes one simply needs to sit in the middle of the room with children playing around them and begin to read. Soon a quiet fills the room and the children are lost in the story. By incorporating the other tips above, stories can build listening skills immensely.

 

Practice at home- Home is the best place to practice and build skills. Work on engaging your child in conversations they’re interested in. Download our FREE Listening Activity Pack below for over a dozen activities to help build listening skills in the comfort of your own home! You’ll find the classic Montessori Sitting in Silence activity, crafts, games, and more. Children from preschool all the way through high school can build listening skills. You may find a benefit from some activities as well! A few activities can be incorporated on a regular basis in your homeschool.

Refer to the ShillerLearning Parent Guide from your ShillerLearning homeschool math kit or at the beginning of each ShillerLearning homeschool language arts books for more tips on engaging your child.

 

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Math Kit I - PreK to 3rd Grade

Language Arts A - PreK to 1st Grade

Amanda Osenga

Amanda is a former Montessori teacher, now homeschooling her dear son - an only child. Her family resides in an Airstream parked in Washington State and loves Washington's outdoor opportunities. When not homeschooling, Amanda blogs, loves reading, and creates hand-lettering pieces.

Tags: listening skills, my kids don’t listen to me