Listen and Learn with Phonics
Karen used this excellent phonics program with her children when they were young. She can order this product for you. Write her through her internet address.
Draw, Write, Now, and Learning Magnets from Barker Creek Publishing
Draw, Write, Now is a series of eight books which have, at least, a duel purpose. In each book below, the student is taught how to draw: a critter, a person, or an event. A short story is included which can be used for penmanship practice. The student can research, read about, and write his/her own story about the topic. The topics or subjects for the first seven books are listed below. Example using Book 4 - The Polar Regions, The Arctic, and The Antarctic: Karen teaches a world geography class for upper-elementary students in the Spokane area. In this class, children checked out books at their reading level, watched videos, learned how to draw, and write about these regions. As this part of this web page develops, reading lists for the subjects below will be included.
Book 1 - On The Farm, Kids & Critters, Storybook Characters
Book 2 - Christopher Columbus, Autumn Harvest, The Weather
Book 3 - Native Americans, North America, The Pilgrims
Book 4 - The Polar Regions, The Arctic, The Antarctic
Book 5 - The United States, From Sea to Sea, Moving Forward
Book 6 - Animals & Habitats - On Land, Ponds, Rivers & Oceans
Book 7 - Animals of the World - Part 1.
Forest Animals of the Tropics, Animals of the Northern Forests, Forest Animals Down UnderLearning Magnets include A-Z Pictures, Counting Critters and Math Signs, KidWords, KidShapes, and Activity Kits.
The A-Z Pictures include upper and lowercase letters, objects, and letters with objects. The Counting Critters & Math Signs include double numbers, math operations and signs. The KidShapes include Pattern Blocks, Tangrams, and Pentaminoes. The KidWords has a basic set of over 200 magnets and supplemental sets which are entitled Our Planet Earth, City and Country, Sports and Games, and Planes and Trains. Each set is color-coded by the parts of speech for sentence construction. They could also be used as a tool in teaching diagramming of sentences. Each of the supplemental sets has 52 magnets.
Educator's Publishing Service produces a number of fine series used by Karen and many homeschoolers.
Wordly Wise is a vocabulary development series which can be used from grades 3-12.
Vocabulary from Classical Roots and the Analogies books are very useful tools for the student who is preparing for the SAT or ACT.
Explode the Code, Primary Phonics, and Clues for Meaning all teach phonics, but approach the subject slightly differently. Primary Phonics has a set of readers to accompany the workbooks which children can color if they like.
Educator's Publishing Service also produces two series of history books. Both The History of Western Civilization and the The Story of the U.S.A. have 4 volumes. These books can be a great aid for challenged readers and students with learning disabilities who might normally miss out on history because of special-ed pull-out programs.
Mortensen Math
Karen has used these wonderful materials in her teaching for many years. Karen uses materials that were produced for the 2-5 year olds, 4-7 year olds, 8-11 year olds, and in algebra. If you or your children have not been mathematically "challenged", then you may not be interested and this product may not mean anything to you. But if you have not liked or done well in math, or if your children are experiencing problems with math in school please write Karen. Mortensen Math can be the solution. This product is for preschool through high school students. This is a product for everyone. It is always better to prevent a problem now than to try to fix it later. Mortensen Math can be the solution to preventing the problem. I can show this product to you individually or you can have a "math party" with a few of your friends if you live in the greater Spokane, WA area. Children are cordially invited!
USBORNE Books and Dorling Kindersley Books
Many of the books from one or both of these companies become curriculum for some homeschoolers, while others supplement with books from these wonderful companies. Karen uses many of the books when teaching her history/literature/writing program.
While Dorling Kindersley no longer has distributors selling the books, many of them are available in local libraries.
One can still be a distributor for USBORNE Books which yields a personal savings or profit if you choose to establish a part-time or full-time business.