Daily Learning Binder

  For the last couple of years, I have made my kids daily learning binders. It mostly contained reference charts and laminated pages to do while waiting for me if I was working with the other child or busy with the baby. But this year I wanted to take my idea a little further and make it into a whole learning system for my son (daughter's will come later). I searched and searched to put this binder together. And I have to say, I'm loving it. If we need to leave for the day, I can grab it and go. He can still do his work while we are away from home.

  I went to take the pictures for this post and my professional camera wouldn't charge. :( So I guess I need to get a new battery pack. Till then I'm stuck taking picutes with my phone. Sorry they look so bad.

 

 

  I printing the cover label from http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2012/09/elementary-daily-learning-notebook.html

I made pouches with Ziploc bags to hold supplies (tutorial coming later). I put in a couple of pencils with cap erasers, colored pencils, a couple of dry erase markers, a cloth to wipe the dry erase markers, a glue stick, safety scissors (not pictured), and a small pencil sharpener (also not pictured). I tried to included thing he may need away from home. I went with colored pencils because we know from experience what happens to crayons in a hot car, NOT a pretty picture.

 

I included an alphabet chart for reference.   http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/worksheets/mini_offices/Alphabet%20Chart.pdf

 

 

 When I went to buy school supplies this year, I had intended on just buying regular divider. But the store was out and I was forced to buy these pocket dividers instead. I'm so glad they were out of the regular ones. These have worked out great for this binder. I made a section for; DAILY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, and FRIDAY.

 

In the pocket of the DAILY section, I put the monthly weather graph and a once a month name writing. I love the name writing idea. This way he can see how much his writing improves over the year. I got both of these from  http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/08/calendar-notebook-binder-printables/

 

In the DAILY section, I put calendar activities, number of the day, word of the day, and other activities that need to be do everyday. Most of these also came from http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/08/calendar-notebook-binder-printables/

These sheets came from http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/kids/calendar-binder-free-printables

 

 

I can't find the link I got this one from but it says: "The Teacher Wife" at the bottom of the page.

The plan is, after he finishes the DAILY section, he will then turn to the correct day of the week. These sections will have worksheet to complete. Each weekend, I am going to put all the worksheets I want him to complete in the correct day to be completed. This way it's ready to go for the week. 

After the "days of the week" sections, I add sections: MATH, LANGUAGE ARTS, SCIENCE/S.S, & OTHER. Because of my son's autism, he learns best with hands-on materials, games, etc. So in these sections, I am going to be adding hands-on, games, and manipulatives.   

 

 

In the pocket of the MATH section, I put place value sliders. These are great for understanding the place value concept. I got these from http://suzieshomeeducationideas.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/printable-place-value-slider.html

In the MATH section (so far) I have these math tools in a Ziploc pouch. I found these on teachers pay teachers. It's a 44 page download and there is close to 40 printable tools. I printed most on colored paper. The only ones I printed on white paper was the ones that were color coded. Then I laminated them so they will hold up to regular use. The great thing about these printable tools is I'm able to put them in the binder without taking up much space.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Tools-1906332



In the pocket of the LANGUAGE ARTS section, I put a book log. He can easily keep up with the books he reads. This came from http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/kids/calendar-binder-free-printables

 

In the LANGUAGE ARTS section, I have a sight word activity. This is a really cute set that looks like a computer keyboard. My son loves the computer. So he is really drawn to this activity. He was playing with it while I was laminating it.

 

http://kinderalphabet.com/2013/04/read-it-type-it-write-i.html



 

 

I made a simple paper tent and used Velcro dots to hold it so it can be can be folded up and put in the pouch.

 

 

I'm still putting together the activities for the other section.

 

I can easily add or change out the activities to keep things fun & interesting.

Homeschooling - How we got here!

  Hi! I'm Andrea, the homeschooling mom of 3. I have been homeschooling our children going on 8th year now. Most days, I really enjoy homeschooling. Of course, we all have our bad days. But I didn't always homeschool.
  Our oldest daughter, now in 8th grade, attended 4 years of preschool and elementary, with the exception of  K5 that I homeschooled her because we were moving. We had never planned on homeschooling our children. Both my husband and I attended public school and just thought that was the norm. But life had something different in stored for us.
  Our daughter has always been shy but was doing really good at school, making straight A's and had lots of friends, until 2nd grade. My mom, which my daughter was really close too, passed away 2 weeks into the school year. She was already having a hard time adjusting to a new teacher and a new class, then add losing her granny to the mix. She just couldn't handle it. She suddenly developed social anxiety and didn't want to be around anyone, but family. She started calling home every day with a different excuse, "my head hurts", "my stomach hurts", and "I feel sick".  She started bringing home papers with bad grades and she would cry every morning, saying she didn't want to go to school. My baby was in emotional pain and it broke my heart.
  By law, she had to attend school. But how could I feel good about sending my crying 7 year old, who was visibly in emotional turmoil, to school? And even though the school was sympathetic to the situation, I knew their patience would soon run out. With that in mind, I set out to find an answer to the problem. I talked to her doctor and a number of counselors, trying to find the best way to help her through this. They all said the same thing, "time and therapy". But the school district only gives kids so much "time" they can miss school and there was no "At Home" option. We seemed to be in a hopeless situation. Our daughter needed "time" to grieve which the school district wasn't willing to give. Our daughter needed extra love and attention which was hard to give her if she was stuck in a classroom. After lots of thought and research, the only logical option then became very clear. We brought her home to homeschool so she could grieve in the comfort of her own home with people who loved her. And so our homeschooling journey had begun.
  I'm happy to report, that even though she still has moments of anxiety, our daughter is doing very well and is VERY sociable.  Each day gets easier and easier for her. She now has more friends than she ever did in public school. She goes to the movies, birthday parties, bowling, and does normal teenager things. Homeschooling has done wonders for her.
  We, like most homeschooling families, have had to deal with our fair share of criticism from others. People who don't understand homeschooling think our children don't learn anything. They think our children suffer in some way. We've all heard it, "What about socialization?".  But I think it's ironic that our child that spent so many years in the public school system, developed social anxiety, while attending public school. Our other children, who have never attended a day of public school, are far from having social anxiety. In fact, our son who has autism, (which one of the main characteristics of autism can be social impairment), does not meet a stranger. He loves meeting new people. And even though our decision was made because of a bad situation, I'm glad we made it. It is one of the best decisions we've ever made.