Pioneer Woman at Heart

I was astonished this morning.  As I put our United States flag outside, I asked my younger two girls if their school taught them the meaning of Memorial Day.  We watch parades, we see the flags, but do we teach our kids the real meaning?  The answer to that is sad.  My children have not been taught in school.  If it were not for free printable worksheets, free books from the library, and quality time with my kids, they would not be taught. My 2nd grader said, "we got coloring pages" and my 5th grader said her teacher "mentioned" it in passing but there was no real teaching involved.  With the state test taking and requirements, teacher are not teaching kids in school today.  They are being taught to pass a test, and in doing so, have bypassed history and other teachings in the race against statistics.  So if you are a parent and you have relied on the schools to teach your children about Memorial Day, and you have asked them about it and they...

I found the most interesting regarding teaching kids geography! It's called "The Everything Kids' Geography Book" . I wish I had this book when I was a kid. The authors combined so many other areas of learning with learning geography . One of the kids may find a copy of it in under the Christmas tree this winter. If you can get a copy at your library, take a look at it. It really is a good teaching tool for kids, and the authors make it fun!

Encourage your kids in school with printable certificates you can print at home: Free Printable Certificates Free Printable Bookmarks

While attending a middle school orientation, the social studies teacher mentioned that the first topic to be discussed will be geography. She also mentioned that the kids may find it "boring". I went on-line to find fun sites to help at home, while she is learning at school and found these: Free Geography Publications Geography Quiz Bowl Questions Free Printable Geography Worksheets Scholastic Free Printables (register to print) National Geographic for Kids Free and Inexpensive Geography Materials Fact Monster - Geography Guide Knowledge House - Study Resources: Geography Free Federal Resources - Geography Printable Outline Maps Geography Study Resources Fifth Grade SS Geography and Map Skills - On-line Flash Cards

This is a compiled list to help parents with frugal resources for teaching kids how to cook: APPLES: Printable Nutrition Facts , New York State Apple Country Kids Cooking Activities, Apples Recipes for Kids CHEESE: Printable Cheese Activities How to Make Homemade Goat Cheese EGGS: Kids and Family Section , Kid Friendly Recipes, American Egg Board Eggs 101 How to : Cooking School, American Egg Board Kids Pages , Georgia Eggs POTATOES: Kids Are Cooking Potatoes , Washington State Potato Commission (pdf) The Amazing Washington Potato , 14-page printable activity book (pdf)

Pig Crafts for Children The Best Kids Booksite - Suggested Books related to Pigs