Everyone knows that I am a huge fan to getting kids reading! I do not believe that reading always has to serve some great academic purpose but still you want to make sure the kids are understanding what they are reading. An occasional book report is a great option or even a story board or lapbook but you don’t always have time (or care) to do a huge project.
Sometimes you just want a quick check to make sure they understood the book and to maybe get some measurement for rewards!!! There are some great sites with quick and simple reading comprehension tests for tons of books. These are great resources for homeschoolers and teachers to use all year. They are also great tools to make sure your children don’t suffer the summer slide when it comes to reading by them staying engaged and reading! And they are all free!
Fun Trivia has literally thousands of quizzes available! Not only do they have a ton of quizzes available for K-8th but they also have a Young Adult section(with the Hunger Games;)! It is well organized by authors last name and there is also a section for series books. You have your choice of HTML version where you answer all the questions at once or a more quiz like format. In the true quiz format you will have you”point” value go down based on how long it takes and if you need a second chance.
Children’s Books Quizzes over at SoftSchools has a variety of quizzes also. Their list isn’t quite as extensive but they are just the quizzes. There isn’t a rewards system or even an account creation step. Just pop in and take the quiz. I think that most of the books are really 4th grade and under but there are a variety of Harry Potter books also. They even have Henry and Mudge for your early elementary students.
Book Adventure is no longer free! But is a great site that is built for rewarding. You input what rewards are available to your student and then track what quizzes they take. This is aimed at K-8th and there are a lot of book options.
These are great tools but they are just that. You don’t have to quiz on every book or any for that matter. They are just tools for you to use as you see fit!!
We all know the traditional ways to celebrate Earth Day. Often it is suggested to just recycle old materials in your green and blue garbage cans and pick up trash. But we can do better with our kids!
Recycle used materials by creating crafts and toys! You can use those crafts as décor or gifts or even toys! They can make display shelves out of shoeboxes. Pencil cups and vases out old cans and jars, decorated with pieces of cloth, ribbon, or even with magazine images!
Have an Earth Day movie day! Watch Planet Earth or some other nature documentary to let your kids fall in love with the beauty of this planet. They won’t help but care what we do to it once they see the images and how it all works together.
Volunteer to make the world better! No, I don’t mean just to pick up garbage but that and more. We are going to be volunteering with Harvest Fresno to work with Beautify Fresno. Donating your old toys and clothes also helps the world! So volunteering at a community closet also is a great win.
Today we are talking about how you can conduct your child’s driver’s training in the state of California if you are a private homeschooler for no cost. Yes, you heard me. You can legally conduct your own driver’s training for your child as an independent homeschooler in the state of California. How awesome is that?
So first up, I am not a lawyer. I do not pretend to be a lawyer. I don’t even play one on television. This is purely what has worked for us and is not constituting any form of legal advice. Once again not a lawyer not giving legal advice.
We all know in public school now that they don’t really offer driver’s training and many don’t even offer driver’s education. As a homeschooler (and just a person who values money) I was very intimidated by the cost of paying for driver’s training. So when I started hearing rumblings by people who’ve been around a little longer than me saying you don’t have to pay for driver’s training. I was like what? So the real question is, how do I save $400 for 6 hours of instruction? To be clear, driver’s training is usually just about 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. I got pointed in a direction by a friend and the research began!
This is the process that worked for me. I will be very honest, I’ve read a lot of the education codes having to do with homeschooling in California. I didn’t really find anything in the DMV write ups (vs forms) or in the education code regarding this. Basically, I haven’t found a law or law explainer. Mostly, I just found forms. But, I have done this process from the beginning all the way through to a licensed driver with my 17 year old. We are about to begin it again with my 15 year old.
You can use this process to do both driver’s education and driver’s training. We only did driver’s training. Frankly, our time was worth the $10 we spent on a Groupon for a driver’s education class. But as I said, this is a process good for both if you would like.
The big part of this experience is going to be guided by the DMV form DL396. Basically, this goes to the occupational licensing section of the DMV. So let’s take a look at that form real quick.
A Look at the DL396
The first thing you do is choose your type of school. If you are here, I am assuming you are a Home School or Private Satellite Program.
Now enter your basic information. This will match the PSA information. A CDS code is only issued to schools with more than 6 students so if you are part of a PSSP, you need to get that from your group admin. For those of us with less than 6 students, we don’t have one. Nor do we have a School ID number. Don’t worry about it, leave them blank.
You are the requester, not your PSSP if you are in one. This is basically where you want it and who they will follow up with if there are questions.
The date of request is the date you are doing this.
At the bottom of section one you can put the dates you need them. If you want them ASAP you can put today’s date but if you don’t need them until the next semester, put that.
In Section 2 you just select what applies to you. We are not public or charter schools. So don’t check it;). Then check the next 2 boxes in Section 2. This just says that you are going to teach the actual law and responsibility to your student and keep the records.
In Section 3 there are a variety of boxes and you only choose the ones that apply to you.
You are not a private secondary school really. A school like Fresno Christian or Memorial would qualify as that. Don’t check those.
You will need to include a copy of your PSA.
Decide if you are doing both Driver’s Education and Driver’s Training and mark the appropriate boxes.
You are not teaching “non-classroom” Driver’s Education. If you hire out Driver’s Education, they will issue the completion certificate. So leave all 3 of those blank.
Section 4 is just your expected amount of students for the year. That’s it.
Section 5 is where you list anyone who will be part of the official teaching and mark parent. Because you are a parent, you don’t need to worry about a teaching credential or a background summary.
Then sign it.
That is it for that form! Next, we move onto DL396A. Another fancy-sounding form but it just requests supplies. You put your school name at the top and select what you need. Remember that you are a homeschool. The majority of items come in private secondary or homeschool. So just make sure you choose the homeschool option.
You will also need to keep a copy of DL803 in your drawer. Some people say to send in a copy every year, I haven’t found anything official that actually says that. So I just keep it in my file cabinet. It tracks your issuing of the completion certificates. You don’t actually do anything with it but keep it in case there are rogue certificates out there, you can answer for where yours went.
That is basically all there is to it! You need to mail in the completed DL396, DL 396A, and a copy of your PSA. You will get your supplies in the mail and are good to teach! There are more stories and anecdotes in the video but this written article seems to be long enough to bore you. So I leave you to watch the video for all the details of how we personally handle it with our kiddos. Let me know if you have any questions!
Algebra 2 isn’t a subject most people are excited about but it is a necessary evil;). I took a look at the BJU Press Algebra 2 curriculum that I am currently using with my 4th student. Let me start off by saying that we love this curriculum but it isn’t for the faint-hearted but you also don’t need to be an Algebra 2 whiz to teach it to your student!
How hard is it to teach this Algebra 2?
We are math nerds. I was a math tutor back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. But let’s be honest, I didn’t remember Algebra 2. I wasn’t even phenomenal when I took it. But have no fear. The Teacher’s Edition goes through all the concepts thoroughly and every single problem is done with all the steps. These are the most complete Teacher’s Editions I have ever seen! Seriously, includes all the steps and even logic. Have a student get stuck on a review problem? No fear, they tell you where the original concept was taught.
How we went through this curriculum was from the first problem to the last, with every problem getting done. But this isn’t how everyone needs to do it. The curriculum has different assignment options and of course, you can always just do what you want;). We have 3 students who are going to have to take multiple semesters of calculus so we wanted to make sure they have a firm foundation. It also means at least one of the kids took a year and a half to work through it.
This is an intense curriculum that really prepares your student to go on to take college-level Trig and Pre-Calculus without any problems. But you don’t have to make it as intense as we did. The curriculum is about $90 but for that, you get the textbook and 2 Teachers Editions. You can also purchase test answers (we don’t test), an e-text, and online instruction for an additional fee.
Do you have a fear of Algebra 2 or teaching it to your student? Let me know what I can do to help! Looking for a different curriculum? Leave me a comment. Looking for awesome videos on homeschooling? Check out Homeschool Hangout over on Youtube! Also, join our Facebook group for support and resources (Homeschool Hangout by NerdFamily).
Planning doesn’t have to be complicated! Check out how I plan in my Frankenplanned Big Happy Planner for the beginning of the month of February.
Here is how I laid out my month of February. I do a very basic skeleton to start with and then further decorate as the month goes on! I used a lot of Lexington Flair: https://tidd.ly/3rZPAm2 & Joyful Planner: https://tidd.ly/2KWvM2E stickers in this layout!
Aren’t you tired of your kids coming home with outrageous ideas? Tired of having to do everything according to the public school’s schedule? Well, you have options.
First, this is a how-to for someone who is going to do it alone in the State of California. Meaning no “homeschooling” group, you are responsible for everything. This is not legal advice but a gleaning of all the information I have.
So you need to get a file folder and put the following information in it.
An attendance record that has your child’s absences only.
Have a resume for yourself and/or your spouse that includes any schooling or training you have. (There is not an educational requirement, you just need to have some background proof of some) You also could put in a copy of your transcripts or diploma of your highest level of education.
Then you will need to file a PSA (Private School Affidavit), which some of us still refer to by the outdated R4 name. You can go over to my walkthrough of the form if you have any questions. Everything is done and submitted on the computer. You need to print off a copy and keep your confirmation code (just in case).
So what else is expected of you? You will also have to instruct in English (unless your student is currently learning English, in which case it needs to be at least 50%). You will also have to make sure you teach at least the “accepted” subjects. You can go to the Content Standards on the Education Department’s site to get grade-level goals (though not required). You also need to keep a basic course list. Mine is basically a book list.
The subjects for 1st to 6th (there aren’t rules for kindergarten):
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
Fine Arts
Health
PE
That is it! Remember, we have all seen the current school system so it can’t be that hard! Good Luck!
It is that time again for private Californian homeschoolers! It is time to file your Private School Affidavit andthis year I actually file my PSA with you! If you independently private homeschool in California you need to file an affidavit every year with the State of California. It is a super easy process! Join me while I file mine!
We have hit a new milestone here in the NerdFamily. NerdPie has dual-enrolled in college. Going from homeschooling it has been a real change as far as getting around. She is getting dropped off 3 days a week but then takes the shuttle and then the bus home. This made me start to think about things that can help her get around while saving her time and energy all while schlepping it in cars, busses, and classrooms. At the same time, this opportunity arose with Best Buy to be compensated for writing a post about an electric scooter. So it is a great opportunity to include you in my research.
A friend of ours suggested that she learn how to ride a skateboard. But I know that I am not the most coordinated person in the world and that little apple didn’t fall far from the tree. But an electric scooter…. That requires less multi-tasking coordination.
Enter the Jetson Quest Electric Scooter. I had no idea that the electric scooters had gotten so cool while being durable and lightweight. The Jetson Quest Electric Scooter has a 250W battery that can go a total of 18 miles before it needs a charge. That could get you to and from a bunch of classes before you settle in to get some studying done.
You could soar across campus at up to 15 miles an hour but have no fear, the disc brakes can stop you in short order. It has solid tires so they won’t go flat and will take the random bumps and rocks seamlessly (but buy protective gear just in case, ok?). When you get to class or the bus the Jetson Quest folds up and stows under your seat. So you don’t have to fight with getting that bike into a bike rack if they even have one!
If you have been wondering what to give your college kid (or even high schooler) to help make their lives easier then you must check out the Jetson Quest Electric Scooter from Best Buy!
(This post is sponsored but all opinions are my own. I wish I would have had something like this in college myself!)
Hold on but…. Father’s Day is this Sunday. I know you meant to go shopping and life got in the way. I mean between the end of the school year, the heat, the start of summer, and (in my house) birthdays Father’s Day may have been shoved to the side. But I have paired up with Savings.com to bring you some last minute Father’s Day sales. Yes, that does mean this is an #ad;).
For us here in the NerdFamily, food is a huge part of Father’s Day celebrations so I am super intrigued by the BBQ dry rub kit by Piquant Post! It is perfect for all the parties and grilling sessions that are going to happen all summer. I think it will be perfect specifically for the 4th of July. Really, we may call it a gift for Dad but I think it is a gift for all of our bellies;).
Go, hurry! Do you last minute shopping and thanks to Savings.com for rounding up all the sales!
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also, your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you! Make sure you share Contesting Monday with your fans and followers so that they can see all these fabulous giveaways!!
Everyone knows that I am a huge fan to getting kids reading! I do not believe that reading always has to serve some great academic purpose but still you want to make sure the kids are understanding what they are reading. An occasional book report is a great option or even a story board or lapbook but you don’t always have time (or care) to do a huge project.
