Monday, March 20, 2023

March Roundup of Spanish Activities


This month, we're sharing a round up of great resources from MommyMaestra sponsor Spanish for You! This roundup of activities is focused on building vocabulary, specifically through describing activities. 

Free Shipping Offer


This mont
h, Spanish for You! is offering free shipping on any of their Spanish lesson products for Mommy Maestra readers! The offer is good through the end of this month. To redeem it, just use the code: MMShipFree.


Budget-Friendly Spanish Learning Program


Remember! Spanish for You!'s program is geared for middle schoolers and is the perfect choice for homeschoolers and afterschoolers alike because their concepts are carefully divided up into manageable bundles that are available for immediate download from their website.

If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!


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Tuesday, March 14, 2023

7 Children's Books About Leprechauns (in English & Spanish)



In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I was looking for some children's books about leprechauns to share with my youngest child. I found several that I thought were fun reads and decided to share them below along the few Spanish titles I found (there weren't very many!). I hope you enjoy them!

This post contains affiliate links.


Leprechaun Children's Books in English


How to Catch a Leprechaun

How to Catch a Leprechaun
by Adam Wallace

You've been planning night and day, and finally you've created the perfect trap with shamrocks, pots of gold, and rainbows galore! Now all you need to do is wait. Is this the year you'll finally catch the leprechaun? Start a St. Patrick's Day tradition with this fun and lively children's picture book and get inspired to build leprechaun traps of your own at home or in the classroom! Laugh along in this zany story for kids that blends STEAM concepts with hilarious rhymes and vibrant illustrations!

How to catch a leprechaun? It's tougher than you think! He'll turn your whole house upside down. He's quicker than a wink!


That's What Leprechauns Do

That's What Leprechauns Do
by Eve Bunting

What do leprechauns do? They bury a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, of course. But as Mrs. Bally Bunion’s ox, Miss Maude Murphy’s hen, and Old Jamie soon find out, they can’t resist having a little fun along the way. For, besides burying pots of gold, mischief is what leprechauns do!


The Secret Life Of Leprechauns

The Secret Life Of Leprechauns
by Luna James

A cute picture book that introduces toddlers to the traditional (not secret!) story of leprechauns. 


The Leprechaun's Gold

The Leprechaun's Gold
by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Based on a classic Irish folktale, this is the perfect picture book to share on St. Patrick’s Day.

In this classic Irish legend, two harpists—merry-hearted Old Pat and ill-spirited Young Tom—set off for a contest to name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. When Young Tom realizes that Old Pat is truly the better musician, he schemes to be the winner—but he doesn't reckon with the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun.


Leprechaun Children's Books in Spanish


Cómo atrapar a un duende
por Adam Wallace

The Spanish version of the book described above in the English section of books. 


Un duende a fines del invierno

Un duende a fines del invierno (La Casa del Árbol #43)
por Mary pope Osborne

Jack and Annie are on a mission to find (and inspire!) creative people. This time, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl’s life—she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish legends, started a theater, and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride. IN SPANISH!


El Duende Irlandés y El Laberinto De Los Sueños Rotos

El Duende Irlandés y El Laberinto De Los Sueños Rotos
por Gen AG

For older children.
What would happen if you traveled to Ireland and a leprechaun asked you to help him find treasure in exchange for sharing the wealth with you?  Asher Smith is a single father who shines shoes on the dense streets of New York City in the 1930s; a time of economic crisis and poverty. 

But, one day unexpectedly with the help of his friend Fionn O'Sullivan, Asher travels to Ireland with his young daughter to work as a gardener in an old mansion, where a dark and mysterious forest is located. In the courtyard of the mansion things happen meaninglessly and from that forest no man has ever returned. Asher will discover a place called Ledrema, where flowers sing, trees walk, a clock goes back and evil beings and darkness abounds. In Ledrema, it appears there is no goodness - in fact there is, but it is only a pinch! Would you help the leprechaun find his treasure?

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Monday, March 13, 2023

Online SAT Prep Classes for Homeschoolers

Online SAT Prep Classes for Homeschoolers

The following post is in collaboration with Mr. D Math. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Are you wondering what online SAT prep classes for homeschoolers are available? Read on to learn about our experience with Mr. D Math's live classes.

This post contains affiliate links.


Quick Overview


Program: Mr. D Math Math SAT Bootcamp
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Live Online Classes
# of Classes: 6
Grades: 9th - 12th
Price: $197

Why SAT Prep Matters



Why SAT Prep Matters


My oldest child attended a private high school that offered private SAT prep classes outside of regular school hours. More than a month's worth of Saturdays were dedicated to these prep classes and they made a huge difference in my daughter's scores. I say that in the plural because she took the classes before both the PSAT and the SAT tests. 

Taking these prep classes helped her increase her score by more than 100 points. Which was critical for the PSAT because her score on the PSAT helped her land a National Merit Recognition... which eventually led to a full ride at her current college.

Her SAT scores played an important role, too. They were an important factor when it came to acceptance into the colleges of her choice. We soon discovered how to find the SAT score ranges for different colleges and universities. The easiest way is to simply Google "what are the SAT score ranges for [Name of College or University]".

Is the SAT Mandatory?


Thanks to the pandemic, a lot of colleges are test optional now. This means students don't have to submit SAT or ACT scores with their applications. Some are even considering making this permanent. Either way, if your SAT scores are above the average score (especially for that university's score range) it is really to your benefit to submit those scores.

Live SAT Prep for Homeschoolers from Mr. D Math



Live SAT Prep for Homeschoolers


SO. Now I have a homeschooled junior entering the college application process. I learned a whole lot from my daughter's private school experience and have been researching the whole "homeschooler to college" process. 

All of it has led me to understand that:
  1. Taking the SAT can be extremely beneficial for college acceptance.
  2. Taking SAT prep classes could potentially raise your child's score by 70 points or more, making them worth the investment.
BUT SAT prep can be expensive. My son is doing two programs. One was crazy expensive, self-paced, and he hasn't stuck with it very well at all. 

The other is more affordable and comes from Mr. D Math. This live Math SAT Bootcamp meets virtually every week. And it has covered different strategies and used both practice tests and activities to help prepare him for the test.

How It Works


Once registered, my son gained access to the Mr. D Math learning portal. There he can find any of the optional (but strongly recommended!) homework downloads. But Mr. H also sent out a file via email with all the problems that they work through over the course of 6 weeks. Then each week about an hour before the class, my son received an email with the zoom link to make access the class easy no matter where we were.

My son logged in each Tuesday before his Civil Air Patrol meeting (this is why he is in uniform in these pics). He preferred to watch the videos on his phone, but you can also use your tablet, laptop, or desktop. We recommend that you have a couple of pencils and your graphing calculator ready, in addition to the printed test materials you need for each class.

Overall, it has been a positive experience and we're confident that the proof will be in the pudding when the SAT test comes around in May.

Register for the Math SAT Bootcamp from Mr. D Math



Register for the Math SAT Bootcamp


If you think this would be a great fit for your family, then register today! Mr. D Math offers three live classes and one self-paced class. We haven't done the self-paced course because the live class was a great fit for us. But you know your child best and it's great that you have the option to choose!


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Friday, February 17, 2023

Free Afro-Latinos in History Reading Comp Sample Pack

Afro-Latinos in History Reading Passages Sample Pack

Have you been wondering what my Reading Comprehension Passages packets are like? Now you can find out with this free Afro-Latinos in History Sample Pack from one of my most popular products!

Sample Pages of Afro-Latinos in History Reading Passages


If this product has been on your TpT wish list, here's a chance for you to download some sample pages. I chose the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, to highlight in this pack. But the full reading packet features the following seven famous Afro-Latinos:
  • Celia Cruz
  • Sammy Davis, Jr.
  • Soledad O'Brien
  • Roberto Clemente
  • Martina Arroyo
  • Pelé
  • Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

What's Included in This Freebie


This sample has a one-page reading passage, a reading comprehension question "quiz," an example of one of the reading comp activities, plus the answer keys. 

And I included both the English and Spanish versions so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs. The original files are available in English only, Spanish only, or a robust bilingual version. 

Afro-Latinos in History Reading Passages Sample Pack



How to Use It


These reading comprehension packets are designed for students in 4th grade and up. You can assign the reading passages and comprehension quizzes as homework, or you can do the work together in class. Each person can be explored during one class period.

Homeschoolers can use this packet at their discretion. You can assign it as independent work, or read aloud the passages and then give your children the worksheets to complete.

In addition, there are reading comprehension worksheets that focus on vocabulary from the passages, a matching activity, true or false, describing words, and a Venn diagram for comparing characters. Answer keys are included.

Reading comprehension activity pages



When to Use It


My reading passages can be used for Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, or any time of the year! 




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Wednesday, February 8, 2023

February Roundup of Spanish Activities

 


MommyMaestra sponsor Spanish for You! has shared many amazing resources here over the years. If you aren't already a fan of theirs, then you should try looking through all of the free printables they've shared...and then go to their website and buy one of their excellent curricula sets to get serious about your Spanish learning!

Today, we're sharing a roundup of activities perfect for February, that you can find available here on MommyMaestra. Check them out and then go order your homeschool curriculum sets for the coming school year! They are perfect for both home and school classrooms!

Winter-Themed Spanish Activities

These are some of the fun downloads available from Spanish for You!


Supplies for Learning Spanish

Merriam-Webster Webster’s Spanish-English Dictionary for Students


Merriam-Webster's Illustrated Spanish-English Student Dictionary



Digital Voice Recorder

Digital Voice Recorder 
(Great for working on your pronunciation!)


Llama Composition Notebook



Budget-Friendly Spanish Learning Program

Remember! Spanish for You!'s program is geared for middle schoolers and is the perfect choice for homeschoolers and afterschoolers alike because their concepts are carefully divided up into manageable bundles that are available for immediate download from their website.

If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!


Other Posts You May Enjoy

Monday, January 30, 2023

Roberto Clemente Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Sheets and More

You may have heard about the baseball legend, Roberto Clemente. But did you know that the Puerto Rican was also a great humanitarian? In fact, he was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in 1973 for his philanthropic work. Roberto Clemente was the first Hispanic to achieve greatness in baseball, such as the first Hispanic to be named league MVP and the first Hispanic elected to the Hall of Fame, among other firsts. I hope you enjoy this collection of resources for learning and teaching about Roberto Clemente. Surprisingly, there are less than I expected. I hope that changes in the future.

Then learn about other important Latinos in history that your children should know!

This post contains affiliate links.


Lesson Plans


TpT Resources:


Printables




Coloring Pages



Videos


Here are some great child-friendly videos about the great baseball player, Clemente.





Monday, January 16, 2023

5+ Videos for Kids on How to Draw Martin Luther King Jr.



In honor of MLK Day, I decided to share with you some really great video tutorials for kids on how to draw Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Art is always a fun way to learn about historical figures, especially if you can't make a trip to the library for biographies or don't have any other resources to study someone. Below are several videos for drawing the famous civil rights activist. And I tried to include ones for different ages and skill levels.

This post contains affiliate links.

Gather Your Art Supplies


Before you get started, first decide on the video tutorial you'll be using. Then go ahead and get all your art supplies together. Here are some of the supplies used in the following art lessons.


How to Draw Martin Luther King Jr. Videos


Art for Kids Hub is one of my favorite drawing-for-kids channels. They have this video tutorial for How To Draw Cartoon Martin Luther King Jr.:


BONUS! You may also enjoy their drawing lesson for How To Draw I Have A Dream:


I love Making Art with Ms. B's directed drawing video because it's a different presentation of Dr. King - SO creative!


Art Projects for Kids has this simple and fabulous video lesson for drawing Dr. King:


Older students may enjoy this How to Draw Martin Luther King EASY - Step by Step for KIDS w/ Background from Mr. Schuette 's - ART CLASS:


And I really love this easy tutorial from Deep Space Sparkle that uses sharpie markers and watercolors for making a Martin Luther King Jr. Portrait:



Tuesday, January 10, 2023

7 Screen-Free Games for Elementary Kids


Like many parents, one of my goals at the beginning of every year is to get my kids to spend less time staring at a screen. So I'm always on the lookout for games and activities that will engage my kids and keep them busy offline and off tech. Here's one list of seven fun screen-free games for elementary kids that will give you ideas for helping your kids have fun without a device.

This post contains affiliate links.



Puzzles

The best thing about puzzles is that everyone can enjoy them. Be sure to choose puzzles with the right amount of pieces to make it a bit of a challenge without making it too hard for your children. A minimum of 24 pieces and up to 100 pieces is best for elementary-aged children. Or consider this family puzzle that comes with 20 big pieces for little kids and 40 pieces for big kids (and adults!). It's challenging enough for two people of vastly different ages and experiences to enjoy.




The Matching Game

Play the matching game with the kids. It strengthens their memory skills and can easily pass the time. There are lots of different versions of this game! One of my favorites is this one by eeboo (shown above). 


Printable Lotería Sets with Different Themes

OR you can consider downloading and printing one of my themed lotería sets to add a cultural twist. Then just print two copies of the game boards and cut them into cards.


Candy Land Dora the Explorer


Board Games

Do you use board games to supplement your lessons? There are so many games on the market now teaching everything from fractions to geography that you can find one to use with almost any subject. Even some old fashioned checkers, chess, or backgammon can be really fun for young kids.

I find these games to be valuable tools because they make learning fun, and they serve to reward my kids for their hard work. And the best part is that you can find board games in Spanish, too!

Here are a few games that I highly recommend for kids 5 and up:


Card Games for Kids

Card Games

We have stacks of cards in our home. From Uno to those card decks you get in a kids' meal at Chick Fil-A to regular playing cards. And the number of card games that you can find instructions for online seem endless! 

Our favorites for kids ages 4 to 8 are:


Gamewright Little Hands Playing Card Holder


Also, I recommend using this card holder to help little hands hold their cards in order. 




Crossword Puzzles & Word Searches

Have fun testing skills with word puzzles! Kid-friendly crossword puzzles are free to download online from a variety of sites. But you can always find these game books at your local bookstore or online. They come with lots of themes and even in Spanish!



Homemade obstacle course for kids
© Can Stock Photo  serrnovik



Homemade Obstacle Course

It's hard not to love an obstacle course. Children love the physical activity and the challenge. So consider making an obstacle course at home using different items, such as plastic rings, cones, pool noodles, cords or ropes, and so much more! You may have most of the supplies you need at home, but if not, here's a simple obstacle set from Imagym.


Hide and Seek Game

Hide and Seek

Enjoy a fun game of hide and seek! If you have an only child, you may have to get in there and play, too. You will be amazed how much fun it is to actually play this game with your child (I get the giggles while hiding from my 5yo). But if you aren't available to paly, your child can still have fun by turning the game into a treasure hunt. You can pick out any item (plush dolls work best), and hide it for your child to find.


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