Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Core Curriculum Guide

What Your First Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good First-Grade Education (Core Knowledge Series)Did you know that you can download a free copy of The Core Knowledge Curriculum by E.D. Hirsch?  These are guides for what children need to know in language arts, history, geography, visual arts, music, math and science from preschool through 8th grade.  This is an excellent resource if you don't have the What your ---- grader needs to know books.  Actually it is a nice reference tool even if you do have the book.



Don Quixote (Core Classics Series)Besides the curriculum guide you can also find several teacher guides to go along with the core classics series of books.  I looked at the Don Quixote guide and it seems to do a fabulous job.  It says it is aimed at fifth-grade students but I'm sure you can adapt it for higher grades as well.  It contains vocabulary lists for each chapter, study questions, suggested activities, vocabulary activities and a summary of each chapter. 



Here are the teacher guides:

Frederick Douglass
Don Quixote
Gulliver's Travels
King Arthur and the Round Table
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Robinson Crusoe
Robin Hood
Sherlock Holmes
Treasure Island 
Purchase Rats, Bull & Flying Machines Guide

Monday, June 27, 2011

Initial Blend Dominoes & Matching Game

I found this Initial Blend Dominoes Matching Game on the A to Z phonics blog.  This is another game that will go along perfectly with my daughter's hooked on phonics.

This game will help in practicing the following initial blends:

bl- br- cl-cr- dr- fl- fr- gl-gr- pl- pr-sc-
sk-sl-sm-sn-sp-squ-st- str-sw-tr-

I can't wait to make this game.  My daughter's biggest motivators are games and competition.

Check out our other hooked on phonics game.