Spelling Word Trick

Last week's spelling words

My daughter's reading group recently started receiving spelling words. Typically they receive their words on Wednesdays and have the test the following Tuesday. In my daughter's class most of the words are the same based on either a concept they are working on in class (her first set had to do with motion which they were studying in science) or based on a spelling combination (-ie, -ound, etc) plus a few custom words for each child based on their own writings. During the week they work with the words at school so that they gain familiarity with them.

On the day that they get the words, they copy them from their spelling sheet and bring the half-sheet home. The second week of spelling words, my daughter did not have her list in her backpack, so I used my phone to take a quick picture of the list. Then her teacher came in and helped us find the list. Having the list on my phone made it so easy to quiz my daughter on spelling anywhere. Last week the first thing I did with her spelling list was take a picture of it. I could also type the list into my phone, but a picture is much faster.

So here's my tip: Put the spelling list on your phone 

Magic School Bus Science Kits - A Great Christmas Present

Last year, I purchased a deal for the Magic School Bus Science Kit for my daughter. She receives one kit a month for a year. She loves receiving the kits and doing the experiments. We have had fun doing many of the experiments. My main complaint was that I often didn't have many of the "household items" - 16 oz water bottles, 2L soda bottles - and we could not start the set right away. However, she loved doing the weather experiments, especially making a thermometer. She also liked the gases experiments and acids/bases.

I definitely recommend the Magic School Bus Science Kit for kids from ages 4-10.

Last year I purchased the set through a Groupon for $120. This year, Groupon is offering the Magic School Bus Science Kit for $99. In both years the kits retail for $240. The subscription is for the same 12 kits that we received this year, so we will not be purchasing it again. However, if there were 12 new kits, we would be buying it again.

The subscription is set to begin in November, but you can call them to delay your subscription to begin in December or January so you can give it as a gift. Last year I started the subscription in January and printed a certificate from their website to give my daughter as a gift. You could also start it in December  to have something to wrap. However, you will need to be sure to intercept the package when it arrives in the mail. The package has Magic School Bus all over the cover and would be hard to hide from your child.

Disclaimer: I am a Groupon affiliate and am compensated for sales through Groupon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms and conditions of the deal before purchase, they are only summarized here.

My Little States Expert

For Christmas, my daughter received two US States puzzles and quickly mastered them. We had one for our house and one for my parents house. She would do the puzzle at least once a day for most of January or February. She got to the point that she could identify a state if we held the piece up to her backwards so she couldn't see the words and pictures.

Since she has an iPod Touch, I went searching for a states app for her. I found the free app GeoMaster - US States. This state shows a map of the contiguous 48 states and gives you a capital and state name and you have to tap the corresponding state (once to tap the general area and once to tap the exact state). It says the capital and state aloud and displays them. She quickly mastered this application often reeling off 40+ states correct in succession. While I knew the 50 capitals once upon a time, I have to admit that she has helped me to remember them.


With the release of the iPad2, we decided to buy a discounted first generation iPad. While GeoMaster - US States will run on the iPad, she had already mastered that application and it was running at lower resolution in the large screen size. So, I started searching for a different application. I decided to give Stack the States a try. There is a lite version, but I decided to buy the full version because it includes extra state games. Stack the States is also nice in that it is both an iPad and in iPhone application.

My daughter loves Stack the States. The application will give you a multiple choice question providing 4 possible states. The questions include identifying a state by name, matching a state to its abbreviation, capital, landmark, nickname, bordering state or country, or "large" city. After answering the question right, you will be given a state to add to your stack. Once you stack your states to the line, you will be rewarded with a state for your collection. As you collect more states you will unlock three additional games. Also, with time, your line will rise higher making it harder to earn your states.

The application does require reading since it does not read the questions aloud. My daughter does need a little help since she is still a beginning reader, but she is getting more confident in her reading on this application. Also, I talk her through some of the questions when she does not know the answer.

My daughter has learned so much about the states playing this game. I even learn something about some lesser know state parks, state nicknames, or some of the smaller cities. She is also learning about stacking the states to keep them from toppling learning a little physics.

My only complaint about the game is that some of the "major cities" are not that major. For example, the other day we were asked what state Columbus was in. My daughter and I both thought it was easy - Ohio. But, Ohio was not one of the choices. We ended up having to guess. I don't remember which state it was in. There have also been a few other small cities that I only knew because of living in the area.

With her fascination with the states, I have told my husband we are going to need quite the travel budget to keep her satisfied. She has already been to 13 states at age 5 and will be adding one more shortly.

Disclaimer: I am an iTunes Affiliate through LinkShare and am compensated for sales through my links. I appreciate your supporting my blog by shopping through my links. My opinions are my own and are not influenced by my affiliate status.