Dear Home School Solutions Friends,

Do you remember how exciting it was when the fire fighters brought their trucks to your elementary school and handed out free coloring books?

Don't forget that home schoolers need fire safety lessons, too.



Here are some quick ideas:

1. Plan a "Party with a Purpose" with home school friends. Bake cookies together and make thank you cards to deliver to the local fire station when you go for a tour. (Thanks to Shawn for this idea!)

2. Design a blue print style map of your home and mark all the escape routes. Practice escaping!

3. Test all your smoke detectors, and replace batteries as needed.

4. Remind everyone in your family about your meeting place in case of a fire.

5. Practice the old "stop, drop and roll" drills.

I found the perfect link for all kinds of fire safety week activities. There are great cross-curricular lesson plans and printables for every age group. To access the link, paste and copy this address in your browser:
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson026.shtml

For more great links and interactive online activities with Smokey the Bear, Sparky the Fire Dog and other fun friends, cut and paste this address in your browser:
http://www.ci.union-gap.wa.us/fire/funsStuff.htm

Safe and Happy Home Schooling,
Mrs. Sherry

Each morning, I write a message to my kids on a dry erase board. The purpose of the message is to greet the kids, and encourage them to read frequently used words with ease. Sometimes I use the message as a way to communicate upcoming events, the weather forecast, prayer requests or memory verses. Eventually, my first grader will fill in missing words, then write partial or complete messages himself. I'll allow him to use a word bank I've prepared if needed. I've found that this is a great way to start our day together! This strategy can be modified as an effective way to greet older children, too!

I've shared a sample "Morning Message" template with a word bank below.

Happy Home Schooling,
Mrs. Sherry


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Good morning, _______________________________________________.

Today is _______________________, September _____________, 2007.

(Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)

Today (or Tonight) we will _______________________________________.

WORD BANK:

go
piano lessons
have
Grandma’s
play
park
Tanner’s
picnic
house
science
soccer
movie
game
field trip
dance class
school
AWANA
church
friends
work
Co-op
bank
play date
store
library
errands