OneLuckeyWife

Recently, I have seen a lot of post on FaceBook asking what to do when you or your child is burnt out from school. Do you continue and push though the boredom, frustration or tears? I have some ideas on how to combat this burnout. I would suggest to implement these ideas when you start to see your child getting a bit bored or can tell when they are getting a little frustrated. We do not really have burnout because I regularly do the things suggested. You can choose to not do school for a couple days. Just have some free time.  We do a lot of games while at school. They are all educational games but fun for kids.  Take school somewhere else. We have done school in the bed, outside, at the beach, etc.  have your child pick what items they do. By this I do not mean that if your child does not want to do math then you don’t do it. I mean I sometimes let our daughter pick what order we do our work in. We still do every subject that was planned for that day.  Do a science ...

In our ongoing quest to nurture the "narrative spark" in our daughter, we’ve found a truly delightful resource in  Imagidice . While it may look like a simple set of dice, it is actually a comprehensive engine for oral storytelling. Each die features a variety of unique icons, and the included manual provides a thematic guide for what each image represents. The premise is wonderfully straightforward: you roll the dice and weave a cohesive story using the results. Whether you are collaborating on a single epic tale or taking turns as solo narrators, the staggering number of combinations ensures that no two adventures are ever the same. Our daughter has taken to this game with immense enthusiasm, largely because it grants her total creative sovereignty. She has a natural penchant for the whimsical, often crafting hilariously elaborate scenarios that keep the whole family entertained. On the flip side, she is equally captivated when it’s our turn to narrate, listening intently t...

Because I navigated my own school years with the challenges of dyslexia, I have a deep-seated desire to ensure our daughter builds a rock-solid foundation in composition. My primary goal was to find a resource that demystifies the structure of a proper sentence, and  Daily 6-Trait Writing Grade 1  has delivered exactly that. The workbook is brilliantly organized into 125 lessons, prefaced by daily lesson plans that take the guesswork out of teaching. For parents who might feel intimidated by the grading process, the book includes a comprehensive rubric and a detailed guide on how to use it. There is even a proofreading key in the back featuring the same symbols used in university-level editing, which is a fantastic way to introduce professional standards early on. The curriculum is designed for daily use, but since our school year runs from January to December, we have successfully adapted it to a three-day-a-week schedule. The workbook focuses on five core pillars: Ideas, Org...

If you are familiar with the frantic, tile-flipping fun of Bananagrams , then Möbi Kids will feel like a welcome addition to your educational arsenal—but with a numerical twist. Housed in an adorable whale-shaped pouch, this game is specifically designed for two players or two teams. Each side is assigned a specific color—green for one, blue for the other—while the white tiles, featuring addition, subtraction, and equal signs, are shared in the center. The objective is a high-speed race to deplete your number tiles by constructing a "grid" of accurate math equations. The first team to successfully utilize all their pieces and shout "Möbi!" claims the victory. While the competitive aspect of the game is exhilarating, the true value of Möbi Kids lies in its versatility as a supplemental math tool. Much like the letter tiles in Bananagrams , these numerical tiles can be repurposed for a variety of "off-book" learning activities. I frequently use the pieces ...

For our first-grade science elective, we decided to maintain our momentum with  Building Blocks of Science . This comprehensive kit is a treasure trove of resources, including a student textbook, a corresponding workbook, a formal test booklet, a lab kit, an experiment notebook, and a detailed teacher’s manual. While I occasionally felt the kindergarten level delved a bit too deeply into complex concepts like molecular electron sharing for such a young demographic, the first-grade curriculum strikes a much better balance. It introduces twenty-two chapters spanning the foundational "five pillars": chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and astronomy, beginning each with a perfectly calibrated historical overview. The structural alignment between the textbook and the workbook allows for significant instructional flexibility. While some parents might prefer to have their students fill in the blanks during the reading, I have adopted a more collaborative approach. We read the pass...

If you are on the hunt for a resource that seamlessly blends cognitive development with high-engagement play, look no further than  Smart Cookies . We received this logic puzzle as part of our first-grade curriculum, and it has officially been crowned my daughter’s favorite game. The set includes a sturdy game board, a comprehensive challenge manual, and nine "cookies" in three distinct shapes and colors. The objective is to arrange all nine pieces on the grid using a series of deductive clues. It is a brilliant exercise in spatial reasoning and logic that feels more like a bakery visit than a classroom requirement. The manual is structured with a progressive difficulty curve, featuring eight levels and 54 challenges in total. While the game is technically rated for ages six and up, our daughter began navigating the earlier levels at age four. The early puzzles are quite accessible, often allowing the student to solve clues in any order, whereas the more advanced "connoi...

While most children possess an innate drive to build and create, not every engineering kit is designed with the same level of user-friendliness. This year, our second-grade Timberdoodle curriculum introduced us to the fischertechnik Advanced Universal 4 , a set boasting 40 different models designed to sharpen fine motor skills. If your family is accustomed to the intuitive nature of LEGO or Plus-Plus, the transition to fischertechnik might feel a bit jarring. While the manual is pictorial, it occasionally skips the "parts list" for specific sub-assemblies, leaving the builder to decipher which individual components must be combined before attaching them to the main structure. We spent a significant amount of time searching for parts before realizing we were actually looking for two distinct pieces that needed to be fused—a hurdle that was, quite frankly, more annoying than educational. The physical mechanics of the kit also presented a challenge for our five-year-old daughte...

There is a delightful sense of nostalgia attached to this particular series; both my husband and I grew up watching the hapless antics of Wile E. Coyote, and seeing him transition into an educator is truly a treat. The Wile E. Coyote Physical Science Genius set consists of four books covering essential concepts: simple machines, forces and motion, flight and gravity, and speed and velocity. Each volume is meticulously structured, featuring clear definitions of key terminology within the chapters and a comprehensive glossary in the back. This organization makes it incredibly easy to conduct impromptu quizzes or formal tests. Additionally, the books provide curated reading lists and a website access code to further enhance the learning experience. True to the spirit of the original cartoons, Wile E. Coyote’s elaborate schemes always culminate in a hilarious (and often gravity-defying) mishap. To ensure my daughter truly internalizes these physics concepts, we have transformed these read...

After experiencing so many wonderful Djeco kits via Timberdoodle , we decided to use our reward points to try the  At Night Scratch Cards . The kit is standard Djeco quality, including four illustrated cards, a wooden scratching tool, and a manual. I initially assumed these would function like traditional scratch art, where removing the top layer reveals a pre-set hidden image. However, I quickly discovered that these require the artist to scratch their own patterns and textures into the surface. While our first attempt was a bit "rough" due to this misunderstanding, it eventually became a wonderful exercise in creative freedom; I encouraged my daughter to bypass the manual's suggestions and scratch her own unique designs into the night scenes. The base illustrations are truly lovely, featuring a nocturnal lineup of an owl, a cat, a fox, and a butterfly. As is my usual minor grievance with Djeco, I do wish the kit included more than four projects to extend the fun. The re...

Having previously utilized the BambinoLUK series during our preschool years, transitioning to the  miniLUK Set A and Set B  felt like a natural and rewarding progression. Much like its predecessor, this system is a powerhouse for developing critical thinking, offering an impressive breadth of intellectual challenges. Each booklet contains between 24 and 26 exercises, and I’ve found that the most effective way to navigate the curriculum is by organizing the booklets by their stated difficulty levels. By starting with the foundational books and gradually working our way up, we ensure that our daughter builds the necessary confidence before tackling the more complex logic puzzles. The core of the miniLUK system involves matching pictures using a specialized controller, with tasks that evolve from simple visual identification to sophisticated cognitive exercises. While early challenges focus on direct matching, the difficulty soon ramps up to include "part-to-whole" recognition, ...

In our household, we view mathematics through a multifaceted lens, which is why we choose to supplement  Math-U-See Alpha  with  Mathematical Reasoning B . To maximize the longevity of this resource, I’ve transitioned the pages into a two-inch binder alongside Level A, utilizing sheet protectors and Expo markers so we can revisit the concepts as often as necessary. One of the immediate draws of this series is the vibrant, full-color layout, which keeps the visual engagement high. However, parents should note that Level B hits the ground running with addition and currency; if your student hasn't yet mastered basic sums, I would recommend starting with Level A or the Math-U-See Primer to build that essential foundation. The curriculum introduces algebraic thinking early with "fill-in-the-blank" questions, such as " $1 + __ = $4 ." While I personally find the Math-U-See approach of "solving for $x$ " in a formal equation more rigorous, Mathematical Reason...

If you are searching for a resource that allows your child to explore the boundaries of their imagination while anchoring them in essential logic, Critical and Creative Thinking (Grade 1) is an exemplary choice. This workbook covers an expansive range of themes—from the animal kingdom to complex vehicles—providing a vibrant canvas for children to express themselves through drawing and storytelling. What sets this particular workbook apart from standard logic puzzles is its persistent use of the question "Why?" This simple prompt transforms a passive activity into an active mental workout, ensuring that the student isn't just identifying a pattern, but truly understanding the mechanics behind it. The journey begins with foundational skills, such as identifying similarities and differences. While a child might easily notice that two items are alike, the secondary challenge of explaining the reasoning behind that choice is where the real "critical thinking" magic...

Enjoy these cuties! Decorate for a zoo, farm, safari or anything you like.  Price:      10$ + shipping  Choices: Cow Horse Pig Frog Sheep Chick Elephant  Koala  Panda Tiger Lion Monkey Fox Bunny Bear Dragon Reindeer Giraffe Duck Wolf Sloth Rhino Hippo Penguin Cat Dog Unicorn  Red Panda Raccoon Flamingo  Pattern by  RNata Shop . There are more animals that I haven’t made yet but I can send a picture of what they will look like just email me ( contact page )

 Remember your little one’s coming into the world with this cute birth announcement. You can choose either blue or pink.  Price:      30$ + shipping (does not come with frame as they break in shipping) Pattern by  StitchesLoversShop