We created a cute and fun song our of our two times memorization poem which is on our YouTube channel.
And here is the Three times son.
Note for Parents and Teachers: Rhymes like these make learning math fun and memorable! When numbers become characters and stories, children connect with them on a deeper level. Encourage your little learners to recite the rhymes, act them out, or add their own verses to keep the learning playful and interactive. Math can be magical!
Additionally, sing it, or follow our songs and dance to them.
Rhymes by Lizzie, Lilli, Eve
Multiplication Rhymes: The Three Times Table
Three times zero equals zero Zero is the superhero.
Three times one equals three Three likes to drink tea.
Three times two equals six Six brings the honey to mix.
Three times three equals nine Nine has a fun time.
Three times four equals twelve Twelve likes to help his friend elves.
Three times five equals fifteen “Between you and me,” said Twelve, “I think the coolest is Fifteen.”
Three times six equals eighteen Eighteen likes to dance and to be silly!
Three times seven equals twenty-one Twenty-one wears a cool man bun.
Three times eight equals twenty-four Twenty-four likes to travel and explore.
Three times nine equals twenty-seven Twenty-seven bakes pies in the oven.
Three times ten equals thirty Thirty likes to start his day bright and early.
Follow for the next poem/ songs.
I am putting these in a document as well and we will create videos about it.
This practice has already helped my kids memorize some multiplication. The asked for more.
Did you know that rhyming aids memorization? I came up with this fun way to study multiplication with my daughters. It was so fun and effective that they asked for more.
I will be using these to inspire my children to create stories with me.
Hereβs a list of 12 immersive and fun creative writing prompts for children, designed to spark their imagination and encourage playful storytelling. Each prompt includes character ideas, inspiration, and fun questions to fuel their creativity:
1. The Day My Pet Could Talk
Inspiration: One morning, your pet wakes up and starts talking! But they have an important message to tell you.
Character Ideas: A wise-talking dog, a sassy cat, or a shy hamster who knows a secret.
Fun Questions: What does your pet sound like? Whatβs the first thing they say? What secret have they been hiding all this time?
2. A Trip to a Candy Planet
Inspiration: You discover a hidden rocket ship in your backyard that takes you to a planet made entirely of candy.
Character Ideas: A candy-loving alien, a chocolate river guide, or a gingerbread scientist.
Fun Questions: What does everything taste like? How do you get around on a candy planet? Whatβs the biggest danger in a world made of sweets?
3. The Invisible Friend
Inspiration: You make an invisible friend who helps you with school and adventures, but only you can see them.
Character Ideas: A mischievous ghost, a friendly shadow, or a tiny, invisible fairy.
Fun Questions: How do you introduce them to others? What do you and your invisible friend do together? What happens when they accidentally cause trouble?
4. A Dragon Moves In Next Door
Inspiration: A family of dragons moves into the house next to yours, and they need your help fitting into human life.
Character Ideas: A fire-breathing dragon with stage fright, a baby dragon who loves making pancakes, or a grumpy grandparent dragon.
Fun Questions: How do the dragons hide their wings and tails? What jobs do they get in the neighborhood? What happens when they accidentally breathe fire?
5. The Secret Library in the Attic
Inspiration: You find a secret door in your attic that leads to a magical library filled with books that come to life.
Character Ideas: A talking book that gives you advice, a librarian wizard, or a knight from a fairy tale whoβs tired of fighting dragons.
Fun Questions: Which book do you open first? What happens when a character from a story steps out of the pages? Can you create your own story-world?
6. Superhero School
Inspiration: You discover you have superpowers and get invited to a school for young superheroes.
Character Ideas: A kid who can turn invisible, someone who can talk to animals, or a hero who controls the weather but sneezes and makes tornadoes.
Fun Questions: Whatβs your superhero name? Whatβs your first mission? How do you balance saving the world with homework?
7. The Mysterious Box
Inspiration: One day, you find a mysterious box on your doorstep with a note that says, “Do not open until midnight.”
Character Ideas: A curious inventor, a sneaky detective, or a magical creature hiding inside the box.
Fun Questions: Do you open the box early? Whatβs inside? Does it lead to an adventure or bring a surprise visitor?
8. Lost in a Maze of Giant Toys
Inspiration: You get lost in a life-size toy store where all the toys are giganticβand they come to life!
Character Ideas: A helpful stuffed bear, a bossy robot, or a teddy bear whoβs afraid of heights.
Fun Questions: How do you find your way out? Whatβs the most amazing giant toy you meet? What happens when a toy decides it wants to be your friend forever?
9. The Treehouse Time Machine
Inspiration: You build a treehouse in your backyard and discover itβs secretly a time machine that can take you anywhere in history.
Character Ideas: A daring time-traveling squirrel, a kid inventor from the future, or a pirate from the past who got stuck in the wrong time.
Fun Questions: Where do you travel first? Who do you meet? What happens if you accidentally change something important in history?
10. My Life as a Tiny Person
Inspiration: One day, you wake up and youβve shrunk to the size of a bug!
Character Ideas: A talking ladybug guide, a friendly ant army, or a wise old beetle who knows the way back.
Fun Questions: How do you get around now that youβre tiny? What everyday things are now giant-sized obstacles? How do you get back to normal?
11. The Magical Market
Inspiration: You stumble upon a hidden marketplace where magical creatures sell enchanted objects and potions.
Character Ideas: A potion-brewing witch, a friendly gnome shopkeeper, or a mischievous talking cat selling magic beans.
Fun Questions: What magical item do you buy? What does it do? Does it lead to an unexpected adventure or a big mistake?
12. Underwater Adventure
Inspiration: While swimming at the beach, you find a secret underwater kingdom that needs your help to solve a mystery.
Character Ideas: A playful dolphin, a royal sea turtle, or a jellyfish with a glowing map.
Fun Questions: How do you breathe underwater? What is the mystery you need to solve? What magical sea creatures do you meet along the way?
These prompts offer a blend of imagination, adventure, and mystery, giving kids fun characters and scenarios to build creative short stories from!
Ideas to include the natural world as inspiraion or setting for learning. These are ideas for me, rather than things I already do.
1.Nature Journals
Activity: Encourage kids to observe their surroundings and document plants, animals, weather patterns, or seasonal changes in a nature journal.
Inspiration: Create sketches of plants, press flowers or leaves, and write descriptive passages or poetry based on what they observe.
2.Outdoor Reading Sessions
Activity: Set up a cozy outdoor reading nook where your kids can read books, poetry, or historical texts while surrounded by nature.
Inspiration: Choose nature-themed books, like Walden by Thoreau or poetry by Robert Frost, to enhance the connection between the environment and the lesson.
3. Eco-Art Projects
Activity: Collect natural materials (leaves, stones, twigs) to create art projects such as collages, sculptures, or land art.
Inspiration: Teach about land artists like Andy Goldsworthy, and let kids create their own nature-based installations.
4.Botanical Studies and Garden Projects
Activity: Study local plants or grow a homeschool garden, teaching kids about botany, plant life cycles, and sustainable gardening practices.
Inspiration: Let them grow herbs, fruits, or vegetables and document their growth. Connect lessons to ancient herbal practices or mythology related to plants (like Demeterβs story).
5. Nature-Inspired Poetry and Writing
Activity: Use the natural world to inspire creative writing or poetry. Have children write poems or short stories based on their outdoor experiences.
Inspiration: Use prompts such as βDescribe the feeling of the wind,β βWrite a poem from the perspective of a tree,β or βTell a story about a day in the life of a bird.β
6. Science Experiments in Nature
Activity: Conduct outdoor science experiments, such as studying the water cycle with evaporation bowls, or testing soil pH levels in different parts of the yard.
Inspiration: Discuss the role of the elements in ancient philosophy or how natural processes were understood by early civilizations.
7. Forest School or Nature Walks
Activity: Take learning outside by exploring local forests, parks, or beaches. Use these environments to study ecosystems, geology, and wildlife.
Inspiration: Teach map reading, track animal footprints, or explore ancient pathways and relate them to historical events if possible.
8. Stargazing and Astronomy
Activity: Set up a stargazing night where children can learn about constellations, planets, and the movement of celestial bodies. I use a star tracker app and follow astronomical news to stay informed.
Inspiration: Connect the stars to mythology, teaching about ancient star-gazers and their interpretations of the cosmos (e.g., Greek myths behind constellations).
9.Outdoor Problem-Solving Challenges
Activity: Use nature to create puzzles or challenges. Build a simple outdoor shelter, use the sun to tell time, or create a natural scavenger hunt with clues that teach about local plants and animals.
Inspiration: Encourage teamwork by incorporating lessons from early survival techniques used by indigenous peoples or explorers.
10. Barefoot Earthing and Sensory Exploration
Activity: Have your children explore nature barefoot to connect with the earth through sensory experiences. Encourage them to describe the different textures and sensations of the ground, plants, and water.
Inspiration: Discuss the benefits of grounding and mindfulness practices. Pair it with a nature meditation session or reflective writing about how the earth feels beneath them.
11. Birdwatching and Wildlife Observation
Activity: Set up a birdwatching station or take field trips to observe animals in their natural habitats. Teach about local wildlife, animal behavior, and ecosystems. Set up a hummingbird feeding station. We feed the birds in our yard.
Inspiration: Encourage drawing or note-taking on bird species, and perhaps connect to the ancient Greek fascination with augury (bird-watching for omens).
12.Weather and Climate Studies
Activity: Teach about weather patterns and climate by observing cloud formations, measuring rainfall, or tracking temperature changes. Make it fun by having the kids draw the different weather patterns. We love to draw the sun.
Inspiration: Build a simple weather station, then discuss the importance of weather in historical events or mythology (like Zeusβs control over thunder and storms).
Nature offers endless opportunities for rich, multi-disciplinary learning! You can combine these lessons with mythology, literature, or philosophy for a holistic approach to your homeschool experience.
Other ideas:
Make a fairy garden
Start a rock collection
Volunteer at a farm
Decorate your yard
Paint rocks for the garden or a path
Start composting
Create a rock garden
Decorate for Halloween
Go camping
Make a vegetable soup ehile teaching the children about vegetables
English is my second language. learned it as an adult. Since I love to learn properly, grammar has been my best friend.
With this short poem, I was trying to make the distinction between advice and advise after I realized I had used the improper spelling of the word. Actually, I thought it was only one word long ago.
When you write, you learn. My advise if you are trying to make a distinction between the two words is to use them in writing. I know now, before, while I was confused and knew I could make a mistake, I would search the difference and find help from a blog post like this one or an article.
Difference between advice and advise
The difference between advise and advice is simple:
Advice is a noun, meaning a suggestion or recommendation. Example: “She gave me great advice.”
Advise is a verb, meaning to offer a suggestion. Example: “I advise you to listen carefully.”
Tip: Use “advice” when you’re talking about the suggestion itself, and use “advise” when you’re talking about giving or offering that suggestion.
To advice is a verb or a word that refers to action. The action is advising. The word is spelled with an s whenever you say TO ADVISE or ADVISING because these refer to the verb or the action of advising another.
A noun is a thing, wether a physical thing like a table or a non physical thing such as advice
Sentences and examples
When someone is giving a suggestion or recommendation, the action is called advising. So, “advising” is the act of offering advice.
Advice is the thing: the words or suggestions and to advise is the action of saying the advice.
For example:
Verb: “The teacher is advising the students to study.”
Noun: “The advice she gave was helpful.”
Just remember: the action of giving advice = advising!
Here are a few simple sentences for children to help them remember the difference between advise and advice:
Advice is a thing you give.
Example: “My mom gave me good advice on making friends.”
Advise is an action you do.
Example: “Teachers advise students to study hard.”
Advice has a “c” because itβs like iceβa thing you can have.
Example: “His advice helped me.”
Advise has an “s” because itβs like sayβsomething you do.
Example: “Doctors advise us to eat healthy.”
These can make it fun and easier for children to remember the difference!
Was this helpful?
Feel free to use my poem in your lesson or class or as a reminder.
Please tell me if you would like to see more like this,
But she came to me and requested help.with her letter g, lowercase.
She collaborated with me to create this G poem and practiced until we loved her letter g.
The graceful groom In Ancient Greece Was in gloom all week: Ghastly days, lost grace, His good wife, a ghost, In the green garden. Heart goes grey, Galaxies away, Gracious goddess: Gown, crown, greatness. Green grape dance to the god, Bring my wife back. The god’s generous reply, A glistening sun ray, And a goose to greet. In two years time, Sacrifice a goat, And your girl will grow From the goose, Take care and groom her Be warned: if you neglect her, Your guilt a curse will be To grueling loneliness.
End of story by Lizzie
The groom agrees, he will not neglect the Goose. Two years pass slowly, the groom Has been taking good care of the goose, the Groom brings the goat to the altar, and Prays, Grape god returns, Two years have Passed, Your wish shall be granted, goose Into wife, I command. The groom reunited, He is happy again with his wife. This story Ends with a happy ending.
Lizzie practiced her letter g handwriting by writing the poem on a paper and her creative writing by creating this poem with me as well as writing the ending all by herself.
I was born and educated in communist Cuba and that means that I had to learn cursive handwriting.
I remember that for not connecting 2 letters on a test, a point would be removed, that is how strict that education system is. On top of that, I remember end of year notebook reviews to review the legibility and good practice of our notetaking and if we kept our notebooks neat for the entire year, we would get up to 5 additional points.
Being educated in Cuba alone was not enough for me to have legible cursive (not cute, legible, there are many levels of cursive).
However, my father was a Spanish teacher and he has amazing cursive and calligraphy. He critiziced my clumsy cursive, and I had to compete with him, he was never impressed. He was the type who would paint signs by hand.
On top of that, my childhood poet, Jose Marti, talked of handwriting. I like the old literature of the 1800s when handwriting was supreme and remember seeing lots of it.
Benefits of legible cursive writing ( my experience)
People assume you are more educated
People assume you are smart
People assume you are classy
People look at you like you are unique
You have better handwriting than most other people you know
You have a creative side, at least you can do letter art
You can create signs, some arts, and crafts
You can pivot into calligraphy which is beautiful, creative handwriting
You can work on legible handwriting: PS, I have earned money on my legible handwriting
You will probably have the best handwriting at your job and be chosen to take meeting notes
People will comment on your handwriting, even when you are not present
Some might ask you to write certain things for them
If you are really good, you can earn money from your calligraphy
People might assume you are teacher material
You can teach children handwriting
People might keep notes you wrote for them
Any handwriting you post online will get lots of attention because most people can’t do what you can
I have been practicing my calligraphy and I started trying digital calligraphy: It is not easy at all. But, why not: I think life is about choosing what to learn and lerning a little bit more every day.
With handwriting and calligraphy, practice is key.
This Lilli that I worked digitally, writing with my computer mouse (though this writing is imperfect) is actually the work of a veteran with years of cursive practice. I should actually be better at it.
Regardless of my perfectionism, my goal is not perfection with my handwriting.
My handwriting goals:
Legibility
Getting better always
Unique letters
Feminine designs: swirls, hearts, dots, and fabulous flourishes
Artsy letters
Teaching handwriting to my kids
I do not tell my kids come and practice your handwriting for an hour. Instead, I will seat down for 2 hours and practice my own calligraphy. They will wonder what I am doing, come see over and over again, and they will decide that they can do better.
Lilli, my artist child (they all show artistic capability, yet Lilli calls herself an artist and seems to be the one who is more willing to be exactly like mommy (I was the same way with my mom and her crafts, not cooking).
Vivi also started decorating her letters, yet she has to work on her legibility. I keep on telling her legibility over beauty. Unless you have a secret something you are writing: I write secret notes in illegible cursive…
And just yesterday, while I worked on this publication, my oldest daughter, Lizzie came up to me to daclare she wants better handwriting. She has however, worked on her handwriting evvery time I did. Lizzie is very strong minded and chooses when she will work on what. She did not want to work on her handwriting when I started, howevver, she saw our handwriting, compared hers to ours, and naturally started writing more legible, her letters were more evenly sized, etc. Of course, now that she requested it, I am going to bring out all my efforts to give her as good a foundation as she will allow.
Samples of Lilli’s font. Her font turned out better than my font, becasue I tried to make mine complex and it was too much, Lilli’s letters also turned out more even than mine.
Thank you for reading,
Please tell us your insights about handwriting, cursive, or calligraphy,
Rima y Ritmo is my cool Spanish class where I use poetry to teach my kids my native language. I already taught this lesson to my children, and they loved it. I am currently designing lesson 2: the poem is about a butterfly.
Below are the printable worksheets from my Rima y Ritmo class 1 ebook.
Print the printables, including the poem and read the lesson plan I linked above and using the poem and translation, work through these exercises. My children found them non easy.
Let me know if you need the answers.
Let me know if this helped and if you want to see more like this.
(Spanish learning/ teaching? Scrool to the end for my fun lesson)
It is true that I love language study and learning and I love Duolingo, even though I am not happy they do not have a level two once you finish you language course. I finished my Latin course and got bored, picked up 2 more languages…
This is my Duolingo report this week:
I guess I have a need to prove I am a real person. Why?
With the modern trend of everything we find being AI, I do have a need to prove that I am a real person who really studies language and teaches her children.
Just today we did Halloween arts and crafts…
Anyway, let us connect on Duolingo if you use it, find me as Eve Sanchez.
Why Duolingo
I am currently trying to have more XP on Greek, also struggling with my Greek.
I do not need to learn a language, but I attempted to get my kids interested in Spanish, my first language, and they do not want to be told what to learn, they have their own opinions and ideas, which is really cute…
I joined Duolingo to inspire my kids to learn languages because they imitate anything I do: no pressure.
It worked because they started learning languages too. They are not organized and quit their own Duolingo, yet, Lilli does my Latin lessons at times, Vivi is learning the Greek alphabet with me, they have a Dinolingo Spanish course, Lilli took a Latin class, Lilli and I have Latin jokes, Alex does the Greek lessons with me and repeats the Greek words, Lilli and Vivi took Spanish classes: it worked, but my inspiration effort is ongoing.
Part of my effort is to have them observe my own learning, as well as to experience my learning methods which are varied and colorful, on top of that to expose them to different languages: music in Spanish and Italian; Italian, Latin, Greek words, phrases, and entire videos or podcasts being broadcasted in our house; and more.
And you,
Are you learning or teaching a language? Which? Do you have tips?
Do you listen to music in your target language?
Learning Spanish?
Check out my cool Spanish with poetry clas:
Purchase the class through this link which includes a children’s printable workbook, a test, and more:
Let us talk about Socrates, the ancient Athenian philosopher.
First, I’ll include an essay for adults, and coming soon, I’m going to share a free lesson plan for home education parents, just in case you’re looking for educational materials. If you’re a homeschooling parent, and this was helpful, let me know, I’ll be sure to create more like this.
The soon to come lesson plan will be completely free, as my gift to parents. I will continue to develop this lesson plan for use with my kids. I’ll then go about creating materials for my future lesson plan, one that will be complete. This will take a lot of time, but I’ll share a lot of sources for your studies if you’re interested in introducing your children to Ancient Philosophy. Stay tuned.
The free Lesson will include
A lesson plan to introduce kids to Ancient Philosophy and Socrates
The lesson will be tailored for children 8 -12 ( my oldest learners)
Several simple poems for reading and comprehension materials
Socrates. Valor and Fearlessness
Socrates said in his famous trial (the result of which was the Athenians killing him) that the god Apollo had prophesied that there was no wiser man than him.
Socrates went on to inspire wisdom in a level that has not been matched. His student Plato would go on to be the father of philosophy, and Plato’s student, Aristotle (Alexander the Great’s famous teacher), was the father of universities, per this course I listed below.
Source:
Listen to Famous Greeks by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses on Audible.
“No honest man can survive in your democracy. It is so corrupt!” Were hos words to his Athenian oppressors proving his valor and fearlessness
Murdered by the Athenians for inpiety
Socrates: The Paragon of Virtue and Philosophy
Socrates, one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy, lived in ancient Athens during the 5th century BCE. His contributions to philosophy, characterized by his commitment to virtue and his fearless stance against the political establishment, have left a lasting legacy.
Legacy and Ideas
Socrates is renowned for his contributions to ethics and epistemology. Unlike his predecessors, who often engaged in speculative and metaphysical inquiry, Socrates focused on practical ethics and the nature of human virtue. His philosophy was grounded in the belief that understanding the nature of virtue was essential for leading a good life. This approach is most famously encapsulated in his assertion that “the unexamined life is not worth living.”
Central to Socratic thought is the Socratic Method, a form of dialectical questioning that aims to stimulate critical thinking and expose contradictions. Through this method, Socrates sought to challenge assumptions and encourage deeper understanding. This approach involves asking a series of questions to help individuals arrive at their own conclusions, rather than providing them with answers. The goal is to foster clarity of thought and promote self-awareness.
Socrates also introduced the concept of “Socratic irony,” where he professed ignorance to draw out the knowledge of others. This tactic allowed him to reveal the ignorance of those who claimed to possess knowledge, thus promoting a deeper exploration of truth.
Valor and Fearlessness
Socrates’ valor and fearlessness are perhaps most evident in his interactions with Athenian politicians and his eventual trial. Socrates lived during a time of significant political turmoil in Athens. His commitment to questioning the status quo and challenging the moral and intellectual complacency of the time often put him at odds with powerful figures.
One of Socrates’ most notable acts of courage was his refusal to abandon his principles, even in the face of severe consequences. During the Peloponnesian War, Athens was under the influence of a series of politically charged events and shifts in power. Socrates remained steadfast in his commitment to questioning the moral and ethical conduct of the politicians and leaders, despite growing hostility.
Socrates’ fearlessness culminated in his trial and subsequent execution. In 399 BCE, Socrates was charged with impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens. He was sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock. Despite the gravity of his situation, Socrates faced his fate with remarkable composure, continuing to question and discuss philosophical issues up until his final moments. His willingness to accept death rather than compromise his beliefs is seen as a testament to his commitment to truth and virtue.
Conclusion
Socrates’ legacy endures through his profound impact on philosophy and his embodiment of intellectual courage. His method of questioning, dedication to virtue, and resistance to political pressure have inspired countless individuals to seek truth and live a life of moral integrity. Socrates’ life and teachings continue to be a beacon for those who value wisdom, ethical rigor, and the courage to stand up for one’s beliefs. His unwavering pursuit of truth in the face of adversity exemplifies the highest ideals of philosophical inquiry and personal virtue.
If this was inspiring or helpful, let me know, I would love to do more like this.
Stay tuned for an upcoming free lesson plan to introduce children to Socrates and Athenian philosophy,
You must be logged in to post a comment.