I would like to do a week long summer camp for ages 5 – 7 this year. If you are interested in enrolling your child, please e-mail me or leave a reply below. It would also be helpful to know what dates will not work for you so I can schedule something quickly.

I am envisioning an assortment of literacy, music, arts and crafts, nature and science, and lots of play. The camp will run from 9:00 – 12 noon and will cost $20/day. You’re welcome to bring your child for all 5 days or select specific days to attend.

UPDATE: This camp is a definite go for August 17 – 21st. There may be another session offered during July 6-10th if there is enough interest, so speak up if you are.

Enjoy the warmer weather!

Rebecca Wolf

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey. Due to the scheduling of some important home repairs, the preschool program will not run through the summer months. Our last class will be June 17th.

Fall sessions will resume September 14th and registration is only a phone call (or e-mail) away.

Rebecca, who is eagerly awaiting warmer weather!

For you homeschooling teachers, Learning A-Z is holding an Open House so you can test drive their products for free! Just go to this URL to register: http://www.learninga-z.com/special/openhouse/index.html

Explore and sample thousands of downloadable resources, from reading and writing to vocabulary and science. The Reading A-Z program uses the same guided reading levels that I use, so it makes it easy to find books that are at just the right level for your reader at home.

A few posts ago, I also mentioned that the deadline for ordering Learning A-Z products is quickly approaching this weekend. If you buy through the Homeschooler’s Co-op, you receive a substantial discount.

Enjoy,

Rebecca

I’ve seen magnetic paint you can use to make any surface magnetic. This paint comes in handy for making a wall or regular chalkboard or dry erase board something you can use for magnetic letter work.

But this Idea Paint turns any wall or surface into a white board! And the company is giving out free samples at: http://www.ideapaint.com/get-a-sample.aspx

I’m wondering how it’ll work on stucco!

Enjoy,

Rebecca

In case you didn’t see the gaping hole in my kitchen ceiling last week, we have a major leak in the upstairs bathroom that needs to be fixed before we can use it again. After talking with the carpenter, we realized that there will be considerable clean-up involved after the initial work of repairing the broken bathroom pipes on Monday and Tuesday this week. I don’t want to put any of my students in a hazardous situation, so I have decided to cancel all classes this week to ensure that we have adequate time to fix and clean everything after the carpenters finish on Tuesday evening. This includes tutoring, Spanish, preschool, and Readers’ Circle classes.

Consider it our “Spring Vacation” this week and enjoy our (hopefully) last round of snow for the season!

I apologize for the inconvenience of this home repair, but I will make it up to you! Next week, I will have a big surprise ready and waiting outside for my preschool students (they’re gonna’ LOVE it). Please dress your child in outside play clothes for Monday and Wednesday’s classes next week!

See you on April 13th and thanks for your patience and understanding! If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at 935-7131.

Rebecca Wolf
SibleyCenter.com

P.S. If you’re looking for something fun to do this week, check out the Calendar at http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com

I just joined the Homeschool Buyers’ Co-op at https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org

They sell a lot of big ticket items which I don’t particularly buy or need, but I did happen to see something exciting in their most recent newsletter. Here’s a snippet from them:

Members save on ANY of the SIX titles included in the Learning A-Z suite of online programs — Reading A-Z.com, Writing A-Z.com, Vocabulary A-Z.com, RAZ-Kids.com, Reading-Tutors.com, and even their newest addition – Science A-Z.com!  Members can choose one program or all of them.  Try one today – love it – and come back tomorrow for another title.  We are pleased to have these award-winning titles NOW AVAILABLE to Co-op members at volume discount pricing!

I have seen the books at Reading A-Z.com and even used them when I was teaching in the public schools. The price is for a one year subscription and you can download and print out thousands of books, lesson plans and other supporting materials for about $6 a month. The books are leveled from kindergarten up to sixth grade.

But don’t take my word for it, check out the free sample books yourself at: http://www.readinga-z.com/ If you like what you see, you can join the co-op for free and save on the regular retail price. Joining the co-op is a win-win situation because 1) it doesn’t cost you anything, and 2) the larger our co-op group, the more buying power we have to get the same deals that big school districts get.

Enjoy,

Rebecca Wolf

The preschool children are studying farm animals now. We read the fable “Town Mouse and Country Mouse” and discussed differences between the country and the city.

We are working on farm nomenclature cards, pretend farm play, and animal sounds. You are welcome to join me on a picnic to Springdale Farm on Wednesday, March 25th after class. The farm is in Brockport and free to the public.

Next month, Springdale will be holding a Sheep Shearing Festival, too:

Saturday, Apr. 25:  Sheep Shearing Festival

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Highlights include sheep shearing and wool cleaning and dyeing demonstrations. Alongside the sheep, children, too, can be “sheared” with free haircuts for kids ages four to 12. More festival favorites include temporary tattoos, musical entertainment, plant sales, robotic milking center tours and children’s crafts.

Admission is $5.00 for adults (ages 12-62), $4.00 for youth (ages 3-11) and seniors (age 63+), and children ages two and under are free.

Enjoy,

Rebecca Wolf

In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has created a telescope for children that allows them to see what Galileo saw. The telescopes are $15 plus shipping. You can find them at: https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/

Happy Star Gazing!

Rebecca Wolf

We’re back in session and today was a wonderful day! We learned about President’s day, George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt’s teddy bear story, and our current President: Barack Obama.

We also read, “How Do You Say It Today, Jesse Bear?” and “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” The children must have been making up for lost time because they worked and played hard. We even practiced shooting baskets outside.

Readers’ Circle starts up again tomorrow. Our family vacation was nice, but it sure is good to be back home with all of our friends!

See you soon,

Rebecca

Our Readers’ Circle put on a successful performance of Snowflakes on Thursday. I apologize for not being fast enough to get the very beginning of the play (the children were very excited to act).

Thank you to all of our wonderful parents for the lovely reception after the play and all of your support throughout the year!

Enjoy our Winter Break! I’ll see everyone on February 18th.

Rebecca