Keeping the Mood Positive

I originally posted this little poem on keeping your thoughts positive to another non-homeschool related blog, then realized it had a real place here too.

Staying positive is a real challenge at times, especially given we're imperfect people living in an imperfect world. Still, the benefits of thinking positive are enormous and lead to wonderful things.

Things to Keep

Share this with your kids... it's easy to learn and speaks volumes!

Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughtsbecome your words.

Keep your words positive, because your words become your actions.

Keep your actions positive, because your actionsbecome your habits.

Keep your habits positive, because your habits becomeyour lifestyle.

Keep your lifestyle positive, because your lifestyle becomes your destiny.

-Author unknown (at least to me!)

Parts of Speech Poem

Learning anything is easier if you can say it in rhyme or sing it to a melody of some kind. I just love this particular poem designed to teach the parts of speech...

The Parts of Speech

Every name is called a NOUN,
As field and fountain, street and town;

In place of noun the PRONOUN stands
As he and she can clap their hands;

The ADJECTIVE describes a thing,
As magic wand and bridal ring;

The VERB means action, something done-
To read, to write, to jump, to run;

How things are done, the ADVERBS tell,
As quickly, slowly, badly, well;

The PREPOSITION shows relation,
As in the street, or at the station;

CONJUNCTIONS join, in many ways,
Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase;

The INTERJECTION cries out, "Hark!
I need an exclamation mark!"

Through poetry, we learn how each
of these make up THE PARTS OF SPEECH.

Here's another one:

The Nine Parts of Speech

Three little words you often see,
Are articles- a, an, and the.

A noun's the name of anything
As school, garden, hoop, or swing.

An adjective tells the kind of noun-
Great, small, pretty, white, or brown.

Instead of nouns the pronouns stand-
Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.

Verbs tell of something to be done,
To read, sing, jump, or run.

How things are done the adverbs tell,
As slowly, quickly, ill, or well.

Conjunctions join words together,
As men and women, wind or weather.

The prepositions stands before
A noun, as at or through the door.

The interjection shows surprise,
As ah! How pretty- Oh! how wise.

The whole are called nine parts of speech,
Which reading, writing, speaking teach.


I'd pick your favorite and teach just one, as to avoid any confusion! ; )

Months of the Year Poem

With a new year just hours away, I thought I'd share this fun little poem written by Sara Coleridge. Your kids are sure to enjoy these light and fun lines about the months of the year.

Why not make an assignment using this poem, adding your child's own illustrations for each month?

One thing I'm a bit confused about... I found two versions of the same poem both said to be written by Sara Coleridge, so not sure what that's about, but I'll share them both! I think I prefer the first.

The Months

January brings the snow;
Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain;
Thaws the frozen pond again.

March brings the wind so cold and chill;
Drives the cattle from the hill.

April brings us sun and showers,
And the pretty wildwood flowers.

May brings grass and leafy trees,
Waving in each gentle breeze.

June brings roses, fresh and fair,
And the cherries ripe and rare.

July brings the greatest heat,
Cloudless skies and dusty street.

August brings the golden grain;
Harvest time is here again.

Mild September brings us more
Fruit and grain, for winter store.

Brown October brings the last
Of ripening gifts, from summer past.

Dull November brings the blast:
Down from the trees the leaves fall fast.

Cold December ends the rhyme
With blazing fires and Christmas time.

Sara Coleridge


The Months

January brings the snow,
makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain,
Thaws the frozen lake again.

March brings breezes loud and shrill,
stirs the dancing daffodil.

April brings the primrose sweet,
Scatters daises at our feet.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs,
Skipping by their fleecy damns.

June brings tulips, lilies, roses,
Fills the children's hand with posies.

Hot july brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gilly flowers.

August brings the sheaves of corn,
Then the harvest home is borne.

Warm september brings the fruit,
Sportsmen then begin to shoot.

Fresh October brings the pheasents,
Then to gather nuts is pleasent.

Dull November brings the blast,
Then the leaves are whirling fast.

Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.

Sara Coleridge