Contest Win A 1st Grade Sylvan Language Arts Workbook

First of all let me apologize to those of you who I told this would start a few days ago. My senility got the better of me this week. I had a guest blogger on Monday, and completely forgot to post the contest. This contest runs from 11/05/09 to 12/05/09, and is for a Sylvan 1st grade Language Arts workbook. This particular workbook retails for 18.99 on the Sylvan website, so it is a great offer. You get a three subject in one workbook. You get reading, vocabulary, and spelling, all in one book. So what do I think of this workbook? Well I will tell you. In the Spring, Sylvan contacted me for the first time, with a fourth grade set of workbooks to give to one of my readers, as well as a set for me. DJ is using the fourth grade set right now, and I love it. It is not a complete language arts curriculum, I do use supplemental material. However, the spelling, and vocabulary words have been a wonderful challenge for him. They are quite extensive for his age group. I also like the writing prompts at the back of the work book. So that gets me to the 1st grade book. Sylvan again contacted me, and asked me if I would be interested in sponsoring another give away. Of course I said yes. This time I picked the 1st grade Language Arts book, which Caitlin will use next year. Now this one I can say is 300 pages long, and appears to be a complete Language Arts curriculum, for first graders. It is also awesome for the child who may be behind a little bit, needs to catch up, or wants to get ahead of their class mates. There are various activities, that teach reading skills, spelling, and vocabulary.

Now how do you win this awesome workbook?
1- You must have a child that needs the workbook. It can be your own child, a grandchild, or niece, nephew. Please do not enter, if you do not personally have a child that needs it.

2- You must live in the US, with a US mailing address.

3- You must contact me via email, at darien04@gmail.com and tell me the child's name, mailing address, and what they will be using it for.

4- If you have a blog, I would much appreciate you posting the contest on your blog. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but if you do have a blog, this would be very much appreciated.

That is it, pretty easy, and self explanatory. This will be placed at the top of all my blogs until December 5th, at 8 AM. All names will be put in a hat, and one of my children will draw the winner out.

And The Winner Is!!

Congratulations to Wendy, fellow Twitterer. Wendy was one of four people to enter the contest. My daughter pulled her name out of the hat, this morning. Wendy has won the set of three 4th grade workbooks, from Sylvan Learning Center. I have contacted Wendy, and she has 48 hrs to respond, and claim her prize. Should she not, another name will be drawn.





Lesson Plans for 4/1/09: Half Day

Language Arts: nouns
Spelling: Lesson 26- write each spelling word two times each, and circle the vowels
Vocabulary: Lesson 26- use each vocabulary word in a sentence
Math: Multiplication, division, word problems

My Kids Are Crazy, and Only One Day Left For Contest

I think my kids have lost their marbles. On Thursday, we scrubbed, and cleaned to get the pool all sparkly clean. Not an easy task, I might add. On Saturday they begged my husband to let them go swimming, and he let them. My daughter had teeth chattering, but she did not want to get out. My husband got in too, and I think they all need to see a shrink. While it has been warm, that water, which we just put in, is freezing. Not me, no way, not until about May.


At the top of this blog, you will see a contest for a set of Sylvan workbooks. Tomorrow is the very last day you can enter, with the winner being drawn on the 31st. I have four entries so far. It is easy to enter, and easy to win. This contest is sponsored by Sylvan Learning Center, do not miss out on these awesome 4th grade workbooks.

There is no school tomorrow, so I have no lesson plan to post. Have a great Sunday, everyone.

Look Mom I Am Holding A Tiger!

I would like to update everyone on the contest for the Sylvan books. There is still 7 days to enter, rules are posted at the top of this blog. It is simple to enter, and I have three entries so far. On my jewelry blog you can win a brand new Gemstones of the World book. There are 8 days left in that contest, so be sure to check it out. Details are at the top of that blog, as well. My humor blog, I have transferred over to Melissas Garage Sale, though it still has the name melissashumor. I will be listing all items, that we would normally sell at a garage sale. Check it out at http://www.melissashumor.blogspot.com

This cute picture was taken yesterday, when we visited a very small local traveling zoo. While they travel all over, they are local to this area. They were offering pictures with a baby tiger cub. I was not real sure, seeing how spunky, and growling it was. But the keeper assured me it was safe, and you see the results. My kids were thrilled, and would not mind getting a picture with the huge python they had. I had to say no to that one. It was a good time, and we took a walk through the flea market after. Which is what gave me the idea for Melissas Garage Sale.

Lesson Plans for 3/24/09:

Science: Animals and Habitats
Writing: Explain how you would push a car up a hill
Spelling: Lesson 25- write each spelling word two times each
Vocabulary: Lesson 25- look up the meaning of each word
Math: Multiplication, division, graphs
Language Arts:
Spanish: review

The Contest For The Sylvan Books Has Started

This is a quick reminder that the contest for the 4th Grade Sylvan educational workbooks has begun. The reminder at the top of this blog, will stay there until the contest ends. I will be adding the reminder to my other blogs as well. To enter you need to either contact me here on this blog, or at darien04@gmail.com and tell me who the books will be for. You must have, or know a child, that can use the books. You must be either a homeschooler, or have a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew that needs extra help with the subjects listed. At the end of the contest date, anyone who contacted me will have their names put in a hat, and one winner drawn. Please ask if you have any questions. My main goal is to be sure these go to a child that needs them.

Lesson Plans for 2/17/09:

A quick note on our reading list. DJ has decided he does not want to read anymore of his Magic Tree House Books, for school. So we will be starting the Harry Potter series instead, with a goal of a chapter a day.

Reading: Chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Science: Gravity themed unit
Vocabulary: Lesson 21- look up the definition for each vocabulary word
Spelling: Lesson 21- write each spelling word two times each
Language Arts: Capitalization, punctuation
Math: Tally charts, multiplication, division
Writing: Book report for Ghost Town at Sundown
Spanish: review
History channel- George Washington 60 minutes
Abe Lincoln- themed unit start

Sylvan Workbooks And A Contest

I was recently asked to review the new line of Sylvan workbooks. This is a new line or workbooks, that you can purchase for at home education, or for extra work for public school children. Sylvan is well known for their tutoring, now you can get tutoring in a workbook.

I was supplied with 3 workbooks, all for the 4th Grade. These workbooks will be given as a contest prize, to start in teh middle of February. See the post at the top of this blog, for details.

The first book is Spelling Success. I really like this workbook, as it is complete with fun activities to help learn spelling. Each chapter has keywords, and then various activities to help learn those keywords. Each chapter focuses on a topic such as, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and homophones. There are also review chapters, for a total of 17 chapters, in the workbook.

The second book is Reading Comprehension. I love this book. Of the three books, this one is my favorite. It has all kinds of great ideas for learning, and evaluating your child's Reading Comprehension. The activities are thoughtful, and extensive. There are a total of 10 Chapters, with 4 to 5 activities per chapter.

The third book is Vocabulary. Like the spelling book it centers around keywords, with various activities to learn, and use the keywords. There are reviews, and 14 chapters. Each chapter has its own set of activities with topics like prefixes, suffixes, root words, and homophones. The only thing I did not care for with this book, were the chapters on foreign languages. There are two, and you have to find the meanings of the words, as I doubt most kids will know that many foreign language words. These two chapters, were the only two inconveniences I could find in any of the books. It is not like they are that big of a deal either. You could easily find them online, and incorporate them into the chapter.

While browsing at the Sylvan website I noticed that these great books start at 12.99, a great value, in my opinion. I also noticed that they have a 5th grade writing book, which I will definitely be in need of, in the very near future.

If you are starting to plan your curriculum for next school year, you might want to check out these great workbooks.

New Contests Coming In February!

Hop on over to my jewelry blog, and check out the contest starting in February. It is easy to enter, and easy to win. One lucky winner will win a Cross and Blue Pearl pendant. Be sure to check it out.

I was recently contacted by Sylvan Learning Center. I am sure most people have heard of them. They offer tutoring services, as well as a whole host of other things. One thing I did not know they offered were workbooks for Homeschooling, or extra help for children that need some help in Writing, Reading, or Math. Anyway, I have been offered the wonderful opportunity to evaluate their new workbooks, and they are sending me extras to offer in a contest to my readers. Obviously you will need to be someone who homeschools, or has an age appropriate child that will use the workbooks. I will announce the rules, once the items have arrived. You might want to follow my blog so you dont forget about the contest. This will be a great prize, and I am excited to offer it.