12 Days of Christmas: Coloring, Day 3
On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Three French Hens,
Two Turtledoves,
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
December 16th marks the 3rd day of Christmas in the song. It marks 9 days until Christmas in the countdown, and it's also Beethoven's Birthday. Print the coloring page for the 3rd day of Christmas and add to your 12 Days of Christmas Coloring Book.
The activity featured in the Advent Calendar for today is a fun after dinner activity for the family. Decorate dad with red and green crepe paper and other decorations, gather around the "tree" and pose for a picture.
Parenting and Family Guide Sites
- The Twelve Days of Finals by Jackie Burrell, About Young Adults
- The Twelve Days of Baby Products by Heather Corley, About Baby Products
- The Twelve Days of Christmas for Kids by Katherine Lee, About Child Parenting
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Printable Tags by Sherri Osborn, About Family Crafts
- The Twelve Days of Christmas for Babies by Jennifer White, About Baby's First Year
- The Twelve Days of Kindness by Jennifer Wolf, About Single Parents
Guide Sites from Other Channels
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Decorations by Lisa Hallett Taylor, About Pool & Patio
- The Twelve Laundry Stains of Christmas by Mary Marlowe Leverette, About Laundry
- The Twelve Trees and Shrubs of Christmas by Vanessa Richins, About Trees and Shrubs
- The Twelve Fishy Sightings by Shirlie Sharpe, About Freshwater Aquariums
- The Twelve Cats of Christmas by Franny Syufy, About Cats
Remember to check back tomorrow to find out what goodies await you on day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas, About.com style!
Carnival of Homeschooling at The Common Room
Headmistress hosted this week's homeschooling carnival over at The Common Room. Enjoy the carnival!
The next carnival will be hosted at Principled Discovery. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
12 Days of Christmas: Coloring Day 2
On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Two Turtledoves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
December 15th marks the 2nd day of Christmas in the song. It marks 10 days until Christmas in the countdown, and it's also Bill of Rights Day. Print the coloring page for the 2nd day of Christmas and add to your 12 Days of Christmas Coloring Book.
The recipe featured in the Advent Calendar for today is my absolute favorite cookie recipe to give at Christmastime. Everybody raves about these cookies. They're elegant, yet easy to make. Children really enjoy helping with these cookies, forming the balls and making the thumb prints. I've been making these with my kids for many years.
Parenting and Family Guide Sites
- The Twelve Days of Finals by Jackie Burrell, About Young Adults
- The Twelve Days of Baby Products by Heather Corley, About Baby Products
- The Twelve Days of Christmas for Kids by Katherine Lee, About Child Parenting
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Printable Tags by Sherri Osborn, About Family Crafts
- The Twelve Days of Christmas for Babies by Jennifer White, About Baby's First Year
- The Twelve Days of Kindness by Jennifer Wolf, About Single Parents
Guide Sites from Other Channels
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Decorations by Lisa Hallett Taylor, About Pool & Patio
- The Twelve Laundry Stains of Christmas by Mary Marlowe Leverette, About Laundry
- The Twelve Trees and Shrubs of Christmas by Vanessa Richins, About Trees and Shrubs
- The Twelve Fishy Sightings by Shirlie Sharpe, About Freshwater Aquariums
- The Twelve Cats of Christmas by Franny Syufy, About Cats
Remember to check back tomorrow to find out what goodies await you on day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas, About.com style!
The 12 Days of Christmas Coloring Book, Day 1
On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The origin and counting of the twelve days of Christmas is confusing and depending on which tradition you follow, the counting either leads up to Christmas or begins at Christmas and ends at the beginning of Epiphany. The meaning behind the song is also quite controversial and quite interesting. I'll leave you to do your own research and come up with your own conclusions.
Back to the calendar side, if you're in the first camp, the first day of Christmas would be today, December 14th. Getting the lyrics right is also a challenge, especially when singing with a big group and usually brings a lot of laughter. These printable worksheets and coloring book will help your children learn the lyrics.
The Christmas season is a very busy time of year. All the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, baking and even traveling can be a strain on the family. Here are more sets of Christmas printables to help make it a special time for your family.
More 12 Days of Christmas Fun on About.com
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Family Crafts
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas For Cats
- Day 1 - 12 Laundry Stains of Christmas
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Flea Market Finds
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Fishy Fun
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Decorations
- Day 1 - 12 Trees and Shrubs of Christmas
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Kindness
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas for Babies
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Gifts for Baby
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Young Adult Parenting Tips
- Day 1 - 12 Days of Child Parenting Ideas
Remember to check back tomorrow to find out what goodies await you on day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas, About.com style!
Monterey Bay Aquarium Field Trip
Guest "grtlyblesd" shares about their field trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California.
"The hands-on exhibits were instant favorites. My younger boys liked playing with the hermit crabs, while my 4th & 6th grader were ecstatic to touch bat rays."
Read about their trip and find out where otters store their tools and snacks.
Share your local field trip experiences and help others as they follow in your footsteps. You can also share a picture or two of your experience. Choose your state from the list and share about your trip.
More about California:
Carnival of Homeschooling: Christmas Ornament Edition
Heather brings us into the comfort of her home and shares her most cherished Christmas Ornaments with us in this week's carnival, the The Christmas Ornament Edition. My favorite is the Russian Doll ornament, what's yours?
The next carnival will be hosted at The Common Room. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Show off your Christmas projects
Christmas time is a busy time for homeschoolers, but a fun time to do projects and baking with our children. Show off your recipes and projects from the Advent Calendar or any Christmas projects you do together.
My granddaughter, Katie Ann, decided to glitter her candy cane coloring page rather than coloring it. The Christmas Tree Light Up game is fun. It took a lot of thought, but I finally passed it. If you make the Graham Cracker Gingerbread House, take a picture and show it off.
Homeschoolers Respond - Recap #2
Homeschoolers are notorious for supporting each other and helping each other succeed. Get involved with the conversation by visiting the Homeschooling Forum, by joining in blog comments, and by sharing stories and tips about homeschooling. Enjoy these reader interaction links, then share your stories and tips too!
- Supportive Family?
Mixed Emotions
I just recently started homeschooling my 5 year old. My Mom and Dad are somewhat supportive. I feel like the MomofDJ I have to have Mom's approval. It will make things go smoother... - Keeping Your Sanity
Join a group
Do you belong to a meetup group, a co-op group, etc? Mine is great. We do co-op classes, field trips, group tours etc, and in those instances, homeschool time also becomes "me" time... - Upper Level Books
Gone-Away Lake and The Penderwicks
These two books and their sequels, Return to Gone-Away and The Penderwicks on Barkham Street, share an indescribable appeal felt strongly by my 10-, 12-, and 14-year-old daughters and myself... - Why Homeschool
Public School Was Deadly
When my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4, her school said they "welcomed kids with diabetes." Welcome, yes, help them with blood sugar checks and insulin, no... - Socialization
Breaking the social code everywhere
My homeschooled 12-year-old son constantly shows me, his coaches, peers, fellow homeschoolers and conventionally friends, what a kind, considerate human being he is... - Charlotte Mason
Blessed to be Homeschooling
It feels "natural" to learn this way! I am going to try my best to teach him using this approach all the way through high school... - When do you begin?
Schedule
I start my children at the age of 2 years old. You'd be surprised how much they learn before they're "testing age"...Christmas Letter - Homeschool Dads
Ask Questions
I try not to pressure my husband into feeling he has to make decisions. Instead, I ask him for his advice on certain things, and that seems to open him up...
Advent Calendar - Countdown to Christmas
An advent calendar contains reminders each day that Christmas is coming. Advent is a term from the Latin word adventur which means "arrival". Here is an Advent Calendar filled with activities for you to countdown to Christmas while you're waiting for the big day.
Begin your homeschool day with the activities from the Advent Calendar - recipes, crafts, games and lots more fun things to do! Enjoy!
Related Resources:
Springdale Fire Department Field Trip
Wendy shares about the Benton County Fair and the highlights of their field trip.
"Besides the obvious benefits of fire safety, who doesn't love dress-up and big trucks?"
Read about their trip and find out what the older kids and adults got to try out.
Share your local field trip experiences and help others as they follow in your footsteps. You can also share a picture or two of your experience. Choose your state from the list and share about your trip.
More about Arkansas:
Carnival of Homeschooling: The NaNoWriMo Edition
November is National Novel Writing Month. Janice structured this week's carnival, the NaNoWriMo Edition, like the sections of a book.
The next carnival will be hosted at As For My House. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Homeschoolers Respond - Recap
Whenever two or more homeschoolers get together, just mention something about homeschooling and the conversation is off and running. Homeschoolers are notorious for supporting each other and helping each other succeed. Get involved with the conversation by visiting the Homeschooling Forum, by joining in the ever-popular blog comments, and now by sharing stories and tips about homeschooling. Enjoy these reader interaction links, then "share your stories and tips" too!
- Supportive Family?
Support came eventually
My parents weren't sure at first about us homeschooling the kids. "Public school was good enough for you" was their comment. Looking back, public school wasn't good enough for me... - Nature Journals
Gathered free seeds and lessons
This year we asked all if we could collect seeds from their yards and pots...with a camera and baggies. We took pictures for the journals, collected flower heads, note book as we went along to gather information... - Upper Level Books
Montooth and the Canfield Witch
My 13 year old daughter and 15 year old son call this the "coolest" book ever. Lots of action but a challenging vocabulary... - Why Homeschool
Adopted
We adopted our two daughters several years ago and after some time in private school... - Socialization
Au contraire!
Our experience has been that there will be families in this world that socialize and those who don't. It is not a matter of whether their kids go to school or not... - Charlotte Mason
We Love CM
There is no doubt that the CM method was the right fit for our family. I can only explain it as a feeling of solidity, tangibility...
Carnival of Homeschooling: Saving Time Edition
The Informed Parent hosts this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. Mary talks about Saving Time and reflects on the many hours she has enjoyed with her children over the years thanks to homeschooling.
The next carnival will be hosted at Janice Campbell - Taking Time For Things That Matter. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Benton County Fair
Wendy shares about the Benton County Fair and the highlights of their field trip.
"This is a field trip for all ages. There are butterfly exhibits, livestock judging, a petting zoo, carnival games and rides, inflatable jumpables."
Read about their trip and find out what her kids enjoyed the most.
Share your local field trip experiences and help others as they follow in your footsteps. You can also share a picture or two of your experience. Choose your state from the list and share about your trip.
More about Arkansas:
Impromptu Pumpkin Craft
1 cookie cutter, 2 sheets of craft foam and some school glue provides an hour of fun and cute jack-o-lanterns for children of all ages.
The value of homeschooling
I'm on a 12 day trip with my parents visiting relatives from Texas to Tennessee so I've spent a lot of time with them in the recent days. The other night, my dad said that he felt that my grandkids (his great grandkids) have a better chance of turning out okay since they're being homeschooled. I was floored when he said that. He has never verbally supported homeschooling in all the years I was homeschooling my children. But over the years, he's personally seen the value in homeschooling. We never really talked about homeschooling while my kids were young. He knew I was doing it, but we never really had a conversation about it.
Back in September, 2009, I asked in a blog post if your family was supportive of your homeschooling. Let this be an encouragement if you don't have support now, that it may come in the future as the onlookers see your children doing well academically and growing into confident, responsible adults.
Do you have the support of your friends and family? Share your story.
Alabama Wildlife Center
Liz Masoner shares the information about the Alabama Wildlife Center and the highlights of their field trip for a presentation on the importance of keeping wild babies wild.
"The Alabama Wildlife Center is a wildlife rehabilitation center. In addition to being able to view baby animals and animals almost ready to return to the wild, Audubon holds several workshops throughout the year at the center."
Read about her trip and find out what caused one of the trained workers to release a woodpecker ahead of the scheduled release time.
Share your local field trip experiences and help others as they follow in your footsteps. You can also share a picture or two of your experience. Choose your state from the list and share about your trip.
More about Alabama:
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Nancy shares the information about the Maryland Zoo and the highlights of their field trip to The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
"The Tundra Buggy, a real vehicle formerly used in Canada to observe polar bears, offers a unique perspective on one of the Arctic's best-loved mammals."
Read about her trip and find out what "fun factor" The Maryland Zoo has that many other zoos lack.
Share your local field trip experiences and help others as they follow in your footsteps. You can also share a picture or two of your experience. Choose your state from the list and share about your trip.
More about Maryland:
Carnival of Homeschooling: Welcome to the NerdFamily House!
NerdFamily hosts this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. NerdMom welcomes you to the NerdFamily House encouraging you to make yourself at home. Enjoy the carnival!
The next carnival will be hosted at No Fighting No Biting. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Share and Tell Time - Field Trips
Homeschool field trips provide an opportunity for your children to experience the world around them first hand. Rather alone, or with a group, field trips can bring your studies to life and reinforce the lessons learned at home.
Have you been on a homeschool field trip lately? Share your local field trip experiences and help others as they follow in your footsteps. You can also share a picture or two of your experience. I've started us off with our field trip to the Pumpkin Patch as an example for you. Choose your state from the list and share about your trip.
Chris Klicka, homeschooling father of seven, has died
Christopher J. Klicka, homeschooling father of seven, died today at the age of 48 after a 15-year battle with multiple sclerosis. Chris Klicka was a longtime homeschooling advocate who served homeschoolers as an attorney, spokesman and lobbyist. He appeared on radio interviews, wrote many articles and five books on homeschooling. Chris was an integral part of Home School Legal Defense Association's staff for 24 years. The homeschooling community benefited greatly by his work and love of homeschooling. He will be greatly missed. Read HSLDA's tribute to Christopher J. Klicka.
Reptile Awareness Day
Reptiles Awareness Day is October 21st. Learn about reptiles with these fun printable worksheets and make a Reptiles Coloring Book.
More reptile fun:
You might be a homeschooling family if...
"...you have more bookcases than children and your formal dining room has been renamed The Classroom." ~MomofSix2229
We've had a lot of fun with this over the past 6-1/2 years. The original forum thread began in March of 2002 and is up to 200 posts. After reading the latest additions, you can add your own. Have fun!
Why we love the Charlotte Mason Method
We are using the Charlotte Mason method with my grandchildren this year. Katie Ann is pictured here drawing her nature observations on a recent trip to Nevada. We are really enjoying this method of homeschooling. It's very peaceful and rewarding. We love it when the kids stop what they are doing to run and show us a famous painting they recognize or when they watch movies and make connections from the books they have read. These moments are some of the reasons we love the Charlotte Mason method. After reading what we like most about Charlotte Mason, share your experience. What is your experience with the Charlotte Mason method?
Charlotte Mason was an innovative educator who developed a unique approach to education. Many homeschoolers are using her approach to teach their children. These are my top picks of books about the Charlotte Mason Method.
Johnny Appleseed's Birthday
Johnny Appleseed's Birthday is September 26, 1774. He was born in Leominster, Massachusetts. Do you know what his real name is? Have fun learning all about Johnny Appleseed with these printable worksheets and activity pages.
More Johnny Appleseed Fun: