Homeschool Hints for Teachers Part 1

I always could use extra help in homeschooling. Most of the time, I feel like I am re-learning everything. I teach three different grade levels and it has been a while, since I have been in those grades. So, I am putting to practice, do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

These hints have helped me tremendously. I just love cute little sayings that help me remember English, Spelling and Arithmetic rules.

I will have at least 7 parts and 7 hints each time. ( 7 happens to be my favorite number. I also have 77 ways to save or spend less. There are also 7 people in our family. I could go on and on with the number 7. )

1. K comes before i and e;
   C comes before the other three: a, o, u.
   (i.e. cone, kite, cute and keep)
2. I before e except after c, or it when it sounds like a as in neighbor or weigh. (i.e. mice, dice, thrice)
3. When you hear a k sound at then end of a word and the vowel is short, write ck. (i.e. rack, tack, Mack)
   If the vowel is long, write k and a silent e. (i.e. lake, rake, take)
4. L, f, and s often walk together at the end of a short-vowel word. (i.e. cuff, cross, bell)
5. When e, o, or y is the only vowel at the end of the word, it usually says its long sound. (i.e. be, by, so)
6. When there are two vowels in a word, the first vowel says its longs sound and the second vowel is silent.
7. I found this poem in our local paper yesterday, it is so helpful. It says it came from the Instructor magazine in 1958.

   A noun is a name word, like GIRL, STREET, SWING,
   A noun names a person, place or a thing.

   A pronoun is used in place of a noun,
   I, YOU, WE, and THEY are some to write down.

   An adjective tells what kind or how many,
   And goes with a noun like “ONE, LITTLE penny”

   A verb shows action or a state of being,
   COME, GO, and PLAY; ARE, WAS, and FEELING.

   An adverb is used to modify a verb,
   or perhaps an adjective or another adverb.

   It answers the questions of when, where, and how,
   Or to what extent as in the words RIGHT NOW.

   A conjunction links words, phrases and clauses,
   “He walks forward a step, AND then he pauses.”

   A preposition is another on the list,
   It always has an object as “There’s a watch ON your wrist.”

   An interjection is the last one for now,
   It expresses strong feeling as HELP, OUCH and WOW!

   So now let’s remember the eight parts of speech,
   And with the help of this verse the definition of each.

Do you know any more hints?  Be sure to leave a comment!

Those were pretty simple and fun.