Welcome to The Learning Link! Your weekly dose of homeschooling tips, tools, and inspiration to make teaching easier and more joyful. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up for your own copy here.

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Enjoy 547 words of homeschool inspiration below.

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In my junior year of high school, I had to memorize the 12 cranial nerves and their functions for an Anatomy test. My dad had been taking a course to help improve his memory, so using what he'd learned he helped me to create a vividly imaginative storyline to recall all of these nerves. I aced the test and was even able to help some of my friends by sharing the story with them. Ever since, the power of memory tricks has fascinated me. So, enter the "Brain Athlete"...

📝 Fresh Picks

​Brain Athlete - I recently watched an interview with the founder of Brain Athlete, Ron White, on the Shawn Ryan Show (it's not necessarily "kid friendly" just FYI - check it out here). His "average person" ability to memorize is truly astounding. But it fascinates me to think that I could help my children learn memorization tricks in childhood that could help them throughout their lives. More thoughts to come as I flesh this out.

​Art for Kids Hub - My kids love following along on their videos - just beware your kids may ask for a sharpie!! (Mine always want to use one because the Art Hub people do.) Anyway, it's a fun "independent" summer art activity.

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🧰 Teaching Tools

Daily Word Ladders - These are fun phonics puzzle-type activities that focus on word building skills for grades K-6. Scholastic Teaching Resources* has been one of my go-tos since my classroom teaching days. You can get 10% off and $10 towards next month with the code JUNE10. You can also find these books on Amazon*.

​KiwiCo Free DIY Activities* - Along with their awesome crates that my family has loved for years, KiwiCo also has free activity ideas and even videos that you can enjoy with your kiddos this summer. (Use Code EXPLORE for $15 off your first crate, regularly $30.)

​50 Science Fair Ideas - or Summer learning activities that you don't have time for in the regular year. The "lemon battery" caught my eye.

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📚 On My Bookshelf

Books Illustrated by K.Y. Craft - This artist is one of my very favorite children's book illustrators. I recently purchased a used copy of Cupid and Psyche*, which is beautiful, but definitely for older kids given the mythological focus on death and revenge.

​The Twelve Dancing Princesses* - This was one of my favorite childhood books. Again, Craft's incredible illustrations are truly magical. She has several other fairytale books as well.

If you can't find a new copy on Amazon,* you might have better luck on BetterWorldBooks* or ThriftBooks to get a used copy at a reasonable price. (Some of the Amazon used prices for her books were astronomical when I checked.)

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✨ Just for Fun

​This FB short cracked me up, "Best Gardening Tool You Can Find." Enjoy!

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💰 Deals and Steals

​All About Learning Press* - monthly GIVEAWAY signup

​Scholastic Books (and teacher resources)* - 10% off and $10 towards next month with the code JUNE10

​Kiwi Crates* - $15 off your first crate (reg. $30) with code EXPLORE

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❓Question of the Week

Who is your favorite children's book illustrator?

I hope you're enjoying your summer,

Emily

​TeacherTutorMom.com​

P.S. Don’t miss my latest posts on TeacherTutorMom.com for encouragement, strategies, reviews, and more.

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