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Hands-On Homeschool Newsletter - July 7,
2006 Vol. II Issue 11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue:
> 1. From the Editor's Desk
> 2. Article - Homeschooling Math Tips
> 3. Letters to the Editor - Teaching a Gifted
Child
> 4. Say What? Absurd Homeschool Comments
> 5. Feature Article - Part 1 - Does Voice
Recognition Replace the Need for Typing?
> 6. Feature Article - Part 2 - How to Select a
Typing Course for Children
> 7. Homeschool Curriculum Idea of the Week - Time
to Write a Poem!
> 8. Free Homeschool Resources
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. From the Editor's Desk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're back!
You did not receive a June issue of the
Hands-On Homeschool Newsletter, but don't
worry; there's nothing wrong with your e-mail! We
took a break of sorts, a holiday, a little
vacation from writing. We didn't publish in June,
and you may have noticed our
Homeschooling Helper weblog wasn't updated
either, until yesterday. Take a look when you can,
and find out how you can use flowers in your
homeschool curriculum.
Are you a math whiz? If you are, math lessons at
your house are probably exciting and fun - you
likely know how to create math activities that
demonstrate real-life ways in which math used
every day. If you're NOT a math whiz, our first
article, by Fun With Figures author Kenneth
Williams, will help you to use and teach math more
effectively in your homeschool.
In this issue also includes two feature articles,
both related to typing. This is, of course, an
essential skill for any student; or is it? Pamela
Connolly explores the virtues of voice recognition
vs. old-fashioned typing skills, as well as
providing advice as you select a typing
instruction program for your child.
FYI: I have posted a revision to our Summer 2006
Class Schedule in the the Blackfoot Art Center
weblog, so be sure to take a look. I have added
another Art Adventures class (very popular!) and
have made some changes to our photography class
schedules. (Hurry! Summer Session 2 starts this
week!)
By the way, if you don't happen to live in the
Blackfoot area, you'll still enjoy the ongoing
step-by-step art lessons you'll find there, so
check back often. I try to post new art lesson
ideas weekly.
http://blackfootartcenter.blogspot.com
I hope you are having a great summer!
Sandra B.
Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homeschooling Math Tips
by Kenneth Williams
Kids learn best while having fun and when it comes
to teaching math, creating an atmosphere of fun
and games will go a long way in helping your child
succeed.
Whether you are a full time homeschooling parent,
or just helping your child with their math
homework, using games in a creative manner makes
math an enjoyable subject for your children to
learn.
Games can be used for all grades and levels of
math. From preschool numeracy activities, such as
sorting and organizing, all the way to high school
computer geometry programs, games can be used to
teach every math lesson and subject area.
A simple way to begin using math games in the
homeschool environment is to give mathematical
'brain booster' challenges.
Give your children a question that is appropriate
for their age levels, and let them think about it
throughout the day.
If they correctly solve the question, they earn a
reward. However make sure they clarify how they
figured it out. Having your child explain their
method for solving the problem develops their
logic and reasoning skills.
You can reveal the correct answer if they were
unable to solve the problem, explaining the method
of achieving the answer so they'll know the next
time.
Keeping math real is very important to developing
your child’s interest in the subject.
Often times, children are heard to say, "I hate
math!" "I will never use this in the real world."
Unfortunately, many children - as well as adults -
believe this.
However, it is a fallacy and nothing could be
further from the truth. The more you look around
you, the more you will realize that math is
everywhere.
Look for opportunities to share 'living math' with
your child. Next time you take the kids shopping
with you, keep math at the front of your mind, and
discuss how math is being used in the grocery
store.
Weights and measures, addition, subtraction,
conversions, money, all of these qualities of math
can be taught on a family shopping trip.
Explain how fruits and vegetables are being sold
by weight and how you will have to multiply to
find out the price. Compare prices on canned goods
and determine which is the better value.
With so many girls already facing stereotypes that
will hinder them from performing well in math, you
will need to take resourceful measures to ignite
your daughter’s passion for the subject.
The more you look for math, the more creative
ideas you will discover for teaching it. By
showing kids that math is prevalent in our
everyday life, they can make a connection with the
subject that may be lost to them simply by reading
word problems in textbooks.
Finally, if you are teaching a new concept and you
notice that your child is having a hard time
grasping the subject, then you should leave the
lesson aside for a while.
It is a fact that once a child becomes overworked
and stressed, they will stop learning.
Keep math fun and simple and take it one step at a
time. I promise you, before you know it, you will
have a child who not only enjoys math, but also
understands and appreciates it as well.
========================
Kenneth Williams is author of Fun With Figures
at
http://FunWithFigures.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In our e-book,
101, Hands-On, Tried & True, Homeschool Curriculum
Ideas You'll Love!,
you'll find lots of math activities
specifically designed for homeschoolers. Through
these fun and meaningful math activities, you'll
learn ways to reinforce positive attitudes about
math while building confidence. These interactive
games, family activities, grocery store and travel
projects will help your child learn that math is
all around him, and that math is fun!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Letters to the Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question:
During the short time that my daughter was in
school, they tested her (of course) and determined
that she was gifted. I've always leaned towards
homeschooling, but now I truly feel that learning
beyond the confines of the classroom will greatly
benefit her, so I plan to homeschool her beginning
the next school year, when she will be a
second-grader. My question is, how do I teach a
gifted child? The school simply recommended "more
work," but that seems more like a punishment for
being smart! Should I let her complete the 2nd
grade curriculum at break-neck pace, then move
right into third grade work, or should I
supplement the 2nd grade lessons, or just let her
learn according to her own interests? I'm looking
forward to homeschooling my daughter (she loves to
learn), but I want to do it right.
Answer:
I'm so glad you have decided to homeschool
your daughter! A gifted child is a joy to teach,
and I'm sure you will have a wonderful time
together!
First, you are correct in assuming that "more
work" is not what your child needs. On the other
hand, you may find that your child enjoys doing
extended "educational" activities that other
children might consider "work." Gifted and
non-gifted children alike often enjoy reading,
writing, or working on self-directed projects.
Your daughter will need to work on her basic core
subjects regularly, just like any other child. If
she wants to move ahead in math or any other
subject, you can certainly let her! My children
each had favorite subjects or areas that they
excelled in, and I let them fly! A great way to
dampen a child's excitement about a subject is to
make her close the book until tomorrow. If she
finishes the workbook or the 2nd grade curriculum
for a given subject, that's okay. She's done for
the year. She can then move on into the next grade
level if she chooses to OR she can pursue other
educational interests. Also, you can supplement
her lessons for added interest, but don't feel
that you have to. If she asks about why this is
done like this or where this came from, take the
time to find out the answers together.
When she is really "into" a particular subject,
find every means to let her run with it! Children
often want to know about certain things, but don't
know where to look for information or how to find
out about them. Go to the library and load up,
take field trips, subscribe to magazines, use the
Internet, find mentors and experts to talk to or
interview. Does she enjoy writing? Help her start
a bi-weekly or monthly newsletter. Learn
book-binding, so she can write and "publish" her
own books.
Let your child's interests and motivations be your
guide. You will find that she will always have
plenty to do; gifted children seem to keep
themselves very busy. All she'll need is easily
accessible educational resources, adequate
supplies, and plenty of love and support from you.
* * * * *
Editor's note:
Do you have a question or a comment about an
article or feature in this newsletter, or
homeschooling in general? We would love to hear
from you! Please email your comments to:
sandrabynum@allthingshomeschool.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Say What? This Week's Absurd Homeschool
Comments
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We recently asked readers to submit "dumb
statements" people have made regarding
homeschooling. We'll feature a few of these silly
comments in each issue of the Hands-On Homeschool
Newsletter:
This week's comments are a few that I heard over
the years and my responses:
From a neighbor - "I don't know how you can
homeschool your kids. I couldn't stand to be
around mine that long. They would never listen to
me."
Comment - Whew! I wonder what life is like at
their house! (Do I really want to know?)
From a woman at a mall sale, upon learning that we
homeschool so weren't actually shopping for school
clothes - "You must save a bundle on school
shopping! But don't your kids miss getting new
clothes?"
Comment - Actually, my kids always wear clothes
and grow out of them just like any other kids, so
we actually do buy them new clothes. Even at
back-to-school sales.
From an acquaintance: "With your kids home all
day, how do you get anything done?"
Comment - They help me!
* * * * *
Note: Send the most ridiculous comment(s) you've
heard about homeschooling to us at
submissions@allthingshomeschool.com
and we'll publish them in "Say What?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Feature Article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Does Voice Recognition Replace the Need for
Typing?
By Pamela Connolly
A few years ago we thought typing was passé. We
would no longer have to struggle with typing. And
our children may not have to learn how to type
anymore. My aged mother was thrilled because she
never learned to type and thought this was the
answer to her prayers. Typing, at last, was on the
trash heap of technology, because of this "new and
improved" invention ... Voice Recognition
Software.
Did voice recognition come to pass? Well not
exactly! In fact, voice recognition technology has
been a great disappointment.
If you have ever used voice recognition software
on cell phones, you know exactly what I'm talking
about. Not only do you have to train the cell
phone to recognize your voice but you have to
interface with the name in your address book as
you say it.
It hasn't been very dependable. The success rate
of this feature has been less than steller and for
the most part very frustrating. Often you have to
repeat (or yell) the name over and over to
initiate the call (most times resorting to dialing
it yourself).
Similarly, voice recognition software for the
computer promised to be a panacea to those who
were "keyboard challenged" but it too has fallen
short of the promises.
Most doctors thought that voice recognition would
eliminate the need to outsource medical
transcription. Not so! Most don't have the time
nor the patience to "train" the voice recognition
software. If you are tempted to try it, expect a
long learning curve.
If you would only use your computer in a closed
silent room, never have a cold or other voice
altering condition, and don't have an accent,
voice recognition software would work and be
fabulous most of the time. But how often are you
in that situation? The conditions in my life are
never perfect for voice recognition. I am either
talking on the phone with my children or husband,
or in the room with the radio or TV. Thunder,
lighting, hail and petulance, there is always
something disturbing my silence. When working at
my laptop I maybe at Starbucks, the airport or a
restaurant, all very noisy places affecting voice
recognition software.
The ability to type quickly and accurately is
crucial for everyday life. Typing speed will
affect how fast you can do research, surf the Web,
write papers, and save time in school and the rest
of their life! Every job requires typing skills.
Typing is important for school work starting as
early as elementary grade level. Life will be a
lot easier for your children if they learn correct
typing techniques at a young age. Did you now that
typing has been shown to improve spelling,
writing, language skills, and grades.
Maybe in the future someone will perfect a voice
recognition system that can be used in our noisy
lives. . . but for now. . . Happy Typing!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Feature Article - Part 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to Select a Typing Course for Children
by Pamela Connolly
A good typing course for kids will teach your
child all the routinely used letters, numbers, and
punctuation. Here are the most important computer
keyboard keys they need to learn when learning how
to type.
Space bar
This key makes a space. Use your thumbs.
Enter key
This key moves the curser to the next line.
Shift keys
These keys capitalize the letter you are striking,
or type the symbol shown in the upper portion of
the key. Use the opposite hand to strike the shift
key.
Caps lock
This key locks in the shift key that capitalizes
all letters, but does not affect the numbers or
punctuations.
Arrows
These keys move the curser in the direction
indicated.
Delete
This key erases either the print to the right of
the curser or the highlighted area.
Insert
This key inserts text to the right of the curser.
When the key is cancelled (press insert/delete) it
will erase as you type.
Home
This key moves the curser to the beginning of that
line of text.
End
This key moves the curser to the end of that line
of text.
Parenthesis
These symbols are found above the 9 and 0. To open
the parenthesis the left hand shift key is struck
and simultaneously the 9 is struck, and to close
the parenthesis keep the left hand shift key
depressed and strike 0.
Apostrophe
This symbol is found when you move your right
little finger from; to the right to find '.
Quotation Marks
This symbol is found when left shift key is
depressed and the apostrophe is struck.
A good typing course will help your child memorize
those computer keyboard keys in a fun, easy way.
===========================
Pam Connolly is a professional educator with the
San Diego School District. She has been teaching
kids how to type for over 11 years.
To teach your child typing, visit
http://www.1stoplearntotype.com
To improve your child's memory, visit
http://www.1stopezmemory.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Homeschool Curriculum Idea of the Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time to write a poem!
Let your child practice her typing skills by
writing an original poem. A great way to start is
to first think about the things that she likes.
Brainstorm a bit. Make a list of things that she
really, really likes:
Things she like to do.
What she likes to wear.
Places she likes to go.
Foods she likes to eat.
Favorite hobbies, movies, subjects, books she's
read.
Now, suggest writing a poem about her FAVORITE
favorites, possibly using this "free style" format
(or something similar) and remembering that poems
do not have to rhyme:
I like to ---
I always wear ---
I really love ---
I'm addicted to ---
I never tire of ---
I'm crazy about ---
Kids love to talk about themselves and what's
important to them. This activity will allow your
child to express her individuality in a fun and
creative way. Encourage her to rewrite and polish
her first draft of the poem a few times, then
print it out using a special font, and place a
copy in her portfolio. Then, try writing another!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Free Online Homeschooling Resources
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.brainbashers.com/puzzles.asp
A super collection of puzzles, perfect for
brain flexing. Math and number puzzles, story
problems, word puzzles, brain teasers, and much
more! You'll need Java Virtual Machine installed
on your computer to work some of these puzzles and
games.
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/index.html
Learn all about Betsy Ross. Learn US flag
history and rules. Find interesting trivia,
quotes, notes, and graphics.
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagstar.html
Make a perfect five pointed star! George
Washington thought it would be too difficult to
mass produce, but Betsy Ross showed him that it
could easily be done! (He wanted six-pointed
stars). Measure, fold, and snip once.
http://www.france-property-and-information.com/metric_conversion_table.htm
Here is a metric conversion table shows
conversions from the US System to Metric and
Metric to US System. You can enter any measurement
and click-to-convert as well!
http://www.freemathhelp.com/algebra-help.html
Free math help in algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, and calculus. A large collection of
algebra lessons available to help you learn a new
subject or refresh an old one. Live help is
available through their message board.
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm
PurpleMath presents free 'practical algebra
lessons' and topics, beginning with the
preliminaries, such as absolute values, factoring,
and converting between decimals, fractions, and
percentages. Every new lesson or function is
carefully explained in a step-by-step manner, so
your middle-schooler or high-schooler will
probably be able to learn on his or her own.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Find 75 terrific art, science, and craft recipes
that will keep your kids busy in our e-book,
75 Craft Recipes For Kids. Great summer
time activities for your children!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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