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Hands-On Homeschool Newsletter - Mar. 24,
2006 Vol. II Issue 6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue:
> 1. From the Editor's Desk
> 2. Article - Having Fun When Homeschooling
> 3. Letters to the Editor - When Your Spouse Says
"No" to Homeschool
> 4. Say What? Absurd Homeschool Comments
> 5. Feature Article - Learning Styles and the
Homeschooler - Part I of III
> 6. Homeschool Curriculum Ideas of the Week -
Calendar Teaching Tips
> 7. Free Homeschool Resources
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. From the Editor's Desk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome!
Everyone has had the experience of having both
good and bad teachers. If you stop and think about
it, you can probably remember some things that
your good teachers had in common (as well as the
not-so-good). Read more about how to emulate those
good teacher qualities in our first article of
this issue.
When you determine your child's personal learning
style(s), you can adjust your curriculum to suit
your child's particular ways of learning. You can
teach to her strengths, as well as strengthening
her other learning modes. Find out more about
learning styles in our feature article. (This is
part one of three.)
You'll also find eight great calendar teaching
ideas - I always KNEW we shouldn't throw out those
calendars! (You might have a drawer full of them
somewhere, too...)
Here's where you'll find great learning
activities, advice, and free websites - perfect
for your homeschool.
Enjoy this issue!
Sandra B.
Editor
Just a note... we are planning to archive our past
Hands-On Homeschool Newsletters. Missed an issue?
Soon you'll be able to find it online! Stay tuned!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Having Fun When Homeschooling
By Mark Brosius
Homeschooling has many benefits for a child's
education. One of the most obvious is that it
allows you, the parent, to tailor a specific
education geared towards your child's particular
needs. It also allows you to teach in a style that
suits your child -- as we all know, different
people learn better in different ways. When you
decide to homeschool it is important to remember
that as well as being a parent, you are now taking
on the role of a teacher. This is, of course, not
a responsibility to be taken lightly, and you have
to make every effort to be the best teacher you
can be.
Everyone has had the experience of having both a
good and bad teacher. If you stop and think about
it, you'll notice some things that your good
teachers had in common. The most important is that
they were genuinely interested in their subject
areas. Nothing makes a teacher better than
enthusiasm for a subject. You'll also notice that
most of the bad teachers you had didn't seem
particularly interested in the subject they were
teaching. It is for this reason that it is crucial
to create a homeschooling experience that
interests both you and your child.
While your child's education should come first and
foremost when creating a homeschooling curriculum,
you shouldn't be shy to think of your own
education as well. When looking at things to study
in particular subject areas, think about things
that interested you in those areas that you didn't
get to explore much when you were in school.
It cannot be understated how valuable an
experience it is to learn with your child. You
will be strengthening a family bond, and your
shared interest and excitement in a topic will
ensure that your child retains the information.
One way to do this is to understand the balance
between rigidness and flexibility in a
homeschooling curriculum.
A certain amount of structure is required in a
general curriculum: you have to have set goals and
timelines outlining when certain things must be
learned. But within those timelines, you have a
lot of flexibility, and you should use it to your
advantage. When studying literature, for example,
understand that the goal is to read and learn
about good literature, not necessarily to read a
particular book. So instead of studying a
"standard" novel that you've already read,
consider a book that is new to you as well. With
both you and your child interested in the book,
the experience of reading it together will be
enjoyable for both of you, as you will both be
excited about the outcome.
This concept needn't be applied only to
literature. Think of things in science or music,
for example, that you've always wanted to learn
about. If you make sure that you are interested in
the subjects as well, your child will sense your
enthusiasm and become more drawn into the subject,
ensuring a much more valuable educational
experience.
About The Author
Mark Brosius is a seasoned father of four and
started
www.homeschooledkids.info as a way
to keep himself and others up to date on the
issues faced by homeschoolers and their children.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Brosius
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Letters to the Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question:
I am not at all happy with my children's
school situation. Two women in my church are
homeschooling their children and I have been
talking to them about it. I brought up the idea of
teaching the children at home, but my husband is
against it. I know I could teach them myself; in
fact I've thought about homeschooling since my
children were babies. This needs to be a family
decision, I know, but how can I convince my
husband that homeschooling would work and that we
should give it a chance?
Answer:
I found myself in a similar situation after we
moved and my children started a new school (K and
2nd grade). Although he could see that there were
problems with the school, my husband was not
willing to consider pulling them out. So, knowing
that nagging and arguing would only make him more
resistant, I had to come up with some better
ideas. Here they are:
>
Put expert information in front of him. Obtain
information about effects of public school as well
as the benefits of homeschooling.
Try John Taylor Grotto's essay, "The Seven
Lesson Schoolteacher," from his book "Dumbing Us
Down," at
http://hometown.aol.com/tma68/7lesson.htm.
None Dare Call It Education explains why our
once great public school system now graduates
students who cannot read, write or calculate. You
can find it at
http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/index.lasso?page=detail&keyword=0863001
I read and discussed the book, Why Johnny
Can't Read - And What You Can Do About It, by
Rudolf Flesch, with my husband. I explained that
without phonics, our children would continue to
have reading problems, and that I could teach them
phonics at home from the book and other resources
that I had found.
I also borrowed several books about homeschooling.
My husband was not an avid reader, so laying them
around the house wouldn't be very effective, but
it was helpful to read them myself and to bring up
what I had learned regarding the positive aspects
of homeschooling. Every homeschooling family has
books about homeschooling. What do they recommend?
Buy or borrow them, and read up.
> Get to know other homeschooling families and
participate in their activities as though you are
homeschooling. Meet with them at the park on play
days (even if your children are at school). Find
out what they do for activities and field trips;
and get information about curriculums that they
are using. Involve you children with the group as
much as possible (remember, homeschool does not
take place only during school hours), and
introduce your husband to other parents and
families. Once he sees that homeschoolers are
respectful, intelligent learners with supportive,
involved parents - and once another problem comes
up at your kids' school - he may change his mind.
> Pray. If you know in your heart that
homeschooling is right for your children and that
you are ready and able and looking forward to this
special time with them, pray that a way will be
found and that your husband will agree to try it.
Let God do some of the work.
> Be positive. Try to understand what his
objections are and why he has them. Find a way to
address his issues without undermining his
reasoning or his desire to make the best decisions
for his children.
All of these strategies together worked for me,
and they also worked for my friend whose husband
was even more stubborn than mine! In my case,
within two weeks of bringing up the idea for the
first time, a problem occurred at school (on top
of several prior ones) and my husband suddenly
demanded that I remove them from school. It was
time to teach them at home. (Sometimes, letting
your husband think it's his idea - even though he
got it from you - makes all the difference!) After
bringing them home, we continued to homeschool
these two and three more children (two yet unborn)
for the next 15 years. It became "our way," of
schooling, and with my husband's full support.
I hope and pray that your husband will have a
similar change of heart.
* * * * *
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Farris, the co-founder of HSDLA, recently
asked readers of his column to submit "dumb
statements" people have made regarding
homeschooling. (I've heard quite a few whoppers
myself over the years; haven't we all?) Just for
fun, we'll feature a few of these silly comments
in this forum.
From the Karoutsos Family:
My six year old son was very fidgety in the
dentist's chair. Afterwards the dentist spoke to
me and told me of his fidgetiness and said, "Your
son did not sit still. It is possibly due to the
fact that you homeschool him."
Mike: I guess he thought that dentistry was so
boring he would branch out into child psychology.
From Dawn Howey:
A Christian friend, "God didn't homeschool Jesus,
He sent Him away to school."
Mike: I think the friend needs to be sent away to
Sunday School.
From MDT:
An acquaintance asked, "How can you possibly give
them enough one-on-one time?"
Mike (stolen from MDT): I guess the kids would get
more one-on-one time in a classroom of 30.
* * * * *
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learning Styles and the Home Schooler - Part I of
III
By Pamela Connolly
What Style Of Learner Is Your Child? Why is it
important to determine your child's personal
learning style? Why and how you should adjust your
curriculum to suit your child particular learning
style? These are a few of the questions this
report will answer.
Before we begin, it's time to pat yourself on the
back because you are your child's hero! As the
primary educator of your child, you have taken on
the most challenging and important job in the
world.
In this report you will learn how to evaluate your
child's individual learning style so you can
adjust your teaching style to their particular
ways of receiving and processing information. As a
result of your efforts you will create a child
with a life-long love of learning! Knowing a
little bit about learning styles can help you make
adjustments in your curriculum to zero in on the
particular learning style that is best suited to
your child and help you create the most effective
learning environment FOR them. This report was
developed by leading educators in the field of
early childhood development and early childhood
education.
The benefit of directing curriculum to the
specific style of the student has always been seen
as valuable. But this type of individualized
program is not practical in our overcrowed public
schools system so as a result they have adopted
the one-size-fits-all methods. But you are not
tied to that antiquated idea. You are in the
unique position to adjust and adapt your
curriculum to create the best education for your
child.
Knowledge is power... It is the greatest gift you
can give your child.
This is part I of a three part report. You must
start with this premise...
Everyone receives and processes information (thus
learns) by four basic but very different means.
Finding the right one for your child is key to
making the best educational environment for them
and a successful teaching experience for you.
First Consider ... Which characteristics best
describes your child?
VISUAL (reading)
• This type of student receives information best
through their eyes - what they see and read.
• Many times these students will teach themselves
to read.
• They prefer color illustrations and materials
that have charts and graphs inside them.
• They often "see" the words.
• They use words as see, picture, and see, and
like descriptive scenes or pause to imagine the
actions.
• They like books with bright pictures.
• They like demonstrations, picture, diagrams,
slides, or posters.
• They like face to face personal meetings, might
forget names but will remember the situation.
• When they are not given visual cues they get
distracted and frustrated.
AUDITORY (listening)
• This type of student learns best by hearing
things, either recorded in an active discussion.
• They sound-out words and require the phonics
approach to reading.
• They enjoy listening but interrupt often and are
impatient for their turn to talk.
• They forget faces but remember names and what
they talked about.
• They use words like hear, tune, and think.
• They go around singing or humming.
• They prefer using the telephone to face to face
meetings, and enjoy dialog and conversation.
• They want to hear characters as they study them.
• They prefer verbal instructions or talking about
them with someone.
• They are highly distractible by sound or noises.
TACTILE/KINESTHETIC (moving/doing)
• This type of student NEEDS to have physical
contact with things that they are learning about.
• They use gestures and expressive movements.
• They use words like feel, touch, and hold.
• They write down words to see if they feel right.
• They NEED to move around and demonstrate what
they are learning.
• They prefer working with their hands (clay,
paper Mache, blocks etc,).
• They have conversations as they are walking or
participating in an activity.
• They prefer action stories.
• They are generally not avid readers.
• They tend to jump right in to a situation
without thinking things through.
• They ignore directions and want to figure it out
as they go.
• They try the same incorrect method over and over
again, get completely frustrated, but blame
someone/something else.
• This type of student reminds us of the term
"energy in motion".
SOCIAL (one-on-one)
• This student learns by interacting with other
people.
• They can be anyone of the previous types of
learners, but continually need one-on-one
attention or they get distracted, frustrated and
stop the task.
• They depend on joint projects and activities to
keep them focused and moving.
• They need individual attention.
• They like to talk about everything they are
studying.
• They might be seen as lazy. But are usually very
intelligent, only prefer being led.
• They are not self starters, but are great in a
"brainstorming" situation.
• They are oriented to what "people will think".
Once you have discovered how your child (best)
receives the information you are in the position
to adjust your curriculum to meet that style.
For example: if they favor "auditory" learning -
listening to a book on tape or reading a book out
loud may fit their needs.
Or if they are social learners, discuss the
material with them, or form book clubs with other
home schoolers who are social learners. For the
visual learner looking at maps, as they read or
watching a movie about the material maybe the
answer. I am sure you know how to pique and keep
the interest of your particular child and can make
adjustments in their curriculum.
But is very important that once you realize what
style is best for your child that you do not
abandon the other methods of learning. For
example, if your child is a auditory learner do
not just have them listen to the material, have
them listen while they read in the book. Sometimes
learning styles change and sometimes they will
have to use a less desirable style, because it's
the only way the material is available... so don't
just teach to one method but blend techniques to
create the best learning environment for your
child.
In parts 2 and 3 you will learn how other factors
can effect styles and learning and how to further
tweak your curriculum to create the best learning
environment for your child.
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
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Connolly
* * * * *
You'll find many more activities just right
for homeschoolers in our new e-book,
101 MORE Hands-On Tried & True Homeschool
Curriculum Ideas You'll Love! Publication is
scheduled for March, 2006. Good news! Hands-On
Homeschool Newsletter subscribers will receive
very special pricing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Homeschool Curriculum Ideas of the Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calendar Teaching Tips
by Freda J. Glatt, MS
Stop! Don't throw away those old calendars! There
is so much you can do with a calendar to reinforce
academic skills. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Writing - Use the pictures as story starters by
having children write an original story, poem, or
song centered around them.
2. Art - Cut out the pictures and use them to make
your own greeting cards. Write original sayings to
go inside.
3. Classification - Have a selection of different
kinds of pictures available so your children can
sort them according to general similarities...all
pets, all cars, all buildings, etc. Older children
can sort them into more specific categories such
as sports cars, SUV's, etc.
4. Flash Cards - Make your own by putting a
picture on one side and writing the word on the
other. For older children, write a sentence
including the word. Have children make their own
flash cards! (NOTE: Cut out the numbers to make
math flash cards.)
5. Left-to-Right Progression - As you teach young
children the days of the week, always point out
that you are starting from the left and going to
the right.
6. Days and Dates - Ask questions that review
days, dates, and ordinal numbers. For instance,
which day of the week is the third? What is the
date of the fourth Wednesday? When does Autumn
begin (day and date)? Which holiday is on
September 5?
7. Math - Ask questions to review before and
after. For instance, what will the date be five
days after Labor Day? What will that day be? If
National Farm Animals Awareness Week is September
18, what was the date nine days earlier? Which day
of the week was it? What would the sum be if you
add the dates of all Tuesdays in the month? For
older children, make it a 2-part problem and have
them subtract from, multiply, or divide the
answer. Using the dates of the calendar, what is
the difference of the last Friday and the second
Friday? Are you multiplying, yet? Skip color all
the boxes in multiples of 8, for instance. You
would then have boxes numbered 8, 16, and 24
filled in. Since you will have several days left
over, children can learn the term 'remainders' and
get ready for division!
8. Reading - Alphabetize all the holidays and
special days. How many syllables are in each name?
List the holidays, then the special days. Which
countries are represented? Do some research and
find out more about unfamiliar days.
I hope these ideas have been useful and have
ignited your own creativity.
And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Free Online Homeschooling Resources
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/index.html
This is an incredible online lesson to teach
your child about plant life. It's fun and
interactive as your child helps Detective Leplant
unlock the mysteries of plant life. Activities
enhance student's math, science, language arts,
social studies, music and art. Parent/Teachers
Guide is included.
http://www.agirlsworld.com/amy/pajama/mothersday/cool_craft.htm
Here is a coupon book your children can make
for Mom (a great Mother's Day gift!). Also check
out New Voices, a site for pre-teen girls from all
over the world to express themselves through their
writing. Maybe your daughter would like to submit
her work, too!
http://www.agirlsworld.com/amy/new-voices/index.html
http://www.createdbyteachers.com/primaryactivitymar.html
Print out these "mind benders" for a little
March fun. Created by teachers. Visit the
Teacher2Teacher free materials homepage for many
more free resources:
http://www.createdbyteachers.com/freemain.html
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1939.html
Great project for spring! Facts about flowers
and how to press them! To make an easy cardboard
flower press, try:
http://www.funology.com/boredombusters/bb018.htm
For a wooden flower press you can make with
your children, here are step-by-step
directions:
http://www.vandycks.com/pressingflowers.phtml
http://www.vandycks.com/bookmark.phtml
Make a pressed flower book mark for yourself
or for Mother's Day.
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