The Animal School - Personality and Learning Style
By Heather Idoni
Added Friday, June 09, 2006
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 7 No 23 June 9, 2006
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2006 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- The Animal School
Letter from a Reader
Kids' Corner Question
-- An Animal for You?
Helpful Tips
-- Some Good Sites
Question of the Week
-- Your Questions
-- Your Answers
Editor's Pick
-- Flood the World
Announcements
-- Subscriber Information
-- Sponsorship Information
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Notes from Heather
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The Animal School
This past week one of our readers sent me a link to a slideshow
style presentation that is an excellent illustration of the different
ways children's personalities affect their learning styles... and
how institutional schooling fails so many children. It has a lot to
say to homeschooling parents, too. We can so easily fall into
the trap of allowing certain "schoolish" expectations to cause
stress and anguish in our kids. This is worth discussing!
If you can view "flash", use this link -- it is the best way to view it:
http://raisingsmallsouls.com/wp-content/themes/179/aschool.html
If you need to view the "text only" version, it is here:
http://raisingsmallsouls.com/animal-school-text.html
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Want to talk about "The Animal School"? Write to me!
heather@familyclassroom.net
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Letter from a Reader
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"Thanks so much for your "e-zine". Yours is so helpful and
supportive - excellent in its tangible quality and in its spirit.
Thought you'd want to know I followed through on your ad for
New Harvest Homestead. Their publication has truly been a
hit already with me and my husband. After reading and relish-
ing their sample issue #1, yesterday I ordered their 5 back
issues. They've already responded and I've printed five issues
I can't wait to sit down later today and read. For me, their
sweet-spirited little newsletter is like a long, lingering soak in
a bubble bath. It has a healing, nourishing quality I need and
appreciate. They seem to have a wonderful, balanced blend of
meaty content for the experienced and fun, simple first projects
for the novice (I personally need this since I haven't yet found a
"Homesteading for Dummies" book).
I think all homeschoolers who aren't offended by things spirit-
ually based would enjoy this look at practical ways to save
money and immerse your children in a less complex lifestyle
full of learning and growing.
Thanks so much for your hard work and for introducing us to
Guy and Lisa." -- Judy R., Crawford, Texas
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Kids' Corner Question
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Here is a question for your children to answer this week:
"If you could think of an animal that is like your personality,
what animal would it be... and why?"
Tell me all about the animal that is most like you!
Send your emails to: HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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Helpful Tips
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from Bonnie Jean:
"I have found a couple of web sites that have really helped me
out and might help your other readers...
One is www.flylady.net
and the other is www.savingdinner.net
They help you with tasks that sometimes can be overwhelming;
and I believe they have a list of special tips for homeschooling
families if you look in their Table of Contents section."
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Do you have tips or ideas to share with our readers?
Send to: HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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Joanne writes:
"I have a just-turned-fifteen-year-old daughter who took the
ACT for the first time this year. She made a 26 on her over-all
English score, but only an 18 on the reading part. I was floored,
because she is never without a book. She reads constantly. I
know she is a good reader. In asking her what happened with
the reading part of the test, she told me that she reads so
slowly that she was only half way through with that part of the
test when the time limit was up. How can we speed up her
reading without her losing comprehension? Also, any sugges-
tions on improving the math & science part of the test? This is
the area all my children (six of them) have scored the lowest."
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Our Readers' Responses
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"I was just reading some articles on this very problem. I tutor
high school children in reading. One way to increase fluency
was to do timed readings until speed is increased. Also try to
see if your daughter is scooping words together or reading every
word. The article was Developing Reading Fluency. It was a
very detailed article on how to increase fluency." -- Renee
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"Look for a "speed-reading" course. I'm not sure exactly how
they work, but if she can train herself to read faster (without
losing comprehension, of course) it will benefit her in all subject
areas." -- Sherry A.
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"You may want to try a McCall-Crabbs Standard Test Lessons
in Reading. We have 5 volumes in 1. For these tests, you set
the timer for 3 minutes. The student reads the passage, then
answers 8-12 questions before the timer goes off. After you
score the answers, the student immediately knows what grade
level they scored at. Quick, immediate feedback, and easy to
administer. The book tests as low as 2-4 grade and as high as
grade 18. Be careful which version you order. They redid them
in the 1970's and dumbed them down. We got ours through
Christian Book Distributors, published by Back Home Industries.
The copy right dates in it are 1926, 1950, and 1961, so this is
an older curriculum." -- Maren R.
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Answer our NEW Question
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Cyndi writes:
"I have an 11 year old daughter who will be in 8th grade in the
fall. She wants to be a vet when she grows up. I have been
considering doing a unit study of some kind with her in the fall --
maybe on veterinary science or something like that -- some-
thing that would allow her to learn more about animals and that
career field. I have searched and searched for a unit study, and
I am coming up empty-handed. Do you know of any out there?"
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Do you have some ideas for this mom?
Send an email to: HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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ASK YOUR QUESTION
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Do you have a burning question that you can't ask just anyone?
Send it to HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if our readers can help you out.
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Editor's Pick
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Flood Maps
What do you think about the possibilities of global warming?
Do you think it is bunk... or maybe there is some truth to it?
Whatever your views, you will find this map very interesting.
Go anywhere in the world, raise "sea level", and see what
ends up under water! Raise it from 1... to 7... to 14 meters.
Have fun here:
http://flood.firetree.net
The main page starts out zoomed in on Great Britain, but
you can move all over the map of the world.
[**Note: This is not intended to start debate about global
warming, so please don't send me any emails about that!
I just found this site fascinating. My mother lives in
Hollywood, Florida, so the topic is quite *hot* down there!
Be sure to check out what happens to South Florida when
the level is raised just 6 meters.]
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Beloved Books Online - 15% OFF
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Continuing through the Month of June!
If you haven't visited my online store before, this is your
personal invitation! Audio stories make WONDERFUL
birthday presents... and they are great for summer road trips!
We have exciting Newbery award CDs like The Perilous Road
by William O. Steele, classics like Girl of the Limberlost by
Gene Stratton Porter, and our favorite series -- Sugar Creek
Gang. Also - Pilgrim's Progress and KJV Scripture Songs!
http://www.belovedbooks.com
If you send me an email, I'll reply with a secret coupon code
for 15% off your first purchase at Beloved Books. :-)
Email: heather@familyclassroom.net
When in Michigan, please drop in for a visit!
(Directions at the website.)
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Interactive Email Group
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In an effort to help our readers become more of an interactive
community, we have set up an email loop at YahooGroups called
"Homeschool-Notebook".
Here is the link to sign-up!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschool-notebook/
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SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
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There are opportunities for you to be a sponsor of this
newsletter. If you are interested, drop an e-mail to
marketing@stretcher.com with "Homeschoolers-Notebook"
as the subject. We'll send you some information on how to
become a part of this ministry!
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
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All contributed articles are printed with the author's prior
consent. It is assumed that any questions, tips or replies to
questions may be reprinted. All letters become the property of
the "Homeschooler's Notebook". [Occasionally your contribution
may have to be edited for space.]
Again, I welcome you to the group! Feel free to send any
contributions to HN-articles@familyclassroom.net or
HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net.
Our main website is:
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We also sponsor an incredible site with over 1,500 pages of helps!
http://www.easyfunschool.com
And more resources and links can be found at Lynn Hogan's site:
http://www.unitstudyhelps.com
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