Foolproof Fudge, Value of Boredom, Learning Styles
By Heather Idoni
Added Friday, December 21, 2007
==========================================================
The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
==========================================================
Vol. 8 No 98 December 21, 2007
ISSN: 1536-2035
==========================================================
Copyright (c) 2007 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
==========================================================
Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=================
IN THIS ISSUE:
=================
Notes from Heather
-- Reader Input... and FUDGE!
Helpful Tips
-- The Value of Boredom
Winning Website
-- MacroHistory
Reader Question
-- Learning about Learning Styles
Additional Notes
-- Searchable Archive
-- Our Email Group
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
=======================
Notes from Heather
=======================
Have a wonderful Christmas! Our next issue will be on Friday,
January 4th. -- Heather
P.S. Our family is supporting Congressman Ron Paul in his bid
for the Presidency. If you are interested in reading about
where he stands on homeschooling, here is a good synopsis:
http://www.covenantnews.com/ronpaul070727.htm
---
Another Answer for Becky's Question - 12/17 Issue
http://familyclassroom.net/Articles20074/20071217.html
Reader Recommends Trisms
"I think boys are pretty independent in their learning, especi-
ally once they get to the Jr. High level. It makes sense if
you think about it. Both of my boys who are now in high school
are extremely independent in their learning, which is bittersweet
for me. One curriculum you might want to check out for your son
is Trisms. It's a research and history-based unit study, but is
done in a very independent way. YOU, however, decide how inde-
pendent you want him to be while using it, and it can be extremely
flexible. They have different volumes for each year from 7th
grade through high school. Our 15 year old son is using it now,
and is doing extremely well and loves it! He's definitely getting
a very thorough education while using this, and he doesn't have
to wait for mom to be ready; he just gets up and and goes right
to his learning -- because his unit is all planned out and copied
-- and he works on it at his pace within the time limits we set
together. This is teaching him some extremely valuable skills
that he'll need for college. We are extremely pleased with
Trisms. Their website is www.trisms.com." -- Tracy in Western NY
---
Fast and EASY Fudge!
If you need a last-minute gift idea, why not make a variety of
fudge for family or friends?
Being 7 months pregnant right now, I'm not up for standing in the
kitchen for long periods of time (5 minutes standing in one place
just about does me in the way the baby is usually positioned!)
My friend Jodi in Iowa (in between answering countless political
phone calls, poor thing!) found this amazing 5 minute recipe for
me online. It is sooooo easy and fast!!
You can vary it with semi-sweet, butterscotch, peanutbutter, or
white chocolate chips... add any kind of nuts, mini-marshmallows,
peanutbutter, marshmallow creme -- and any type of flavored extract
for variety. You can use a double boiler, heavy saucepan, or
microwave. I used a microwave with a 4 cup glass measuring cup.
---
Foolproof Chocolate Fudge
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Line one 8 or 9 inch square pan with wax paper. Over low heat,
melt the chocolate chips with the condensed milk. Remove from
heat and stir in the chopped nuts and vanilla extract. Spread
mixture evenly into the prepared pan and chill for 2 hours or
until firm. Once firm, turn fudge onto cutting board, peel off
waxed paper and cut into small squares.
Original recipe found at:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Foolproof-Chocolate-Fudge/Detail.aspx
---
Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: heather@familyclassroom.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
================
Helpful Tip
================
The Value of Boredom
"When children have time and nothing is planned, they will not
take a nap! They think up what they want to do. Let children
have downtime. Let them be bored! Boredom is a better friend
than you think. One rainy afternoon some homeschool children
wadded up junkmail to make 'balls' for an indoor volleyball game.
They played on their knees as they weren't allowed to run in the
house. They used a torn sheet for a net. After endless hours
at the new game, weeks of refining the rules and borrowing knee-
pads, two of them switched to juggling! The third, fascinated
by the aerodynamics of the wadded up paper, picked up a science
book the family had and started to read it. Mom's contribution?
Being there! Limiting their media. And, collecting books on
all kinds of subjects, at all levels."
---
This Quick Homeschooling Tip brought to you by Home School Inc.,
www.Home-School-Inc.com, home of the totally free P.E.R. 1.0
(Plan, Educate, Record), the place to capture your homeschooling,
for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
---
Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
==================
Winning Website
==================
MacroHistory
I recently stumbled on a neat site that features historical maps,
listed by time period. These are not outline maps for labeling,
but they can still be viewed or printed for notebooks, reports, etc.
Also listed are people, events in a timeline fashion, along with
country profiles. There is A LOT of info on this site!
http://www.fsmitha.com/
-- Cindy P. - www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
===============================
Last Issue's Reader Question
===============================
Note: This question references a reader question from an October
issue of our newsletter. Answers to Trish's question and also
Michelle's comments ("Don't Kill the Clam") can be found in the
following issues archived at our Homeschooler's Notebook website:
http://www.familyclassroom.net/Articles20074/20071029.html
http://www.familyclassroom.net/Articles20074/20071105.html
---
"As I read some of the responses to Trish's dilemma, I felt a pang
or two. My son and I have been 'butting heads' for awhile now.
While reading Michelle's comments regarding her daughter, I wondered
to myself if maybe I need more info on what type of learner my son
is. How do you find this out? He loves high-tech things like robots,
plus he is into space adventures, etc. He loves playing with his
Mega-Bloks... and he can reconfigure almost anything he sees or reads
about (that he finds interesting). The basics he does NOT like --
grammar, math, history, etc. How can I get him 'on board' with this
journey? Thanks for any and all suggestions/responses."
-- Debora in Georgia
=========================
Our Readers' Responses
=========================
"To save the headaches, you might want to try 'cheating'. You
didn't say how old your son is, but these things work for most
ages as long as he knows his basic math facts. For reading,
grammar and history, keep it on the subjects he loves. Have him
re-write stories about space adventures or write his own stories,
whichever he prefers. Have him do math for mega-block projects
(how many blocks will it take if you just use blocks with four
or eight pegs on them -- can you do it with just blocks that have
12 pegs on them, etc.)
For finding out what kind of learner you have, below are some
websites to check out. You can also find books at the library
or your local large bookstore about this.
http://www.creativelearningcentre.com/students_parents
http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm - testing
http://www.ttuhsc.edu/SOM/Success/LSTIntro.htm - testing
http://www2.gsu.edu/~dschjb/wwwmbti.html - mostly information
Most of all, don't give up. Eventually it all comes together and
they end up just fine. Contact me if you want for more informa-
tion on alternative learning. I had to do it with my one daughter.
She was not going to do her math and English without a fight,
but when I turned it into a cooking or dressmaking problem, it
went without hassles for the most part. My email address is
melindas.rose@gmail.com. Take care, Debora." -- Melinda U.
---
"The book THE WAY THEY LEARN by Cynthia Tobias is excellent.
Truthfully, if you type in 'learning styles' to your web browser
you will get a ton of info. I would even say too much. There
are many levels in which people learn and children at a young age
cannot be specifically determined and are not even done developing
in this area. That is why they move so much, get into things,
ask a ton of questions, and more.
As for some specifics: You have the basics - Visual, Kinesthetic,
and Auditory. You also have Global thinkers, and... I forget the
word but it is means those that are more detailed-oriented and not
big-picture (Global). There are many others. I prefer the below
sites and the above book. They have immensely helped me!
http://surfaquariaum.com/MI/
http://www.thomasarmstrong.com
I squish the clam a lot less nowadays. :-)" -- Michelle in Oregon
---
"The very best book on the subject of learning styles that I've
found is called 'Discover Your Child's Learning Style' by Mariaemma
Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson. There are many good books on
the subject, but this one is the most comprehensive, thorough book
that I've ever seen. There is a profile that you do with your
child (and your entire family) in order to find out how best your
child learns. Their website is:
http://learningsuccessinstitute.com/index.html
They have a free email newsletter for which you can register as
well. I read mine over, and give the profile every couple of years,
because their profiles do change some with passing time. It's one
book that I refer people to often, but don't ever lend out, because
I use it that much to be able to effectively teach my children at
home." -- Tracy in Western NY
=========================
Answer our NEW Question
=========================
"My oldest daughter is 16. She has always worked far beyond her
age/grade level, has completed all of her high school coursework,
and we'd like to graduate her. However, the age for compulsory
attendance in Ohio is 6-18. If we graduate my daughter with a
homeschool diploma at age 16, are we facing possible truancy issues
with the local school district? Our district is not homeschool
friendly. We homeschool independently, therefore the diploma
would be one we'd issue ourselves (no umbrella schools, etc.)."
-- Candace
[Editor note: I know this is sort of a legal question, but do any
readers from Ohio have some experience to share along these lines?
We'll have the usual disclaimer about seeking legal advice, etc. :-)
-- Heather]
---
Have some help for Candace? Your answers will appear in our next
issue on December 28th.
Please send your answer to: HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
=====================
Ask YOUR Question
=====================
Do you have a question you would like our readers to answer?
Send it to HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
=======================
Need Immediate Help?
=======================
Visit our Homeschool Encouragement Center! This is a live 24/7
'chat' area where you can talk live to our homeschool counselors
by typing in a box. When you get there, just introduce yourself
and let them know that Heather sent you!
This ultra-safe chat is supervised by experienced moms who are
there to serve and share their wisdom... or just offer a listening
ear.
Check out our schedule of daily chats and jump right in! :-)
http://www.HomeschoolChat.us
[Note: This ministry is geared toward Christian parents, but all
are welcome. You may need to download a Java program to utilize
this service. Email Luanne@educationforthesoul.com if you have
any technical difficulties.]
=====================================
Our Searchable Newsletter Archive
=====================================
Access the Homeschool Notebook issues you have missed...
at our archives! http://www.FamilyClassroom.net
...or you can search on a specific word or phrase in issues all
the way back to January 2001! Just go to this link:
http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?visit=hs-notebook
==========================
Interactive Email Group
==========================
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/
===========================
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
===========================
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!
=====================
ADDITIONAL NOTES
=====================
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:
http://www.familyclassroom.net
We also sponsor an incredible site with over 1,500 pages of helps!
http://www.easyfunschool.com
===========================
REPRINT INFORMATION
===========================
No part of this newsletter (except subscription information
below) may be copied and/or displayed in digital format online
(for instance, on a website or blog) without EXPRESS permission
from the editor. Individuals may, however, forward the newsletter
IN ITS ENTIRETY to *individual* friends (not email groups). For
reprints in paper publications (homeschool support group newsletters,
etc.) please direct your request to: Heather@FamilyClassroom.net
===========================
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
===========================
To subscribe, just send a blank email to the following address:
join-hs-notebook@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to the following address:
leave-hs-notebook@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
==========================================================
