More on Motion Learning, Handling Critics, Fiber Arts
By Heather Idoni
Added Thursday, September 24, 2009
==========================================================
The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
==========================================================
Vol. 10 No 70 September 24, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
==========================================================
Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
==========================================================
Welcome to The Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
And please visit our sponsors! They make it possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR:
Would Your Kids Benefit from 8 Weeks of Individual Writing Help?
Teacher led, one-on-one writing courses for 3rd - 12th grade
Time4Writing offers 8 week sessions based on your schedule.
Online courses cover grammar, writing mechanics, sentences,
paragraphs and essays - Ideal for skill building & test prep!
100% Satisfaction & Money Back Guarantee within first 2 weeks
Take a look at our selection of courses:
http://www.time4writing.com/homeschoolNB.php?go=T4WSept21courses
Meet the certified teachers who will be helping your kids:
http://www.time4writing.com/homeschoolNB.php?go=T4WSept21teachers
Learn more about how it works and how to get started:
http://www.time4writing.com/homeschoolNB.php?go=T4WSept21learn
---
Note: Thank you to those of you who wrote to let me know the
above sponsor links were not working! They are working now, so
please be sure to check out Time4Writing's offer! -- Heather
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=================
IN THIS ISSUE:
=================
Notes from Heather
-- Feedback on Wiggly Boys
Winning Website
-- Fiber Arts Projects for Kids
Reader Question
-- Handling Criticism
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
=======================
Notes from Heather
=======================
Reader Feedback on Always-in-Motion Kinesthetic Learners
---
"I have a 5th grade boy and had the same concerns since he was in
2nd grade. After years of seeking advice and looking for answers
to help him, I have recently discovered he is a 'visual-spatial'
learner. Look at www.visualspatial.org -- there are many other sites
and resources, but this website has helped us the most." -- Kim K.
---
"My 9 year old daughter is in third grade. I recently witnessed
her stand up and start spinning in the middle of the kitchen while
reading a book. When she was done reading the chapter she was able
to remember what she had read better than she usually does!"
---
"Sidewalk chalk is great for this type child. You can set up a
hopscotch style area, or a grid, and fill it with the learning goal
-- then have the child jump to the correct answers. We used this
for both phonics and math, but it could be used for memory work, too.
I'd say, 'Jump to the beginning sound in the word 'prince', (grid
filled with different blends)' or 'jump to 8+4'. If you make sure
that you are focusing on the more difficult jumping aspect -- the
physical challenge part -- he'll never suspect it's a learning
activity. You could also make the same game, but play it more like
Twister, if he enjoys that. We also would use the ball pit at the
local McDonald's playground for more learning -- I'd ask a question,
and if he got it right, I'd put my hand up to the mesh net and give
him a chance to wing a ball at it. Now, you have to imagine the
appropriate dramatic acting, the pretend fearfulness and reluctance
of putting my hand up, and the 'yeeow!' and acting mortally wounded
if he made contact (which he rarely did). For instance, 'What is the
capital of New Jersey?' -- 'Can't remember? Oh, goody -- I'm safe
for this round -- it's Trenton. Now, what is 6 x 7? Oh 42? Darn
it all, that's right, oh brother, here we go...' Another good
technique is to take the flashcards for whatever, and just throw the
whole handful in high in the air, then say, 'Find me the 'buh', find
me the 'buh', find me the 'buh-buh-buh',' and then let him scurry
around looking for the letter B (or whatever it is you need to
reinforce, with whatever silly rhyme or song you make up). It was
not worth it to have him try to write down anything usually, so he
dictated to me a lot, but occasionally, if I could find something
really interesting, such as workmen digging a ditch, or a building
getting demolished, I'd set him up at a safe distance to be a
'reporter', and he'd happily write a few sentences about what he was
witnessing. The books by Peggy Kaye -- Games for Math, Games for
Reading, and Games for Learning, were a terrific resource for this
stage:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0394755103?ie=UTF8&tag=hsaudio-20
She has lots of wonderful ideas, such as pitching pennies in muffin
tins or onto targets with the learning materials on them. The
libraries will generally have her books.
He also enjoyed designing his own simple 'board games', usually a
trail of some sort in the style of CandyLand, with a few 'go back'
or 'extra turn' spaces, and I'd make the cards for it based on what
we were learning. Unit studies are also great for the wiggly ones.
Find ways to enjoy this period in their life by making the learning
active -- you'll look back and have lots of fond memories of it all.
My 'Wiggly Willy' turns 20 next month, and is inthe Air Force --
out of the nest." -- Catherine
---
"Short 10 minute lessons work well with my 10 year old son. He does
a subject then does 10 push-ups, does a short lesson then does 100
jumps on the trampoline, does a short lesson then practices his drums,
does a short lesson then does a computer geography game. I try to
mix it up and have him learning and moving all day. I keep it going
in the afternoon with chores and even his free time is designated for
30 minutes of free play with Legos, etc., then 30 minutes playing with
his sibling, back outside to bike, shoot hoops, yard work, etc., then
chopping veggies for dinner. By the time it's shower and bedtime,
he's exhausted. After tuck-ins and prayer time, I give him the option
of lights out or reading for 30 minutes. You guessed it -- he always
goes for the reading. Wow -- my son finally loves to read! Thank you,
Lord -- You get all the glory!
Now, for even my active boy we still try to teach him the habit of
paying attention. At devotions he is required to sit and follow along
in his Bible. It is hard, but it is a learned habit that is good for
even active boys." -- Christy G.
---
A Thank-You from Tracy... and also Dee!
---
"Hi, Heather and all homeschooling families -- I wanted to say
thank you for the newsletter. I look forward to receiving it
and all the information that comes along with it!!
I recently wrote a letter asking for help finding a support group
in my area. Thank you so much to each mom that responded! We
have found a group and have begun to meet other homeschool families.
You are each such a blessing!" -- Tracy
---
"Thank you to those of you who took time to respond to my question
about homeschooling in a small space -- with one disabled child.
I appreciate your thoughts and am working on implementing some of
your ideas already. I pray it blessed others who may be having
similar difficulties as well." -- Dee
---
Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HOMESCHOOLER'S NOTEBOOK IS PLEASED TO RECOMMEND...
~ The HOMESCHOOLING ABCs Class ~
HURRY! Summer 2009 Offer is Almost Over -
Get $275 in FREE Curriculum Bonuses!!!
When you subscribe to our Homeschooling ABCs class, whether you
are a brand new homeschooling parent or experienced by a few years,
you will learn how to teach specifically to your children's unique
learning styles, select the best possible curriculum for your family,
learn how to stay focused, on-track and even organized, and more!
PLUS, you will receive over $275 in curriculum bonuses with each
class membership when you sign up this summer, 2009 - including
A Child's Geography, In the Hands of a Child & WriteShop materials!
Read more about this "must-take" class:
http://www.familyclassroom.net/HomeschoolingABCs.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
==================
Winning Website
==================
Fiber Arts Projects for Kids
http://www.allfiberarts.com/cs/familyfun.htm
With so many people interested in learning "old fashioned" skills
and spending more time around the home, I thought it would be fun
to share a site that has links for projects involving weaving,
felting, spinning and other fiber arts. In addition to pointing
you to some cool project pages, there are also links for stories
and poems about spinning and weaving.
-- Cindy, http://www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
===============================
Last Issue's Reader Question
===============================
"I'm just starting homeschooling my 4 year old (5 in November) son.
I have three daughters as well (3, 2 and 3 months). While trying to
figure this out and rearrange my time and activities to accommodate
more instruction has been difficult, the most difficult part has been
my husband's parents comments. I've been told I won't be able to do
it, I'm a bad/harsh mother, my children need to go to school, I'll
never be able to accomplish everything (unless I get up at 5!) and
my children will suffer... to mention the worst things. To top it
off, I'm afraid I won't be able to do it either! And all the other
mothers in my small town all put their kids into pre-K and K and have
those whole big chunks of time alone or with less kids (the only
homeschoolers I know have much older children and the only support
group is very spread out since we're rural). Not to mention that
my son is a very active, stubborn, loud little boy and sometimes I
really enjoy time away from him (like when my in-laws have him).
My own mother has said all the same things but it doesn't bother me
as much because we've been disagreeing for years on major issues.
My husband's parents have been such a loving supportive presence
since we moved to the same town 3 years ago that their recent
criticism is very surprising and hard to take. I should mention
that my husband and I are united in this choice and he is supportive,
and my mother-in-law has since apologized saying it was none of her
business. Still, I know what they really think now. Does anyone
have any advice? Thanks." -- Katherine
=========================
Our Readers' Responses
=========================
[Note: We received 20 encouraging emails for Katherine, which I have
forwarded to her. I am including 7 of them here in the newsletter.
If you would like to read the other 13 emails, just write to me with
"More on Handling Criticism" in the subject line. I'll send you the
rest of the unedited replies in a text file via email. -- Heather]
---
"Hi, Katherine -- I am a homeschooling mother of 2 girls, ages 11
and 7.
I, too, wanted to homeschool them from the start, but the negativity
of others made us put them both in school. Now, years down the line,
finances made us look again at homeschooling. It is almost a year now
doing homeschool and my only regret is that I hadn't trusted myself
enough to do the best for MY children and not listened to others!
Another thing that I noticed was that my children stopped fighting
so much and they have started showing real love and concern for each
other! When at school, the second they got in the car after school,
they would scream and fight and cry. They just had too much pressure
on them and not enough time to play and be children. My 11 year old
is a little girl again, playing with Barbies –- last year that all
stopped because of peer pressure; she could only have a cell phone
or Ipod to play with (according to her friends!). I am now in the
process of writing a book to encourage families in their homeschool
venture
You will find that all the negativity you get comes from a place of
ignorance. So, please be encouraged by these words and know that you
were given these children of yours because you have what they need.
I wish you everything of the best as you start a wonderful journey
with your children." -- Mandi
---
"Find yourself a support group and fast, even if you have to have an
email support pal. It would be great if you could find one or two in
your area and meet with them from time to time. Since we've joined a
group, things have changed drastically! You need that for yourself
and your child. We even have once-a-month Mom's Night Out - so you
get your time, too!
If they talk you into not being able to do it, then you won't! Don't
let them discourage you - prove them wrong! That should give you the
push to try even harder. It's not always easy, but it is best for you
and your child. They will grow to be a much happier and smarter
children because you will give them exactly what they need. Remember
why you chose this path and stick to your guns! You will get more
done on any given day than they would in a public school. They retain
more when you teach them like they need to be taught - you know your
child better than anyone else.
You can teach him while the others are napping. Or you can have
activity boxes for the younger ones if they are awake during school --
things they can only play with during your school time. They will
learn to look forward to that time so that they can play with those
special items. Have a couple different ones so they won't get bored
with the same things. I am sure you could search the internet for
age appropriate activity boxes.
You said he is an active little boy; a great deal has been said about
sensory tables. Even if you read to him and to any of the others that
are there, they can be doing something with their hands and still be
listening to a story. Building with blocks or Legos, even coloring a
picture. You can't read too much to them! I read that a child must
hear 1,000 stories read to them before they can begin reading themselves.
There is curriculum called Before Five In a Row -- there are several
different age groupings. This one is for children ages 2-4. The idea
is that you read the same book for 5 days and do a different activity
with the book every day. I found many of the books online.
You can do it! Search the internet for support groups in your area
and prove all those critical well-meaning relatives wrong!"
-- Connie in TN
---
"I never had anyone directly say those things to me, but I definitely
got those vibes from people when I first started homeschooling. My
advice would be to focus solely on yours and your husband's reasons
for homeschooling. That is what matters. I understand that they've
been supportive up to this point and that she apologized, but you
shouldn't let it bother you because you -- and only you -- know what
is best for your children. As much as what you now know hurts you,
you can't let others' opinions shape your life.
As far as you thinking you can't do it, stop it. :-) Figure out a
couple of different schedules that you want to work with -- and try
them all out to find what best fits your life, whether it be working
while the youngest three are napping -- or even trying to incorporate
your younger ones into the school work. Let them help you get supplies,
have them clap for and praise your son when he does a good job; turn
it into a game of sorts -- it'll make it better for you and your son.
Also remember that if one thing doesn't work, don't get upset; just
find something else that does. That is the beauty of homeschooling --
you have the freedom to change things at will. You'll do great if you
have goals and stick to them." -- Tammie
---
"Hi, Katherine -- I would suggest you know why you're doing this, so
you and your husband can stand against the barrages of well-meaning,
but misplaced advice and criticism that will come over the years.
When my husband and I began to investigate homeschooling our now
9-year-old daughter when she was a toddler, we didn't have our one big
reason, but we do now. God gives no other choice in Scripture, and all
the evidence supports our educating our own child. I've read tons of
books, and I receive a couple of well-chosen homeschool magazines that
continually put the truth in front of me so I don't forget. Until
recently, there was no one else I could talk with about homeschooling.
I quickly found the support group route to be fraught with problems
that I choose to avoid by staying away from them. Many people do
benefit from them, however, and maybe you would as well. BUT, if I
know why I'm doing this, and my reason is based on God's Word, I have
no other choice, and it doesn't really matter what other folks think,
as long as I'm reflecting well on Jesus Christ in accordance with
Scripture.
I would recommend 'Homeschooling: The Right Choice' by Christopher
Klicka. Chris is senior counsel for HSLDA. You may find it and many
more at your own public library. A great magazine to check out is
'The Old Schoolhouse'. There are many more wonderful Christian
publications out there as well." -- Diana
---
"Wow, Katherine -- I admire your willingness/conviction to homeschool
with so many little ones. We had our #4 when the oldest was 4.5 and
I will admit it makes everything more difficult -- for a while.
I would advise just playing with your children. Every chance you get
be on the floor with them -- work floor/wooden puzzles, read books,
stack blocks, count toys, experiment with noises that toys can make --
no pressure, no agenda (well, maybe a little, but if he is resistant,
I would let it go for now). At age 4 your little guy does not need
to be 'schooled' yet. He needs mom to be available and to be nurtured
(I know that's hard with all the babies). He will learn all of the
things that Pre-K or K would have taught him just by playing with you.
My oldest is 8.5 now and he didn't learn to read until last year --
but I never pushed him and now he reads fluently and easily. A slow
start is not bad, nor is it bad parenting or being a bad homeschool mom.
Don't let anyone pressure you into doing anything. You have a tremendous
job taking care of these little ones -- and loving them will push them
leaps and bounds ahead of most public school kids in the end. Right
now you are forming bonds that will last a lifetime -- and the basis
of relationships that will help you through schooling them later.
Enjoy your babies!" -- April C.
---
"Katherine -- I also have a lot of little children running around my
home and/or needing frequent feedings, diapers, and more. I have 7,
so I'm also trying to have my older 4 do schoolwork. This year has
been challenging for me as I have a deployed husband, and I'm trying
to teach my 5 year old to read and write all while teaching older
children and caring for and keeping the young ones out of trouble.
I don't know that I have any answers, but I do know that with prayer
and a good scheduling system, it can be done (although I'm not the
best at organization and time management, I kind of like the Maxwell's
scheduling system). Don't forget there will be days where you don't
accomplish as much formal schooling, but you can still read and play
educational games, etc., on those days when 'the baby is the lesson'
(You might want to Google an article by Diane Hopkins by that name).
I also like unit studies and/or teaching all my children at the same
time for social studies and science. Perhaps the preschool age and
toddler age children will be interested in doing 'school', too. And
for the skeptics in your family -- let them know that to teach a child
one-on-one takes a lot less time than it does for a teacher in a
classroom to teach a large group, and the teacher doesn't even have
the opportunity to meet each child's learning needs, or know the child
as well as you, the parent. Be grateful you have the support of your
husband -- and good luck!" -- Shelly
---
"Katherine -- Your mother-in law apologized. Your husband believes
in you. Your children need you to be stronger than this. Just forget
it ever happened and drive on. Only time can show that you were right."
-- Rick in Michigan
=========================
Answer our NEW Question
=========================
"We have begun searching for good advice and resources regarding
transcripts. What should be in a transcript and how it should be
presented? Both of our homeschoolers are college bound and the
younger one wants to be a doctor. We expect the transcript could
make a big difference. Just looking for some experienced help!
Thanks to any and all who respond." -- Ed and Debbie
---
Would you like to respond to this question?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
=====================
Ask YOUR Question
=====================
Do you have a question you would like our readers to answer?
Send it to mailto: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 with 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 and encouragement.
==============================
Subscription Information
==============================
Here is the page where you can subscribe to all of our newsletters!
http://familyclassroom.net/screensubs.html
And here is our searchable archive of newsletters:
http://www.familyclassroom.net/archives.html
===========================
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
===========================
There are opportunities for your business to be a sponsor of this
newsletter! Read more about our VERY AFFORDABLE advertising here:
http://www.homeschooladnetwork.com/homeschoolersnotebook.php
=====================
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 mailto:HN-articles@familyclassroom.net or
mailto: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: mailto:Heather@FamilyClassroom.net
