A Different-Learning Daughter
By Heather Idoni
Added Thursday, January 07, 2010
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 11 No 2 January 7, 2010
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2010 - 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!
And please visit our sponsors! They make it possible.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- Reader Feedback
Winning Website
-- Spanish Grammar
Reader Question
-- Different Daughter
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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Feedback from Our Readers
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Margie wrote in with a late answer for the mom who was asking
about animation programs...
"I just wanted to share a website I found just before Christmas.
It is:
http://www.nr-productions.com/catalog/index.php
My son is also interested in stop motion animation. He watches
all the videos made with Lego characters, etc. I purchased their
kit for him for Christmas and he absolutely loves it. It comes
with a special web cam for stop motion, software for animation,
and an instruction book that is very straightforward. My son is 12
and has no problem understanding it. The instruction book explains
everything you need to know about animation such as story, set,
lighting, etc. He had made his first movie (a few seconds long)
within just a few minutes." -- Margie
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And in reference to the tip in a recent issue about writing/drawing
skills, Nicole writes...
"The binder for pictures is a GREAT idea! Thanks. My 5 year old
son has recently started creating stories and I wrote one down
while on vacation. I plan to suggest that he draw a picture to
go with the story. I love the whole idea of encouraging him to
write the story with the drawing.
Thanks for the suggestions." -- Nicole J.
*Note: The archived issue with the tip mentioned above can be
found here: http://familyclassroom.net/Articles20094/20091231.html
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Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
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Winning Website
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This site features games in the form of question/answer quizzes to
reinforce grammar and specific, often confused terms. Since it is
a question/answer, immersion format, the site is best for upper
elementary and higher students. In addition to grammar review,
Spanish students will also find the lists and vocabulary games perfect
for extra practice!
-- Cindy, www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I have twin 7-year-old girls who are just like me - quick to pick up
new things and are far above their grade level. It is easy for me to
homeschool them. I also have an 8 1/2 year old daughter who is not
like me. We believe she takes after her father who doesn't remember
reading until he was in 5th grade. My older daughter has great
difficulty reading, doesn't remember new info very well, and does not
like to sit still at all. I'm trying different methods with her, but I
find I get very impatient with her and that doesn't help either of us.
I have all three girls doing '3rd grade' level work. My question is,
how do I learn how to help her learn? My husband is no help because
he's not the teacher type - he can't break things down - he just finds
it easier to do something himself rather than teach it (he's a computer
programmer). I'm worried that my oldest may think school is too much
work and I know she would not do well in school since she can't be
still. Any help would be appreciated."
-- Laura in Missouri
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Our Readers' Responses
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"First -- I am a computer programmer and find it difficult to
hear you say that your husband can't break things down. While
it is possible that it is easier for him to just do it himself,
it is more that his logical step-by-step process that he uses
for programming is too difficult for most people to understand,
and this may be true for your oldest daughter as well. The
mental thinking that is needed to properly put an entire code
module in proper sequence is actually much more than most people
understand, and cannot be simply explained. This same thought
process, however, is probably how your husband thinks about most
life activities, which is why your husband finds it easier to
do a task himself than explain it to someone else. Check your
daughter's learning style. Note there are actually now nine
recognized styles, one of which is logical. While most people
will have a combination of these nine, one or two will be stronger
than the others. For a logical learner they want sequenced,
ordered learning with a logical pattern of rules to follow, which
we know not all of the English language has. That is why these
learners might be later readers. Try seeing if you husband
doesn't actually have a different take on some of the curriculum
that might give you a different perspective to see it from for
your daughter. Then focus on oral learning and some mental math
activities that might help her learn to retain more information
mentally. Please note: this is not memorization, but mental
computation. One such mental math example would be for you to
slowly read aloud the following and see if your student can stay
with you to the end where they give the answer - without paper -
all mental: Start with the value of a dime, multiply it by a
nickel and divide it by a pair, add the number of corners on a
parallelogram and subtract the number of toes on one foot and add
a penny. What US coin do you have? (Answer: a quarter)
For the programming/logical side please note how you have to
remember the number you have while also stopping to think about
not only the math 'task' (ie. add, subtract, multiply, etc.),
but also what that number is before you can do the task. This
'stop and start' thinking is what makes it difficult to explain
a task to someone and easier just to do it yourself.
Hope this might help you see if not your daughter's, at least
your husband's thought process, and possible ways to help work
with it." -- JenniLyn
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Answer our NEW Question
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"We have FINALLY decided to homeschool my son. He will be 5 in
May and we will start Kindergarten at home.
My question is this...
We, of course, keep hearing from everyone that we should reconsider,
that homeschooled kids are 'odd', and a guy that my husband works with
has even gone so far as to say that I'm just wanting to continue to
be a stay-at-home mom for longer and that's why I want to homeschool!
How do we respond to these people? Also, I feel funny saying that we
just don't like the public school system when I'm talking to a mom
that sends her kids there! Thanks!!" -- M.
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Would you like to respond to new homeschool mom, M.?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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Ask YOUR Question
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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!
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Need Immediate Help?
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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.
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