Cultural & Artistic Exeriences

Most communities are full of events that some of us never know about and even if we do we don't partake of them to the fullest! I know that in our community there are many musical events, art exhibits, theatrical productions and more that are little to no cost and we still don't use them as much as we should.

These events are great for kids. First they are exposed to the talent of others and gain an appreciation. They also see that if they have a real interest in something there is a path to follow and a way to be seen and heard. To me an important part of these affairs is to have people grow up and know how to behave and be socially comfortable in these environments. Then when they are older and they are asked to attend an art gala they know what to expect and how to mingle and dress appropriately. Knowing these things makes one confident and self assured!

Exposure to all different events (age appropriate of course) is a great tool in helping our children become well rounded. I am only living in my current area for about six more weeks but it is so rich in talent and events that I hope to take my children and let them experience as much as possible.

Homeschool and Technology - Part 2

Today I read an article online about a homeschooling parent who believes that homeschoolers have access to all of the latest and greatest technology. That same parent believes that these tools of technology are only there to fill the gap of what knowledge we don't have. This person believes that computer programs and Internet are simply for fun and games. I see her point in a certain light but then I see things in another light as well.

In New York a new public school was chartered this year that is strictly based with technology. It covers all subjects but somehow puts it in a game format or a simulated way. From research the test scores show that this method works. That students are willing to sit at a screen and learn when it is well presented.

While I do firmly believe that technology can never replace human interaction but it can also help our human relationships along. For example, those with military parents can often use programs such as Skype or Windows Live to video chat for free! This is astounding. My children have been able to stay in touch with relatives that live across the country, see their cousins whenever they want to and as I write this they are in the other room on Skype with their father.

Technology does need to be monitored. Especially if you have students using the Internet. It's good to have your computer in an open place where you are passing by the desk often and can see what is going on and be involved in what your student is doing. It's great to monitor what games are being played and of course what social networking sites may be in use. Safety is key!

I think the lesson between my liberal attitude and the article author's conservatism is that everything is good in moderation with technology and education. I don't think it replaces text books and worksheets but I think it offers a great alternative. My own children have been on burn out from worksheets from time to time and I have been very glad that there are spelling programs and other helpers at my fingertips.

6 Year Old Homeschool Boy Suspended in Iowa!

A six year old boy who isn't even part of the public school system was "suspended" because he brought a shotgun shell to a weekly meeting held at a church.

The state is claiming that homeschooling does not make the child exempt from following the same rules as public school children. The parents argue that they found the shells in their home when taking down a wall and had no idea the little boy even had it with him when he went to his weekly activity at the church.

While there is a place for standards that we should all be held accountable for I think that there are some things were a little discretion should be used. This was a six year old who is NOT in the school system. Hard to say that you can suspend him. How does a homeschool parent even follow that order? And age 6? If he had pummeled a fellow student at a public school I can see the need for intervention but this was not a weapon or even a bullet. It is pretty obvious what a shell is and what isn't and without exposing children to subject matter which is too advanced for their age how do you tell him why this was a bad thing to take to school?

This is not to say that homeschool kids should be allowed to just do anything but homeschool groups should have set guidelines and clear messages and perhaps they should be made to follow such rules. The hard thing in this instance was that no one was hurt or was potentially going to be hurt. This was strictly someone picking a bone in my opinion.

Not Much "School" Happening?

If you homeschool you know that there will be those days when nothing goes right and it seems that very little actual schoolwork gets done. But, if you change your thinking you will see that it is actually very little "coursework" or "text work" that gets done. Your kids are learning around the clock.

If you are ill or caring for another ill person in the family you can ask your children who are capable to fix meals. Everything you let your kids do to help them feel more self sufficient benefits them greatly! Not only does their self esteem sky rocket because they know they can do it but when they do go out on their own they will feel prepared. After all, if you think of the fact that from infancy we are gradually just preparing them for adulthood then you may see this as a form of "schoolwork". It will also make them better spouses and parents!

Most children that can say sentences can perform simple chores and more. These should always be age appropriate but in today's world it seems that chores are lost on a lot of families. Many people have housekeepers, never eat at home and dry clean everything. Gone are the days of tending the animals and land which instilled a value of hard work in children. Families with all of today's conveniences have to really think about how they will teach their children how satisfying physical work is as well as taking pride in your possessions.

So, if you, like many, are having a day where you think nothing is happening as far as formal education just look at it in another light. Maybe your kids are learning to get along and behave themselves without structure and instruction. Could anything be better than that?

Handwriting Without Tears - A Review

Handwriting Without Tears is a great handwriting program that takes the worry out of handwriting. For many parents and teachers handwriting can be a daily struggle. With this program your children are sure to come to you begging to do their handwriting for the day.




The above is just one of the many books available and as you can see they are extremely affordable. There is also a vast amount of support online for this program and the teacher's guides are the greatest because they take the guesswork out of how to present concepts and in what order to give things to the student.

Jan Olsen founded this method in 1977 in an effort to help her own son overcome his struggles with handwriting in the first grade. She was then asked to help the other students because of the level of success. Now we have a complete program for all ages that works like a charm. They also hold training events and more to help those that are using the program. It is excellent to have so much support.

If you are having doubts on which handwriting method to use this is a great one to try. It takes the guess work out of things and the curriculum is low cost. It has been proven to work for so many that chances are you will find great relief and success here.

Homeschool Handwriting

Some homeschool families may from time to time have problems with handwriting curriculum and/or getting your students to cooperate and write in a tidy manner. In my own homeschooling experience I have one out of three that has developed good handwriting and it isn't one of my daughters!

Here are a few great handwriting programs that may help you. Some cost little to nothing and then others are pricey. This is one of those issues where you simply have to think about what your specific needs are and what your budget is when considering.

The Writing Road to Reading by Spalding - This is for grades K through 6. The greatest part about this program is that it is easily adaptable for all ages and all grades. Another great aspect is that unlike most phonics based programs this program covers ALL the sounds that letters make. For example, the letter "A" actually has three different sounds in our language. This program addresses this and helps children decode our language readily once they learn all the sounds. It ties in excellent handwriting technique that is very specific and easy to teach and easy to learn. This program is very affordable. There is one main book that you need and then they ask you to have composition books for the student that meet certain requirements.

Sing, Spell, Read and Write - First off, this is a great program. With that said, be careful to shop around and not pay more than you have to for it. I have personally used this program and the child in my house that did it has the best handwriting and spelling. This is a fun and motivating program that puts learning to music and helps the child see their progress. They get up excited every morning for this program and it's all about having fun and enjoying learning. Truly a great time and so nice that it covers so many educational aspects in such a small amount of time each day.

These are just two ideas. There are many handwriting programs and if you use box curriculum you will find that each company or school uses their own method.

Homeschool Weekends

When homeschooling it seems hard at times to draw the line between school and the rest of life even when it comes to weekends. For my kids we are lucky that they are in a program that has set guidelines so that weekends remain family time to do with as we please. However, even using our current coursework we had one year where there just didn't seem time during the week for the music and art subjects in the curriculum.

The teacher that I correspond with suggested using these as a good Sunday activity. While that idea was a good one, it didn't work for me. I need two days off from school just as much as any student. It can also be a great thing for students to take a break and come back to their lessons with fresh eyes.

Naturally this really only pertains to homeschool families that use traditional school curriculum or a "school" schedule. For those that unschool or use other methods it may not be as much of an issue.

Some things you can do on the weekends that may enhance your homeschool experience are:

• Visit local historic sites.
• Visit local museums.
• Visit nearby state and national parks.
• Visit nearby bodies of water and study the ecosystems there while playing.
• Work on family history, kids love to know where their ancestors are from.
• Play games like Scrabble, Pictionary and Cranium that develop skills as well as let students express themselves.

There are so many things to do in a week that it is nice to have a day or two totally dedicated to fun. That doesn't mean that learning does not happen but it doesn't have to be full of text books and worksheets.