Home School Online

“Homeschoolers are emotionally equipped for tough times” is my summary of Diane’s Homefires Journal of Homeschooling this week.  I love it. And I quote:

 The act of homeschooling provides parents and children with an opportunity to experience that which is soul-satisfying. Children get to discover, explore, and develop their unique talents and strengths. Parents get to be with their children in meaningful measures of time. Homeschool moms and dads actively contribute on a continuum to the development of their children in every possible way – intellectually, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. They help their children live extraordinary lives.

For couples, the parenting partnership is enhanced through the nurturing of the children. Their bond becomes strong – and more precious than any gift from Walmart.

Make a decision not to participate in the fearful mindset of the recession and the despair of the consumer culture. Avoid talk of lack that may frighten your children. Help them understand that the state of your heart does not fluctuate with the Dow Jones Industrial average or the balance in your bank account. Your homeschooling heart is overflowing with what really matters. There is plenty for everyone that will outlast this and every economic cycle.

 Diane also writes about the writing. I’ll quote again:

Writing – The Most Difficult Subject to Teach?

Writing Resources

I recently conducted a survey of ClickSchooling subscribers. As homeschool parents, the subject they identified as the most difficult to teach was writing - from teaching the basic mechanics of sentence structure to paragraphs, essays, and reports. Others confessed that they did not feel competent teaching narrative, expository, persuasive and creative writing. The majority said they struggle with motivating their kids to write well – regardless of the age of the student.

Parents sometimes think they are “supposed” to teach every subject. There’s no shame in asking for help. The beauty of homeschooling is that you do not have to do it all – all by yourself. This is especially true if a subject has become a “battleground” for you and your child. There are resources and mentors available. You can outsource subjects that are challenging so that your child will learn well, without compromising your happy home.

What follows are three recommendations from our survey participants for writing programs (available for purchase) that they have used with success.

• Time4Writing - This popular program provides 8-weeks of online elementary, middle, and high school writing courses complete with teacher/tutor assistance and feedback.
• Institute for Excellence in Writing - Developed by veteran homeschool dad, Andrew Pudewa, this program has transformed many a reluctant writer. First you participate in a writing seminar with Andrew (live or via DVD), and then you implement the daily program using the products that you can purchase at the website.
• Writing Strands – Published by National Writing Institute, this program offers a progressive set of simple lesson plans that takes the student through the process of learning to write – from a simple sentence to an essay.

For those on very limited budgets, here are some FREE Writing Resources that may help you and your students:

• Fact Monster: Writing Skills – Get simple instructions for how to write everything from a simple sentence to a research paper.
• 7 Stages of Writing Assignments - This site provides a textbook description of how to develop your topic, identify your audience, research, organize, write a draft, revise and proofread your work.
• WritingFix – This terrific website offers free interactive writing lessons and prompts for all ages and grade levels so that “writing is taught well, not simply assigned.” You simply won’t believe the variety of engaging lessons and innovative activities to help writers of all ages learn the skills and practice the craft of writing.
  
   

OK. Lets hear it.  “Have you ever lied to your kids?  If so, how did it work out”.  I’m going to start a discussion here and then send it around as a meme.

I’ll start off.  Two lies.  One was when we had a rat problem.  I was baiting a mouse trap with peanut butter and cheese and my four year old daughter asked: “Is that so the rat can eat when he’s caught in the trap?”

 Fortunately, I was looking down and she couldn’t see the smile/grimmace on my face. “Yes dear.”

OK, fast forward to when she was around eight and one morning she comes into breakfast and announces to me that she’s proved it, the tooth fairy does NOT exist.  “Honey, how could you possibly have proved that?” 

“I lost a tooth yesterday and put it under my pillow without telling you and this morning, it’s still there.”

“Good try. But you forgot one thing.  Who do you think calls the tooth fairy and tells her that it’s time to come? All you did is prove is that the tooth fairy can’t know everything.”

At the time, she smiled and laughed and said “Oh”.

 Oddly, this incident has preyed on her and my mind for years.  There’s something there that’s competitive and gamelike which made it stick in both our minds.  Also, something about whether she was ready or had to “grow up” then or could she remain childlike a little longer. While she sometimes complains that I tricked her, she seems to be very fond of the story. 

 Your turn…..

I heard a women say the other day that there was no difference at the preschool level between homeschoolers and the rest of the population.  It was a passing remark which I overheard so I don’t know really what she meant.  But I’ve been thinking about it.

Do we all take responsibility and have a high level of involvement with our children in a common way prior to kindergarten?  I know lots of homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers who participate in the same activities with their preschool kids.  And I know plenty of preschool coops and mommie-and-me and other preschool programs in which there is a common approach.

Most parents have a mix of totally informal and somewhat structured activities that they do with their preschool students. For instance, there are books, story times, playground groups, gym activities, nature walks, and online preschool homeschool activities which are used by everyone.

 What do think?