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Homeschooling Can Improve Socialization
by Sun Bae
We are all too familiar with arguments on the negative effects of
homeschooling on a child’s socialization. But rather than defending
(yet again) why homeschooling doesn’t harm socialization (you can read
the countless defending arguments on the ‘Net), I want to get pass that
and discuss how homeschooling can actually improve your child’s
socialization skills.
First, let’s agree on the definition of “socialization”.
As an outsider looking into the window of homeschooling, this term is
used in reference to homeschooled students’ interaction with their
peers. I agree that interacting with peers is important, but I also
believe that interacting with people outside a child’s own age group is
just as important - interacting well with both groups really defines a
well-rounded sociable person. So socialization should include the
ability to interact with ALL people, regardless of age. After all, isn’t that what we do in everyday life? ... read more
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Why Subtract When You Can Add?
by Beth Butler
I cannot imagine anyone choosing to intentionally subtract something
beneficial from the life of his or her child. Given the choice to add
something to the daily routine of a child that has the potential to
enhance their future years, I am certain most of us would choose to do
just that. Let us explore the what, why, when and how of this addition
choice.
Have you ever given thought to how different your life might be if your
parents had chosen to enroll you in that summer enrichment program,
that fall football camp or that study abroad during your school years?
Often times simple decisions such as those shape who we become in our
adult lives. I recall a good friend of mine who chose to live in Spain
for a year of her college study. She met a native Spaniard and
continues to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning a bed and breakfast in
that beautiful country!....read more
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Entertaining Ourselves
by Barbara Frank
Being a homeschool mom means being on a schedule; there’s just no way
around it. The many activities available to each of our children
(music, sports, co-op, church, etc.) must be organized somehow, and
we’re the ones responsible for that job.
It’s easy to stay in that groove during the summer. There may not be as
many activities available as during the school year, but there’s
certainly no shortage. Signing the kids up for summer activities can
become something we do automatically. But that could be a mistake.
I’m old enough to remember a time when there were very few summer
activities available to kids beyond swimming lessons at the community
pool. What did kids do back then? We entertained ourselves!...read more
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Financial Education for Teens: Making It Real, Making It Matter, Making It Last
By Jill Suskind
Financial education should be at the top of every educator’s list: to
prepare every teen with the confidence and competence to face the
financial realities of adulthood. Our country needs this; our children
need this.
As an educator, I ask myself what makes financial education real,
relevant, and engaging for teens. One reason that I avoided my own
financial education and financial responsibility was that I was utterly
misguided about the subject. I thought it was about budgeting and
making hard choices-- suffering, in other words. I also thought it was
about stocks, bonds, insurance, and other issues that seemed
complicated and tedious to me. These topics ARE, of course, important
parts of the picture, but they are not foundational. We have, too
often, failed to provide this foundation to young people.
When I was a teenager, I was known in my family as the Spender and my
sister Judy was the Saver. You know us: Judy saved all her money, and
I spent mine—I never knew exactly where it went, but when I really
wanted to make an important purchase, I came up short. I didn’t have a
problem—I just didn’t have a better system. I grew up believing that
Spender and Saver were personality traits, and I was stuck with mine.
And so I “Spent” my way through most of my adult life, and my life was
limited because I lacked effective financial strategies. Most of my
adult friends are like me, in fact: pay bills, have a little fun, save
what’s left, and hope for the best! That was in good ole’ days, when we
had some years to learn difficult lessons and invent systems of our own
to make our money work, to greater and lesser effectiveness. .....read more
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Altered Books
by Robert Zondag
An inexpensive, however, wonderfully expressive art form to explore
with your students is an altered book. What is an altered book you
might ask?
According to the International Society of Altered Book Artists, an
organization dedicated to promoting the art form, an altered book “is
any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a
work of art. They can be ... rebound, painted, cut, burned, folded,
added to, collaged in, gold-leafed, rubber stamped, drilled or
otherwise adorned . . .”
An altered book is one of the best multi-disciplinary projects available to you as a teacher.
Here are simple steps to begin: ....read more
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A Tale of Two Cities, Part 2: Athenian Democracy (Continued)
by Scott Powell
The Athenian democracy founded c.508 BC was the best government devised
by men up to that time. It provided the most effective checks of any
government against the power of the aristocracy by permitting the
participation of commoners in governance at the local level--the level
of the "deme"--and the lawmaking and judicial functions of the
government of the city-state.
It was but a short eight years after this innovative new government was
established that it was put to a frightful test. The kinsmen of the
Athenians in Ionia--what is today the western shore of Turkey--had been
forced into the Persian Empire that had been expanding westward for the
better part of a century and swallowing everything in its path. The
Athenians provided succor to their brethren (who were themselves
beginning to take steps towards democracy) against Persia in what is
known as the "Ionian Revolt."
In so doing, however, Athens incurred the wrath of the Persian king,
Darius. The resulting conflict, known as the Greco-Persian Wars, in
which a small group of independent Greek city-states, including Athens
and its rival Sparta, together defeated the Persian Empire, acquired
near mythic proportions in the annals of Western civilization. Its
heroes, like King Leonidas of Sparta, are still lionized to this day...read more
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Use Guided Imagery to Spark Your Child’s Imagination
by Dave Coates
You can give your child a marvelous art education experience that can
take your child on a journey of creative discovery. Your child does not
have to visit an unusual location in order to illustrate his or her
vision of it. An adult can lead this imagination-boosting activity.
First, you’ll want to set up an art activity area. Don’t forget a
protective table covering, depending upon what kinds of art supplies
you plan to make available to your child. Have different sizes of white
paper with lots of paints, markers and/or crayons and tools to draw and
create. Guided imagery helps children tap their mind’s eye. Speak
slowly with inflection as you read the passage below, and then see what
blooms from your child’s imagination.
A Rainforest Adventure
Let’s visit the rainforest. Close your eyes. Grab your pretend camera and let’s climb aboard a magic carpet and ....read more
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Preparing Students for a 21st century workforce
– Our nation’s Governors speak up.
by Bruce Friend
Education, and more specifically the topic of preparing our students
for 21st century jobs, was key committee discussion at the Annual
Meeting of National Governors Association in July. Chaired by Nebraska
Dave Governor Heineman, the education committee discussed the critical
need in our country to retrain workers for 21st century jobs as well as
a need for our K12 schools to produce graduates who are college ready
and workforce ready. Governor Hieneman spoke of the need for our
country to “embrace a new way to prepare students” in these areas and
shared his thoughts on how the instructional processes and classroom
environment in today’s public schools has changed very little since he
was a school in the 1950s.
Two experts were invited to share their viewpoints. Jane Oates of the
U.S. Dept. of Labor spoke of the need to have educational options
available across all sectors of education (K12, higher ed., workforce
ed.) that are directly aligned to the needs of businesses in America.
She provided examples of how too many students are woefully lacking in
the technical and learning skills that today’s workforce require. ...read more
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Featured Resource of the Month
Don’t let your kids fall behind in a wired world.
Like any other skill, ease with computers comes best with early exposure. And so MotherboardBooks.com offers materials to help your child or teen feel happy and comfortable bossing computers around. Expert parents are not required! In fact you may benefit too!
Get a free e-lesson, The Internet Scavenger Hunt, and teach your teen how to do research on the Internet. Just sign up for the MotherboardBooks.com e-newsletter, Homeschool Support.
CURRICULUMS
For teens, ages 12 and up: Computer Science Pure and Simple Curriculum.
Two self-study books and a MicroWorlds software disk covers two years of instruction. Teaches how to use spreadsheets, how to make Web pages, and how to program animations and games using MicroWorlds software that kids find easy to use.
Susan Bizari, Rochester, NY: "I have homeschooled my twin daughters…..For the last two years they have done your Computer Science Pure and Simple book one and book two and we have really enjoyed it."
Beth Clifford, Brodheadsville, PA: "I absolutely love this curriculum. It is very well-laid out for the student. Actually, this is perfect for anyone who wants to learn about computer science. The lessons are not childish at all, yet they are not over your head (I'm talking over the parent's heads because we all know that kids these days know so much more than we do when it comes to computers). I am very thankful that she (Phyllis Wheeler) decided to share this curriculum with the homeschooling world."
For elementary, ages 8-12: Logo Adventures Curriculum. Self-study book and MicroWorlds software disk covers one year of instruction for younger kids, with plenty of creative projects, including a "board game" and an animated greeting card.
Christine Michaud, Washington, DC: “We LOVE Logo (Adventures)... it has been a wonderful part of our homeschooling. I have been spreading the word among my homeschool friends, too, because it is an area where there is a need for 'curriculum' and most of us are not equipped to teach these skills.”
Nora Huggins, Indialantic, Florida: "My son has so enjoyed Logo Adventures. I cannot get him to stop on most days. He is eating it up with much success. I love the fact that he can do this on his own since he is 11 years old. Thanks again for making learning fun!"
EBOOK, ages 10-12: Let’s Make a Web Page, 60 pages, guiding you and your child through creating a Web page using free-trial-download software. Learn some HTML too. Use this book over and over to create more Web sites! Put it up just on your own computer, or on the Web.
Bethany LeBedz of Concord, NC, reviewing Let's Make a Web Page: "Do you wish you could afford to enroll your kids in a computer class? Are your kids begging to explore the Internet and build their own Web pages? Do you know what HTML is? Now you don’t have to be a computer expert or shell out big bucks for a class in order for your kids to learn how to make a Web page.
It’s geared for ages eight through twelve, although it’s appropriate for older kids, too. My thirteen year old had a blast making her own Web page. "
Kimberly Charron of Nova Scotia, Canada, reviewing Let's Make a Web Page: "What fun we had learning to design a webpage from scratch! ... My son is very eager to do more."
EBOOK, teen and adult: Web Site ABC’s, 97 pages, teaching you how to make Web sites using some basic HTML and free Web site creation software Nvu. Learn some Internet marketing, and how to create and sell an e-book.
From Cindy Rushton: Love the new ebook! Great job! I am sure that I will use this for years to come.
From: Cindy Prechtel: My 14 year old, budding ecommerce-entreprenuer will be using information from your book to publish and market his first ebook. Website ABC's isn't just for novices either! Even though I already have an ecommerce business, I was able to glean valuable information about autoresponders and newsletters saving me $60 a year. Thanks Phyllis!
Simply go to www.MotherboardBooks.com for your FREE Internet scavenger hunt.
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Featured Resource of the Month
Your child could be about to discover their new favorite subject!
- Imagine having a history program your child actually loves!
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Imagine having a history program that gives your child a powerful
foundation of knowledge, and the tools and desire to learn more.
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Imagine having your history curriculum needs expertly taken care of for
all your homeschooling students, for every grade level!
History At Our House is the answer to all your history homeschooling challenges!
The History At Our House program is an integrated, rigorous, and exciting history program for students from 2nd to 12th grade. With
History At Our House students don't read dry textbooks or audio
versions of them. Students either attend live, interactive classes
taught by the program's creator, Scott Powell, via conference-calls
conducted with students across America, or they download MP3 format
recordings of these lectures any day of the week, any time of the day,
on-line, using the Internet—perfect for listening to on a portable
playes, and even in the car! (LEARN MORE.)
TESTIMONIALS
"Thanks again for all that you do to bring history to life for us!"
--Julie N, Maryland
"My son...is so anxious for more that he listens to parts of it again!"
--Rachel B, Oregon
“My daughter has a passion for history, thanks to Mr. Powell."
--Kim M, Connecticut
The History At Our House program offers Ancient, European, and American
history in a three year rotation for lower elementary, upper
elementary, junior high, and high school students. (Also coming soon:
the history of East Asia, and the history of the Middle East!) At all
levels the curriculum includes history, art-appreciation—through the
“History Through Art” program, geography, and more!
TESTIMONIALS
"When we listen as a family, everyone takes away something important."
--Debra R, New York
"I love having one subject that I can learn along side the kids!"
--Stephanie D, Michigan
"The kids are loving it.... I really like the integration of geography... and art!"
--Cheryl H, Alabama
Isn't it time you gave your homeschooling family a history program you
can love? Find out why parents across America are raving about
HistoryAtOurHouse! Registration for the 2009-10 school year opens this
spring, so don't delay. (FIND OUT MORE.)
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