When we spend $$ for that colorful, wonderful new toy, we are hoping, wishing, and dreaming that we can delight baby or keep our toddler busy “for hours” like the package says. But it turns out that toys are just toys—and not Mommy. No surprise. Mommy is what children really need and want!
It’s Mom…Not Fisher-Price
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Do I Need to Test My Child?
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Question:
We need to know about testing. When? What materials? How often?
Please help! Our son is in the 4th grade.
Answer:
As home school moms, we are trying to put information into our children’s minds and hearts, not pull it out, which is what testing seems to be all about. The most effective test that can ever be given is to talk to the student for 5-10 minutes, asking questions, asking him to explain details of the subject you are testing him on. This was the method (oral evaluation) used in educating our founding fathers and it was very effective. Most homeschoolers find eventually that oral testing is the most revealing of the student’s knowledge level, and can be pleasant, rather than nervewracking.
Wishing to Go Back to School
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Question:
My daughter is 10 years old, and we are homeschooling full-time this year. It is hard because we moved to a small town and she is used to having friends in the neighborhood. We are slowly getting to know some really nice homeschoolers in this area. How do I continue to keep her motivated? It seems like things will go along smoothly, and then she wishes she was back in school. I don’t want to send her back. [Read more…]
Demanding Toddler
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Question:
I need help! My toddler is so demanding, and takes up much of my attention and time, that I am having trouble homeschooling my other children.
Answer:
It’s tough—I sympathize!
Having a bin of interesting toys for your toddler to play with on the floor while you are reading aloud or teaching can buy you some time. Rotating the toys (so your little ones expects to find something new in the bin) helps keep interest. Something they have to manipulate works well and keeps them busy longer. My favorites are Stacking Pegs and the Toddler Tote. A ramp racer is a good one too!
Teaching an Older Child to Write
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Question:
I have a 9th grade daughter that really struggles in writing. She does not like writing so it has always been a battle and I have not pushed it nearly enough. Now I find she is really behind in writing and I am feeling panicked because writing is so important to every other subject. Do you have any suggestions of how to help an older student learn to be a better writer? I really feel like I have failed her.
Making Friends
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Question:
We joined a homeschool coop which is great and I love it. They only meet for 2 hours or so on Friday mornings, though, and then for field trips once a month. Of course, there is no guarantee that the kids in my daughter’s class will be at the field trips. So, how do your kids make friends? I didn’t want her to go to public school, but with homeschool it doesn’t seem like she’ll make friends as easily. She’s very introverted. [Read more…]
Spelling Clues
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My daughter Louisa (15)
English is a beautiful language! It is the language of the Kings James Version of the Bible. It is the language of Shakespeare. Then, why—oh, why can’t we spell?
Over the years of teaching my 7 children to write, I wonder if perhaps I have seen nearly every misspelling known to man. Tomorrow, friends, though, a lot . . . these common words can be quite challenging. I don’t claim to any system of success, but I do know that giving kids a memory clue can help a great deal! Here are just a few of the clues I have discovered that help my kids spell better:
The World is Mine
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The World is Mine
Today upon a bus I saw
A girl with golden hair;
She seemed so gay, I envied her,
And wish that I were half so fair;
I watched her as she rose to leave,
And saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch,
But as she passed—a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I have two legs—the world is mine.
