Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Are Public Schools "Neutral" Concerning Politics, Religion, & Social Issues?
"If you think that the government schools are 'neutral places' where all social, political, and religious beliefs are tolerated, then you are either ignorant or you are delusional." - read the complete article here:
http://www.mrconservative.com/2012/02/2328-get-out-of-public-schools/
http://www.mrconservative.com/2012/02/2328-get-out-of-public-schools/
Saturday, March 24, 2012
"Public School Is NOT a Child's Ministry"
Amen! After reading the link below, come back to this post and click on the label at the bottom of this post entitled "Salt and Light" to read my own view on the subject.
http://www.holyspiritledhomeschooling.net/2012/01/public-school-is-not-a-childs-ministry/
http://www.holyspiritledhomeschooling.net/2012/01/public-school-is-not-a-childs-ministry/
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
"You've Come A Long Way, Baby!"
I am amazed at how far my little "hyper" grandson has come over the past 8 months that we've been homeschooling him. (Without drugs/Ritalin, by the way!) We began in July of 2011, when he was 2 yr. 9 mo. old. The knowledge he has acquired and retained in this short time is mind-boggling, to say the least. His speech has become that of a much older child. He thinks things through (reasons things out) before speaking, and frequently leaves us astonished at his understanding of things beyond the level of a "normal" 3 year old. (Of course, he talks constantly. Practice makes perfect, don't ya know!)
If I had to choose only one aspect of our homeschooling experience (to date) that I've found to be most noteworthy, it would be the remarkable increase of his attention span. When we began homeschooling last July, mostly all he did was "flit" around from one thing to another, never spending more than a few seconds on any one thing. Sitting down to read a short, child's story book was NOT happening. He wouldn't sit through more than one or two pages (each page having a very colorful, large picture and only one or two sentences on the page) before he was up and off looking for something else to "get into".
Now, 8 months later, my grandson will actually sit and pay attention as I read a "chapter" book to him. You know, the kind that has a whole page of words, and one little black & white drawing / picture on the opposite page. Yes! The other day, we began reading Pinocchio. We have completed 7 chapters now, and he is enjoying it! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!.
So folks, if you have a hyperactive child that you fear will not settle down to learn anything without drugs...Think again! All it takes is patience and determination on your part, and your child will learn - and yes, IMPROVE in his attention span. Don't lose hope. Be encouraged!
Of course, my grandson is still very active. He still tires us all out. We've found a solution to that, too. His parents, great-grandparents, aunt, my husband, and myself take turns caring for him when he isn't doing his lessons at my house. This way, his energy gets spread out among many, so it doesn't become overwhelming (to his parents, especially).
If I had to choose only one aspect of our homeschooling experience (to date) that I've found to be most noteworthy, it would be the remarkable increase of his attention span. When we began homeschooling last July, mostly all he did was "flit" around from one thing to another, never spending more than a few seconds on any one thing. Sitting down to read a short, child's story book was NOT happening. He wouldn't sit through more than one or two pages (each page having a very colorful, large picture and only one or two sentences on the page) before he was up and off looking for something else to "get into".
Now, 8 months later, my grandson will actually sit and pay attention as I read a "chapter" book to him. You know, the kind that has a whole page of words, and one little black & white drawing / picture on the opposite page. Yes! The other day, we began reading Pinocchio. We have completed 7 chapters now, and he is enjoying it! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!.
So folks, if you have a hyperactive child that you fear will not settle down to learn anything without drugs...Think again! All it takes is patience and determination on your part, and your child will learn - and yes, IMPROVE in his attention span. Don't lose hope. Be encouraged!
Of course, my grandson is still very active. He still tires us all out. We've found a solution to that, too. His parents, great-grandparents, aunt, my husband, and myself take turns caring for him when he isn't doing his lessons at my house. This way, his energy gets spread out among many, so it doesn't become overwhelming (to his parents, especially).
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A great website for Lapbook / Unit Studies Ideas...
"Lapbooks" or "Unit Studies" are themed lessons that may extend over several days or weeks. Each lapbook or unit is based upon a particular idea, story, poem, holiday, person, event, etc. The lessons within the theme can include all curriculum subject areas such as language arts, math, science , social studies, art, music, etc.
Lapbooks or Unit Studies are especially great with the younger children (pre-school through elementary school, as they grasp concepts better through the repetition of a theme over several days.
For example, with my pre-school grandson over the past week and a half, we have been learning about our national holiday - St. Patrick's Day. Our lessons encompassed Social Studies (holidays, celebrations, history of St. Patrick, geography/Ireland and its flag, myths/leprechauns and the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, superstitions/kissing the Blarney Stone, and religion/Christianity), Science (the plant clover/shamrocks), Math (the number 3 - a shamrock normally has 3 parts to its leaf), Colors ( green, and the colors of the rainbow), Art (the various projects we have done in relation to St. Patrick's Day), etc.
Check out the various ideas for lapbooks / unit studies here:
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Lapbooks-at-HSS.php
The two links below especially caught my eye for possible use with my grandson during his next pre-school year, when he is 4 years old:
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/alphabet_notebook.php
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/my_body.php
Enjoy!
Lapbooks or Unit Studies are especially great with the younger children (pre-school through elementary school, as they grasp concepts better through the repetition of a theme over several days.
For example, with my pre-school grandson over the past week and a half, we have been learning about our national holiday - St. Patrick's Day. Our lessons encompassed Social Studies (holidays, celebrations, history of St. Patrick, geography/Ireland and its flag, myths/leprechauns and the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, superstitions/kissing the Blarney Stone, and religion/Christianity), Science (the plant clover/shamrocks), Math (the number 3 - a shamrock normally has 3 parts to its leaf), Colors ( green, and the colors of the rainbow), Art (the various projects we have done in relation to St. Patrick's Day), etc.
Check out the various ideas for lapbooks / unit studies here:
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Lapbooks-at-HSS.php
The two links below especially caught my eye for possible use with my grandson during his next pre-school year, when he is 4 years old:
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/alphabet_notebook.php
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/my_body.php
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Great, Inexpensive Pre-school/Kindergarten Educational Toy...
As I was out shopping today for my family, I found a great, inexpensive (wooden) educational toy to add to my pre-school classroom. I just could not pass it up! It was only $5 at the Dollar General Store. Yay!
Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks (front view)
(flipped/back view)
Friday, March 2, 2012
A New, More Colorful Look for My Classroom...
How do you like my new rug? (5'x8' from Walmart)
The overall look...Do you think the rug is a good choice for coordinating with my curtains?
The curtains were originally three shower curtains (purchased from Walmart). I used the fabric to make curtains for my classroom.
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