My daughter Miranda will be 12 in the Fall and starting with the pre-scholar classes. I called a good friend of mine to pick her brain on how I could better prepare Miranda for the challenges of these classes. Her ideas have worked and been successful...and so I have to share!
Over the last month I have over heard Miranda make the comment that she only has a few more months to play, before she is a scholar an needs to buckle down. I asked Miranda what abilities she sees scholar age kids doing (we use the lingo of the different phases in our home all the time, so the kids are fully aware of what phase (core, love of learner or scholar) they are in and what it looks like). I brought up names of some of the kids we know that portray a great example of a scholar. She said she knows that they read and write a lot more. Writing was the specific thing I was hoping she would bring up because I had a plan to help her in this area. We talked about writing and how it could greatly improve her work and studies as a scholar. I linked it directly to the things she loves like learning and studying animals so it was easy for her to see the value of writing.
I chose a quiet moment in the afternoon to do all this. After we talked a bit I brought her to the table and told her we were going to do something fun. For 5 minutes both her and I were going to do our own free write. I with my own paper and pen and Miranda with her own. For 5 minutes we could write about anything. I treated it like a game. We could make up a story or write a letter or poem. Then when 5 minutes were up we would each read each others stories out loud. It has been so much fun to do this with Miranda. It has been powerful for her to see me value writing. And for me it is a good time for me to improve my writing skills and handwriting. We have loved this time together and seeing what each of us has in our minds to write about. And for Miranda it will help her become very comfortable with and love to write. She has already increased the time to 10 minutes or longer if she really wants to finish. I am fine with that because if she wants to finish a great idea in her mind she should be able to (one reason I home school).
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
March is the month we are reading and studying the Declaration of Independence for our adult book group. We are hoping for an excellent turnout this month. Here is a link I trust you can go to to help in your studies. It is Skousen's website. http://www.nccs.net/articles/index.html
We meet at my house March 22nd @7pm. Have your husbands read also so you can bring them! Discussion and desert!
We meet at my house March 22nd @7pm. Have your husbands read also so you can bring them! Discussion and desert!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
School Today
What did we spend time doing in our school today? We shaped our character! What... seriously! Absolutely!
The best lessons in life are in the "classic" books that most of the world claims as being "out of date". What do we know of the Forefathers of our past that made a difference in the world? We know that they studied the Bible and classics. They read from the great minds before them! No liquid down version from a text book, but straight to the source.
I have been reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott out loud to all my children. Today we stopped to discuss something we pulled out of the book. This is the great thing about the classics, there are always vital lessons to be learned. No lesson plans needed. Just read and discuss. So, this was the part when Jo and her mother are talking about how to get a handle on anger. Marmy, as they call mama, always has profound things to say. She is a mentor to me! She says that she has anger every day of her life. So I asked my kids at that point which of them also has anger every day. All of us raised our hands. Then Marmy says that she has learned not to show it (her anger). So I asked the kids what it would take to not allow others to see their anger. Dallin piped in right away with an example of how he experienced anger yesterday but went out to the porch with the cats instead of letting others see his anger. He said he talked to the cats and they helped calm him. I thought this was a great example, so we talked about other ideas and ways we could not show our anger. Then I returned to reading the book, because in the very next sentence Marmy says " and I still hope to learn not to feel it (angry)". So then we talked about how we could not even feel angry. It was a great discussion! The character shaping comes natural when reading the classics.
If we miss the opportunity to read to our children (even when they can read on their own) then we miss the great mentoring opportunities that these books prompt us with.
The best lessons in life are in the "classic" books that most of the world claims as being "out of date". What do we know of the Forefathers of our past that made a difference in the world? We know that they studied the Bible and classics. They read from the great minds before them! No liquid down version from a text book, but straight to the source.
I have been reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott out loud to all my children. Today we stopped to discuss something we pulled out of the book. This is the great thing about the classics, there are always vital lessons to be learned. No lesson plans needed. Just read and discuss. So, this was the part when Jo and her mother are talking about how to get a handle on anger. Marmy, as they call mama, always has profound things to say. She is a mentor to me! She says that she has anger every day of her life. So I asked my kids at that point which of them also has anger every day. All of us raised our hands. Then Marmy says that she has learned not to show it (her anger). So I asked the kids what it would take to not allow others to see their anger. Dallin piped in right away with an example of how he experienced anger yesterday but went out to the porch with the cats instead of letting others see his anger. He said he talked to the cats and they helped calm him. I thought this was a great example, so we talked about other ideas and ways we could not show our anger. Then I returned to reading the book, because in the very next sentence Marmy says " and I still hope to learn not to feel it (angry)". So then we talked about how we could not even feel angry. It was a great discussion! The character shaping comes natural when reading the classics.
If we miss the opportunity to read to our children (even when they can read on their own) then we miss the great mentoring opportunities that these books prompt us with.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Yes it has been a while since this blog has had some attention! Poor blog. But it is in full swing again with improvements to come!
Take notice of the postings on the right side of the blog. Our book group is starting back up next month. And we have classes for all ages. If you homeschool and feel impressed to be part of our group feel free to contact me.
This coming Fall we are prepared to launch our Commonwealth for homeschool families. We are so exited at all this offers you (as the parent mentor) and your children! We focus on Leadership Education to inspire and lift each soul to his/her highest potential.
This May our Shakespeare students will be performing "The Taming of the Shrew". Please look for further information so you can attend this spectacular event with your family!
Take notice of the postings on the right side of the blog. Our book group is starting back up next month. And we have classes for all ages. If you homeschool and feel impressed to be part of our group feel free to contact me.
This coming Fall we are prepared to launch our Commonwealth for homeschool families. We are so exited at all this offers you (as the parent mentor) and your children! We focus on Leadership Education to inspire and lift each soul to his/her highest potential.
This May our Shakespeare students will be performing "The Taming of the Shrew". Please look for further information so you can attend this spectacular event with your family!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
I learned 3 important lessons this week:
* The hardships I go through are nothing compared to others throughout the world. There is so much sorrow, heartache and spiritual darkness out there. I have mourned with those that mourn this week.
* Judging others is the very thing that stands in the way of us helping lift another soul!
* The phrase : "You can't teach and old dog new tricks" I have changed my mind and no longer believe it! With FAITH in Christ all things are possible!
* The hardships I go through are nothing compared to others throughout the world. There is so much sorrow, heartache and spiritual darkness out there. I have mourned with those that mourn this week.
* Judging others is the very thing that stands in the way of us helping lift another soul!
* The phrase : "You can't teach and old dog new tricks" I have changed my mind and no longer believe it! With FAITH in Christ all things are possible!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
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