Put Down the Smart Phone

by Nuria Almeida on 05/10/2012

in Activities,children,homeschool,homeschooling,Parents

Nowadays it’s so easy to capture every little special moment.  Most of us have our smart phone on our person at all times, providing video, photography, audio and other types of ways to capture those moments.

It is easy to do this so we do, but looking around a playground it’s easy to see how this can be detrimental to our kids, our families and ourselves. Parents are not looking at their kids, but at their phones instead.  The eye connection, the shared laughter is rare.

 

I find when I look at pictures I have taken, I don’t remember the event or how it felt. All that I had hoped for was a picture would convey the feeling of the moment, capture what made it special. However, more and more all I feel is disconnected. And I can tell I’m not alone.

 

There is a movement in the parent community to strive to remain connected. To stay in the moment, capture the feeling of the moment not with a camera but with our hearts and minds. In essence, we must create memories without the aid of an artificial device.  That means ‘snapping’ the picture with our eyes and storing it in our minds.

 

By staying present and putting down our phones, we can connect to our children and our community on a deeper, more real level.

 

By staying present and putting down our phones, we are letting our children know their time, indeed, they, are more important.

 

Time is fleeting- live it!

 

Check out this article on ways to stay present.

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Reading Music

by Nuria Almeida on 05/04/2012

in Activities,art,education,homeschool,homeschooling,Music

Listening to music is one of my son’s favorite pastimes.  The other day he asked me how music is made. So started a good conversation about notes.  And how reading music is a lot like reading books.

I know a lot of people who can read music and its always seemed like a skill that can lead to new and wonderful things in the future.

 

I found through some research that there are various effective methods, activities, and games to teach children music- and most of them online. Once the basic notes are learned, providing 15 to 20 minutes per day for a few weeks will ensure proficient music reading. Once the skill is learned, a little practice here and there will keep it from going away.

 

There are two great sites that have helped us get started:

 

Teoria

 

Teoria is an awesome reference source for the basics of music education. Featuring interactive exercises learning how to read music is a snap. The practice also helps train the ear, so music can be picked up that way as well.  A good place to start is the tutorial section where you can learn about intervals, scales, chords, harmonic functions, and musical forms.

 

8 Notes

 

8notes.com is not just a sheet  music store. You can also download music, and be provided with links to other sites providing hard copies of the songs. It’s a great compliment to Teoria. My son chooses the songs he wants to learn, downloads them, then he learns how to read the music sheet related to the song.

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College Bound? Start Planning Early

by lgedugator on 05/01/2012

in Activities,children,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning,life skills

In our homeschooling group, I overheard some mom with older kids who would be in seventh and eighth grades talking fervently about the college-bound checklist. I like to know what is coming around the corner so this conversation was of interest.

Across the line, I think the homeschooling parents I know feel intimidated with the thought of being prepared for college after homeschool.

 

The truth is that homeschoolers are admitted to and sometimes sought by colleges and universities. As an example, Harvard College has never required a high school diploma for admission; a Stanford University form letter informs  homeschooled applicants that a high school diploma is not necessary for admission. However, we should still be diligent in our planning and preparation. These vital steps can mean the difference between financial help, including full scholarships, or nothing.

 

For resources, look no further than the College Board, which is the organization that sponsors the SAT I and SAT II college-entrance tests, which in response to the number of  questions about home-schooled applicants has great resources for planning, including:

 

-timetable for college entrance exams

-course of study college requirements

-AP courses

-transcript samples

-scholarships

-examples college bound journeys

 

As you prepare, also keep in mind extracurricular activities are very important and not to be overlooked.

 

As mentioned earlier, most colleges will require nothing but entrance exams. However, if your child would like to obtain a high school diploma, there are many options; Lincoln Academy is one.

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Love Notes

by Nuria Almeida on 04/27/2012

in Activities,children,education,homeschool,homeschooling,Parents

I say I love you often.  My children know I am grateful to be their parent. I say it without restraint.  Recently, I began compounding that message by giving my children cards and notes expressing my deep love and appreciation for them.

These written words express my love, encouragement, appreciation and understanding. It is like an ongoing conversation, one that allows for open communication.  In writing these love notes, I can carefully reflect on my message, choose my words carefully to make sure my message is clear enough for them to understand.

 

For example, when my son helps me with a chore or completes a task without complaint, I write a thank-you note and I post it somewhere in his eye level.

 

My love notes are delivered via various methods: sticky notes, on their pancakes in syrup, on the steamy bathroom mirror, in snail mail etc.

 

Recently, I was impatient and hurt my son’s feelings.  I wanted to apologize but doing so verbally would be done in haste and maybe sound like rote.  So I opted for an apology note. I wanted him to know how sorry I was and that I hoped to be a more patient mom.

 

I find with these notes I am also letting them know how special they are to me. I am also imparting an appreciation for the written language.  I use flowery language and often, words that they will have to look up. I also feel I’m teaching them it’s important to take time to show appreciation and make amends to those they love.

 

For more love letter for kids ideas, click here.

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Taking School On the Road

by Nuria Almeida on 04/19/2012

in Activities,children,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning,Parents

I just read about the Vogels a homeschooling family with twin 11 year old boys, who travels full time on their bicycles.  They have been all throughout the Americas, pedaling currently from the tip of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to the tip of Ushuaia, Argentina. They reached their destination at the end of last month, cycling a total of 17,300 Miles to the end of the world. It took them 3 years. The boys, now almost 14, hold the Guinness World Record as the youngest people to cycle the length of the Americas.

My first thought was how do they afford it?  Let’s face it, finances always play a major role in taking on an adventure or doing things unconventionally. If homeschooling has taught us anything, it is that. Years ago, I would never have imagined living on one income and still enjoy life- and more so.

 

So in a way, what this family has chosen as their adventure is a lot like homeschooling. It’s taking a chance to go against the grain of society, and to challenge the expectation. We may not be cycling the globe at the moment but by taking the road less traveled in our children’s education, we are on a real adventure.

 

A family like the Vogels teaches us many things-

 

- that having a dream and believing you can accomplish it is the first step.

 

- having the courage to step away from what is considered normal to live your dream is  rewarding

 

- finding out you have the determination to make every one of your dreams come true priceless

 

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IQ Testing

by Nuria Almeida on 04/17/2012

in Activities,education,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning

My son asked me recently if he could take an IQ test. He had heard about it from one of his friends.  My son was obviously concerned that somehow he had missed something important- indeed something crucial in his education.

 

It lead me to ask myself the question is IQ testing an important task to accomplish to ensure the best possible outcome for your child’s future?  Schools think so. You do not have to suspect your child is gifted or a genius to take the test. For homeschoolers, it can be a useful tool.

 

The test may in fact reveal where your child lies in a wide spectrum so that you may guide him carefully towards further developing some of his strengths. After all, IQ testing only reveals one aspect of intelligence. This early gauging of intelligence could be a great way to harness a child’s potential.

 

IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, score is determined through a complex set of formulas and data developed after a century of research into the human mind and how it processes information. Though a high score does not imply knowledge of everything and unlimited skill,  high IQs correlate to occupations in higher mathematics and sciences fields.

 

Another plus is a high IQ may also open the door to some scholarships.  It’s most definitely a plus on your child’s academic transcript.

 

There are many options out there for testing. You can have professionals test you child or do a free online assessment.  Whichever way you choose, making sure your child’s self esteem remains intact is top priority.

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The Elitist Homeschool

by Nuria Almeida on 04/12/2012

in Activities,education,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning

Is homeschooling elitist? I would say homeschooling is not.  However, I would add some homeschooling families are.

I have always thought of homeschooling as a privilege.  In our family- we feel lucky to be able to do it. We live simply so that one of us can stay home. I think this kind of sacrifice and scenario is true for a lot homeschooling families. The elitist attitude encompasses more than finance though.  Its the idea that we are somehow better parents, smarter, more educated because we homeschool. In more than a few instances, I have heard a lot of elitist comments from some homeschooling parents about those who ‘won’t’ homeschool, teachers and schools.

 

It is important for all of us to keep in mind that a lot of parents out there may have to work. Maybe they are single parents, maybe they have no patience and recognize their limitations, maybe the schools their children go to are just right for them. Whatever the reason, homeschooling is not for everyone.  And for the many for whom homeschooling would not work, its a wonderful thing that we live in a country that has an established educational system.

 

Not all teachers are bad. It is counter productive to demonize schools and the teachers in them. I know I gained much by going to school. I do not rule out the possibility that my kids may attend school at some point.

 

All we can all do is our best. The reality is there is no perfect education. Most of us just do as best we can.

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Rock Art

by Nuria Almeida on 04/10/2012

in Activities,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning

My son Skypes (video conferences) with a homeschooled boy in Australia. The other day, they were talking about their favorite places to visit.  My son mentioned the Everglades National Park because of the alligators readily seen there. His friend mentioned Kings Canyon where the Aboriginal rock art is abundant.

 

Of course, this sparked some intense interest in my son and so we dove right into researching it. From finding out what this rock art is and then working on our own rock art, it was a busy and interesting week!

 

Aboriginal rock art also known as Gwion Gwion, is part of a tradition of painting and engraving that goes back thousands of years in Australia. Some Aboriginal engravings and paintings are so old that their real meaning is lost, but their importance is still strong. Researchers can only guess, based on current knowledge of Aboriginal culture, stories and legends. The art form is still very much alive however paints used nowadays are synthetic, while the oldest Aboriginal rock art was composed of organic colors and materials. What we found most fascinating was that the rock art found in a part of western Australia called  Murujuga is known as the world’s largest collection of petroglyphs or rock carving. Some of these include images of extinct animals such as Thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger!

 

My son wanted to create his own petroglyphs based on his current life, to tell his story.  We discussed how in our culture our petroglyphs come in many different forms.  We were lucky to find this thorough petroglyph activity from exploratorium. It was informative and fun.

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Pinterest

by Nuria Almeida on 04/06/2012

in Activities,educational activities,Fun,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning

If you haven’t joined the Pinterest movement, you will soon. It’s an addictive great website to discover new innovative and positive ideas and a way to store all that interests you in one place.

 

For homeschoolers, Pinterest offers a way to share fun project ideas and unit studies among other things.

 

In Pinterest, you can join homeschool groups which participate in collaborative boards posting or “pinning” activities, books etc to share with the group and anyone else who wants to “follow” the group. It’s also a great way to connect with other homeschoolers, especially through humorous pins all the while getting feedback about others experiences with what has been pinned.

 

It’s hard sometimes to stay ahead of the curve but Pinterest offers a great way to do just that. Only the most useful and innovative ideas are pinned or posted, so you are always sure to find a new resource that will enhance your homeschooling.

 

The following Pinterest boards apply to homeschool parents. Just search under these titles:

 

-Homeschool Workboxes

-Special Needs

-Unschooling is Awesome

-Practical Life Skills

-iPad Learning

-High School at Home

 

Also check out these subject-specific boards to follow and browse through. You will be delighted:

 

-Hands-on Science

-Hands-on History

-Living Math for Homeschool

-Learning with Literature

-Nature Study Homeschool Coop

-Hand and Footprint Art

-Creative Inspiration for Kids

-Art for Kiddos

 

To optimize your Pinterest experience, be sure to nstall the Pinterest bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar to quickly pin things you find around the internet without going to the Pinterest site first. To get it, click here and drag the “Pin it” button to your browser toolbar.

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Exploring the World

by Nuria Almeida on 04/05/2012

in Activities,education,Field Trip,Geography,homeschool,homeschooling,Learning

Now that Spring is here, it’s time to get back out there!  Take your child outdoors and Explore the world around you.

Even cities have wild places around them. Locate those spaces and head out any one afternoon for some great quality time with your kids. Go prepared and you will sure to make some much needed fresh air fun.

 

Things to keep in mind for trips outdoors:

 

- Stay close and start with small expeditions.  Conquer the areas around you first and then expand outwards on the diameter.  This is especially important if your and your child are new to outdoor exploration.  For example, a short hike instead of some long, arduous trail.

 

- Make sure your adventure includes activities that highlight your child’s abilities. For example, if she’s artistic, make time for some quiet drawing nature time.  If you have a child who loves to run and climb, pick a place that allows for that.

 

Always be prepared for the unexpected.  The outdoors can present challenges, especially for novices. Bring along plenty of snacks and water, dry socks, sunblock, bug spray and a warm jacket or sweatshirt.

 

- Go with others who know the area or are experienced.  This provides security and also seeing the outdoor space through the eyes of an expert.  Its a great learning opportunity. For example, it’s great to have someone point out plants, birds and land formations.

 

- If an expert is not available, use a compass, GPS, and nature pocket guide for reference. You could also get a group of other families to join you. The more the merrier!

 

Check out Meet Up to join others in your area who may be venturing outdoors too!

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