Wednesday 28 October 2015

Overcoming the fear of homeschooling in the Highschool Years

I've been pondering the High School years quite a bit of late.  It feels like the other day I was embarking on these years with my first two and all of a sudden I have two homeschool graduates, one of them is in Great Britain and the other is doing a trainee ship. Looking back I'm surprised at just how quickly those years passed by.

I'm often surprised at  the FEAR of the high school years that is expressed among home educating families and concerned members of the public.  Today I would like to share some thoughts on 5 Hurdles to Overcome in teaching the High School Years.

5 Hurdles to Overcome

1 - Negative Mindset

  • Your attitude sets the tone for your student towards any given subject matter.  Be careful of passing on a negative mindset to your children which is born out of your own experience with a certain subject matter. 
  • It's your job to facilitate learning. If the subject matter at hand is outside of our own personal expertise, it is our job to help find someone who can help our student better understand the subject matter at hand.
  • A great answer for any question you can not answer is to say: "That's a good question, I don't know the answer let's find out together." The high school years are an excellent time to model how to keep learning.  The point is go on a journey of discovery together.  You may be surprised to learn that you actually enjoy (dare I say it out loud ?) Algebra or Chemistry or Quantum physics ...

2 - FEAR

  • For each and every one of us there is a subject out there that makes us quake in our shoes and rightly so. There are not very many people who are able to be perfect in every subject matter.
  • The balance is remembering that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.
  • Confronting this fear with a fellow homeschool parent and finding the truth is better than passing on your own fears to your children.  
  • It is impossible to teach/know everything there is to know about any particular subject matter due to the information age we live in.You do not need to FEAR that you may miss something.
  • This is where co-ops and support groups come into play. Do not be afraid to ask for help ...

3 - Please Help ?

  • It saddens me that many homeschool families quit because they think to say HELP we are stuck in this or that subject area is somehow a confession of failure. 
  • Remember: To say I don't know how to do something takes courage. We encourage our young children to ask for help and yet as adults we don't ask for help.  This is foolish and serves no good purpose.
  • No two families are the same and each one has it's own set of needs to be met.  What works for one family may not necessarily work for yours.
  • The secret is to keep asking until you find the key that unlocks the mystery of a particular subject for your family. While this can be time consuming it is worth the effort it takes.

 4 - Google

  • Home education and the internet have met up with each other to form a rather profitable marriage.  While this is good for home educational businesses it's really bad for the home educator who has no hands on experience and does not know what works for which particular situation. 
  • On one hand this is great as we have an unlimited supply of advice at our finger tips, the counter balance is we don't have anyone who knows us and our children who can support us.
  • I would encourage you to find real people to sit and have cups of tea with. Go from home to home within the group and see first hand how systems work then you will be better equipped to make decisions on what will or will not work for your family.  
  • Only tackle Google and ask once you are armed with specific questions that need to be answered.
  • Do NOT let Google dictate what you should or should not be doing. 

    5- Pinterest.

    • For some of us Pinterest can be a source of anxiety and discontent and for others it's a paradise found
    • There are some amazing free resources and ideas to be found here.  The problem is that the ideas are limitless and can end up paralyzing you to action.
    • If you choose to look for answers here don't get too hung up on the perfection displayed by others.  Remember it's a cyber world where we can portray anything we want to, in any way we want to.  Nothing is as perfect as it seems.  Many online companies / homeschoolers purchase picture perfect scenes to 'sell' their information on Pinterest.
    • Use with caution and enjoy.

    "Can I teach 

    high school science?

     NO

    As your student gets older, 

    your role changes from 

    teacher to fellow learner."
    Things to consider

    • Research your options while your students are in the primary school years so that you have a clear pathway before you.  
    • Be clear on your expectations.
    • Have an understanding of the level of education required to tackle different areas in the high school years.
    • Research and save for more expensive items such as a microscope.  Do you have to have a microscope ?  No but it is a great hands on learning tool that makes the sciences come alive in your home.
    • Find out where to purchase the items you need to do practical labs.
    • Consider the scope and sequence before changing curriculum or you might end up repeating what you have already done.
    • Get to know your student and what their long term study goals are and work towards those. Make it a priority to achieve what they need to accomplish their tertiary goals in the science arena.  
    I would like to encourage you not to fear but embrace the high school years.  See it as an opportunity to learn and discover more thoroughly what you have always wanted to know.

    Secondly remember you can not teach it all.  There is no A-Z list for you to tick off and say right now I have taught this and that  and we are finished.  These days information in any subject area is exploding with at an exponential rate and it would be physically impossible for you to teach all there is to know in any given subject matter due to this..


    I would love to read your thoughts on Learning in high school please leave a link to your post in the comments.

    Blessings
    Chareen
    You can read more on these five hurdles in my post: HELP! How am I going to teach ... ? 

    Read more on overcoming the hurdles to home educating in the high school years:


    Home School High School Topics

    Over the next few months we will be sharing some insights into the following aspects of home educating through the high school years
    • Planning for High School {How and When,ways to/how we're planning to earn college credit while still in high school, Meeting High School Requirements, how to assign credit when there aren't tests, What records do you keep? How do you present them? What influences your method, your emphasis in certain areas?}
    • Electives in the High School Years {Following Passions, following interests, fitting a job in with school, and Being intentional in Preparing for what comes after high school, Life skills.}
    • Math, Science, Biology, History {What do you use ? Why do you use ... ? What influences your choices/selection? }
    • 30 September - Language Arts {Poetry, Literature, Composition, writing, What influenced your choices/selection?}
    • "How am I going to teach High School ...?" {Addressing the fear factor of teaching subjects we struggle with or know nothing about, How to achieve credit in subjects your student *hates*}
    • 25 November - How do you fit it all in ? {homeschooling high school alongside homeschooling the others, Fostering Independence, Do you generalise or specialise? Schedules,}
    • 30 December - Graduation { Fostering Independence, How do you know when they are done ?}
    Until next month.  Happy blog hopping
    Blessings
    Chareen

    Tuesday 27 October 2015

    The Nutcracker {Maestro Classics}

    One of our review highlights in 2014 was the one we did for Maestro Classics. We are endeavoring to follow a more delight directed approach along a Charlotte Mason philosophy.  Charlotte Mason encouraged classical composer studies and the listening of great compositions. Personally I have a very limited understanding of classical music and would love to introduce more of this genre of music into our home school.

    We enjoyed our first introduction to Maestro Classics so much I was thrilled when they offered us their latest addition to their product line: The Nutcracker featuring Jim Weiss

    I am so pleased to have discovered  Maestro Classics. Their aim is to introduce children to classical music through stories. The music on each CD is played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

    What we received
    • Digital Download of The Nutcracker 
    • Produced by: Maestro Classics
    • Narrated by: Jim Weiss
    • Music by: Tchaikovsky
    • Adapted by: Stephen Simon
    • Conducted by: Stephen Simon
    • Music played by: London Philharmonic Orchestra
    • Nutcracker Activity Book (PDF format)
    • Total download size: 95.2 MB zipped file
    • Total Duration 58 min 01 seconds

    How we used it

    After downloading the zipped file to my pc I extracted it's contents and imported the music into my iTunes library.  I then burned them to disc.  Nathaniel and I snuggled on the couch to listen to the CD. We were so inspired by the story we found a video on Netflix to watch The Nutcracker Ballet!

    CD insert sample

    The Activity booklet which comes with the CD is a beautifully illustrated full colour 13 page CD insert containing:
    • A Summary of Act 1 and 2
    • Short History of Ballet
    • A simple sample of the Overture to The Nutcracker
    • An introduction to the Harp
    • Short biography of Mr Tchaikovsky
    • Word Scramble
    •  Nutcracker Crossword Puzzle
    • Biography of Stephen Simon and Jim Weiss
    • A reference to Maestro Classics
    • A contents page referencing each track


    The curriculum guide is worth it's weight in gold. It's available as a FREE download from Maestro Classics. This ten page guide is fully interactive with links on every page to interesting information.

    The Nutcracker curriculum guide covers:
    • Ballet -  the history, YouTube clips, colouring pages, Nutrition,  Games
    • History - Christmas around the world, mini unit study
    • Geography - history of nutcrackers and a mini virtual field trip
    • Science - simple machines, levers, physics
    • Language Arts - Fairy Tales, 
    • Art - Let's make nutcrackers
    • Books - recommended books
    • Music - mini unit studies on Tchaikovsky, rhythm,  activities
    • Math - Nutcrackers by number, themed Montessori activities
    For the Parent
    Don't miss out on the amazing extra's that are available on the website
    Cost of The Nutcracker*
    • CD version $16.98
    • MP 3 version $9.98 
    *All prices are quoted in US $ and are current at time of review. Please consult the Maestro Classics website for current prices
      Other CD's available 

      Connect with Maestro Classics

      What we thought
      We love all things Maestro Classic.  The Nutcracker is perfect for ballet students learning to dance The Nutcracker, introducing children to Tchaikovsky's music, anyone going to see The Nutcracker ballet for the first time and fans of the popular story teller Jim Weiss.

      Blessings
      Chareen


      Click to read Crew Reviews

      Monday 26 October 2015

      5 Books on Studying Artists

      This months theme for the Poppins Book Nook is ARTISTS.  Art can be a sensitive topic among home educating families. It all boils down to your preference and your personal home educating philosophy.

      I have a passion for twaddle free living literature and have been collecting books for many years now.  Today I would like to share five of my favorite go to books and five art projects we have enjoyed this year.

      If you would like more information on a book click on the link below the graphic.

      Until Next month

      Blessings
      Chareen


      5 Beautiful Art Books on Artist Study
      The Usborne ART Treasury


      Katie and the Waterlily Pond


      Katie and the Mona Lisa


      The Usborne Book of Famous Paintings


      A Year in Art A Painting a Day

       5 Easy Art Projects to enjoy with your Children

      Tessellating Tile Art found in The Usborne ART Treasury on pages 84 -87.

      Clown Collage inspired by Picasso - page 22 and 23 of The Usborne ART Treasury.

      Fish in the sea pictured inspired by The Golden Fish by Paul Klee. 
      We used The Usborne ART Treasury on page 28-31.

      Modrian Inspired Art

      Artist Study {Claude Monet}












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      Saturday 24 October 2015

      Phonetic Zool Level A {IEW Review}

      Earlier this year Nathaniel and I had the privilege of beginning our writing journey with The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). I have been a huge fan of theirs for over a decade and was very encouraged to see Nathaniel's progress in the area of composition using their Student Writing Package.

      Due to Asperger's Syndrome Nathaniel has been struggling in the area of language arts and spelling is an area we have been working on. I recently discovered that Nathaniel learns best with short lessons, copy work and with clear instructions. I heard about Phonetic Zoo Spelling Level A [Starter Set] and I was very keen to try it.

      You can watch Andrew Pudewa's introduction to Spelling Zoo on YouTube.

      What we received
      • Spelling and the Brain video Seminar
      • 5 audio CD's containing 47 lessons, answer keys and 6 final exams
      • Lesson Cards 
      • Personal Spelling Cards
      • Zoo Cards
      • Phonetic Zoo Teacher Notes (PDF file) 3.93 MB. This manual is 76 pages long and contains: How to notes, an introduction to Phonetic Zoo, short lesson notes for each lesson and Appendices.

      How we used it

      After downloading the Teachers Manual I printed it off and followed took some time to read through the notes in the beginning. I found these notes particularly helpful as they explain the reasons behind the method.

      Spelling Zoo uses a multi-sensory approach to teach spelling and has it's foundations in Mrs. Anna Inghams Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning. The explanations of basic neurophysiology deepened my understanding of the processes involved in learning to spell and helped reinforce the method.

       I downloaded the audio program into iTunes and gave Nathaniel the first spelling card. 

      Nathaniel looked over the spelling rule and column A of the spelling words. I had him read the rule to me and explained what it meant in relation to the words he was learning.  We put aside the card and took out a book with plain lined paper.

      The next step was for him to do on his own.  He started listening to the audio. Track one explains to the student how the program works.  Track two was the first lesson.  The spelling rule is recited followed by a spelling practice run.

      This involves:
      • Hearing the word to be learned in context of a sentence 
      • Writing the word.  
      • Once all the words are written the student is required to mark their own work. The process involves: hearing the word, hearing the spelling of the word, crossing out the incorrectly spelled word and writing it the correct way.  
      This process is repeated until the student obtains 100 % accuracy for the list they are working on for two days in a row.

      Front of Personal Spelling Reward Cards
      Back of Personal Reward Spelling Cards
       Once they have obtained mastery they earn a zoo card for that level.  Each card contains:
      • On the front:A picture of an animal whose name follows the spelling rule and the title of the spelling rule
      • On the back: The lesson number, rule title and hint poem to help the student remember the rule.

      Front: Lesson Card One
       The lesson cards are printed on card stock. Each card has three levels of spelling on them.  Level A, B and C. The front of the card has a drawing of an animal along with their name which conforms to the spelling rule being learned. On the right is a sample of the words being learned that lesson.

      Back Lesson Card One
      The back of each card contains the lesson summary and rule hint. On the right is three columns.  One for each spelling level. This means that you only need one set of cards to complete all three levels. Once you have worked through level A go back to the beginning and work your way through each successful level. This means I only have to purchase the audio's in order to complete the next two levels.

      Cost of Phonetic Zoo Level A*
      • CD with Printed Materials $99.00
      • Download, $79.00
      *All prices are quoted in US $ and are current at time of review. Please consult the I.E.W. website for current prices
      ** I.E.W. is available for purchase internationally.  Find your nearest distributor here.
      Recommended Age Range
      • Grades 3 - 5
      • Special Education
      • English Learners
      • Level A (primary)
      • Level B (intermediate)
      • Level C (highest)
      Find out more

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      I am very impressed with Spelling Zoo.  It has removed the stress of me having to daily repeat the spelling I am teaching to Nathaniel.  Spelling Zoo has been a good fit for Aspergers because each and every day is identical.  The results are measurable each day and he has immediate feedback on his personal progress.  There is no pressure because he is working against himself and his own ability.

      Blessings
      Chareen



      Click to read Crew Reviews

      Wednesday 21 October 2015

      Drawing Around the World: Europe {Review}

      Over the last few years I have grown an interest in the Charlotte Mason pedagogy of education. The longer I am on this journey the more I want to remove the mundane and twaddle from our Homeschool.

      Recently I learned about the curriculum publisher called Brookdale House.  Their passion is "to design curricula that teaches more with less."  I discovered that Ms Mason wrote a couple of Geography books. This new found knowledge has inspired me to search for something to help Nathaniel with his map skills / knowledge.

      Brookdale House have a Geography Drawing Series which covers the continent of Europe (Drawing Around the World: Europe) and the USA. The purpose of the curriculum is to help students draw maps from memory.

      What we received
      Contents

      • How to use the program
      • Learning objectives
      • Suggested weekly schedule
      • Memorization Techniques
      • Maps
      • Drawing Directions 
      • Online Resource links
      • 50 Countries to learn (spread over a 24 week cycle):

      Albania Germany Norway
      Andorra Greece Poland
      Armenia Hungry Portugal
      Austria Iceland Romania
      Azerbaijan Ireland Russia
      Belarus Italy  San Marino
      Belgium Kosovo Serbia
      Bosnia Latvia Slovakia
      Bulgaria Liechtenstein Slovenia
      Croatia Lithuania Spain
      Cyprus Luxembourg Sweden
      Czech Republic Macedonia Switzerland
      Denmark Malta Turkey
      Estonia Moldavia Ukraine
      Finland Monaco United Kingdom
      France Montenegro Vatican City
      Georgia Netherlands


       How we used it
      I printed off the first 14 pages which contained the introduction, instructions and a few sample and reference maps in order to familiarize myself with how the program works.  From here I chose the country we are learning about and printed off the pages for the week.

      Learning to draw the country for the week
       Each week follows the same rhythm
      • Day 1 - Learn about the country by completing a fact table of the country, locate and label the country on a map, trace the country and draw the country.
      • Day 2 - Locate and label the country on a dashed, black and white dashed map. Draw and label the country on a blank map.
      • Day 3 - a repeat of day 2
      • Day 4 - List from memory all the countries studied so far. Draw the countries on a blank map.
      Locating, colouring and labeling the country on a dotted map


      Drawing the country on a blank map


      If the student would like to practice tracing the country before free hand drawing you can add the maps to a sheet protector and use a dry erase marker. Some students struggle with the slippery writing surface. For these students I recommend using backing paper and a pencil for practice.

      Using coloured pencils helps the countries stand out from the rest during practice and review.

      **Cost of Drawing Around the World: Europe
      • eBook - $22.95
      • Printed Book - $25.95
      ** All prices are current as at October 2015. Price is subject to increase at the discretion of the vendor. Please check the website for current pricing structures.
      Recommended Age Range
      • There is no recommended minimum age.  As soon as your student is capable of tracing, free hand drawing from memory and writing the country names you can start using Drawing Around the World: Europe.
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      Over All I thought ...
      I like the simplicity of this system and the flexibility I have as a home educator to choose which country to learn next. This enables me to line up the country we are studying with our history or our current read aloud.

      The system is the same each week which means that for me I don't need to do any new prep work and for Nathaniel it allows him to know what to do without me having to explain it from scratch each time.

      Beautifully presented and excellent quality make for a great geography product.

      Blessings
      Chareen


      Click to read Crew Reviews