There are a number of thanksgiving projects and crafts that homeschoolers from all over the nation can enjoy creating. This can be a very exciting learning activity that can include all members of the family. Here, we will review some of the top thanksgiving projects and crafts. It is important to remember that the best ways to create these projects are in a supplement to a lesson plan. For example, if you are creating a turkey thanksgiving craft, you may want to include a supplement lesson about turkeys. If you are creating a pilgrim project, of course, it would be best to include a lesson about pilgrims.
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Tags: blessing leaf wreath children crafts hands and feet turkey craft Thanksgiving Thanksgiving crafts
For the parent who is considering the option of homeschooling their child, the initial decision of selecting a homeschooling method may prove to be a challenging one. There are many selections to choose from when it comes to homeschooling styles. If you are one of these parents, the choice of methods for educating your child at home will depend on many different factors. These factors depend on your values, beliefs, goals, the learning style of your child, and numerous other factors. Here, we will review the many homeschooling methods that you can elect to use.
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Tags: Charlotte Mason homeschool styles Montessori homeschooling traditional homeschooling unschooling virtural schools
It can be very hard sometimes to tell if your child is having problems at school, at least until reports cards come Unfortunately, most schools only offer very minimal information about coursework and expectations and of course talking about school may not be something that our kids want to do with you every day. This makes it difficult for parents to judge how well their children is mastering the material.
Here are some quick tips which can help you check up on your child's schoolwork without having to wait for report-card time:
- Talk to your child about her classwork. Does she feel confident? Does she say whether she is keeping up or feels behind the rest of the kids?
- Take notice of any comments that the teacher is giving on the papers.
- Check the work that your child brings home each day. You may have to dig through crumpled papers at the bottom of her backpack. Ask what assignments her teacher is giving the class.
- Do not be afraid to talk to your child's teacher. Schedule a meeting if need be.
- Most of the time the teacher will send home progress reports in between report cards. Are you getting them? If not then be sure to keep up with your child's reports from now on.
Tags: children homework learning problems report card school school problems
There are very few issues that have such a long-term effect on the welfare of a child as the choice of the type of school to attend. Depending on where a family may live, it can be a very tough decision. The average child will spend about 13 years in school prior to college, often attending one type the entire time.
Not surprisingly, emotions from parents and educators can run very high when discussing the choice. Advocates will stake out a position and cling to it tenaciously, seeking to find flaws in arguments for alternative choices. This, too, isn't surprising since the different camps typically have radically different starting points or outlooks.
The choice, and the arguments in favor of it, generally revolve around a difference in basic values. They ask: what is regarded as most important in education? Scholastic achievement? Social skills development? Future college or income opportunities?
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Tags: education debate homeschool homeschooled children homeschooling private education public education public schools
by Ann Bowers
The current teaching of mathematics is often weak in traditional schools. Children are taught math facts and are expected to learn them through rote memory drills. Often children are expected to complete worksheets and textbook exercises, rather than engage in math projects in which math and science concepts are discovered and applied. This results in a lack of understanding of math concepts and leads to poor preparation for the study of math at the university level.
Why is math teaching so poor? Sometimes teachers do not understand math well so they rely on textbooks and drills. Some teachers and parents believe that math is merely the memorization of calculation rules and basic facts. Teachers and parents often had no opportunities to explore math and learn concepts through real-life experiences. Poor grades or negative comments may have made math something to be avoided. Also, children who don’t master the basics fall quickly behind and give up trying to learn math. It’s very important that children are assessed regularly to make sure that they are mastering what is being taught and can use it appropriately.
First of all, Why study math?
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Tags: abacus conceptual learning counting fear of math homeschooling math math anxiety rote learning teaching math
by Stacey Schifferdecker
Childhood moves at a much faster pace now than it did when we were kids, and music lessons are just one example. While we may have started piano lessons in late elementary school, kids now toddle up to the piano bench for lessons when they are still in preschool. When is the right age for music lessons and are condemning your child to a lifetime of musical mediocrity if you start too late?
Actually, there is no right and perfect age when children should start music lessons. One child might be ready at five, and another child not until 11. Instead of looking at your child’s age, you need to look at his physical development and mental development.
Physical Development
Your child needs to have developed certain gross and fine motor skills, depending on what instrument he is playing. In fact, your child’s age and physical development play a big role in instrument choice. For children younger than age 10, the only real choices are piano and violin (because violins come in smaller sizes for younger children). Woodwinds (clarinet, saxophone) and brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, tuba) are not sized down for smaller children, so most children under 10 years old will not physically be able to play these instruments.
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Tags: children mental development music lessons musical instrument physical development piano lessons
