Weekly Homeschool Roundup - 4/3/20

Haven’t you always considered yourself a master of the art of “bob and weave”?

Let me clarify: as homeschoolers we are pretty good at adjusting, adapting, and changing to different circumstances. We can take a curriculum and tweak it to fit the need of 4 different ages. We can take a day that starts poorly and turn it around. We’re good at change.

Well - how good at change are you now?

Circumstances have changed and life has gotten a lot more challenging for everyone.

And, while I still contend that because we homeschool we have a layer of normal right now, there is precious little that is normal about what is going on in the world.

In an effort to keep on keeping on, I want to keep the weekly homeschool roundup going.

There is still so much to be learned, shared, and celebrated.

Let’s get to it!

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• Classical Music Inspired by the Birds

  This is a freebie from SQUILT Music - 10 pieces of classical music with a free printable Draw What You Hear sheet and some ideas to spark discussion in your home. Music is therapy, and these particular pieces are perfect for right now. Enjoy!

• Veteran Parents Share Homeschool Tips

  Such simple wisdom in this post - for those suddenly “homeschooling” and the rest of us, too.

• 15 Games to Play on Video Chat

  This post is golden! My kids had fun playing Battleship with their friends on video chat, and there are other games in this post that will be lots of fun, too. (See how creative people are being right now? Excellent!)

• This is not homeschooling…

  From the opinion section of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, this was a wonderful piece about education right now. I especially loved the fact that it is written by two education professors from the University of Georgia.

• 5 Ways to Make Learning Fun

  This post (by yours truly) was inspired by a friend of mine. She is the mom of 4 children under the age of 8 who is now teaching her children at home because the schools are closed. I love watching how she is making learning fun for her children and adjusting to this new normal. There are lessons here for all of us!

I was also greatly comforted by this video today - not sure if you have seen it, but it seems to give a lot of reasonable suggestions for how we can protect our families right now.

Let me know how you are doing.

Have you had to make changes in your homeschool because of the current situation?

Or, do you find you are carrying on as normal?

Let’s support each other in the comments below!

5 Ways to Make Learning Fun

All of us (whether children or adults) will learn more when we are motivated.

We learn what is of relevance to us. We pursue what we enjoy.

Does your child ENJOY learning? Or, is learning something that is seen as a requirement, confined to the four walls of a school?

During this time of isolation - when so many families are suddenly responsible for the education of their children - you might find your child isn’t exactly enthused about completing that math lesson or reading aloud to you for 20 minutes. The line between being a parent and teacher is blurred.

I certainly don’t buy into the theory that everything for our children needs to be “fun” - but I am a firm believer that learning can be fun and when we educate our children at home we have a unique opportunity to show them what a joy learning can be.

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Meet Your Children Where They Are

Doesn’t this go against the way we (the parents) were educated?

I don’t know about you, but I was educated in a public school classroom with 20-25 other children. We were given an assignment and expected to complete it. All children were brought to the same level and educated from there.

Guess what? Your child may be above grade level or below grade level (But who even defines “at grade level”? Don’t get me started.) Let children start where they are comfortable. Let them backtrack a little and do a few things with great success.

Examples:

• Assign easier math problems - let your child play on a math app below their level to gain confidence. They are still practicing skills.

• Ask your children what interests them - pay attention to this! Does your child love to play with LEGOS? You can learn a lot from LEGO bricks. Does your child want to learn to cook? Do a lot of cooking. You can take interests and cultivate them. That is LEARNING, and that is FUN!

• Allow your children to read below their normal level - can they read to younger siblings? To you? Let them read for enjoyment and don’t require a book report or comprehension questions.

When you eliminate traditional constraints children begin to enjoy learning. Be patient and consistent. The rest works itself out.

Think Outside the Box (here’s an example:)

I love watching creative parents!

A friend of mine posted this picture of her 4 young children. She is teaching them at home now because the schools are closed.

As I talked with her she told me everything she did with her children and this chalk drawing - it is a PERFECT example of how to make learning fun.

This mom taped off the heart on the driveway - but it went so much further than that and I know her children learned a lot in the process:

• color recognition for the youngest children

• shape recognition for the older children

• word problems: For example: “If you add the pink shapes and the blue shapes how many shapes are there in all?”

• patience and encouragement: waiting for your sibling to finish their part - encouraging them that they are doing a good job

You could even extend the learning the next day:

• find Bible verses about love - copy simple ones in the driveway

• Have the children come up with their own word problems

• Write an acrostic LOVE poem

• Print this picture and include it in a letter to nursing home residents or relatives

• Read aloud “The Velveteen Rabbit” or “Charlotte’s Web” - both perfect for this time of year, and both sweet stories about love
  

Do you see how many activities can come out of one chalk heart?

Be willing to think outside of the box. Again, learning doesn’t have to happen inside the 4 walls of a classroom.

Consider Your Child’s Learning Style

Do you know your child’s learning style?

Use this downloadable checklist to determine your child’s learning style.

This is extremely helpful - and not just if you are “homeschooling” your children. It is valuable information to have because it explains so much about your child.

I also recommend two wonderful books to help you discover more about your child - these changed the way I relate to my own children:

• The 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child’s Intelligences

• The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self Discovery

Use Games

The easiest way to make learning fun is to play games.

I first really saw the power of games when my children were little and we began exploring different math games. Then, we began to play geography games - and then the obsession began.

By simply making games a part of your family’s life children can learn so much - and have fun while doing so!

There are many resources here on the blog that can help you find games:

• Make Math Fun with Shut the Box

• Fun Math Games for Kids

• Learn About the 50 States

• Favorite Family Games

• Games & Toys for Kids to Use Alone

It’s All About Approach

Finally, if we want our children to become lifelong learners - adults who enjoy the acquisition of knowledge - we must give serious thought to the educational approach we use.

Is education something that is REQUIRED, confined to certain hours of the day, and something that normally involves cajoling, bribery, and tears?

Or, is education a lifestyle? Do we, as parents, constantly learn? Are we learning with our children?

Are we reading aloud, playing games, creating art, playing an instrument, and learning new things?

The DEFINITION of a thing matters - and I would suggest that we define learning in this way:

the acquisition of knowledge or skills through activities that engage, excite and delight a child

One last piece of advice: your child’s heart is more important than the knowledge you impart to them.

If a learning situation becomes stressful or emotional, just stop. Take a break. Send everyone to their corners and regroup for a bit.

Forget the requirements of traditional education and remember YOU are the parent. That is the most important job in the world.

I’d love to hear from you - are you suddenly educating your children at home? Looking for fun ideas?

Or, are you a veteran homeschooler who still (like me) struggles with falling into the traditional “school at home” rut?

Leave me a comment below!