Learning while hearing a UK accent!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ I use this website for my younger tutor (English) students and for my child when she wants to play a game on the Internet.

I think it's always good to 'broaden a child's horizons' and let then hear other accents and this website has grade level practice on English, Science and Math. It also has some History and Geography mixed in. I do recall one Scot game about BOGS being a bit gory and tells about Paganism. Be Aware.

Play Your Way to Multiplication!

I'm teaching my youngest daughter about multiplication. We applied some 'real math' today.

While I was cooking lunch/washing dishes, we talked about the times table. I told her about ZERO and then I asked her what 0 x 0 equaled, then 0 x 1, 0 x 2, 0 x 3... to 0 x 12, then the ONES, then the TWOS, etc.... We ended with 2 x 7.

She couldn't figure that one out ' in her head' (this is a new concept for her) so I pulled out two plates and counted out 7 M&Ms per plate.

I explained that the TWO plates stood for the 2, then the 7 M&Ms on each plate represented the 7 in the equation 2 x 7. Two plates with 7 candies on each. I also explained this is a faster way to add.

I had her count the total M&Ms and then when she gave me the correct answer - I said yes now 'Eat Your Treat !"

She LOVES to 'play cook' so I had her get out her play muffin pan and told her I wanted to "order' some muffins.

I also gave her a bunch of pennies she uses for counting. She LOVES to 'take orders' like the servers at our local cafe'. This is "right up her alley' of interests.

I "ordered" easy items (multiplication problems) to start, but I did NOT tell her what I was really doing. I said " I would like to order 6 muffins. On each one I want one chocolate chip" ( I told her to pretend the pennies were chocolate chips.) She did as I asked and when it was 'ready' I CHECKED my 'order'.

After several EASY "orders" I suddenly I gave her this order : "I want 3 muffins each with 2 chocolate chips (pennies) on top AND I want 2 muffins with chocolate chip(pennies) on top of each of them." Hmmmm, that was a 'double order'!

I suggested she write it down to help her remember. WOW, did she like that.... She was a REAL waitress then.... Watch out world!

I helped her by telling her to write 3 x 2 as I was explaining it, then under it I also had her write 2 x 1 . I didn't make her count for the sums (answers). I just let her "play"with the numbers and the concept of the idea that this was multiplication and it was fun and it was being used for a JOB. (real life)

The very last "order" I made 6 x 10. I checked my 'order' and then pointed at them as I counted by tens. I said " These had 60 chocolate chips on top!

I love math! I love home education!

When It's Quiet...

Some days, when I awake and it's quiet in the house.... I have very intelligent thoughts. I always give thanks to God because I know I'm still half asleep. :)

This is one of my ideas...

Organizing Homeschool Time

In the state of Oklahoma, we are now required a time of instruction to complete. 3 hours per day.

Let's do some MATH!

3 hours per day times 5 days per week = 15 hours per week (assuming you only do school M-F)

We are also required to instruct for 180 days per calendar year.

180 days divided by 5 days per week = 36 weeks. (Sound familiar?)

Public school runs 36 weeks. They have some type of 'break' every 9 weeks.... So YOU can take a day off or have a fun field trip too!

So let's break this down a bit more... ( Do your own math in like manner if you are required more instructing time.)

3 hours = 6 (30 minute) sections of time. (Start drawing a graph.)

Each of those 30 minutes blocks of time can be split into 2 (15 minute) sections of time, a total of 12 sections. Add to your graph. (This will end up looking like a family tree and/ or a dog breed paper.)

I bet you can guess what comes next! Yes, Break those 12 (15 minute) sections down into ~~~ 36 ~~~ sections of 5 minute blocks of time.

SOOOOOOO, you NEED to spend at least 5 minutes per day on one subject for 5 days a week for 180 days per year. BINGO! you're done. That's not so difficult...

For older children, let them decide if they want to study EACH subject 5 minutes per day OR maybe they want to study ONE subject in depth for ONE day..... etc.... Let them do the MATH and then CHECK IT.(They will be adults soon and NEED to make decisions so let them practice now.)l

SAY WHAT? It's not THAT easy, right?

Uh huh....it is or CAN be that easy.

Now that you have a graph in front of you.... you do have a graph, right? (OK, I'll wait on you..........................................................................................................................................................................................)

Ok, now that you have a graph in front of you specifically designed for your homeschool requirements,take a break. WHAT?

Yes, we all need breaks. Go take one. Meet me back here in 3 minutes. GO ~ scoot, now - away with you....

( 3 minutes time span clicking away....)

Okay now, let's finish. Why the break , you say? Well, everyone needs breaks, especially energetic kids. Let's not burn out the learning light with stifling air and BOREDOM. We can let the public schools do that if that' s what we really wanted for our little learners......

( I went to public school for 13 years so I have first-hand knowledge and that's MY opinion.Yes, I turned out OK, but I want more than OK for my kids and I am a lifetime learner - most school kids we are producing now are NOT 'into" learning things...)

My graph has 36 (5 minute) sections to the far right and 1 (3 hour) section to the far left.

Now, on the middle section for 15 minutes, start writing down your required SUBJECTS and electives. (One subject per line.)

I have these: Math, English, Science, HIstroy/Geography, Arts and Foreign Language(s).

The next section of 15 minute time frames should break these SUBJECTS down into 2 groups. These are mine:

Math - memorization,practice

English - Reading/Phonics, Writing/Spelling

Science - Nutrition, Science (explain later)

History/Geography - History, Geography

Arts - Art, Music

Foreign Languages - Spanish (primary), German/ ASL (secondary)

Now, the fun part! What do you put on the 5 minute sections of time? WEll, what's important to you and the child who will be living life after you INSTRUCT them AND meets your requirements for your state's laws?

Here are a few things I have on my 5 minute sections for EXAMPLE:

math flash cards,math times tables ( I didn't do this for my LD children),worksheets, fun zerox or game, real world example,reading aloud, phonics practice (games, cards, etc FUN),spelling, writing,typing,Home Ec. (age appropriate),food groups, Biology, Chemicals, machines (start with basics), OKlahoma History, USA History... you get the idea.

Now, GO INSTRUCT and PROSPER!

The British Are Coming !

When your child is still young, introduce them to British Literature.

It has amazed me how inexpensively I have been able to build my British Literature resources.

When you see VHS on clearance at a community thrift store, or those dollar DVDs at your local retail store - look for the classic British tales.

I've found animated DVDs of classic literature. Why would I do that, you ask? Because younger children aren't ready to read an unabridged version of a classic tale, BUT they will sit and watch a cartoon! Introduce them to the characters and story-line through animation.

I also buy abridged and children's illustrated classic books, not only for reading levels but also because some of my children have been diagnosed with Dyslexia. It's easier but make sure you also have the unabridged versions on hand for when they are older or able to conquer them.

I always talk to my children about the unabridged books - the 'insider information' that you can only get from reading the original.

When they are watching the animated versions, tell them that there is also a movie and book about this story. Pique their interest! Audio books are good too!

FREE resource for unabridged original stories.

Type the Night Away !!

FREE Typing Lessons

It's much more important to learn typing now then when I was a young girl. I didn't have any interest in being a secretary, so I didn't take it. Who knew the world would be dependent on computers/typing?

Teach your kids to type !

I've posted about a kids animated typing game already - but I own four different typing games and use the ones on the web also so when my kids complete one program , they have another for practice.

Learn together like we are. Make it a game!

Math Inspiration

STAND AND DELIVER is a good movie about the life of a math teacher attempting to teach inner city kids about Algebra etc....

FREE to watch on Amazon Prime Instant videos at the time of this post.

If you're a STUDENT , get a discount on the yearly fee. 'Try for Free' for a limited time. You also get FREE 2-day shipping when you buy PRIME eligible items.

When?

When do we teach our kids certain things?

Depending on your state's home school laws, we are supposed to keep our kids parallel to their public school peers.

I've seen books and own some that 'help' us to figure out what it is that our child is supposed to learn in the ____ Grade. "What your child needs to learn...".

My state of Oklahoma wants us to follow their 'PASS' (Priority Academic Student Skills) book. Supposedly, public school students that can't complete what is in the Pass book of their current grade are supposed to be 'held back'.

I've found that one of the beauties of Home Schooling is this - when an opportunity presents itself - we don't have to let it slip away because it's not the 'right' time.

Today , while my youngest was working on a 'fun' math worksheet, I realized that this project was perfect to explain multiplication. She's in 2nd grade this year. Just so happens that the design of this worksheet allowed me to explain multiplication very easily. She was a bit resistant at first because I was adding to the instructions - she's mine therefore a bit strong willed. But she 'saw the value' of what I was teaching her and was doing multiplication (basic levels with single digits) by the time she completed the worksheet... and smiling! I went on to show her the 'finger game' of multiplying by 9's. It's cool and weird!

If you share my faith, you know what I mean when I say that I was inspired by that worksheet to introduce a higher level of math. It was the 'right' time... for her.

There are opportunities like this all the time if we will look for them. Kids need to learn when they're ready - and that's so individual for every child.

Am I proposing un-schooling or pushing them academically? No, but I do think there is a time for every season and today was the start of her Multiplication Season.

Clarifying - I won't drop her current math and jump her up a grade, but I will continue to look for ways to continue talking about multiplication.

UPDATE : She wanted me to read a bedtime story (as usual) and also brought a little fun flip book of MULTIPLICATION to bed. She's got it!

Vocabulary with a British Twist

The Word Stop with Mr. Duncan