Writers Inc Arrives!!

Our copy of Writers Inc. came in the mail today, and we couldn't be more pleased with our selection!

 Writers Inc. is an absolutely beautiful book.

Books should be beautiful, shouldn't they?  Writers Inc has a glossy black cover with gleaming shiny multi-colored foil sections that photos on the internet could never covey.  It has durable quality paper and feels like something you would like to clutch close to your heart, and keep well into your senior years (senior citizen not just senior in high school!)

The publisher recommends it for grades 8-12, and I'd say it's spot on.

So far, my review is 5 stars!.

Quotes from the Kitchen Table Reviews include:  

• "Cool, look at this, Mom! ”   and   
• "Wouldn't it be neat to become a famous writer, and write for a living someday?"

These words came from my 12-year-old reluctant writer.  This book is a keeper!!

Favourite Crochet Supplies

I have to admit to loving to make homespun gifts.
Here are some of my favorite Crochet Resources:

Books and Hooks:

Crochet Patterns:

These patterns are all visual tutorials. They write the pattern out with pictures of the steps, no abbreviations or complicated instruction!

   

Videos:

Awesome selection of video tutorials on how to make beautiful crochet stitches and projects!

Blogs:

Three Crochet Chicks

Kids and Technology - Email: 4 Tips for Parents

In this age of technology, parents are faced with decisions about allowing (or denying) things like cell phones, ipads, facebook and email accounts.

These forms of technology can enhance or diminish productivity and lifestyle.

Facebook can create social problems and hurt feelings; and it encourages children to divulge personal information on the internet.  iPads give children the ability to access internet in unsupervised areas of the home.  Cell phones are a whole topic onto themselves!

A good way to ease in, is with email.  

Allowing your child to have their own email account is a priviledge.  If done properly it's a good way for them to learn communication skills and typing skills while staying in touch with friends -   in a way that is convenient for homeschoolers.

If you decide to allow them to set up an email account here are a few tips:

1.  Don't let them use their name as the address.  This can lead to privacy issues that a child is not prepared to deal with.  John.Smith@yahoo.com can be an easy mark for predators, knowing their name gets them a foot in the door.

2. Maintain a rule that you must always have the password to the account so that you can check on it whenever you like.  And, do this - randomly.

3. Have the incoming mail to your child's account forward to your own email.  This way, you have your finger on the pulse of what's arriving in their inbox.  You won't know what's going out the outbox, but at least you'll know if there are any topics or issues which require discussion.

4.  Don't allow them to use their email address on websites, etc.  They should only give it to friends they know in real life.  This will eliminate Spam, Junk mail and other unwanted solicitation.  If you opt for Gmail, it has a pretty good junk filter.  I use it as my primary email account and all of the viagra, and make money/send money emails completely skip my inbox.

Personally, I think a good age to allow children to begin with email is around 12.  You may differ on this idea.  In my home this is an age where children are expected to do more around the house, take more ownership of their schoolwork and chores, and are generally interested in contact with people outside the home. (And I use it to remind them about school assignments, using my GoogleCalendar!)

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Related Posts:

Assignment Deadlines - Using Google Calendar       
Using Google for Writing Assignments               
Using Google Docs in Your Home School

Since you Asked - A Little Bit About Me.

I've had a few readers ask me about my background or my motivation for Blogging for home schoolers.  The two questions are actually quite closely related.

My background goes back to when I was 12 and I started teaching my best friend to play piano.  And then when I was in 9th grade and essentially taught 9th grade Math by something like the Socratic Method, though I'd never heard of Socrates.

No, I was not a child prodigy hired by a forward thinking school to teach my peers.

When I was in 9th grade, our school guidance counsellor was assigned to teach 9th grade Math. We would arrive in the class to copy questions and examples from the board. The teacher would read what he had written, ask us to write it down and complete the questions.  When anyone would ask a question, he would just find the appropriate notes on the board and re-read them to the questioner

As you can guess, he had no idea how to teach Math.  It led to many frustrated students who wanted to understand.  Repeating the words he already said didn't help the student who didn't understand the concept, and he clearly had no way of explaining the concepts himself.

Everyone was frustrated.  And I understood the Math.

The Teacher in me couldn't resist facilitating.  And so, in an effort not to undermine his teaching or authority, I would, upon seeing those puzzled and frustrated expressions, raise my hand and say, "so do you mean...,"  and explain the underlying tidbit that was not on the board and clearly was needed to answer the student's question.

At first he didn't know how to handle my, um, assistance.  But after the first Math Test when I got 105% (there was a bonus question,) and the average mark on the test was 65%, with many students failing.  He changed his view of me.  After that, he would actually look my way when he was at a loss and I would politely raise my hand and explain the concept, usually by using some form of question. (Afterall, that's why you raise your hand!)

This was when I discovered that I could "teach."

So, 10 years; a teachers degree; and 5 years of school teaching later I finally left school and became a full time private piano teacher.  I had been teaching piano students during the time I taught public school.  And so, I knew how to use all the teaching theory while working with students one-on-one.

Teaching a classroom full of students of differing abilities is a demanding part-art part-magic vocation  And it didn't feel at all to me like why I had wanted to become a teacher.  It was when I left the system myself (almost 20 years ago, and before having children of my own) that I decided I would home school any children I might be blessed with.

So, today I teach piano and teach my children at home.  In both cases I feel like I make a difference.  My Purpose is to guide and motivate students to want to learn and to take ownership of their learning.  I don't "teach to the test"  I "teach students to teach themselves." In fact, I don't even like to use the word teach...because it implies I am doing something to you.  I am a motivator, coach, cheerleader, tutor, mentor, counsellor - any of those words work.

My aim is to work myself out of a job.  And the funny thing is, professionally, I keep most of my piano students through their teen years (and through high school) and some even on into university. (If they don't move away, they often don't quit!)

Why is this?  I believe it's because I make learning personal for them.  I don't just turn the page and teach the next song...well sometimes I do, but that's not usually the plan!

So, although I digress, the reason for the Blog, is that I believe that we all have the will and the ability to motivate and inspire students.  As home educators we come from varying backgrounds.  Some of us have Education Degrees, and some of us have a GED, some of use are simply Parents with no recognized certificate of learning.  My blog is my way of prompting others to think about different aspects of home education.

I write about the things I'm thinking about at the time, and you can take them or leave them.  It comes down to personal taste.  And I want it to be personal!  So, by all means take from me what you will and toss the rest!

Writing Reference Books for Home Schoolers

To prepare for good writing it's important to have a handy reference book for checking style, tone, syntax, grammar, punctuation and formatting.

Today I will review 2 options for Writers' Manuals.

 Writers Inc.

First of all, I like the pun in the title.  A book for writers can win me with wit, for sure!

The publisher recommends it for grades 8-12.

Reviewers on Amazon give it 4.6 out of 5 Stars.

Quotes from the reviews include:  

• "Writers Inc is a fantastic book that helps with all types of writing. ”   and   
• "The Best Writing Source that You Haven't Heard About"

From the table of contents, and a quick perusal of the "look inside" feature:  the book  includes extensive material on tools for writing, forms of writing, the writing process, proofreading, and even some charts and tables for reference.

 Write for College.  

The title of this book, strikes me as having a more serious tone than  Writers Inc.  


The publisher recommends it for grades 10-12.

Reviewers on Amazon give it 4.3 out of 5 Stars.

Comments written by reviewers indicate that is can be used beyond high school for college papers.  And that it is a clear and concise reference book.




Since my needs are for an 8th grader in his first foray into serious literature study and essay writing, I've ordered the Writers Inc.  And maybe will make a second purchase of Write for College in a few years when we've exhausted the material presented in this book.

Do you have a favorite writers manual?

Praise

Praise is one the most important ways we can help our children learn to do what is expected of them and to recognize their abilities.  It makes us feel good when someone tells us something nice.

She loves me, she loves me not, I LOVE ME.

Praise must be thoughtful.  Offering our children non-specific praise is a disservice.  

When you praise your child it is important to be specific.  Tell them exactly the trait or behaviour or skill that you have recognized as improving or newly learned.  Saying things like "you're great!" without a specific reason or example doesn't give the child anything to build on.

Say things like:

• Your printing is really getting neater, it's starting to look like a grownup's!
• You were a good friend today, helping _____ put away toys before we left.
• You were super-fast doing your journalling today, and it's well done.  You must have really been concentrating.

Model self-praise. 

Routinely, I can be heard saying things like this:

• I worked really hard today and got the whole _____ done.
• I'm really pleased with myself, I finished this faster than I had planned to.
• I feel good about ____.  I didn't want to do it, but now that it's done, I'm happy.
• I was a good friend today, listening to/helping/supporting ______.
• I am proud of my kids, I'm a good Mom.

Also, I ask them leading questions so they can express positive assessments of their own actions.

• How did you feel when you landed that back flip at gymnastics today?
• What did you think when you finished your math so quickly?
• How do you feel now that your room is clean?
• What did you think of that interaction with your friend, when they were sad about their dog dying?

Being the Mom of boys, I think it's important to model talking about feelings and give them words to explain theirs.  Girls, for the most part, seem to have no problem with this!  But, some might also need a little modeling and coaxing in this regard!

The punishment should fit the crime!

Being both Mother and Teacher (or Father and Teacher,) puts us in a situation that many others cannot relate to.

We are the disciplinarian and the mentor.  This can be a tough balance.

I've got fabulous children.  And I'm sure a great deal of it is luck.  But in case it's actually something I've done, I thought I'd share some of the tactics I use to keep things running.

1) I don't tolerate whining. When someone whines, I act like they're speaking a foreign language that I don't understand.  "I'm sorry, I couldn't understand what you said.  All I could hear was whining."  If they repeat the complaint in a whining tone, I suggest how they might say it for them to parrot back.  Works every time.

2) I don't tolerate a sullen or cranky attitude.  If someone is outwardly negative towards the assignment or work at hand (I do this for shared chores as well) I dismiss them.  I'll have them go sit on their bed, or the stairs, until they can join us with a good spirit.  The work will be there for them when they are ready for it, they know this.  Most times, they are back in 5 minutes or less.  Other times they have fallen asleep on their bed.  Which tells me that it wasn't just a cranky attitude, they needed a nap.  (Note:  Cranky Moms can benefit from this procedure as well, but it's not always a good idea for us to take a nap!! - sorry.)

3) If you complain that there too much assigned in a subject (when it's just the same amount as most days)  you can expect me to add a couple of questions to the assigned work.  And will continue to do so until you stop complaining.  I've been know to stop complaining by simply saying: "Really?  you want MORE math questions?"  They know the drill, that was the only warning they'll get.

4) The punishment should fit the crime.  Notice none of these "school related" infractions involve withholding television privileges or time with friends.  It can escalate to that when they spend so much time on their bed, or get so many extra Math questions that their school work drags into the evening...but it was a natural consequence of the problem - NOT a case of Teacher-Mom being the bad guy!

All of this, I do with a good spirit.  I don't yell or raise my voice.  I simply keep order and remind them of how it works. It's up to them to learn to follow protocol and expectations or deal with the consequences of their actions.

Assignment Deadlines - Using Google Calendar

Yet another awesome way to use the power of Google in your home school is to use their Calendar feature to set up assignment deadlines.

To find your Google Calendar, just log into Google (surely you've got a Google account by now...) and find the calendar: Link www.google.com/calendar/

Once you're in the Calendar click on the date you wish to schedule something.  Let's say that a Rough Draft of Essay 1 is due on September 20th.

• Simply click on the date directly on the calendar.  
• A window will pop up.  

• Type in "what" the event is: Essay 1 rough draft due, then click edit event>>.

From here you can do all sorts of edits, like:

• Change the time or date.
• Make the event a "repeating event" (handy for reminder about weekly tests....or putting out the garbage!)  
• There's a description box to add the details of the "assignment."  
• You can change the event color.  
• And to the right you can "Add guests"  well, our "guests" are actually the student who needs to complete the assignment!

And finally, and the beauty of this, is that you can also add Reminders.  You can set email reminders (or "pop-up" reminders...which I only find handy for things like "turn off the computer now." otherwise you need to be logged in to get them - unless your google account is synched to your iPod...but that's another post.)

Now that you've set up the assignment and added the guest, and put in the reminders, you can sit back and let Google do the reminding about completing the rough draft of Essay 1 and spend your time naggin-  er,  - prompting about more important things!  All you need to be sure of is that your student checks their email!

What else could a Google Calendar do to make your life easier?

   

Using Google for Writing Assignments               
Using Google Docs in Your Home School