Real Life Learning

Classroom teachers try to imitate or approximate real life whenever they can, because they know such methods produce good learning. If you are teaching your child at home, you have an advantage over the classroom. Use it. Don't spend time trying to imitate the classroom.

Ruth Beechick

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children."  Deuteronomy 6:6-7

These words clearly instruct that God's word should be committed to memory and passed on from generation to generation.  Committing portions of scripture to memory is vital in retaining knowledge of the scriptures.

In Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8 share that prosperity and success in life come from scripture memorization, as it creates familiarity with God's word and causes the learner to meditate upon the principles of God which promote these things.

Memorization takes discipline, and that can become tedious if not handled with some creative care.  A teacher-mom or dad can help speed along the process of memory work by building fun and interest into the process.   In her book, Building Your Child's Faith,  Alice Chapin outlines some great techniques for accomplishing this.  She recommends:

*Set up contests between adults and kids.  Offer fun prizes.  Draw up a "contract."  For instance, if the kids memorize the verses more quickly than the adults, the adults will take out the trash for a week.  But if the adults memorize them first, the kids will do the supper cleanup for a week.  Be sure to sign the contract to make it official!

*Help little children learn by repetition.  Review while rocking, bathing, and playing with them.  Repeat while driving or waiting in line at the grocery store.

*Post current memory work on the refrigerator, closet door, or kitchen bulletin board.  Or stretch a "clothesline" and clothespin verses for the month to it.

*Have memory charts.  Award stickers, stars, or seals for each learned verse, prizes for every five stickers.

*Purchase a Scripture songbook, and sing Bible verses right into the minds of the family.  Or make your own music for favorite verses.

*Use flannel-graph letters or verse flashcards.  Mix up letters and words, and take turns straightening them out.

*Write the verse on a chalkboard.  Take turns erasing one word at a time.  Repeat the whole verse after each erasure.

*Print different verses on 5x8 cards,  Cut each card into pieces.  Put the pieces for each verse in an envelope.  Pass out the envelopes, and use a timer to see who can put the verse-puzzle together the most quickly.  Have each member read his or her assembled verse.

*Let the leader begin quoting a verse, stopping after every few words to ask another person to add the next four words, or two words, and so on.  Have a stick of gum or a lollipop ready for the first person to identify where the verse is located.

*Let the small children use magic markers to print the verse of the week on sheets of construction paper.  Add stickers or magazine pictures and use for placemats at dinner.  

*Give each youngster an empty photo album with see-through plastic pages.  Insert weekly memory cards for an individual record of verses learned and for easy private review.

*Once in a while assign short Scripture verses to be memorized by the following day.  Celebrate completion of the assignment with a yummy treat.

Recipe for Homeschool Teaching

Recipe for Homeschool Teaching


The requirements are not complex.


Parents need only be loving, responsive, and reasonably consistent, and salt these qualities with a little imagination, common sense, and willingness to follow a few simple suggestions.


Don't worry about the opinions of neighbors who don't know or care about the real needs of children.  Just be kind to them.


Have your children be helpful in your home and in the neighborhood.  Visit the old and infirm and ill.  Do favors for others without asking any in return.


Teach all your waking moments, as models to your offspring.


Work with your children doing physical tasks.  Teach them practical skills and the nobility of work.  By precept and example, teach manners and social graces.


Use academic materials from excellent sources, teaching formally two or three hours a day.


Apply the golden rule.  Remember that home is its finest nest.  It is the person who understands this well who is the most able creator of a family school.


~ Formula from Dr. Raymond Moore in Home-Spun Schools ~
~ Photo:  Katie ~

The Inquiry Process

Teaching children to think for themselves is a process that the teacher-parent can encourage in a variety of ways.  Fostering individual thought is important in the educational process.  A child's learning begins during the process of formulating their own questions.  There are several techniques that can be used to help a child develop an inquiry process to problem solving:


* Encourage the child to raise questions.


* Create a safe environment so they feel comfortable asking any question.


* Be patient while they figure out what words to use to express their thoughts and concerns.


* Remind the child that there are no stupid questions.  Any question is valid and should be treated with serious respect.


* If you don't know the answer to a question the child asks you, openly admit that you don't know.  


* Set an example by modeling the process of searching for satisfying answers.


* Resist the impulse to become an instant supplier of answers to their questions.  Be supportive in helping them find the answer by other means.

Homeschooler Raises Exotic Birds

Natasha K. is a college student living near Orlando, Florida.  She was affected by an illness during her childhood that prevented her from attending her local church  school.  As a result, she was homeschooled during her middle school and high school years.  The local academy recommended that she enroll in a high school program for homeschoolers, and she completed all requirements for graduation in three years instead of the usual four.  She says she had wonderful teachers and it was a positive experience for her, although she admits that learning a foreign language with only a textbook was challenging.  Today I am sharing an interview with Natasha in which she tells about her love for nature and how her appreciation for God’s creatures has helped her become an expert in raising exotic birds.

Tasha, having known you since infancy, I have always admired your innate interest in nature and the things that God made.   Please tell us about that interest and how it was developed in your life.

I have always been very in tune to nature and all of the things God created. When I was little I would go up to any animal I could, whether that was a turtle, frog, goat, anything in the norm, and out of it too. I was never fearful of any animal that I happened across.  While I was growing up, my family was very involved in nature activities. We would go on nature walks, visit farms, and zoos.  We enjoyed all that God has created for us. It was something that my mother and my grandparents encouraged in me and helped me with. I remember when I was little I would cry when even a bug got killed.  To this day, I still try to catch the bugs that make their way inside to release them back outside.



Is there one part of nature study that you have taken on as your specialty? What is it? How did it start?

I wouldn’t say I have one area of nature that is my specialty.  I love everything to do with nature! However, I do try to help out any animals that need extra assistance. I have rescued cats, frogs, baby possums, birds, lizards, baby raccoons, and many more creatures. Some I have kept until they were ready to be released back into the wild and others I found a more suitable home for because they had extra issues they were dealing with. It’s almost like I have a calling card out there that says that any animal, stray or injured, knows where they can come to find help and a haven.



I know that you have worked extensively with exotic birds.  Please tell us about your experience in raising them.

I started working at a bird store during my teen years. It seemed to be a perfect fit for me, because I got to be around animals all day long. I started out as just a grub worker, cleaning cages and doing the dirty work, which I never minded. I enjoyed making things better for the birds. In just doing that, I developed bonds with them. It wasn’t too long though, before the owner of the store saw this connection and wanted me to try working with the babies. At that point I started hand feeding and taking the babies who fed through the night home with me.  At one point I had over 50 babies at my house, not to mention all the ones at the store as well.   I had a connection with each and every one of them. I started working with the vet and ended up giving shots and helping with all of their other medical needs too, including sitting in and helping with surgeries. I have raised every kind of exotic bird, from parakeets all the way up to a hyacinth macaw (which is the largest of all exotic birds).  In addition, I have raised many from the egg or just one day old up, because the parents refused to take care of them. In a sense I became mama bird to all of the babies.



Raising each bird is unique, depending on the age and species of birds. Some of the main issues involved in raising and caring for baby birds are: making sure they have clean and dry bedding when they are really small and then clean cages when they are bigger; hourly feeding depending on the age; and giving each and everyone the tender loving care that makes an affectionate, loving and gentle bird.  It is also important to make sure they stay clean, with no formula or waste on their skin or feathers.  It’s important to keep an eye out for any changes that there might be in their behavior or health, as this could mean there is something wrong with them which might need to be addressed as soon as possible by a vet. There are many other details but those are the most important ones.

After the babies are finished being hand fed, they get new homes. Sometimes people come into the store and buy them before they are grown enough to leave, so the babies stay around until they are ready for their new homes. Hand feeding is a very precise thing and it could be deadly if done wrong.  When I worked at the bird shop, I would try to make sure each potential owner knew about the behavior of each type of bird, as some are more energetic, others more loving, etc. This way the customer would know what they were committing to. Also I’d make sure they knew the life expectancy for the bird they were interested in, as some live almost 100 years. I wanted them to know it really was a lifetime commitment.  Then I would make sure each potential owner had a connection with the bird they were interested in. If they didn’t have a connection, I tried to direct them to a different bird.  It wouldn’t be a good relationship for the bird or owner if there wasn’t a connection. The main thing was to make sure they were going to be a loving person or family who would take really good care of each and everyone.  Even though raising baby birds can be fun, it is a lot of work and takes a lot of commitment! There are also many abandoned and abused birds in the world who need loving and caring homes too.



Please share with us where you are in life right now — and what your plans for your future are. Do you see that nature study will be a part of your future? How?

Right now I am going to college, trying my hardest to finish as quickly as I can. I am studying occupational therapy. Even though I am not perusing a career in nature, nature will always be a part of who I am as a person. I may no longer work in the bird store, but I still get calls for advice from them, customers, and even breeders. In addition I still have my own birds that I have adopted along the way.


Thank you, Tasha, for sharing about raising exotic birds and of the importance of nature study in the development of a well-rounded individual.  Much success to you as you continue your education.  It is always encouraging to hear from successful homeschooled students.

Bringing Nature Indoors

One of my favorite authors writes that “nature study should be an important part of your child’s daily program. This may include working with plants, pots, or window boxes indoors, or a bigger garden outdoors; collecting, identifying, and classifying leaves, rocks, shells, etc.; starting a nature experiment; or taking a walk to see what can be found to study.” [Home Grown Kids, p. 154]

Sometimes weather conditions, living conditions, and circumstances make daily nature study difficult.  Videos, pictures, books, etc. can fill the gap, but when a child or adult finds something live to touch, see, and experience, natures lessons are clearly illustrated at the highest levels of learning and comprehension.  Let’s explore one way that nature can be studied in a controlled environment in the home.

Bringing nature into the house is fun and a fresh way to see how things grow in their own, self-contained ecosystem.  A terrarium can be made out of a variety of glass containers and are a beautiful addition to any living space.  To make a terrarium you will need:

1)  Natural materials from nature:  if possible, take a walk in the woods or along a creek bank to gather small plants and objects (violets, wild ginger, moss, rocks, twigs).  Visit a plant nursery and/or the plant and flower department at the supermarket.  Select and buy several small houseplants (2″ containers or 6-pack containers).

2)  Purchase or gather materials for the foundation.  You will need to layer, in this order, charcoal, gravel, and potting soil.

3)  Find a container that is large and clear with an open top. WalMart has brandy snifters and clear glass vases that will work for a terrarium.  A fish bowl or fish tank also works nicely.  After experienced has been gained in building terrariums, you might want to use a large, commercial-style glass water bottle.  The opening is small, but with a straightened, wire coat hanger, you can place plants and objects in the container to create a beautiful terrarium.

4)  Make sure your glass container is sparkling clean.  It is more difficult to polish the glass after it is filled with soil and plants.

5)  Then, place a layer of charcoal in the base of the container.  If using purchased charcoal, be sure it is a type that does not have chemicals or petroleum added.  If the charcoal is in lumps, place it in a plastic bag and then pound it with a heavy glass or hammer to break into small pieces or powder.  The charcoal acts as a purifier to absorb toxins and mold.

6)  Next, add a layer of gravel, covering the charcoal completely. The gravel creates a bed for drainage.

7)  Now it is time to add a layer of potting soil.  This will be a thicker layer than the charcoal or gravel.  Smooth it throughout the container.  It does not need to be level.  Instead, a mound or a slope can be created for the scene.

8)  Plan the scene, deciding upon the placement of plants.  At this point, a decision to make a pond or stream in the scene should be made.  They can be added by placing a small, low dish on the soil in the terrarium, or by placing a small mirror or aluminum foil for the illusion of water.  Working with odd numbers of plants is recommended for artistic effect and should be used to create the anchor for the scene.  Smaller plants can then be added to complete the design. Using odd numbers is still recommended.  Sometimes it is difficult to reach into the bottom of the container to dig holes for the plants.  A table knife or a long handled iced tea spoon work as helpful tools for planting.  Moss can be added in open spaces between plants to create
ground cover.

9)  Add objects from nature to create a natural scene.  Stones, twigs, and sea shells add contrast to the plants and create interest and ‘spark’.

10)  Add small figurines or toys to add interest.  Ceramic or plastic animals, Lego creations, tiny toy boats, a toy helicopter, or figurines of people make a terrarium interesting to children.  A little twig cabin or house inside also sparks imagination.

11)  A terrarium is a great habitat for little critters found in nature.  Frogs, toads, salamanders, and chameleons will enjoy the moist and lush place to live.  Insects like ladybugs or worms also give life to the habitat.

12)  A terrarium is a closed habitat when a cover is added to the top.   If an aquarium is used, a mesh cover that fits tightly can be purchased.  For a glass vase or brandy snifter, a plate set on top works to keep moisture inside.  Watering will not be necessary very often because the moisture will recycle in the container, forming condensation on the sides.  Observing this is a great opportunity to teach the cycle of water to the ocean, clouds, and rain.  Sometimes a terrarium can become too moist, so keep watch and slide the plate aside to make a small crack for moisture to escape.  If it becomes too moist, the plants will rot and spoil.

A terrarium can be used to teach lessons from nature and to spark the interest and imagination of the children who craft and observe what’s inside.  Seeing how plants grow or how they need trimmed so they don’t overgrow the container involves the child actively on a daily basis. Gathering new objects can be done on daily walks and the child can add or remove things from the scene to improve it or to keep up with the seasons.  Its interactive nature is especially observed when little critters are added.  The terrarium as a self-contained habitat can provide hours of involvement in learning for the child and can give them the opportunity to observe nature up close and naturally in their home environment.  It’s a great way to involve the family in a fun and beautiful nature activity.

A Home School

The tutorial system has never been excelled in education.  And the home has been its coziest nest.  Many of the great geniuses of the ages were largely schooled at home.  In fact, no one has ever improved on the reasonably well-managed home school.

Dr. Raymond Moore ~ Home Grown Kids, p. 20

To Pay Attention

 

“No use to shout at them to pay attention. If the situations, the materials, the problems before the child do not interest him, his attention will slip off to what does interest him, and no amount of exhortation of threats will bring it back.”

John Holt

Work Opportunities for Children

Sometimes finding work opportunities for children can be challenging.  Daily chores create opportunity for routine work experience, and tasks like lawn mowing or pulling weeds in the garden provide opportunity for extra jobs that can provide learning and fulfillment for children.  But it’s important that purposeful work be provided that is not part of the daily routine.  Children should not be made to feel that ‘work’ is a negative concept and is just something they have to do to make their parent’s lives easier.  An altruistic spirit is good and work can help create it, but that is not the entire purpose and role of work as a part of a home school curriculum.  Children can develop work attitudes and a sense of self-worth if they have work related jobs that are unique to them and provide them with a sense of fulfillment.  Thus, special care needs to be taken in helping a children in this role.  In the past, school children could harvest cucumbers or strawberries for pay, or work on a farm changing irrigation pipes.  Regulations regarding the age that children can be employed has made it more difficult for children to find work related roles, so creative thought must be applied!  Helping a child establish a small home business is one way of providing meaningful work related opportunities for them and a good way for them to earn extra money. 
 
Here are some ideas of work opportunities for children:

1.   Being a mother’s assistant or babysitting.

2.   Washing cars.

3.   Baking homemade bread and selling it to neighbors.

4.   Having a bake sale.

5.   Setting up a lemonade stand.

6.   Participating in a yard sale and having a table of toys, clothes, or things not wanted or needed any more.

7.   Folding laundry and/or ironing shirts for a neighbor or relative.

8.   Sewing aprons or cushions and selling them to friends and neighbors.


9.   Growing a vegetable or flower garden and selling the produce or flowers.

10. Writing a monthly neighborhood newspaper and selling it for a quarter to community members.

Creating Work Opportunities for Teens

Gainful employment and business opportunities for teens are not as difficult to implement as it is for elementary age children.  The key to success in this area is to encourage the teen to find something to do that follows their own natural interest and ability.   Encouraging teens to develop skills that they have or would like to develop is key.  That, along with the spending money that gainful work provides, works as interest and incentive for the teen. 

Some ideas for youth employment and business opportunities are:

1.  babysitting and child care

2. housekeeping or assistance with spring-cleaning

3. growing flowers and selling bouquets

4. building customer computers and selling them

5. working as a computer tech, fixing problems and reformatting computers

6. growing produce and selling at a fruit stand or Farmer’s Market

7.  making products to sell like jams, jellies, bread, cookies, cakes

8.  catering meals for an event like a wedding or family reunion

9.  mowing, weeding, planting yard care business

10. ironing and doing custom laundry

11. doing car detailing and washing

12. tutoring young children; being a homework helper

13. bagging groceries at a supermarket

14. working in a fast food restaurant 

15.  caretaking of the elderly

16.  becoming a personal shopper, for groceries or other items

17.  gathering firewood and selling it

18.  painting rooms, houses, or furniture

19.  repairing cars or lawn mowers

20. sewing things and selling them


Sometimes work can be especially "fun".  The teen in this picture is modeling for a jet boat promotion and brochure.  Although something might look like recreation, it can also be gainful work.

Nature Hunt

Autumn is a great season for participating in nature activities with children.  The weather is cool, yet crisp and pleasant.  Foliage is turning shades of orange, red, and brown.  Flowers are going to seed, creating pods and seed packets that are interesting to touch and see.  It is a fantastic season to explore nature with children.  Here’s a fun game to do outside with children:
Use a word, such as CREATION, and have the children find or see an object from nature that starts with each letter found in that word.  For example:

C = cattail
R = rabbit
E = egg shell
A = apple
T = tree
I = insect
O = olive leaf
N = nectar

The children can document their findings in a nature journal where they can draw, gather, write about, or photograph the items they found.  When one word is completed, move on to another like NATURE, WILDLIFE, or FOREST.