What Works for You?

At a homeschooling high school conference, at which I participated as a speaker and panelist, another panel member began a statement with the words, "all homeschoolers want..." and although, I have heard this stated in the past, it still bothers me. One of the most important things I have learned on our family's homeschooling journey, is that each family is unique. And within each family, each learner is unique. There is no one method that is appropriate or best for all.

I consult with families to assist them in finding a learning plan that will work well for them. When I talk to them, one of the points I emphasize is that no matter what plan we develop together, they need to be open to change. Learning styles and interests change constantly. Schools don't have the option to change course in midstream, or to tailor a unique curriculum to meet each student's needs, but homeschoolers do.

As children grow, their interests grow and change. By providing materials and experiences that nurture and encourage these interests, their learning will be vibrant and meaningful. Some interests will last only a few minutes; some will last a lifetime.

Pay attention to your child(ren)'s interests. Feed those interests as long as they are present. You may be surprised to discover how much math, art, science and history can be learned by simply pursuing topics that your children find fascinating.

One of my favorite examples is a young man I know named Ben. Ben has a passion for metal detecting. His mother lamented to me one day that Ben loves metal detecting but she was worried that he really wasn't learning math, as she felt he should.

I spent some time chatting with Ben about his metal detecting hobby. He lives near a beach, and loves to go there to search for valuables. I asked him how he decides where to search. He explained to me that when he arrives at the beach, he lays out his plan, like a grid, in his mind. In that grid, each square is equal to about 1 square yard. Ben explained that he usually limits his search to an area that is about 20 yards X 20 yards. On average, he finds something in about every third square, and of those squares where he finds something, about 1 in 5 is something of value, like a silver dime or a ring. He then continued to translate those figures to percentages. He, also, shared the current values of gold, silver and platinum. I was trying to keep up with the numbers he was explaining to me, as he continued to explain the history of the values of the precious metals, such as when they had hit their highest values (and why) and when they had been very low.

I began to see that because this information was valuable to Ben, because it pertained so significantly to his hobby, it came easily to him. It had meaning.

Over the years, I have had many conversations with Ben about his hobby. He never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of history, art, science, math, investing, and more, all gained through the active and enthusiastic pursuit of his hobby. He has even turned his hobby into a business, finding lost items, locating surveyors' pins, and even locating dropped screws and nails from beneath a recently constructed tree house.

A large logging firm asked Ben to scan some very old trees that were going to be cut. They wanted to know if there were any metal objects, like large eye-screws used to hold a clothesline, that might be embedded in the trunk. These metallic items could damage a saw blade. The scan didn't reveal any eye-screws, but Ben was thrilled to discover several very old bullets and a few "large cents." He took to the bullets to a historian, who told him they were from the Civil War era and of a type used by Union soldiers. No battles were known to have taken place in that area, so Ben said that the historian thought it might have once been a training ground for Union soldiers. The "large cents" were pennies that were made long ago, that are larger in size than today's pennies. Ben said that it was "really cool" to find large cents that didn't have holes punched in them. Apparently, due to the lack of pockets in most pioneer clothing,(or to holes in pockets that were in some clothing), pioneers often punched holes in their coins and wore them on a string around their neck to keep them safe.

Each find that Ben makes with his metal detector leads him on a scavenger hunt for information, and as he finds that information, it leads him to search for more.

I'm so glad that Ben's mom didn't give him a "fits-all" curriculum. Make the most of your option to create a plan that works for your family. Each member of your family has unique interests, abilities and dreams. Nurture them!

A Peaceful Sigh

My daughter, Kylia, has a wonderful friend, Megan. Megan loves horses! She doesn't have a horse of her own, so when she was about 13 years old, she began volunteering at a local therapeutic riding center.

Each morning, her mom would take Megan to the farm. When they arrived at the barn, Megan would open the door of the van, and inhale deeply. Then with a dreamy expression on her face, she would sigh, "Ahhhhh... Doesn't that smell wonderful?" Megan's younger brothers, who were still in the van, would grimace, hold their noses and pull their sweatshirt hoods over their faces, while saying loudly, "Eeewwww! Close the door!"

Recently I read an article about a man who had attended a busy convention. One afternoon, everyone was given a few hours to unwind after a particularly hectic meeting. Most went to the pool, or to the golf course for a quick 9 holes. This gentleman decided to take a walk. His walk led him to the nearby stables. He had the same reaction that Megan did... a peaceful sigh. His mind was flooded with memories of growing up on his parents' farm. He remembered the feeling of the horses' soft noses nuzzling his hand to get a lump of sugar. He remembered quiet afternoons under a big oak tree, where he heard only the whooshing of the horses' tails as they chased those pesky flies. He remembered brushing the horses, and the gentle rhythm of their gait, when he rode. He returned to the convention in a far more relaxed state than most of the other attendees.

All of us have things that bring that feeling of peace and contentment. I love to sit near the ocean or the lake, or near a waterfall, and hear the water crashing on the shore or the rocks. Ahhhhh...

Maybe you love to rest your cheek against the downy softness of a newborn's hair, or to climb to the top of a mountain and drink in the beauty that surrounds you. Maybe the aroma of homemade bread baking in the oven brings that blissful smile to your face.

It doesn't always have to be something quiet or soft. I remember many days of sighing deeply as I crested a hill near Lexington, Ohio, to hear the roar of the racecars at Mid-Ohio Race Car Course. And the smell of those fumes..... Ahhhhh... OK, not everyone will agree with that one, but, for me, it was wonderful!

When you have one of those days, or weeks, or months of madness and mayhem, take the time to find one of the things that you love to do, or see, or hear, or smell, or taste, or touch, and savor it! Ahhhhhh...

Now don't you feel better?

Are You Too Helpful?

A few years ago, I taught an enrichment class, called "Creative Math." There were about 15 boys in the class. Some of them loved math, and some were in the class because their parents made them take it.

This class did not include much arithmetic. It focused on math found in more creative endeavors, like design, music, and art. One activity involved making tangrams... those geometric shapes that can be placed in various patterns to create swans, ships, houses, teapots, dogs, etc. I gave each student a square of heavy construction paper, and then told them step by step, how to fold and cut that sheet of paper into the 7 tangram shapes. They listened carefully, and did a beautiful job of folding and cutting.

When they each had the 7 shapes on the table in front of them, I explained that their new task was to put the shapes back together so that it would look like it did before we began folding and cutting. In other words, put it back into the original square shape. Easy! "Wait... how did we do that?" Hmmm. "Did I lose a piece?" "Is this a trick?" Minutes ticked by, and some of the boys began working in teams. Others, with wrinkled brows, fervently moved this piece and that piece, trying to remember all the steps involved in creating the tangrams. The room hummed with creative thinking.

In the meantime, a dad, who had been watching the whole process, leaned over the shoulders of a team of three boys who were eagerly trying one approach after another. Reaching past them and sliding pieces around he said, "Try putting this piece here, and that piece over there." I suddenly heard a sad, "Oh...." The three boys said, "We got it." But there was no enthusiasm in their voices. I told them that was great work, and they answered dejectedly, "but we had help." I will never forgot the sad looks on the faces of those three boys, now sitting slumped back in their chairs.

Other boys in the room now looked at the solved puzzle and moved their pieces into the same configuration. What had been an excited and involved class, suddenly became a very sullen group. The dad explained, "I just saw them all struggling, and I thought if I could just give them a little hint, it would make it easier."

I think there are many times in our lives when it is really important for us to find our own solutions to problems. We need to dig for information, on our own. We need to brainstorm, on our own. We need to make mistakes, on our own. When we work hard to find a solution, and we succeed, the elation we feel for that hard-won success will carry us through many more situations in our lives. Because we solved that problem, we know we are capable of solving other problems in the future. It helps us gain confidence. What we learned from solving that one problem, can be applied to future problems. We become better creative and logical thinkers. Our abilities expand exponentially.

It does seem to be in our nature to try to help someone who is struggling. We want them to see the answer so that they can move on, but when they haven't invested themselves in discovering that answer, it becomes far less meaningful to them. They haven't seen the pieces fitting together one by one. They haven't experienced that "aha moment" when the way becomes clear. Instead of an excited "YES!" they may instead simply say, "oh."

There will be many times in your life, when your help will be welcomed and appreciated, and there will be many times, when you will be so happy NOT to have helped. As your child shares with you, the excitement of discovery, you will both shout, "YES!"

By the way, if you ever need help... just ask.

"In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time." ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Young children never seem to run out of questions... Why are there birds in so many different colors? Where does the gas go after you put it in the car? Why are toes shorter than fingers? How do fish breathe underwater? Why do people have hair? Where does the wind come from? Some questions make parents smile. Other questions make them squirm. Many questions leave parents scratching their heads.

There are parents, and teachers, who think children ask too many questions. Questions can interrupt other tasks. They can cause embarrassment, if the wrong questions are asked at the wrong time, or in the wrong place. Sometimes there are questions that seem so nonsensical that they don't deserve an answer.

When my children were young, a flood of questions would begin the moment they opened their eyes each morning. I answered the questions I could, and helped them find the answers to those questions that had me stumped. Sometimes I would give them hints to help them discover the answers on their own.

Many children stop asking questions as they grow older. Some stop because they are told that it is annoying when they ask too many questions. Others stop because their questions are met with laughter, or because they hear comments about the silliness of their questions. Many stop because they worry that everyone will think they are ignorant if they ask. That's sad, because questions are one of the greatest learning tools we have.

I have discovered that when children find answers to their questions, in many cases, it leads to more questions. If you are looking for a way to inspire learning in your child, and in yourself, be grateful for those questions. Let your children know that you are glad they asked.

Today, take time to listen to your children's questions and help them find the answers. And, while you're at it, ask a few questions yourself! Asking questions and discovering answers can lead to a lifetime learning adventure!

Dreams

In one of the enrichment classes I teach, I asked the students if they had a career in mind. Most of them are teens and have been thinking about their futures. One young man stated, with firm conviction, that he wants to be a Disney Imagineer. He said that his dad thinks that it is a child's dream, and not a true career choice.

This same young man is in a book discussion group that my daughters and I attend. The teens in the group nominate books for future discussions, and they are chosen by popular vote of the group. The future Imagineer nominated the book, How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life by Pat Williams and Jim Denney. He not only nominated the book; he enthusiastically reviewed it for the group, and explained many of the reasons he thought everyone should read it.

Often when I am making a point in my classes, this teen tells me how Disney relates to what I am explaining. He sees the magic there, and the work behind the magic. I can see him not only becoming an Imagineer, but excelling in his work. He is passionate about it!

At this time, his passion seems strong enough to withstand any criticism or ridicule he may face. Time will tell. He has many who support him in his dream, which makes me very happy. Dreams are so important,

There have been times I thought someone's dream seemed impossible, but it was not my job to tell them that. I could have been totally incorrect. If a dream seems beyond reach, I try to focus on listening more intently to what the dreamer tells me. Often there are many things for me to learn from this, and sometimes, the dreamer discovers information through the telling, that enables them to revise or clarify their thinking.

When I sense strong passion behind a dream, I try to find ways to nurture that dream, to provide contacts that will help the dreamer turn the dream into reality.

When someone shares their dream with you, listen. Encourage them. You may discover that it is as much fun to help someone else reach their goal, as it is to accomplish your own. Dreams are important and they do come true!

Something Good is Coming!

Do you pay attention to your intuition? Sometimes I do, and sometimes my logical mind rushes in to dissuade me from following a feeling.

For the past month, a hint of "rosiness" has been coloring my vision. Something within is filling me with optimism. I have tried to pinpoint the cause of this optimistic sensation, but so far it remains vague.

Reality has been less than positive lately, but it has not diminished that inner sense of coming good. I have decided not to give too much weight to logical assessment of this feeling, but instead, I will wait to see what happens next... I'll keep you posted.

Getting Organized...

My daughters and I moved from a three bedroom house to a large 2 bedroom apartment about 6 years ago. Two years ago, a friend offered us a great deal on a 2 bedroom apartment in a wonderful neighborhood. We jumped at the chance to leave a large apartment complex for the more homey feel of a duplex. Plus the duplex had a basement, a backyard and a garage. Wow!

The apartment appeared to be similar in size to the one we were leaving, plus we would have storage space in the basement and in the garage. It seemed perfect...

After two years of sorting and purging, we are still bursting at the seams. The duplex apartment is much smaller than our previous place. I highly recommend measuring, and not just eyeballing rooms, when you are considering a move.

My oldest daughter has finally been able to arrange her room into a neat, but crowded, livable space. My youngest seems to have decided it's pointless to try.

I continue sorting and rearranging, trying to find a way to make all this "stuff" look neat. With my consulting and teaching business, I have accumulated an abundance of books, files, learning materials and supplies. I have sold, traded, donated and trashed everything that was not absolutely necessary.

Maybe someone will offer us a deal on a bigger place. In the meantime, I'll just throw some slipcovers and tablecloths over the boxes...

International Year of Astronomy - 2009

One of my favorite ways to relax is to look at the sky. So many changing colors and patterns. That's probably why one of my favorite websites is Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Through that site, I learned this this year is the International Year of Astronomy. This year, 2009, marks the 400th anniversary of the first time Galileo looked through a telescope and saw sights that amazed him, such as Saturn's rings, the moon's craters and Jupiter's moons.

Astronomers from around the globe plan to find as many opportunities as possible this year to introduce people to the incredible sights in the skies. They will be bringing their telescopes to front yards, parks, science centers and beaches, and inviting everyone to look at the spectacular view that many may have never seen.

Why not take a moment right now to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of the skies! Watch this wonderful time-lapse video, The Sky in Motion.

túrána hott kurdís by hasta la otra méxico! from Till Credner on Vimeo.

Gifts from the Heart

On Saturday, December 6, the Cups of Kindness Art Show and Sale will open in Peninsula, Ohio, at the Peninsula Art Academy and Elements Gallery. More than 70 artists have donated artwork for this wonderful event. All proceeds from the sale of these beautiful pieces will be donated to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. According to information provided by the Foodbank, each dollar contributed will help them to provide 7 nutritious meals to individuals and families in need! That is a terrific return for such a small investment!

If you live in northeast Ohio, why not make plans to visit historic and picturesque Peninsula this weekend? It is filled with old-fashioned holiday spirit, and beauty. There are wonderful galleries and shops, restaurants, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Plus, you can attend the opening of the Cups of Kindness Art Show and Sale, where you can find wonderful one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends, and help the Foodbank at the same time!

If you can't come to Peninsula, you can still visit the art show. Just click the Cups of Kindness badge to the right of this post! There you can view and purchase (beginning Dec. 8) beautiful artwork, or donate directly to the Foodbank.

There are many opportunities for generosity during this season of giving. You can give joy, hope, smiles, compassion, kindness and nutritious food. When you give from the heart, you receive an abundant measure of good in return. Why not share a "cup of kindness" with someone today!

Thank you!

I Could Have Written This...

This is not my original work, but it certainly seems like something I could have written:

"So far I've done alright, God. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very happy about this. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed. And from then on, I'm going to need a lot more help."
- Author Unknown

Does Unschooling Really Work?

When I present workshops on interest-based, student-led learning, there are always skeptical parents who say, "But my children wouldn't do anything if I didn't tell them what to do."

If I explain that my daughters are very self-motivated, because I have always encouraged their curiosity, and modeled inspired learning for them, those same parents shake their heads, and say, "Yes, but my children aren't like yours. My children can't teach themselves.

I was thrilled to watch Sugata Mitra's talk, titled, "Outdoctrination: Society, Children, Technology and Self-Organization in Education, which Professor Mitra delivered at the 2007 LIFT Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

If you are unsure if children can really teach themselves, watch this video!

Important Conversations

Have you ever found yourself in a situation, with another person, that was uncomfortable, irritating, frustrating, aggravating, frightening or confusing? Most of us experience those feelings from time to time. What do you do? Do you express your feelings? Do you listen to the other person's viewpoint? Do you try to learn from the situation?

The best way to resolve difficult situations is to talk about it with the other party or parties involved. This can be overwhelming, and many of us tend to postpone "the talk," hoping the problem will go away or resolve itself. The authors of the book, Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, address this topic and offer advice on initiating talk about those challenging topics.

You can discover strengths and weaknesses in your approach to difficult conversations by taking the Have the Talk Quiz or download a Difficult Conversations Preparation Worksheet (pdf format.) The worksheet is not a script, but rather a guide to help you focus on the issues to be discussed in an open, honest and understanding way.

If you feel ready to have "the talk" but find yourself procrastinating, it might be helpful to set a date for the important conversation. You could even choose to do it on January 1, 2008, which has been designated, "Have the Talk" Day.

So, go ahead, have "the talk." It may be easier than you think.

Perspective

One of my favorite scenes in the movie, Dead Poets' Society, is when Professor Keating has the students stand on his desk and face the classroom, so that they can see things from a different perspective.

When things seem to stagnate in our lives or in our learning, it's time for a new perspective. Relax. Have your children prepare dinner. Take a walk. Sing in the shower. Dance in your front yard. Make a hat with items you find around the house (and wear it!) Read a Shel Silverstein poem. Make faces in the mirror. Blow bubbles.

Now, what was that problem, you were trying to solve? Oh, yes. Ideas are flowing now!

Keys to Success

Richard St. John calls himself, "an average guy." He is the founder of a successful marketing company, The St. John Group. Over a seven year period, he interviewed more than 500 successful people and asked them what they felt was the key to their success. In one of the many popular TED Talks, Mr. St. John distilled those hours of interviews into 8 key words and a 3 minute presentation. Enjoy!

Better than a Parade

I love parades. The floats, the fire trucks, the smiling waving people and the great marching bands. Actually, I'm usually a little disappointed if a marching band is playing as they pass me. I much prefer just hearing the drummers' cadence... the rythmic drumming they play when they are marching and not playing a tune. I can't stand still. I have to move when I hear it.

If you enjoy percussion as much as I do, you will love this great video from YouTube and Animusic.

Making a Difference on Planet Earth

I get to know many homeschooled students through the enrichment classes I teach. Twenty-one-year-old Rachel is one of my former students. She and I have kept in touch, off and on, over the years. Last fall, she wrote to tell me about her exciting twelve week internship with the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Rachel spent the 12 weeks working at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. She worked with rangers and volunteers to run a mule-pulled 19th century replica canal boat. During her internship, she and other college students lived together in a house in the park. Rachel loved the experience. For her work, she was paid a weekly stipend of $225, which was more than enough to pay her living expenses. At the end of her term of service, she also, qualified for an optional education award of $1,250 from AmeriCorps, which she can use to pay toward her college tuition.

SCA offers a wide variety of internships and volunteer opportunities. In addition to having fun, making money, meeting new friends and living in unique places, students, also, have an opportunity to make a difference in the world. What could be better than that!

Thinking

In the classes I teach, I try to provide a lot of "food for thought," facts and concepts that inspire the students to question and wonder.

I recently found the website of artist, Chris Jordan. Mr. Jordan has taken statistics that many of us read in newspapers and magazines and transformed those statistics into images that boggle the mind. They are definitely thought provoking. Visit his site and share it with your family and friends.

Want to Take a Trip?

I have always thought that it would be great fun to take my two daughters, and travel around the United States. There are so many interesting, unique and exciting places that I would like to see and to share with my girls.

I think they would love splashing in the cold ocean water along Maine's breath-taking rocky shores. Riding a cable car in San Francisco would be such a thrill. Seeing a real working ranch in Texas would be exciting, especially since we all love reading the adventures of Pioneer Woman's homeschooling family on their ranch.

Although I am still saving my pennies for our family's trip, Amy Haroldson, and her 9 year old daughter, Caroline, are preparing to depart on their trip across America. You can check out their itinerary, and follow along on the map. They have even included their intended curriculum for the journey.

Their exciting adventure will begin on September 4, so gather your family, and prepare to follow their progress. It should be a very interesting and fun trip!

Here's to Friends!

Many homeschool moms tell me they feel exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed and alone. Not a good feeling. How can you avoid that feeling?

The best remedy, I have found, is to connect with good friends. I did that last evening. One of my dear friends hosted a moms' dinner party at her home. Six fun-loving, supportive kindred spirits shared food, drink and laughter for an entire evening. We talked about funny things that have happened in our lives, problems we have faced (or are facing), major events in the lives of our families, books, movies, health and a myriad of other topics. The evening was relaxing and rejuvenating, at the same time. We left feeling loved, supported, more positive and far from alone.

Where did I meet these friends? We are all homeschool moms. Over the years, I have met and connected with moms on field trips, at homeschool informational meetings, at the park, at the library and at homeschool "Moms' Night Out" events.

Many new homeschool families tell me they can't find any friends. If you can't find events you enjoy, or haven't connected with a group that shares your interests, plan an event yourself! This is not only good for you, it's an excellent lesson for your children. You don't have to depend on others to plan things. You can do it!

So if you are feeling exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed and alone, get out there. Find an event that interests you. If you can't find one, plan one. Given enough time, you will find kindred spirits, too.

Here's to great friends!

What's Important?

When I present a workshop to teens or their parents, I am often asked, "What's really important? What do I need to be sure to learn (teach)?" My answer is nearly always, "Learn how to learn." Things are constantly changing: jobs, technology, products, transportation... To survive and thrive in the future, we must all be prepared to constantly learn new skills, facts, and methods. We must be open to change, ready to look at things from new angles, prepared to give up methods that are obsolete.

A few years ago, a man by the name of Karl Fisch, who was the Director of Technology at Arapahoe High School, was asked to speak at the beginning of the year staff meeting. Mr. Fisch thought that staff meetings often were so filled with information and schedules that everyone tired of hearing speech after speech, so he decided to create a PowerPoint presentation filled with thought-provoking ideas and facts. Before the presentation began, he explained to the assembled teachers that he wanted them to watch, but that there would not be a discussion of what was shown immediately after the presentation. Instead, he wanted them to think about what they saw and read, and over the course of the following days and weeks, he wanted them to discuss their ideas with each other.

In the days and weeks that followed, there was discussion. Then an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, and blogger, by the name of Dr. Scott McLeod, saw the presentation, and he thought it was phenomenal. He showed it to his students and then he asked Mr. Fisch if he could play around with it a bit. He was given permission, and he created a remix, taking out the parts that referred specifically to Arapahoe High School, and adapted it to have more universal appeal. I think it is an outstanding presentation, and one that definitely supports my suggestion that the most important thing we can teach others or learn for ourselves is to "learn how to learn."



Creative Commons attribution-share alike license.
Created by Karl Fisch, and modified by Scott McLeod; Globalization and The Information Age
Music Credits: (1992) "The Last of the Mohicans" off the soundtrack. The song is (Elk Hunt/The Kiss).

"They know enough who know how to learn." -- Henry Adams (1838-1918)