learningtable

http://learningtable.blogspot.com

I blog as a former classroom teacher turned homeschool mom to three boys about our experiences, resources, and other good stuff.

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Love learningtable? Vote for it in Top 25 Teacher Moms - 2013

Anne is a winner of Top 25 Teacher Moms - 2012

How long have you been a teacher?

I started teaching in 1989 and left the classroom behind to homeschool my kids. I taught in both middle school and high school settings. We've been homeschooling for nine years, and now I have one in elementary, one in middle, and one in high school at home. Some days are more productive than others, but the learning never stops at our house, and we incorporate "school" into our lives every day. There's nothing better than grabbing hold of the spontaneous moments that occur to discover something and follow my kids' interests, whether it is looking at an interesting bug, learning how to film a movie, or looking through WWII memorabilia at Grandma's house. My boys are inquisitive and imaginative, and if I can instill in them a love and desire to learn, then I've done my job.

What are three of your favorite books for children? (Please share what age they are best for.)

My boys are all in different age categories, but we have nightly read-aloud time when we all gather together and they listen to the same book. We always have a chapter book going, and we also read a picture book each night. It's so special that my boys all enjoy the books for different reasons, and they all take away something different from them. My oldest is still inspired by picture books, and my youngest, although he may not understand everything from some of the chapter books, surprises me by retelling me things from them.
Our all time favorite picture book is I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont. It is hilarious, and super-fun to read aloud with a strong southern accent. My kids laugh out loud at this book every single time. We also love picture books by David Weisner for their stunning illustrations, and Kevin Henkes and Diane DeGroat for their relatable characters.
Our current favorite chapter books are The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt. The boys couldn't wait for the next chapter each night, and they learned about the Vietnam War era from these stories. We also love books by Christopher Paul Curtis, and after finishing Bud, Not Buddy, we are in the middle of The Mighty Miss Malone. We are learning about The Depression, and the boys love the characters in these books. Of course, the Harry Potter books have been favorites at our house for years, and we have read the series twice, which I'm sure won't be the last time. The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder is also a favorite, and the boys learned all about life in pioneer times when we spent a summer reading this series.

What can parents do to help when their child doesn't like school?

When kids who attend brick-and-mortar school don't like school, the most important thing for parents to do is to get involved or stay involved in their lives both at home and at school. Keeping the lines of communication open and maintaining a strong bond are key. Communicating with teachers is also vital, and parents should be a presence in the school day: visiting classrooms, checking assignments, establishing a relationship with the teachers and staff, simply knowing what is going on all day. Talking with their kids and not only asking them how their day was, but really listening to their answers can help parents discover what might be going on--read between the lines and ask questions. Recognize that different kids have different learning styles, and their issue may be the need for a different way of learning the material, such as listening to an audio book or looking up a science topic on the internet for a different explanation. If kids are having a difficult time making friends, find a club (or start one) related to their interests for them to get involved in.
If homeschool kids are struggling with schoolwork, catering curriculum to their learning styles and interests and letting them learn at their own pace are key. Finding alternative ways to learn subjects that kids do not particularly like makes them bearable, and providing hands-on projects keeps kids interested. Cultivate friendships by getting involved in local support groups and clubs, but keep the schedule reasonable and relaxed. Above all, talk and listen.

1 Answer

What's a good way to motivate and support children who are struggling to learn a certain school subject?

Anne Campbell

To motivate my children when they are struggling with a certain subject--first of all, I check my attitude. If I am enthusiastic about the material, my kids will pick up on that, and they will less likely to begin with an attitude of failure. I never enjoyed math once I got into my middle school years, and my oldest son doesn't like math either. I have committed to making math less intimidating for him and more of a part of our everyday lives by incorporating math games into our days and finding a curriculum that was a better fit for his learning style. Don't be afraid to set aside something if it isn't working and try something else. Also, I keep in mind that all my kids are different and have different learning styles, different attention spans, different personalities, and different favorites. What works with one may not work with the other. Another tactic that works really well for us is to break the material up and work on it for shorter spans of time -or- do the less favorite subject first to get it out of the way. It is also better to stop and go back to relearn material than to keep moving along when a child doesn't "get it." Stopping to spend two weeks working on the times tables or division is better than struggling through to move ahead.
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What's a great developmental toy for preschoolers?

Anne Campbell

The hands-down favorite "toys" my boys played with as preschoolers were dress-up clothes. I kept a bin for all kinds of costumes, capes, hats, swords, etc., and at least one of my kids usually ran around dressed up as a superhero, doctor, fire fighter, cowboy, pirate, wizard, chef... The possibilites are endless, and with a little ingenuity and imagination, it doesn't take much to assemble an alter-ego. We had things from the after-Halloween clearance aisle, from the thrift store, from Grandma's house, or things we made ourselves. A large silky scarf from the thrift store became a cape, a sword-belt, and a sling. The button-out liner from an old trench coat became a wizard's robe and a soldier's coat. A bandanna is perfect for both a cowboy and a pirate. Many costumes were inspired by books we were reading or from movies or plays we watched. This inexpensive assembly was played with at our house far more than any other toy, and it was fun to meet a new character each day.
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How do you get a fidgety or unfocused child to sit and do homework?

Anne Campbell

I am a mom to three boys, so I can honestly say that I've had my share of fidgety. When we are doing schoolwork or having read-aloud time, I have a few tricks that help to keep my especially active boys focused on the task at hand. First, if they can do their work neatly, I let them sit where they are comfortable sitting, such as the couch, their beds, the floor, on a pile of cushions, etc. If they choose where they want to sit, it seems to motivate them to get their work done. Also, this may seem insignificant to some, but I have a pack of those old-timey shiny star stickers, and if my kids do a neat job, put in a lot of effort, or meet a goal, I put a star on their paper. Everyone appreciates being noticed for a job well done. They really love this, and you can see their pride in their smiles. For read-aloud time, I let my boys sit or lay where they want, and they can build with legos, play with an action figure, roll a toy car or motorcycle around, etc. as long as they are quiet and don't distract their brothers. When the weather is nice, we head outside for nature study or we brings books and clipboards out to the porch. Sometimes it helps to have a snack or drink alongside when we are sitting at the table for schoolwork, and cutting "sitting still" time down in 15 minute increments with short breaks in between helps, too. I'm so happy to be able to accomodate my boys' needs to wiggle, squirm, and move while still getting some learning accomplished.
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What is the best place to raise children: city, suburbs, or a rural town?

Anne Campbell

The best place to raise children is in a loving, supportive home. I personally prefer our rural setting which is in fairly close proximity to a city. The advantages for us are the peace and quiet, the abundant nature, and a safe place to play outside. We are close enough to the city to enjoy what it has to offer: museums, shows, movies, shopping, etc., yet far enough out to enjoy a quiet life. As long as parents stay involved in their kids' lives, it really doesn't matter where they live. Each setting has something to offer, and it all boils down to what you make of it.
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Can you recommend a children's book or series that's great for summer reading? Please include the ages it's appropriate for.

Anne Campbell

Summer is a great time to read around a theme. With a few months free to focus on a set of books, why not focus on a book series, time period, genre, or even set a reading challenge. My teen literature group members are reading through the Newberry award winners. My family has spent summers reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and cooking foods and making crafts themed around that era.) We also read the Rick Riordin Percy Jackson series one summer, and the Narnia books a different summer. One summer, we read Treasure Island, lots of pirate themed picture books, like How I Became a Pirate and Edward and the Pirates, and we spent the summer making pirate boats, visiting the beach, "digging for treasure," and playing pirates (dressing up, sword fighting, saying, "Aarrgh!" every chance we could...)
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What's a fun and easy Thanksgiving craft that's great for preschoolers? Please include a link to a picture if you have one.

Anne Campbell

It's easy to make a Thanksgiving bird feeder using a small pumpkin. Simply cut off the top and have your child use a spoon and his hands to scoop out all the pulp. Using an apple corer, punch three or four holes in the sides an inch from the opening and use twine to make a hanger. Kids can add a cupful of bird seed inside and choose a place to hang the feeder where they can observe the wildlife that visits. If the weather is cold, it will last for several days.
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What's the single most precious memento you have from your children's infancy that's not a photo? Please incude a link to a picture if you're willing to share!

Anne Campbell

The most precious memento I have from my children's infancy that is not a photo? I have a box of items that I couldn't part with when they outgrew them. A few outfits that I especially loved to dress them in and now marvel at how tiny they are. Some cotton blankets, oh so soft, that I wrapped them up in when we rocked and nursed, which remind me how they would all wiggle their feet until they poked them out from under the blanket. Special board books that we read over and over and over--I can still recite them by heart. A few small toys--a rattle, a stuffed animal, a Thomas train. The ever-present pacifiers. My goal is to create a scrapbook of photos of the boys with these items at the time they wore/used them and some journaling of my memories of these times and store it in the box along with these special items. The baby years were so precious and flew by so quickly!
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