Midwest Homeschool Convention 2011 ~ part 2

COMBINING CLASSICAL EDUCATION, CHARLOTTE MASON, AND UNIT STUDIES WITH A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ~ David Hazell (MFW)

The main goal I got from this session was to again ~ START WITH A GOAL, GET GENERAL DIRECTIONS, AND THEN REFINE.

Mr. Hazell likened the different learning pathways to roads on a map.

• INTERSTATE ~ is school at home
• TOLLWAYS ~ Christian school at home
• ROUTE 66 ~ Classical Education
• SCENIC ROUTE ~ Unit studies
• RESIDENTIAL ROADS ~ unschooling
• MAP SYMBOLS ~ eclectic schooling

and most important is the MAP KEY which is your tour guide to finding your way amidst all the different genres out there.

One of the most important lessons for me this session was that the most important subject in our schools today should be BIBLE. And it is the subject that even in homeschools is the one that gets put away to the side when having a busy day full of errands or a day when your not feeling well or have a sick child. When getting ready to go to an appointment and getting the kids stuff together, why is it that we always make sure we have the 3 R’s and leave bible by the wayside. It should be the FIRST and FOREMOST subject of importance in our day!!

This should be communicated to our kids ~ so that they know the importance of God’s blessings in our lives and the importance of learning the bible and all the history within.

 

BALLISTIC HOMESCHOOLING: THE BOY FRIENDLY HOMECHOOL ~ Hal and Melanie Young

First and foremost ~ BOYS ARE WIRED DIFFERENT !! It’s okay for them to wiggle!!

Boys are made for a different purpose. Don’t get pulled into stereotypes. God creates each of us as individuals. And our job as parents and teachers is to allow them to learn at their own pace. We need to take what works for our family.

Boys are better at spatial reasoning. Don’t say “WHAT IS IT” to a boy ~ say “TELL ME ABOUT IT”. Another key to remember with educating boys is that they draw and color in “action”.  Don’t let difficulty in one area interfere with other subjects.

When children are allowed to learn later, they learn faster. So it’s OK to learn at the pace that is comfortable for them.

A scope and sequence is basically not something that is necessary for our homeschools today ~ it’s a factory model of education. Homeschooling gives flexibility, so that each child can work at the pace that is for them. When trouble areas arise, it allows the freedom to work through the issues.

Boys love competition ~ make lessons a sport.

Boys get excited over noise ~ it’s ok to make noise. Speak louder when talking to boys.

There is a major difference in how boys and girls view history, math, and science.

For example when teaching history to your children:

• teach girls about culture, foods, clothing, and lifestyle.
• teach boys about war, battles, soldiers, danger, courage, exploration, and adventure

It’s ok to teach your son to be a hero and learn about courage filled men ~ Men lay down their lives for the weak and innocent every day and it’s an honor to teach our young men about these heroes.

Boys are easily distracted ~ it takes a lot of physical energy for a boy to sit still. Research shows mental acuity improves after physical activity in boys. Allow them to do push-ups, run up and down the stairs, and do jumping jacks in between subjects.

Keys about boys to remember:

• it’s ok to write big
• it’s ok to not sit in a chair (boys like to stand or sit on knees a lot of the time)
• it’s ok to do things differently