Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Ten Easy Ways to Help Kids Learn: A Brain-based Learning Strategy that Really Works

By: MaryJo Wagner

Susan's a math whiz and Caleb's an artist extraordinaire. That's, great but wouldn't it be better if Caleb could improve in math and Susan could develop some artistic skills? They can and it's easy.

Researchers have recently discovered that whole-brain learning or brain-based learning is an efficient and effective learning strategy that helps kids (parents and teachers, too) learn anything easily without struggling.

One feature of brain-based learning involves using both the right side and the left side of the brain. Although nobody is just left brain or just right brain, most of us have a dominance.

Susan's math aptitude means she is probably left-brain dominant, and Caleb, the artist, has a right-brain dominance.

Learning to read and write requires using both sides of the brain. So does learning math and even doing art. In fact, doing just about anything well, including thinking clearly, and even problem solving, involves using the right and left hemispheres of the front part of the brain.

How do you accomplish this? Easy. Just move across the center mid-line of your body. Every time you move your right arm to your left side or your left arm to your right side, you're crossing the mid-line and improving learning, thinking, and problem solving. Now you're using brain-based learning.

Works for kids. Works for you. Try these parenting tips and teacher resources today.

1. Give yourself a big hug.
2. Tell kids the only rule is to cross the mid-line of the body, right hand to left side, left hand to right side. Now let them invent ways of doing this.
3. Dance the hula. Or twirl a hula hoop.
4. Take a Brain Boosters TeleClass. Sign up at www.brainboostersforyourkids.com Or a Brain Gym class. Sign up at www.BrainGymClasses.com
5. Do the twist. (So you weren't dancing in the 50s and 60s? Ask somebody to show you how to twist or get a dance video.) Twist with the kids while you listen to some old Chubby Checker songs.
6. Rake some leaves with your kids, making sure you're raking off to the side instead of straight in front of you.
7. Play a board game. (Use your right hand to move your piece when it's in the left orner and vice versa.)
8. Practice using your non-dominant hand to reach for things on the opposite side of your body. Even writing and drawing with your non-dominant hand helps. (You'll get better with practice.)
9. Do Yoga and Tai Chi. Lots of moves cross the mid-line.
10. Cross your ankles and arms in front or in back when you're doing jumping jacks. Kids can usually do this. If you can't, try it in a swimming pool.

This brain-based learning strategy really isn't all that complicated. Lots of everyday kinds of activities get the whole brain active. Sitting around watching TV, however, isn't one of them! You and your kids have to move around and cross your mid- line. It's fun.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Kids Ideas are Winners

by: Caroline Mackay


One of the best ideas for making a fun school program is to listen to the kids. Children have very active imaginations and

they are not shy about expressing their ideas. If you are open to their ideas you can give your programs zip and humor. It

also gives the children ownership to the program. Here are a few ideas that the students have come up with in some of my

programs.

INSERT A COMMERCIAL. Our children are bombarded with commercials and they can sing most of the jingles from memory. One year

I had 3 boys that felt our program needed some spicing up and they suggested the old Wendy’s commercial “Where’s the Beef”.

They dressed up as three little old ladies and brought the house down with laughter.

SHY STUDENTS—One shy student wanted to be front and center on stage and speak, but he didn’t want anyone to see him. He came

as the unknown comic with a sack over his head with holes cut for his eyes.

STROB LIGHTS—The students came up with many ideas to use a strob light. A baseball game, a wrestling match, a cop chasing the

bad guy.

BLACK LIGHTS—Some girls suggested the use of black lights for a rock and roll song. They wore white shirts, white socks, and

white hair ribbons. The black lights became so popular that they would make up other dances . Once they were used with white

gloves and sign language.

TUMBLING—A group of students suggested putting mats across the front of the stage and doing tumbling routines to modern

music. Cheerleading became popular and they were used for that.

SINGING---When two girls had to sing a sad song about having no friends they suggested sitting on the piano like the

professional singers do.

SONGS---For Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer the students suggested having one prop that they could use and do the silly part of

the song such as “Dumbo” “Monopoly”.

You know the part that irritates music directors and teachers. So they made something in the shape of a giant 1 foot light

bulb, with a small knob on the handle, that was yellow on one side and gray on one side. They used it for the light bulb, for

an elephants trunk for Dumbo, a monopoly piece, and the knob was glittered red for Rudolph nose.

COSTUMES---Students ideas for costumes can save a lot of time. They were always to keep them to only things that they had at

home and not ask mom for anything else. They used mops for hair, Styrofoam balls for noses, cowboy hats for a western, tinsel

for belts, glitter to make them sparkle under the lights.

Article Source : www.articlecity.com

Friday, July 13, 2007

Teaching Children At Home

By Sharon White

We can easily reveal our own imperfections and weak points, as well as various drawbacks of the educational system that today is in need of fundamental changes. Today it is very important to study and discover children, because today we can see them being completely different from the children we could see a couple of decades ago. Recently many famous doctors, sychologists and educators are talking about the new generation of children, including phenomenon of Indigo and Crystal children. But let us not hold forth on the assumption about extraterrestrial children of the new generation. The statistics and various observations acknowledge great distinction between children of yesterday and today. Conclusion based on the results of spiritual-scientific research, done by scientists, educational specialists and other authorities. The conflicts between generations existed at all times. The same could be said about efforts of the educators and psychologists to find proper ways of communication with children and effective methods of teaching and bringing up. At all times children needed our attention and care.

However today we can see all the questions of education are being as important and urgent, as they have never been before. It is evident that today we have an important task to find new ways of upbringing new generation, which is possible only after deep and careful studying children, serious and hard efforts to understand their minds and hearts and personal inner worlds. Finally we must never forget whether while we are teaching, learning or studying, the most important conditions providing development of each individual are the atmosphere and surroundings of trust, mutual understanding and love.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/8223

Homeschooling: How to Get Started

By Heather Brunson

Homeschooling is becoming a common alternative to traditional classroom teaching. Today, more parents and guardians are opting to teaching their children at home, with an estimated 750,000 to 1,000,000 students learning in a home environment. Many parents believe that homeschooling provides their children with a custom or more complete education than public or private schools. It is easy to get started – you just have to do your homework.

Legality -- Can I Teach my Child from Home?

It is legal to homeschool your child in the U.S. and many other countries. Each state has different laws regarding homeschooling, which can range from simple guidelines to more formal legal requirements. Look for a local, state or regional home education organization to provide basic information on the laws that pertain to your state.

Finding the Support You Need

Some home education departments will also provide a list of support groups in your area. These support groups are usually run by volunteers who also homeschool their children. You can find a support group in your area to get the encouragement and information you need from experienced homeschooling families.

In addition to state and local support groups, private groups can be particularly helpful. Their services range from providing books, materials and other resources to consultation, testing and distance education programs. These groups are designed to serve homeschooling families and not only sell the supplies and services you need, but provide helpful information and referrals.

Additional Resources

There are many resources available to the new homeschooler. Get the information you need to get started on the right foot. Read books on homeschooling. Browse web pages and links and read different articles that are available to you.

Remember that the benefit of homeschooling is that you can customize the education to fit the needs of your children and your family. You can choose the educational methods that work best for you.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/3728

Secondary School: Parents Need Assistance

By Sharon White

First, this problem has social aspect as children taught are from various social classes and, therefore backgrounds. Many children are grown up in low-class families where education system cannot simply understood because their parents could hardly graduate from schools themselves. They do not have basic knowledge of school education system, curriculum and teaching process. Some parents have even difficulties to explain their children the importance of education and good study. Thus, children often suffer from bad schooling due to their parents’ lack of knowledge. Teaching parents regarding education system and curriculum would be a great deal then. Next, parents cannot often give their children a good advice regarding school choice and admissions due to lack of time as they are very busy with their jobs and daily problems.

These two important reasons have resulted in a large percentage of bad pupils who are experiencing poor study and dissatisfaction with school experience as a whole. Here the largest target group of parents needed to be educated, assisted and consulted would be low-income families with lack of educational background and families with disadvantaged children. They cannot prepare their children for secondary school transition and assist them with admissions. Such situations are very common and here government, independent consultants and school teachers should come.

Teaching parents may include various programs from inviting parents to visit nearest schools, introducing secondary school curriculum, giving advice on admissions and even teaching parents admission requirements and regulations. Here both governmental and non-governmental organisations should be involved to develop public meetings and home meetings for those parents who are short of time and usually arrive at their homes in the late evenings. Independent consultants should visit such parents at weekends and involve them in their children study process.

Parents should know what secondary school is, what their children will study, how secondary school differs from primary one and how to assist their children with their secondary school admissions.

Funding parents secondary school education programs should be provided by both government and independent non-government organizations which are aimed to assist children with their successful study. Funds providing aid for families with disadvantaged children should also be involved because children with physical and mental disadvantages form the main target group which experiences schooling problems.

Going to the right school and getting good education should not be a privilege but an equal opportunity for all children. Choosing the right school and being successful at school are the main purposes of children’s education, and parents can play a significant role in children’s education success.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/8223

One Room School Model

By Margene Smith Smith

One Room School - MODEL


One Room School House Model


Most of us are familiar with the old one room school house. We probably never attended a one room school; however, we have probably all viewed “Little House on the Prairie.” There is a special magic in the ideal of teaching in a one room school, I will attempt to explain it.

Today’s public school does things that the “Old One Room School House” could not do. Today’s school separates our children by age and accomplishment. Generally, all the five, six, twelve, fifteen year olds are taught with others their same age. If school has society's goal of educating and socializing us to take our role in the community. Where in a healthy community, other than our public school system, are we able to find our community divided by age? I question whether it is a healthy situation for our youth to be segregated in this fashion.

Let’s take a close look at the “Old One Room School House” model. This form of schooling initially came about because the community was limited in funds and could not build multiple structures or rooms to segregate the students. A five year old might sit next to a ten year old who in turn may be sitting next to a fifteen year old. The one room school house school’s produced children that had a full understanding of reading, writing, and arithmetic. In many communities the school may have had as many as forty children in the class. This number of students we are told by today’s teachers as being too large to adequately teach or assist each student in mastering skills. Yet, the teachers a hundred plus years ago did just that. They taught, they supervised the individual student in mastering the skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Our history as a country, state, city, and communities is evidence of the fact that they were taught. Why were teachers one hundred years ago able to teach where today’s teachers say they cannot.

In the old school house model, the teacher taught subjects as needed. If you had one student who needed to grasp an advanced math concept, say trigonometry, the entire class was exposed to the instruction. The majority of the class may have been active doing their particular level of math, while listening to the lesson the teacher was presenting to the trigonometry student. What does this mean? A student will have heard a subject taught multiple times before he may master the learning skills needed. This one room school model had another asset that is not being adequately utilized today. This asset is the tutor, or fellow student. When you have students of varying accomplishment, you have others who can help and assist their fellow students acquire new skills. This helps both the struggling student and the tutor. How often have you heard a teacher of a Sunday school class say they have learnt more by teaching than we, the class, will learn by being taught the lesson. Working to teach and clarify a subject to a student causes the teacher to gain a full understanding that may not have been required to just master the skill. Our one room school house teacher becomes a supervisor of student teachers.

Our community is a mixed age population. Have you seen today’s kids ostracize other children due to age differences of only a year or two? I am not discounting the fact that a teenager would not want to congregate with a ten year old. Our community needs us to learn to socialize ourselves with groupings of people from all ages. The skill of social involvement with others from different spheres is required by a healthy active growing community. A young child, a toddler in today’s society is often put with other toddler’s to play. Watch these toddlers play. Most of the time the toddlers are NOT interacting with one another, they are playing with a toy while removed emotionally from their surroundings. Take the same toddler and have them play with their parents and siblings, you will see active interaction between the toddler and siblings, parents.

Homeschooling returns us back to a system that has worked successfully for centuries. The historical past of the United States and the world as a whole document our growth and accomplishments of mixed age socialization. It has been a recent social experiment to segregate our youth by age. What is and has happened since its adoption into our society shows its failure.


Home schooling our children is a correct choice for them individually and society as a whole. A home schooled child learns to take on responsibility for their lives. As in the one room school model, they too become involved with helping others.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/8388

Making Learning Fun For Your Children

by: Chuck Lunsford

As parents we all want our children to grow up to be well educated. But sometimes your kids may not want to jump up and go do their homework or they get frustrated when school becomes, confusing, tedious or boring. Fortunately there are a lot of ways that you can make learning fun for your children. Have a game for everything Just as a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down a dash of fun can turn chores and homework into games. Have the mindset that anything can be turned into a game and you may be surprised at how creative you can become. If you have a negative attitude about homework and use it as a threatening thing or something that you must do when you misbehave, of course your children are going to avoid it. Instead, switch the tables and have homework be the reward. You can help to teach the metric system by making a map where specific metric directions are to be followed in order to find the ‘treasure.’ Reinforce geography or social studies by having dinners that reflect the types of foods eaten by people living in different parts of the world. The most ordinary games and sports can be altered to create games that your kids won’t be able to resist.

Blur the line between home and school

Make sure that during school is not the only time that your kids have fun learning things. You should be teaching your kids at home as well as entrusting their education to teachers while they are at school. In the beginning you may have to sneak learning opportunities into your child’s favorite games but over time, setting aside time to learn and experiment will become more habitual and your children will begin to think more analytically about their studies at school and the world around them. You do not have to make learning feel like homework. It should be a fun thing, an activity that your kids look forward to. In the following paragraphs you will read about resources that are available to you to help you with your creative learning ideas.

Have a positive attitude and use outside sources

You do not have to be a scientist to teach your kids about science or a mathematician to teach your children their times tables. What is most important is that you have a positive attitude about learning. When you show excitement about learning it is likely that your children will follow your example. Children are highly impressionable and will sense your energy level and be prone to mimic it. Here are some examples of things that you can do at home and find online to help you and your family to stay excited about learning.

* Monitor the growth of a plant. Does talking to it make it grow faster? How long did it take to bloom?
* Record the changes of the moon and learn why and how it looks different every night.
* Measure your child’s growth over time and learn about how the body changes, repairs itself, etc.
* Cook or bake and talk about how molecules react to hot and cold.
* Take a look at your appliances and talk about how they work.
* Look online for excellent science project ideas as well as help preparing for a science fair.


Article Source: www.articlecity.com

Make Your Child Smarter. Do Science Projects

by: Chuck Lunsford

Science is a subject that is particularly important to the development of young minds because in learning science you learn many other important skills. Scientific knowledge helps in almost every other subject that your child will study. With a good understanding of science your child can better understand the world around him or her. Below are just a few examples of how doing science projects can help to make your child smarter.

Scientific method

In doing science projects children learn about the scientific method. The scientific process requires a great deal of hought. For example, a child starts out with a theory and through a process of experimentation to determine whether or not that theory is true. In repeating this thought process over and over children can develop a maturity in thinking analytically to be able to solve problems for themselves.

Logic and reasoning skills

Science projects help children to develop their logic and reasoning skills. In doing science projects you make guesses as to what the end result of the experiment will be. In the beginning all that you have are educated guesses and through the course of doing the project you come to find if your guesses were right. A child can learn from right and wrong guesses how to logically determine outcomes. Through experience a child’s sense of reasoning develops and they become more capable of making accurate perceptions of the world around them

Writing a report/recording findings

Science projects for school often require that a report of some kind accompany the project. Writing a report teaches your child a lot of important skills including, grammar, vocabulary, formatting, spelling and proof reading. In writing a report your child also learns the important skill of self expression. In other words, the child learns how to describe what they see and experience in their own words.

The rewards of the successful project

Receiving a good grade on a science project or even better, receiving the blue ribbon for a science project does a lot to boost a child’s self esteem. Many times projects are put on display for many others to see. As the child explains the project and how they can to the conclusion that they did, they learn how to teach principles and communicate verbally how they solved a problem. Even projects that did not work out exactly as planned are valuable because something is learned; even if it is learning how not to do that same project in the future.

Understand the everyday and learn to ask how and why

Science projects naturally encourage kids to look around for opportunities to experiment and to test out their own hypotheses. Asking questions and answering questions in the home is especially important in a child’s development as it helps them to learn self sufficiency and trust in their parents. Parents also benefit when their children learn to ask questions ecause it provides parents with the opportunity to see how their child thinks and allows them to figure out what a child does and does not understand. Encourage kids to ask questions and explore and make sure that you listen to them when they do start talking.

Article Source: www.articlecity.com

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Making Everyday Science Fun For Kids Of All Ages

by: Chuck Lunsford

There are many ways that your child can learn about science. A lot of children do not like science because they think it is boring. Science doesn’t have to be boring. Here are 5 ways to make science fun.

The 1st way of making science fun is to get everyone in your family involved. One day when it is nice weather take the whole family for a hike. Along the way point out different things and ask your family questions. Then go home and research things you saw on your hike. Find out the science behind what your family saw along their hike. For instance if they saw red rocks or something like that find out what causes rocks to be red rocks. Try to incorporate things into science that you know will spark n interest in your family.

The 2nd way of making science fun is to show an interest in it. Set up a science project night to show your children you are interested in learning more about science. If your family sees that you are not interested in science they are not going to show much interest. But if you act like you want to learn more about the earth or the stars or whatever it is. Your family will have a better chance of wanting to learn more. Just make sure that you show interest. This will help your family be more excited about science and what it has to offer. The reason your family will be more excited about science is because they can relate with you about what they are doing in science and will know that you are interested and want to hear what they have to say.

The 3rd way of making science fun is to figure out different ways of doing something. For example say you want to learn more about fish. Don’t just get on the internet or get a book. Take your family to the aquarium and look at all of the fish then go and do some research and figure out why certain fish are the way they are. This will help make science fun because you and your family are actually getting into it and finding out more.

The 4th way of making science fun is to do hands on experiments and science projects. For example, say your family wants to learn about the wind and how it affects things. Get a kite and get your family out and fly it. Fly the kite in different kinds of winds and then do some research. This will help you and your family relates things to science that you are learning by actually taking the time to do it. This is a way to make science fun.

The 5th way of making science fun is to discuss science while doing science projects, before an outing, after seeing science in action, etc. If you discuss with your children what they are learning they will have more fun. Discuss the outcomes of science projects that you do together. If you take the time to discuss science it will be more fun because your children will be more excited about what they are learning.

There are many ways to make science fun. You just have to get out there and find them. You know what your family is interested in and what they have fun doing. So incorporate science ideas into your family activities. Your family won’t even know that you are teaching them about science because they are having fun. They will just think that you planned a family activity. Make sure to keep it light and fun and not stressful and boring. It is very important that your children learn as much as they can about science. Learning as much as they can, when it comes to science will help them in their daily lives. Science helps with problem solving and other skills that your children will need. So make science as fun as you can.


Article Source: www.articlecity.com