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Marylou

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  1. This article might be helpful for you http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/early_academics_and_unschooling.php Also visit www.systemath.com
  2. http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/early_academics_and_unschooling.php
  3. I noticed my 8 year old twins were calling dogs "girls" and "boys", and talking about animals having babies when they get "married". I didn't need to have the birds and bees talk in order to teach them the terms "male", "female" and "mating". I just taught them that we use different terms when we refer to animals.
  4. I haven't read this book, but I have heard other moms say that it is great Have a New Kid By Friday by Keven Leman. check it out at www.amazon.com
  5. try looking at some free ideas at www.flylady.net Marla Cilley is the Queen Bee of decluttering!
  6. go to www.todayshow.com and search for Duggars. They have been interviewed numerous times on that show
  7. I started to watch this show and had to turn it off b/c of the curse words, OMG's and harsh tones. I refuse to watch shows that I can't watch with my children by my side. If it is wrong to say "oh my God" in real life, it is wrong to watch others say it over and over on tv. Same thing with "The Biggest Loser" show. I really enjoyed watching that program, but decided to quit last year because of all the "OMG's" Yes, my children will hear it plenty when they are grown and on their own, but it is my responsibility right now that they hear what is right and pure.
  8. www.systemath.com and also try to get a copy of Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn page 369 "A ten-year old is perfectly capable of jumping right into a sixth grade math textbook, such as Saxon 65, with no previous experience with math workbooks or textbooks. Skipping Kindergarten through fifth grade in math will in no way hinder your child's success in math. You do not need to wear out your child's interest and your own patience attempting to make him understand what his brain is not yeat wired to handle. Waiting until age ten, when your child is developmentally prepared to handle mathematical concepts readily, makes instruction in arithmetic very easy. What was painfully spread over five previous years, may here be compressed painlessly into as little time as a month. We are not saying that you should keep your child away from numbers before age 10. Not at all." This is the approach my husband and I are using with our 2 third graders, and so far we are happy with the advice we gleaned from them. We are not unschooling in the area of math, just waiting for their minds to make the change from thinking in the concrete to thinking in the abstract. This happens at different ages for different children. But many studies have shown that it is very difficult to think in the abstract before age 10. Remember potty training? When they are ready it just clicks and life is much more pleasant than pulling out your hair and getting frustrated. It also gives us more time in the school day to concentrate on grammar, reading and science, etc.
  9. www.systemath.com Paul Zeigler was a math teacher for many years in the public school arena, and after retiring he's helped many homeschooling families.
  10. BTW if you go to www.systemath.com and click on "Mynah Bird Math" don't forget to watch the "Tennessee Math" video. It is very funny :lurk5:!
  11. If you can find a copy of Teaching the Trivium by Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn, there is much information in their book regarding teaching math to young children. Or perhaps I should say "not teaching math to young children!" At least in a formal, pull-your-hair-out struggle every day. page 369 "A ten-year old is perfectly capable of jumping right into a sixth grade math textbook, such as Saxon 65, with no previous experience with math workbooks or textbooks. Skipping Kindergarten through fifth grade in math will in no way hinder your child's success in math. You do not need to wear out your child's interest and your own patience attempting to make him understand what his brain is not yet wired to handle. Waiting until age ten, when your child is developmentally prepared to handle mathematical concepts readily, makes instruction in arithmetic very easy. What was painfully spread over five previous years, may here be compressed painlessly into as little time as a month. We are not saying that you should keep your child away from numbers before age 10. Not at all." I recommend you read more right from the book (my fingers are tired!) Also, you may want to visit www.systemath.com and click on "Mynah Bird Math" on the left while you're there. I really appreciate the things Paul Zeigler says about his experience with homeschoolers regarding math. I have purchased his module for teaching elementary age children. I also just noticed that his site has many tests and practice sheets that can be printed out for free. Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn homeschooled all five of their children in the Classical style and didn't teach math formally to any of them until they were at least ten years old. Their children turned out just fine and they saved themselves a lot of headaches along the way. I am following their example with my twin third-graders, and so far I am happy with this approach.
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