(on) The Road (to becoming a) Scholar: January 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

Strengths Explorer for Kids

I am a huge fan of the books First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham. The intent is to help someone identify their strengths and develop them (instead of focusing on their weaknesses). What a wonderful Positive approach!

I recently found they have an online assessment tool for kids aged 10 and up called Strength Explorers created by his co-author of the second book. We had our kids take their evaluations today and found it useful.

Here are the possible 10 strengths:

Presence: Youths especially talented in the Presence theme like to tell stories and be at the center of attention.
Confidence: Youths especially talented in the Confidence theme believe in themselves and their ability to be successful in their endeavors.
Competing: Youths especially talented in the Competing theme enjoy measuring their performance against that of others and have a great desire to win.
Relating: Youths especially talented in the Relating theme are good at establishing meaningful friendships and maintaining them.
Achieving: Youths especially talented in the Achieving theme like to accomplish things and have a great deal of energy.
Future Thinker: Youths especially talented in the Future Thinker theme tend to think about what’s possible beyond the present time, even beyond their lifetime.
Caring: Youths especially talented in the Caring theme enjoy helping others.
Discoverer: Youths especially talented in the Discoverer theme tend to be very curious and like to ask “Why?” and “How?”
Organizer: Youths especially talented in the Organizer theme are good at scheduling, planning, and organizing.
Dependability: Youths especially talented in the Dependability theme keep their promises and show a high level of responsibility.

#1 child scored: Presence, Relating, Discoverer

#2 child scored: Presence, Caring, Future Thinker

This week we will use the workbooks that go with the test to help both of them realize and work on their strengths.

Monday, January 18, 2010

New Idea - Good or Bad?

We just finish

ed our boy's Science club. At the last session, my son did a presentation on how the pyramids were build using simple machines. We watched a Nova episode called "This Old Pyramid." The boys loved it and it sparked several great discussions. So, I thought it might be fun to do this with regularity.

Here's my rub. I would rather they be reading books than watching a video. Now, two of the four moms do these clubs for the social aspect more than anything else. So, I solicit your advice. Do I do a video club or not? Here's the plan. Let me know what you think:

Nova Science and History Workshops

Wright Brothers' Flying Machine (SCIENCE)

Lesson Plan:

Video:

Activity: See Lesson Plan – make paper airplane and observe effects of wing warping

Infinite Secrets (MATH)

Lesson Plan:

Video:

Activity: See Lesson Plan – Archimedes Recipe for pi

Lincoln's Secret Weapon (HISTORY/SCIENCE)

Lesson Plan:

Video:

Activity: See Lesson Plan: Dive! Dive! Dive!

Lost at Sea! (HISTORY/SCIENCE)

Lesson Plan:

Video: County Library

Activity: See Lesson Plan: Voyage Around the World

Medieval Siege (HISTORY/SCIENCE)

Lesson Plan:

Video: County Library

Activity: See Lesson Plan: FLING IT!

The Road Scholar

Cathie and her husband are blessed with six children and have home educated them since 2003. Before children, Cathie developed curricula and taught classes for adults around the world on a variety of topics in the computer industry at the corporate and technical school level. She loves to develop curricula, teach homeschool co-op classes and organize book clubs. For five years, she held board positions on a large homeschool support group such as general coordinator, membership coordinator and advisory member.

Workshops, Presentations and Seminars

To arrange a presentation for your homeschool group or convention contact me here.

Topics:

Beginning Homeschooling - Beyond the Basics

Are you new to homeschooling? Where do you start? How do you ensure a very good (not just adequate) homeschooling experience, especially in that important first year? This practical how-to session will help you determine the appropriate first steps on your homeschooling adventure. We'll talk about picking a curriculum, scheduling and strategies for developing an independent child as well as strengthening your family and social relationships.

Get Your Game On!
Using EASY, Almost No-Fuss Games to Help Keep Learning Fun

Kids love games and so much is gained by playing games: learning to taking turns, good sportsmanship, patience and development of relationships. By using games, we can tailor to the needs of the child - not just academically, but socially, too. Come join in the fun yourself and learn how easy it is to put together games for your children—and you don't have to be creative to do it, either! Besides learning how, you will walk away with instructions, tips and resources to make your own games at home.

How to Get Your Kids to See the Light (or Feel it or Hear it)!

Teaching different learning modalities requires different tactics. Learn how to determine which modality your child uses and find ways to present material so that it sticks the first time, especially if it is different than your own learning modality.

This Old Schoolhouse

The school marms and school masters of yesteryear taught several children at different levels and formed many of our favorite American heroes. We will look back at how those school marms ran their one room schools and take some tips on making our school days more successful. We’ll talk about schedules, curriculum, discipline, independence, character development and motivation for the one room school in your home.

Socrates Meets Homeschool Mom

If Socrates could teach you one thing, it would be to use his method (the Socratic Method) for literary analysis. This presentation addresses the fundamentals of literary interpretation from within the accessible world of children’s literature, so even young students can easily identify the language of literary analysis. As they mature they will readily spot these fundamentals in more difficult works, enriching both their understanding of the literature and their appreciation for the author’s handiwork. Learn the aspects of literary analysis and how to help kids appreciate and find the meaning in all the great books they read.

The Motivation Myth

What do sticker charts, time-outs and spelling bees have in common? They are examples of “Carrots and Sticks.” Over the last 40 years, study after study has shown that "Carrots and Sticks" don't work for long term motivation, especially when thought is required in the process. How are you motivating and inspiring your kids to study, do chores and reach goals? Learn about what truly motivates kids, how to mentor them and help them become successful in their endeavors. I will dispel the myths and reveal truths about human motivation and mindset. And here’s a hint. It’s you, not them. I hope you will join me to find out what that means.