Classes by Beth

Getting Ready!

2011-08-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

I am sure that all of you are getting ready for the new school year. I love this time of year with all of its hope and excitement...planning for our children's new educational adventures. We'll have a few of our own adventures, I am sure! :)

Previously, I utilized this blog to communicate with parents who enrolled children in my online classes. Honestly, it turned into a special announcements blog and I find it easier to send out an email for those purposes. So, I am returning it to a general information resource including ideas about writing, literature and more, much of which will be related to the courses I teach, although you won't need to be enrolled in my courses to benefit.

Watch for upcoming blogs that I hope will inspire, encourage and lead you as you homeschool your children. God's blessings on your upcoming school year!

In Him whom I place all trust,

Parent Notes - Week 30

2011-04-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

A couple of notes for this week:

1.The 2011-12 calendar is up on the CBB website, should you need it for future planning.
2. High school students will finish up on May 18th, but High School Prep students will finish by May 13.

Have a wonderful week!

Parent Notes - Week 29

2011-04-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

A few notes to consider for the upcoming weeks:

1. Students who began their courses last fall should be finished up by May 18th or 20th (depending on class date). Online students who started mid-year will be obviously continue working until their courses are complete.

2. My World Literature class has a couple of options related to year end books, so please speak to your students about those options. They were supposed to speak with you and have you email me last week. :)

3. In honor of Easter, no classes next week (April 20th or 22nd).

4. Some of my courses are filling up quickly for next year which means if you want to take a local course, the first eight to be full have priority. So, if you know you want your students in any of my courses and haven't registered yet, don't procrastinate on registration. You don't have to pay in full until the first day of classes. I've never had this many students registered this early in the year. I'm anticipating a full schedule next school year.

Hope you have a very blessed Easter! We are putting on an Easter drama at my church, Stono Baptist (where we have local classes) on Good Friday at 7 pm. We would love to have you join us! I am personally one of the directors, in an interpretive movement portion and acting in a scene.

God bless your family as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior!

In His Name,

Parent Notes - Week 27

2011-03-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

Not a lot to share this week. Everyone's doing great...the kids seemed to pick back up the pace and everyone is on target. I think they're encouraged about hitting the last quarter of class. :)

The new CBB website is now up if you need info for next year. The deadline for registering and receiving a half priced class is Wednesday, March 30th...tomorrow! You don't have to pay for the class by that date, but you do need to have your deposit check post marked by that date or delivered to me via a student with your registration information emailed. Deposits are per student, not per class, so be sure to include any other classes on that registration as well as the half priced one.

One question came up: if you have more than one student currently in my classes, each student qualifies for a half priced class. However, you can't apply the discount to other students, if that makes sense. Just let me know if you have any other questions.

I think that's all for this week. Hope your school year is moving along nicely!

In Christ,

Beth

Parent Notes - Week 26

2011-03-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

Time continues to fly! I hope that you're all doing well this week. Not much to share, except don't forget that March 30th (next Wednesday) is your deadline for using that half price special only for current students! If you're mailing payment rather than sending it with your student, you'll need to make sure that your envelope is postmarked by the 30th. If you have any questions about this offer, just email me. Have a blessed week!

In Christ,

Beth

Parent Notes - Week 25

2011-03-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hi there!
I can't believe that we're on week 25 for my full year students! It seems like school just flies the second half of the year. Please read the following carefully and let me know if you have any questions:

1. The deadline is drawing near for the half price course special - March 30th! If you missed the email or information about this offer, shoot me an email.
2. Some students are struggling at this point with getting work in on time. Please check with your student and make sure that he/she isn't lagging. It's the most challenging time of year for most students, so support from home is essential!
3. A couple of my students have requested an author focused literature course. They'd like to study Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. I'm considering adding this course, but treating it similar to a book club with a few writing assignments so we can really enjoy the the literature deeply. If you think your student would be interested, please let me know. Online students could participate through Skype.
4. Speaking of Skype, our trial program seems to be working well! So, I am feeling confident that next year, we'll be combining local and online students in courses when possible. It's so much nicer for the students to get to interact with one another and it makes my job much more enjoyable!
5. I am streamlining the online program and may make some changes to local programs, having learned so much from this year. I'll be sending out emails with the details, so please read those emails!
6. Please be praying as my son, John Paul, has been teaching me HTML and CSS language as well as Dreamweaver. I am completely designing the new CBB website and while it's great fun, it's a lot to learn! John Paul is an excellent teacher, but I am getting older. lol I'll let you know as soon as the new website is up. I am hoping that you'll find it easier to navigate and well organized!

If you are not currently on the CBB email list, simply send me an email with the words "Sign me up" in the subject line.

Have a blessed week!

Parent Notes - Week 22

2011-02-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

Hi All!

First of all, I need to apologize. I didn't realize that my parent post never loaded last week! I just noticed it, so either no one is reading this or you're just too nice to say anything. :)

I appreciate everyone hanging in there. We're in that part of the year where two things usually happen: 1. Kids (and the teacher) get a little burned out and want to stop for the year. This is always the hardest quarter it seems. Please encourage your students to hang in there and keep working. I am having more assignments turned in late than ever. Grades were mostly excellent mid-year. I'd hate to see those change due to late work.

2. Moms want to plan for next year. I completely understand planning ahead, and I appreciate it, but if you email me about next year's classes and it takes me a day or two to get back to you, I'd appreciate some grace. I promise to get the information out there as soon as I can and to be as helpful as possible. However, I do have to keep my head in this year so your children continue to get the education they deserve.

Thoughts for the upcoming year:

1. My location most likely will not change.

2. The video interaction trial seems to be working with American Lit so I am definitely going to work out a way to offer this option next year for more courses. While it's still not quite the same, I feel students will benefit more from it than just online chat. I am also considering other possible online teaching options beyond the forum, but I will be keeping the forum as the main structure for online courses.

3. The website will be changing considerably, so if you have any problems with it, just let me know. New information will not be posted on it before March. I will send out a notice and post on this blog when updates begin to be added.

If you are not on my email list (I recently sent out an email listing course offerings for next year) and want to be, email me. It's the easiest way to keep up with my classes and options.

World History, World Lit and American Lit students are all starting new books soon, so please make sure that your student has what he or she needs.

As always, email me if you have any questions or concerns.

God bless!

Parent Notes - Week 20

2011-02-08T17:36:00.000-08:00

Not much to report this week. I don't know about you, but this is the toughest time of the school year for me. I go through the same mid-year slump as my students, I think! :) If you have this same struggle, hang in there! This picture helps me keep things in perspective. I'm not sure who the baby is (she's from Microsoft clip art) but she sure is happy!

Parent Notes - Week 19

2011-02-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Happy February!

Hope that you are enjoying your week thus far. Just a couple of notes for this week:

1. I emailed mid-terms for all high school students on Monday, January 31st. If you have any questions about these mid-term reports, please let me know.

2. I am experimenting this week with allowing online students to participate in my local classes via video chat. Two of my online American Lit students have kindly consented to participate and see how this works out. I have long wanted to combine my students in a meaningful way, so I'd appreciate your prayers as we work through this technology. Thank you to Amy Smith for suggesting that I use Skype to get started. Watch for more details about this additional technology toward the end of the year. God willing, I'll be able to offer many online students this opportunity.

3. I am already getting requests for Fall class information. If you are on my mailing list, and you should be if you're a parent of one of my students, I will be sending out advanced information to current families and I will also include a coupon that may be used for next year's classes. If you have changed your email address recently or are concerned that you're not on that list, please email me to check.

4. With summer on it's way, I am planning my workshops. If you have any particular needs, please let me know. My workshop last summer was awesome! I so enjoyed getting to work with students, many of whom ended up taking my classes this year. I will offer workshops in August again so that the material is fresh in your child's mind as the school year begins.

5. In looking at this year, and planning for next year, I am considering starting earlier, in August. It felt like the mid-term was so late this year! I do only teach 32 weeks, so each semester is 16 weeks rather than the traditional 18 weeks. If you have any opinions about start dates, I'd love to hear from you soon as I will make this decision some time this month.

Please continue praying for one another and for our classes. One of our fathers has been hospitalized for at least a month fighting cancer and he could really use your prayers.

God bless your week!

Parent Notes - Week 18

2011-01-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

Hey there!

Congratulations to my Public Speaking students who finished out the year wonderfully! I am so proud of their accomplishments over the first semester. Welcome to the Research Paper students who officially start local class and online this week. Notes to consider:

1. Mid-term reports will be emailed to all high school families on Monday, January 31st. If you do not receive a mid-term report for your high schooler by then, please contact me on Tuesday.

2. I have never had a year where so many of my students' families are struggling in various ways. I am praying for all of you. I am asking that you take a moment to pray for each other and for my family. Pray for struggling marriages, financial issues, job loss and health (multiple parents battling cancer).

3. I am researching opportunities for my online students to "join" my local students using Skype or another similar service. I will send out information to those families who may benefit from this opportunity. However, I will not require students to participate this year. I'd like to try it out before possibly requiring it next year.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any needs or concerns. I feel so blessed to teach your children...thank you!

In Christ,

Parent Notes - Week 17

2011-01-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hope you are having a blessed January! Just a few notes this week:

1. If you have a student in the Research Paper class, they'll receive their first week of assignments this week. Online students can pick up their assignments on the forum. There are still openings in this course both online and locally in class if you know of anyone who might be interested.

2. Tomorrow, we will have our last Public Speaking class and the students will be giving their Apologetic speeches. This is an open presentation meaning that if you would like to bring your children to see the speeches, you can join us at Stono Baptist in the sanctuary at 12:30 pm. Please do not arrive late and enter the sanctuary unless we are between speakers. I will miss my Public Speakers...they've been a delight!

3. Mid-terms are next week for American Lit, World Lit and World History. If you have students in these classes, please make sure they have time to study and get adequate rest the night before. Mid-term reports will come out for all students by the end of January. Parents and students will receive them via email.

4. If you'd like to conference with me about your child's mid-term or other issues, please keep in mind that I teach from 9 am to 3:30 pm every Wednesday, with only a half hour for lunch. It's not a good time for me to meet unless you want to arrive before classes start for the day or after all classes are over. I can meet with you other times or we can conference by phone.

I think that covers it for this week! Many thanks to those of you who read this blog regularly and stay on top of class happenings.

Have a wonderful week!
God bless,

Parent Notes - Week 16

2011-01-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
Hope you're having a good start to your week. Just a reminder that the second semester ends the week of January 26th and full year students will receive their mid-term grades by the end of the month. They will be sent to parents and students by email. Students in Public Speaking will receive their course credit forms with final grades around the same time by email.

Thank you to those of you who prayed for my Dad. He could use continued prayer. Our trip was a blessing, but he has surgery later this month and he's still pretty week. He needs to gain some significant weight.

An amazing woman and homeschool mom, Veronica Walsh, went on to see our heavenly Father last week due to ovarian cancer. Those of you who knew understand the amazing person that she was while on this earth. Please pray for her family as they deal with tremendous loss: husband Larry, daughter Khailey and son Thomas. Veronica will be so missed by so many!

I wanted to leave you this week with a Psalm written by my son, John Paul, for the World Literature class. I found it to be very encouraging and I hope it will have the same effect for you.Have a blessed and thankful week!

Oh God, feel my prayer,

lead me, guide me, embrace me,

force me to find distaste in my selfish desires,

convict me to fall away from infectious sin,

God, reveal your selfless wonders instead.

Grasp my hand, steer me clear of unwanted temptation,

Never a demand or test of you oh God,

but only a plea for salvation,

In my ways I stumble, I fall,

but through your ways, I soar.

Through faith, the mislaid find a path, a lamp to guide them,

through prayer, the betrayed find peace, and all selfless desires,

through God's word, the lonely find the eternal companion,

through blood, the sinner finds a redeemer, and becomes blameless,

and through love, all find hope, salvation, and eternal peace.

Dear God, throughout your daily lessons, I discover how to glorify you're majestic name,

and become blameless and pure in sight, mind, and heart.

I praise you, for your promised salvation, and your perpetual love and pardon.

For as a father understands how easily a child makes a mistake and forgives him,

for you God can understand infinitely more the ways of love and forgiveness!

I praise, glorify, and worship your name, my thankfulness could never mean anything

For no other has the power or love to fulfill the promises of Your humbling name.

Thank you God for showing me your glory, your wonderful creation,

Thank you for placing companions and family in my life,

for these people Lord you guide my graciously through,

Thank you for talents, passions, love, grace,

and the ability to see such awe in your creation.

Thank you most of all for the opportunity of finding and rejoicing in a passionate Savior, one who forgives and forgets without a second thought,

but accepts all who fall to their knees in humble conviction.

Your glory alone is shown through your mercy and love for your children,

We will praise you, forever, and ever.

Parent Notes - Week 15

2011-01-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

I hope that each of your had a wonderful Christmas and that your new year has started out with blessings! I have prayed over each of your families for the coming year...that God will bless you tremendously with healing for some, jobs for others and just peace for all!

Please note that I will be out of town from Thursday, January 6th through Monday, January 10th as my 85-year-old father has been very ill. We are driving to Florida. We would covet your prayers for my father's health and our safe travel. On a more personal note, my father is not a believer. I am feeling very burdened to once again present him with the truth of the Gospel...my mother died in 2000 as a believer and I know he wants to see her again. Please pray that God would prepare my father's heart and give me the words to say.

I put a note to the students under "General Announcements" on the forum, but I wanted to let you know as well that you and your children are welcome to call me on my cell phone if you need me at anytime. I will probably not have access to email while I'm gone, but you won't bother me if you or your children call me. If you email me while I'm gone and I can't respond to email, I will be sure to respond on Tuesday, January 11th.

The local high school courses will meet tomorrow, January 5th. American Literature students will not have chat on Monday, January 10th. We will resume chat on January 17th. The High School Prep class will not meet again until Friday, January 14th.

I will be notifying students of any missed work this week, if applicable. Mid-term reports will come out at the end of January and all work must be turned in within the next two weeks for credit. Any late work will have points deducted for being overdue.

Have a blessed week and again, do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance.

In Christ,

Parent Notes - Week 13

2010-12-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,
Please check with your student(s) about any possible assignments to be completed over the holidays. Most of the high school classes have at least reading assignments. I tried to keep the work to a minimum. We will resume Wed. classes on January 5th and the Friday class on January 7th. Online class assignments will be up by January 4th.

Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas!

In His Most Holy Name,

Parent Notes - Week 12

2010-12-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hi there!
I appreciate those of you who are reading each week! It's good to know that I have one place to share information with all of my students' parents.

Just a few notes for this week:
1. Once the Public Speaking course ends in January, I will be replacing that time slot with a Research Paper class. It's a wonderful opportunity for students to have personalized attention while they learn to write an 8-10 page research paper in the MLA style. This class may be used in one of several ways, depending on the rules of your accountability group:

as a portion of the writing skills for English credit.
with an appropriate topic, as additional work for honors credit for current history or literature classes
as a half credit toward academic electives.

On a humorous note, I currently have only girls and my son in this class right now. John Paul would greatly appreciate having another guy join him in this endeavor! :) If you'd like to register your student for this course, please email me.
2. If you have already registered your student for the Research Paper class, please make sure that you have paid your tuition (contact me for payment arrangements or if you're unsure about whether you've paid or not). You'll also need to order curriculum from Dana Wilson if you haven't already done so. Students need to have their curriculum on the first day of class. I will send out more information about class details in January, once registration closes.
3. Planning ahead, my Public Speaking students will give their final speech on January 26th at 12:30 pm. I would like a fuller audience for this speech, so if you and/or your children would like to watch, we'd love to have you. Please do not bring smaller children who might find the speeches uninteresting and cause disruptions.
4. Another poem by one of American Literature students, to inspire you this week:

Faith

Faith is something God has given to us.
When you have faith, no one can take it away.
If you go through hard things faith is right there reaching out its hands.
I know Faith can help, its helped me in many ways.
When I felt that I could not go on anymore I would remember Faith.
Faith to me is knowing that God is there.
Even though I can't see him I sometimes know he is there.
I also believe that Faith is know that you can do anything you put your mind to.
Faith to me also means that you have a strong belief in what you believe.
Just remember that when you feel scared or put down, Faith is always near.

Have a joyous week!

Parent Notes - Week 11

2010-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday! We have a few weeks before the Christmas break. I scheduled classes later this year, through December 15th. If your family finds this challenging or will be traveling, please let me know as soon as possible. It seemed like a good idea so we could finish earlier in May, but if a number of students will be unable to attend class that week, it's better that I know in advance.

Some high school students will be given assignments over the holidays, mostly reading, but they should be easily completed in a day or so. It's important with literature and history that students stay focused on the reading materials and several weeks without reading can throw students off their game. I also suggest that students review their reading before classes resume on January 5th.

I hope you're enjoying the poetry from my American Lit students. This week's selection is:

My grandparents moved in with us last year.
When we moved into our house it was just the four kids and two parents.
Now, eight people live in a three bedroom, two bath home.
My parents and my three brothers all share one giant room upstairs.

As you can imagine, it is cramped sometimes.
We have a table for four that we use to sit eight.
Our living room gets crowded when we all watch TV.
Dividing eight people between two bathrooms is pretty difficult.

Don’t get me wrong,
There are good things, too.
I like seeing my grandparents every day.
It’s nice not being miles away from them.

Dad graduated from Seminary last May
And he’s been looking for a pastoral job ever since,
But as you know, jobs are hard to come by and so far, he hasn’t found one.
We weren’t expecting to still live in this house today, but we are.

The reason of writing all this wasn’t to make you feel sorry for me.
I wanted to remind y’all that God is in control no matter what.
Maybe you can relate to me. Maybe your family is going through tough times like I am.
I know that I could never survive without Him.

And that is something many people forget,
But it is something we need to be reminded of everyday.
Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Now that is something worth living for, don’t you think?

Blessings in Him,

Parent Notes - Week 10

2010-11-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I couldn't resist selecting this artwork for this week's blog! I taught first grade for several years and I loved the turkeys that my students made each year. They added such a sweetness to the holiday season!

I am thankful for those children, and all of the other children, that I have had the privilege to teach over the years. So, let me say thank you to all of you who have entrusted me with your most precious young people.

I pray that you all have a peaceful and joyous Thanksgiving holiday!

This week's poem by one of my American Literature students is as follows:

Your winds are great
They travel far and wide
To bring Your glory
To cease the times
Now Lord, please, hear me now
Take me where Your mercies flow
Show me things You’ve never shown
I trust You Lord,
With all my might
Please declare through me
Your loving grace
So I may show
Your marvelous Face

Parent Notes - Week 9

2010-11-09T17:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

It's hard to believe that we are at the nine week mark already! Everyone is doing very well and it's been a joy to teach your children. I don't send out quarterly reports, but after mid-term tests in January, I will email students mid-term reports. For the time being, if your student is in jeopardy of not succeeding in my classes, you would've already heard from me.

Reminder: We will not have classes the week of Thanksgiving, but some literature students may be required to read that week and Public Speaking students should continue practicing their next speech during that time, if possible.

I have been so blessed by some of the work my American Literature students have completed this quarter. They have written by people they love, God's Word and their faith in response to our study of Anne Bradstreet's poetry. I'd am featuring one of these poems each week so that you may be blessed as well, although I am leaving off student names for online privacy reasons.

Blessings on your week,

Parent Notes - Week 7

2010-10-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

I am very pleased with student progress at this point. It's great to see the kids working hard and learning so much! My Public Speaking students are giving their first full length speech tomorrow, so please be praying for them.

The word of the week is COMMUNICATION. Just a few notes about how the email system is designed to work for submitting student work.

1. Your child has been instructed on how to format the subject line and the file name for each assignment. Students are beginning to become rather lax about how they're doing this and I am finding student assignments in my SPAM folder or other email folders. Unfortunately, looking for student work eats up my time, so please ask your student about this process, maybe even have him or her explain it to you to insure understanding. Most students started off on the right foot. Let's keep that going!

2. As I receive student email, I respond with an stating "Received." If your child does not receive this response from me, I didn't see the email. It also helps clarify when I misplace an assignment (it does happen) and the student is able to let me know he or she received confirmation. Please remind your student to watch for my responses to their emails.

3. If your student is ill or plans on missing class (or misses school for online students), please contact me as soon as possible. It really helps me with planning , particularly with local students who tend to have class projects and such. Email works fine in this situation.

Thus far, this has been one of the most successful starts for a school year with my classes. Your students are awesome and work very hard. You're obviously doing a great job at home!

God's blessings on your week,

Parent Notes - Week 6

2010-10-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hi there!
Many thanks for your prayers. While I am still battling issues with my eyes, things are slowly improving. I am only able to spend limited time on the computer each day, so just a few notes this week:
1. All Public Speaking students should be prepared to give their first speech, the expository, next Wednesday, October 27th.
2. As we missed a week of class with the high school students, I will do what I can to make up the work without adding additional classes, but if for some reason it's not possible, I'll let you know of any changes in the schedule.
3. Please, please let me know if your child is struggling in any area of my classes. I can't help if I don't know. I've already had several parent conferences and we've seen marked improvement through these communications. I will do the same for you, although most of the students are doing wonderfully at this point.

I hope you have a blessed week and I so appreciate your prayers and concerns.

In Christ,
Beth

Parent Notes - Week 5

2010-10-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

My apologies for not noticing that my blog didn't update last week! Somewhere in the process of uploading, it disappeared and I didn't check to see if it showed up. Thanks to Denise K. for letting me know! Important notes for this week:

I am currently suffering from an eye issue that doesn't allow me wear my contacts and my vision is extremely poor without them. It also prevents me from working much on the computer without pain. I spent most of Tuesday with the doctor and I'm now on medication. Hopefully, things will improve by my next dr visit on Thursday. I am going to attempt to teach on Wednesday, but it will be interesting. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
I have already had to speak to more than one student about plagiarism. I believe in most cases this is related to a less than clear understanding of how plagiarism is actually defined. We have discussed it in all of my classes, but please make sure that your student understands that he or she cannot simply rearrange words in a sentence or replace one or two words to avoid plagiarism. I have a brief e-book on note taking that I will be happy to share with you if you feel that your family needs to discuss this issue more. Email me if you'd like a copy. All of my middle school students will be using it this week as they learn about taking notes, so those parents don't need to email me.
CONGRATULATIONS to Kyrstin McDonald for writing a perfect first draft for her World Literature paper on The Iliad. It is extremely rare for a student to receive a 100% on a first draft in my classes. Great job, Kyrstin!
PSAT testing is this week. If your student misses class due to testing, please keep in mind that those students are still responsible for notes and class assignments. They should see another student to get any notes. They are welcome to email me for missed assignments.

If you have any questions related to classes or this blog post, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond. Have a blessed week!

Parent Notes - Week 3

2010-09-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering what your child is learning about in my classes, consider reading the blogs posted for your child's class(es). Simply click on the class to the right and you'll go straight to the most current topic. While the blog doesn't cover all that your child is learning, it does reflect the heart of what's being discovered each week. It would take you about 3-5 minutes to read and comprehend it.

REMINDER! There are no classes next week, including online courses, so students do not have to turn in work until October 5th. Classes resume October 6th.

Please check in with your student periodically to make sure that he or she is comfortable with her work and the expectations. Some students, particularly those in online courses, still struggle with following directions. I usually give students a couple of opportunities to work through issues with me personally and after that, I contact the parent.

REMINDER! I do take off points for late work and some students have already experienced that difficulty. Please check in occasionally with your student to make sure that he or she is on target with the timing of assignments. Some of my high school courses have assignments due on days other than just Tuesday each week.

Thanks for reading! God bless your week!

Parent Notes - Week 2

2010-09-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

We made it through the first week and it appears that most of the students emailed assignments in on time! Thank you! I am pleased to say that many students contacted me with questions this week, which may sound funny, but it's actually a very good sign. If students feel comfortable contacting me about the small stuff the first week, they're more likely to do so the remainder of the year. A few important notes:
1. If you haven't paid for your curriculum, please do so asap. Dana Wilson was kind enough to make sure that we had the curriculum we needed on day 1 of classes, so please be sure to repay that kindness by following up on those invoices promptly.
2. If your high school student comes to you with a question related to class, please refer your student to me unless you are sure of the answer. It really helps if students get in the habit of contacting me personally rather than going through the parents. Email is a passive way that even shy students can reach me easily. Your child learns to communicate independently and it improves our relationship considerably. As well, we don't have to worry about the opportunity for miscommunication that can occur when there's a person in the middle.
3. If you have a student taking the PSAT on October 13th, let me know asap. I have only heard from one high school parent on this issue and I really need to know if we should change the class schedule for that day. With the information I have now, I don't intend to change anything.
4. If you have a student in literature or history, please be sure to schedule time to read at least four days a week. The reading amount is significant and most students can't handle all of the reading in one day. If you have a student in both history and literature, spreading the reading out over 4-5 days is the only way they'll successfully comprehend the information from the reading.
5. For my High School Prep parents, please make sure that your student has the required materials (I emailed you with the list last week) for this week's class.
6. Many students were cool in the classroom last week, please remind your student to bring a sweater to class, if needed. I cannot control the temperature in the building.
7. If you hang out or arrive early, please go to the fourth classroom on the right. Parents and siblings are welcome to study in there. However, please be aware that we are right across the hall and if you or your children are loud, we can hear you in the classroom even with our door shut.

Thanks so much for all of your support. Please keep our classes in your prayers!.

Blessings on your week!

How You Can Help Your Child Succeed

2010-08-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

As we draw nearer to a new school year, be encouraged! God gave us the most amazing opportunities and responsibilities when He blessed us with our children. He also provides everything we need to raise our children in a way that pleases Him. Every year, I am inspired by the work that God does in the lives of my children and the children I teach. He is so good! Read on to discover how, working together, we can offer your child a blessed learning experience.

VIEW TEACHERS AS PARTNERS
Whether you utilize the services of multiple teachers or just me, working together offers the greatest opportunity for your child's success. Specific ways you can work with me to make this a wonderful year for all of us include:

Maintain Contact: While I think it is most beneficial for students to be responsible for their classes, especially high schoolers, it is helpful to know how to reach parents when needed. If your contact information changes, especially your email address, please let me know. Also, be sure that the email address you provide is checked regularly. As well, if I do email or call, please respond in a reasonable amount of time. Of course, I will do the same in respect to contacting you.
Keep Me Updated: While I certainly don't need details, it's better to let me know if there's a family issue that could be affecting your child's work. The earlier I know, the more support I can provide for your child. It's more difficult for everyone if you wait until an academic problem presents itself.
Be Supportive: Your attitude toward the class will reflect in your child's attitude. The more supportive you are in your tone and actions toward my classes, the more confidence your child will have in me.

GUIDE YOUR CHILD
Many parents enroll their children in my courses to encourage them to become more independent learners. It's a great side effect of utilizing an outside teacher to work with your child. However, most students need some direction outside of class, especially if it's their first class or an online course. Ways that to help guide your child include:

Make sure your child has all books and supplies before they're needed. It's not unusual for my literature students to attend class without a particular book because a parent didn't order it on time. It's a very uncomfortable situation for the student and disrupts class. Please plan ahead to have the appropriate books ordered before they're needed.
Assist your child with time management. Online students, in particular, may need help planning out their work schedule each week. Help your student develop a daily work schedule for my classes and others, then follow up randomly throughout the year for accountability. Few students naturally develop their own work schedule. Many procrastinate and end up rushing through work on Tuesday causing stress for you and them. Most of my courses include multiple components and the literature courses require time to just quietly read. The first week of school, I recommend a work schedule for students to help them manage their time. If you follow up with that schedule, we'll all have a better year!
Encourage your child to contact me, as needed. I encourage my students to email or call me the moment they struggle with an assignment or understanding material. I am always willing to assist students and stress that they should never wait until an assignment is due to let me know there's a problem. If your child comes to you with an issue, please suggest that he contact me for assistance right away rather than waiting.
Follow the syllabus. One of the benefits of homeschooling allows us to be more flexible with our schedules. Families take spontaneous vacations and when there's a family emergency, homeschoolers are often more available to help. If you do find that your child needs to miss class, please give advance notice and if possible, assist your child in staying on top of assignments. I tend to be very gracious in these situations because I appreciate the flexibility that we enjoy as homeschoolers. However, keeping me updated makes it easier on everyone.
Respect our schedule. Every year, one or more students miss class due to social or athletic events or parents over-scheduling students with extra curricular activities. I even had a student miss class because he needed to pick up a tux for a dance! I will no longer accept such activities as an excuse for missing class. If a student does not have a legitimate reason for missing class (illness, death in the family, transportation problem, etc), I will not allow the student to make up the missed work for credit. If you do not take the class seriously, you can't expect your student to do so. When a student is going to miss a class, I need to hear from a parent within 24 hours with an explanation.

PRAY
I am committed to praying for your children regularly throughout the school year. Praying for classmates and the teacher provides all of us a greater opportunity to truly succeed!

With only a few weeks remaining until classes begin, the week of September 6th, we're all preparing for a busy year! Please watch your email for a brief survey that I need returned before school begins to help me better assist your child.

Thank you for your support, in advance, and for trusting me to teach someone so special in your life!

God bless your school year!

Home School Families in Crisis

2010-07-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

As a teacher of many different homeschool students, I see a wide variety of family situations. I have recently watched events unfold that would break down ordinary families. Instead, these families demonstrated to me me just how powerful our God is and how much He loves our families!

Just this year, I had students who lost multiple grandparents, parents with serious illnesses, homes lost after years of ownership and job loss lasting beyond the school year. I have never seen this level of tragedy transpire throughout my students' families since I started teaching over a decade ago. Our family struggled considerably this year, as have most, but looking back, I see God's hand all over our homeschool community. The faith of believers inspired me to be on my knees daily as I realized more and more that God does control all things and His plan is amazing! Some of the real life applications that God revealed to me this year as I watched others struggle and grow in Him include:

Fear the Lord your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. He is your praise, He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 10:20-21

1. A healthy relationship with the Lord accompanies service to Him.

Note that the above Scripture doesn't just say "fear the Lord your God," it says "serve Him." I was tremendously impressed by how many of my fellow homeschool families continued their ministries and praying for other believers, throughout their own serious trials. Their spiritual maturity allowed them to realize the value of continuing God's work even during the tough times. As well, when we focus on other people's concerns, praying for them and actively ministering to them, we don't have as much time to focus on our own trials.

2. Hold fast to Him.

I am saddened when I see believers turn from God during life's great challenges. It's easy to do whether it's out of being distracted by the difficulties or even feeling that we're somehow responsible for our trials. Holding on to our Lord and Savior while we face struggles gives us the power and energy to work through those situations. I observed with some of the brave homeschool families that their trials required tremendous time and energy. They couldn't undo the illness and death of a loved one, but they could be strong for that person and their families, serving them. Where did they acquire such strength as they bore the time? From the only real source...our Heavenly Father.

3. He is your praise.

I love how this phrase is worded in Deuteronomy. Praise isn't a verb in this version (NIV) but a noun. God is our praise. When life's hardships fall upon us, praising God isn't always easy, but the idea that He is our praise gives me such hope! While actively praising Him for our trials, as the Bible instructs, again we are less inclined to focus on the negative side of the situation. We grow rather than wilt because He is our praise...all joy emanates from Him.

4. He is your God.

As I watched my students and families deal with difficulties, they continually reminded me that not only is God in their corner, but He is my God as well! His miracles cannot be surpassed by the hurts and aches of this world. Trials do not make God less powerful. Instead they reveal His true power as our God. Only He can get us through financial hardships, job loss, marital issues, serious illness and even death!

God bless each of those families as they struggled and grew in their faith. They were a witness and blessing to me and my family. Their faith and endurance affected my heart in an eternal way!

I know many of you are experiencing the serious trials related to poor health, financial challenges and relationship difficulties. May your difficulties draw you nearer to to the only One who truly takes evil and uses it for good.

God bless you and your families!

In His Holy Name,

How Important is Mastery?

2010-07-10T17:28:00.001-07:00

I have strong opinions about mastery. I struggled as a classroom teacher as I watched administrators direct teachers to push children through the system without focusing on what those children would take with them when they left; not considering what those children needed to make the most of their lives. Our responsibility, as classroom teachers, for educating precious children was often shoved aside because of budgets, government funding and standardized test scores. Even as I write this, I feel my blood pressure rising as I remember the battles I fought knowing that I would never defeat the system. It is one of the reasons that I homeschooled my children. I wanted them to have time for spiritual mastery, time for academic mastery and time for God to instill His mark on their character before the world invades.

One of the greatest reasons to teach mastery is that students develop a habit of learning as they master different concepts. The habit of learning provides a lifelong skill valued for many years beyond grades or test scores.

What is Mastery?

One definition of mastery states that it is the full command of a subject of study. What is the point of studying academically or spiritually if we aren’t ultimately going to be in command of that subject? Commanding a subject means more than memorization and regurgitation of information. It means a knowledge that can be deeply discussed, applied to other studies and thoroughly understood to the point that one can teach it. While this intense definition may not seem to apply to an elementary student’s grasp of the parts of speech, the general idea behind mastery enables us, as homeschool moms, to establish significant goals for our children and to evaluate exactly how much they have learned.

A simple example of mastery is the difference between memorizing multiplication facts and demonstrating an understanding that multiplication means repeated addition. Another example might be applying scripture to the heart rather than just memorizing the words.

Recently, God gave me an amazing gift. I teach high school Sunday school at my church and my son, John Paul, is in that class. One Sunday, we arrived early and were waiting on the other students when we began discussing how a wealthy man that we both know professed to be a Christian, but his daily behavior isn’t indicative of a believer. After a slight pause, my son quoted Matthew 6:24 –

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other;

Or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and wealth.

As a mom, to hear my teenage son quote relevant scripture in the middle of a conversation brought a moment of sweetness that I will never forget. It may seem a small thing to many, but the fruit of God’s Word should always be sweet. This spiritual mastery of an important Biblical life concept is one of my goals for my children. I look forward to seeing more and more of it! J

How Does Mastery Apply to My Classes?

One year, I taught science in a private Christian middle school. It didn’t take much time in the classroom to realize that that the students had been basically trained to read, memorize and reiterate the facts laid out in the dull, lifeless curriculum. They were missing essential concepts and really had no idea how to even explain what they were learning. I took the paperback textbook, ripped it apart by chapter (middle school students truly enjoy dramatic effects) and told the students that we would use those chapters as reference materials as we learned. All tests went from being multiple choice to essay (they loved me for that!) and honestly, I was not a favorite teacher of parents or students at first. However, by the end of the year, those students could clearly articulate essential science concepts in both writing and verbally. We had awesome discussions. Parents and their Composition teacher appreciated my efforts. The kids never did truly fall in love with the essay tests, but they knew their stuff!

I teach my classes with mastery goals in mind. I don’t expect my students to just read the literature and complete the assignments, but my expectations extend to the display of a fuller understanding of the material, whether demonstrated verbally or written. For some students and even parents, this can be frustrating. The world often teaches us to accept the mere act of learning rather than aspiring to fully understand the knowledge and wisdom that God has graciously given to man. I have seen this played out in the education of the parents and home school students who previously attended public or private school. They come to me with primary concerns of earning credits and completing courses. Please don’t misunderstand…there is a practical need for our high school students to earn the appropriate credits, but their education should not be focused on that achievement. It should be focused on mastery of what they are learning.

How Can We Determine if Mastery is Achieved?

Let’s say you’re teaching the steps of the water cycle to your 3^rd grader and you want to evaluate whether he understands the concept. Various methods can be utilized to determine mastery, depending on your child’s learning style. Your child may draw a representation of the water cycle or verbally explain the process to demonstrate mastery.

It’s important when determining mastery to make sure that your child has more than one option for demonstrating what he knows. Some of the most common ways to determine mastery include:

Verbal explanation – more an older student, this may be a more formal speech rather than just a casual explanation.
Graphic rendition – this may be hand done or on a computer. Graphic organizers such as charts, Venn diagrams, plot maps, outlines etc may be used. Lap books allow students to organize information and then share what they learned using the lap books as a visual reference.
Written assignments – writing as a demonstration of mastery is actually a higher level skill because it requires not only written expression but also organizational thinking skills.
Kinesthetic model – physical models also assist some students when explaining specific concepts.

Sometimes a combination of methods works best. Examples include a lapbook and a verbal explanation or an outline and a written assignment.

The ultimate test of mastery is whether a student can teach the concept to someone else using whatever method works best. That someone may be a younger child, a peer or an adult. I often ask students to lead discussions online and in class if I feel that they can share their mastery of a subject with the rest of the class.

Mastery takes time and patience, but the rewards are beyond measure. There’s a tremendous joy in knowing that a student truly understands what has been taught and that he will benefit from that learning experience for his lifetime.

Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;

Then I will meditate on your wonders.

Psalm 119:27

God bless you as you plan your coming year!

In Him,

Fun Summer Writing Ideas

2010-06-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Writing in the summer? Nah...that's crazy...no one wants to do that! However, imagine how beneficial it would be if your children were able to continue growing in their writing skills while enjoying a summer break too. Don't think you can get your children to write this summer without frustration and battles? It's all in the approach! Keep the pressure low and encourage rather than demand. Pair up with your child for one of the summer writing ideas in this article and you could find writing more enjoyable than you would expect...changing not only your child's attitude about writing, but your own, as well. Just give one or more of the following a try:

Summer journaling - shop with your child to pick out a special journal just for recording summer events and activities. Rather than journaling every day, choose a day each week to visit a fun place just to write. For younger children, sitting with you on a blanket in a park or by a lake could be incentive to write down some thoughts. For older children, a trip to the local coffee shot, journaling on the computer, might be the trick. My son and I have a favorite coffee shop we like to visit out near Kiawah Island and we go there just enough to keep it special! Don't make serious demands on writing length or format. Even if your child can create bullet point ideas describing a recent trip or describe the beach or his best friend's backyard, that will work! He's still communicating in the written word. Keep it light, fun and memorable!
Travel games - turn off the dvd player in the car for a while and use your brains! Verbal travel games can improve your child's thought processes and writing skills. Some ideas include:

Telling a story in a round - you start a story and then each person adds to it.
ABC themes - use every letter in the alphabet to come up with a word matching a specific theme. One person starts with the A, the next person does B, etc. Theme examples could include the beach, summertime, fruits and vegetables, favorite books/characters or anything else you can imagine. To make it more challenging, require each person to recite the words leading up to his letter.

Accordion books - those of you who know me well, know that I love accordion books. They offer such a great opportunity for creative thought and expression, plus they make awesome keepsakes in a small, compact size. You can purchase accordion books already made or follow these simple directions to make your own and save yourself a lot of money. You could have a few made up for younger children and supplies on hand for older children to make their own. Some summer accordion books ideas could be:

ABC - for younger children, when you take a trip to the beach, park, etc, find different words that start with different letters of the alphabet. You don't have to do every letter, every time. You can make it an ongoing summer game. You could take a picture of the letter words for the accordion book or have your child illustrate the word himself each time.
Photo journaling - taking photos while enjoying your summer allows for excellent writing opportunities. Children can write sentences, paragraphs or simply word lists to describe the photo or event. Place the writing and photos together in your accordion book. You could use a theme per book: visiting Grandma's house, going to the mountains, fun in the sprinkler, etc
Summer poetry - find different poems that relate to summer to record in the accordion book and have your child memorize (memory work is excellent for pre-writing) a poem or two, then illustrate. A child might also be inspired to try writing his own summer poem and illustrating it. Acrostic poetry offers a simple but enjoyable format that most children understand for writing early poems.
Recipes - have your child choose favorite summer dishes and record the recipes in his book. Throughout the summer, you could make the recipes together, take photos and include them in the book.
Movies/book reviews - children tend to read more enjoyable books in the summer and writing a simple review of the book can provide excellent skill reinforcement. A matinee movie also offers a chance to write a review. The child could illustrate the cover of the book, a favorite scene or character, or simply include a movie ticket stub with the reviews.

Summer writing workshops - consider enrolling your child in a writing workshop, such as the one I teach, to sharpen his skills and let him work on his writing with other children. I often find that my summer writers are more enthusiastic and accomplish a great deal because they don't have other school work on which to focus. Note that the deadline for my Summer Writing Intensive Workshop is June 22nd.

These are but a few ideas for summer writing fun. Personalize any of them and create an awesome memory with your child. Remember, if you journal, create an accordion book or write a poem, your child will be more likely to do so and to enjoy the experience more. Have a wonderful time writing this summer and be sure to respond to this blog and let us know how it worked out! If you have other writing ideas, please share them for all to enjoy.

God bless,

For CBB Students and Parents

2010-05-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

Beginning in August, this blog will be primarily utilized by parents and registered students to receive regular information about CBB classes, assignments, discussion questions, etc. Classes will be listed separately so students will only need to worry about the home page and the blog page related to their courses. For example, if a student is taking World Literature, the blog page connected to that course (pages will be listed on the right) will provide the discussions and other information directly related to World Literature.

Students will use the CBB forum to pick up assignments each week.
Note: All of the current course information, registration, tuition, etc will be removed soon as it is currently available on the Classes by Beth website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

What Should My Child Be Writing and When? Part 2: Middle School and High School

2010-05-25T20:49:00.000-07:00

I recently gave a workshop on how to teach reluctant writers. The most concerned parents, understandably, were those of children in middle and high school. So, I am going to digress for a moment to address this issue. When you reach high school in your home school and realize that your child can’t or doesn’t write, it’s easy to panic. If you are in this situation, take a deep breath and understand that there is a solution. Here are a few tips for getting your student back on track:

· Evaluate exactly where your child is achieving based on a recent writing sample (unassisted). For example, if your high schooler doesn’t know the parts of speech, you have to go back and teach them. If he doesn’t put sentences together well, forget about writing paragraphs and papers and revert back to practicing writing solid sentences! Then you can move forward with the next set of skills. Understanding outlining has to come before well developed papers can be written. Sentences before paragraphs and paragraphs before reports. If you feel unable to evaluate your student’s writing, email me as I do offer evaluation services at a reasonable hourly rate.

· Focus your energy and time on those necessary skills. You don’t have as much time, so make sure that you are devoting significant time to catching up and being consistent to work on writing daily. Most of the students that I work with who are greatly challenged by writing have not had consistency in practice and evaluation. This leads to a lack of confidence. You can’t expect your student to write well if he never practices the skills.

· Read, read, read – your high schooler will benefit from reading on the highest level possible. Daily reading with related writing assignments is the perfect combination for advancing skills. Be selective about what your student is reading and be sure to point out the value of the written word as your student reads.

· Integrate writing into as many subjects as possible – any writing assignments that can be integrated into science, history and other subjects will make the skills more relevant to your high school student and offer even more practice as well reinforcement of those skills.

· Keep assignments shorter – until your student has caught up on skills, give multiple shorter assignments rather than overwhelming both of you with large, stressful writing projects. Make sure that you’re willing to evaluate and grade the assignment before you choose to assign it.

· Acquire help, if needed – if you find that you’re not making the progress your high schooler needs, seek out a tutor or teacher to help. You don’t want your child finishing high school without the life skill of writing well. Feel free to email me if you need more specific recommendations or help with teaching or evaluating writing.

Middle School: Typically grades 6-8, these years are those in which some kids lose track of writing. They write for assignments but the focus isn’t on mastery. It’s vital that skills continue to be honed and if possible, writing becomes more comfortable. During the pre-high school years solidifying strong writing skills in preparation for the higher level writing in high school couldn’t be more important. You shouldn’t assume that your student has specific skills just because he is a certain age. Taking the time to evaluate your student’s true abilities is vital to moving forward. Skills and strategies at this age include:

· Sentence structure and paragraph formation – before you work on any writing projects for these grade levels, make sure your student has a firm grasp of how to write solid sentences and form paragraphs including articulate topic sentences and relevant supporting sentences. Strategies: 1. Use books of various types (novels, textbooks, etc) to show your student different sentence structures (varying lengths and complexity). 2. Have your student start out writing a simple sentence, then discuss how to change the sentence into a more complex style. 3. Give specific topics to your student for practicing writing sentences and help him expand those sentences into paragraphs.

· Paragraph transitions – this is one skill that often gets rushed through in writing education, but the ability to transition between paragraphs should be practiced over and over. It doesn’t come naturally for most students and many parents don’t focus on it because it’s frustrating and sometimes parents aren’t confident teaching this concept. Strategy: Make sure your student understands transition words. Click here for a list of common transition words and when to use them.

· Note taking – if your student started this skill in late elementary school, as recommended, then continue it with more challenging content. If your student hasn’t previously worked on this skill, then you’ll want to start simply with short single paragraphs. Strategy: Integration of subjects works well with note taking by practicing this skill using material from history, science, literature, etc. For example, have your student read 1-3 paragraphs in science and then make a bullet list of important concepts recalled from reading. If there is a tendency toward copying directly from the material, have your student close or cover the book before note taking.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Assign a writing assignment for every set of notes your student takes. You do not have to assign a writing assignment just because you’re having your student take notes. The notes themselves may be the complete assignment and they’re worthwhile because they will reinforce important concepts and be useful for studying as well as improving writing and comprehension skills!

· Outlining – If your student already understands how to outline with a web design, move on to traditional (using Roman numerals, letters and Arabic numbers) outlining. Be aware that students who are more graphically inclined tend to be more comfortable with web outlining so the move to traditional may be a bit of a challenge. Students who are more structured thinkers usually do better with traditional rather than web outlining. Strategy: After practicing note taking in another subject, such as a history, science or literature, have your student create an outline from his notes (not from the book). Be sure that your student has taken a significant amount of notes in order to outline at least three main sections. 2. Consistency is key in outlines. An outline should contain all single words, all phrases or all complete sentences. I don’t typically recommend complete sentence outlines for middle school students because they’re more likely to copy sentences and not understand the overall concept.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Don’t give up! Outlining is very frustrating for some parents and students. It’s one of those wonderful skills that truly improve with practice.

· Report Writing – in middle school, a basic report of 3-5 pages provides practice for all of the previously mentioned skills. Three to four well written reports per year provides continual use of the skills without being overwhelming. In middle school, students should use 2-3 resources for their reports. These resources could include textbooks, other books, magazine articles and online sites. However, I strongly recommend that you train your student to use a variety of sources. It’s easy to skip a trip to the library and rely on the internet, but it’s essential that students learn to use various materials. A brief resource page as the end of the report with the author and named material (book title, website URL or magazine title) suffices. In high school, students will have more detailed resource pages. Strategy: Let your student help choose report topics (all or some) from his different subjects. Consider any of the following:

§ A science topic that is new or of particular interest

§ A favorite historical character or event

§ An invention or discovery from science or history

§ A favorite or new author of a book from literature

§ An artist or musician that is being studied in history or fine arts.

Even if your student is helping choose the topic, be sure to direct him to select an assortment of different report ideas. Some students want to only write about people or one particular subject. The more diverse the topics, the greater the opportunity for learning! When grading reports, I usually count them as a test grade for my students since they encompass so much time, energy and many skills.

· Creative Writing – if your student has already been exposed to poetry and short stories in literature, creative writing will be much easier to teach. If those areas haven’t been covered, you’ll want to read poetry and literature for a semester before tackling writing creatively.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Expecting your child to write creatively without sharing an abundance of poetry and literature with him is unfair. Remember that reading and writing link just like walking and running. If a child tries to run before walking, he’ll spend a lot of time falling. If a student tries to write creatively without having read and studied examples of creative authors and poets, he’ll spend a lot of time frustrated.

Once your student develops a sense of understanding concerning creative works, he can move on to writing creatively. Begin with smaller assignments and work your way up to more challenging, lengthier projects. Some ideas to consider include:

§ Studying rhyme schemes in poetry and have your student write poetry with similar rhyming patterns (haikus, sonnets etc)

§ After reading a novel or short story, have your student do one of the following:

1. write a different ending

2. add a new character

3. create a lap book to present the literary aspects including a plot map, character analysis, themes, conflicts, vocabulary, figurative language and a book review.

4. design a book cover and write an overview for the back of the book.

5. focus on the genre of the book or story (historical, science fiction, mystery etc) and write an outline of another story idea in that same genre

6. compare and contrast two books in chart form or as an essay

§ Have students respond to photos from a newspaper or website writing what they think might have occurred.

§ Create comics – this idea works particularly well for students who are reluctant writers. The student should focus on the content of the writing as well as the artistic design of the comic.

· Self-editing – One of the most overlooked skills in middle school, this habit can change the level of success that a student experiences throughout all of his years of writing. The best habit a student can develop for self-editing is reading his work aloud. I promise you, I will read this article aloud before publishing it. It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to self-edit. Another tool that’s proven to be effective is a basic self-editing checklist, adapted to specific writing assignments, such as the one on Epi Kardia’s Tools CD. As well, your job will be easier as your student becomes a more proficient writer! J

High School: Before even considering high school writing, make sure that your student developed a solid grasp of the middle school writing points previously noted. As a writing teacher, organization and self-editing usually present themselves as the greatest challenges for my high school writers. Transitioning from middle school level writing to high school level also causes issue with some students as they want to relax in the simpler writing of younger days.

· Essay writing – covering the five basic essay styles (narrative, expository, descriptive, persuasive and comparison/contrast) is essential for high school students, particularly those who are college bound. Most high school writing and literature courses require the ability to write these essays. The ability to write these essays also allows for greater opportunities to respond in writing for both history and science high school courses, providing for subject integration. Epi Kardia’s Essay Styles curriculum offers solid coverage of these essay styles.

· Research papers – I strongly recommend that students write at least two research papers during high school of at least 10 pages in length. This process should not be rushed and each step of the process (topic selection, researching and gathering materials, note taking, outlining, writing, multiple rewriting, footnoting and citing resources) should be given appropriate time. For some students, this may be a year long process while others may only need 4-5 months. Research writing offers a tremendous opportunity to integrate subjects. Selecting topics that relate to material being studied in history, science or literature enhances your student’s learning experience. For a comprehensive, step by step instruction guide to research paper writing, check out Epi Kardia’s The Steps to Writing a Research Paper.

· Responding to Literature – whether you’re studying novels, plays, poetry or short stories, high school students should analyze and explore fictional works by various authors. High school students tend to do this best when the literature is grouped according to style, geography or time period. American literature, British literature and World literature should minimally be studied and extensive writing should be incorporated in the forms of essays, book reviews and reports.

· Responding to Non-fiction – as your student studies science, history and other subjects, writing assignments will help your student not only present how much he has learned, but it will also reinforce what was learned. Incorporating written assignments such as research papers, essays and reports increase your student’s writing skills and material comprehension.

· Speech writing – I believe that every student should take Public Speaking in high school. This course not only provides essential verbal communication skills, but it also teaches students to write in a succinct and powerful manner that can be utilized throughout their adult life.

· Business writing – practicing writing cover letters and resumes will put your student a step ahead when college rolls around. Also, if the opportunity arises, developing a strong letter to the editor of your local paper, responding to emails and communicating in writing with other adults all provide precious practice for necessary life skills.

· SAT writing – practicing for the SAT essay gives your student a way to not only score better on the test, but it also allows for practice in very focused, precise writing because of the limitations of time and space. As well, the ability to outline and organize thoughts quickly is an excellent skill that a student can use throughout his entire life.

· Personal writing – adults often have to write personal emails and notes. Having your student write personal correspondence such as thank you notes, cards of prayer and encouragement or simply having a pen pal, provides great practice for informal, but intelligent written communication. This is often overlooked as a high school skill.

· Self-editing – In high school, the goal is for students to edit their work without having to be told. In early high school years, using checklists or reminders, by building in time for self-editing, consistently can lead to older students more naturally as they write. Older students tend to realize the benefit of self-editing and how time is saved when they don’t have to complete as many drafts of an assignment. As students edit their own work by habit, you’ll see them also apply that habit to personal writing as well.

· Collaborative writing – this type of creative writing can be exceptionally fun for high school students while teaching them to write fiction. For homeschoolers who are not utilizing high school courses, this writing may be done via email with other students. Basically, one student starts a story and as it is passed around, students add another paragraph that continues the story in a logical and intelligent manner.

This is a brief overview of essential skills for students in 6^th-12^th grade. It is not a comprehensive list of what could be taught, only the minimum of what should be taught. If you struggle with teaching or evaluating your student’s writing, check out Classes by Beth to see if I offer a class online or locally that might appeal to your family.

God bless you as you endeavor to teach your children to write!

What Should My Child Be Writing and When?

2010-04-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

Part 1: Elementary School

I receive this question so often, and not only from home school parents. Even those who have children attending private and public schools wonder if their children are on target with writing at any particular time. As a writing teacher, my recommendations, based on my years of experience, are as follows. Please note that these are general guidelines, not taking into account learning disabilities, gifted children or individual child develop which should never be overlooked.

PreK – Kindergarten: READ, READ, READ! The best writers tend to also be readers. Exposing your child from a very early age to well written children’s books promotes stronger future writers. Discuss how writers use words to create mental pictures and emphasize the importance of how words are used.

1^st – 2^nd grades: When I first started teaching first grade in a private school, writing “books” with children was a new trend. After spending time with this age group, I realized that they didn’t truly understand the purpose of such writing. At this age, limited life experience can truly frustrate a child who is asked to come up with a story idea. Many of them don’t remember the details from their last birthday, let alone have the ability to put such thoughts into complete sentences. Copy work from well written children’s literature is the best type of writing exercise for this age group. If your child demonstrates eagerness toward writing, you could have him dictate their thoughts to you and then have your child copy what you have written, in part or in whole. The focus during reading and copy work should be on basic skills such as capitalization, punctuation, simple parts of speech and how words work together to create a complete thought.

3^rd – 5^th grades: These years make up some of the most influential writing experiences for a child. Their exposure to interesting writing activities and development of essential skills greatly determine their ability and attitude toward writing later. Think of these years as a time to build up confidence and skills allowing your child to later enjoy writing and researching. Some specific areas that should be addressed include:

· Review of any previous punctuation, grammar and capitalization rules, as well as additional rules that have not been introduced - Strategy: point out punctuation, grammar and capitalization rules in literature and other reading materials. This offers your child a relevant example of the rules.

· Parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc) - Strategy: create a lap book or other graphic organizer for the parts of speech. With a lap book, your child can use it as a resource as he/she writes.

· Solid sentence structure - this is so often overlooked by parents…they jump from parts of speech to writing complete paragraphs. Sentence development requires significant time and paragraphs will come more easily if writing different types of sentences has been practiced consistently. Strategy: use note cards with various words (a variety of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs – don’t forget articles such as a, the, etc) on them to allow your child a hands-on activity for creating interesting sentences. Have him/her copy the sentences he/she creates.

· Individual paragraph development including topic sentence and supporting sentences - Strategy: Again, refer back to material your child is reading. Copy work should continue through elementary school and your child can highlight or underline topic sentences. Identification should always come before implementation. Once your child can identify topic and supporting sentences in literature and other books, writing them will be easier.

· Combined paragraph development (start with two and add on as your child develops confidence and demonstrates skill) including transition sentences between paragraphs - Transition sentences are another commonly overlooked skill in later elementary grades. Strategy: Before asking your child to write transition sentences, brainstorm a list of common transitional phrases (finally, as, for instance, first, second, etc)

· Beginning outlining - A student who can outline most often turns out to be a well organized writer. You can’t spend too much time with this skill! Strategy: consider using a web outline rather than a traditional outline as it offers a more concrete picture for an early writer.

· Beginning report writing and note taking - Train your child from early on to rewrite all report content in his/her own words. Also, make sure your child has a firm grasp on paragraph writing and transitions before asking him to write a report. Strategy: begin with one paragraph at a time, reading it aloud or silently, and have your child verbally explain what was read. You can write this for your child initially and have him copy it. Later, have your child verbalize it and write it himself.

· Book reports – this writing activity provides an excellent introduction to the literary parts of a story (plot, characters, etc) while working on organization skills at the same time. Strategy – a lap book or oral report (written first, then spoken) provide appropriate formats for book reports while allowing for creativity and additional skills.

· Creative writing focusing on description and sequencing. Commonly, parents jump right into creative writing because it sounds fun. Realistically, it’s a challenging type of writing for children. Be sure to model and give plenty of examples before expecting your child to write creatively. Stories can be very difficult for younger writers and in most cases, are not the best place to start for creative writing. Strategy: Fun poetry such as alliteration, acrostic, haikus, etc offer great opportunities for kids to express themselves with some structure, but not too much. Be sure to read plenty of it together before having your child write.

It has been my experience that children who truly dislike writing didn’t have a positive start with it. Writing skills seem daunting to some parents because they are not writers or they don’t feel confident evaluating their children’s written work. If you are one of those parents, consider my Hands-On Elementary writing class where your child will learn how to write and enjoy the process! If you would like assistance evaluating your child’s work, I do offer evaluation services for a fee. Please email me for more information.

Watch for What Should My Child Be Writing and When? Part 2: Middle and High School coming soon!

God bless you as you endeavor to teach your children to write!

2010-03-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first summer in years that I’ve agreed to teach a summer writing course. We’ve spent some summers catching up on school and others just catching our breath! However, this year, I felt led to teach some intensive writing classes.

I’ve had a number of parents question whether they should enroll their children in my summer writing course. I’ve even heard from parents in private schools and schools that support homeschooling. It’s a tough call! I thought that maybe addressing this in my blog would help you make decisions as you plan your summer and the coming school year.

Some benefits for summer school:

· Your child’s mind will continue to be stimulated and challenged.

· Particular and challenging skills may be focused on or improved.

· Promotes a love for learning by making it a continued priority.

· Maintains a routine of learning allowing for a smoother transition to the coming school year.

Possible negatives related to summer school:

· Shortened time to accomplish goals may be frustrating.

· You and/or your child may not get to rest and relax as much.

· Could interfere with vacations or travel time.

Other considerations as you determine the value of summer schooling for your child and family:

· Previous commitments – Many families use summer to travel or have other family and friends visit them. With my husband’s busy summer schedule as a personal chef, we don’t have the option of using that season to travel much. Evaluate your schedule carefully before registering your child for a workshop or class.

· Evaluate retention issues – Some children benefit from summer school courses because they have difficulty retaining material over 2-3 months without structured learning. Other children need the time away from formal education to rest and recuperate, in preparation for the coming school year.

· Specific skill needs – If you notice that your child has a particular weakness, summer may be the opportune time to focus specifically on needed skills. A short but intense emphasis on those skills could be the answer to a more successful coming year.

· Grade transition assistance – Sometimes summer school assists students who are preparing for a significant grade transition. Typically, the hardest transitions for children are from 2^nd to 3^rd, 5^th to 6^th and the first year of high school (that may be 8^th or 9^th grade, depending on the home school student). Also, with most curricula due to research on child development, odd grades are considered the academic years while even grades are seen as more social. Most curriculum companies introduce new and more difficult skills in the odd years.

· Summer course environment – Summer studies often offer unique situations with smaller classes and more individual attention which can be very beneficial, but longer class time and possibly even more intensity may create short term stress. Determine whether your child can succeed in that particular environment before registering.

Maintaining a balance between what would benefit your child and your family overall over the summer can be challenging, but an excellent first step is examining the options.

God bless your family as you plan for your summer!

How to Conquer Time Stealers

2010-03-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

Teaching classes, homeschooling, writing my book and blogs, assisting my husband with his Personal Chef business, managing my household, finding time with God, designing curriculum, preparing to teach Sunday School and miscellaneous other details in life all occupy my day. Now, before you begin to think that I am some super woman who has it all together, let me insert a major disclaimer here…I am so not altogether. However, my God is and He is where I derive my strength each day! Over the years, as a homeschool mom and in multiple other roles, I’ve noticed little thieves attempting to control my life and steal my time!

Some of these thieves appear due to my own weaknesses while others arrive without being invited. Nevertheless, as I mature (and this seems to be a long process), I am discovering ways to eliminate or at least somewhat control them. Do you have any of these time stealers in your house? I’ve included some ideas for conquering them that I hope will help.

1. Disorganization – one of my least favorite scenarios is when I’m trying to locate something in my home, knowing that I have it, then waste tons of time looking for it. While I’m not a neat freak, I do find that by starting Monday morning with my house neat and reasonably organized, the rest of my week really ends up being so much more productive and peaceful. My son seems to work much better in a neater environment as it allows him to find what he needs more easily to get his job done.

Possible solutions to conquer this thief:

· Take a little time on Sunday evening to just straighten up from the weekend and make quick lists for those items that are a priority. I avoid leaving dirty dishes or other chores to be done on Monday morning that could be done quickly on Sunday night. Also, by making lists on Sunday evening, I wake up on Monday morning with my goals already set for the week and ready to roll.

· Have a easy to reach place for things. We have two large drawers in our television armoire in the living room and all of my son’s school books are stored there. It’s easy to take out materials and put them away. If they get too cluttered to close, we know it’s time clean out the mess. Basically, that happens about every other month. I have a basket that I use for storing my school materials and that’s about it. For many of you, with multiple children, more sophisticated methods may be need to be implemented, but make it as easy as possible. Baskets and other containers with leads allow for quick clean ups with losing vital books and materials. I was a fan of shelves at one time until I realized that I could always see them and they never seemed neat. Now, I’ve converted to covered containers because it can be neat without being perfect. We live in a very small house so keeping things in their place is an essential. Again, I lose time when I have to hunt for something or spend an entire afternoon cleaning up because we haven’t put things away for a week.

· Keep an all purpose notepad or notebook – I previously kept a separate notebook or notepad for every aspect of my life. At one time I was a huge fan of The Well Trained Mind and I attempted to apply those organizational techniques to my entire life. Ugh! Big mistake…I ended up with a bunch of binders, half used and half organized. Now, I keep one small soft sided journal that I can throw in my purse or bag. My journals come from Barnes and Noble because they have them in packs of three for about $9. Red is my preferred color, not because I am a fan of red, but because it’s easier to find when I am looking for it. I keep all notes and lists in one notebook for any given time period. I write the applicable dates on the front of the journal and store them according to date as I finish with them. I do sometimes use paperclips to sort pages, as needed. When I put something away in an unusual place or I am afraid I might not remember, I note it in my book. I’ve learned to write down details from phone calls in it to avoid having a bunch of scraps of paper. I use an unlined version, although there are lined versions, to provide the most flexibility in case I want to sketch something or need more space than a line offers. Of course, if I ever lose my book, my brain might explode. J That hasn’t happened yet, praise God!

2. Overly organized – Is this possible? Definitely! This little thief deceives you into thinking that you’re working on being organized when you’re really just procrastinating on doing what’s on your list. Thriving in my home for a period of years, this thief had me fooled into doing silly things like rewriting and reorganizing my lists continually or constantly reorganizing shelves, closets, etc with the latest storage containers. Okay…so I do have a storage container fetish, but still, I have learned that just because it’s new doesn’t mean it is better! How can you prevent yourself from being overly organized?

· Keep lists uncomplicated and remember you control them, not the other way around. To prevent stolen time, I don’t rewrite any lists until all but 1 or 2 of the items are completed or I’ve had the list for at least a week. I like lists clean and neat, but in order for them to be useful for me, I know I have to cross off items and make notes as appropriate. In my journal, I keep six different lists to stay on top of my life. The last one is miscellaneous because I need a catch-all list. If something is time sensitive, I note a completion date with it, but I don’t put a date on everything because some things can wait until the next week. I review my lists on Sunday evening and adjust my priorities for the next week. Since I put things on my list as they come to mind, I don’t panic over not completing all of my lists each week. I used to, but I’ve grown a little in that area. I’ve learned that it is okay to transfer list items to a later time as long as you find you’re making progress.

· Examine your motivations when reorganizing. Is your reorganization really serving a purpose or just stealing your time? Is spending two hours organizing the school closet really more important that going over long division with your child or writing out the bills? Believe me, I even catch myself doing this with my computer. I look at all of the files and folders and think, rather than grading my students’ essays, I really should clean up my computer. Really?

3. Email, blogging, tweeting, etc – Technology offers wonderful opportunities and often gets promoted for saving time. However, when it turns into a time thief, technology loses its value. So, what can you do to keep technology in its place?

· Determine whether you need to utilize every form of technology. I purposefully do not have email access on my phone. I could easily be an email junkie so I realize that there are times when email access just isn’t necessary. I also tried tweeting for a time and realized that as a wordsmith, I get pretty annoyed with such a limited number of characters for communication. As well, I spent way too much time each day checking to see if someone had tweeted me and typically, the content just wasn’t worth the time. For some people, tweeting offers an excellent way to network and allows them to keep up with people and events without too much time investment.

· Keep thieves at bay by having technology guidelines. I have technology guidelines for my life including only writing my blogs once a week (although I do check for comments daily so I don’t leave anyone hanging), not tweeting at all and checking email no more than three times a day (in the morning, in the afternoon and before bed). Occasionally, I will turn on my email to pop up as it comes in if I am working on a project with someone. I have my email set up to automatically file into folders as it arrives, allowing me to read the highest priority first and save others for when I have more time. My friends tease me because I only check my Facebook account 2-3 times per week, although I am trying to be more consistent with that network because it is the only way some distant family members know what’s going on in our lives. For a while, Instant Messaging on my computer about drove me insane but I learned to limit the number of people that I allow to IM me. Texting can still catch me off guard if I’m not careful. If it seems like a long conversation, I call the person.

· Evaluate your reasons for utilizing certain technology and prioritize how you use each form. It’s interesting if you think about it and I did to determine what I would keep and what I would discontinue concerning technology. Tweet was an easy dump. I feel that email is an essential communication tool, but then I had to put it in perspective by creating a schedule. It’s the same for my blogs (all two of them) and my social networks (Facebook and The Homeschool Lounge or THL). I do need some time with family and friends whom I can’t always call. I do enjoy getting know other moms online since I live in a rural area. I do learn from others as I am exploring blogs and networks. Even when I start to make a phone call, I evaluate whether my time would be better spent texting or emailing that person. Depending on my goal, it’s nice to have some choices. However, perspective and priorities promote principles. Realizing how much time I realistically have to devote to each of these areas put a huge smackdown on those time thieves!

4. Fatigue – Dana Wilson and I were just discussing the other day how allowing yourself to become overzealous about a particular project can really affect the quality of your work. I tend to be an obsessive worker…I like to get a project done in chunks. My problem occurs when I don’t know when to stop. Time gets stolen from other important areas of my life as I obsess over one particular goal. Not only can I wear myself out by working too hard for too long, I also lose sleep thinking about working on the project! God has been teaching me to break my projects into workable pieces rather than huge chunks that take all of my energy.

· If you find yourself regularly tired, examine the possible sources. It could be your diet, lack of exercise, stress or if you’re like me, just taking on too much at one time.

· Schedule time to rest. I know many homeschool moms who don’t get more than five hours of sleep a night! I would be useless if I tried to operate that way. The time thieves convince you that by less sleep you’re accomplishing more, but the reality is that by less sleep, the quality of your life and accomplishments become diminished and your body is much more susceptible to illness. You also need time to rest in God; to just be still in His presence and rest your soul.

· Break larger projects into reasonable pieces. Don’t be like me and turn into a chunk junkie!

5. Winging It – do you find yourself getting up each day without a plan or a routine, just going with whatever comes up? Some days school gets done completely, other days you don’t know where the time went? We all have those days occasionally, but if you do this most days and you feel like time is just flying, it might be! Even if you’re unschooling or really laid back about life, you could be having your time stolen because you’re not really thinking about how you’re utilizing what you’ve been given.

· Map out your days for a week. I’m not talking about making a schedule. Just write down what you do for a week. It won’t take you long to realize where your time is going. Did you go to the store five times because you never sat down and just made a list for one trip? Did you only teach two days of Algebra because your neighbor called seven times and you answered the phone every time? So many time thieves trample over our days like it doesn’t matter. In a world that seems to be constantly changing, we have to develop an awareness of who and what demands our time throughout each day.

· Follow a simple schedule. I don’t advocate overly complicated schedules, but creating a simple schedule and following it can stop those time thieves in their tracks. For example, I am not a fan of dusting, vacuuming, etc. In order to prevent those chores from creeping up on me as a burden, I simply delegate one or two a day during the week. I map out what my son needs to accomplish each day, between school and chores, and highlight it as it’s done. I used to work on complicated color coded, sticky note schedules, but I realized that my schedule making was actually stealing my time! So, I simplified and gained time in the process, sending that thief out the door! One note about scheduling: don’t let guilt mess with you as you’re making your schedule. I used to feel like if I didn’t schedule every minute of my day, except maybe Sundays, I wasn’t doing my best. After years of working on this, I now realize that open times in my schedule mean I am allowing myself some flexibility to help others, spend more time in the Word or just rest.

6. Play Time – Okay, I might get burned on this, but I feel like someone needs to say it. I love having fun, especially with family and friends. Whether we’re just playing board games, tennis, going to the movies or simply relaxing together, fun is a good thing. However, more and more, I notice that parents play video games without their children and often, without their spouses. Facebook offers any number of ways to be amused with games such as Farmville and I am a little surprised at how many adults are on these games for long periods of time and spend a lot of time talking about them. Television appears to also distract many people from interacting with one another and using the time they have in a healthy way. Now, to be fair, I am not saying that such games or television are foolish in themselves. For some people, that may be how they relax. However, examining how much time you devote to such things might be helpful. I know of homeschool moms who clearly spend time on these games and such, but struggle with getting their kids to finish school. I am not making a judgment call…it’s really not my place, but we have to model what we want our kids to do. It’s that basic and if we allow the time thief of foolishness to steal from us regularly, how can we expect anything different from our children?

· Prioritize play time. Evaluate how much time each week you spend on playing video and online games, then compare that time to how much you spend enjoying your family, with God, helping others, etc. Where do you want that time to fall in the priorities of your life?

· Model appropriate play time for your children. They’re going to see what you do, even when you don’t realize it. If you like time alone, make sure your children and your spouse understand that you’re not just randomly choosing to not spend time with them, but that you need a little down time occasionally. Be sure to communicate why you’re spending time doing what you’re doing.

7. Not having relationship margins – some of the best advice I ever received was to have margins in my life. I overachieve, diving into situations, projects and other people’s lives giving 150%. While God does want us to love one another and be there for each other, margins in relationships aren’t options, they’re requirements. When you’re tied to other people through a strong, common bond, such as homeschooling, it’s easy to take on the burdens of others. If you don’t have relationship margins with your friends, your spouse and children could suffer. If you aren’t a very good friend, those relationships suffer. If you meet every new need at church or take on every leadership role in your homeschool group, that time has to be robbed from another relationship in your life, whether it’s your marriage, your children or God. I had a friend, Jessica, who had four small children she was homeschooling, when a mutual friend began have serious marriage problems. Every day, the mutual friend would call Jessica to talk. She soon realized that she was getting behind on school and household needs. Jessica wanted to be there for our friend, but she had to establish some boundaries, so she set a timer each time the friend called and then ended the call when the timer went off. Our friend never knew about the timer, but it helped Jessica, in a very practical way, to create essential margins in that relationship.

· Make your map do double work. As you map out your days, also notice who you are spending time with on those days. Is your time being spent in profitable ways with those people who are most important to you?

· Build margins. If you discover relationships that you’ve allowed to get out of control, begin building margins now. You can reasonably begin limiting and controlling your time without jeopardizing relationships. If someone in your life can’t accept your margins, you may need to evaluate where that relationship belongs in your priorities.

It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

Acts 1:7

We do not know the time we have on this earth, but we do know how precious that time is and what a gift it is! Time thieves attack all of us at some time or another. We have seasons when we’re more vulnerable and seasons when we are ready to do battle! If you have discovered ways to keep time thieves from interfering in your life, please be sure to comment and share those ideas with the rest of us.

May God bless your family and help you multiply your time!

How to Grow a Successful Writer

2010-03-03T21:48:00.000-08:00

Many parents contact me because they feel their child is a “reluctant writer” and they’re seeking ways to make writing less painful. Wonderful ideas abound to entice our children to write from journaling to story starters to lap booking. While there isn’t anything wrong with these ideas, and many of them can be very useful, I wondered how we might avoid creating reluctant writers, if possible. How do you grow a successful writer? The following gardening tips might help!

Tip 1: Cultivate by Modeling

I cringe every time a homeschool mom says, “I hated writing in school.” Often, her child is within earshot. You don’t have to have a passion for writing to model the importance of communication skills. Allowing your child to see you writing offers encouragement and a positive example. Simply keeping a journal and writing in front of your young child can make a difference.

Tip 2: Fertilize with Great Books

As you read to and with your child, point out how the author writes well. Use books to help your child understand the value of writing. Read often to your child and encourage him to read as there are significant ties between avid readers and successful writers.

Tip 3: Plant in the Right Season

Unless your child demonstrates a strong interest and some ability, it’s not advisable to push writing (not handwriting, but content writing) before the child develops significant reading skills, usually around the 3^rd grade. Forcing children to write before they are developmentally ready may only cause frustration, for both of you, and make future writing endeavors less enjoyable. Prior to 3^rd grade, consider copy work and very short, fun activities rather than sentence and paragraph formation.

Tip 4: Cross-pollinate for Greater Growth

Children tend to have better attitudes toward writing when they view it as a skill to be utilized overall rather than a individual subject. Writing well makes other subjects easier just as weight training helps athletes perform better and avoid injury. Integrating writing skills with other subjects, such as history and science, allows your child to practice writing and you to evaluate your child’s writing without an assigned “writing” assignment. The focus is on the content rather than the subject matter.

Tip 5: Each Tool has a Purpose

Grammar and spelling may be taught using workbooks, but you want to watch your vocabulary when talking to your child about writing. Don’t interchange grammar and spelling with writing when talking to your child. Grammar and spelling should be viewed as tools to help your child write better.

Tip 6: Give Your Garden Time to Grow

Offer your child a wide variety of opportunities to practice writing well, from journaling to book reviews to letter writing to poetry to lap booking to reports and any other type of writing that comes to mind! The more diverse your child’s writing assignments, the more successful he’ll be in the long run.

Tip 7: Don’t Harvest too Early

Before writing a paragraph, a child should understand how to write a well developed sentence. Sometimes parents become concerned that their children aren’t progressing fast enough and they decide that a book report should be written before a child can competently write a solid paragraph. Most children don’t run before they walk and writing development should be viewed the same way. Transitioning more slowly in the early years and spending significant time on the basics paves the way for greater accomplishments later.

Tip 8: Weed and Prune

One of the most common complaints I hear from homeschooled children is that their parents don’t ever grade their writing. They love that I actually return their work with marks for evaluation. If you assign it, then evaluate it. Don’t expect your child to complete a writing assignment if you’re not willing to spend time reading and correcting it. Writing evaluation can be truly challenging and it does take time that we often want to spend doing other things (almost any other thing J), but it’s important to validate our children’s efforts with evaluation.

Tip 9: You’ll Reap What You Sow

It’s not uncommon for parents to confess to me that they have neglected teaching writing. I do understand that it’s easier to teach subjects that are more objective, but if writing is instilled as a life skill from an early age, it’s more likely that writing will be more easily taught throughout your child’s education.

Tip 10: Can’t Harvest the Crop Alone? Hire Some Help!

Often it’s best to turn over skills to another person if you find it challenging to teach and/or evaluate. Learning how to write with other students can also be more motivational, depending on your child’s learning style.

Writing definitely comes more easily to some students, and parents, than others, but all students greatly benefit from being able to write well. As you homeschool, how will your writers’ garden grow?

May God bless Your Garden!

When Mom isn't the Teacher - DOs and DON'Ts

2010-02-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

I remember the first time my high school son took a class outside of our homeschool. Prior to high school, I wasn't as concerned, but when courses started counting for credit, I struggled with giving another person control of his education, even for an hour or two a week. Ironic, huh, considering how many people give me that authority every year? Nevertheless, it honestly challenged me.
In the long run, that experience benefited me as much as it did my son. Lessons in communication never came more readily! Looking at this situation from two perspectives, as a teacher and a mother, maybe I can share some of what I learned.

Definitely Do
1. Choose wisely - check out my previous blog, Determining the Value of Classes Outside Your Home, for information about how to make class choices that benefit your family.
2. Attend Open Houses - don't ever miss the chance to attend an open house and meet the teacher(s) first hand. This offers an excellent first step toward open communication. Teachers remember the parents who attend open houses!
3. Be honest about your child's weaknesses - as moms, we can be blinded by our love for our children. If you know your child struggles in a particular way or has certain skill challenges, be upfront with the teacher ahead of time. A little extra knowledge can greatly increase the overall success of your child!
5. Establish the best communication style - some teachers prefer to communicate via email, while others appreciate phone calls. Discuss this early on if the teacher doesn't clarify her preference and let her know the easiest method for reaching you in a timely manner. One of my student's parents shared with me that she is challenged by lengthy emails, so I know when I want to share important information with her, I either call her or make the email very succinct. If your child's teacher shares information primarily by email and you don't check your box often, you might have to change that habit for a time.
6. Be positive from the beginning - make it clear that you expect this to be a wonderful experience for your child. I am greatly encouraged by parents who express that they are confident in my ability to help their children grow academically and spiritually.
7. Determine the appropriate communication level based on your child - many factors affect how often you should communicate with the teacher. If your child is younger, has a learning disability or has struggled in previous classes, you'll want to check on progress more often than with an older, mature high school student. With high school students, I now require that they have their own email addresses (although I am always willing to cc parents if they prefer) so that I can directly communicate with the students. I discovered quickly that emails going through multiple people don't always reach their destination!
8. Thoroughly read the teacher's emails and other written communication before asking questions - when a teacher spends time mapping out details in writing, it's frustrating to have a parent ask questions that can be answered by reading the email. It's amazing how often that happens, most often because parents feel busy and rushed. You shouldn't ever hesitate to ask questions, but make sure you don't already have the answers at your fingertips! :)
7. Save written communication from the teacher - questions often come up after the fact and keeping emails from the teacher may help provide answers. It's not uncommon for parents to ask me to resend emails multiple times throughout the year and that's fine, but it will save you time if you already have the information handy. I use Outlook for my email server and it allows me to set up file folders for email. For example, I have a folder labeled "Con Law" that contains all of the emails from my son's teacher, Bob Menges. I even set up a rule so that those emails go directly to that folder to help me stay organized. If you use Outlook but don't know how to use the folders tool, feel free to email me for assistance.
8. Advise the teacher of any issues - the sooner you let the teacher know, the easier it will be for you and your child. If your child has to miss a class or turn in work later due to a family crisis, such as an illness or death in the family, notify the teacher as soon as you can. If you notice your child developing a negative attitude or not wanting to do the work, let the teacher know.
9. Observe the teacher in action - My classroom stands wide open for any prospective or current parent to visit and watch. If you feel concerned or nervous about enrolling your child, arrange to spend some time in the classroom as an observer.

Definitely Don't
1. Send your child to a class just because it worked for your friend's child - I think that as homeschool moms we connect so much to one another that we assume our children will do the same. As you look at teachers and classes, be sure to think of your individual child's needs. Don't make assumptions based on other students' experiences.
2. Assume that your child is doing well because you haven't heard from the teacher - hopefully, any teacher that you utilize will let you know the moment your child begins to struggle. However, it's wisest to periodically check in with the teacher on your child's progress. Sometimes there aren't significant problems, but smaller ones that can add up. If you make an effort to check in occasionally, it allows the teacher the opportunity to focus on your child and give you a quick evaluation.
3. Micromanage your high school student - if you have a question about your high school student's class, start by asking your child. If your student has a question or concern, have him ask the teacher without going through you. High school students need room to develop adult communication skills and connecting with teachers offers a positive way to grow this skill. I have actually referred parents back to their students when they asked me questions that I know their children can answer. As moms, we don't purposefully demean our children by micromanaging, but it's a habit developed from their younger years. A little awareness easily prevents this problem. Obviously, the exception to this is a student who seriously struggles with communication or has a learning disability. More parent/teacher communication may be required in such situations.
4. Over-enroll your children - As parents, it's easy to panic and sign our children up for every opportunity that's seems positive. I've had moms tell me that they're signing their children up for every possible class (I've had students who take 3 of my classes at the same time!) that I offer because I might not be teaching the next year. This area requires faith in God's plan for our children and He has one for each of them, so we don't have to worry about making every perfect decision. As homeschoolers, we need to remember that our children should actually spend some time at home! Stressing out over too many courses removes the joy that should accompany the flexibility and freedom of homeschooling.
5. Don't compare children - When my son began taking Constitutional Law, he had some anxiety over being compared with his older sister, who was a very successful student in the same course. Funny enough, he has discovered his own strengths and because his teacher and his parents don't expect him to be his older sister, he enjoys the class. Children often put undue pressure on themselves by comparisons to siblings and other homeschool students; they definitely don't need their parents doing the same. I teach many siblings and I really strive to see them as individuals, with their own strengths and weaknesses, and I encourage their parents to do the same.

How blessed we are to have so many options in homeschooling! As you evaluate the best options for your family, I hope the information in this blog helps you make wise decisions. As always, feel free to email me or comment on this blog if I can be of any assistance!

In Him,

Determining the Value of Classes Outside of Your Home

2010-02-17T12:11:00.000-08:00

As homeschool parents, allowing another person to teach our children is a big decision! As with most situations, the answer isn't always straightforward. Various factors, including teaching styles, learning styles, course content and more should affect how you evaluate an outside classroom situation. Communication, with both your child and the teacher, is key when determining the healthiest situation. Consider the following as you choose classes for your children.

Is your child ready for a classroom setting? Depending on how you operate your homeschool, a child may or may not be ready to participate in a classroom environment. Children who are unschooled or who have a loosely structured homeschool situation may find even an hour or so in a classroom to be stifling. Other children who follow a very specific routine may struggle when a teacher does things differently than mom. Some children need a period of adjustment when they begin taking classes outside of the home.
Are you ready to let someone else teach your child? Some of us have difficulty with this idea. The most common concern I get from parents is that they're worried they haven't been good teachers and if they put their kids in my class, I'll know it. The only situation I have ever encountered concerning this issue is one family, in over a decade of teaching homeschoolers, who wasn't doing any school at home. Typically, parents are doing a much better job than they think. If your concern is that you lack confidence in the teacher, then most definitely don't let your child take the class. You will find yourself being extra critical if you start out with a lack of confidence in the instructor.
Will your child respond to the instructor's teaching style? One of the best ways to learn about an instructor's teaching style is to talk to parents and students who have taken his/her courses. For example, I can tend to rabbit trail when I get really excited about a literary work or writer. Most of my students find this mildly entertaining and I think they appreciate my enthusiasm. However, a student who has difficulty refocusing after a break may find my style distracting. I haven't had issues in this area, but it's definitely possible. Another example might be a teacher who uses pop quizzes. I am not a fan of pop quizzes in most cases. I am a fan of mastery and I view such methods as trickery to some extent. Many teachers would disagree with me and both of my children have had teachers who quiz with that method. It hasn't been enough to warrant them not taking the course, but if a child is already feeling at a disadvantage, such a method could be very negative. My child had a teacher who spent an entire class period without speaking to him directly (I actually observed this in a classroom myself). It didn't bother my child, but it greatly bothered me as a parent and a teacher. I never used that teacher again. My children have had teachers who loved them dearly, but taught them little. You are the parent...it's your job to observe and determine what works best for your child. Every teacher can't adapt their teaching style for every student, but being aware of teaching styles that may have detrimental effects on your child is important and understanding personalities and styles that encourage and move your child forward is essential. There's nothing wrong with asking a teacher about his/her style.
Does the teacher demonstrate beliefs that support your moral goals for your children? Even among Christians, there are variances concerning doctrinal beliefs and moral standing. I try to live Christ out in my life, and that includes in my classroom. I have taught children who come from unbelieving families, but I make it clear from the beginning that I will be a witness for Christ through my teaching. I am not perfect, nor profess to be, but backing down in my faith in my classroom just isn't an option. I work hard to avoid doctrinal issues, unrelated to actual salvation, because I don't want to contradict any parent's teachings. If a student did express something that was clearly not Biblical and claimed it was, I would go to the parent first. We have to love one another in Christ and be sensitive in these areas. I am not unique among teachers. It is impossible to teach young people and not reveal what you believe, whether you're a follower of Christ or not. It is much easier on a child if the moral compass of the teacher is similar to that being taught at home. A high school student might be able to differentiate and will definitely have to do so in college, but younger children will find it more challenging to do so.
Can you afford the money and time required to commit to the course? I think for me, money is less of a concern than time. Every year, I have at least one student who needs scholarship due to a lost job or other serious family issue. It's a part of life and I avoid losing students due to financial hardship as much as possible. However, it is important to make sure your budget can support a class for the time period required. Time is an even greater issue for many homeschool families. Some don't think about the travel time or what's required in homework. I've had moms complain that they spend so much time on their kids' outside courses (because they don't want to send their children to class unprepared) that they don't have time to teach them at home. It's better to examine these issues honestly ahead of time to avoid frustration later.
Are you being realistic about your child's ability to be successful in the course? I often hear from parents of 6th-8th graders who want their children in my high school courses. Both of my children started high school courses, under my teaching, in 8th grade. It's not uncommon in homeschooling circles. However, that doesn't mean it's best for every child. I usually ask students who don't meet the typical criteria to give me a work sample before I let them register. As parents, we may want to move our child forward, even when they're not ready. Talk to your child and the teacher if you have a situation that is questionable concerning your child's ability to succeed in a class.
Does the teacher work with children who have disabilities? I've had a wide variety of students with learning disabilities and emotional issues. In most cases. we do very well together as long as I know ahead of time that the problem exists. It's so important that you communicate any possible challenges beforehand. I have experience working students suffering from ADD/ADHD, processing and comprehension problems, traumatizing life situations and abuse. All of these children struggle more in my classes than the average child, but that doesn't stop them or me from working through it. I've had moms in tears call me to pull their children and before we're through, those kids are successfully completing the course! It's not easy on the parent, child or teacher, but it's a reality of our world that children do not come in easy to teach packages. Most teachers know their limits, so if you have a child with a disability or concern, it's much better, for everyone's sake, to discuss ahead of time.
Is the class valuable to your child's education? This probably seems like a rather obvious question, but as homeschoolers we have to weigh the value of a class that takes time from our actual "home." There are any number of reasons that parents put their children in outside classes. One the main reasons is that the parent doesn't feel capable of or enjoy teaching the skill or course. Another reason might be that you want your child to spend some time in a more structured classroom environment being accountable to someone other than you. Both of these are valid. Nevertheless, you don't want to sacrifice too much for your child to take a class. Overall, there needs to be balance in the value and the time, energy and money expended.
Does the teacher communicate in a way that works for you? If you are considering an online course with the teacher only communicating by email or online, that might be a challenge when there's one computer for a family of five! Remember that unmet expectations lead to frustration, so it's best not to make assumptions that because a person is a teacher, he or she is a great communicator. Some teachers aren't willing to spend a lot of time on the phone working through questions and concerns, while others are very accommodating. Some teachers prefer to communicate in writing while others are only reachable by phone and at certain hours. What are the teacher's standard procedures for a child who is struggling...when will you, as the parent, hear about it? What if your child has to miss several classes...will the teacher be willing to help your child catch up or are you solely responsible? Will the teacher invoice you monthly or do you have to pay upfront? All of these questions, and more, relate to how the instructor communicates with parents. Is the teacher relatively organized, sending out regular communications or does he/she struggle with getting back to parents in a timely manner? Some teachers send communications through students while others are more direct with parents. Asking questions about communication style is wise before choosing the person your child will be learning from over the next school year.

Many factors influence how valuable outside classes can be for your family. From time spent on the road to the number of children you are homeschooling to educational concerns, selecting a teacher and/or courses should not be done so lightly. Your child's success and growth need to be the greatest concern and if the teacher can offer assistance in that area, then you're on your way!

If you are uncertain about any of the above issues or something not mentioned, please do not hesitate to comment on this blog or email me directly.

God bless!

Answering your Calling

2010-02-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

I am finally taking the plunge of teaching full time! I know it's my calling and when I don't teach, I truly miss it. Feeling certain that God has called me to teach, I set up this blog to assist parents with making class decisions. Hopefully, it will be a blessing to you and your family. As well, I will include blogs that I hope you will find useful. Please leave comments as you read as they assist me in evaluating my direction and also encourage me. If you read and don't comment, I may never know you were here!
God's blessings as you endeavor to provide your children with the best education possible.
In Him,

Welcome to Beth's Classes!

2010-02-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

I started this blog to share information about my classes with prospective families. If you come across this blog while it is in progress, please note that class information for the summer of 2010 and the fall of 2010 is ongoing so check back often. At this point, the following pages have pertinent and updated information:

My Teaching Philosophy
High School Classes
Elementary Classes

Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!

God bless,