Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

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Feb 11 2011

What do practical moms want? (more favorites)

It’s Valentine’s Day and though I don’t consider it a major holiday or anything extraordinarily special, I always think it’s nice to celebrate by sharing a little extra love and baking something heart-shaped every February 14.  I’ll be making heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast this year accompanied by strawberry smoothies.  I’m sure I will enjoy the day just as much as anyone else.

But as I look through the newspapers and watch the television commercials at this time of year, I am always amazed at the growing number of silly gifts and useless merchandise that is peddled in honor of Valentines Day.  Jewelry, I understand, particularly if there is an engagement, wedding or anniversary to be celebrated somewhere in the near future.  Flowers I get, too.  Though they don’t last and may cost a fortune, it can be awfully nice to be remembered with a burst of scent and color during this otherwise dreary time of year.

But what about the other gifts?  Just because it’s either red or pink doesn’t mean it’s a suitable gift for anyone, no matter what time of year – does it?  I admit I ask myself every year who all of these people are who are purchasing pink satin boxers, fluffy heart-shaped slippers, and entire place mat and napkin sets bearing the words, “Be Mine”.  Is it really important to hang Valentine-themed fingertip towels in the powder room or switch out all of the household candles to glittery red ones just for this one day?  And what of the ridiculously overpriced candy boxes designed to delight children, but only end in disappointment when they realize that there are only 3 individual chocolate pieces inside?

I don’t mean to sound grinchy, as I enjoy a box of milk chocolate cremes as much as the next person (and I can tell you the contents of each piece of candy without even looking at the cheat-sheet under the lid!), but I am here to say, on behalf of all of the women whose men love them enough to shop on Valentines Day – enough is enough.

Barring a beautiful pair of diamond/ruby earrings that I received several years ago and will treasure forever, here are some of the best gifts that this practical mom has ever received: 

(Mother’s Day, 2006)

(Just Because, 2007)

(Birthday, 2009)

(Stocking stuffer, 2010)

In between times, I have received many lovely gifts ranging from spa certificates, dinners out, jewelry pieces, even heart-shaped boxes of my favorite chocolate cremes.  But when I look back at the practicality of these gifts and how they have served me as a busy, working homeschooling mom, it’s the other gifts I treasure most.

Weird, right?  That’s the practical mom syndrome, I suppose.  When faced with making choices between luxuries and things that may enhance, streamline or otherwise improve the home-life, which do YOU think practical moms want most?

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Announcements & Special Events · Tagged: blog, chores, household, I Love, me, random

Feb 09 2011

Every school needs a globe

 

Sometimes, the simplest things can make the most impact.   An ordinary globe, no matter how mundane or insignificant it may seem at first, is one of those things.

Globes are amazing.

They’re beautiful to look at.

They’re magical to touch and watch and spin.

They’re old and sturdy and proud.

They silently speak the timeless wisdom of the ages.  But at the same time, they instill a giddy new sense of curiousity and a spirit of exploration to anyone who spends time with them.

What can you do with a globe? If you don’t have one in your home, it may be hard to understand the value and power of this simple, revolving orb. 

Get one.  Then, come back and leave a comment about the impact it has had in your home and school.  I predict it will be some of the best money you have ever spent on school supplies.

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: blog, classroom resources, geography, history

Jan 27 2011

Let them be kids

As a homeschooling advisor, I am often asked what to do about children who excel academically in some area or another.  Usually, I try to help parents identify ways to allow the children to move at their own [accelerated] pace while balancing the fact that they’re still kids at the same time.

I have met many families like this over the years and my advice is pretty much always the same.   While being good at something, even great at something, is certainly worth celebrating, it doesn’t always mean a child is immediately ready for college…at least not just yet.

Problem is, this isn’t always what parents of really smart kids want to hear.

Sometimes, homeschooling parents, in their quest to deliver the best education possible, and with all of the best intentions, pay less attention to the child’s age, and more to their skills.  Overall, this is okay, and everyone knows that grade levels don’t mean a lot in homeschooling anyway.  Except when there is a huge disparity between age and skills/grade…that’s when age becomes important.  Sometimes, parents of very bright kids tend to move the children “up” a grade (or two, or three, or four), not always realizing that the subject matter starts becoming a little bit too “mature”.  This isn’t true for every subject, but is definitely something to think about.

It’s a dilemma, really.  Nobody ever wants to hold a child back from learning.  If a kid is really good at something and capable of moving forward, and if they like it too, generally speaking, I say – go for it.  The kids are probably naturally going to learn it on their own anyway.

But there is a problem with context.  With age not only comes knowledge, but also a higher level of discernment, more exposure to the experiences of life, plus greater maturity, sensitivity and wisdom to handle it all.  Think again about the context.  Younger kids just aren’t there yet.

For example, how can one deliver high school-level literature, mature themes and all, or college-level economics, complete with a discussion of national or world affairs, to an 8 or 10 or 12 year old child?  Though the student may be capable, the more important question to ask is: Is the child really ready?

It is true that it can be difficult to find suitable reading materials for outstanding readers who are still very young.  Just because a child reads well, do you allow her to read a teen or adult novel?  Similarly, though a young history buff seems almost to absorb anything put before him, is he really ready to study some of the harsher topics and see some of the frightening images in upper level history texts?

It’s something to think about. It isn’t always prudent or practical to bump a child up so high.   Especially when they’re still so young.  Is anybody really going to put a 10 or a 12 year old in college anyway?

Maybe, instead of always moving children UP, parents should consider moving them OUT.  This is something that schools do, and something that I explain to homeschooling parents, as well.

What this means is building upon what a child knows in order to move ahead, but doing so on a much more gradual slope.  It is about giving the student the chance to excel commensurate with his or her level of maturity and readiness.  

Parents can build the curriculum “out” by assigning additional work, more difficult projects and by giving a child more of the same kinds of problems, only much harder ones.   It’s alright to challenge a child up a little bit, but the thinking is to walk a much more gradual slope than a completely vertical climb.

Kids are only kids for so long.  There are many benefits to childhood activities and many experiences that may be missed by moving along too rapidly in school. 

Building “out” lets children excel, and still be kids, too.

[Photo: Inmagine]

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: blog, me, random

Jan 23 2011

When out in public

No question about it, homeschooling is becoming more and more mainstream. And with an estimated 2.5 million people doing it, and growing at a rate of anywhere from 8-15% each year, it will only become more mainstream, not less.

Still, there are many people who aren’t familiar with homeschooling, don’t realize it’s legal, or have never even heard of it.  Plus, there are also people who know about it, and just don’t like the idea at all.

This is why it is important for homeschooling families to present a positive image when going out in public.  Remembering the “one bad apple…” philosophy, it is crucial for homeschoolers to realize that others may be judging an entire population of people based on their first impressions of one homeschooling family alone.

This doesn’t mean that your student has to be a poster-child for homeschooling, reciting algebraic formulas and speaking Latin words to strangers every time you go out.    What it does mean, however, is that if your family is out during the day when other children are in school, you can pretty much expect that either your children will be questioned (“No school today?”) or that you’ll get at least a couple of inquisitive looks.

When responding to these inquiries and acknowledging the looks, stay composed, be polite, and if necessary, briefly explain that the outing is a part of your homeschooling day.  Or, ignore them, without aggravating the situation or introducing further doubt.  Some families even practice with their children how to respond to these kinds of questions, both to avoid awkwardness and give the children a sense that what they are doing is alright.

The matter of correcting or disciplining a child in public is another touchy area.  Without delving into specifics, which can be controversial from both sides, universally, homeschooling legal experts advise caution when in the public eye.  Again, the precedent set by one family can affect public impressions of all others.  Though it isn’t fair, false generalizations can potentially cause a trickle-down effect and negatively impact all homeschoolers down the road.

I am sure that we all know families that we would consider to be “model” homeschoolers as well as the occasional family that we might judge as not the finest example of what we are all about.  While we cannot control the behavior of others, we can certainly remember to conduct ourselves in a manner that does not draw unnecessary attention to homeschooling families. And, if we do attract attention, let’s make sure it is for all of the right reasons, and showcases all of the wonderful things about homeschooling, and nothing else.

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: blog, me, random

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