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Oct 15 2012

Homeschool Burnout

Just about everyone gets excited at the thought of a brand-new homeschool year. Ah, the fun, the supplies, the new books, and don’t forget about the field trips! How the same folks get from there to burnout in just a few months isn’t always clear. But somewhere round the bend from the glorious first half of the homeschool year into the second stretch, as the weather warms and the sound of whining fills the air (yours as much as theirs), it sets in. It can happen around stressful events, holidays and even summers, too.

“Hello, Burnout. Haven’t seen you since this time last year.”

Yep, the desks are no longer clean. Supplies are severely disorganized. Frankly, so is your mind. Everybody is tired of the routine. Or maybe all heck has just broken loose altogether.

It’s not that uncommon. Everybody runs out of steam from time to time. But, maybe — you should have seen it coming? It’s not as though you haven’t been there before.

So, what to do? Better yet, how can you avoid burnout next year once-and-for-all!?

For starters, take a break. Yea, yea, you’ve heard it before. That’s because it works. A day, a week, a month. Whatever it takes to clear your mind, your desk, your plate.

Next, take notes. Why? So you’ll remember for next year. Keep a journal, a notebook, a diary. Write down the date, some notes, and what you were doing around that time. Mark the date on next year’s calendar…30 days BEFORE. That’ll give you time to arm yourself for the next time — hopefully side-swiping it entirely.

Lastly, switch things up. Once the break has ended and everyone is ready to head back to work, do things differently. Change subjects, change books, change rooms, change times, change methods. You can switch one thing, or many. Whatever it takes to inspire, motivate or give new life and perspective to what was taking place before.

Finally, as a rule of thumb, if burnout becomes a regular thing in your home, take a look at the bigger picture, too. It’s always okay to change things up any time of year, not just when burnout comes knocking. In fact, varying activities all year long can help avoid burnout altogether!

Keep in mind other tell-tale signs, like students who are overworked, or students who aren’t challenged enough. Trying to be a super hero yourself could be the problem. Or setting standards too high for everyone concerned.

Overall, homeschool life is joyful. Aside from occasional challenges, it isn’t supposed to be miserable. If burnout visits more often than you’d like, look deeper into the causes. But, for now, print these 3 steps and hang them somewhere handy:

Changing Horses

Moms who hurt

Oct 08 2012

Learning from your kids

They learn from you. But you also learn right back. How? By listening and watching your children. And then, by putting those lessons to work for you next year.

Homeschooled kids give off many signals during the school year. Heard any of these before?

“I’m bored.”

“Can I watch <such-and-such> again?”

“This is stupid.”

“It’s too hard and I just can’t do it.”

“Can we do <fill-in-the-blank> first today?”

Every one of these statements contains a hidden message. Decoding student messages is the key to unlocking their weaknesses, interests, talents and more. Watch and listen carefully and you’ll begin to understand what makes your child tick. These clues can then be used next year when selecting curriculum, preparing lessons and deciding what kinds of homeschooling activities will work best for your child.

When a child tells you something is “too hard”, it is easy enough to understand. Knowing that material is too difficult is a clear sign that it’s time to slow down or even revert back to earlier material until he feels ready to move forward again.

Some messages, however, aren’t so clear. Boredom, for instance, can mean that work is too easy. Maybe you’ve been having your student review something over and over when he is really ready to move on.

But boredom can also mean the child is being asked to learn more detail than he is comfortable with. By synthesizing information for him or giving him a different resource that gets more to the point, he may not have the boredom he experienced before.

Boredom may even indicate that a child doesn’t like a subject at all, meaning you should re-think the way you’ve been teaching it altogether. Visit a teacher’s store or attend a couple of the Jax-area’s summer curriculum sales to browse new resources and grab his interest some other way.

You’d never make your child wear shoes that didn’t fit. And you’d never sign her up for an advanced class until she had completed the beginner and intermediate ones either. So why give her lessons that obviously don’t work for her? Listening to her messages will help you to help her. Figuring out the meanings behind her statements will help point out areas of weaknesses as well as focus on areas of potential too.

Try It Tuesday: TEACHING WRITING

I’m not sure why, but when it comes to teaching writing at home, the idea scares many parents half to death. Is it because they feel they don’t write well enough to teach it? Could the reason it doesn’t get taught be that language arts products sometimes skimp over the writing process or don’t cover it at all? Do some people just assume that writing happens (magically? through Osmosis?) on its own? Or do folks still believe the antiquated notion that good writing is reserved for the educated elite or gray-haired librarians and English teachers?

Whatever the reason, the teaching of writing confounds many a parent. And because of that, writing may be ignored in homes lacking the tools, instruction or a confident person to guide it.

That’s why this month’s “Try It Tuesday” conversation is all about: TEACHING WRITING.

As a mom who has raised a gaggle of writers so far, I love to share what I have learned about writing instruction. But I continue to learn from each young writer I meet, so my children and my writing students are always my favorite teachers!

Some of my favorite tips to encourage young writers include:

Using Writing Prompts: Writing prompts can help kids get past the chore of figuring out what to write. Sometimes, when given an idea, the writing will come. They don’t work for every child, but are always worth a try!

Let Kids Choose: Sometimes, instead of being given an assignment, kids prefer to choose what things to write about. If this describes your child, allow her to come up with a list of possible things she can write about. Then, use her list all year long, so she’ll never be at a loss for writing ideas she herself has come up with.

Keep in Mind that Writing Comes in Many Forms: Reluctant writers may be allowed to write anything they like. Keep in mind that lists, captions, riddles, lyrics, ads, notes and slogans are all examples of writing. If your child won’t write, short assignments like these will get him writing — even if only a little bit at a time.

Consider Copywork: Copywork is a great way for students to see examples of great writing and learn some of the styles, techniques and tricks used by great writers. Incorporatinge copywork into your homeschooling day has other benefits for your student, too, such as practicing penmanship and learning new material, too!

Shop Wisely: Writing curriculum products exist, but not all are suitable for every student. For the best possible match, select writing products just like you would any other curriculum: by thinking about your goals for the course/student, how that student learns best, and ways the product may or may not fit in with your general homeschooling philosophy.

There are many writing products available for purchase. Here are just a few, with direct links to the author, publisher or distributor:

Writing with Ease & Writing with Skill

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)

Writing Strands

Write Shop

Brave Writer

Wordsmith Creative Writing Series

But — tips about teaching writing don’t end here…

Readers want to hear from you — parents who have been there, in the trenches, with your unique students, each who bring to writing their individual writing gifts and challenges…

So, drop whatever you’re doing and join the conversation!

Share your questions, comments, tips and fears about writing instruction at home. Tell readers what products and techniques you love best. Post your articles and blog posts using the Linky, too — can’t wait to see what you have to share! (Grab the button as needed!)

And thanks for stopping by!

[Linky closes in 7 days]

Dec 12 2011

Eliminating boredom (by what it tells you)

I sometimes hear from homeschool parents or their kids that school has become a little too routine. One mom bemoaned having to change curriculum after using it from K-8 when her son became tired of it. Another parent called for help when her daughter complained, “Mom is really boring as a teacher!”

Though I don’t think that homeschool always has to be barrels of fun, it shouldn’t be utterly miserable either. And while some of these matters should be addressed (a boring curriculum), other claims can be just plain silly (a “boring” parent)!

Whatever the outward manifestation though, these claims of boredom deserve attention. When children or parents voice concerns about homeschooling, there is usually a reason worth exploring. There are many ways to keep homeschooling fresh and children motivated to learn. In this post, you’ll learn how to recognize the signs of a real S.O.S. and ways to make your homeschool a happier and more productive place.

But first, a little pep talk…

Though the reasons behind the boredom are not always welcome, making a change is really necessary when you suspect something is going on. Across all 50 states, homeschoolers are given the freedom to select curriculum and products, decide exactly what they’d like to study, and structure their days however they like. Given the ability to make these choices, there is little reason to remain stuck in a boring routine, a mundane series of lessons, or become mired in an unsuccessful pattern. These are the problems of public schools — homeschoolers can easily escape this dilemma.

Problem is, choosing curriculum and planning lessons all over again can be time-consuming, and sometimes expensive. Once families get rolling and everyone is familiar with a product line or a learning system, it takes some effort to make a switch. And mundane can happen accidentally, too, without anyone really noticing it creeping up. So although routine invites relaxation, which is a good thing, relaxation can easily give way to lackadaisical behavior, too — which is not so good.

Choosing curriculum and learning materials, or switching to new ones, is just one of the responsibilities of a homeschooling family. And when seen as a privilege instead of an unpleasant duty, or as a way to customize a child’s learning experience instead of giving in to a child’s whims or preferences, the task is far easier. By looking at change from a different angle, it will be viewed as the reason homeschooling is so wildly successful, and something to look forward to — not to be avoided.

With this in mind, see if you can begin to discover the root of your child’s boredom (or yours). Should something jump out at you from this list, invest in the necessary time it takes to fix. In the long run, boredom may be just that. But it also could be an indicator of something more.

1. Plain old boredom.

When doing the same thing over and over again, it is easy to see how plain old boredom might just grab hold. Like the family stuck in the same curriculum pattern for 9 years, it just might be that your homeschool is in need of a little updating. A change in venue or schedule could be all it takes. Or maybe the addition of a pleasant activity that everyone looks forward to before or after school. If curriculum or materials appear to be the problem, it may be time to change them out, too. Start small and make gradual changes first. Then, monitor the level of boredom along the way. Simple changes might do the trick. If they don’t, think bigger (read on).

2. Level of coursework

Sometimes boredom is a way for a student to express a mismatch between what he can do, and the level of work you have assigned. Children may express boredom when work is just too easy. But they can also use boredom as a way to avoid assignments that are just too tough. It is up to parents to gauge their child’s level of understanding and the appropriateness of the materials they use each year. Careful selection of materials (see placement), followed by monitoring, observation, talking with the student, and even testing can determine if the work being assigned is the right fit. If it isn’t, using those tools will quickly bring the problem to the surface, making which direction to go (up or down a level) more obvious.

3. Level of interest

Like anyone, kids may lose interest in topics they just don’t like, or aren’t immediately useful. Remembering the times your child has asked, “When am I ever gonna use this?” should make it easy to spot when she doesn’t see the purpose in what she is being asked to learn and do. And though some skills need to be learned whether she likes them or not (e.g., basic grammar and basic mathematics), the way the skills are taught could make all the difference in the world when it comes to beating boredom. When a child expresses boredom in a single area, finding at a way to interest her in the topic could bring about a change. Reframing ideas differently, using examples she can directly relate to, adding activities that interest her or taking at least a part of the boring ones away might help. Then, allow her to focus on other areas that she really enjoys to maximize learning and keep enthusiasm levels high.

4. Exploring other ways to learn

Finally, realizing that not all learning comes from books opens up opportunities for children to learn in other ways. Boredom with book learning may easily be counteracted by thinking about other ways to achieve the same result. Today’s homeschoolers have access to online learning, software products, co-op learning, part-time classes, and so much more. Checking out other teaching models (see HERE) and learning about other opportunities in the community will help to find more conducives way for that child to learn. A dramatic change of this kind just might turn a boring, dreaded subject into that child’s favorite thing to do.

Paying attention to claims of boredom works in more ways than one. Providing important clues about a child’s learning, it also helps to maintain a vibrant and supportive homeschool environment throughout the years. Listen carefully the next time you notice boredom at home. Then, see what you can do to update (or even completely rebuild) your homeschool into the optimal place for your whole family to learn!

Free Digital Photos

Nov 22 2011

Re-framing ideas for greater understanding

“Math is just another name for making something simple sound really, really complicated,” my child said, adding, “Why do they have to take something so easy, and make it sound so hard?” His statement gave me pause. Remembering my own struggles with astronomy and physics, two things I could never particularly “get”, I knew exactly what he meant.

His statement came after I explained a mathematical concept he hadn’t been able to grasp by reading the book alone. I had showed him a way to solve the problem in fewer steps, steps that made a lot more sense to him. I had also re-framed the concept into something he already understood, turning an abstract idea into something real to him. Luckily, mathematical concepts come easy to me. Though I’m not always able to do this for every subject they learn, thankfully I have been able to get all of my kids through their occasional math challenges drawing on my background and my own brain-power alone. So, I drew upon my skill and got him through it. He learned. And I did, too. Again.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…as long as I homeschool my kids, I realize something new about them, and about learning in general, every single day. What I was reminded that day was the importance of re-framing certain ideas into something real for certain children. Undoubtedly, not every child is going to need this. But some do. My kid did. And this is very important to recognize, because by adding the technique to one’s homeschooling toolbox, it may just come in handy at times.

What do I mean by re-framing? Re-framing is looking at an idea in a different way. Imagine removing a painting from its frame. Now imagine removing an idea from its context…

Remember word problems? These are problems, math problems for instance, that are supposed to sound like real-world problems, requiring children to read through a story and decide upon what to do. Word problems ask kids to figure out what kind of math is needed amidst a whole bunch of other information that may or may not even be relevant to the problem.

Re-framing a word problem in math might involve coming up with a different problem that asks the very same thing. It might mean assigning the problem as a math sentence or algebraic equation instead, without any of the words at all. Or it might mean using other math techniques that have already been mastered and solving it a different way, too. Maybe even an easier way. Whatever works for that child.

So, re-framing is removing the question or problem from its context and putting it into a different context, or looking at it from a new perspective, or substituting some of the facts for something kids already understand.

In mathematics, a couple of examples of re-framing might be:

1. When teaching percentages greater than 100 (e.g., 110% or 160%) use sales tax as an example. Most children understand making purchases and having to add sales tax. Instead of problems involving some parts greater than a whole (abstract), ask kids to calculate the total purchase price of something they like (i.e., a video game or pair of boots) instead. Teach that calculating sales tax (the part greater than the whole isn’t enough. Reinforce that sales tax must be added to the retail price of the item (the 100% part) in order to arrive at the total cost.

2. When teaching simple statistics, re-frame problems into real-life things kids can relate to. Instead of looking at coffee-growing or population increases (which do not directly apply to them), ask students to analyze things they know — like allowance received, number of levels beaten in a game, monthly cell phone minutes used, and so on. Ideas like Mean, Median and Mode become very real when involving scenarios they understand. Conjuring up word problems using these ideas can translate into solving the problems in the book much easier later on.

3. When learning the difference between Area and Perimeter, come up with stories illustrating the difference. In our home, I always used examples involving our dogs (digging up every square foot of the yard, or running along the length of the fence). Use any examples that might make sense to your children. Re-frame the problems using different words, different examples, or using some technique they already understand (linear feet measurements, how tall they are, stacking square cubes in a box, or whatever it may be).

Re-framing idea applies to other subjects, too. In writing for example, re-frame ideas so that students can relate. Not every child may understand the purpose of writing a Persuasive Essay. But most will be able to relate to writing an essay in which he or she tries to convince you of something (a later bedtime, decrease in chores, extra cell phone minutes, or having to complete fewer math problems!) or argue their point of view (think teens here). Relating scientific concepts like acids and bases or certain chemical reactions can be re-framed into examples involving baking or cooking, hair coloring, or anything else your kids will understand.

With re-framing, try everything. Be creative. Try different approaches. Think out of the box. Blurt out anything, even if you think it may sound silly or dumb. You never know what your child might pick up on. Ask your spouse or other children, too. Sometimes other people have a unique way of looking at things that can help someone else. Somehow, something will eventually work. Notice when your child’s eyes light up and finally “gets it”. You may be surprised at what it took to convey an idea (and remember what you did for next time)!

The lesson I learned with my child that day was to remember to re-frame mathematical concepts when he needs me to. What you can take away from this story is that re-framing can be useful in many areas of homeschool — and in life, too, by the way. Most parents already know how to do this. How often have you asked your child to pick dirty laundry off the floor or eat his fruits and vegetables? How have you been able to convincingly explain the importance of doing these things? Applying the sames kinds of thinking and logic can help to re-frame school concepts, too. Looking at problems differently – re-framing them in terms kids understand – can work as well in school as it does in life. Every student can understand if something is explained correctly. By re-framing problems, you can help get your child through trouble spots this way.

[Image: Free Digital]