Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

The difference a pencil can make

Children can have big hands or little hands. Some prefer a different grip than others.  Some just like a certain feel.  And some kids like the way one writes more than any other brand.  It may be hard to believe, but something as simple as making a pencil change can make all the difference in a child’s performance.

I didn’t discover chubby pencils until several of my children were older but I wish I had known about them sooner.  Much easier to hold and easier to stabilize in little hands, these thick pencils could be just what some kids need to gain confidence while learning the mechanics of basic penmanship.  On the other hand, some kids may not like them at all.  However, if your child is showing signs of struggling, they’re definitely worth a try.

Pencil grips can be useful for positioning, resulting in neater handwriting.  Then again,  some kids — mine, for example – can never seem to get used to using them at all.  Again, worth trying…you just never know.

A properly sharpened pencil means a lot to some children.  I don’t like using a dull pencil, so why would I expect a young learner to use one?  Purchasing the best hand-held or electric pencil sharpener you can afford will eliminate that variable altogether.

Some curriculum developers have found that other pencil shapes and sizes work best.  The folks at Handwriting Without Tears sell little pencils, somewhat like the kind you’d use to keep score at miniature golf, only with an eraser on top.   These little pencilsare thought to be the perfect size for Kindergartners and 1st graders.

Browse the shelves of your nearest office supply store or teacher store.  Then, surf over to your favorite online supplier to see what else is available. Ask your friends what they’ve tried, too. 

A small investment in pencils and writing supplies could yield a huge increase in your child’s level of confidence and handwriting ability.  Since good penmanship lasts a lifetime, it could be some of the best money you’ll ever spend!

Trace and erase

I haven’t yet met a student that doesn’t like writing on chalk boards and dry erase boards. There is just something about being able to draw temporary designs and then erase them that captivates every child, at any age (even grown ups!).

That’s why these products are a tremendously practical purchase for homeschoolers.  They just get used.  A lot.

Since chalk boards can be messy, the dry erase variety is really best.  Even those with a sensitivity to the markers can purchase the low-odor variety; thus, anyone can use them without messes or offensive odors.

Dry erase products come in many shapes and sizes and are available at most major retailers and office suppliers.  For classroom and coop sets, there are vendors online that sell multiples at a discount.  Markers can be found most anywhere, and now come in prettier (even neon) colors rather than the traditional sets once used only by presenters and university professors (how I first fell in love with them!).

One product that I particularly like is the original “Trace Erase Board” clip board and dry erase system:

These handy little boards resemble standard clip-boards, but are thicker, heavier and more durable.  They have a clear surface with space beneath (like a pocket) to slip one or several sheets of paper inside.  Best yet, students can slip worksheets, multiplication practice, manuscript lessons, spelling lists, or anything else inside.  Pages are kept flat and clean, while students write on the clear surface with the marker.  After erasing, sheets can be used over and over again.

Trace Erase Boards come in many varieties, each targeting an age or grade level, like this 3rd/4th grade one:

Each has a set of basic information printed right on the front and back of the board, for instance a ruler, a map or a commonly used set of facts, corresponding to the age/grade level product.

Trace Erase Boards may be purchased online and can usually be found at larger homeschool conventions, as well.  Plus, families may purchase optional cards to slip inside, for teaching additional skills, like these:

Perhaps the best feature of these boards is that they’re portable, making them easy to take outdoors for nature studies and on family road trips. 

These kinds of products may also be useful for children who struggle with traditional written and illustrated work, but are able to use dry erase products instead.

[I do not receive recognition or compensation for featuring products like these — I do it only to bring you great ideas for your homeschooling classroom. Readers are advised to review the suggestions and determine for themselves  the suitability of the featured product or service for their own families.]

Where to turn for math help

 

When children are young, parents tend to have little trouble helping with school work.   As a matter of fact, in the early years, many homeschooling moms and dads operate very nicely without so much as a teacher’s manual or an answer key. 

As students grow older and the work becomes more difficult, however, parents aren’t always able or available to help with every subject.   Though not always the case, it appears that mathematics tends to be one of those subjects.

Research has shown that homeschooled students not only succeed, but usually exceed the standards set by their peers in public schools, even when their parents do not have the highest level of education.  This means that parents do not always need to know every subject in order for their children to do well in homeschool.  That’s because there are many tools that can help students to learn, even when parents are unable to help.

The trick is learning to find the right tools to help solve the right problem.

So, where can homeschooled students (and their parents) turn for math help? 

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Another adult

Even if mom or dad can’t help, another adult just might be able to figure it out.  Friends, neighbors, aunts and uncles are all good choices.  Fellow homeschoolers can also help.  Not everyone can be good at everything.  But chances are, you already know someone who can help with your student’s particular challenge.

2. A sibling

You’d be surprised at how much material siblings seem to magically pick up by virtue of sharing a room or just completing schoolwork within the same vicinity of one another.  Just watching and listening to brothers and sisters can result in the immediate absorption of what the others are learning.  An older sibling, and even a younger one, can be a great resource.  Plus, even if the sibling can’t figure out the answer, he or she learns something by trying, anyway.

3. The publisher/vendor

Depending on which book, curriculum,  or other resource you’re using, you may be entitled to support or other help from either the publisher or vendor you purchased from.  Some companies offer a knowledge base of commonly-encountered problems on their web site.   Others have a comprehensive set of FAQs that cover a lot of the basics.  Browse the company web site or make a telephone call.  It doesn’t hurt to ask.

4. The Internet

There is no end to the content that is continually being added to web sites all around the world.  With some patience and basic online searching skills, you can probably find a web site or online lesson plan that covers the exact topic your student is attempting to learn.  In mathematics, for instance, you’ll find hundreds of online math sites, math games, and even math videos that teach specific topics for free.    Try MathVids, Visual Math Learning and Khan Academy  video lessons for starters.  Or visit Ask Dr. Math, AAA Math, Figure This,  Math with Larry, Cool Math, Math dot com, and Free Math Help, just to name a few.

5. Another homeschooler

Sometimes homeschooled kids can only be helped by other kids who understand.  Homeschooled students who are slightly older, or who just  completed the same material a year or two ago, may be able to explain the concept to your child in a language he or she can understand.  Plus, if you are lucky enough to know a child who used the same book or curriculum your child is using, you might also gain additional insights from the more experienced student about how to use that book or resource in the future.

6. Private tutors / tutoring centers

Though this can be expensive, tutoring can sometimes be worth the expense just to get a child over the hump and onto smoother ground.  Even just a couple of tutoring sessions, taught by someone who is very experienced in dealing with the exact subject your child is learning, can be a good investment.  If a child becomes frustrated, it does not take very long for either of you to sink into a feeling of great desperation.  Hiring someone that is skilled in teaching at different levels and explaining material in different ways can be exactly what is needed to move on.

7. A new approach

Finally, with the freedom to homeschool comes the freedom to choose the materials and approach used to teach every academic subject.  When one isn’t working, the only right thing to do is to try another. No matter how expensive the curriculum, or how pleasing the book may be to you, if it isn’t working for your child, it’s time for a change.  We have all heard of children who go from hating a subject to loving it practically overnight, simply because of a new book, a new teacher, or a new approach to learning it altogether.

When a child hates a subject, he’s telling you something

Your child hates history. Or science. Or writing. No matter what it is, he doesn’t want to do it.

He complains. He procrastinates. He may say it’s too easy, or too hard.  He makes no bones about the fact that he doesn’t like doing it, and may go to great lengths to avoid it, too.

As homeschooling parents, we become skilled in observing and listening to our children.  This comes naturally over time with very little effort.  New homeschoolers, however, may not notice the signs of a child in crisis right away.  Instead, there may be a tendency to push harder, impose consequences, or even give up entirely.

For those parents, I offer this advice.  When a child hates a subject, it can only mean one of two things:

a) The child really hates the subject; or,

b) the subject isn’t being taught the way he needs to learn it.

Though these seem like two entirely different reasons, they often go hand in hand. 

In fact, by addressing the second, the first will often clear up on its own.

Consider this scenario: 

Imagine a child studying science out of  a book.  He says it’s boring and he hates it.  Try as you might, you just cannot succeed at making the science book any more interesting than it already is. 

Now, imagine a child performing simple science experiments in the kitchen.  You can hardly keep up with him and he wants to do science every day.  He loves it.  Suddenly, science is his favorite subject.

Another illustration:

You like doing English first thing in the morning. Your daughter doesn’t.   She complains about it being too hard, especially when asked to write anything down.  Mornings are miserable, and you both end up angry by the time English is finally over.

On the other hand, you notice that she loves to read and write in her journal – in the afternoons.  Given time alone in her room, she produces poems, stories, and all kinds of things in writing.  She reads on her own, too, just not the books you’ve assigned.  By reorganizing her daily school schedule and doing English in the afternoons, you have much more success.  Plus, by giving her the flexibility to choose her own books, she is much more willing to read than before.

These are just examples.  When a child dislikes a subject, there are other things you can try, too.  Look not only at the method you are using and the time of day, but look also at the level of difficulty of the materials you have chosen, and how much input your student has had in the course and resource selection process. 

Your level of involvement could also be the key.  You may be stifling creativity without even realizing it by hovering over the student and constantly offering ideas. Or, you might be providing too little (or even too much) encouragement.

Distractions in the home might be a problem.  Whether or not your child needs a snack to keep performing well is another area to look at.  Look at the comfort level of her work space, the temperature in your home, or whether or not she has the proper tools for every job.  There are many others.

Before you give up on a subject and assume your student will never like it, check to be sure you have taken care of the other variables that may be affecting her progress.  If it turns out that she really hates a subject, then so be it.  But, if making some simple changes could turn her entire outlook around, you’ll be happy you did.

[Photo: Free Digital]