Castle Builder, Career Decisions, Math Site
By Heather Idoni
Added Friday, December 19, 2008
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 9 No 99 December 19, 2008
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2008 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- Newsletter Break for Christmas
Helpful Tip
-- Math Website Find
Winning Website
-- Castle Builder
Reader Question
-- Daughter and Career Decisions
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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This will be my last issue before Christmas -- next issue (and
last one of the year) will be December 29th.
As is our annual tradition, please send your thoughts/resolutions
for the New Year and I'll share it in our upcoming issues.
Thank you for sharing your 2008 with me -- here's to an even
better 2009! :-)
-- Heather
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Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
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Helpful Tip
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"Maybe some of you have seen this site.
HomeSchoolMath http://www.homeschoolmath.net/
They have lots of free worksheets to print with answer keys and
lots more. Just came on it this morning." -- Jeff
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Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Winning Website
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Castle Builder
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/castle_builder/
A neat site with an assignment for your student to be a castle
builder -- gives building requirements and sites/information for
research so they can make a building plan and build an authentic
castle based on certain geographical features where the castle
will be "located". Also has teacher notes. This is great for
your 5th grade to high school students.
-- Cindy, www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I have a 17 year old senior in high school and she isn't sure
what she wants to do for a career. Does any one have any
suggestions as far as good books to read on careers? She thinks
she may want to be a photographer; she is also good at writing
and Spanish. Thanks so much for your input." -- Bonita
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Our Readers' Responses
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"Job shadowing is an excellent way to learn more about careers
that interest her. Brainstorm together and create a list of
interests. Since she is interested in photography and writing
she may want to job shadow a photo journalist -- or she may prefer
to focus on portrait photography. Find professionals in your
area that would allow her to follow them around for a few hours
or a day and see what they do. I wish someone had suggested this
to me when I was her age." -- Carrie K.
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"This isn't a resource suggestion, but I do hope it's helpful.
I am 37 and attending grad school for what will be my third
career -- a Marriage &Family Therapist. This is the one I
really wanted to do out of high school, but I realize now that
without 20 years of life experience under my belt, I'd have a lot
less to offer my clients. But what I'd really encourage you to
tell your daughter is to follow her interests without feeling
that this is the career she'll be 'stuck' with forever. No one
is the same person at 40 that they were at 20, so a mid-life
career change doesn't need to be viewed as a crisis."
-- Deborah in CA
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"She should check the book 'What Color is Your Parachute', which
is updated yearly. The library almost always carries it. This
is a good help to see what areas of work she might be good at and
interested in." -- Sylvia
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"There's a new book out by Marcus Buckingham called 'The Truth
About You'. Actually, it's more than just a book -- there is a
CD and you work through the book and a memo pad to find out what
your strengths are. I haven't gotten far through it, and I
purchased it when recommended by Dave Ramsey (the financial
adviser on TV and radio). I'm using it to help me decide what I
want to be when my children grow up." -- Jo in MN
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Answer our NEW Question
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"I have been homeschooling for 14 years now, and have five kids,
one who has graduated. When you think you might have homeschooling
figured out, God gives you a child that reminds you you're just
learning too. My fourth child is now in grade 7 and reasonably
bright, but I'm somewhat stumped with how to help him. He seems
to have no trouble remembering what I read to him, or what we
discuss, and even memorizing Bible passages. He's quite careful
and accurate in his math, though it takes forever to get around to
doing it, as is the case with most subjects. But here's where we're
stumped: If I ask him to write something, even if we have discussed
all the ideas and requirements, even to the point of identifying
what each sentence will be about, he so often has such a mental
block that he cannot begin. It's as if he's so perfectionist that
he can't begin unless he already has the whole thing perfectly
worded in his head. This is so frustruating for both of us. How
can I help him learn to just begin, and take risks? We have done
free writing in the past, which worked well for him, but how can
we transfer this skill to other writing assignments? I do not
demand perfect grammar or spelling right away, so it doesn't seem
to be that; it just seems like he can't think of the right words
or something. This becomes such an immovable mental block. Any
advice? Thanks so much." -- Christine
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Do you have any thoughts or advice for Christine?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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Ask YOUR Question
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Do you have a question you would like our readers to answer?
Send it to mailto:HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
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Need Immediate Help?
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Visit our Homeschool Encouragement Center! This is a live 24/7
'chat' area where you can talk live to our homeschool counselors
by typing in a box. When you get there, just introduce yourself
and let them know that Heather sent you!
This ultra-safe chat is supervised by experienced moms who are
there to serve and share their wisdom... or just offer a listening
ear and encouragement.
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Our Newsletter Archive
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Access the Homeschool Notebook issues you have missed...
at our archives! http://www.FamilyClassroom.net
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