My Michigan Friends, U.S. Geography, Cheering Up Kleenex Mom!
By Heather Idoni
Added Monday, July 20, 2009
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 10 No 52 July 20, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2009 - 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
-- For My Michigan Friends
Helpful Tip
-- Sculpting a Story
Resource Review
-- Star Spangled States
Reader Question
-- Weepy Girls and Kleenex Mom
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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For My Michigan (and NE Ohio) Friends...
If you are within 1 or 2 hours of the Lansing/Brighton/Flint area,
send me an email with "Michigan" in the subject line (you can just
reply to this email) and I'll send you back an email with the details
about the special event going ongoing at my bookstore!
Hope to see many old friends... and make lots of new ones! :-)
-- 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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The Face of Lincoln - Sculpting a Story:
http://hmhomeschoolers.com/blog/podcast/vintage-video-the-face-of-lincoln
"'From 1954, HMHS Vintage Video Presents Professor Merrell Gage
describing the life and career of Abraham Lincoln as he sculpts
a lifelike bust of the 16th President, making physical changes
in the subject's hair, beard and expression to correspond to
events in Lincoln's life.'
What an amazing video! Our kids were fascinated by Professor
Merrell's skill in both sculpting and story telling." -- Shelly in CA
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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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Resource Review
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Star Spangled States Book and Workbook
Author: Joel King
Publisher: Bramley Books
For more information or to order: www.knowledgequestmaps.com
The 'Star Spangled States Book' can stand alone as an excellent
learning resource for your family. Packed with information about
every state, this colorful text presents each state in alphabetical
order with all the facts you'd expect, plus a whole lot more! In
addition to listing the most populous cities, capital, land area,
etc., there are also two interesting stories about each state, and
a 'State Facts' box. More than just a book of facts and stories,
students can also play geo quizzes as they progress in learning all
their state facts.
Though the book above can stand on its own, putting it with the
accompanying workbook gives families a 36-week lesson plan for an
organized study of United States geography. The thick, 264-page
student manual lays out a plan to do four lessons each week and
includes a CD with all the pages available for printing - ideal if
you have several children in your family. The workbook corresponds
with the text; each day the students learn about the state being
studied. The pages have just the right amount of work for an
elementary student. At the bottom of each page students are told
to either move on or to stop. This is great for students who are
ready to work independently. There is a quiz each week on Day 4,
as well as two exams (one for the end of each semester). The student
book has lots of black and white drawings and illustrations, and
the activities are definitely designed to keep their attention.
Students spend their year studying both the text and the student
manual, playing games, and doing map work and quizzes. At the end
of the year they will be able to recall important state facts, the
capitals, which states border each other -- and more!
If you're looking for an organized, easy to implement program for
your elementary students, you'll definitely want to check out the
Star Spangled States book and workbook. Together they provide a
thorough, fun way to learn about the United States!
-- Cindy Prechtel, http://www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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Weepy Girls
"Ugh -- this was not a problem when I homeschooled my two boys.
I am at my wit's end with my two girls, ages 13 and 10. I know
they are at an age that is often 'trying', but they are driving
me batty with their over-emotional natures. A little background
-- I am not a weepy person -- I'll cry tears of happiness watching
a school play or a graduation, but I am not one to cry in frustration.
My girls, however, start the waterworks at the drop of a hat! It
pushes my buttons to the max. An example would be: I give my 10
year old daughter a placement test in spelling, prep her by telling
her I don't care how she scores -- it's designed for her to miss
some -- no pressure, just for fun, etc. She does the test, I tell
her 'Nice job', and STILL the tears, because 'I could have done
much better'. The 13 year old had tears (same day) when the 10
year old read aloud her little composition and she realized it was
better than hers. These aren't bratty fits -- they are weepy tears
about performance. I really don't get it -- I don't grade, don't
yell if they get something wrong, and I'm about the most relaxed
homeschooler I know. I also don't give them attention for this
behavior, but mostly tell them to leave the room until they can
get a hold of themselves. We do lots of different, fun activities,
and I have no qualms about dropping school altogether for the day
if some fun field trip comes up. Why do they put so much pressure
on themselves? My encouragement and 'no big deal' pep talks are
not cutting it. Is this something I just have to wait out, or does
anyone have ideas? Thanks in advance." -- KleenexMom
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Our Readers' Responses
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"I think I'll buy stock in Kleenex Corporation and you just let them
keep crying (just kidding!) How about talking to the 13-year-old and
asking her to set a better example for her younger sister? I'm wondering
if they're feeding on each other's reactions, and if one gets it under
control, maybe the other will too.
Each time they have an episode of tears, have them back up, examine
what brought it on, and how they might have responded more appropriately.
Then do a role-play: re-enact the entire scenario, and practice the
better way of handling it. They simply need to replace one habit with
a better one, but it will take conscious effort.
You might try also to do some character lessons on self-control,
cheerfulness, unselfishness, humility, perseverance -- there are a
lot of areas that might apply.
Just last night I began reading 'The Crazy Makers' by Carol Simontacchi.
The subtitle is 'How the Food Industry Is Destroying our Brains and
Harming Our Children'. The book presents the connection between diet
and emotional behavior. I haven't read enough to give you any specifics,
but as I was reading, it made me think of your girls. You might be
interested in looking at it." -- Mary Beth
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"Dear KleenexMom -- I have three girls, ages 12, 10, and almost 8.
You definitely are not alone. But clearly the waterworks are
reserved for mom only. In one word? Hormones. I have found that
occasionally providing alternative teachers provides a chance for
the girls to maintain their composure for someone else. This can
be a one-time special guest teacher on a specific topic, a short-term
tutor for a certain subject, or a co-op with other homeschoolers
where classes are taught to the children by the parents of the
participating families. If tutors are too expensive, find ways to
trade, if possible. For example, my dancing skills can provide a
class to my friend's children while her foreign language abilities
can jump-start my children into a new language.
My girls are very good for other teachers as they keep their hormones
at bay. Besides, it gives me a break and them a fresh approach to
learning something new. It isn't a cure, but an idea for a reprieve.
I look forward to ideas from others that can provide assistance while
'waiting out' the ebbs and flows of the hormonal roller coaster.
Meanwhile, have another tissue." -- American mom in Shanghai (with a
box of Kleenex)
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"Dear KleenexMom -- I was not a 'weepy girl'; however, when pregnant
with my daughter I was waterworks central.
Songs on the radio, clothes or toys for new baby girl, long distance
commercials, all would trigger uncontrollable sobbing. (remembering
fondly... LOL)
My daughter is now 12 years old. Since she was 9, we've had issues
with crying. I once came home from work to my hubby at the door
saying, 'She's been crying for two hours and I don't know what to do!'
When I went in her room, she said (between chest-racking sobs) 'I
started (sob) crying (sniff) and I don't (sob) remember why (sniff,
snuff) and now I can't stop.'
It happened 3 to 4 times that 9th year, and gradually became monthly
last summer. So I know she cycles hormonally -- she just doesn't have
her period to show for it. I've noticed that she gets extra sensitive
during my PMS time. We've had chats (not during PMS time) about how
hormones can effect your perception of what others do and your ability
to react calmly. Biggest thing she needs when in stress, though, is
just for me to be there. The first few times were really hard. I
wanted to leave the room for awhile or yell for her to 'just snap out
of it'. Gradually she's started to recognize when she begins to
over-react and when her hormones are raging. I just realized it's
been several months since she's had an extended crying episode." -- Jo
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Answer our NEW Question
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"I am a mother of 4 (ages 1, 2, 5, and 8 ), I currently am finishing
up 2nd grade and kindergarten. My oldest, a girl, does not like to be
left to do her worksheets because she wants to do the 'fun' things her
brother is doing in kindergarten. I have explained that she did these
activities and I don't mind her doing them again - IF she completes her
work also. However, when it comes time to focus on her work, she begins
to act as though she were never taught the lesson. An example of this:
She completed a book exam and was ready for the next math book. The first
two lessons of the next book are nothing but review of the previous book.
Seat work that should have taken 10 to 20 minutes to complete took nearly
an hour and a half. The concepts were so simple that my frustration
mounted at each missed question. No matter how I presented the material
(10 + 4 = 14), she just sat and guessed every number around the right
answer. How do you get past days like this? It's not just math -- it's
all subjects. Needless to say, I cannot spend every moment with her.
The other child must be educated and the babies have needs also.
Suggestions?" -- Abbie
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Do you have some guidance or encouragement for Abbie?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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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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