Organization/time management
Sibling Play Time
One of the blessings in homeschooling is that your children of different ages can learn to interact with one another no matter how many you have.
A great way to have all the siblings learn to get along with each other as individuals is to schedule individual play times during the day while you are working with other siblings or doing chores.
One way to do this is to have 15 minute or 30 minute time periods where you team the children up together. You could also have a teenager play with 1 or more pre-school or younger children.
Have different activities or toys that can be shared in bins or boxes so that you can rotate and keep the times interesting.
Put the timer on and let them play, even when things are going great and you would like them to keep on going, so you can get other stuff done! Stop them and teach them do a quick 5 minute clean up. This will help you down the line once they are used to it.
| | sandtje |
Science: general
Fun Astronomy/Planet/Solar System activity
This is a fun activity demonstrating the relative distances between the planets.
It comes from ''Exploring the Solar System'' by Mary Kay Carson.
Choose a very long (and quiet!) street, path, or parking lot. We used our church parking lot and drew the planets with chalk. Or, use rocks for markers.
To Get From: Sun to Mercury Walk: 3 steps
Mercury to Venus 2.5 steps
Venus to Earth 2 steps
Earth to Mars 4 steps
Mars to Jupiter 27.5 steps
Jupiter to Saturn 32.5 steps
Saturn to Uranus 72 steps
Uranus to Neptune 81.5 steps
Neptune to Pluto 71 steps | | luke15:10 |
| | Other
How Foods Can Affect Behavior
When my son was 4, I was still waiting for him to ''outgrow'' some of his behaviors. I thought it was the terrible 2's...then3's...then 4's??? When a dear friend, seeing my struggle at our field trip outing, offered her advice about artificial food coloring, specifically red dye that was just in several of the items in his ''lunchable'', I researched and was amazed at what I found. Some chemicals in foods effect many kids in the same way! It wasn't his fault! I was feeding him what I thought were healthy foods, including his vitamins, yogurt, and even jar pickles have dyes in them!! After lots of label reading and just eliminating foods that had the artificial dyes and flavors in them, I saw an unbelievable change in my son! He was not always hyper and bouncing off the walls, easily angered and frustrated, crying over the littlest things, but able to sit still and much happier! It was a bit daunting at first to ''go natural'' but so well worth it, and now I don't even notice. I do make a lot from scratch and usually bring my own cupcakes for him to eat at birthday parties, but it has been a change for the better for our whole family! If you want to look into this I suggest going online to Feingold Association. They will help you get started and learn more.
Blessings to you from a Less Frenzied Friend! | | julieandboys |
Other
NJ Homeschool Bill
There is a Bill in the assembly committee which threatens the great freedom that we have to homeschool in NJ. It would put unnecessary restrictions on us.
If either bill sponsor, Sheila Oliver (District 34, East Orange, Clifton, Glen Ridge, Montclair, West Patterson) or Harvey Smith (District 31, Bayonne City, Jersey City) is your assembly person, call them and courteously ask them to withdraw this bill. Your message can be as simple as, ''Please withdraw A. 3123. We don't need our taxes raised to pay for something as pointless as regulation that helps no one. Studies show that children in states with high homeschool regulation do no better than those in states with low homeschool regulation.''
Late note: Enoch has stated that we are to stop calling at this time and just pray and wait for the next step.
For more about see ENOCH's webpage under legislative update. http://www.enochnj.org
| | ygalick |
|