As we homeschool our children they will make big decisions about what they want to do in their adult lives. My daughter always wanted to be a veterinarian. So she found a veterinarian she could volunteer for and spent several years working with them. The hired her and helped support her throughout her college education as she studied. Today she is a practicing veterinarian in the same practice and loves her job. She made those decisons at a very young age. We helped provide her with opportunities to learn and she has excelled.
If your child wants to work in the human medical field getting experience is a little harder. They can become candy stripers at the local hospital and this will introduce them to what being around sick people is like. Or work in a nursing home as a volunteer. But a good foundation in human science will help them in their future studies. I found this course on Human Anatomy and Physiology. It is very short and will give them a good basis to start from.
Yes, your child may very well change directions many times in their younger years and explore many different options. This is a healthy approach. I have changed types of work several times in my adult life and have found each new experience rewarding and fun. Help them to explore and learn. Guide them to experience many different fields as their desires become known and the will grow up to be awesome!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Learn a New Language
We live in a multi-cultural world. In the past you could get by with just knowing the language that your parents knew. However, that has changed and it is important that we prepare our children for the world that they will enter as adults.
There are a multitude of reasons to broaden your children's language base. Some colleges require a foreign language. Travel to foreign lands are enriching if they can understand what the people are saying. Future employment can hinge on knowing more languages. People who know more than one language earn more money. Stretching their brains to learn something new is enriching and fun!
If you have access to someone who speaks a different language this is a great way to start the learning process! Who do you have contact with who would be proud to share their knowledge? My children were fortunate enough to know a woman who taught them the basis of sign language. She was a wonderful resource and they formed a life long friendship with her that continues to this day. My daughter is even teaching her little girl the rudiments of the language and started communicating with her long before she started talking! If you do not know someone who signs then this is an excellent resource. Sign Language is used world wide!
The most commonly used foreign language in the western part of the United States of America is Spanish. I have worked in many different environments where knowing it would havve been very benificial. It is also one of the most used languages world wide. Having a working knowledge of this language can have multiple benefits for your child as a future worker. An easy place to learn it and begin using it is located here. Spanish is easily learned on the internet.
Be creative! Write the words on paper and then post them around the house on the corresponding places. Getting your child to recognize the words on a subcouncious level will improve their learning speed. We have the ability as homeschooling advicates to increase their knowledge in ways that are not available through the public school. Have fun and enjoy the journey!
There are a multitude of reasons to broaden your children's language base. Some colleges require a foreign language. Travel to foreign lands are enriching if they can understand what the people are saying. Future employment can hinge on knowing more languages. People who know more than one language earn more money. Stretching their brains to learn something new is enriching and fun!
If you have access to someone who speaks a different language this is a great way to start the learning process! Who do you have contact with who would be proud to share their knowledge? My children were fortunate enough to know a woman who taught them the basis of sign language. She was a wonderful resource and they formed a life long friendship with her that continues to this day. My daughter is even teaching her little girl the rudiments of the language and started communicating with her long before she started talking! If you do not know someone who signs then this is an excellent resource. Sign Language is used world wide!
The most commonly used foreign language in the western part of the United States of America is Spanish. I have worked in many different environments where knowing it would havve been very benificial. It is also one of the most used languages world wide. Having a working knowledge of this language can have multiple benefits for your child as a future worker. An easy place to learn it and begin using it is located here. Spanish is easily learned on the internet.
Be creative! Write the words on paper and then post them around the house on the corresponding places. Getting your child to recognize the words on a subcouncious level will improve their learning speed. We have the ability as homeschooling advicates to increase their knowledge in ways that are not available through the public school. Have fun and enjoy the journey!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Home School vs Public School
The subject of home school vs public school does not have to be an all or nothing topic! Our desire to increase our students ability to learn and succeed should be the out come we are looking for.
Not all students learn each subject at the same rate. Unfortunately this is the way that classes are set up in public schools. A certain amount of subject matter must be covered each day and the student that can not keep up is soon left frustrated. Sometimes the subject matter is way behind the students learning curve and they loose interest and quickly become bored. Both of these instances lead to lower SAT scores. Lower enthusiasm for learning. Disrespect and less desire to interact with the learning process. This leads to behavior that is disrupting to the school and can lead to the students being expelled.
Finding the correct approach for each student to achieve at their highest ability should be the desire for all parents and educators. When students are excelling then schools are rewarded through more funding and parents can rest easy knowing that their children will have the tools they need to succeed in life.
But, how do we find that balance. Looking at their SAT scores is the first step. Then have a conversation with the student. What are they interested in? Space, animals, building are all subjects that can easily be encouraged. Understand that as they grow their interests may change. However, any one of those interests can be used to develop more knowledge in Science, Reading, English and Math.
My youngest daughter was fascinated with animals. When she was very young she informed me that she wanted a horse. I informed her that when she could afford the Vet bills she could have one. Her desire to work with animals never slowed down. This encouraged us to help her join a wildlife rehabilitation group and volunteer at a Veterinarian's office. She attended three years of public school before electing to study at home. At the age of sixteen she took her GED and entered college. Today she is a practicing Veterinarian with several years of work behind her. She also volunteers her time with a local Wildlife Rehabilitation organization.By finding what interested her and encouraging her she is well on her way to having a very fulfilling life and being a productive member of society!
One of the resources I have found since my children have left home is Kahn Academy on Youtube. It is full of awesome lessons that span the spectrum from elementary education to college level. This free resource is available to any one who has access to a computer. A total curriculum could be designed around this or you can use it to supplement a students level of education. Home School vs Public School can be a starting point to help all students succeed!
Not all students learn each subject at the same rate. Unfortunately this is the way that classes are set up in public schools. A certain amount of subject matter must be covered each day and the student that can not keep up is soon left frustrated. Sometimes the subject matter is way behind the students learning curve and they loose interest and quickly become bored. Both of these instances lead to lower SAT scores. Lower enthusiasm for learning. Disrespect and less desire to interact with the learning process. This leads to behavior that is disrupting to the school and can lead to the students being expelled.
Finding the correct approach for each student to achieve at their highest ability should be the desire for all parents and educators. When students are excelling then schools are rewarded through more funding and parents can rest easy knowing that their children will have the tools they need to succeed in life.
But, how do we find that balance. Looking at their SAT scores is the first step. Then have a conversation with the student. What are they interested in? Space, animals, building are all subjects that can easily be encouraged. Understand that as they grow their interests may change. However, any one of those interests can be used to develop more knowledge in Science, Reading, English and Math.
My youngest daughter was fascinated with animals. When she was very young she informed me that she wanted a horse. I informed her that when she could afford the Vet bills she could have one. Her desire to work with animals never slowed down. This encouraged us to help her join a wildlife rehabilitation group and volunteer at a Veterinarian's office. She attended three years of public school before electing to study at home. At the age of sixteen she took her GED and entered college. Today she is a practicing Veterinarian with several years of work behind her. She also volunteers her time with a local Wildlife Rehabilitation organization.By finding what interested her and encouraging her she is well on her way to having a very fulfilling life and being a productive member of society!
One of the resources I have found since my children have left home is Kahn Academy on Youtube. It is full of awesome lessons that span the spectrum from elementary education to college level. This free resource is available to any one who has access to a computer. A total curriculum could be designed around this or you can use it to supplement a students level of education. Home School vs Public School can be a starting point to help all students succeed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)