My idea of a good time is to visit someone with kids similar in age to my children and steal ideas from them. I don't steal any of their stuff but I love to look for new ideas. Of course online stalking is now available for people like me. However I find that seeing something worked out in someone else's home enables me to "steal" the idea, adopt it as my own and implement it well. I can "weed out" pitfalls better when I see and experience in real time, and space.
Today's takeaway thievery was the phrase "house rules." Heard it before. Know the phrase. But just had not thought to use it. Yesterday one of our cardinal rules against throwing toys was broke to the pain of my little girl. The offender was not disciplined so Abe figured that the rule had been rendered null and void. I had to disappoint him.
Today in another person's home we learned their house rule is to eat, you sit. The little girl of the house felt personally affronted by the blatant disobedience of her clueless friends. Her mother calmly explained that it was a house rule for their family that pertained still to her but was not house rules for her friends. It was clear. She communicated with just the right words I needed for next time around at my house. Idea stolen to be used soon!
So back to thievery. Do it! Go to people's houses and look how they organize, ask how they teach, watch how they parent and then copy something. One teacher said that true learners learn three new things in every session of every class while in school. I made it a goal in university to be that kind of learner and it paid off so when you are living a life that doesn't allow you to read a syllabus of books for your craft learn intentionally on the fly.
Thievery online is harder as I can't always judge if something just looks cute or is a winning ace in the hole for learning. So as far as websites go I am going to write down two. I know there are millions but I know one of these bloggers personally and the other blog has a wealth of stuff in a palatable lay out. Okay the truth, this lady gives me ideas that help me and not hinder me into feeling like I must teach Abe everything before he turns four while organizing my life into perfection.
One is a website of a past colleague who is teacher turned mom. Top notch teaching defined her. Her creativity, organization and energy is legendary. Her ideas on her website help me think about areas I want to work on with Abe. I know she implemented with an excellence I only dream about everything she blogs about. I know she is real and therefore her ideas sing. I am linking you HERE directly to her blogs on preschool homeschooling. There is only about a dozen of them but they are worth the read except maybe the first which is a book review. Her complete week of activities revolving around one piece of excellent children's literature inspired me immensely. Please don't miss her write ups complete with amazing, simple, and reproducible ideas on books like Snowy Days and Mike Mulligan. Personally I wish for more of her write ups from this talented lady. The few books she wrote about I own so if you live here and want the book for a week let me know!
The second website I suggest is Confessions of a Homeschooler. Okay so this lady pedals her wares on the internet but if you scroll down in her blogs to September 16th, 2013 you will find a wealth of ideas. She focuses on ONE LETTER for an entire week but her ideas are SO easy to "steal" and use with different letters. I loved the idea of poking out your letter with a thick needle. Needless to say my boy will be doing that this week with one of the five letters we will cover. Though she is selling curriculum ideas and worksheets she also has a lot of free printables and ideas that seem to work for multi-age families.
Please do you have any blogs you want to suggest or ideas you have "stolen."
Feel free to comment.
Don't worry I am almost off my home schooling kick it will be done in about a week.
As a past professional teacher who has taught in public, private and boarding schools this is a totally new experience and so far enjoyable. I am overflowing with fun currently, we will see at the end of the year.
Today's takeaway thievery was the phrase "house rules." Heard it before. Know the phrase. But just had not thought to use it. Yesterday one of our cardinal rules against throwing toys was broke to the pain of my little girl. The offender was not disciplined so Abe figured that the rule had been rendered null and void. I had to disappoint him.
Today in another person's home we learned their house rule is to eat, you sit. The little girl of the house felt personally affronted by the blatant disobedience of her clueless friends. Her mother calmly explained that it was a house rule for their family that pertained still to her but was not house rules for her friends. It was clear. She communicated with just the right words I needed for next time around at my house. Idea stolen to be used soon!
So back to thievery. Do it! Go to people's houses and look how they organize, ask how they teach, watch how they parent and then copy something. One teacher said that true learners learn three new things in every session of every class while in school. I made it a goal in university to be that kind of learner and it paid off so when you are living a life that doesn't allow you to read a syllabus of books for your craft learn intentionally on the fly.
Thievery online is harder as I can't always judge if something just looks cute or is a winning ace in the hole for learning. So as far as websites go I am going to write down two. I know there are millions but I know one of these bloggers personally and the other blog has a wealth of stuff in a palatable lay out. Okay the truth, this lady gives me ideas that help me and not hinder me into feeling like I must teach Abe everything before he turns four while organizing my life into perfection.
One is a website of a past colleague who is teacher turned mom. Top notch teaching defined her. Her creativity, organization and energy is legendary. Her ideas on her website help me think about areas I want to work on with Abe. I know she implemented with an excellence I only dream about everything she blogs about. I know she is real and therefore her ideas sing. I am linking you HERE directly to her blogs on preschool homeschooling. There is only about a dozen of them but they are worth the read except maybe the first which is a book review. Her complete week of activities revolving around one piece of excellent children's literature inspired me immensely. Please don't miss her write ups complete with amazing, simple, and reproducible ideas on books like Snowy Days and Mike Mulligan. Personally I wish for more of her write ups from this talented lady. The few books she wrote about I own so if you live here and want the book for a week let me know!
The second website I suggest is Confessions of a Homeschooler. Okay so this lady pedals her wares on the internet but if you scroll down in her blogs to September 16th, 2013 you will find a wealth of ideas. She focuses on ONE LETTER for an entire week but her ideas are SO easy to "steal" and use with different letters. I loved the idea of poking out your letter with a thick needle. Needless to say my boy will be doing that this week with one of the five letters we will cover. Though she is selling curriculum ideas and worksheets she also has a lot of free printables and ideas that seem to work for multi-age families.
Please do you have any blogs you want to suggest or ideas you have "stolen."
Feel free to comment.
Don't worry I am almost off my home schooling kick it will be done in about a week.
As a past professional teacher who has taught in public, private and boarding schools this is a totally new experience and so far enjoyable. I am overflowing with fun currently, we will see at the end of the year.
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