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Teaching kids about Florida – A Response

Mary Ann — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:37:43 +0000

Owen Spencer wearing his French barrett

Some time ago I received an email from a mom who was taking her family to Florida. She was having some trouble coming up with ideas for her Closet that would introduce her children to the state they were going to visit. So she asked for help. I shared just a smidgin of what I sent to her on a blog called “Fun ways to learn about Florida for Kids”.

The very next day she emailed back and confirmed what I have taught in my classes for two years. When you step out and start, resources (thoughts) show up.

The Closet is a magical tool which can help you help your children love learning and love being together as a family. But it can’t do its job unless you do yours – start. So if you have been reading this blog for a while, if you have taken the Closet Mastery course, or have attended a presentation and still do not have a working Closet – then start. Start tomorrow with what you have. Start despite any fears or worries. Just start. When you start everything that you need will begin to show up! Your children will love it no matter how bumpy the beginning is. JUST START AND RESOURCES WILL SHOW UP!

I want you to see what happens when you just start even if you are scared, don’t know anything or are afraid so I am sharing Leah’s email with you – with her permission : )

Being Vikings in Norway at Epcot

“I emailed you during some feelings of doubt in my efforts and frustration (you may have been able to tell). My 9 year old, Miles, was looking over my shoulder reading my email to you, so I was a little embarrassed that he may have seen it. I tell you that because I wanted to start TODAY with Florida stuff. So I did just that…just stared…..started with a map.

[We did some] labeling, tracing, and coloring. We traveled from Utah on the map state by state. We looked at all of the states we will fly over and talked about what we might see out the window.

Then we got into the explorer Ponce de Leon for a while and are getting more info on him and his explorations. We talked about the American Revolution and how Florida was under Spanish rule.

Ella and Miles dancing in a German restaurant

Then we got to the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys; now we are studying bridges, how they are constructed and even building a bridge for the hot wheels out of Popsicle sticks. [That] got us [talking about how] cars came about because the original bridge wasn’t necessarily designed for automobiles. What was it like to live without cars, when in history did they start to have cars. Then we went into boats and how they cross these bridges. We built a bridge out of Unifix cubes and tried at dinner to use our spoons and forks to understand just how they could anchor pillars or the like into the ocean to sustain a seven mile long bridge!

Then we got into how long seven miles is and the running race they have on that bridge every year. I could go on and on, ALL in ONE day. And we could have done more.

Payton and his favorite president - Epcot

I was exhausted though and ran out of time! : ) Now I have so much more to go on thanks to you. The kids are thrilled [and say that] it makes “a lot more sense when they know more about the place they are going.” We are leaving [in] Jan. – I am thinking we aren’t going to have enough time to get thru all this by then!

Thank you thank you for you quick response. I do have a lot of faith in you and always will!

Love,
Leah

Leah and her family have returned from their trip to Florida. It was AMAZING!! One of the things that made it so amazing was using the Closet to plan ahead and teach her boys. It got them very excited and created great anticipation, which is what the Closet is for!! Having a Master Inspire Plan can help you do this on a regular basis. Watch for her blog about what actually happened on their trip to Florida.

Do you want to become a SPARKS expert like Leah? The Closet Mastery Course will teach you how to recognize sparks and how to respond to them.

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Win Some FREE Tickets!!!

Mary Ann — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:31:42 +0000

Join me for an exciting day of LEARNING!

March 3 I am doing an all day Parenting Workshop in Salt Lake City and I would like to give a few tickets away (ticket includes your spouse) to my readers who are close enough to attend.

Would you like to understand:
• What causes overwhelm? It isn’t about time!
• Learn to control your negative thoughts for more powerful parenting
• Some tools to create a greater parent/child connection.
• The power of relationships when teaching your children.
• How to create feelings of peace rather than tick things off a list, and have an epiphany about time management in your family

If this is information that would be of value to you then drop me an email. I will put all the names in a pot and draw a few out on Saturday Feb 25. I would love to have you there! (majcoach@gmail.com)

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Importance of Family Culture in Core Phase

Mary Ann — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:58:39 +0000

Core is about families learning together

An interesting letter was posted on a home school group that I visit regularly, TJED Muse. Donna Goff made a reply that I think has merit and can be of assistance to any modern day parent. She has graciously given me permission to share it with you. I hope that you enjoy her comments as I did.

Core Phase and Family Culture

In an email to the group you said, “Yesterday, my husband basically told me that he thinks the kids should be in school.”

You also said, “But I need ideas about how to help myself, my husband, and my kids be inspired once again. The ages of my kids are 9 boy, 7 girl, and 3 boy.”

So I am responding. I do not wish to offend, yet sometimes when I respond and share, it can put people on the defensive.

You also said, “We do opening exercises every morning, but then it’s on to getting math and writing done so we can have free time.

Kids with a solid core phase transition to love of learning

After reading the rest of the post it looks like the core of the issue is the need to revisit the core phase. Most boys (about 60%+) tend to slide into core phase after girls by a year or two. Kids with a solid core phase transition into love of learning.

If these are the issues, then school is not likely to rectify them, because these other issues will still undermine their progress at school:

* The father’s example and computer distractions- “My husband also acknowledges that he has been part of the problem….He’s on the computer a lot…programming for fun…at least he’s not a gamer. But the kids see that the computer is the place to be.”

* An over Busy mom, leaving little time for education and lack of structure. – “I have been more than busy this fall, and am ashamed to say that the education of the children has been sorely lacking.” “I am taking steps to simplify my life so that I can be a better educator and mom.” “And I haven’t been as diligent as I need to be in structuring enough time for their education or mine.”

All of these issues are core phase issues and deal with family culture. One needs to take an inventory of where they are, envision where they want to be, and look at what family ways and traditions will provide fertile soil for this to grow, fruit, and develop.

What is core phase?

I think that too often people over intellectualize core phase; meaning they think if they can describe it, they have it, or they think because they read scriptures they have their core. In DeMille’s TJEd book he writes about where we start. We start with ourselves and our core book. We drink from it everyday. We align our lives with it. We use it to measure truth. We teach it to our children. If we are not living what we proclaim, our children see the dichotomy and know we talk the talk and do not walk the walk. We must start with ourselves. We need to also work on improving our marriage. A house divided is not likely to stand.

Quite frankly, if they know, but do not do, they really do not know. Core phase is where our core values and relationships with God, family, and society are formed. The curriculum is work, play, and worship together. Core phase is an action phase. It is where they learn consistency through daily family work and family routines.

The curriculum is work, play, and worship together.

Core Phase is about Family

Core phase is not about assignments, it is not about chores, it is not about independent child routines. It is about family. When a couple marries they set up routines, whether or not children enter the picture. As each child comes along they are integrated into those routines, they work and play along side their parents. This way the parents can teach by precept and example. They can take advantage of teaching moments; they build relationships, and pass on values.

When a child does chores they are isolated from the parent and siblings. Teaching moments are missed. Many opportunities to ask questions and build trust are lost. Key values and weightier matters are less likely to be passed on. When a child works side by side with an adult they see their worth and value as a needed part of the team.

An adult does a task to finish it and to do it well. When a child works with the adult they develop the habit and discipline of finishing quality work. This is where character and work ethic are forged. As they grow they want to demonstrate they are growing and they step out and show they can do an adult job. Meanwhile, as they play imaginatively you will see they are practicing being adults in many ways.

When a child works with the adult they develop the habit and discipline of finishing quality work.

Work, play, and family worship are the vital curriculum of the core phase.

That said what about reading, writing, and arithmetic?

When a child works with the adult they develop the habit and discipline of finishing quality work.

How does a child learn to read in core phase? A child that lap reads the scriptures with their parents will most likely learn to read and also they are more likely to value the scriptures. A child who is read to from both good classic children’s fiction and non fiction sources is more likely to develop a large vocabulary and gain a broad base of knowledge.

How does a child learn to write in core phase? If the family begins journaling, keeping lists, writing letters, the children will most likely learn to write, view writing as a tool that helps them and is important. In our stocking stuffers each year our children get a ream of white paper and a new journal.

How does a child learn arithmetic in core phase? Engage your children in cooking, doubling recipes, learning to sew, measuring, reading weather thermometers and recording the temperature, taking nature walks, being inquisitive. Start a “Tinder Binder” and write down questions that come up and things of interest that come up while reading or discussing the news. Take kids grocery shopping; I call it living math. I explain why I feel a certain product meets our needs and is the best price for us and why. They will learn to think.

Foundational Tools of Learning:

Gaining the foundational tools of learning need not be so academic–”Now we will spend 10 minutes learning math.” These tools are natural to obtain, lessons can come later. After all, they learned to talk without having grammar lessons.

Take some wild days and crazy days; go to the zoo, a museum, or nature preserve. Help them keep a binder and scrap book these outings. Write what they want written until they can write for themselves. Do not push. Do not complain. Keep your own!

My first round of homeschooling was back in the 1980s in Colorado. My kids were young. We moved to Loveland from Denver. My husband had a job with a major computer company. We put our kids back in school when we moved because the principal made promises to us. He did not keep those promises and our kids were back home within a month. Unfortunately we got a new TV and a computer. They became major distractions. Because our kids were distracted my husband put them back in school. It solved nothing and made more challenges for me. We moved to Utah and I began homeschooling again. I learned that the problems were not solved by putting kids in school.

I have since learned that the same things that make for a successful home school are the same things that make for a successful public or private school experience. It is not the place where the academics take place that makes the most difference. Conversely, the same things that undermine home school undermine learning elsewhere. The key is the home culture and the very core!

God bless.

Mahalo,
Donna

Donna Goff

Donna Goff lives in Utah with her husband Roger and their two youngest children. Donna was born in the Midwest and raised in Hawaii. She and her husband are parents of four sons and three daughters 13-33. She is grandmother of two granddaughters and seven grandsons, one grandson on the way all under eight! She has home educated her children since the early 1980s, and been doing TJEd since 1995.

Donna earned her BA in Fine Art and Design from Brigham Young University ‘80, 5 Pillar Certification ‘06, and MA Ed. George Wythe University ‘08, Cum Laude. Donna has been a keynote speaker and has presented at dozens of conferences in California, Nevada, Utah and Virginia, since 1995. She created Mentoring Our Own TJEd Yahoo Group in 2002. She founded Moor House Academy, a TJEd private cyber-school and cottage school / home education hybrid in 2002. Donna and her daughters co-founded The Princess Academies in 2009, an organization for mothers and daughters promoting a whole education for girls. Donna loves to be a wife and mother; she also loves to learn, create, provident living, gardening, hiking, stained glass murals, sharing, being a frugalite and life!

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Ways to Become the Best Grandparent Ever

Mary Ann — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:45:59 +0000

Don and I and four of our 11 grandchildren

People tell me all the time, “Your grandkids are so lucky. I wish my parents were like you.” I just roll my eyes because I know the truth.

The truth about being a grandparent!

What is the truth?
• I love my grandchildren passionately.
• I get tired easily when I have the grandkids.
• I don’t always know what to do with them.
• When they are far away I don’t always contact them regularly.
• I need help so I don’t rely on technology, candy or paid events.

My son Seth's son - Kane

Being a grandparent is just about the best thing that has ever happened to me but I am 62. I am no longer 31 and these children do not live with me 24/7 and I don’t know what every baby word means, what their crying means…… That’s what moms and dads know.

My daughter Marie's children - Lizzy, Kash, Ashley, Aubrey and Parker Booth

Marie's new addition - Matilda Kate

How to be the best grandparent ever!

So what are the things I do with grandchildren, so that people think I am the best grandmother ever? I get help!
• I have a set time to visit those children who live close. Then I get it done.
• I use a Traveling Closet so that when I am there I know what to do.
• I write Closet Letters to those who are far away. Even if I only send 3-4 a year they think it is wonderful.
• When I babysit at my home or theirs mom leaves me a list!!

My daughter Jodie's children - Maggie, Jodie, Mary, Jack and #4 due in a few weeks!

Doug and Jodie's oldest, and my oldest grandchild, Michael.

The “What to do with Grandkids” List

What is on the list you want to know? Well, I watched them in their home for about 5 hours last week. Here is the list:

A deep bath (this means fill the tub, watch vigilantly and splash the bathroom mercilessly. Fun!!)

Breakfast
Family Prayer
Get Dressed (two are potty training so this happened all day long!)
Brush teeth
Make beds, hang pj’s, fold towels (this is called Family Work). By the way the list so far took from 7am-9am. Two hours down. : )
Traveling Closet – it contained slates and chalk, books, and cake mix (baking the cake took until 10am. Three hours down.
Book on tape while rolling on floor
Snack
Watching Charlie and Lola (my favorite!) Whoa its time for me to go and the list wasn’t done! Here is what was left.
Go outside
Make a fort in Maggie’s bed
Play in the tent on Jack’s bed
Vacuum (they love taking turns pushing the vacuum)
Read
Put on the music CD and dance and sing
Play dress up
Play on the mini piano’s
Paint
See what is in their Closet

My daughter made this list for me and it was stuck to the refrigerator. It made my job so much easier. If you want your mom and dad to be the best grandparent ever then ask them to take the kids occasionally and give them a long list of what they can do. Send them the blog about Closet Letters and inspire them. Show them you’re Closet and tell them about the Traveling Closet. This would help grandparents to better understand their role with their grandchildren.

Most of all remember that when we know what to do we do a better job. Then we don’t need to rely on TV, movies, theme parks, etc. So help them out!

PS I took lots of fabulous pictures with my youngest daughter’s camera but they are stuck there! No one can get them off. You can’t email them, you can only send them to somewhere on the internet but gosh…we just don’t know where!!

If you or your parents need some help having some great ideas for the Closet, the Traveling Closet or Closet Letters then maybe the Rockin Closet Subscription Packet is for you. Check it out!

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Teaching pre-math, reading, and music to children

Mary Ann — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:45:06 +0000

My friends, the Bunkels

The organ begins to play and four sets of small hands grab hymn books and begin turning pages. Gabby was 6 when this ritual began. Roxy was 5, Danny was 2 and Kyle was 4. The three oldest knew how to count and could recognize letters up to the 30’s or so. So how does a child find hymn 341? This lead me on an adventure in teaching pre-math, reading and music on Sunday.

Teaching pre-math to children at church!

This was the beginning of our Sunday Pre-math. I showed the children where the hymn numbers for the day were posted. Then each Sunday one of them would ask just as we sat down in the pew, “So the first hymn is 1-2-6?” “Yes, and that is said page one hundred and twenty six.”

Gabby, Roxy and their cousin Kyle

Next I showed them how to find a page higher than 30 when that was as high as they knew how to count. “First find a page with a 1 as the first number. Good. Now you need to find a page with a one and a two at the beginning. See this page has a one and a three. Opps you have gone too far. Go back some pages. Look this page has a 1 and a 2 and an 8. You are almost there. Good job!” Here we go teaching pre-math – naming numbers, sequencing numbers, patterns, etc

For the next 100+ Sundays we would go through this ritual three times, opening song, rest song and closing song. That gave us a lot of time to practice learning the names of larger numbers, remembering what they look like and how to find a hymn in the hymnal.

Daniella, Danny for short

Gabby is now 8, Roxy is 7, and Kyle is 6. Gabby can find any hymn in the book and she can say the number correctly. Roxy can find any hymn in the book given enough time and she can say most of the numbers correctly. Kyle is just starting to find the numbers, that is, when he is motivated to do so. : ) Danny, well she is three and just beginning to notice that everyone else seems to know something she doesn’t. She has begun to pick up a hymnal and ask for help. Gabby or Roxy help her find the right page and I have even seen them pointing out where on the page we are signing. Now Gabby and Roxy are teaching pre-math to Danny.

Teaching music to children at church

After we began learning how to find the hymns we began learning a bit about music, how the words in a song flow for example. I would point out each word as we sang it, first in one child’s book and then in another. I would show them where their eyes should go at the end of each line and where to go when a verse ended. Pointing out the words helped them read and stay with the hymn. It amazed me how studious they were about this. They really did want to sing the songs with everyone else.

Gabriella, Gabby for short

Teaching reading to children at church

Gabby has to work extra hard with reading. However, I see her moving her finger along with each word, staying right where she should be for the most part. I see her lips moving as she tries to read the words. She misses many because music moves right along but she gets more and more all the time. There are a lot of strategies to teach reading but just making it part of life seems to be a great way to do it.

For Roxy reading comes more easily and she misses only the really big words. However, this last Sunday I noticed that she was singing all the words but just couldn’t stay with the music. She was singing each line as you would read a sentence so she was always ahead. Time for another music lesson!

“Roxy, do you see that little black circle? It means the word is sung for a short time. Do you see that little white circle? Well, that means you sing the word for a longer time. Then I demonstrated what I meant. Love vs. loooove. Then as we sang I pointed to each word or syllable, as the case may be, and said long, short, short, short, short, long, and so forth. (I am no musician but I am willing to give it a shot!)

Roxanna, Roxy for short

When we started all those many weeks ago none of the children knew how to find a hymn in the book. Now they can all find them, some with no help and some with a little help. The girls can say the names of a fairly big number. When we began no one sang. Now they sing many words and I believe they are going to catch right on to musical timing.

I love to sing. I don’t do much singing right now. I do a lot of pointing and explaining but I have to say that I find it as satisfying as singing!! There are so many opportunities to teach pre-math, music and reading if we are just watching for them.

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Applying an effective core phase – Guest Blog

Mary Ann — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:41:17 +0000

Core is about family being together

Many parents struggle to apply an effective core phase. They can define it but can’t figure out how to do it. This was just the question posed by a young mother on an online group site. The answer given below, by Donna Goff was, in my opinion, AMAZING and I really wanted to share it with you all. Having her permission, I can.

I myself graduated in 1968 so her response really resonated with me. I hope that you all find this as helpful as I did.

What does 1973 have to do with anything? You make me smile! In this case what we do not know may just be a stumbling block. Most can describe and rattle off the purposes and aims of the core phase and even list the curriculum. Visualizing it and putting it into action is another story. Hence, in many homes children are ignored while mom checks out on the computer in search of the silver bullet, or children lay all day and develop electronic dependence. We may be able to define core, but why do so many people have a struggle applying an affective core phase?

1973 is the year I graduated from high school. Most of those who graduated from high school that year started school in 1960. Those were children born 10 years after the war. They were the first TV generation. When they get nostalgic for nuclear family they often turn to the role models they had– the Cleavers, Nelsons, Reeds…

The week I graduated from high school I remember the head lines. The class of 1973 was the first time that a majority of both males and females graduating wanted professional degrees.

I watched as my peers went to college. These were youth that were raised in the home and not in institutions during their preschool years. Very few were in preschool or day care as it was called back then. Kindergarten was non academic.

Working with parents helps children learn

Head start was not even created until 1965! It is a product of the second turning. It was designed for the children of the working poor.
These were children from less stable homes where advantages were few to prepare children for school and life.

In the late 70s most parents still resisted “outside of family” solutions for care of children while working. Government wanted more tax payers and business wanted more consumers. “Stay at home” moms were degraded. Preschool was sold as a benefit. I knew women that actually went to work to be able to offer their children the “advantage” of preschool!

All of this struck blows to the core phase and often undermined family and even stable adult life because most children were simply not getting the skills they needed for a whole life in institutional and latchkey settings.

Those born after 1973 were more likely to have been institutionalized young or were latchkey. Many were raised in a broken home. If they did work at house work at home it was either irregular (when it became no longer something a parent could endure) or task (individual chore) oriented rather than working together. Therefore most were less like to have structure and understanding of systems. School was the only structure in many lives. So when home school moms seem to struggle with running a home and doing homeschool (especially when mom has access to the distraction of the internet) children are often sent to school or ignored. Usually, moms have told me they were sending their children to school for a more structured experience, which translated= discipline. Recreation became something that each person did next to each other, whether running, skiing, watching a movie, TV, or gaming. There was less and less interaction.

Spend time with your children-they want you

I have been homeschooling for almost three decades. I have watched trends come and go. If we want to succeed, we must start with ourselves. We also have to realize that the paradigm of early childhood academics is the new kid on the block and has not yielded promised results. When we realize that, we can ditch the guilt and do what is in the true best interest of our children. We can free ourselves to do core and love of learning without being over anxious and without falling for the “silver bullet” myth. There are no short cuts. This is real life. I am not saying that children cannot and do not succeed in other settings. However, I feel those who succeed
without a healthy core phase home are the exception rather than the rule.

It took me years to realize this. What tipped me? When a mom said, “What do I do with my children so I can care for my home?” She had no idea that she should do it with them. That was something taken for granted in most homes during the preschool years of those who graduated before 1973; even more so for those generations before TV became a distraction.”

Thank you Donna!

Lots of ages can make for lots of fun!

I am frequently asked “How can I use the Closet when I have so many children of different ages.” I respond with “Well how do you prepare dinner or give baths or read as a family or go on a trip in the car. School isn’t any different. Using the Closet isn’t any different.” That’s when I get the stare. The blank look was the tip off for me. I realized that my question askers didn’t even know what I was talking about because doing things as a family has become such a foreign experience.

Let’s get back to family. Let’s work together. Let’s read together. Let’s talk and listen together. Let’s learn together and enjoy one another’s presence. Let’s develop a skill that has slowly been lost – doing things with another person not just by another person.

Let me end with an example of what we are talking about here. There is a couple who live downstairs from me. One day as I came home I could see them out on the deck with no children around. “You guys having a date.” “Yup”, they responded. As I rounded the hedge I saw them each playing a game on their separate cell phones – but they were on a date!

Kids learn what they see and experience. Let’s let them experience the opportunity to learn skills by our side. That is the essence of Core.

Donna Goff

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Kids Learn about Octopuses or Octopi

Mary Ann — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:51:31 +0000

Kids learning about octopuses

Ring! Ring! “Hello.” “Grandma, I want to learn about octopuses.”

That of course was this weeks Traveling Closet. When there is a “spark” you have to jump on it. Remember my elephant fiasco?

What is octopus plural, octopi?

According to Merriam-Webster, throughout history the word “octopus” has been pluralized as octopuses, octopi, and the more unusual octopodes. Any of the three options is fine proving that grammar isn’t always black and white. This is a fact that we learned while using our Traveling Closet. Jack, Maggie and I just thought you would like to know.

Books, books, books! We always start with books. These children love books and the books that help kids learn about octopuses were no exception.

Mary, Maggie and Jack loved learning about octopuses

This was the funniest thing we learned in our books – The octopus has a squirter (siphon or funnel) and he uses it to shoot backwards. We practiced sucking in air and shooting it out as fast as we could and letting our hands shoot backwards. Mary loved it, Jack was a bit unnerved, Maggie just laughed.

Facts and Information about Octopus for Kids

Want a few more amazing facts to help kids learn about octopuses?

An octopus can open a jar lid to get at the food inside.
The octopus has a parrot-like beak – yikes and he isn’t even a bird!
An octopus has eight arms and no legs.
An octopus has no bones so it can wiggle into very tiny spaces.
An octopus hunts for food at night.
If an octopus is under attack it can squirt a cloud of black ink and get away.
Moray eels like to bite of octopus arms for lunch!
An octopus can change its color very fast from black to white to red.
An octopus can change the texture of its body so he is very hard to find.
An octopus home or lair is called a midden.

Octopus craft/activities for kids

Next we made a wonderful octopus craft for kids. I love crafts that cost no money and use what we already have at home. In this case we used toilet paper rolls, construction paper, tape, wiggle eyes and stickers from the office. (See another octopus craft with paper bag.)

Step by step instruction for making toilet paper roll octopus craft:

Cut the toilet paper roll in half. Measure it on your construction paper and draw a pencil line. Cut eight strips (arms) from the edge of the paper to the pencil line.

Glue or tape the construction paper to the toilet paper roll with the arms hanging down.

Roll the arms on a pencil or marker so they curl up.

Glue on the wiggle eyes and add the sticker suckers on the arms.

As usual we ended our day with another very silly book about an octopus who almost became soup. The pictures were funny and Maggie, who is 5 ½ laughed and laughed at the silly things that went on.

I must confess that we did not eat any octopi for lunch! We found chocolate teddy grahams, cheese and hot dogs to be much more satisfying.

Do you find yourself longing for an easy way to keep your closet filled with fun activities, recipes, experiments, music and projects. Take a look at the Rockin Closet Idea Packet which comes monthly to your in box. Feel the luxury of opening the Rockin’ Closet Idea Packet and having dozens of crafts, projects, recipes, books and family activities at your fingertips on a wide array of topics.

Books for kids about octopi

Octopuses by Michele Spirn
The Octopus by Mary M. Cerullo
Octopus soup by Mercer Meyer
Cowboy and Octopus by Jon Scieszka – I do not like this book but Maggie (5 1/2) laughed uproariously!
Octopuses, Squids, and their relatives by Beth Blaxland
Octopuses by Carol K. Lindeen
An Octopus is Anoying by Patricia Lauber
Gentle Giant Octopuses by Karen Wallace
My Very Own Octopus by Bernard Most
An Octopuses Garden by Stephanie Steve-Borden
Octopus Socktopus by Nick Sharratt
Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom by Etta Kaner

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Tools for Educating Special Needs Families – The Scenic Route: Part 2

Mary Ann — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:58:04 +0000

The Hansen Family - Gannon, Jace, Zoie, Ranee, Lynzie, Joshua, Pete

This is part 2 of a two part series on Leadership Education for Special Needs Families

Tools for Educating a Special Needs Family

In reference to our learning experiences, we have called our educational tool, The Closet, the “Joy Cabinet.” We have learned some wonderful techniques from the children’s therapists which provide calming input and allow them to focus on learning. We like to put sensory based activities in our Joy Cabinet such as sand paper for putting under a piece of paper and writing their name over the top, or rice to trace letters or numbers in, or using milk caps to learn counting and patterns.

We use things like weighted compression vests, Chewie Tubes, weighted pencils and fidget toys to help our children stop focusing on their sensory issues and start focusing on listening to the story, coloring a picture or participating in some other activity we might do together.

We have found colored transparencies to be very beneficial to our oldest son who has dyslexia. Certain colors laid over the top of his words help the letters to stop trading places, flipping or disappearing, and he’s slowly learning to read.

Memorization activities are particularly fun for our special needs family, in particular, our youngest son who has an uncanny ability to memorize things he hears or sees. Nature walks are very joyful for our family and we like to collect specimens of plants, rocks, trees, or flowers, and bring them home and draw pictures of them in our sketch books. The children also like to learn adult skills like baking, cold meal preparation, sewing or planting pumpkin seeds and watching them grow. We have tailored our learning experiences to be all about joy!

Educating Special Needs Families is about Creation

One of my favorite sayings is “Plant your feet and bloom where you are planted.” I am not sure who said it but I learned it as a youth, at church, and it has always stuck with me. I believe that this statement has great application to our lives, particularly those of us who have special needs kids. I have used this statement before to illustrate the point that we are the experts in our own homes and families and that Leadership Education is not about checking out your neighbors back yard, but about creating your own back yard, to look like no other back yard in the world. But I believe this statement also has an application relative to the world of special needs families.

We have multiple children who have multiple special needs which means that life is constantly changing for us. This means that we often find ourselves standing on new ground. So…we plant our feet, bloom in the fertile soil of that particular season of life for a while, until that season is over and we find ourselves on a new plot of land. It’s all about attitude and enduring to the end. It’s so important to speak with the Master Gardener about our children! He knows what they can become and how best to inspire greatness within them. I know that He can provide every resource necessary for their proper growth and survival. Whenever I feel myself start to worry about what they know and don’t know, I ask Him to remind me of His plans and purpose for them.

Joshua, Gannon and Jace Hansen

I have often said that the path to attaining a Leadership Education twists and turns differently for each family. We are all headed to the same destination but for special needs families we get to take a more scenic route to get there! In the end we will reach our potentials and help our families to reach theirs. We will attain our Leadership Educations and fulfill our missions, and while we are at it, we just might become experts in the field of Changing Seasons and Soil Exploration…if there is such a thing. :0)

Ranee Hansen

Ranee and Pete Hansen have been married for almost 12 years and live inArizona. They are the parents of 5 (soon to be 6) beautiful and amazing children, most of whom have special needs that vary from nut Allergies, Asthma, Anxiety and Dyslexia to Cerebral Palsy, Autism, a Congenital Heart Defect and Genetic Disorders, (to name a few.) They have been homeschooling for about 4 years and are grateful for the opportunity to meet each of their children’s needs in unique and inspired ways. They feel honored and blessed to have been foster parents for 5 years, having a total of 22 children over that time period. Adoption is a very special part of their family culture and Ranee enjoys advocating for foster children, adoption and transracial families. As a family, the Hansen’s all know that they each have a personal and inspired mission to fulfill, and they enjoy discussions with their children, about the important work they were sent here to do!

If you want to really excite your kids and bring a sense of anticipation to your educational environment then The Closet Mastery Course may be just what you need.

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Leadership Education for Special Needs Families – The Scenic Route: Part 1

Mary Ann — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:08:12 +0000

The Hansen's - Zoie, Pete, Jace, Gannon, Ranee, Lynzie, Joshua

This is part 1 of a two part series on Leadership Education for Special Needs Families

Being the mother of special needs children is an honor and a privilege. The blessings that have come to our family, through the multiple special needs of our 5 (soon to be 6) children, cannot compare to anything else. We are blessed to see life through the unique perspective that only special needs can provide. Life is full of difficulties and challenges for every family. Homeschooling special needs kids provides opportunities for learning experiences beyond G-tube feedings, autistic ramblings at 3 a.m., dyslexia, anxiety issues and cerebral palsy, etc. (to name a few of ours.) Homeschooling special needs kids calls for thinking outside the box, inspiring in simple ways, and continual re-grouping and re-focusing of efforts, all the while enjoying the scenic route by which it all happens.

When educating special needs families think out of the box.

I’m the kind of girl that has always thought outside the box! I remember telling my mom when I did chores, when I was young, that “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” She didn’t always like the way I did my chores but as an adult this perspective helped us get through 5 years of foster care, being the parents of 22 children total (so far) and watching 17 sweet kiddo’s leave our arms. We could not have made it through those experiences if we didn’t learn how to think outside the box. Now, in our homeschooling experiences we are once again thinking outside that box. You know the one…it’s the box that says what everyone must learn, what everyone must know and what everyone must BE in this world. You have to see it a bit differently when educating special needs families.

Special Needs Families have a mission

This is where Leadership Education has been a real blessing to our family. Leadership Education has allowed us to see the great potential that each of our children has. It has allowed the children to be measured against their own potential and not their peers. Yes, even (and might I add, especially) special needs kids have a mission and great potential. What an honor it is to talk with my children about their missions in this life! They all know they have a mission, and when asked about them, the answers range anywhere from being a dad, a mom, a builder, a missionary or “A helper, Mom!” Our children have particularly enjoyed learning about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and how he slowly learned throughout his growing up years what His mission really was.

Zoie and Lynzie Hansen

Preparing our children for these missions has seemed quite overwhelming at times. (The last time I got overwhelmed was about a week ago!) I am learning that in order for me to keep peace in my life and my family I have to keep things simple! I try to take into account the learning styles of our children and apply those learning styles to the important truths I want them to know. This means that we learn lots of things in the form of music, poetry or rhymes, visual arts, the reading aloud of scripture stories and classics, and hands on activities and sensory based learning. We have lots of great discussions, usually brought on by a question one of the children asks. I still share what is mine, but in simple ways that are inspiring and interesting to the children.

When doctor’s appointments, surgeries or illness threaten the peace in our family I am learning to stop and breathe. I take a moment to evaluate the season of life we are in and I try to be patient with myself and allow that season to run its course. Most recently I overwhelmed myself with the pull of that darn conveyor belt. In our special needs family not all of our children are capable of being inspired the way typical children might be. Their challenges can overwhelm any exciting possibility and the constant life changes involved with doctor’s appointments, illnesses and surgeries, are enough to keep the door open to chaos.

I am learning something very important about myself. I find that chaos ensues and peace is threatened when I don’t make my own study a priority. You can’t fill your children’s cups when yours is empty. No matter the twists and turns life throws me I have to make “You, Not Them” a constant priority. In particular, I have to keep reading my personal cannon which includes my scriptures and all of my TJEd books. When I allow myself to forget the great principles of life then chaos takes over and the conveyor belt starts pulling at me. This is true for any person or family; but as the mother of special needs kids I find that I have to be even more vigilant about maintaining my life line to inspiration and not let anything divert my focus. Of course constant prayer is also extremely important.

Education for special needs families is an adventure!

Check back Monday for the completion of this article.

Ranee Hansen

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Teach kids about Leap Year and Leap day

Mary Ann — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:19:02 +0000

Shirley Kay, Cindy Lu and Mary Ann

My sister was born on February 28^th almost exactly two years after me. She has always been so happy to have been born on the 28^th and not on the 29^th. If she had been born on the 29^th she would have been born on what is called Leap Day, or Leap Year Day. If she had been born on February 29th she would have been a leap year baby and would have had only had 15 birthdays and she is 60 years old! Why is that?

The reason she would have had only 15 birthdays in 60 years is because she would have been born in a leap year.

What is a leap year?

Every four years a day is added to the calendar. It happens in a leap year. Every four years there is a year with 366 days instead of the usual 365. Amazing! Why is that?

Why do we need a leap year?

Leap year began in order to align the earth’s rotation around the sun with our seasons. It takes approximately 365.2422 days for the earth to travel around the sun in one year. We know that a typical year has 365 days in it—but as you can see from the number 365.2422, a year is not exactly 365 days! So, in order to get “lined up”, almost every four years, we give one extra day to account for the additional time the earth takes to travel around the sun.

When is Leap Year?

According to the Gregorian calendar every fourth year is a leap year.

For example 2008, 2012, 2016 are leap years.
Every hundredth year is not a leap year.
For example 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 are not leap years.
Every four hundred years has a leap year.
For example 2000, 2400, 2800 are leap years.

Another way to tell if it’s a Leap Year or not is by noting what day of the week the year starts and ends on. Every year January 1 and December 31(the first and last day of the year) fall on the same day of the week, unless, of course, it’s a Leap Year. Leap Years only occur in years that show January 1st landing on one day of the week and December 31 on the following day of the week.

If your children are older this is a good time to learn all about the difference between the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar.

Leap Year Trivia

Even Decades have three Leap Years – Odd decades have two Leap Years.

In Ireland, every February 29th, women were allowed to ask for a man in marriage. A man was fined if he refused the proposal. InAmericathis tradition is called Sadie Hawkins Day.

sadie hawkins day

In 1988, TIME magazine proclaimed Superman to be born on February 29; therefore he is a Leap Year Day Baby!

Superman

Did you know the Titanic sank in a Leap Year?

Leap Year Trivia Books:

The Leap year book Written by Barbara Sutton-Smith

Leap Year Rhymes:

Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone,
And that has twenty-eight days clear,
And twenty-nine in each leap year.
—Mother Goose

Twenty-eight days has February
A very light load for one month to carry
The other months have 2 and 3 more
Thirty and thirty-one being their big score

In Leap Years the days they do vary
Making 29 days in February

- Raenell Dawn

Leap Year Party Ideas:

You don’t have to be born on February 29 to enjoy Leap Day. It’s everyone’s extra day! So why not have a family party?

Jump rope:

THE JUMP ROPE RHYME

Leap Year, Leap Year
When will you be?
Every four years
Then you’ll see.
You want more?
We do too!
How many more
can you Leap to?

by Raenell Dawn

Color a leap year picture
Make a leap year bean bag
Play Leap Frog, an old pioneer game.
Find a Leap Frog - Buy some little plastic frogs (they are very inexpensive at Wal-mart and the like). Make up about 6 boxes of Jello following the directions on the Jello package, black works good. Put the frogs in a big Rubbermaid container and pour the Jello over the frogs. Tell the kids that the frogs are living in the black swamp and they have to dig in the dirt to find their frog. They love sticking their hands in the cold slimy Jello.
Have a Froggy Snack – Have cupcakes frosted with green frosting and have different jellybeans and decorations to make frog faces and red shoestring licorice for the tongues.

Leap Year Books for Children:

Leopold’s Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday by Dawn Desjardins
It’s My Birthday…Fianlly! by Michelle Whitaker-Winfrey
Leaps Day by Stephanie Bee Simmons
The Kangaroo Who Couldn’t Stop by Robert Cox
The Leap Year Book by Barbara Sutton-Smith
The Pirates of Penzance, a musical by William S. Gilbert and Arthur S. Sullivan
The Pirates of Penzance, the film version with Kevin Kline, Rex Smith and Linda Ronstadt William S. Gilbert and Arthur S. Sullivan
It’s Not Leap Year This Year by Michelle Whitaker-Winfrey
Mommy, Where’s My Birthday! by Lakisha Cornel

Leap Year Young Adult Books:

Leap Day by Wendy Mass

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