Homeschooling The Non Traditional Way

QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION

• What is the best education to give my children?
• Which school should I send them to?
• Government/Public school? Private school? International school? Chinese school?
• Should I send them to school?
• What about homeschooling? Homeschooling centre? Homeschool at home?
• What syllabus should I follow? Do I need to follow a syllabus?
• What about exams?

These are the questions I've asked myself. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

When did educating our children get so complicated?

I haven't talked much about homeschooling my daughter. She's now 14 and we started homeschooling last year.

I don't claim to know what I'm doing. It's like an experimental journey with her and circumstances keep changing. Anyway, below is MY reason for deciding to venture into homeschooling with her.

REASON FOR HOMESCHOOLING

• There were certain subjects in school she was not very enthusiastic about learning. I've learned that kids don't excel in things they don't like to do. You can force them to learn and tell them to endure but you'd kill their love for learning and creativity along the way.

• I don't want my children to be in a system that don't allow their true potential to shine through. School is a "one size fits all" idea.
  Albert Einstein says it perfectly: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

• I want to give her the freedom to learn things she will never learn in school. Once in school, she won't have time to do the things she like e.g. playing piano for fun, learning different languages, computer coding, reading books, playing badminton etc.... I don't want to criticize teachers but you have to admit that sometimes the homework they give is just a waste of time. I am not a fan of rote learning. I'd rather my kids play a puzzle or problem solving game on the computer than have them copy their exam paper on to their exercise book.

• I hate the idea that kids are learning just to pass exams and stressing out to get As. Learning should be about gaining knowledge, feeding curiosity, nurturing creativity or gaining a skill.

• You can learn almost anything online these days.

• She is able to work independently. I just need to point her in the right direction, and she can learn on her own. I don't need to carry a cane around, threatening to bring down the house just to get her to study. 

MY FEAR OF HOMESCHOOLING

Even with my many reasons to homeschool, I still have my fears. 

• What if I don't do her homeschooling correctly and screw up her future, and she can't get into any university? But then, does she really need to go to uni? There are so many ways to earn a living right? Which leads to the question... "What does she want to do?" and "How do we get her there?"

• There is safety in doing things the "traditional" way ie. follow a syllabus, sit for exam. But that's what I don't want in the first place... learning just to pass exams. It is scary to do things differently than what others are used to. It's like taking an unknown road hoping it leads to the right destination. 

MY HOMESCHOOLING PLAN FOR NOW 

Homeschooling my daughter is like playing with playdoh. We both discuss what we want to do and then we 'mold' the learning to reach the goal. 

Sounds straightforward but it is not, because our goals change as circumstances change. 

Initially we decided that she will sit for the Cambridge IGCSE when she's 16. That's what most international schools are doing anyway. I got her the KS3 books: English, Math, Science, Geography, History. 
PROBLEM:

• We still need to know the right format in answering the exam questions. I'm not qualified in that area. Of course I could probably hire a qualified IGCSE tutor.
• It is still the rigid way of studying to pass an exam.
• Malaysian currency is dropping. The price to sit for 1 paper has gone up considerably. Before it was like about RM300++ for 1 subject. I was told it is now above RM1000? I'm not too sure about this so don't quote me just yet. 

THE NEW WAY
So we decided that maybe IGCSE is NOT for us. Taking a step back and looking at how the world works these days, it seems that being specialized in a certain skill is much more valuable than having a general degree. 

Seeing that my daughter has no ambition on becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer (or whatever profession that requires going though the "traditional" education route), we can maybe skip high school exams like IGCSE, GED, or SPM. She's into computer coding, web design and that sort of stuff. So, our goal now is for her to be certified in those areas. There's opportunity there for her to find work online too to build up her portfolio. 
Another skill for her to master is English writing. If she can write well, she has many different work options too. 

At first I wasn't sure if this is the way to go but a recent conversation with my US based cousin who interviews candidates for the company he works with assured me I'm on the right track. He says nobody wants to hire a graduate that needs to be trained. They always look for people who already know how to do the job, meaning hiring people who already have the necessary skills. Interestingly, the last thing they see is where you graduated from. So you could say that a certificate in Linux, AWS or any other IT course would carry more weight than your graduation scroll from "XX" university. 
Well, that's the message I got anyway. 

So, homeschool for now is taking online courses such as from UDEMY and also other foundation studies such as math, English, science, occasional geography n history.  

Start learning on Udemy today!



CONCLUSION
There are so may factors to consider when it comes to our children's education. What works for one family may not work for another. 
#1 Factor - Consider the child. Will he/she enjoy homeschooling? What is he/she comfortable with? My eldest opted for homeschool but my 2nd son would rather stay in school. 

#2 Factor - Work backwards. Meaning start with career choices, then see what your child will need to do to get there? At a young age kids may not know what they want to do in the future. So it would make sense to play safe at first and plan to sit for the common exams. Once they have an inkling what they would like to venture in, you can "modify and adjust" your education plan. 

I'm sure you can come up with many more factors. There are many different options, it's just a matter of which one you DARE to take.

Big Discounts and Savings on Homeschool Curriculum: Build a Bundle Sale

If you want to save BIG on homeschool curriculum, this is your chance. The Build a Bundle Sale is FINALLY HERE!
It only lasts for 1 week, so you have to be quick.

There are homeschool curriculum from toddlers to high school. There's even some stuff for you, mom.

Just see how much money you can save.

Tot & Preschool Bundle - 83% Off
K-3rd Grade Bundle - 79% Off
4th-6th Grade Bundle - 82% Off
Middle School - 84% Off
High School - 82% Off
Charlotte Mason Bundle - 87% Off
Mom Bundle - 92% Off


The more you buy, the more you save.



BONUSES!
Not only have they slashed the prices down, the have plenty of bonuses to throw your way too.

So don't wait any longer, get your homeschool materials for the whole school year. You really don't want to miss this. Go there now!

BIGGEST digital homeschooling curriculum sale EVER!

The BIGGEST digital homeschooling curriculum sale EVER is coming! Mark your calendars! Save up to 92% on popular homeschooling curriculum! ONE WEEK ONLY - July 21-28, 2014! Click here to be reminded Enter to win $100 towards your bundle purchase What is the "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition Sale?

The "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition is designed to contain the best educational digital products on the internet! Sprinkled throughout the bundles are well known publishers, including products on Cathy Duffy's Top 100 list! Unlike overwhelming bundle sales with nearly a hundred ebooks, the "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition is a brand new concept that will allow homeschoolers to pick and choose what they want to purchase ~ all at a MASSIVE discount of up to 90% off!

Take a Sneek Peek at Our Bundles:

Tots & Preschoolers Bundle Teach your littlest ones about God's amazing creation and the value of virtue using our Tot & Preschool Bundle! This bundle gives you a complete Christ-centered preschool program, including age-appropriate character-building tools, a stick-figure Bible study, a creation-based coloring book, a handwriting curriculum, an independent activity guide (for those times when you need a moment to focus), and much more!

Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Bundle Teach your K-3 children basic skills and core truths through easily understandable lessons and hands-on activities. Our K-3 Bundle includes reading, math, science, handwriting, character training and Bible resources. Your children will experience life in 17th century America as they learn about the settlers and our 13 original colonies. You will have everything you need to savor these first days of discovery!

Elementary: 4-6th Bundle Your 4th-6th graders will develop foundational skills and gain insight into the ancient world using the comprehensive collection of resources found in our 4th-6th Grade Bundle. This bundle features both a science curriculum and a creative writing course from Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks. You will get a popular curriculum that has a blend of history, geography, and art. Also included: Math, Bible, handwriting and copywork resources, writing guides, timeline cards, ancient history notebooking pages, creative writing for both boys and girls, and an editable weekly homeschool planner for Mom!

Middle School Bundle Your middle school students will tour the classical world and develop academic excellence using our Middle School Bundle. This bundle features a full language arts curriculum and two science curricula, one from Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks, as well as a complete geography and history curriculum, a popular history timeline/book of centuries, Renaissance and Reformation notebooking pages, a classical music curriculum and famous composers notebooking pages, and a creative writing collection that even “non-writers” will love!

Bundle for High Schoolers Your high school students will develop academic mastery and intellectual maturity using our High School Bundle. This bundle features a New Testament Bible curriculum, an introduction to psychology, a full year of math curriculum, resources for world history and geography, philosophy, home economics, college prep, grammar, a creative writing collection that even "non-writers" will love, an anatomy science unit study from Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks, and more! You will receive enough materials for a full year of high school!

Charlotte Mason Bundle Amazing things await you in our Charlotte Mason Bundle! This bundle features a complete curriculum using the Charlotte Mason Methods for language arts, handwriting, and reading, a full geography curriculum, a plethora of resources for studying nature, artists, poetry, and a variety of "extras" just for mom! Learn all about Charlotte Mason and enjoy a special bonus (a $90 value all by itself) of great, classic audio books! This bundle is jam packed full of amazing resources your family will love!

Bundle Just for Moms! Save money, strengthen your marriage, and streamline your schedule using our Mom Bundle. Find the encouragement you need and the insight to speak to your child’s heart (even that difficult child!). Whip your home into shape and train your children to do their chores effectively using a popular book "chores program". This bundle brims with useful tools to help you bring calm to the chaos. Get them all for just $10!

"Build Your Own" Bundles Our "Build Your Own" bundles offer you the opportunity to select a certain number of products with a retail price of $19.99 or less for up to 80% off! We have MANY items to choose from, including Cathy Duffy Top 100 Picks! When you purchase a combination of any 2 "Build Your Own" bundles, you will get the 3rd one at 50% off!

*Lots of ways to save! When you purchase ANY 2 pre-assembled bundles you will get the 3rd pre-assembled bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! When you purchase ANY 2 "build your own" bundles you will get the 3rd "build your own" bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! When the sale goes live on July 21st, tell your friends about it using our referral system that will be found on the top of the website! When 10 of your referrals visit our site using your unique link, we will give you a code to save 10% off your total purchase! The image will look like this: Now, if you are like me, you might forget about the sale when it gets here! We are prepared to send you a reminder email. Click here and enter your email in the "Remind Me" box and you will get an email the day the sale goes live! Pre-Sale Promotional Giveaway - Enter to win $100 towards the purchase of ANY of our individual or "build your own" bundles! Winner annouced the day the sale starts! CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Homeschoolers May Excel Better Than School Bound Children

Many people these days are unhappy with the government's school education system. The idea of homeschooling is appealing to some but there is the fear of taking a path that is unfamiliar. Maybe this infographic will give you some confidence in homeschooling.


Created by: CollegeAtHome.com

Although homeschooling seems favorable, the decision to homeschool or not cannot be made without doing some homework. Many factors have to be considered such as the home environment, parents' work commitment and also the child's attitude.

Whether you are homeschooling or not, you're welcome to share why you chose one over the other and how that is working out for your children.

BIG Sale On School Curriculum at CurrClick

CurrClick is having their Back to Homeschool Sale now until 24th August 2012. Discounts are up to 75%.

This is the time to save money buying fun and interesting educational materials for your children. I've already done some shopping and bought some stuff for my 5 year old son. I bought a few books from this publisher: Kid Brilliance

Here is one that I got.

Guess What! - Among The Flowers
On one page it shows a close up of a flower or insect. Ask your child to guess what it is. The next page shows the full picture and there is some information about that flower or insect. This is a fun science lesson and could lead to more discussion and exploration.

Another one I got was this.

The First Anti-Coloring Book
I happen to come across this book called Young at Art a few years ago. From it I learn the importance of letting little children scribble. It is important part of their development. If we force them to draw shapes too early or give them coloring books, we actually limit their imagination and self expression. So anyway, this Anticoloring book is by the same author of Young at Art (Susan Striker). Each page is an art activity that allows the child's imagination to soar. For example, one activity is for the child to draw and name a new species of fish that scientist just discovered.

Okay, why don't you go check out the Currclick sale yourself. You can search the materials by age, subject, product type or publisher.
CLICK HERE TO---> Enjoy the low prices now before the sale ends.

Titanic Lapbook

When I first read about lapbooks, I thought they were an interesting and fun way to learn, regardless of whether you are homeschooling or not.  However, I never got round to doing one with my kids.

Well, a few days ago my daughter decides to do one herself. I'm actually very happy that she took the initiative to do it herself. She told me that this year is the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic. She's educating me instead now :) So, here is the lap book she put together without any help from me.

She used a manila pocket folder and cut it so it can open up. You'll find resources for this Titanic lapbook here.

I believe she got the idea of doing Titanic from our little train ride the other day. While on the train, there was a little tv monitor and they showed the thriller for the Titanic movie. It just goes to show that children can be inspired from anything and anywhere.

The ABCs of virtual school success

(ARA) - There are now about 2.5 million pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students in the U.S. who get at least some of their education online. An estimated 250,000 students are getting their entire educations virtually, from full-time virtual schools.

While every family has its own reasons for choosing full-time virtual school, the majority have children who are simply not thriving, for whatever reason, in a traditional classroom setting. Many find increased personalization and flexibility of online schools enable their students to succeed academically, since they can work from home at a pace that is more in line with their learning style, and at a level that suits their educational needs.

But while many families are exploring full-time virtual schools as an option, it's important to remember that this form of public education isn't a good fit for every student, or every family.

"Virtual school is a great choice for many students, but it requires a commitment on the part of parents to be involved in their child's education," says Sylvia Pryor, director for community outreach at Connections Academy. "Although many students adjust quickly, not all students are suited to learning at home. At our information sessions for prospective families, we let parents and students know what they can expect in the virtual school setting. We want students to thrive in our program, and understanding how it works and what is required is essential."

Families interested in full-time online school should consider the following "ABCs" of successful virtual schooling to determine if this form of education is a good fit:

Availability and attitude of parent and student
At most full-time virtual schools, a parent or trusted adult monitors student progress in the home throughout the day and works with certified teachers who direct instruction. This requires a parent's time, especially when more than one student is enrolled. Virtual schools are not unsupervised, self-study programs. While online schools provide a flexible learning environment, parental involvement and responsibility are critical to successful participation. Students should also have the right mindset: being self-motivated, open to learning in a nontraditional setting, and having a comfort level with technology all contribute to success.

Beyond the traditional classroom
Online schools give students the freedom and flexibility to learn almost anytime, anywhere. However, it is important that virtual school students have a dedicated learning space at home. The learning space need not be large or a separate room, but it should be organized, with room to store books and school supplies, and located in a relatively distraction-free zone. When it comes to socialization with classmates, many virtual schools provide opportunities for students to socialize both in person and online. Online clubs, activities and field trips are both educational and social. And because they have a more flexible schedule, some students find they can participate in extracurricular activities that occur during the traditional school day. If you think your student would thrive in this environment, online learning may be a great choice. And although virtual public school students enjoy flexibility, it is important to note that they are still required to take the same standardized tests as all public school students.

Challenging, computer-enhanced curriculum
Students attending virtual schools like Connections Academy should be prepared for a challenging, comprehensive curriculum. Students master the core subjects - reading/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies - and can also take elective courses. At virtual school, the computer is a tool for learning -- which today's tech-savvy students usually love. Students also use offline resources like textbooks, science kits and more. Although training and technical support are provided, parents should have a comfort level with computers too, since online learning management systems are typically used to manage daily lessons and communicate with teachers.

If virtual school seems like a good fit for your family, do your homework and pick a high-quality school. Parents should look for a school with a track record of delivering student achievement and growth and high levels of parent and student satisfaction. Other quality benchmarks include accreditation from a recognized accrediting body, full-time certified teachers who direct student learning, state-of-the-art technology resources and learning materials and community activities like clubs and field trips for students.

In most states, virtual school enrollment is just starting for the coming school year. In states where virtual public schools are not available, there are tuition-based virtual private school options. To learn more about virtual school and if it's right for your family, visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

Animated Books For Young Kids

Looking for something fun and educational on the net for your young ones? Check out Howard B. Wigglebottom. You'll find free animated books, lessons and songs.

They have messages like learning to listen, listening to your heart, telling the truth, how to deal with anger, violence and bullies. These are important living skills. Really cute stuff and I'm sure your kids will enjoy it.

Homeschool Curriculum on Sale: Up To 75% Off

CurrClick is having their "Back To Homeschool Sale" now.You'll find discounts up to 75% off. The sale is on until 25 August 2011.

This is the time to save money buying homeschool curriculum for your children. I've already bought some for my kids. Some stuff were free.

Here is a list of things I currently got and the price I got it at:

• The Seven Continents - Speedy Geography - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
  It includes vocabulary words, fill-in-the-blanks, fact cards, diagrams (labeled & blank), mazes, and website links.
• The Five Oceans - Speedy Geography - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
  Learn more about the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.
• Hummingbird Copywork & Fun! - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
  Got this because my boy has become a bird enthusiast.
• Human Body Copywork & Fun! Volume 1 - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
  My girl also wanted copywork like the Hummingbird exercise I got for my son. She chose this topic.
• What Did You Say? Bookmarks Freebie! #1 - Free
  Making bookmarks is one thing my kids like to do.
• Clouds Mini Helper  - Free
  Very simple lesson on types of clouds.
• Sayings & Phrases #1-10 [BUNDLE] - $3.00
  This is a bundle of 10 lessons. Each lesson covers 5 sayings. Children learn sayings and phrases such as "Turn over a new leaf", "Get a taste of your own medicine", "The early bird gets the worm" etc...

I figured I could spare some money from my paypal. Afterall, it is for my kids' education. I'm actually very happy. For a few dollars, I got quite a lot of stuff. AND what I buy for the older kids, I can keep and reuse it  for the younger kids. My kids are happy too. They quite enjoy the materials I bought.

There's lots of choices and I'm sure you'll find something fun for your kids to do, not forgetting educational of course. So take a look and don't miss out on this great sale. Just click on my affiliate link below to access all that wonderful discounts.

Homeschool Planning Tips

If you want to raise your chances of successfully homeschooling your children, planning is essential. Here are some homeschooling tips to help you:

• Prepare a study area
  If you can, dedicate a whole room in your house to be their "classroom". If not, create a space in your dining room or living room. Make sure that there's minimal distraction. 
• Create a goal and devise some motivations
  Create goals first. Determine what it is you want your children (and also yourself) to achieve. Doing so will keep you focused and inspired. With the goals, you will also have a better idea of how and what you want to teach.
• Schedule
  Life is easier when everyone has a schedule to follow. When planning out your time, consider when in the day you and your children are most productive. Don't teach in the afternoon if you find that you are normally low in energy then. You must find the best time where you can give your best and your children can give you their attention and eagerness.
• Prepare a budget
  Decide how much you are going to spend on home schooling materials. Many times we get carried away and end up overindulging ourselves with books and materials.

If you're going to homeschool, it is best to have a plan. You can use The 2011-12 Schoolhouse Planner to help you. You'll find forms and organizational tools to help you juggle your homeschooling, chores and maybe even a home business.

There's also the 2011-12 Student Schoolhouse Planners for your kids (kindergarten to high school ages). These planners are available on CD or in E-Book format!

Click the affiliate banner below to access the planners.

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer: Good or Bad?

What is your take on children learning from electronic gadgets and devices?

Personally, I'm not too eager on the idea. I am totally against my kids staring mindlessly at an electronic screen for hours on end. That is why I refuse to buy a PSP for my kids despite their numerous pestering. I think it is rude and detrimental for children to disengage from everyone and everything around them while immersing themselves totally in a little handheld device. I've seen how a child sits at a dinner table with their parents but their eyes are fixated on that little gadget. Even at social gatherings, I would see a bunch of kids huddled together; one would be playing and the others just watching like they've been hypnotized.

I don't deny there are some benefits to these gadgets. It doesn't have to be mindless games all the time. Some learning activities can be included. Plus, we cannot run away from the fact that being gadget savvy and electronically competent is part of their generation's culture. If we do not give them opportunities to learn and develop those skills, they will be at the disadvantage when they enter the working world.

I give my children time to use the computer but there are limitations. They can only use it in on Fridays and Saturdays. They are given a maximum time of 1 1/2 hours each. Another rule I just imposed is that whatever games they play must not involve violence or destruction. I encourage games that teach them to think, build and create.

I saw on the internet that LeapFrog is going to launch their LeapPad Explorer tablet for kids 25th August 2011. They are now taking pre-orders. To a kid, this looks very interesting. My kids are definitely oogling it. They are going ga-ga that there are over 100 downloadable apps. They are bought on the idea that it is fun to shake it, turn it and flip the pages with the touch screen. Oh, and there is a stylus pen to write with. Take a look and tell me what you think of it.



The learning tablet is targetted for kids ages 4-9. If you have a kid who is unmotivated to learn, I'm sure this will jumpstart their desire. I like how the activities are all learning activities. You can fill up their spare time with spelling, phonics skills, mathematics, science, music, geography, and more. Plus there is a camera and video recorder. It is a valueable skill these days to learn how to create online videos and do photo editing. Plus, if your kid keeps hijacking your iPad, it might be a good idea get them their own. Rather than letting them handle your pricey iPad, let them play with a USD99 kids version of it.

The LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer looks like a good investment to your kids education. BUT I would still make rules before you get it. I'm still thinking whether I should or should not get it. I foresee lots of trouble coz' definitely my kids will all fight to play with it.

What do you think? Is this something you would get your children?

Free Audio Stories For Kids

No time to read your children stories? Someone can do it for you: Storynory.
They have free audio stories for your kids to listen and enjoy. They publish a new story every week.

What kind of stories can you find?

• Fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Aesop, Perrault and 1001 nights. A few examples are Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Beauty and the Beast and many more.
  
• Tales and legends from around the world. Listen to stories like The 12 Dancing Princesses, The Blind Man's Daughter, My Lord Bag of Rice, The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor and lots more.
  
• There's also many original stories. Follow the stories of Bertie, who once was a prince but now is a frog that tells stories. Or you might enjoy the stories of Katie, an ordinary girl but with also a witch that can do magic spells.
  
• Not forgetting Classic Tales by Oscar Wilde, Rudyard Kipling and Dickens.
  
• Educational stories e.g. Greek Myths, Knights of the Round Table, Tongue Twisters, Bible Stories.

So many stories to choose from. You can download them and play them in the car or on an iPod.
Make story telling time a part of your daily activity.
Happy Story Days to you and your children.

Where To Get Some Cool Homeschool Curriculum

Whether you send your children to school or are homeschooling, you will like this website called CurrClick. You'll find tons of educational material such as lap books, ebooks, file folder games, activity books etc....

I really like how you can preview most of the books. That way you can have a peek to see if it is something your children will like.

I bought a book called 100 Little Language Lessons. Each page is a passage on a certain topic. My kids get to pick up new vocabulary and learn how to spell them. I love it because it doesn't take very long to do. The little passages are educational by themselves. It's a fun little activity to fill up time.

If you are looking for educational stuff to supplement your children's education, give this website a check. Click this affiliate link to see for yourself: CurrClick

Educational Online Games

Came across these online games that's educational.

• Nutrition Explorations: Play these games and learn about nutrition at the same time.
• SpinandSpell: Spelling practice
• Multiplication: Fun ways to practice those multiplication tables.
• Animal Jam: National geographic's online game. Learn fun animal facts and play different games to earn gems (points).

If the kids are going to be on the computer, might as well give them something fun and educational to do.

School Blues

Attending school is not always good for the kids. More and more people are opting to homeschool. Well, here are more reasons why school is not always the best answer.

• Unfair punishments. School teachers have so many children to deal with, they don't really have time to deal with your excuses, even if they are legit.
  My daughter was told to write 200 lines "saya mesti bawa buku muzik" (I must bring my music book) by her teacher. The truth is, she didn't forget to bring the book. She had already packed it in her school bag, but her brother wanted to see the picture of the dancing frogs she drew. He took the book out and didn't put it back. So, K went to school without the book. Teacher wanted to check if they had drawn the frogs. K didn't have the book, hence the punishment of writing 200 lines. Poor girl! Poor brother also had to face a very angry jie-jie.
  I'm not slamming the teacher. It is just one of those things that comes with going to school.
  
  
• Silly requests.
  My daughter said her math teacher asked them to use a "normal" pencil. They are not allowed to use mechanical pencil, 2B pencil or HB pencil. She says it is too dark. Errr... I am at a lost here. Besides 2B and HB, I don't know what other kinds of pencils there are.
  Sigh! Dear teacher, better you be specific what they CAN use, instead of telling them what they CANNOT use.
  
  
• Rigid way of doing things.
  Each teacher have their own style and preferences. For example, K1 has to leave 3 lines between each sum. After doing her work, she proceeded to show me how she can only do 2 sums per page. There were plenty of lines towards the bottom of the page, but she can't fit another sum there because she has to have that 3 line spacing. So, what was my daughter trying to tell me? She was trying to tell me what a waste of paper.
  
  When doing double digit additions, D1 was told not to write the "carry" number. Like in 59 + 36, you would add the 9+6=15, write 5 and carry 1. Teacher said to "carry" the number in his head. Well, it got lost in his head I guess because he had quite a few sums wrong due to not adding the "carry" number.
  
  Plus, the kids are so scared of the teacher, they will obediently follow the teacher's way even if it doesn't make sense or doesn't work for them.
  
  
• Beware of thieves.
  K1 came home yesterday and told me how a girl's text book was stolen during recess time. Many of the other kids' bags were opened. Teacher advised the students to get locks for their bags. Sigh! I bet you the day they start selling school bags with combination locks is not far away.
  
  
• Very heavy school bag.
  Plus the bags don't last very long. 3 months into the school year, it looks like it's been through torture - strap coming loose, tiny holes waiting to become bigger holes.
  

Well, these are just some of the school blues my kids are facing.

If you are interested in homeschooling, check out Homeschooling ABC's class. Get guidance and action steps through email for 26 weeks. You also get Over $275 worth of curricula.

Click here to check it out now: Homeschooling Help

Publish Your Kids' Stories With Illustory

Illustory has been given many rave reviews. Parents are using it to encourage their children's creativity. Children get to write their wonderful stories, add in illustration and then have it published in a real hardback book. It'll look like a book you buy at the store.


This is a perfect gift to give a child who loves to read, write and draw, especially 5-7 year olds who are just beginning to write. It is a way to make them proud of their work. It is also a way for you to show them that their writings are of value. Of course you can just staple some paper together to make your own book. However, Illustory helps you create a storybook that you can treasure and keep for years.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

• 12 special book pages for your child to draw and write. Marker pens are provided.
  
• Send your work over the manufacturer in a postage paid envelop where they will reproduce the writings and drawing into a book.
• A few weeks later, you will receive a professionally bound hardcover book.
  
• You even get an "About the author" page.
• The size of the book is 7"x9.
• The cover and title is laminated.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH IT?

• Have your children write a story to record a special family occasion such as a family vacation or celebrations.
• Dedicate the book to someone special like grandma or dad for Father's Day.
• Have your kids write a book (or several books) every year. They will love to see how their writing changes from year to year.
  
• Makes a great birthday or Christmas present.
  

THE GOOD SIDE

• They've made the process of writing very simple. There are instructions to follow.
  
• Also included are tips, activities, pre-planning diagrams are included to make writing easier.
• The finished product is of exceptional quality.

THE BAD SIDE

• You can only put 20 words per page and only 12 pages. May be quite limiting to some children who have a lot to say.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?
Over at Amazon, this product rates 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Here are excerpts from their feedback.

• "He is so excited and proud of himself when he shows his friends, family and teacher his publications!"
• "The books are a great family keepsake"
• "It challenged them to come up with their very own story, using thier imagination and when the books arrived, they were so proud!"
• "This really helped my niece become more sure of herself and she now loves to write! "

WHERE TO GET IT?
Illustory is available at Educational Warehouse.
To go straight to the product page, click this affiliate link: ILLUSTORY

More Education, Less Workbooks.

The kids just had their exams again. It was definitely a week of NO STRESS. Can you imagine that? Exams are on and the kids go about their usual business. To them, there really is no difference whether they are having exams or not. Me? I've learned to chill too. So far, they've been doing quite well. I haven't had an opportunity yet to say "I told you so". Therefore, I'm not going to worry about their exams anymore.

In fact, hounding them on exam results is the last thing I want to do. I already know that their school exam results is not an indicator of their intelligence or whether they are increasing in knowledge and skills. Yet, there is a little "kiasu-ism" in me that want to see my children top their classes. I'm trying hard to get away from that kind of thinking.

And so, I'm going to change my homeschooling strategy. Errr... actually its more like semi-homeschooling. Since the kids started to get older, I've not been doing much reading with them. I make sure they read books, but I haven't been spending that much time sitting and reading the books with them. When I do have my "semi-homeschool" time with them, it has been getting them to do workbooks. Obviously, they are not very enthusiastic when I say it's time for mommy's school. So after some contemplation, homeschool time with the kids now mean "let's read and discuss".

There are several benefits to having less workbooks and more reading:

• No pressure on the kids. It doesn't feel like "work" which is a taboo word for them.
  
• Can be on any subject, not just what the school wants them to learn. They can have better general knowledge this way.
• More enjoyable learning. Less stressed out mommy which leads to less stressed out kids, which leads to love for learning.
• Kids will have a wider vocabulary.
• You can encourage your children's interest.
• Practical learning.

My daughter K loves to learn about countries. So today, I sat down with K and went through a brochure about holidaying in Australia. As a follow up activity, I asked her to write me an essay on where she would like to go in Australia and why. You know what? There was no whining and no complains. If you know my girl, she is a major whiner. After dinner, she and her brother went upstairs to their room. I thought they were either playing or bumming around. To my surprise, I opened their door to see my son reading and my daughter writing her essay. Whoa! I thought aliens had taken over their bodies or something.

Anyway, it just goes to show how our approach in teaching them can make a big difference in their education. The workbooks? Well, there are still quite a few on the shelves and they will still have to do them. But it will be more like practice sessions. I will let them do however many (or few) pages they like. I won't really emphasize on it anymore.

Well, just thought I'd share a little bit of how my homeschooling (oops, semi-homeschooling) was coming along. Next on my list is to enroll in a beading/jewelry making class with my girl.