Educating Leaders - No Conveyor Belt Education Here!
November 19, 2009 - The Meaning of The 12 Days of Christmas
At Christmas time, people sing the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but few know of the rich Christmas symbols behind the words of the song. They often think that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as the days preceding the Christmas holiday. In reality, Epiphany is the time of the Christian celebration that starts December 25 and lasts until January 6, a duration of 12 days. This marks the Church's celebration of Jesus as the Light of the world and its remembrance of the pilgrimage of the three wise men.
Beginning December 25 until January 6, each day was a part of the Christmas celebration. As a time to show mercy and compassion, each day was spent by doing selfless acts of giving and loving generosity. Other cultures show that gift giving was not entirely done on a single day, but in fact, as the carol goes, spread throughout the entire Christmas season. The Church in England was prohibited from practicing their faith openly or in private from 1558 until 1829. It was then that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song was written to be sung in public without fear of imprisonment. It became a type of catechism. The words to the song are an allegory with two meanings: the literal meaning and the figurative meaning known only to Christian followers.
Each word in the song represents something in a religious context. God is represented as "true love." "Me" symbolizes the members called upon to receive these gifts as a Christian. The partridge in a pear tree given on the first day as a symbol of Jesus Christ coming to save mankind.
Try and discover the meaning of the remaining days as you go over the words to the song:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
How did you do?
____________________
Copyright Stephen Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don't make any changes and include the bio below.
September 3, 2009 - Only 43 Spaces Left For Tonight's Webinar!
As of this morning, only 43 spaces remain for tonight's COMPLIMENTARY
webinar about "Start School Right This Year!"
I've been helping parents develop a love of learning & a firm foundation of Biblical character in their children for years. I want to share these ideas with you so your school year gets off to the right start.
That is why I am hosting a FREE, LIVE WEBINAR called
"Start School Right This Year", TONIGHT at 6pm Pacific
During tonight's webinar, I will reveal how you can use classics to mentor your kids and develop godly leaders for the future . . . strategies that you can take and use IMMEDIATELY after the webinar!
This WEBINAR is absolutely free. You will be able to see and hear me on your computer, but you must register NOW to lock-in your spot!
Here are just a few secrets I will be revealing...
How to make this school year different & BETTER from all the years in the past ...
How to develop a LOVE of LEARNING in your kids ... at all ages!
3 ways you can instill leadership characteristics before the age of 10
A SPECIFIC strategy you can use at home to encourage a LOVE of learning in your own family.
How you can use classics with your kids and develop critical thinking skills
How & why a Biblical worldview is imperative to give your own students.
How to transition from teacher-directed homeschool to a more independent student-directed homeschool
Bottom Line...
On this 70-minute Webinar, you'll discover how to give your kids the tools of learning so they can think Biblically & critically as a leader of tomorrow.
P.S. - I have never taught this updated information to the general public before. I wanted you to be the first to hear one of the biggest education secrets!
P.S.S. - I have something VERY special cooked up for those who attend the webinar LIVE. It will be worth your while to be on.
September 2, 2009 - Free Homeschooling Resources So Your Kids Learn “How to Think”
Leadership training and education is one of several instructional strategies that help raise your children to be leaders of the future, entrepreneurs in business, elders/deacons in the church, statesmen in the community - who do the right thing. These are the leaders who will make a change in our society. My plan is to use home schooling curriculum so my own children will be excellent leaders of the future.
You may wonder why one child gets an education to become a leader and someone else receives training to follow. It really depends on the instructional strategies that are used in your home schooling curriculum. A child who learns “how to think” will become the leader of tomorrow. When a young man or woman can think outside the box, when they can think on their own, and apply their knowledge to real life situations, then he or she will become the leaders of tomorrow, rising to do what is right thing.
How do you train children to think? What homeschooling resources can you use. . . for free?
Andrew Kern, of Circe Institute, says the quality of questions you ask determines the quality of your life. Leaders have been brought up learning to ask the right questions. They do not simply think on literal terms; they think beyond the literal, evaluating and analyzing issues.
Asking questions of your students is free and easy, as well as extremely effective instructional strategy. What a terrific homeschooling resource! Questions should allow your children time to think and ponder. Your responsibility is deciding which question are the best ones to ask and leading a discussion with your students.
When questions are asked, decisions must be made. As your students answer questions, they develop the habit of making good decisions. Sometimes good decisions must be made with the mentor’s guidance. Therefore, give your students plenty of practice answering questions with you at their side. Classics are a great place to start your questioning.
Choose a classic book on your students’ reading level. Have them read the book daily and write down their thoughts about the book. Once or twice a week you, as the teacher and mentor, lead a Socratic discussion. Begin by asking simple, literal questions to give your students confidence in participating.
Once you set the stage with simple questions, start asking questions of comparison. Compare two different characters or settings. List the ideas on the board to generate more discussion. Most of all, be careful that you, as the mentor, do not answer your own questions. When there is no answer for your question, rephrase your question and wait for your students to respond. Silence is great at allowing our children to think on their own.
Leadership training is absolutely necessary as one of today’s instructional strategies. Questions and discussions are the beginning point of educating our children to be leaders who can think on their own.
------ Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
Kerry Beck is the author of Raising Leaders, Not Followers and Teach Your Children “How to Think” with Mentoring, which outlines ways you can lead profitable, Socratic discussions and mentor your children to become a leader who rules wisely. She would like to give you a free report & workshop about Home Schooling Curriculum at http://www.raising-leaders.com/.
Education is a life-long activity. To become an excellent leader, your children must always learn new ideas and concepts. These formidable years in your home are a wonderful and exciting time to provide a love of life-long learning. Use these learning strategies as you discover better ways how to homeschool.
Not only does an early love of learning prepare your children for future leadership, it also prepares them for independent studies in their near future. Those students who enjoy learning are one step ahead with studying on their own. Since independent studies are a major goal in leadership education, you must provide the pre-requisite while your children are young. Do you children love to learn?
Providing an environment that encourages education is the first step to building a pattern of lifetime learning. As a way of forming that environment, your home schooling curriculum should include plenty of books, arts & crafts supplies, science kits, and educational games. Of course, these items should be easily accessible to your children so that learning is part of playing.
A learning-friendly environment also includes time to enjoy reading, creating, playing and dreaming. Your schedule should allow time to develop character through work, but also include time for learning. Find a balance in your daily schedule between the development of character and a love of learning.
One of the best ways to develop a strong desire for lifetime education is reading aloud as a family. Choose a quality classic your children will enjoy and read it aloud everyday. In the beginning, simply read for pleasure. Allow your children the opportunity to interact with excellent books. Once your children see pleasure in books, you should discuss the ideas found within the story. Not only will your children start to learn from read alouds, they will also grow in wisdom as they contemplate the questions you pose.
Building a love of learning is essential to prepare your children for life-long learning and to become wise leaders. Your home schooling curriculum should utilize teaching techniques that encourage a love for learning.
------------------------------------- Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
Kerry Beck helps parents develop a love of learning in their kids as she teaches how to homeschool. She has a free workshop with learning strategies you can use at this link http://www.Raising-Leaders.com.
September 1, 2009 - Why Homeschool to Develop Godly Character
Before I can develop leadership in my own children, I needed to evaluate their character. Character is foundational to be a wise leader and that answers the question "why homeschool" in our family. Wisdom and virtue are absolute necessities for leaders who change the world in a positive manner. Perseverance and a healthy work ethic must be in place for your children to think and study on their own. These must be evident in your home schooling curriculum too.
I have always wanted my children to have strong character in the Lord. My desire to raise leaders for the future encouraged me to re-evaluate my children’s strengths and weaknesses.
Take a look at your own children and determine what should be furthered in their character development and what needs to be weeded out. Begin to push your children to persevere in the face of adversity. Taking small steps now with integrity, dignity, and honesty lays a foundation for adult life.
Last, but not certainly not least, is the development of wisdom. One of the best ways to develop wisdom is to ask questions on a regular basis. Questions about your family’s readings are a fantastic place to start. As you ask questions and provide opportunities to think, your children start walking down the road to wisdom. Wisdom must be cultivated and you are the perfect one to do this for your child.
-------------------------------------
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
August 31, 2009 - How to Start School Right this Year
I love the start of a new school year. It is a great time to really think through
and evaluate how I want this year to be better for my kids than last year.
I also love helping parents to overcome problems homeschoolers face
each year and showing them how to start school on the
right foot...so this year is the best year ever.
I'd like to invite you to a LIVE webinar
I am holding THIS Thusday, September 3...
=================================
Start School Right This Year Webinar
Thusday, September 3, 2009 at 6pm (Pacific Time).
=================================
It's complimentary - especially for you, my customers and
subscribers.
On this groundbreaking free event, using the latest webinar
technology, I will reveal tips & strategies to give your
kids a superior education where they will learn how to think
critically & Biblically . . . for life.
I will be sharing tips that you can take and use
IMMEDIATELY after the webinar!
BUT, most importantly...I will reveal how you can use
a love of learning, mentoring and classics to train your kids
to become leaders of tomorrow - Godly leaders who will change
the world!
Plus not only will you be able to HEAR me, but you'll also SEE
and WATCH it happening in real time on your computer screen,
complete with real examples! (And it doesn't
matter what connection speed you have or even if you have a PC or
Mac.)
In case you may be wondering what a webinar is or why you
should join me on my " Start School Right "
webinar Thursday night, let me assure you it is simply a complimentary
class that you watch on your computer....at no cost to you!
Your children deserve more, so take it a step further this year and give
them the ability to lead others well and make wise decisions as a
mom/dad, husband/wife, employee, entrepreneur, church member, or
neighbor
I only have 400 spots for this event. So it's a SURE BET this
webinar will FILL completely.
P.S. - I have never taught this updated class before. I am adding
new information from the last 2 years of homeschooling.
P.S.S. - I have something VERY special cooked up for those who
attend the webinar LIVE. It will be worth your while to be on
this webinar, I guarantee it!
July 31, 2009 - Encourage Writing using Reading Journals
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
Reading journals are a powerful tool to help your students learn.
Journal writing lessons are a great way for children to improve their writing while encouraging their learning through readings. It works for any child, regardless of age. All they need to do is write about what they have read and learned.
Over the past year, my teenagers tracked their literature reading assignments in a reading journal. When we began, they wrote about events happening in the story. As time progressed, they became more engrossed in the task, writing about lessons learned or the actions of the characters in the story. Now, at the end of the year, they are writing informal essays in their reading journals that delve deeply into the story, rather than simply re-telling it.
Here’s a video review of some of our writing products, “US History Based Writing Lessons - Volume 1.”
This year, my twelve-year-old son is starting his reading journal. Each day, he writes an entry on what he learned. We've found this helpful with Bible readings and devotionals - a great way to reinforce important lessons!
If you have younger children, write their journal entry for them as they narrate it. They can re-write the narrative, using their best handwriting, into their journal on the next day.
I don't think that these journals are teaching tools themselves, but they have helped my children write better. It does, however, help them to retain what they have learned while looking for ways to incorporate those lessons into daily life. I use Teaching Writing: Structure & Style. __________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
Despite all the articles I wrote to teach kids to write, the children often teach me more than I teach them. Thanks to my son, I learned another powerful lesson, one that makes me a better teacher while helping him become a better writer. Here's what happened.
A week ago my son listened to IEW Student Writing DVD for his writing assignment. His lesson was on writing a biographical sketch in a 5-paragraph paper. In the back of my mind I thought it would be great if he wrote about one of the early church fathers. We were studying the end of the Roman civilization and it would help him remember one of them. Besides, he could read one of the books that we did not have time to read in history. Of course, he was not very interested in those men.
As we spoke, I could see the disinterest reflected in his eyes. Once the conversation turned to baseball, his demeanor changed. He had just finished reading a book on baseball player Derek Jeter, and was fascinated, eager to learn more. When I suggested that he write his biography on Jeter instead, my son's eyes lit up with excitement. had to use at least three sources for his biography, only one of which could be from the internet. Before our talk was through, he already had two other possible sources lined up.
We decided that he would write about Derek Jeter, rather than church fathers.
Here’s a video review of one of our writing products,
“Student Writing Intensive.”
Over the past week, he has been hard at work researching Mr. Jeter's life and collecting information. Today's assignment was to narrow the facts down to three, keeping his paper from becoming a full book. From this point, he will work on an effective outline and begin to write.
Believe me, I have a much happier son because he is writing about someone he likes, not someone Mom told him to research. I know his paper will be much better, just because he has an interest in his topic.
Do you let your kids take leadership, and ownership, in their writing topics? If not, why not? Next week, discuss an assignment and then let your kids choose their own topic. They will be so glad you did and you will be glad when you read their finished paper!
__________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
July 28, 2009 - Teaching Writing Skills: (Part III)
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
Teaching children how to write is a challenge. By using the methods we have outlined in this three-part series, you can make this process easier for yourself and your students. Using predictable books to teach writing skills will increase your success. By now, you have completed a simple story outline. Over the next two days, your child will complete this exercise while strengthening his writing skills.
Here’s a video review of some of our writing products, "US History Based Writing, Volume 2."
Day 2
Gather your outline, some blank paper, and a pen or pencil. Your child can re-tell the story (out loud!) to refresh his memory - let him use the outline to stay on track.
Next, your child will write a sentence for each line of his outline. The sentence does not need to be an exact replica of the original paragraph. In fact, your child may improve on what was originally written. When he finishes each line of the outline, he will have a completed paragraph.
If your child is young, you might let him tell you each sentence while you write it down for him. At this point, you (the teacher or parent) should edit the paragraph for spelling and punctuation. Notice I did not say rewrite the sentences or add words. Let this be your child's writing, not yours.
If you have older students who can edit their own work, have them correct their own spelling and punctuation on day three.
DAY 3
On the final day your child will copy his completed paragraph making any of your changes for spelling and punctuation. Of course, there are places you will see that need improving, but you can teach those concepts in a later lesson. This is an activity to help your students see they can write something on their own. They does not have to worry about "what" to write any more because you will give him a source text from which to start.
Repeat this simple activity several times. Your students will become more skilled in outlining and rewriting paragraphs. Choose paragraphs from several sources, depending on your child's interests and studies.
This is a wonderful way to teach your students how to write! __________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
July 28, 2009 - How to Motivate Your Students to Write
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
The most common complaint I hear from parents has to do with their child's approach to writing. It's quite normal for children to resist writing assignments. I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that way. By providing your child with a clear purpose for their writing lessons, you will boost their motivation and encourage them to do their best work. Through the process of writing format through publishing, my kids do better work, and are happier about it, too!
A few years ago, all three of my children wrote books which are now available for purchase. My son worked for an entire year studying about the jungle and choosing just the right animal or plant to include in his ABC Jungle Book. After making these choices, he wrote a paragraph about each one, using a writing stylistic checklist.
You must be realistic and know that he did not write or research every day for the past year. He took breaks from this project which was completed at the beginning of June.
He was highly motivated for a couple of reasons. First, he chose the topic of jungles himself so he was quite interested in the topic from the beginning. Secondly, the idea of making money from his writing project and publishing a book was exciting. This project gave him a purpose for writing. Not every writing project will end in a money-making project, but each writing assignment should have a purpose.
Of course, most writing assignments aren't done for monetary gain. There are other motivators besides money. For example, you can encourage your child to write letters to friends and relatives; write a story or poem to enter in a contest; write a news article for the family newsletter; relate a funny story on something that happened to them - practically any clear purpose can make writing assignments more enjoyable and effective.
Here’s a video review of some of our writing products, “Medieval History Based Writing.”
Once your child has a purpose for writing, he needs to put his ideas down on paper in a thoughtful, cohesive manner. There are many writing programs on the market, but best source I have found to teach your child "how" to write is Excellence in Writing. This course deals with the "hows" of writing instead of "what" to write about.
You can give your child(ren) a great reason for writing when you use the process of writing format through publishing. Try to integrate writing into any subject you are studying with your child. Writing should never be treated as a separate topic, since it is a valuable skill that transcends the subject material. By encouraging your child to write on a range of topics, he (or she!) will understand the purpose that writing has in all aspects of life.
__________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
July 27, 2009 - How Will You Teach Writing? Part 3
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
Teaching children how to write is a challenge. By using the methods we have outlined in this three-part series, you can make this process easier for yourself and your students. Using predictable books to teach writing skills will increase your success. By now, you have completed a simple story outline. Over the next two days, your child will complete this exercise while strengthening his writing skills.
Day 2
To begin, gather some blank paper, a pen or pencil, and the outline which you completed in part two. Encourage your child to tell the story again, using the outline to keep them on track.
For each line of the outline, have your child write a new sentence based on the keywords he chose. Remember, we are not trying to teach your child to recite the story verbatim. Your child will use his own words to retell the story, often making the tale even more interesting. Continue until you have a new sentence for each line of the outline.
If your children are very young, you may want to write the sentences as they dictate them. Once this is complete, check each sentence to make sure that spelling and punctuation are correct. Do not change the words or rewrite the sentences - let it be your child's writing, in his own voice.
Older students who are capable of editing their own work for spelling and punctuation should do so on day three.
Here’s a video review of some of our writing products, "US History Based Writing, Volume 2."
DAY 3
This is the final day for this lesson. Have your child copy out his completed paragraph or story, in his own words. Make sure that younger children incorporate spelling and punctuation changes; older children can make these changes on their own. Don't be surprised if you see areas which need improvement - that is perfectly natural, and those concepts can be added in a later lesson. Your child won't have to worry about selecting a topic, since he will be provided with a story or paragraph to start with.
You can repeat this activity as often as necessary. With practice, your child will improve his skills in outlining and writing. You can perform this exercise using paragraphs or stories from a wide range of interests - dinosaurs, fairy tales, even subjects they are learning about in class.
This is a great method to teach writing to your students! __________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
July 27, 2009 - Teaching Writing Skills: (Part III)
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
It's not always easy to teach kids how to write. The methods in this three-part series can simplify the process for both you and your students. As a writing teacher, you will have the greatest success by using predictable books to teach writing. Once you have outlined a simple story as shown in part two, follow these guidelines to complete the exercise.
Day 2
Gather your outline, some blank paper, and a pen or pencil. Your child can re-tell the story (out loud!) to refresh his memory - let him use the outline to stay on track.
Next, your child will write a sentence for each line of his outline. The sentence does not need to be an exact replica of the original paragraph. In fact, your child may improve on what was originally written. When he finishes each line of the outline, he will have a completed paragraph.
If your child is young, you might let him tell you each sentence while you write it down for him. At this point, you (the teacher or parent) should edit the paragraph for spelling and punctuation. Notice I did not say rewrite the sentences or add words. Let this be your child's writing, not yours.
If your students are older and can edit for spelling/punctuation, let them do this on Day 3.
Here’s a video review of some of our writing products, "US History Based Writing, Volume 2."
DAY 3
On the final day your child will copy his completed paragraph making any of your changes for spelling and punctuation. Of course, there are places you will see that need improving, but you can teach those concepts in a later lesson. This is an activity to help your students see they can write something on their own. They does not have to worry about "what" to write any more because you will give him a source text from which to start.
Repeat this simple activity several times. Your students will become more skilled in outlining and rewriting paragraphs. Choose paragraphs from several sources, depending on your child's interests and studies.
This is a great method to teach writing to your students!
__________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
In my last article I described a unique approach to teaching writing. It follows the guidelines set out by Andrew Pudewa in IEW's Teaching Writing: Structure & Style. This program spends most of it's time teaching students writing skills such as "how to write" instead of brainstorming "what to write about".
Using that model, let me share free writing lessons online that you can use with your own children this week (or the first week of school). If your older children struggle with writing, this is a great place to start. Begin by choosing a story they enjoy. This is one way of using predictable books to teach writing.
DAY 1 In order to help your children with "what" to write, you should copy a simple, one-page story, perhaps Aesop's Fables. Read the story aloud with your child. After reading the story, write an outline/structure so you can do a key word outline with your child. The structure should look something like this.
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
You will notice that there are no letters, only numbers, on this structure. There is an excellent reason for this -- children find a numbered outline easier to follow than one that includes letters. Make sure that you have a number for each sentence in the story.
Go back to the story, and re-read the first sentence. Ask your child to choose three key words from the sentence. These words will help him to put the story in his own words, which happens later in this exercise. Underline or circle these words, and then write them beside the "I". Make sure you write them in order.
From there, read the second sentence and choose another three key words. Write those words beside 1. If your child only has a word or two, that's fine - just make sure that there are no more than three words. Your child must decide for himself which words to choose. We are not trying to force your child to remember every little detail, just the highlights so he can re-write the sentences later.
Here’s a video review of one of our writing products, “ History Based Writing Lessons.
After you have your outline completed, put away the original source. Have your child use the outline and tell back to you the paragraph. Children have a much easier time verbalizing what they have read rather than writing it down. You just finished half of the writing lesson.
With older students, be sure to have them re-tell the paragraph to you. This may seem childish to you, but it is imperative to help with older kids' thought pattern as he writes tomorrow.
Join us for the part three, which includes more free writing lessons online. Using the outline you created today, you will take the next step - teaching your children to write a story in their own words.
__________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
This summer I’ve been posting reviews of our writing products as well as some articles about writing. This is an article that I wrote last summer that I thought you might find helpful.
When we decided to homeschool our children, we did not buy a writing curriculum. As a fifth-grade teacher with six years experience, I knew how to create a writing curriculum. Most of the homeschool writing activities I saw were like the writing curriculum in the public school system. These programs taught students what to write, not how to write.
Well, that was until I discovered Andrew Pudewa's Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). IEW had a flagship product, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, that intrigued me. Mr. Pudewa did not spend a lot of time brainstorming ideas for students to write. Instead he spent the bulk of his curriculum on "how to write". This was a new concept to me because the biggest problem my students had, like all other students, was what to write about.
Andrew Pudewa's approach to writing is completely different. Rather than have students decide on the topic, he tells them what to write about. Using his lesson plans for writing process, students learn a variety of "structures". These structures consist of outlines for various types of writings - essays, letters, and more. Students choose an appropriate outline depending on what kind of writing they are doing and the reasons for writing.
Teaching Writing goes beyond structure, teaching students how to develop their writing "style"; thus, the program name Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. Mr. Pudewa teaches students how to develop and vary their writing style. Students use strong action words and effective adjectives to create powerful sentences. Once students learn how to dress up their sentences, they learn various methods to open their sentences.
Here is a review of one of our writing products, "Windows To The World".
In my next article (part 2), I will share a simple activity you can use with your own children this week (or the first week of school). If your older students struggle with writing, this is a great place to start.
__________
Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
Kerry Beck encourages homeschool moms and classroom teachers with writing lessons. Go get her free mini-course about Teaching Writing Easily today.
I’ve got a couple of ideas I’m posting to my blog BUT there is so much more you can do to build anticipation for Easter than I can write on my blog.
`Yesterday I read a book by Nina Cam called “Easter Family Traditions To Honor Christ.” Nina has included so many fantastic ideas to help you elevate your celebration of Christ’s resurrection. I was encouraged how many of Nina’s ideas coincided with our own family values, as well as sooo many cool new ideas we can implement in the coming years.
You can read more about Easter Family Traditions right here:
I apologize for sending this late. I’m running behind because we just got back from a long weekend in San Antonio where Steve hosted a workshop on buying & selling domains. The entire family was there and we had a blast. Hunter & Gentry already bought some domains to sell. They hope to have a domain selling business this summer for a part-time job.
That’s not the real reason I wrote, so let me share what’s going on….
Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 1) I’m hosting a free webinar about Easter Cards. If Easter is the most important holiday of our Christian year, why don’t we send cards to our loved ones? That’s what we do at Christmas, why not Easter too!
http://www.CoupleNextDoorCards.com/soc-april
I’ll show you a really cool Easter card template you can use to send cards to your family & friends. You’ll also see how you can print, stamp & mail your cards in less than 15 minutes for a $1 per card. That even includes the 42 cent stamp.
Here’s what I’ll be revealing…
* How to mail a physical greeting card and do it all online…without leaving your desk! * How to save time & avoid many hours at Hallmark Cards * How to make an extra $$$$ each month with greeting cards * How loved ones feel when they receive your “unexpected card” * How you can mail a greeting card, FREE of charge! * How to instantly send a card to a group of 5, 100, 500 or 5000!
Bottom Line …On this 30-minute Webinar, you’ll discover more about how to create your very own Easter Cards, as well as thank you cards, birthday cards or even how to send brownies as a gift. Plus you’ll discover how to develop a business if you need a little extra each month.
It’s happening this Wednesday, April 1 at 4:00PM (Eastern Time) especially for my valued clients and subscribers.
Here’s the full scoop: http://www.CoupleNextDoorCards.com/soc-april
Not only will you be able to hear me talking about the fast and painless way to send your own Easter Cards, but you’ll also get to SEE and WATCH it happening in real time on your computer screen, complete with real examples! Don’t miss out!
Register for the webinar right here…right now http://www.CoupleNextDoorCards.com/soc-april
Enjoy the beginning of spring & get ready for Easter!
Blessings, Kerry Beck
P.S. - Some have asked if there will be a replay. Technology being what it is, we can not promise a replay…so my advice is to be on the call live! http://www.CoupleNextDoorCards.com/soc-april
One of my very favorite topics to paint, draw or sculpt in art is the deer. Deer give us time to pause and look at the wonder of God. Many times in the Bible we see the deer used for different lessons. Psalm 42:1 is a good example. We also see the deer used in heraldry and literature as a “stag,” as seen in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. The thing I like about doing a deer is that my favorite season is the winter and putting a deer in the snow is one of the best things you can do to learn techniques in using white and lightening and shading colors on a landscape. When we think of the deer, we think of relatives as the moose. the elk, American bison, reindeer and pronghorn antelope. The smallest kind (spieces) of deer is the pudu, the largest is the elk. A baby deer is called a fawn. When you are ready to do your picture, you want to first draw your deer on the horizon line. Type in “deer in the snow” in the images portion of google and you will get some ideas of how you want your deer to be placed in the landscape. Make sure that your deer is the center of interest in the picture.
Look at this picture above of the moose in the foreground and the mountains in the background. Do you see where the light is coming from in the picture? It is coming from the upper right hand corner. The bottom of the belly of the moose is darker. Look at the legs. The legs are shaded darker on the left and lighter on the right. What I truly love is the the view of the mountains. Notice how the mountains show depth by the use of shading. Do you see where the light falls? Also notice the green in the foreground is realistic looking and fades as it goes into the background colors. When you draw or paint a picture, first look where the light is coming from. Go to this website to practice shading and to notice where light is coming from: http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/drawing_techniques/pencil_shading.htm
In the picture above, you see a Japanese snow picture. Notice the lovely soft wa the mountains are shaded. Look at the color of the sky at the top of the picture. Here is a picture of some ladies in the snow from Japan. They are wearing kimonos. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kuniyoshi_Utagawa,_Women _30.jpg
I painted the picture above because I wanted to show what it looks like at that special moment when you see a big deer and be looks right in your eyes. I hoped to capture the calm and quiet of the moment. Here is a picture by the great master artist Bierdstadt: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bierstadt_Albert_A_Rocky_Mountain_Sheep_Ovis_Montana.jpg. Although this is a mountain goat, you can still the similarities to the photograph of the moose. The light falls on the top and the belly is darker. What do you notice about the color of the sky?
White is the absence of color in science and a very important addition to color in art as you lighten all the color wheel colors with it. “White … is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black…. God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white.”Gilbert Keith Chesterton [British author, 1874–1936] “A Piece of Chalk,” Tremendous Trifles (1909)”
That being said, winter is a time to do art like no other. When we stay indoors, we can refresh our sense of wonder of the beautiful outdoors. Go to these websites for some wonderful painting ideas:
As you go to the website and look at “Hunters in the Snow,” you will see a picture by a great master artist of the Netherland Renaissance, Pietre Bruegel the Elder. He painted many peasant scenes. The picture above shows depth by showing the peasants in the foreground much larger than those in the background.
In the picture above, are the colors darker in the foreground of the picture or the background of the picture? Do you see a slight yellow warmth in color along the horizon line. Look at http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/4539437.jpg and see if you see how the colors in the foreground are darker. What do you notice about the color of the sky?
This article is by Sharon Jeffus of Visual Manna. You can go to visualmanna.com for information on her books and internet workshops. Students learn techniques and how to do art step by step live on the internet. You can email her at visualmanna@gmail.com for information.
December 9, 2008 - Have you sent your Christmas Cards yet?
It’s me again! Hey, I need to ask you about sending out Christmas cards. Have you sent your Christmas cards yet? I’m almost finished and it didn’t take me very long at all. In fact, it will take me longer to write my Christmas letter than to print, address and mail my cards. And I get to do it all from the comfort of my own home…sitting on my couch!
I don’t know if you remember, but a couple of weeks ago I invited you to a workshop to show you how I’m sending my Christmas cards so quickly. That workshop ended up being more about a business opportunity than how to send your cards. I’m sorry about that!
So, I decided to do my own workshop for you and actually show you online how to send your own cards, quickly & easily. I’m sorry for the late notice, but it’s tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, December 10th) at 3pm Eastern. http://www.CoupleNextDoorCards.com/ChristmasCards
Here’s what I’ll be showing you in our 30 minute workshop.
* How to send a card and do it all online...without leaving your desk!
* How to make a personalized photo card with captions & voice bubbles
* How to send a card to a group of 5, 100, 500 or 5000!
* How you can send a card online, FREE of charge!
* How you can send a Christmas letter with your family’s photo to your entire Christmas list, at the push of a button
When I finish showing you all of those cool tricks, I’ll give you a place online where you can try it out yourself and send a card for FREE.
After I finish all of that, I’ll stick around on the webinar and discuss with anyone who is interested how I’m using this for business relationships. I want to wait until after I’ve shown you how to use this system for personal reasons (family, friends and neighbors) before I show you the business side of it. If you aren’t interested in the business side of the card system, you can leave the workshop. NO Pressure!
Blessings,
Kerry Beck
ps. I can’t wait to show you what I found because it is so cool. I hope you think it’s cool, too!
pps. I hope to record the workshop, but I can’t promise with all the technical problems we’ve had this last week. I strongly hope you can be on the live workshop - Wed, Dec 10.
As of this morning, only a few spaces remain for tonight’s FREE
“5 Secrets to Rekindling the Spirit of Christmas” online workshop
where I’ll be sharing how to overcome the commercialism in America’s
Christmas
In case my last messages to you didn’t make it, I’m sending this
final reminder about tonight’s one-time-only webinar.
P.S. We’ve had a lot of people wondering about a replay of the
webinar. We may be releasing one but the first people who get it
are those who are registered at the link above.
Also we will have special content that ONLY the LIVE ATTENDEES
will see. Special content that will NOT be on the replay. Make
sure you are there LIVE!
December 2, 2008 - Christmas Activities That Everyone Can Enjoy
Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated and enjoyed by people of all ages. When planning a great itinerary of Christmas activities it is important that you consider all age groups that will be involved.
Kids love Christmas time and there are plenty of activities you can plan and engage them with. For younger children, many of them look forward to writing a letter to Santa Claus. Due to advances in technology you can now have Santa actually provide a response to your child’s letter.
One way to have Santa craft a response to your child’s letter is to visit certain web sites where this feature is available. These web sites allow you to choose a letter template. After selecting the template, you answer a few questions about your child and a customized letter is prepared for you.
Another popular activity for kids is coloring. There are many themed coloring books that are catered around Christmas activities, holiday activities and other themed events. These coloring books and resources can be purchased or printed out for free on certain web sites online.
If you have a group of older kids that you are looking to entertain with Christmas activities one option is Christmas word games. Not only are these games fun but they are educational as well. You can engage them in crossword puzzles as well as word search games that all have Christmas related themes.
Adults too love to have a good time when it comes down to Christmas and the holiday season. If you are entertaining adults, make sure you have plenty of food to eat. Besides Christmas dinner food, holiday desserts are always a big hit. You can prepare using Christmas cookie recipes as well as other holiday recipes.
During the holiday season, many Christmas parties will take place as well. Corporations and companies love to throw annual Christmas parties for their employees. In addition, you may want to have a party for your friends and family as well to celebrate and bring in the holiday season.
Food of course is a priority when it comes down to throwing a good Christmas party. However, some people overemphasis its importance to the neglect of other elements that are just as important. If you want to have a good Christmas party, make sure you also have a variety of games and great Christmas music to complement the food.
One of the highlights of the Christmas season for adults, as well as many older kids, like teenager age is Christmas shopping. Many retailers report as much as 30% of their annual revenues are earned during the Christmas shopping season. Besides the shopping experience there are many activities at the malls and shopping centers to keep holiday shoppers entertained.
For the entire family, some holiday activities that you can experience together include attending Christmas shows and looking at Christmas decorations. In particular, if you live in a big city like New York City, there are some great shows like the Radio City Christmas show you can attend. Christmas decorations in all parts of the world can be very elaborate and entertaining as well. You have plenty of options for Christmas activities to choose from for you and your family to enjoy.
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(c) Kerry Beck, 2008 You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below. Links in resource box must be clickable to reprint this article. If you can't click the link, please ask permission to reprint.
A place to interact about teaching our kids without following the conveyor belt model of the government schools. Think outside the box and provide a leadership education for your children.
Other musings are included on a regular basis :-)
Leadership training and education is one of several instructional strategies that help raise your children to be leaders of the future, entrepreneurs in business, elders/deacons in the church, statesmen in the community - who do the right thing. These are the leaders who will make a change in our society. My plan is to use 
