Bow of Bronze

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Bow of Bronze

Apr. 14, 2007 - IPod® School -- Using Your mp3 Player in your Homeschool -- Introduction

IPod® SCHOOL

Using Your mp3 Player in your Homeschool

Why would I use my IPod®?

While I do not think anything should replace cuddling on Mommy's lap with a book, and we do plenty of that, I also think wasting necessary time in the car is really sad. My children and I spend our hours in the car each week laughing and crying together over the sorrows of Anne spelled with an E, thrilling in the triumphs of Beric the Briton and basking in the joys of Winnie the Pooh -- all while we drive to Doctor's appointments, the grocery, chess club, and the library.

The first time my daughter ever identified so deeply with a character in a book that she felt empathy -- enough to cry -- was at the end of listening to The Cricket In Times Square masterfully read by Rene Auberjonois. I just cannot read that well! Sometimes, we even stay in the car because we are so caught up in a story. More often then not, we take the IPod® into the house and draw pictures at the table while we finish listening and while I fix supper or sometimes we all clean together while we listen! I also think IPod®s can help ease our Mommy load just a bit; and helping a homeschool Mommy have an extra pair of hands, or an extra voice is a good thing!

We love IPod® school! IPod® school can be done anywhere your mp3 player works. And, no it doesn't have to be an iPod. I just love mine; and that's what we have so that's what we call it. It just doesn't sound as good to say ZenCreative school either.

IPods® are great for memory work, foreign language, living books, music appreciation, music history, history, science, Bible -- basically any subject you can find on audio. With a simple voice recorder, you can easily create your own audio files! A video iPod® can even be used to playback Taekwondo moves over and over.

IPods® are great in the car, through the home stereo in the school room or family room, using portable speakers anywhere you need to listen, or for older children using headphones to concentrate. You can take your iPod® anywhere! No more lugging CD's to Grandma's. Audiobooks in the car -- when children are already sitting still, and having nothing "better" to do -- work like magic to increase the attention span.

IPod®s can be used with audiobooks (borrowed or purchased), music cds, podcasts of books, stories or radio shows, and movies.

IPods® can be used during breakfast, (no more eating and reading at the same time!), at lunch, (you get the idea...), on the way to Dr's appointments, while you clean together, on the way to Soccer practice or AWANA, even right before bed in the hallway so that everyone can listen at once. All those wasted hours in the car will be wasted no more! Have a great time finding more creative ways to use your mp3 player in your homeschool.

About Me

The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.