Brainstorm

Jun. 10, 2009

Music Practice Fun

I'd like to share some ideas about making music practice more fun. As a parent, and musician, I have experienced a variety of methods. So let's look at one.

I make a document that lists each song in the book they are working on. I leave room for stickers or a way to check them off. For my son's piano lessons I have a place for three stickers next to each song title. One sticker for right hand, second sticker for left had, and a third sticker for hands together. For my other son's cello lessons I have room for two stickers, one for fingering and one for bowing. When they have learned the skill for that song, they earn a sticker. I bought special stickers that are only used for that purpose. You may use a rubber stamp or just a check mark for older students.

Why I like this method: By having different skills to check off with each song, the student learns to focus on a single skill without getting frustrated or jumping ahead. For instance, trying to play hands together without learning hands apart first. Reinforcing good practice skills results in better habits.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jun. 2, 2009

Crashing through the wall

My son, the one with Sensory Processing Disorder and Tourette's Syndrome, tried scuba diving for the first time this evening. He had a great time and would like to take lessons when he gets a little older.

Can you believe the emotions that were going through me? It felt like forever when he first started swimming that he just worked on getting his face in the water. I felt like he just knocked down a huge brick wall in his life. Hopefully he now realizes he can do anything he sets his mind to do. He can learn to scuba dive so he can be a marine biologist if he wants to. What a joy.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jun. 1, 2009

Planning

Plan early for next school year. Then watch for sales or used books. What is tricky is just getting a plan together as to what to teach and what to use for resources and so forth. First I pray about the decisions I will be making. Next I write down the state requirements, just to make sure I don't forget them. Then I keep praying as I consider what is really important for my boys to learn. I take into consideration their strengths and weaknesses, and write out some goals too. Mostly I keep praying.

What really helps is to use forms from donnayoung.org. If you aren't familiar with this website, go to the homeschool planner tab. Then click on the administrative tab. On the right of the page you will find a highlighted box with a list of various forms. I like the course of study form. You can find all kinds of forms and calanders to help organize your planning for school.

What amazes me is how some courses are easy to plan and I feel confident of my selection of curriculum and resources. Other courses I pray over for days, weeks, some even months. But by the end of the summer, I have it all figured out and then start praying. . .

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 28, 2009

Amazed

When my oldest son, who has sensory issues and Tourette's, was an infant, he would always cry at bath time. I used one of the infant bath things with a heat sensitive strip on the bottom with the temperature range that normally would be used. I would carefully watch so that the temp was right and double check it with my wrist. I would gently place him in and bathe him as quickly as I could so he would only be traumatized for a short bit. I tried every trick I could find about having a baby enjoy bath time. Nothing seemed to work, he still cried.

Then one day I had gotten delayed in getting him into the tub and the water had cooled below the recommended temperature. I decided since he cried anyway that a little cooler than normal would be no big deal. I placed him gently in the water and he didn't cry. I was so shocked. The next day I put him in the water at the recommended temp, he cried. I took him out until the water cooled and put him back in and he was fine. From then on, if the water felt too cool for me, I knew he would be able to tolerate it.

As he got older, swimming became the big challenge. He hated water on his face. I took him to pools just to have fun and play. Finally he began taking a homeschool PE class at the YMCA that did swim lessons and then a gym class. He loved gym, so he tolerated the swim lessons. His teacher was marvelous with him. She would get so excited when he made progress.

What she taught him that helped the most was to hum while his face was in the water to desensitize it. He was excitied as he told me humming also kept him from sniffing underwater. At the time, he had a tic of sniffing. Trying to keep from expressing a tic is like trying not to sneeze, so this was a huge discovery for him.

So now you may understand why I was so amazed when he asked to participate in a class to try scuba diving. Will I let him? Oh yeah. And, you betcha, I'll be calling his swim teacher when he does.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 27, 2009

Schoolwork Tresure Hunt

Have you ever needed to have someone else supervise the homeschool while you're gone for a day? If your children are younger and need some help, this can be a challenge. Why have the schoolwork come to a crashing halt? Here is what worked extremely well for us this year.

First I typed out all the assignments on the computer. I added some fun activities to include in their day. Then I printed them out and cut them apart.

Next I wrote or drew picture clues for a treasure hunt. I numbered the clues with the boys names on them (or color code them) and had them ready for Grandpa, who would be supervising that day.

Last, the night before, I hid the assignments and sometimes the books and supplies for the assignment.

When Grandpa arrived the next morning, I was able to give him the clues and explained that he would give the clues out in numerical order. The boys would have to show him that they had completed the assignments before they could get the next clue.

Some examples of the clues:
For my youngest I drew a picture of the washer and dryer with an arrow pointing to the dryer. This wasn't a difficult clue, but he found it very funny to find his math workbook and assignment in the dryer.

Some of the clues were to look up words in a dictionary or encyclopedia or other reference book that went along with the assignment. I would have the assignment tucked in the book so they could find it when they found the word. For example, I had my oldest son look up helicopters in the encyclopedia and the assignment he found was to read about them and then to build a helicopter with legos. He proudly showed me his creation when I got back home.

The boys had so much fun with this and Grandpa said it made it so easy and fun for him too.

Try it and adapt it to what works for you. I think I will have to do this even when I'm home once in a while so I don't miss out on the fun.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 25, 2009

Memorial Day

How fortunate to live in a country which men and women have thought worth dying to keep freedom within her bounds. My family has sent many into service since the Revolutionary War, and as far as my research shows, they have all returned to live on in peace.

Thanks to my dad for his service in WWII, my brother who chose to serve rather than turn away from the controversy of the Vietnam war and my nephew who now serves. May God continue to protect those we love who allow themselves to go into harms way for us.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 24, 2009

Looking Back

Looking back over the past few years, I can see how I have grown as a homeschool mom.

First, I don't have those moments of panic as often. You know, when you start to wonder if your child will really make it in the "real world". I've finally figured out that I'd be asking the same questions if my sons were in public or private school. The only difference is that I can't blame someone else for their mistakes.

Second, I don't get as worried about "falling behind" or not covering the right material. I try to make realistic goals. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't. Life goes on. Readjust and reset the goal. Coming from a family of perfectionists, I don't want to be too crazy about always doing everything perfect.

It is good to look back once in a while, but not for long. Too much to do.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 21, 2009

Why I Selected Brainstorm for a Title.

I love to brainstorm. Give me five to ten minutes and a problem and I can usually crank out a huge list of ideas. However, I'll admit some days I may only get a braindrizzle.

Another reason I chose the name brainstorm is that my oldest son has another kind of brainstorm. He has Tourette's Syndrome (TS). He also has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). He has difficulty with expressing himself verbally and getting his thoughts down in writing. This has sent me on a journey to learn as much as I can about brain function and learning.

So I'll share my ideas and what I am finding out about brain function and learning. I'll also share about what works or even what hasn't worked for us.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 21, 2009

The Journey Begins

Brainstorm is about just that...brainstorming and creative thinking. I love to generate ideas, however I have more ideas than I can implement. You may share or borrow ideas here.

I have been homeschooling two boys for a while now. Questions frequently come my way about what I do. So many resources are available. So many decisions about how to teach each child. If I can be of any service to you, I'm happy.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

About Me