This is some pictures of the children's VBS we helped our church here to do in a neighboring village. My dc did the puppets and helped to translate for the team from the US that came down to minister.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wordless Wednesday--July 16, 2008
This is some pictures of the children's VBS we helped our church here to do in a neighboring village. My dc did the puppets and helped to translate for the team from the US that came down to minister.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Some Really Good Writing Resources
I have been able to find some really great resources online to help with writing. Here are some links:
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/prompts.html
http://www.tooter4kids.com/journal_writing.htm
http://www.writingfix.com/WritingFix_for_kids.htm --really great interactive games and more prompts!
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/prompts.html
http://www.tooter4kids.com/journal_writing.htm
http://www.writingfix.com/WritingFix_for_kids.htm --really great interactive games and more prompts!
My Thoughts on Teaching Writing
Recently, I've been asked by friends and on a board I frequent how do I go about teaching writing. I guess it's not a topic I really gave much thought to, it just kind of happened in a way that was natural for me and my kids!
I use Learning Language Arts Through Literature as my primary language arts curriculum. I thank God for that curriculum! It was something I picked because it had everything in one box! I, again, didn't think it through too much, it was easy for me to teach, so I bought it. I had no idea about Charlotte Mason, Ruth Beechick, or learning/teaching styles at the time. But God led me to the curriculum that "fit" our family to a T!
The thing about that curriculum is, it's gentle. It's thorough, but, it isn't "rammy" or it doesn't teach things before a natural progression occurs. It doesn't go into too much grammar until it first teaches reading thoroughly. It then works toward fluency in reading while using excerpts from good children's literature to teach the child to appreciate good writing, good grammar, and all that goes with that through copywork, narration, and dictation. I love that! It flows.
It starts getting more into grammar at about 4th grade and progresses in difficulty from there. But, it makes sense.
So, how do I teach writing when we haven't even covered much grammar until about 4th grade? Do I just wait until then to get them writing? NO WAY! We use that time wisely in fine-tuning their imaginations! We use daily journals.
In their journals I let them write whatever they want. When they are too young to write, they draw and narrate to me what they want written. I use writing prompts to help them with their creativity a few times a week or as needed if they can't think of anything to write. I don't worry about things like spelling, capitalization, or punctuation until we've covered those things.
Once we've covered a component of writing such as punctuation, I expect to start seeing it in their daily journals. If I notice they are still making mistakes, I reinforce that component using worksheets or drills. If after that they are still making those mistakes, I will then talk with them about it. I want to find out if they are just still not understanding that component, or, which most often happens, they are just writing too fast and not carefully to do it correctly. From that point on, if they make those mistakes, I make them write the page over. I try not to correct their journals too much. I want them to be freely creative and fun for them, not more schoolwork!
They continue to journal even after I may not require it . They love journaling! My oldest has three different journals going at once: her prayer/Bible reading journal, her journal for her feelings, and one with ideas for stories, books, and articles she wants to write. She loves writing! She's good at it.
I'm convinced that if I had pushed and pushed, it would have gone the other way with her. Some kids can handle it. My oldest won't and my youngest can't. They would have melted under the pressure! As it is, they have been able to grow naturally as writers. They've been able to use their creativity and imaginations in their writing.
I've read things written by kids who write mechanically perfect, but, unfortunately, somewhere along the line the creativity was not developed or encouraged. It's hard for them.
The way I approach writing is not for everyone. Everyone is so different. I don't approach writing exactly the same with each of MY kids. Each one has their own personal struggles and abilities. Each has had to overcome some challenge along the way and each have new challenges they will face. Our job, my job, is to find the best way for each child and encourage them in the journey to becoming a good communicator through writing.
I use Learning Language Arts Through Literature as my primary language arts curriculum. I thank God for that curriculum! It was something I picked because it had everything in one box! I, again, didn't think it through too much, it was easy for me to teach, so I bought it. I had no idea about Charlotte Mason, Ruth Beechick, or learning/teaching styles at the time. But God led me to the curriculum that "fit" our family to a T!
The thing about that curriculum is, it's gentle. It's thorough, but, it isn't "rammy" or it doesn't teach things before a natural progression occurs. It doesn't go into too much grammar until it first teaches reading thoroughly. It then works toward fluency in reading while using excerpts from good children's literature to teach the child to appreciate good writing, good grammar, and all that goes with that through copywork, narration, and dictation. I love that! It flows.
It starts getting more into grammar at about 4th grade and progresses in difficulty from there. But, it makes sense.
So, how do I teach writing when we haven't even covered much grammar until about 4th grade? Do I just wait until then to get them writing? NO WAY! We use that time wisely in fine-tuning their imaginations! We use daily journals.
In their journals I let them write whatever they want. When they are too young to write, they draw and narrate to me what they want written. I use writing prompts to help them with their creativity a few times a week or as needed if they can't think of anything to write. I don't worry about things like spelling, capitalization, or punctuation until we've covered those things.
Once we've covered a component of writing such as punctuation, I expect to start seeing it in their daily journals. If I notice they are still making mistakes, I reinforce that component using worksheets or drills. If after that they are still making those mistakes, I will then talk with them about it. I want to find out if they are just still not understanding that component, or, which most often happens, they are just writing too fast and not carefully to do it correctly. From that point on, if they make those mistakes, I make them write the page over. I try not to correct their journals too much. I want them to be freely creative and fun for them, not more schoolwork!
They continue to journal even after I may not require it . They love journaling! My oldest has three different journals going at once: her prayer/Bible reading journal, her journal for her feelings, and one with ideas for stories, books, and articles she wants to write. She loves writing! She's good at it.
I'm convinced that if I had pushed and pushed, it would have gone the other way with her. Some kids can handle it. My oldest won't and my youngest can't. They would have melted under the pressure! As it is, they have been able to grow naturally as writers. They've been able to use their creativity and imaginations in their writing.
I've read things written by kids who write mechanically perfect, but, unfortunately, somewhere along the line the creativity was not developed or encouraged. It's hard for them.
The way I approach writing is not for everyone. Everyone is so different. I don't approach writing exactly the same with each of MY kids. Each one has their own personal struggles and abilities. Each has had to overcome some challenge along the way and each have new challenges they will face. Our job, my job, is to find the best way for each child and encourage them in the journey to becoming a good communicator through writing.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Good Things Are Happening
There has been significant progress in my son's ability to do language arts, which is a minor miracle. I have noticed that he has really clicked with it in the past few weeks, but, on Tuesday, there was a breakthrough. We were doing his lesson in LLATL about quotations. He stopped and said, "Mom! They made a mistake in this book and left off the quotation marks at the beginning of this quote and the comma at the end of the quote." I looked, and sure enough, they had! It wasn't intentional, it was an error in the book. I was so happy!
He's also making amazing progress in math. He has tested into Saxon 6/5 and been doing super with it!
Times like this, I feel as though it's all worth it!
He's also making amazing progress in math. He has tested into Saxon 6/5 and been doing super with it!
Times like this, I feel as though it's all worth it!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
The view from our balcony! The one on the left is volcano Fuego and erupts nearly every day!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Birthday America!!!!
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm extremely patriotic. It's normal to see me cry any time I hear our national anthem, or to break up when trying to sing any patriotic song, or even when I'm reading aloud to my kids something about our country's history. I love my country. I'm so blessed to be an American.
I want to take the time to thank any and all who have sacrificed to make our country what it is. I'm so grateful! Thank you for making it the best place for a person to accomplish their dreams. I love that I can tell my kids, "You can do whatever you want to do. You are citizens of a country that gives you so much opportunity." It's so true!
So, today, God bless America. May we be worthy of that blessing!
I want to take the time to thank any and all who have sacrificed to make our country what it is. I'm so grateful! Thank you for making it the best place for a person to accomplish their dreams. I love that I can tell my kids, "You can do whatever you want to do. You are citizens of a country that gives you so much opportunity." It's so true!
So, today, God bless America. May we be worthy of that blessing!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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