Life... Successfully

  • Life Successfully
  • INTENT-SIVE NATURE
    • Business Success Services >
      • Intent to Read Publishing
    • Healing Jewelry & Talismans >
      • What is the Meaning Behind Intent-sive Nature Healing Jewelry?
    • Custom Healing Products & Services
    • Essential Oil, Spiritual Oils, & Aromatherapy
    • Bath, Beauty, & Self-Care
    • Rituals, Herbs, & Altar Supplies
    • Original Artwork
    • Protection
    • Orgone Or Orgonite
    • Wands
    • Yoga & Meditation
    • Crystals & Gemstones
    • Books & Media
    • Education & Homeschool Resources
    • Clothing
    • Decor And Home Accents
    • RV, Camping, And Auto
  • BUSINESS, MARKETING, & CONTENT SERVICES
  • SUBMIT GUEST POSTS
  • About & Contact
  • Writing, Web, Business, & Tech
    • Brand Shamans Brand Healing Journal
    • Write W.A.V.E. Media Thought Leadership & Tech Journal
    • Writing Tips Journal
    • The One-and-Only Internet Money Making Guide!
    • Writer's Resumes >
      • Lyn Lomasi >
        • Ask Lyn
      • Get Your FREE Writer's Profile & Online Resume
    • Be a Writer!
    • Submission Guidelines
  • News
    • News Articles
    • Science and Nature Articles
    • Sports Break Journal >
      • NFL 2019 Squares
  • Travel
    • RV'ing Successfully ~ A Family Roadschooling & Travel Journal
    • Hometown Love ~ A Local Journal
  • Family & Home
    • Your Soul Flame Journal
    • FLOW-Key Parenting Journal >
      • The Pregnancy & Baby Care Guide EVERY Parent Needs!
      • The ONLY Potty Training Guide You'll Ever Need
      • Elementary Learning Supplies...
      • 10 Safe Toys
      • Soothe Crying Baby
      • Playing Cards With Kids
    • Life & Home Journal
    • Mekai's Branches ~ Family Adventure Journal
    • Kymani's Travels ~ Family Travel Journal
    • The Nova Skye Story ~ Family Journal
    • Momtrepreneur Moments ~ A Business Mom's Journal
    • Successful Relationships; A Heart-Focused Journal
    • Better Plumbing Blog >
      • Hire Better Plumbing - Your Denver Plumber
  • Education
    • Heart 'N Mind Homeschool Journal
    • Free Learning Education Journal >
      • Two Affordable And Fun Toys For Teaching Kids To Read
      • Elementary Learning Supplies You Can Find At The Dollar Store
      • Free Counting Fun For Toddlers And Preschoolers
      • Why School Choice is Important in High School
      • Choosing Childen's Books That Create Smart Readers
    • Free Homeschool Worksheets
    • The Bibliophile's Library Journal - Book News, Reviews, & Info
    • Penning Your World ~ A Creative Writing Journal
    • Monsters Within Us ~ An Otherworldly Journal of Monstrous Incantations >
      • A Lighter Shade of Green
  • Health & Beauty
    • Whole Body Health, Healing, & Medicine Journal
    • Good Eats For The Soul ~ Vegan Diet, Recipes, & Food Journal >
      • Recipe Books By Lyn Lomasi
    • Fash Diva ~ A Clothing, Shoes, & Fashion Journal
    • Naturally Simple ~ A Self-Care & Beauty Journal
    • Senior Living
    • Disabilities Articles
    • Green Living Articles
  • Causes
    • Causes We Support
    • Speak Up!; A Homelessness & Social Justice Journal
    • Animal Advocacy >
      • Pet Resources >
        • Heart 'N Mind Paw Rescue >
          • Pawsitive Parenting Pet Rescue Journal
        • Sounds of Nature
      • Animal Advocacy & Healthy Pet Parenting Journal
      • Positive Pet Parenting Journal
      • Raising Pet Positive Kids
      • Supermom ...Kind Of
      • Pawsitively Adventurous Pets
      • Purrely Pawsitive And Barkably Amazing Pet Training Tips
      • Dog Praising
      • Spirit of the Wild Lands and Animals
    • Motivational Friends Inspirational Journal
    • Inner Healing & Spirituality Journal
    • Naturally Connected Journey - Views On Life, Passions, & Interests
  • Fun
    • Gaming Successfully
    • Luna Starlight Comics
    • Crafting Successfully Arts & Crafts Journal
    • Culture Carnival; A Festival, Tradition, & Holiday Journal
    • Mouthy Momtrepreneur Journal
    • Clowning Around
    • Music Articles Journal
    • Entertainment Articles Journal
    • Humor Treasure Trove; A Funny Comedy Journal
  • Become an Affiliate!
    • Promotional Banners
  • Disclosure, TOU, Dislaimer, & Privacy
  • Shipping Policy
  • Return Policy
  • Life Successfully
  • INTENT-SIVE NATURE
    • Business Success Services >
      • Intent to Read Publishing
    • Healing Jewelry & Talismans >
      • What is the Meaning Behind Intent-sive Nature Healing Jewelry?
    • Custom Healing Products & Services
    • Essential Oil, Spiritual Oils, & Aromatherapy
    • Bath, Beauty, & Self-Care
    • Rituals, Herbs, & Altar Supplies
    • Original Artwork
    • Protection
    • Orgone Or Orgonite
    • Wands
    • Yoga & Meditation
    • Crystals & Gemstones
    • Books & Media
    • Education & Homeschool Resources
    • Clothing
    • Decor And Home Accents
    • RV, Camping, And Auto
  • BUSINESS, MARKETING, & CONTENT SERVICES
  • SUBMIT GUEST POSTS
  • About & Contact
  • Writing, Web, Business, & Tech
    • Brand Shamans Brand Healing Journal
    • Write W.A.V.E. Media Thought Leadership & Tech Journal
    • Writing Tips Journal
    • The One-and-Only Internet Money Making Guide!
    • Writer's Resumes >
      • Lyn Lomasi >
        • Ask Lyn
      • Get Your FREE Writer's Profile & Online Resume
    • Be a Writer!
    • Submission Guidelines
  • News
    • News Articles
    • Science and Nature Articles
    • Sports Break Journal >
      • NFL 2019 Squares
  • Travel
    • RV'ing Successfully ~ A Family Roadschooling & Travel Journal
    • Hometown Love ~ A Local Journal
  • Family & Home
    • Your Soul Flame Journal
    • FLOW-Key Parenting Journal >
      • The Pregnancy & Baby Care Guide EVERY Parent Needs!
      • The ONLY Potty Training Guide You'll Ever Need
      • Elementary Learning Supplies...
      • 10 Safe Toys
      • Soothe Crying Baby
      • Playing Cards With Kids
    • Life & Home Journal
    • Mekai's Branches ~ Family Adventure Journal
    • Kymani's Travels ~ Family Travel Journal
    • The Nova Skye Story ~ Family Journal
    • Momtrepreneur Moments ~ A Business Mom's Journal
    • Successful Relationships; A Heart-Focused Journal
    • Better Plumbing Blog >
      • Hire Better Plumbing - Your Denver Plumber
  • Education
    • Heart 'N Mind Homeschool Journal
    • Free Learning Education Journal >
      • Two Affordable And Fun Toys For Teaching Kids To Read
      • Elementary Learning Supplies You Can Find At The Dollar Store
      • Free Counting Fun For Toddlers And Preschoolers
      • Why School Choice is Important in High School
      • Choosing Childen's Books That Create Smart Readers
    • Free Homeschool Worksheets
    • The Bibliophile's Library Journal - Book News, Reviews, & Info
    • Penning Your World ~ A Creative Writing Journal
    • Monsters Within Us ~ An Otherworldly Journal of Monstrous Incantations >
      • A Lighter Shade of Green
  • Health & Beauty
    • Whole Body Health, Healing, & Medicine Journal
    • Good Eats For The Soul ~ Vegan Diet, Recipes, & Food Journal >
      • Recipe Books By Lyn Lomasi
    • Fash Diva ~ A Clothing, Shoes, & Fashion Journal
    • Naturally Simple ~ A Self-Care & Beauty Journal
    • Senior Living
    • Disabilities Articles
    • Green Living Articles
  • Causes
    • Causes We Support
    • Speak Up!; A Homelessness & Social Justice Journal
    • Animal Advocacy >
      • Pet Resources >
        • Heart 'N Mind Paw Rescue >
          • Pawsitive Parenting Pet Rescue Journal
        • Sounds of Nature
      • Animal Advocacy & Healthy Pet Parenting Journal
      • Positive Pet Parenting Journal
      • Raising Pet Positive Kids
      • Supermom ...Kind Of
      • Pawsitively Adventurous Pets
      • Purrely Pawsitive And Barkably Amazing Pet Training Tips
      • Dog Praising
      • Spirit of the Wild Lands and Animals
    • Motivational Friends Inspirational Journal
    • Inner Healing & Spirituality Journal
    • Naturally Connected Journey - Views On Life, Passions, & Interests
  • Fun
    • Gaming Successfully
    • Luna Starlight Comics
    • Crafting Successfully Arts & Crafts Journal
    • Culture Carnival; A Festival, Tradition, & Holiday Journal
    • Mouthy Momtrepreneur Journal
    • Clowning Around
    • Music Articles Journal
    • Entertainment Articles Journal
    • Humor Treasure Trove; A Funny Comedy Journal
  • Become an Affiliate!
    • Promotional Banners
  • Disclosure, TOU, Dislaimer, & Privacy
  • Shipping Policy
  • Return Policy

Write W.A.V.E. Media Blogging as Part of Your Student's Writing Curriculum

3/12/2015

 

Teaching Kids to Write for the Web Using Write W.A.V.E. Media

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Picture
Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved
Looking for something different and useful to add to your student's writing curriculum? What about web writing? More specifically, how about using guest blogging at Write W.A.V.E. Media (WWM) as part of that instruction? There are no age requirements for posting on these sites, only certain access restrictions (an adult account is required for those under 13, due to usage rules related to hosting and creation tools). There are also several sites within the network, covering just about any topic. This can be adapted into a traditional classroom curriculum or for homeschooled students. As a seasoned homeschool parent and a long-time web writer, I've done this with my own children in various ways.

Getting Started

In the beginning, give your student a chance to get familiar with how the process works. Most importantly, allow him or her to learn how the publishing system works. The first submissions should simply be whatever the student feels like writing. This could be poems, articles, or even school papers. Let him or her feel comfortable with using the sites, learning a few things, and gaining a readership. Also, remember to allow for some of this in between assignments as well. Keep the experience fun and not just a chore.

Potential Earnings

Many ad and affiliate companies require an account holder to be 18 or older. However, it can still be a learning experience and will help ensure they are knowledgeable when they do qualify for payments. You also might choose to sign up for one or more of these and simply transfer any earnings to your student. If your student chooses to publish in other places around the web or to publish books (or sell products or services) that can be linked to from their posts at Write W.A.V.E. Media, links to those might also help them earn. Also, reprints of content are sometimes purchased by clients. In this case, we always give the writer 100% profit from their own content (minus any processing fees by PayPal).

Teaching Web Writing Using Write W.A.V.E. Media

There are many great tips on web writing at the Write W.A.V.E. Media blog, as well as the Article Writer For Hire blog. The WWM forum and the WWM Facebook group also might be useful. Let your students read up on those and implement the lessons into their writing. A very useful tool to combine with lessons learned from those sources is the Yahoo! Style Guide. We also provide submission guidelines and other instructions. Gauge the success of your student's web writing skills by constantly examining their work to see which techniques are applied.

Benefits of Web Writing Skills

No matter the career choice of your students, web writing skills can be a plus. These lessons can be useful in college, as well as in the workforce. Web writing can be used in marketing, journalism, business ownership, business management, editing, and much more. Pretty much any business or company should have a website and web writing skills can be useful in creating and maintaining it.

Grading Based on Performance and Quality

When grading your student on lessons learned, look at both quality and performance. Are the pieces written well? Grade web writing similar to other school papers as far as grammar and spelling. But don't forget the various aspects of internet text, such as SEO and ad alignment. Have they followed our submission guidelines or are they at risk of getting their content edited or removed? Are they getting decent page views on WWM? Is there mostly positive or negative feedback? How much interaction are they getting? What are the readers saying? Is their content being shared by others?

Ten Steps to Becoming an Effective Teacher (Guest Post)

2/9/2015

 
by Monica Langley, Teacher and How-To Specialist
Picture
Image by Lars Plougmann via Flickr.com
Do you desire to be a truly effective teacher? This advice can help to transform your classroom style from tired and tedious to dynamic and engaging. These few steps will guide you on how to be the best teacher.

Step 1: Set an Example for Your Students to Follow

As the teacher, the example that you set will set the tone for your classroom. Students will pick up on your demeanor, attitude, words, and actions. Project an attitude of calm, confidence, professionalism, and respect. This will earn you the trust and respect from your students that you desire.

Step 2: Define Rules and Consequences


Define rules and consequences from your first day in the classroom. Then, when the clearly defined rules are violated, make sure that you consistently follow through on consequences.

Step 3: Remember to Show Consideration

The way to build lasting relationships with your students is to demonstrate interest in them as individuals. This does not mean that you slack on enforcement of rules, but that even when you do need to take disciplinary action, it is done with a gentle (though firm) attitude. Be responsive to each student's unique needs.

Step 4: Incorporate Variety in Your Classroom


Try to incorporate variety into your classroom by using different teaching methods. Every learner is different. Not every student has the same learning style. The more variety that's in the activities you incorporate into the classroom, the less likely students will be bored – and the more likely you will be to reach each type of learner in your class.

Step 5: Be Willing to Search for Unknown Answers

Even if you have to go out of your way to search for an answer, make sure students know that you care about helping them find answers to their questions. If they see expressing diligence and determination to discover the unknown, that attitude will often be imitated by your students.

Step 6: Find Out What Your Students Understand


Ask questions to find out what knowledge the students may already have obtained about a topic you are starting to teach. Pretest on the topic, letting them know that the test will not receive a grade, but that you are just assessing their knowledge. This will give you an idea on which areas of the topic you will need to discuss more thoroughly than others.

Step 7: Allow for Friendly Competition


For some students, competition can be a great incentive for learning. Make sure that students are never allowed to put one another down. These competitions can come in the form of spelling bees, group projects, or review games involving different teams. Allowing for friendly competition can liven up the learning environment and help prepare students for the competition they will one day face when entering the work force.

Step 8: Plan your Lessons Carefully

Each lesson should have three main points reflecting the main objective.

• Lesson - This is where you present the new material (and any review material) in front of the class. Follow the above steps to make sure the lesson is relevant, the environment is conducive to instruction, and students are properly engaged. This is also a time to allow brief questions and class discussion.

• Group Work - This is a time for students to work together applying the lessons that have been taught. They can work on a variety of projects. This step allows the students to learn cooperation and peer mentoring. At the end of this portion, allow time for the groups to report to the class.

• Individual application - Students should have an opportunity to quietly sit at their seats and work on an individual worksheet or lesson related to the material that was taught. This will give you time to be able to see which students have adequately learned the material and which ones need help and reinforcement.

Step 9: Teach Time Management Skills


Show students how to list their assignments and various tasks so that they have a good understanding of what they are expected to accomplish. This list can include reading and work assignments, along with due dates and suggested amounts of study time. Or you can simply use a to do list template or task list template along with a description and task titles.

Step 10: Stay Organized

Do not get up in front of the classroom without being prepared and organized in advance. To do so is to invite chaos into the classroom. Make sure that you are well prepared and ready to stand in front of your classroom with confidence. That confidence comes from keeping organized and having materials set up and ready to go.

It takes dedication to be an effective teacher. These helpful steps can give you the tools that you need to succeed and inspire success in your students.


About The Author:

Hi, this is Monica. I am a teacher who has spent the last 3 years in an awesome school. Within the last year, I have become very excited about blogging on how to do anything. =)

You can connect with Monica at HubPages.

Tips for Teaching Kids to Love Books

12/27/2014

0 Comments

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
PictureImage (c) Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved
Teaching kids to love books can sometimes seem hopeless. But it's actually quite simple. Start with books from the very beginning and they'll never know life without them. If you haven't done that, it's not too late to pick up the habits still applicable to take them down the path to loving books. It's never too late for teaching kids to love books. As a former nanny and current mom and homeschool teacher, I have used a variety of effective methods on a good number of children. Perhaps my experience in teaching kids to love books will help you do the same.

Start in the Womb

Talking and reading to Baby while pregnant gives a good head start on a love for reading. It may seem silly at first thought, but your baby can hear your voice and other sounds outside the womb. Go to the library and get some great books to read to your Baby while inside the womb. You can even attend storytime. Many baby stores sell special headphones with a microphone attached made especially for parents to talk to their child while in the womb. Simply place the headphones strategically on Mom's pregnant belly and speak into the microphone. I did this with all of my children. It was fun to see and feel their kicks when myself and other family members read to them.

Read to them Daily

Once a child is born, read to them daily. While they may not at first know what you are talking about, fostering a love for the written and spoken word starts with habit. By establishing a routine that includes reading books, kids will just naturally love them. Reading books together is great for bonding, enhancing imagination skills, and for relaxation modes like naptime and bedtime. Really anytime is a good time for reading books and by making that clear, you are teaching the kids to love books.

Let them See You Read

If you always insist upon the kids reading, but don't do it yourself, they may not understand the value of books. Let the kids see you with magazines and books. When it's their reading time, be sure that you read something for yourself. This may be your college textbooks, a novel, or a lifestyle or career magazine. It doesn't matter what you read, as long as they can see you also have a love for reading.

Join Library Clubs and Visit Library Often

The library is an amazing resource for helping kids love books. Of course they can check out books with their very own library card. But they can also participate in storytime, reading and educational activities, and even free reading programs. Many libraries offer a special reading program during the summer that allows kids to earn prizes and awards based on the number of books they complete. Check with your local library to see what they offer.


Stock Plenty of Books

Keeping plenty of books around is a must when establishing a love for reading. This can mean having a family collection or visiting the library often. Doing both is also a good idea. However, if you wish to be as earth-conscious as possible, utilize the library for as many books as possible. How the books are acquired is not as important as the fact that they are there.


Play Reading Games

Playing reading games helps make the thought of books and reading fun for kids. Choose a variety of activities and games to keep them interested. Reading games might use books to accompany them and some may just use reading as a basis.


More Reading Activities on Life Successfully

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

0 Comments

Is Homework Reducing Learning and Play Time for Kids? Should Homework Be Eliminated? Pros and Cons

8/15/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

The subject of homework has long been a debate among parents and teachers. Some teachers believe it is essential, while some find other ways to add to the curriculum. There are parents like myself who feel it takes up valuable time. This time could otherwise be spent reading, playing, or learning in other ways. As a mom, homeschool teacher, and former public school parent, I've seen it from more than one side. I've also done research over the years, as well as asked opinions of teachers. My research and opinions below are accompanied by recent conversations with three teachers.

Homework vs Study Time

Besides what is being taught in class, kids may need or desire to do extra research on their own. They also may want to read unassigned books for the pure enjoyment of reading. However, when homework takes up a substantial amount of time, this may not be possible. The student may tire or run out of time before extracurricular activities or bedtime. Children should be free to explore and learn as much as possible and too much homework may hinder that process. My personal thought is that study time needs to be reevaluated and should be done freely versus being assigned. I expressed some of my thoughts on how to do that in another writeup: "Should Current Homework and Study Methods be Reevaluated?"

Ann W, a teacher and parent, shared the following with me:

"There are several negative effects of traditional homework assignments, especially upon elementary school children. In my experience as a parent and former public school teacher, I've seen both sides to the issue. If homework lacks substance or too much is assigned, children become increasingly frustrated and may develop a bad attitude toward school. In our own experience, homework took four hours of time to complete. Not only did this take away from our family time together, it also reduced the amount of time our child was able to devote to individual reading.

"Down time and actually having the time to read for pleasure can refresh and prepare a student for further learning. Excessive homework, such as writing 20 spelling words 25 times each by a child who can spell all the words correctly and has a fine motor disability, creates a stressful atmosphere and is a waste of precious time. That is just one of the reasons, among many, that we eventually chose to home school our daughter."

Benefits or Drawbacks?


This is the area where it seems the answer varies depending on who you ask. Not all teachers agree and not all parents agree. According to an article on Scholastic.com, there is not credible evidence to suggest that there is a tangible benefit from homework. In fact, in that same article, there is evidence of a no-homework policy working well for students. The argument given by one teacher is that homework is essentially the same as if an adult went to work and then came home and kept working for several more hours. Some may in fact do this, but why put so much pressure on anyone, especially children?

Then, there are those who argue there are indeed benefits. For instance, Sandra Peterson, a teacher, tutor, and home educator shared this with me:

"Especially in the subject of math, homework is, in my opinion, essential. Homework is one of the best day-to-day assessment tools a teacher can utilize. Daily homework can alert a teacher to comprehension problems early enough that the lesson can be re-taught. This is important in math since one concept builds upon another. If the student does not understand how to find factors, they may not understand how to reduce fractions or make equivalent fractions from two fractions with unlike denominators. Many students learn best by practicing skills in a lesson or by summarizing what they have learned in an essay. Not that homework is rote learning, but homework can provide one more opportunity to cement those concepts in the brain. Homework can also be utilized to allow the student to express his individuality, especially in the creative writing portion of the language arts curriculum."

When Can Kids be Kids?

Another argument against homework is that often kids are spending so much time on it, there is no time left for anything else. What about extracurricular activities? What about family time or just regular kid time? When my kids were in traditional school, by the time my oldest was finished with homework, she had no time to do anything but eat dinner and prepare for bed. Yes, learning is extremely important. But so is downtime, fun time, and fitness. All have benefits and all are necessary. If children are spending all their time on homework, where is the time for any of this?

High school teacher Amanda Herron told me what works for her students:

"I teach on a block schedule, instead of traditional, which means our students have four classes a day (instead of eight) and stay in one class for 90 minutes (instead of 55). I rarely, if ever, give homework because I feel that as an effective teacher I should cover what I need to in 90 minutes. Research does back up that daily practice of concepts helps with memory retention, but I feel that in 90 minutes my lessons should teach the concept and offer practice time. By doing traditional 'homework' assignments in class, the students have peer coaches and teachers to ask questions and get help. Especially at the high school level, few parents can help on homework assignments. Also, our students have such full, high-stress lives. At my school, we have a high teen parent rate, added to the necessity of after-school jobs for essentials like gas (and unfortunately for some of my students, family groceries due to the high-unemployment in our area). Colleges are looking for sports, extra-curriculars and community service. If every teacher assigns an additional 45 minutes of homework, our students (with only four teachers) would need an extra three hours in their schedules.

"The average schedule for one of my students:

7:00 a.m. ~ Bus stop.

7:40 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. ~ School day

3:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Sports (football, basketball, etc)

5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ~ after school job or baby sit children/siblings until parents get home from later-shift jobs

"There is no time in my students schedules for homework every night. They would not be finished until after 1:00a.m. At schools with traditional schedules (more classes meeting in a day) that could go longer. So, I'm not a fan. I get a better result from my students by keeping practice and project times in class and I have no problem doing this and still covering my state-mandated standards."

What is Being Taught in Class?

A final question that I struggle with often: "What's being taught in class?" If a child is learning for hours throughout the day, why is it necessary to then come home and repeat the process? Haven't they been learning all day already? As someone who has had children in public school and has educated them at home, I have seen things as both a parent and teacher. Whenever we are homeschooling, I have found the children complete more lessons in less time than when they attended traditional school. That's why I struggle so much in understanding why it's necessary to repeat lessons during a time that should be family time.

Because of homeschooling, the performance of most of my kids has increased. They sometimes complete two grade levels per subject every school year. This is without having extra work to complete at the end of the day. Because of this, I'm left to wonder why traditional schools need to assign extra work outside of class. Shouldn't the length of their school days compensate for that? I have the utmost respect for educators and believe most do have the students' best interests in mind. It's just something I have yet to understand, based on research and personal experience.

*Thanks to Amanda Herron, Sandra Peterson, and Ann W for your opinions.

**I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

RELATED
Why Don't Homeschool Parents Teach in a School Building? Back to School Concerns
Help! My Daughter is Starting High School: Beat the Mommy Jitters
Is Education the Top Funding Priority at Your Child's School?

0 Comments

Back to Homeschool: Online vs Text Curriculum

8/6/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When choosing a child's curriculum, you first want to be sure that it will suit the child's needs and meet requirements. There are many methods to consider. Once you have narrowed it down, you might find yourself deciding between an online curriculum and a textbook curriculum. There's not really a one size fits all solution when it comes to education. Each family's needs will differ significantly. So how do you know which is best for your child? In my years of experience as a homeschool teacher, I've had to make this decision several times with more than one child.

Which study habits are most effective for your child? Does your child learn better from a book, games, or other methods? When choosing between an online and textbook curriculum, consider the methods that apply with each. Whichever one more closely resembles your child's learning style is likely going to be the most effective. If your child learns best from hearing instruction and the instructions are mostly from books, it will be more difficult for your child to learn. If your child has unique learning needs (such as vision issues or disabilities) examine each method and figure out which one works the best in those circumstances.

Which program lines up with your family's lifestyle? Is your family always on the go? If so, a textbook curriculum may be best because it's easy to transport. Then again, if your child has a laptop and does well learning on the computer, the online curriculum may be better. Do you like to give lessons in the library? Will an online curriculum work with that? For instance, the child may need to wear earphones so as not to disturb others in the library. Will you still be able to instruct that way? There are many possible scenarios and answers. Consider what your family will be doing on a daily basis to help you come to a decision.

Does your first choice line up with state standards? Each state has specific standards that need to be met when it comes to curriculum. Make sure that the method you choose lines up with those. If it doesn't, can you commit to supplementing what's missing? It's important that your child gets a proper education and if an online or textbook curriculum doesn't do that, it's time to reevaluate your choices. Our family prefers to use mostly an online course. But we also supplement with other learning materials, field trips, and hands-on lessons.

Which choice will be more enjoyable for your child? While education is first and foremost, it's also important to be sure your child will enjoy doing schoolwork. If there is some fun mixed in with the work, a child is more likely to learn. On the other hand, if the work is boring or too laborious, the child may hesitate and actually learn less even if the program offers exemplary information. The material is no good when a child is resistant to looking at it. A child will learn more during an hour of time where there's interest than during eight hours of disinterest.

Should you blend the two? If you can see benefits to both choices, perhaps a blend of the two will work well for you. Some kids learn better when they get to mix things up here and there. If your child gets bored easily, switching back and forth from textbook to computer could be the answer. If your child is the opposite and likes things to stay the same and be more structured, it may be best to choose one or the other. Does your child pitch a fit when things change? Do you hear "Mommy, I'm bored" all too often? Even if you don't have educational situations to compare, besides homework time, think about your child's reactions to everyday situations.

RELATED:
Back to
Homeschool: Establishing a Routine
Gym Class Activities for Homeschool
Homeschool FAQ: Common Myths & Questions


* I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network:
http://web.archive.org/web/20120708235911/http://voices.yahoo.com/back-home-school-online-vs-textbook-8668313.html?cat=25

0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    On Sale

    On Sale

    Shop

    On Sale

    On Sale

    Shop
    Shop

    FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

    Stephanie Laursen-Nolan
    Crystal S. Kauffman
    Jeanne Frost

    MORE EDUCATION

    Heart 'N Mind Homeschool
    Educational Materials
    Free Worksheets

    OWNER

    Lyn Lomasi
    Picture
    Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!

    Lyn is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! While rescuing civilians from boring business practices and energy vampires, this awesomely crazy family conquers evil and creates change.

    They live among tigers, dragons, mermaids, unicorns, and other fantastic energies, teaching others to claim their own power and do the same.

    By supporting us, you support a dedicated parent, healer,  and minority small business that donates to several causes. Profits from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature support these causes and our beautiful family!

    HIRE OR SHOP WITH LYN  |  CONTACT LYN

    Melissa & Doug-Leading Designer of Education Toys

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    March 2013
    November 2011
    July 2011
    April 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    Categories

    All
    Accessories
    Alicia Bodine
    Art
    Art Education
    Back To Homeschool
    Back To School
    Basketball
    Behavior
    Blogging
    Books
    Brain
    Brain Drain
    Budget
    Career College
    Career Prep
    Charts
    Children
    Class Parties
    Classroom
    Classroom Activities
    Clothing
    College
    Colors
    Comprehension
    Comprehension Worksheets
    Counting
    Counting Games
    Counting Skills
    Crafts
    Creative
    Curriculum
    Daily Life
    Daycare
    Dennis Townsend
    Discipline
    Early Childhood Education
    Early Learning
    Ece
    Education
    Education Advice
    Educational Activities
    Educational Issues
    Educational Preschool Crafts
    Education Issues
    Education Methods
    Effectiveness
    Elementary
    Exercise
    Family
    Family Time
    Field Trip
    Floria Alex
    Free
    Free Activities
    Free Games
    Free Homework Help
    Free Lessons
    Free Math Games
    Free Printables
    Free Worksheets
    Fun
    Funding
    Games
    Grade 1 Worksheets
    Grade 2 Worksheets
    Grade 3 Worksheets
    Grade 4 Worksheets
    Grade 5 Worksheets
    Gym
    Healthy
    Hearts
    High School
    Home Education
    Homeschool
    Home School
    Homeschool Activities
    Homeschool Faq
    Homeschooling
    Homeschool Lesson Plans
    Homeschool Resources
    Homeschool Tips
    Homeschool Worksheets
    Homework
    Homework Help
    Information
    Isosceles Triangle
    Jennifer Caughey
    John Cale
    Kids
    Kids And Books
    Kids Blogs
    Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Worksheets
    Laws
    Learning
    Learning Styles
    Learn Sight Words
    Learn Sight Words Fast
    Library
    Love For Learning
    Lyn Lomasi
    Make This Sentence
    Math
    Math Activities
    Math Fun
    Math Games
    Mental
    Mind
    Mixed Age Grouping
    Moms
    Money
    Monica Langley
    Multi Age Learning
    Music
    Musical
    Numbers
    Nutrition
    Nutrition Education
    Online Curriculum
    Online School
    Open School
    Outdoors
    Parenting
    Parents
    Performing Arts
    Physical Education
    Play
    Playground
    Pre K
    Pre-K
    Preschool
    Printables
    Private School
    Products
    Public School
    Reading
    Reading Activities
    Research
    Resources
    Reviews
    Savings
    School
    School Choice
    School Funding
    School Plays
    School Projects
    School Supplies
    Schoolwork
    Screenplay
    Sentences
    Shapes
    Sick Days
    Social
    Socialization
    Spelling Practice
    Standardized Testing
    Stimulation
    Stop And Read
    Strategy
    Study
    Studying
    Teachers
    Teaching
    Teaching Kids About Money
    Teaching Kids Lines
    Teaching Kids To Read
    Teaching Kids To Write
    Teach Spelling Words Fast
    Teenagers
    Teens
    Textbooks
    Thinking
    Toddlers
    Tuition
    Tweens
    Valentines Day
    Web Writing
    Worksheets
    Write W.A.V.E. Media
    Writing

COMPANY & SUPPORT

About Us & Contact
Brand Healing Journal
Become an Affiliate!
Disclosure, TOU, Disclaimer, & Privacy Policy
Write For Our Sites!
Picture

ALL SITES

Brand Shamans
Life Successfully
Intent-sive Nature
FLOW-Key Parenting
Lyn Lomasi
Article Writer For Hire
Pre-K Yoga
Write W.A.V.E. Media
BetterTrips.info
Poverty And Homelessness
Nathan Raps (Partner Site)


Your Soul Flame
Heart 'N Mind Homeschool   
Heart 'N Mind Paw Rescue
Better Plumbing (Partner Site)
Souls Within
Parent Successfully
Pawsitive Parenting
Daily Cashouts
Manifesterz
BetterTrips.online
BetterTrips.us



ABOUT THE OWNER

Picture
Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!

Lyn is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! While rescuing civilians from boring business practices and energy vampires, this awesomely crazy family conquers evil and creates change.

They live among tigers, dragons, mermaids, unicorns, and other fantastic energies, teaching others to claim their own power and do the same.

By supporting us, you support a dedicated parent, healer,  and minority small business that donates to several causes. Profits from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature support these causes and our beautiful family!


ABOUT BRAND Shamans Content Community LLC

Picture
The Brand Shamans market jewelry, crystals, authors, books, healing products, ritual supplies, content and content services, brands, branding, marketing, business success, all businesses (with preferences and specialties in small businesses, disadvantaged businesses, minority businesses, family, women, and more), and much more. CONTACT US for questions or to get your business noticed!

Brand Shamans Content Community is your top source for quality content. Whether you need content or are looking to publish your best work, we have you covered. We are a community of content superstars saving the web from crap content daily!

We're also a full-circle consulting firm for marketing, publishing, and content. We use branding experience & Earth's energy to better your brand. Our expert natural-born intuitive healers are also industry experts that have been helping others succeed for years.

We believe that everything is connected, but as humans, we can't always see what's in front of us. Our mission is to help your potential customers, audience, team members, and other key players find you and stay connected!


© 2005-2023 Life... Successfully and Intent.sive Nature by  Brand Shamans Content Community LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Chris_Parfitt, Lars Plougmann, pang yu liu, Joybot, Andrew Turner, davitydave