Reading Strategies

I work with a wonderful group of teachers at HCOS.  This week, my colleague Bev Scholman has agreed to share her ideas on reading stategies.

A colleague shared 1 Peter 1:3-5 this week, and it so blessed me that I thought I’d share it with you. This week I also found a list of reading questions, which you can apply to your reading. This is an important part of teaching a child to read, so I thought I’d illustrate with a few questions here. As you read you’ll see why they are important.

BEFORE

* What am I going to learn?

* Why did the author write this? (Peter and God)

* Who is speaking?

  DURING

* Why is this information important?

* Do I understand what the author is saying?

 AFTER

* When the author said ___ I wondered…

* Do I agree with what the author said?

* What was the main idea?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory  at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.”

Particularly in our Bible reading, but also in other reading, we need to connect with what we’ve read to really benefit from it. For a longer list of reading comprehension questions for before, during, and after, visit http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/asking_questions.htm

Blessings!

J Bev.

Dormant Gardens

What happens to gardens in the winter?  Well, I guess it depends on your climate, but here on Vancouver Island, most things are dormant.  This does not mean that there is nothing happening though.  There are processes taking place that are necessary for continued growth when the next season comes.  In my garden, however, there are a few herbs that have remained fresh and strong. 

Does your garden appear dormant or fresh and strong?  Whatever the case, remember that each plant has its own cycle.  Our learners may appear dormant but I wonder if they just need things done differently for a time; working through a different growth process so they are ready to sprout when the time comes.  Sometimes introducing them to more field trips, hands-on investigations, videos, or a new computer program might be just what they need right now. 

To stray from my beautiful schedule and plans is a challenge, but then I must realize that my outdoor garden does not need me to tell it when to grow and how; God does that part.  I just have to provide it with what it needs at the time it needs it.  If your learner is going strong, then take advantage of it!  Keep up the great work. 

Practically, it is a good idea to go into Encom at the end of each term to review your SLP (Student Learning Plan).  After reviewing first portfolios, I do notice that some of you are taking a different direction than what has been recorded.  That is just fine but please let me know what direction you are going in now.  Or maybe it will just serve as a good reminder that indeed at one point, you did have a plan :).

Here are just a few ideas or tips that could be added should you see the need:

• Curl up and read a favorite book and then have the kids use these forms to write a book report.  The older grades challenge critical thinking from a christian perspective!  BOOK REPORTS
• Our online library has an incredible list of resources for ANYTHING!  HCOS LIBRARY  Just click on Weblinks, Querries and Databases for a list of sites like: ALL-CANADIAN SEARCH ENGINE or this AWESOME MATH SITE - ILLUMINATIONS

I will leave you with a teaching tip from one of my colleagues, Rick Janzen:

Teaching tip:  I want to continue a series of tips I began last year on different learning activities that you can use to both enhance learning, and to assess comprehension.  Today’s tip is using role-play.  This one is excellent and easy for novels and stories.  Simply have your child take on the role of one of the characters of the story for you.  You could ask your child, who is in role, what it was like when.....?  How did you decide to ....?  In social studies you could have them role play a certain profession, or historical character and then interview them about a related topic.  In science they could role play an animal, plant or even a molecule.  Ask them what it is like to dissolve in water, to evaporate or to be heated.  If your child has some difficulties at first you can model it for them  Role play a character or article first for them to show them how to do it.  You could even do it together and have a lot of laughs.  Let me know if you are able to give this tip a try.  I would love to hear how you did.

Fabulous Fables

I would like to begin by noting 2 birthdays this month - Matthew and Jacob!  Happy Birthday boys!

Next, I would like you to take note of some more resources for Diversity of Life added by Natalie Sing - thanks Natalie.  You will find them on the Lesson Plans and units page.

Finally, I would like to share that my children and I recently attended a Sigmund Brouwer workshop.  It was great to see the kids feel the freedom to just get sharing "stories" and to not worry as much about "writing".  He challenged us to forget about teaching grammar and avoid the use of adverbs ("ly" words) in order to be forced to use strong verbs instead.  I know all you "IEW" parents are gnashing your teeth right now, but I think Andrew also encourages banned words also which is a similar concept.  I think the key is to know your child's learning style and maintain a good balance.

With all that said, a fun way to begin writing stories is to use the model of the fable.  Fables are short, use animals as characters, and teach morals. 

Here is a unit on fables to try!  Fables Unit

Hope you all had a fabulous week and please remember to share your adventures with me!

Good Deals!

The New Year often brings about the desire to get REorganized and get focussed back on the Scriptures in our program of study.  Here are some great deals I came across to help you get started!

Homeschool Notebooking is having our Winter Sale at Currclick this week only.

Stop by CurrClick and get a few of our best selling titles for only 2.99 and under! Sale lasts this week only.  Remember you must use product link below to redeem your special discount price.

Boys Student Planner  $1.99   

Girls Student Planner   $1.99

Proverbs Copywork for Elementary Boys and Girls  $1.00

Proverbs Copywork for Boys  $1.00

Proverbs Copywork for Girls   $1.00

And until Friday, get our Bible Notebooking Pages (regularly 12.95) for only $2.99

You can get all these titles for under 10 bucks!

Just click on any title above to be taken to the product discount.

Thanks so much for your continued support of our site and I wish you the best New Year ever.

Many Blessings,

Michelle Taylor

Homeschool Notebooking

Special price for : $ (click the link to apply the discount)

Getting Back to Growing

This was a tough week back for the kids and I.  Getting back to schedules and routines was especially difficult; we wanted so bad to stay up "just a little longer" or wake up "when it gets light out".  I remember feeling this way at the beginning of this school year and thought I should revisit an article I wrote back then.  I am glad I did, because I had gotten quite off track from its suggestions.  Here is that article:

How was this past week for your family? 

I really am curious because mine was a whirlwind of emotional breakdowns coming both from the children and myself!  Getting back into routines has been quite the challenge in our household.  My children have told me that I expect WAY too much from them and that we get up WAY too early for being homeschooled.  Maybe I am expecting lots and maybe I am not, but I think I would rather start out tough and then let up a little as they are able to show discipline, respect and obedience.  I sought the Lord on this (having somewhat guilty feelings with the accusations from my children) and I heard him tell me to first make sure I was willing to put in discipline and high expectations myself.  Was I going to be able to set a good example and have a good attitude about it?  This attitude and example would be the success-maker in establishing good habits and attitudes within my own children.  Practically, this means bringing myself, my children, and the work planned out before HIM each day as well as ask HIM each night what to do differently or what to rejoice in.  It means finding “natural consequences” rather than nagging.  And it means bringing MY best forward each day as I interact with my children. 

A New Season of Growth

Happy New Year to everyone!  I do hope your holidays were joy-filled and peaceful.  Mine were fabulous!

I am really excited about this post as it is really my official first weekly communication to you.  I hope you find this more effective and pleasant.  PLEASE be interactive with it and make comments and suggestions so it can become an effective and useful blog.  I hope for it to serve as a central resource for all homeschooling families in the area.  So if you have an event or thought to share, please send it along and it may get posted!

FSA's
The first thing I would like to remind you all about are FSAs.  Anyone from HCOS who have student in grades 4 or 7 will be getting a letter in the mail over the next few weeks explaining the process and providing you with any information you may need.  Parents are able to supervise the test and HCOS teachers will be marking them.  What a great opportunity to provide a safe environment for formal assessing!  Please remember that participation in the process could be correlated to government funding, so your participation is expected if your child is enrolled with HCOS.  Please feel free to speak with me directly if you have any concerns or questions about the process.

Events
There is so much happenning this month:

1. Sigmund Brouwer is doing various writing workshops up and down the Island including: Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, and even way out west in Port Alberni! Here is a link to his website: Sigmund Brouwer
2. HCOS Island Spelling Bee on Friday, January 14th @ 9:30 for those who have pre-registered.
3. PE Sports Camp starting Friday, January 14th from 1-2pm for 6 weekly sessions. Here is the flyer: Sports Camp
4. Homeschool Skating starts Monday the 17th in Parksville.
5. Vancouver Island Symphony presents:Peter and the Wolves on Friday, February 18 at teh Port Theatre in Nanaimo. Peter and the Wolves   Please e-mail me if you are interested.  If there are enough interested, I may arrange a group.

Please e-mail me if you would like to share any activities or events happenning in your area.

New Resource!
Our online librarian sent us information about a great new technology that can be used for sharing learning helping with projects.  It is called "glogging".  Similar to blogging but more visual rather than print.  I think it would be a fun and creative outlet for those students who don't like to write!  Please check it out and imagine the possibilities!  EDUglogging

Growing a Godly Garden

Welcome to Learning to Grow!  This blog is inspired by my passion to seek growth in our children rather than just milestones.  Growth in ALL areas: academic, developmental and spiritual.

At the beginning of this school year, I used a newsletter format for communicating to the families and friends I support.  Here is the first article that I wrote back in September that will give you an understanding of how my heart beats.

This year, my heart is drawn to searching for the growth in our children rather simply on meeting outcomes.  I think of all of the children God has placed before me as a variety of fruits and vegetables in my garden—each variety has very unique and special growing needs.  Some need more light than others, some more water, some need to be left lots of room to spread out and still others like to use trellises to reach high.  So, this year, I hope to provide helpful insight into how to help you grow the fruits and vegetables in your house (not the ones you eat!)  Most importantly, I hope we can recognize that nothing grows without the Lord’s hands on it; so know that I will be praying for the Lord to show up and guide and direct you and I in growing this beautiful garden of children placed before us.

I will continue to add posts with past relevant newsletter articles as well as new insights, links, documents, lesson plans and work samples!  This will be the new format for communicating and sharing with those I am blessed to grow with but I hope anyone who finds support and inspiration will share and comment and grow with us!

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