Homework.....Groan!

Well, we are in week 2 of school....and the kids have been sent home with no homework, no reading expectations, nothing yet.  To be honest, this bothers me.  They went back to school September 3rd (the day after Labor Day) and I honestly thought homework folders would be in their backpacks on that Friday. No such luck.  

So, they have been subjected to "mommy homework". I've got workbooks, plenty of books to read, even a few educational apps to work through.  But this hasn't come easy.  The minute I announced there would be work to do since they didn't receive homework, I was greeted with the quintessential groans.  

I'm just not sure where this comes from.  My kids actually like to do homework!  They like to read, color, do school-type activities.  So why the disdain?  Is it because other kids complain about homework?  Are they just tired at that precise moment?  Could be.  

I'm a big proponent of extended learning at home for a number of reasons.  For one, it reduces the need to rely on television, video games, or other mindless activities to fill their time.  Furthermore, it's a time to focus on skills they might need a little more practice on or to push them to the next level.  I also love that we can cover topics that aren't being taught in school (at least not yet).  I do a lot of geography with my kids at home.  We have a workbook devoted to our home state.  They are beginning to read some historical and biographical books, in addition to the fun stories they read.  

I think I might be in the minority when it comes to this kind of structure.  But I truly believe it provides a good balance between play time, chilling out, their favorite shows, some Wii, and the other extracurricular activities they are involved in.  

Yes, I sometimes worry whether I might be pushing them too much.  But I've discovered a few very important things as I have taught my kids at home.  First, I know exactly what they are strong at and what they need to work on.  With that knowledge, I can focus what they practice on accordingly.  Second, I also find out what they really like about learning and studying.  With that knowledge, you can gear learning resources to what they are drawn to so they get even more enjoyment out of it.  For example, my son started baseball last Spring and is loving everything baseball.  So, I made it a point to get a few books to read about famous baseball players, as well as use that as an example if I need to explain something in his terms.  

So, the assigned homework will inevitably come.  But I take pride in the fact that with these additional educational resources at our home, I am reinforcing the importance of education and balancing that with other activities in their lives. 

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

Website Review: PowerMyLearning.org

I was granted the opportunity do a sponsored post by using and reviewing a great educational website, PowerMyLearning.  I do a lot of structured learning with my children at home, which does include using online sites occasionally for them to practice math, read about something new, or hone other skills that is needed at their grade level.  So, this opportunity was perfect for me!

The site works by pooling access to a variety of educational sources on the web.  Let's say you select math for your 2nd grader.  You are then given a list of icons of different games and exercises to try that stem from various websites.  We all know children respond to some things and not others, so the wide variety of activities was definitely a plus.  There is so much offered, that it sometimes took a few tries to find a game that my children liked, but it didn't take too long!

The site actually caters to a wide range of students, from kindergarten through high school.  I LOVE that the subject go beyond math and reading to include geography, spelling/phonics, science, art and music (definitely check out the virtual piano!).  There are even subjects like technology and world languages.  

Powermylearning.org is centered around the "common core" means of education.  While I think having a common core is important, I also believe in pushing your child if they are ready or giving them extra practice if they are struggling with a given subject.  This site allows you to do that easily! You can jump between grade levels and subject areas, depending on what you would like your child to practice.  

Wait, it gets better!  You can input your children's information and save lesson plans for them.  Educators can also use it as a tool for providing assignments for their students.  I don't home school my children, but I would find this feature invaluable if I did.  

You may want to wait until September 3rd if you think you would use the lesson plan feature and creating profiles for your children.  The site is getting an anticipated overhaul, based on visitor feedback, to make it more user friendly.  No data, though, will be transferred once this change takes place.  Profiles you have set up for your children will remain active.

So visit and have fun with your children as they learn!

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

Can I Slow The Kids Down So I Can Teach Them More?

For a lot of you parents out there, Christmas ranks pretty high, if not the highest, among happiest times spent with your children.  Nothing beats the wonderment of watching them gaze at lights, bake cookies, turn the Advent calendar days, and open presents.  My children still believe in Santa Claus, and I love preparing those gifts.

But it's also this time of year that I find myself saying "slow down" in regards to them growing up.  I know, I know, all parents say this phrase over and over.  They grown up so fast, let's slow things down, can't they be little just be little a little longer?  But I find myself saying this more often this time of year.

For some reason, these thoughts transcend into "am I doing enough for them?"  I often get overwhelmed at how much I want to teach my children, to expose them to, and make sure they learn.  I try to find that balance of letting them be kids and ensuring they are pushing themselves academically.  If we don't read a book for a day or two, I sometimes feel uneasy.  If they aren't genuinely excited about learning something new, I wonder why.

Please understand, my children are pretty outstanding in regards to being ahead of the curve academically and wanting to enrich themselves with books, art, and activities; they certainly are not glued constantly to games, the t.v., or other mindless activities.  As they start to excel at something, I feel the need to push them more.

Recently, at the end of last summer, I taught my 8 and 6 year olds the state capitals.  They memorized all 50 within about a month's time.  All the while, they were also honing their geographic familiarity with the USA, as well as a few fun facts about the states.  I still am quizzing them occasionally and they are rock solid.  So I immediately say to myself, we must go further.  A focus study on our state?  Let's memorize all the state birds!  Pick a topic.  They seemed to genuinely like learning the capitals, so let's take it to the next level.

Bottom line, at the end of the day, I know I am doing all I can for my kids.  Simply being engaged and energized about their lives and their learning will speak mountains for them in the future.

But gosh darn it, will you be sure to read 20 minutes before falling asleep tonight?

Merry Christmas.