Quote from Forum Archives on February 20, 2005, 4:31 pm

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear Hope Chest friends,

As promised, here is an excerpt and the table of contents from my book Common Sense Excellence.  I have sent information on The Real Life Home School Mom in another message.  Please note that the Learner's Journal lesson planners wil not be available until early summertime.  If you wish to order any books, there are instructions at the bottom of this message.  Please e-mail me ahead of time if you are sending a payment by check. 

Profits from books ordered by February 28 will help pay for an Easter conference for village churches in Malawi and Mozambique.

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

www.TheHopeChest.net

(These excerpts are from the literature section of the language arts chapter.)

THE BEAUTY OF READING ALOUD

Reading aloud is a child’s first introduction to good literature. Why is this so important?

Reading aloud connects parent and child. It links you together in a personal way around interesting ideas and words. Young ones are soothed by the sound of our voices. I tend to be so much more calm when I am snuggled up on the couch enjoying a great book with them, rather than chasing them around the house trying to keep them out of mischief. Reading aloud builds warm memories, too! What will they fondly remember looking back to their childhoods -- pages upon pages of worksheets or the great stories they read with Mom?

Reading aloud gives your child a splendid vocabulary. Good literature is rich in descriptive vocabulary. Your child can gain an impressive arsenal of new words to use in speaking and writing. A child can encounter a word in print, and even know what it means, but not know how to pronounce it. Is the word charade pronounced CHAIR-ray-dee or shuh-RAID? If he hears you say it while he is looking at it, he can make the connection and hopefully remember it the next time.

Reading aloud prepares a child for learning to read. Study after study has shown that being read to often as a young child is one of the crucial factors for success in learning to read and in performing well in the rest of academics! The more words a child has in his spoken vocabulary, the easier it is for him to decode them when he sees them in print. He also knows how sentences flow, and can figure out new words from the context of the sentence.

Reading aloud allows you to teach your child information about the world. This is especially important in the early years. Easy phonics books are fine for “learning to read” but many children aren’t fluent enough to comprehend core curriculum content (literature, history, geography, science) until they are eight or nine. How will they get maximum exposure to these subjects without being driven to frustration? Reading aloud is the key.

Reading aloud gives your child the benefit of your wisdom and knowledge. Even a child who can technically read the words may not fully understand the concepts in a book. He doesn’t have the storehouse of background information and insight which you possess. When you read aloud, you can explain things as you go along, and check to see if your child comprehends the ideas. I even do this with my middle school students for history.

Reading aloud keeps you intimately involved in your child’s education. You know what they are reading, because you are reading it with them. You have a common experience that you can talk about later. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the story that we can’t set it down. I’ve been known to read aloud over 100 pages in one sitting on more than on occasion! Yes, I was hoarse when we finished, but these are “moments with momentum.”

Reading aloud sets an example of serving others. Use the power of imitation! What they see us do, they will do. As I’ve gotten busier with our family of ten, my children have found ways to help fill some of my gaps. I love to see my preschoolers and even our young neighbors lined up on the couch with one of my daughters reading aloud to them! It’s a great way to get in some extra reading practice, too! It boosts their confidence to know that they are making someone else happy at the same time. This is such a practical way to use reading aloud as a service to a busy Mommy and eager tots.

I implore you to continue reading aloud to your children all through the preschool and elementary years (and beyond)!

HOW TO READ ALOUD AND ENJOY IT!

Be all there! Set aside everything else you are doing. Let the answering machine take care of phone calls. Cuddle up on the couch and enjoy the story with them! Oh, that sounds so cozy and sweet. Yet often it is such a jumble of little bodies with jostling elbows and kicking feet wanting to get close to Mom and the book! What’s a Mom to do? If you have three children wanting to listen, seat the smallest two next to you and let the oldest one sit next to the youngest. Or, have them take turns sitting closest to you, perhaps for the book that they personally chose. I must admit that sometimes my children even drape themselves over the back of the couch to get a good view.

Use an expressive voice, changing your tone and style for different characters. The classic example of this is that when you read “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” you vary your pitch for Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear. Children love this! If you have a hard time being spontaneous, then read the book ahead of time to yourself and practice it. Or, take a clue from the “experts” and visit the library during story hour to see how the children’s librarian does it.

Let your child pause and study each page. He may want to point out or count various objects, or express his opinions about the story. If he doesn’t offer spontaneous comments, you might ask: “Where is the blue boat?” or “How many birds are on this page?” or “Is it night or day in this picture?” or “What season is it?” or “What do you think that Sam is feeling right now?” or “Why did she do that?” Some children love this, some don’t, and some like it once in a while. Be sensitive to your child’s desires each time you read.

Ask your child to “tell back” what you have read. When a child has a longer attention span and can remember things that aren’t right in front of her at the moment, you can close the book and ask, “Can you tell me what happened in this story?” or “Tell me what you thought about ______ in this story.” Charlotte Mason used this method of oral narration to determine whether a child understood what had been read. This is such a natural and powerful method of evaluating comprehension -- much better than fill-in-the-blank worksheets! Whether or not you use oral narration, be sure to give your child a chance to contemplate what you have read (or what he reads independently), before rushing on to the next item on the school agenda. He should delight to ask himself questions about what he is learning, not because someone else will quiz him on it, but because it is worthwhile and interesting.

Encourage your child to act out the story. Get out the dress-up box and let her choose costumes and props to go along with the story. Make finger puppets or hand puppets, and put on a show. A blanket draped over a piano bench makes a fine puppet stage.

Don’t be afraid to read the same books over and over and over. This develops auditory memory. After a while, your non-reading child might be able to repeat whole pages word for word after seeing the picture as a cue. My oldest daughter memorized whole picture books word for word when she was just two or three. She was so proud of herself that she could “read” as we turned each page. It’s such a valuable pre-reading skill! When you get to a word that you think your child remembers, pause and see if he fills it in for you. If not, just read it and keep going. Many stories and poems, such as “The House that Jack Built” use repetition, which makes it easy for your child to participate in the reading process.

Aim for maximum interest. Stop reading a book if it turns out to be boring for your children. You may need to give it a few pages to get going, but if it’s really a dud, bail out before you ruin the experience for your children. If you have to interrupt a great story, leave it at an exciting spot so your children will be eager to get back to it. Don’t be too surprised if they try to sneak off with it and finish it by themselves!

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR

Common Sense Excellence:

Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade

PART 1: COMMON SENSE EXCELLENCE

 

What is Common Sense Excellence? ... 7

Common Sense ... 7

Excellence ... 7

Introduction to the Author’s Family ... 8

The Book’s Format ... 9

Faith-Filled Education ... 11

Goal #1: Glorify and Serve God ... 11

Goal #2: Nurture True Godly Character ... 12

Goal #3: Put Jesus at the Heart of Your Life and Home School ... 13

Through the Years ... 15

Treat Your Children as Blessings! ...15

Set Solid Foundations for Life ... 16

Respect the Ages and Stages of Childhood Learning ... 17

Settle Your Mind About Grade Levels ... 21

Figure Out How to Handle Multi-Level Teaching ... 22

 

Choosing Your Approach to Education ... 25

Where Are You Coming From? ... 25

Common Home Education Approaches ...27

Synthesizing Your Own Style ... 29

Duty and Delight ... 30

A Time and a Season for Everything ... 32

 

PART 2: ACADEMIC SUBJECTS

 

Bible ... 36

At the Start ... 36

Bible Stories and Doctrine ... 37

Bible Memory ...40

Personal Devotions ... 42

Character Building ... 43

Evangelism ... 44

Integrating Bible Across Curriculum ... 45

Literature ... 48

Choosing Great Literature ... 48

The Beauty of Reading Aloud ... 51

How to Read Aloud and Enjoy It! ... 52

Beyond Picture Books ... 53

Literature Comprehension ... 55

Poetry in Life and Education ... 56

Integrating Literature Across Curriculum ... 57

 

Language Arts Skills ... 60

Oral Language ... 62

Listening ... 62

Speech ... 63

Oral Composition ... 65

Reading ... 67

Learning to Read ... 67

Reading to Learn ... 71

Writing ... 73

Handwriting ... 73

Spelling & Vocabulary ... 76

Grammar ... 81

Written Composition ... 82

Making Books ... 91

Foreign Language ... 92

 

Math ... 95

How to Choose Math Curriculum ... 96

Math Concepts and Skills to Teach ... 97

Math Equipment and Supplies ... 100

Using Math Flash Cards ... 101

Math Teaching Tips and Techniques ... 102

Integrating Math Across the Curriculum ... 107

Social Studies ... 110

Culture ... 110

Civics ... 114

History ... 117

Geography ... 126

Economics ... 130

Science ... 134

General Science ... 134

Life Science ... 137

Earth and Space ... 148

Chemistry ... 152

Physics ... 155

Technology ... 159

Health & Safety ... 163

Nutrition ... 163

Physical Fitness ... 164

Hygiene ... 167

First Aid ... 168

Handicaps ... 168

Medical Care ... 170

Safety ... 171

The Arts ... 176

Visual Arts Appreciation ... 176

Visual Arts Application ... 179

Performing Arts Appreciation ... 183

Performing Arts Application ... 185

Life Skills ... 188

Decision Making ... 188

Courtesy ... 190

Hospitality ... 191

Household Chores ... 191

Home Organization and Decoration ... 193

Clothing Care ... 193

Meal Times ... 195

Money Management ... 196

Office Skills ... 198

Household Tools ... 199

Gardening and Yard Care ... 200

Travel and Transportation ... 201

PART 3: PRACTICAL MATTERS

 

Organization ... 204

School Room ... 204

Schedules ... 206

Lesson Planning ... 207

Record Keeping ... 208

Evaluation ... 210

Problem Solving

Challenge #1: Academic Struggles ... 213

Challenge #2: Distracted Child ... 214

Challenge #3: Poor Relationship ... 215

Challenge #4: Resistant/Lazy Attitudes ... 215

Challenge #5: Lack of Confidence ... 216

Challenge #6: Bickering Children ... 217

Challenge #7: Overwhelmed Mom ... 217

Education Away from Home ... 220

Education in the Car ... 220

Field Trips ... 220

Classes and Other Learning Groups ... 221

How to Plan a Unit Study ... 224

What is a Unit Study? ... 224

Steps for Planning a Unit Study ... 225

Long Range Planning ... 226

Unit Study Topic List ... 227 

Home School Suppliers ... 229

 

EPILOGUE ... 230

BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 231

ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS

 

PRICES:

Common Sense Excellence $20

The Real Life Home School Mom $14

SHIPPING:

  USA: $2.50 for one copy and 10% for more than one. 

  Canada: Add $1.00 per copy.

  Other foreign: Add $1.50 per copy.

TAX: If you live in Florida, please add 7% sales tax after adding in shipping.

 

ORDERING:

 

List which resources you want.

Make your checks payable to Virginia Knowles.

Mail your order to: 

  Virginia Knowles

  1925 Blossom Lane

  Maitland, FL 32751

If you want to pay by credit/debit card on the web, use PayPal! Send me your name, address, titles ordered and total amount.  Be sure to send payment to the [email protected] address!

 

Please note that the Learner's Journal lesson planners will not be available until early summertime.

  --  To subscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  Visit my web site at www://thehopechest.net