"Hacking Your Education," by Dale J. Stephens

Dale J. Stephens left traditional school at 12 years old to become an unschooler. After giving college a try, he discovered that fellow students were more interested in partying than learning. He quickly concluded that if the best experiences were to be had outside the classroom, it made no sense to pay tens of thousands of dollars to sit in the classroom. He dropped out of college, and ended up founding Uncollege.org.

In his inaugural book, Hacking Your Education: Ditch the Lectures, Save Tens of Thousands, and Learn More than Your Peers Ever Will, Mr. Stephens proceeds to undo the myth that a college degree guarantees job security and happiness. He shows that with a little gumption, people can create their own educational path, build networks of mentors and supporters, and make some close friends along the way.

Hacking is often associated with computer hackers, tech-savvy people who break into computers to spy or drop viruses. In the sense of education, hacking means breaking away from the tradition-bound structure of education to design an lifelong learning mentality which doesn't rely on being spoon-fed what those in academia assume is needed in the real world. Mr.Stephens does make an exception for careers that require highly specialized training, such as medical doctors, but perhaps even they could benefit from a little hacking.

In addition to describing his experience with education and real life, Mr. Stephens shares the stories of others who have taken it upon themselves to be responsible for their own learning and success. We meet Tiffany Mikell who, despite being a young black single mother without a college degree, discovered a talent for JavaScript programming and ended up working at Accenture. We learn about Christian Keller, who dropped out of school when he was thirteen and is now, at 25, working on a film with Barrie Osborne (producer on Lord of the Rings and The Matrix). The pages are littered with people who took control of their education.

One of my favorite parts of Hacking Your Education is the "Hack of the Day" at the end of each section. Each "Hack of the Day" focuses on the idea just presented and gives hands on tools for incorporating it into your life. Whether it's planning a "brain party," finding out "what you aren't talented at," or making "the most of $100 a week," the ideas are doable and in small enough doses that they don't become overwhelming. Even though I am well beyond my college years, I look forward to trying many of these ideas to expand my experiences and create opportunities for my children.

Mr. Stephens is an extrovert, so many of the techniques he uses come easily to him. He acknowledges this and suggests a more low-key approach for the introverts among us. Even doing a little of what he describes will put most people light-years ahead of the crowd stuck in college lectures on subjects they must take in order to get to the classes they really want to attend in two or three years.

I do have one quibble with the book, and that is the use of profanity. As I have already admitted, "young" parted ways with my "adult" many years ago. I also realize that this book is aimed at older teens to young adults, not their parents. While interspersing the f-word here and the s-word there may make Mr. Stephens sound like one of the people his book targets, those very words detract from the message, drawing attention away from the text and instead pulling it to themselves. This is language one may use among friends, but certainly not when putting on our adult persona. And the author (and editor, who should have excised these from the text) needs to remember that many parents will be reading this book before passing it on to their kids. There is a market beyond the target, and writers and editors need to be sensitive to those pocketbooks.

Having said that, I still recommend Hacking Your Education. The overall message and specific action items far outweigh any language issues. Going into debt for an education that guarantees nothing but classes, homework, and a piece of paper, doesn't make sense in this age of information access. With a library card, Internet access, and passion, people can create their own path in life, without the debt and lost time. Hack your own education and see what it brings!

"The School for Gifted Potentials: Orientation," by Allis Wade

In her new book, Allis Wade delves into an area of giftedness not previously covered in children's literature: overexcitabilities.

Typically, gifted children in literature are portrayed as precocious brainiacs, striking it out on their own with little adult guidance. In The School for Gifted Potentials: Orientation, we meet Everett, who struggles to hide his giftedness under strict orders from his mother. Although Everett doesn't understand why his mother is so adamant that he act like the other children at school, while conversely making the effort to challenge his mind at home, he senses his mother's deep anxiety about his differences being discovered. In order to please his mother, Everett manages to hide his abilities for years.

Ultimately, though, he is discovered, and is sent to the School for Gifted Potentials for evaluation, which he does his best to fail.. Nevertheless, he is admitted and begins his one week orientation. No one at the school can understand his reluctance to attend, since being identified as a Gifted Potential is an honor. But, Everett's feelings are tainted by his mother's fears, so he finds himself overwhelmed with feelings of abandonment and anger, while experiencing joy at finally learning about his abilities and being able to explore his interests in an open and accelerated manner.

During the orientation, Everett, along with other new students, is introduced to Kazimierz Dabrowski's idea of overexcitabilities in the gifted. Through gently-led classes, Everett and his classmates discover which overexcitabilities they have, how these intensities are actually a benefit, and how best to manage them. Everett discovers other kids with intense feelings like his, as well as kids who experience completely different intensities.

As the story progresses, Everett begins to question his beliefs about his mother, his missing father, and the Chancellor. He also starts on his journey of self-discovery, which subsequent books promise to further explore.

The purpose of this book is to give gifted children a chance to see and better understand themselves in modern literature. They may relate to some of the overexcitabilities described, and even utilize some of the coping mechanisms. Also, gifted children may identify with the attempt to hide their abilities out of a desire to fit in. They may become more willing to accept who they are and what they're capable of becoming.

Although I enjoyed reading this book, speaking as an editor, I do wish the manuscript had been professionally edited. Typographical errors, odd formatting, and avoidable mistakes litter the text, interfering with the flow of the book. Perhaps future editions will address these issues.

Still, do not let the above comment prevent you from reading this novel. In fact, in true homeschooling style, use them as teachable moments.

The School for Gifted Potentials: Orientation is available in both print and Kindle versions.

"Dismantling the Inner School," by David Albert

Although we may homeschool our children, most of us still went through the traditional school system. We grew up believing that being cooped up in a classroom for the better part of the day with 30 kids our age and one adult, all learning the same thing at the same time, and being told when we could and couldn't use the bathroom or go out a play or read or talk or sit and ponder or ask questions was normal and desirable. Our parents had done it before us, and probably our grandparents before them.

We may believe that by choosing to homeschool that we have broken away from the system. Yet, so many of us still find ourselves trying to replicate school at home, or comparing our children's progress to their agemates', or wondering if we're doing enough based on what we think is going on behind the closed doors of our local school.

David Albert addresses these issues head on in his latest book, Dismantling the Inner School: Homeschooling and the Curriculum of Abundance (Hunt Press 2012). In a series of essays, David argues that we parents need to remove the bricks that "block us from true, natural learning," and understand that children start learning from the moment they start living. Learning is a natural response to life, but school is designed to undermine and subvert this innate desire, preventing children from experiencing with all their senses, which is originally how we learn.

For those who are unfamiliar with David Albert, he is a homeschooling father, speaker, writer, and advocate. He readily questions much of what is commonly accepted about school, learning, and even intelligence. He is an engaging speaker and writer, who encourages dialogue, whether verbal or virtual.

In Dismantling the Inner School, David takes to task much of the research and many of the claims surrounding school. He doesn't merely question the findings, but looks at them from a completely different angle. For example, David cites the well-reported research about how ADHD symptoms in children virtually disappear with regular exposure to the outdoors. Much of the reaction to this research centered on introducing nature programs in schools, creating green spaces in cities, and the like. David looks at all this and instead infers that perhaps kids being shut inside all day at school is causing ADHD, and therefore, school is the problem, not the kids.

But, the book doesn't just attack systemized schooling, it provides ideas, suggestions, and examples for approaching learning in our everyday world. Whether discussing ways to include children in adult activities within families and communities (an "apprenticeship of thinking") or giving specific information about books and websites to enhance the learning experience, Dismantling the Inner School inspires readers to explore the "curriculum of abundance" that exists in our lives. Readers are advised to keep a paper and pen handy to jot down all the tips for future reference.

Dismantling the Inner School is good for new and experienced homeschoolers, alike. In fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea for a school teacher or adminstrator to take a gander. Imagine the real educational reforms that could happen if those in charge of the system decided that learning came before classroom management.

Dismantling the Inner School: Homeschooling and the Curriculum of Abundance is available through David Albert's website, www.skylarksings.com. Supporting members of the Gifted Homeschooling Forum receive a $2.00 discount on this and all of David Albert's books ordered through his website.

"Visual-Spatial Learners" Review

As any parent of multiple children can tell you, each one is very different from the others. What works with one child is doomed to fail with the others.

This is certainly true when it comes to helping our children learn. That fine system you put in place for your first child will collapse in heaps when the second child comes along.

Figuring out your child's learning style can give you insight into ways to better reach them and open up the world to their inquisitive minds.

Typically, schools are designed with the auditory-sequential learner (ASL) in mind. This child thinks in words, learns well from instructors, is a step-by-step learner, and so on. They tend to fit very well into the classroom system.

Then there are the other students, the visual-spatial learners (VSLs). These children think in pictures, develop their own methods of problem-solving, are whole-part learners (understand the big picture, before they grasp the parts that make it), and so on.

If you are an ASL, or your other children are ASLs, and you are now faced with a VSL, figuring out how to best present new material and learning opportunities can be frustrating. What worked before, simply does not work now.

This is where Visual-Spatial Learners: Differentation strategies for creating a successful classroom, by Alexandra Shires Golon, can help.

Don't let the title throw you. Although Golon definitely directs her advice to classroom teachers, most of what she suggests can readily be put into action in the homeschool environment.

Golon starts by relating an activity she gives to teachers. She has them draw a 2"wide x 1/2" tall rectangle, a space similar to the signature line on a check. Then she asks them to place their pen in their non-dominant hand and sign their name within that box. She inevitably hears groans and moans from the teachers about the awkwardness and difficulty of the task. She then tells them that this is what it feels like for a "right-hemispheric, visual-spatial student sitting in a left-hemispheric, wor-dominated classroom."

Readers of Visual-Spatial Learners can either read the book cover to cover or jump to the specific chapter(s) which interest them. (How's that for ASL versus VSL accessibility?)

Golon addresses the basics of elementary education: reading, writing, spelling, note-taking, mathematics, and organizational skills. Timed tests, written agreements, and creating a visual-spatial classroom may not apply to homeschoolers, but the basic skills are universal. Quite frankly, having taught in a classroom environment, I find many of her suggestions overwhelming wih 30-35 kids in mind (I have all this required stuff to do, and now you want me to do more?); but, as a homeschooling mom, I find her suggestions really simple to incorporate in our learning.

For example, VSLs often have lousy writing. But when writing is presented to them as art, such as with calligraphy, their handwriting skills improve immensely, as does their ability to and joy in communicating through the written word.

When it comes to math facts, all sorts of tricks come into play. Golon presents hand games, lattice multiplication, drawing assignments, and more, to help VSLs create mental pictures of mathematical information.

Perhaps her most powerful message is that, just as children learn differently, the way they present that knowledge should be different. Not all children want to write down what they're learned. Some may better demonstrate mastery through building a diorama or designing a poster or putting on a play. We, as homeschooling parents, are in an excellent position to gauge learning through unorthodox methods.

Visual-Spatial Learners will give homeschooling parents a deeper insight into their VSL children, as well as tools to create and support learning opportunities to fit their children's needs. VSL children will develop confidence in their ability to learn, explore, and understand their world in their creative, big-picture, enthusiastic way.

Organize Your Homeschool with Collaborize Classroom

Looking for a new way to organize your homeschool? Perhaps you're running a co-op class or two, and want to engage your students between meetings? Maybe you want to encourage your student to explore new ideas and information, but meet with resistance when doing so one-on-one?

Collaborize Classroom, a free online learning platform from Democrasoft, might just be the tool you need to make your homeschooling experience more enjoyable and successful.

Designed for traditional classrooms, Collaborize Classroom easily lends itself to the homeschool environment. Whether you want to posit questions for your student to write about or you want to involve many students in discussions, voting, or collaboration, you can do it all with Collaborize Classroom.

Collaborize Classroom also will send you a weekly update on the progress of your students. You can see what they're working on, what they've missed, and adjust your homeschool plan accordingly.

Another good use of Collaborize Classroom is sharing information. For example, as homeschoolers, we come across endless recommendations for websites, books, and games to enhance our students' learning experiences. Instead of telling your student about them or emailing them, start a "discussion" about them. Your student can check out the resource, write about it, vote on favorites, and better take control of his or her own education.

If you're running a co-op class, especially one with an academic bent, Collaborize Classroom is ideal for keeping students immersed in the learning process between meetings. They can work together on projects, share infomation, ask questions, follow up on ideas presented in the class, and more, all in a private and safe environment.

Click here to more about Collaborize Classroom. You can also learn more on Facebook and Twitter. You can sign up for your free account (which Collaborize Classroom promises will always remain free) here.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Teaching Pet Safety

When introducing a new dog or cat to the family, parents usually lay down a few rules, such as who is responsible for feeding and cleaning up after the animal, and whether or not the animal is allowed on the furniture. Beyond that, problems are handled as they arise, which can lead to negative interactions between children and pets. All too often, these issues can result in the child fearing the animal, the animal being given away, or even the animal being put down, none of which are desirable.

If you are thinking of owning a dog or cat, or simply want to teach your children how to best interact with them, check out Dr. Amanda Chin’s workbook, Pets' Playground: Playing Safe in a Dog-And-Cat World.

Loaded with information on the history, behavior, and care of dogs and cats, Pets' Playground provides a wonderful, fact-filled way for families to learn together. The text is around a third-grade level, but it is ideal for reading together. The pages are filled with photographs and illustrations. Matching games, mazes, drawing activities, and fill-in-the-blanks are scattered throughout the workbook. Additionally, more advanced words are used, but they are quickly defined in a matter-of-fact manner, and a comprehensive glossary can be found at the back.

Dr. Chin strives to give useful information without creating fear. For example, instead of simply saying, “Don’t approach strange dogs,” she demonstrates through illustrations and explanations pets’ body language, how to approach animals, and what to avoid doing to them. Dr. Chin discusses how to make a home pet-safe, what pets should and should not eat, and what to expect at vet visit.

On a personal note, we used this book with our two sons. Our eldest has a strong fear of dogs, which we have slowly worked to mitigate. This book was a part of that process, filling his mind with facts and numbers, which made dogs seem less intimidating to him. Our youngest son has no fear of animals, and therefore was a little too enthusiastic with his displays of affection toward our cats. We used this book to show him how cats like to play and how to read their signals better. Our eldest still is wary around new dogs, but warms up to ones he sees repeatedly. Our youngest is much better about petting the cats (“Head to tail, Mom. Head to tail.”)

For more information on this book and other pet issues, visit Dr. Chin’s website at www.kidsandpetsafety.com.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"Best of the Best" DVD

Much of the entertainment aimed at kids is mindless, flavorless schlock. The DVD Best of the Best - Especially for Kids, however, engages children and adults alike, with its creative animations, clever storylines, and thought-provoking animated shorts.

Funded by the National Film Board of Canada, the nine films include two Oscar® winners and six nominees. This eclectic mix includes Every Child, The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin, Blackfly, The Cat Came Back, The Sand Castle, The Owl Who Married a Goose, Evolution, Christmas Cracker, and Monsieur Pointu.

Every Child tells the story of a baby who mysteriously appears on the doorstep of a busy executive, who then hands off the baby to an elderly couple (with a very dramatic dog), who then hand of the baby to a melodramatic operatic couple, who then. . . What will happen to this child? Will anyone ever love him?

The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin puts a new spin on the Cinderella tale with penguins cast in all the roles. Even the coach horses are penguins. The story remains a moving testament to true love and having the right-sized flipper.

In Blackfly, a folk singer recounts his battle with black flies in the woods of north Ontario. The catchy song and clever animation make this one a favorite.

Many people are familiar with the song The Cat Came Back, but watching hapless Mr. Johnson try to get rid of this deceptively charming kitten is hilarious. Will he ever be free of the little yellow feline?

The Sand Castle is sure to inspire creative sand-play at parks and beaches. The sandman builds fantastical creatures out of sand, which then in turn build an amazing sand castle.

Based on an Inuit legend, The Owl Who Married a Goose is both a visual and aural treat. Colors and shapes flow together, forming new scenes and evoking emotions, against the sing-song storytelling.

Evolution gives a new take on human evolution. Where did humans really come from? The answer would give any evolutionist a good laugh.

Unlike the other films, Christmas Cracker contains three shorts, each with a playful take on Christmas.

Finally, our hero in Monsieur Pointu experiences extraordinary challenges when playing the violin. His clothes and instrument seem to have minds of their own, as they grow, shrink, and jump about, all while Monsieur Pointu good-naturedly plays beautiful music.

Experience what children’s television should be. Check out Best of the Best.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"The 10 Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught)"

With great power comes great responsibility.[1]

Budding mathematicians and scientists would be best to remember this. Simply because one can understand complex theories, does not preclude one from making common errors.

The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught), by Edward Zaccaro, lays out ten concepts to guide students to more critical and honest thinking. Students don't need to become mathematicians or scientists to benefit from these ideas.

By discussing actual events that were affected by the misunderstanding or delibrate disregard of facts and calculations, Mr. Zaccaro brings home the importance of understanding and accepting what numbers mean.

We adults can probably think of tragedies in our lifetime that ultimately came down to math or science: the Challenger explosion, the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, the death of Aaliyah. The Ten Things explores how these events could have ended differently, had the numbers and facts been taken seriously.

Fortunately, not just tragedies are covered. Mr. Zaccaro uses the strange world of average speed, cold fusion, the Mars Climate Orbiter, ulcers, psychic surgery, doctors who were fooled, the Bermuda Triangle, how ethical decision-making saved a company, knee surgery, and more to discuss why mathematicians and scientists (and, arguably, all of us) need to move beyond the cold facts and figures, instead utilizing them to make better decisions, safer choices, and strongly-founded conclusions.

Each chapter supplies several examples of incidents which support the topic. Each example is reviewed, the mistakes laid out, and then followed by discussion questions. The questions range from specific (why was something done) to open-ended (what do you think).  Along the way, mathematic and scientific concepts are introduced and explained, never assuming the reader is an expert, but always teaching. Additional questions are given at the end of each chapter, ranging in difficulty from "Level 1" to "Einstein." Answers and explanations are in the back.

Lest all this sound overwhelming, rest assured that the book is appropriate for middle-school and higher. Of course, don't hold back the book if a younger child is interested in reading it. (My eldest son first read it when he was seven.) I would also encourage parents to read it, as we could all use a refresher course in critical thinking, especially when we're inundated with "facts" and "truths" through media, the Internet, and "friends of friends."

The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught) is an excellent companion to any math or science program. It also works as a stand-alone book for inviting family discussions, a part of family life-long learning.

[1] This quote, in various forms, is attributed to Jesus of Nazareth, Voltaire, Rudyard Kipling, Karl Marx, FDR, Stan Lee, among others. (http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2005_10_06.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Ben#.22With_great_power_comes_great_responsibility.22)

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"What Really Matters": Focus on Learning, not Educating

Homeschoolers easily get bogged down in the minutea of their everyday lives. We risk spending more time worrying about doing the right things for our children, instead of actually doing things with them. What should be an experience filled with joy and freedom becomes a drudgery laden with frustration and disappoinment.

What Really Matters: Two veteran homeschooling advocates discuss what learning is really all about, by David H. Albert and Joyce Reed, strips away all the extraneous matter we tend to add to our homeschooling lives, leaving us with what really matters: fostering the love of learning.

Beetween them, Mr. Albert and Ms. Reed parented and home-educated seven children, all who have gone on to lead successful lives. Yet, neither David nor Joyce approached homeschooling as an educational style; instead, they viewed it as a lifestyle, one which opened up a realm of learning possibilities to the entire family.

Readers are drawn into the written conversations between the authors, becoming part of the discussions. Each chapter is self-contained, with titles, such as "Secret Spaces, Hidden Places," "Hyrogrifix," "Perfection is the Enemy of Excellence," and "On Trauma, School Disease & the Way Forward." These thoughtful and thought-provoking essays will open up new avenues of thinking for many homeschoolers, while reaffirming the paths of others.

Ever wonder what the purpose of college is for students who already know how to learn independently? Check out "Why Go to College?" Ever sat with your child, struggling to get her to do workbook pages? Take a moment to read "Workbooks." Fear your children are growing up too fast? Sit down with "Time After Time . . ."

What Really Matters is available through a variety of small bookshops and online retailers. As always, supporting members of the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (GHF) will receive $2.00 off the listed price when they purchase the book through David Albert's website, www.skylarksings.com.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"Exploring the Back Roads": Stretch Your Field-Trip Muscles

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive a small commission on items sold through my store or my affiliate link.


Homeschoolers love field trips. What better way to experience the world, than to actually get out and explore it?

Sometimes, however, we find ourselves stuck in a rut. We start going to the same museums, the same parks, the same historical sites. The kids get bored. We get bored. And the family ends up staying home.

If you live in, or plan to visit, the Bay Area of California, you now have no excuse! Peter Browning's book, Exploring the Back Roads: 28 Day Trips in the Greater Bay Area, is filled with new and interesting suggestions for places to go.

Dedicated to "the guy who invented second gear and the illegal U-turn," Browning's book opens up a world of field trips to even the least adventurous among us.

Exploring the Back Roads divides the greater Bay Area into four areas: Marin to the Sonoma Coast; Wine Country to the Geysers; Carquinez, the Delta, and Contra Costa; Santa Cruz Mountains, the Coast, and Old San Juan. Naturally, distances to these areas varies greatly depending on where in the Bay Area you live, but most can be easily done in one day. If some seem a bit far, include them in a two- or three-day trip, or tack them on to a road trip headed to a far-flung destination.

Browning provides plenty of information about each trip, such as pictures, maps, history, nearby parks and restaurants of interest, and so on. The ultimate destinations aren't an end unto themselves, but part of a greater journey on picturesque roads, past beautiful scenery, and through parts of our area most people miss.

Our family has done a few of the field trips (Lick Observatory, San Juan Bautista-Fremont Park, Santa Cruz to Castroville), adapting the suggested sites and drives to suit our family's interests and needs. We have noted even more of Browning's suggestions in our "Places We Like To See" binder (look for more information in a future article).

For more field trip ideas,
check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

A few suggestions for those using Exploring the Back Roads, or any other travel guide:
1) Check, either online or by phone, for current hours at your destination. Browning last updated his book in 2006, and some locations have made changes since then.

2) Map out your excursion using online or printed maps. You will get a better idea of actual drive times and distances from your location.

3) Either plan ahead for bathroom breaks, or be on the lookout while driving. I never cease to be amazed at how fast a child's bladder works once in the car.

So, pack a picnic, belt those kids in the car, and hit the road. Book-learning is good, but real-life learning is amazing!

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"Zenschooling," by Tammy Takahashi

Homeschooling, like life, can quickly become an overwhelming endeavor. All too often, we concern ourselves with comparing ourselves to others, trying to gauge where we rate, instead of allowing ourselves to simply experience the journey with all its ups and downs.

Tammy Takahashi's latest book, Zenschooling: Living a Fabulous & Fulfilling Life Without School, shows us how to relax and allow learning to happen naturally. Guided by her studies in Zen Buddhism, Ms. Takahashi approaches life as a series of opportunities to release our death-grasp on the fears and attitudes which limit our openness to new experiences and different points of view.

Chapters such as " Finding the Perfect Education," "When Parenting and Education Collide," "Getting Things Done and Increasing Efficiency," "Cultivating Patience," among others, will resonate with homeschoolers struggling to create the "perfect" learning enviroment for their children, while trying to juggle the realities of day-to-day life.

Ms. Takahashi peppers Zenschooling with Zen koans, proverbs, and insightful tales of Zen masters and their students. These koans, proverbs, and tales add a deeper dimension to the topics being discussed, often offering a humorous take on common worries.

Despite her humor, Ms. Takahashi doesn't shy away from her own struggles. Her honesty about her life allows us to see ourselves in her words, opening us up to better learn from her advice.

Zenschooling is not a "how-to" book of homeschooling. It doesn't give step-by-step instructions on curriculum or planning. Instead, it gives us a more healthful approach to homeschooling, by placing it in its proper context within our lives, and teaching us how to let go of the unnecessary weight we attach to our efforts and place upon our children.

Ms. Takahashi is also the author of Deschooling Gently.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"

Parents often search for ways to explain to children how our actions affect the lives of others. The topic naturally arises when children are in conflict ("When you called Timmy 'stupid,' you hurt his feelings."), but do those lessons really sink in?

Better yet, reading a story during calmer times will more likely engage children in the discussion, as well as give them an opportunity to see both sides of the matter without strong emotions clouding their understanding.

A deceptively simple book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, by Carol McCloud, speaks volumes about how to be happy and bring happiness into the lives of others.

The concept is simple. Everyone carries around an invisible bucket which holds good thoughts and feelings about ouselves. We feel good when it's filled, and sad when it's empty.

Now, our bucket can only be filled by other people. Kindness, smiles, and generosity fill other people's buckets. But a magical thing happens when we fill someone's bucket: our own bucket fills up, as well.

Some people aren't bucket-fillers, but bucket-dippers. They try to take the good feelings out of other people's buckets to fill their own. But this doesn't work. It only leaves two buckets empty and two people sad.

So, the moral is to be a bucket-filler, not a bucket-dipper, to have a happy life.

This gentle story is made even more beautiful with the wonderful illustrations of David Messing.

Although the reading level is 4-8, everyone in the family will enjoy and benefit from reading this tale. You may even find yourselves saying, "Thank you for filling up my bucket today!"

"A Guided Tour Through the Museum of Communism"

To be interesting and relevant, the study of history should include the stories of the people who actually lived it. Dates and battles are all very well, but by personalizing the experiences, we can better relate to the people who suffered or benefited from the larger picture.A Guided Tour Through the Museum of Communism: Fables from a Mouse, a Parrot, a Bear, a Cat, a Mole, a Pig, a Dog, and a Raven, by Slavenka Drakulic, tells stories of life under the Communist regimes of Eastern Europe from the point of view of animals.
By choosing to use the voices of animals, Ms. Drakulic makes the stories more approachable. These are not people whining or justifying their actions (or inactions); instead, we hear animals explain why people did what they did.

Not all the tales explain how the common people lived. In fact, we hear from a parrot which enjoyed the luxurious lifestyle of living with "the Marshal." We learn a mole's point of view about the "fabled" Berlin Wall. The "oldest dog in Bucharest" tells us of life after the fall of Communism.

Ms. Drakulic understands how quickly people forget the horrors of the past. Generations who have never lived under the shadow of totalitarian regimes find the stories of the elders strange and fantastical. Why didn't people rise up? Why did people turn in each other? Why didn't more escape? Why did people tolerate the intolerable?

Despite the use of animals as narrators, this book is not for younger readers. Some of the stories are dark and refer to great cruelties.

A Guided Tour Through the Museum of Communism would serve as an insightful adjunct to Cold War, European, ideological, or similar studies. Families could discuss how they would have hoped to have acted in each story, as well as how they more likely would have behaved. Students could be encouraged to write their own fables about atrocities they see in our world. For example, why do neighborhoods tolerate gang violence? What would it be like to talk with a high-ranking official about a major indescretion that must remain hidden? How do the homeless maintain a sense of humanity and community? What does poverty look like from the perch of extreme wealth?

Homeschoolers understand that deeper understanding rarely lies in the pages of a textbook. Books, such as A Guided Tour Through the Museum of Communism are what add depth and color to our learning experience.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"Mind Benders": Deductive Reasoning Made Fun

Mind Benders, published by The Critical Thinking Co., tackles deductive reasoning skills for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Its stated purpose is . . . to improve deductive reasoning, reading comprehension skills, and organized analysis skills. My son would argue that it is just plain fun.

I originally purchased the A1 workbook because my son saw it on the back of another workbook he enjoyed and asked that I get it. When he first glanced at Mind Benders, he was unsure what to do with the problems and charts. After reading a few problems, he found one that he felt comfortable doing, and figured out his own way of completing the charts. (The book does have instructions and explanations, but why bother reading those, when you can just plow ahead and figure out things on the fly?) After that, he did not want to stop, and ending up finishing the entire workbook in one day.

 A sample problem from the A1 book looks like this:

Who Are The Twins?

Edmund, Ida, Joanne, and Tony are two sets of twins. Tony is a month younger than Edmund. Joanne is a month older than Ida.

Which pair is the younger set of twins?

Which pair is the older set of twins?

In the A1 version, the pages contain lots of white space for jotting down notes and thoughts about the questions. By not crowding the pages with text and diagrams, and using large text, the publisher allows the reader to focus on the problem, without feeling overwhelmed with information.

We have since started working on level C1, which is far more involved, and we have spent a few days working through some of the challenges. Spending days focused on a problem, instead of minutes, teaches patience, promotes creativity, and gives a strong sense of accomplishment. Students realize that not everything has a quick and easy answer, and that persistence has value.

In addition to detailed solutions in the back, the workbooks include examples with step-by-step procedures showing some of the ways to tackle the problems. Some students will find this helpful, especially if gone through with an adult; others may find it confusing or repetitive. Regardless, this section can be useful in showing alternate ways of approaching a problem, as well as reinforcing ideas already introduced.

Deductive reasoning transfers to so many areas that honing this skill should be integral to any learning experience. The Mind Benders series provides an entertaining way to practice and succeed in this essential area of thought.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Games for Writing

Peggy Kaye's book, Games for Writing: Playful Ways to Help your Child Write is a treasure trove of easy activities to get your kindergarten to third grade child writing. The activities are especially appealing to reluctant writers and many work well for mixed age groups (i.e. the typical homeschooling family).

Part one of the book focuses on the act of creating letters. There are some fun ways to approach the eye hand coordination required to write text.

Parts two and four and packed with great activities to get kids creating text. One of our favorites was the "Monster Cafe" in which we created different dishes a monster might eat as an appetizer, main course, drink, and dessert. My daughter got inspired to go on to make a slightly less gruesome monster children's menu and wrote more words than she had in a long time. I guess she has internalized the the children's menu is usually a little more bland than the adult menu! We also really enjoyed trying to outdo each other and a couple of friends when we played "Bragging Contest." For many of the games I pre-cut strips of paper to write on so we could put our results on display by sticking them to the wall.

Part three has activities to work with the conventions of writing and part five has some inspiring ways to make interesting books.

The activities in the book are designed for one on one practice, although many can be done with a small group. Kaye is great about giving a short vignette about each one that shows how a "real" child might approach the activity. As a parent, I can browse the activities and then suggest them as a "what if we do this" on the spur of the moment. I can enjoy a fun time with my child, but I know that I'm teaching important skills, too! 

Article by Heddi Craft