If you don't know this about me by now, let me just begin by saying I'm a lousy speller. It wouldn't matter what program I used or how many times I spelled the word I'd still be a lousy speller. 

 

So I'll leave all the advice to the spelling police, like Diana.  I'll let my words be directed to all the dads. 

 

Here's the deal, dad, you've got to give your wife the best tools to teach your children and the best tools cost more. 

 

The thing about spelling programs is that it takes a few spelling programs under your belt before you find one that works. 

 

Now it may not make a lot of sense to you since we're talking about a fairly straight forward kind of thing. After all they're just words that you can take from any book. But to your wife it feels like a big deal. So you need to treat it like a big deal, one that you need to give your wife the freedom and the funds to solve.  

 

So don't be cheap, like I would tend to be.  

 

Be real, smile, and open up your wallet,

Todd

 

Dear Friends,

 

Do you ever wish that someone would just wave a magic wand and, POOF, the perfect curriculum would suddenly be sitting on your table????

 

I know I did.

 

Why? Well, frankly, because it is time-consuming and frustrating (and expensive!) to keep trying curriculums that promise the moon and give you the trash.

 

So, here are my thoughts about how to find curriculum (whether spelling or math or history or science or literature or foreign language or . . . :)

 

First, look at your kids.

 

I know you have done that a million times since the day they were born, but I mean look at them like a birdwatcher looks at a bird. Pay attention andstudy their unique habits and habitats. Do they like to curl up with books? Do they like to tinker in the garage? Do they constantly play piano or play Legos or play ball? Find out. Consider and journal what you discover.

 

Notice what causes their eyes to light up and what causes them to grow dim. Do they love when you sit

 

Second, look at your options.

 

Is the curriculum you are considering from the 1800s? Is it the hottest new item in the market? Is it somewhere in between? Did your sister loan it to you, your friend recommend it, or the speaker rave about it? Is it free, cheap, expensive or outrageous? Find out. Consider and journal what you discover.

 

Does it invite your kids into the process of learning--welcoming them with dignity and respect--or does it make them feel stupid and inept? Does it appeal to you or to them (or both)? Is it based on good educational theory or is it someone's idea of how kids should learn? Find out. Consider and journal what you discover.

 

Finally, ask your kids.

 

By now, you should have been able to narrow down your search to a couple of choices. So, invite your kids to look to look at one, try it, and take it for a spin around the block. And then ask them what they think. After all, they are the ones who are getting the education.

 

And, remember, stay relational!

 

Diana

 

Go here and read an interview from an enthusiastic homeschool mom. Please leave a comment (below the contest rules) about the interview or ask a question in the comments section and you will be entered in a drawing to win a level of your choice from from All About Learning Press, over a $100.00 valued giveaway. Please, one entry per person. The drawing will be on September 30th and the prize will be shipped direct to the winner from All About Learning Press by mid October.

 

Chess is Child's Play, is a 26 chapter, 302 page book written by Laura Sherman and Bill Kirkpatrick. It helps you to teach your children chess by breaking it down into small and simple steps. It can be used to teach children beginning at age 2 all the way up. It even taught me how to play chess. Each lesson has a mini game to go along with it to help cement in the learning of the game, which also makes learning chess fun!

 

The preface is full of the many benefits of playing chess. They range from sportsmanship to problem solving, self-confidence, greater patience and focus and so much more. The lessons are a chapter, a few pages long, that you the parent read and then teach your child through games how to play chess. The games start off very simple to help you learn each piece's name and how they can move. Chess manners are discussed as well. As you work your way further through the book the lessons build on each other and get more complex. Before you realize it, you know how to play chess, as does your child. You both will have a great time along the way as well.

 

While we do own a few chess boards our family had no prior chess experience. This book has made teaching chess easy. We were able to work on it 3 nights a week learning chess. Each lesson and game took about 15 minutes to master. I like that I am able to teach them together and then they can play the simple games together until the next lesson. We are all learning together, even me. My 3 children who range in ages 7-13 have all been able to learn together. (. . .)

 

(To read the rest of the review, click HERE.)