Laugh, play, rest, and refresh. Doesn't that sound like FUN? It is actually so good for what ails you (and me) that I think I will take my own advice ...

Now, onto today's topic: Homeschooling the Only Child. Having been an only child, I have some strong opinions on this subject, from the viewpoint of the student.

First, you need to create an environment for your child where learning is delightful. Believe it or not, the very best method for this is not found in a curriculum. Instead, it is found in your heart. If you ever experienced being in a classroom where the teacher liked you, really liked you, you know what I am talking about. When you walk in the door and the teacher's eyes light up, when she gives you a sense that you are smart and able to learn, when you know that she is cheering you on (rather than looking to undermine your efforts), learning is transformed into a highly enjoyable endeavor with loads of success.

You might call it being "Teacher's Pet." Make your only child (or each of your children, for that matter!), your very own Teacher's Pet--with all of the positive benefits that implies.

Second, take the time to learn about the eight intelligences! An only child may be quite happy being on his own (if he has a strong intrapersonal intelligence) or, conversely, he may prefer to be with people (if he has a strong interpersonal intelligence). He may be thrilled to go outside (naturalist intelligence) or play an instrument (musical intelligence). He may be highly skilled with words (linguistic intelligence) or with numbers (math-logical intelligence). He might be a mover and leaper (bodily-kinesthetic intelligence) or painter and designer (spatial intelligence). He will be a unique combination of these eight intelligences, in varying strengths (and weaknesses).

If you become familiar with these different kinds of "smart," it will help you immensely in navigating the waters of homeschooling with an only child!

Remember, stay relational!

Diana

P.S. Be sure to enter my Experience History Through Music giveaway this week!! Click here to enter. Someone is going to win over $700 in fabulous prizes!! 

Purposeful Design: Understanding the Creation

We've all heard the term "Intelligent Design" in reference to creationism, but Jay Schabacker uses the term "Purposeful Design" to go one step further. It takes the concept of Intelligent Design and emphasizes the personal aspects of the way God created everything in our universe. His book, Purposeful Design: Understanding the Creation, is a gorgeous book that not only tells the wonders of God's creation but shows the beauty and majesty of the world around us. The 94 page book retails for $18.95. (. . .)

This book is divided into seven chapters, each dealing specifically with a single day of creation. The chapters are packed with examples of how God's design for our world is perfectly arranged so that life can exist the way we know it. For instance, in Chapter 4, we find that the 23.5 degree tilt of the earth's spin axis allows us to have seasons the way we know them. In addition, several examples are given to show how the earth orbits the sun in a precise and repeatable way. The sunrise and sunset times for a specific day and a specific location are constant from year to year, only varying by two or three minutes. The builders of Stonehenge arranged the rocks so that the sunrise would shine through a specific hole in the site on the Summer Solstice (and only on that day). (. . .)

(Read the rest of the review!)

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