Tag: learning

Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

And inspire your child to become a learner for life!

In her book “Teaching from Rest” Sarah Mackenzie references the quote, “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” She goes on to say “…but we must remember that a fire does indeed need to be lit, and then stoked, or else it will burn out.”

There indeed is a balance between pushing your child too much and not pushing enough, and keeping the fire stoked is part of that balancing act.

In this post, I lay out some practical ways you can stoke the fire.

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire

Recognize the spark.

Before you can stoke the fire in your child’s learning, you have to first recognize what sparks their interest. For some children, their interests are much more obvious. If it’s not so obvious, ask yourself: What motivates them? What types of things do they get excited about? If they had loads of free time, how would they spend it? Consider the ways they are “smart”, as that likely could shine a light on what their interests may be. 

Provide resources and opportunities.

The easiest (and cheapest!) way to provide resources is using your local library.  Find books on the topics of their choosing.  Show them youtube videos relating to their interest. Are there classes (online or in-person) they can sign up for that will help them grow and learn more? Are there simple things you can buy (or find for free) that can cultivate their learning? 

Ex: Some kids love taking things apart… You could find old appliances/computers for them to do so.

Provide time.

Allow time in your schedule to give them space to explore, wonder and create. What does your day look like? Is it scheduled to the hilt? If so, consider paring back a little to give margin so they have more breathing room to explore and dive into their interests. More time also allows for more conversations that can cultivate a culture of curiosity and wonder. 

Help them set goals.

Goals give us something to shoot for.  It can move us out of a place of laziness/complacency to action.  Are there goals you can set with your child to help them grow? A goal could be as simple as completing a project related to their interest or taking a class to grow their skills. 

Expose them to a variety of subjects and topics.

I think this point is especially important for those kiddos whose interests aren’t as obvious.  By giving a buffet of learning, we can see what interests stick. During Covid, we started to hike more as a family.  My son, whose previous interest (for YEARS!) was weather, became very interested in maps, hiking, geography, and state parks as a result. 

Tie it into the other subjects when possible.

Now, this is obviously not always possible. But when you can, tie their interests into other subjects.  Are they interested in cooking? Then find out what foods they ate in different periods of history and what they eat in different parts of the world. Minecraft (or any building activity)? Have them create builds related to what they’re learning.  Drawing/art? They can draw pictures related to what they’re learning about history/other topics (Chalkpastel.com is great for this!)

You get the idea.

Give them opportunities to teach others what they know.

In his book, Passion-Driven Education, Connor Boyack refers to this teaching of others as the protégé effect. The protégé effect is an idea introduced by Roman philosopher Seneca.  Seneca said, “While we teach, we learn.”

This could be teaching to younger siblings, or family members, or friends. It could be formal or informal. The point is when you teach something you learn it on a different level. It propels you to a place where you really know and own the information.

Ask what they would like to learn about.

This is simple, but you could just ask your child what they would like to learn about.  Chances are you already know, but you may be surprised! 

Books I recommend related to this topic:

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Finding the Balance

If there’s one question that I mull over way too much regarding my kids’ education it’s this: How do I find the balance, or sweet spot between pushing too much and not pushing enough.

Anyone else with me? 

In my beginning years of homeschooling, I thought the more challenge and work the better, and that this would result in a more “educated” person.  But as the years went on, I’ve seen the value in giving them the breathing room to explore their interests and letting their own motivation drive their learning. 

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

I know challenging my kiddos is important, but when taken to the extreme it can cause burnout.  On the flip side, I know taking a relaxed approach can yield many benefits, but can also sometimes lead to laziness.  

find the balance

So how do you find the balance? 

In Sarah Mackenzie’s book “Teaching From Rest” (which I try to read just about every year because of all the wonderful nuggets of practical wisdom), she writes:

“If studiousness is a virtue worth cultivating, I find that I am drawn toward vice on either side of it. On the one hand, I am drawn to steamroll over my kids, to lord over them with checklists and grade levels withouth regard to their nature as unique persons made in the image of God.  On the other, I am drawn to negligence or carelessness. I comfort myself with adages about children learning all the time and, hoping that my child will encounter an idea for himself without my interference, fail to form my student’s affections out of fear that such work is coercion or manipulation.”

I can relate to this so much! The pull between pushing too much, and not pushing enough is a real struggle.  

Motivation drives learning, and diligence is worth cultivating. 

I do think there is tremendous value in a self-driven child. Many days I’m amazed at what my kids get done when it’s done completely of their own volition.

When their work comes from a place of self-motivation, it has more meaning to them and they remember more of what they’re learning about. Letting them take ownership in their learning is empowering for them and increases motivation.

Yet it’s true that in the real world, you sometimes have to do things you’d rather not. Diligence is also a discipline worth cultivating.

Light the fire, but then remember to stoke it.

One of my favorite quotes about education is “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” Mackenzie takes it a step further and says “…but we must remember that a fire does indeed need to be lit, and then stoked, or else it will burn out.”

Having recently returned from a week of camping (and many hours spent around the campfire), this point is especially vivid to me.  I’m reminded that just like a campfire needs to be stoked and tended to – in order to stay robust, our kids sometimes need our prodding and guidance to help them.

Some days I’m going to get it wrong by pushing too much.  Other days, I’ll probably let laziness go too far. That’s ok. Hopefully most days, I’m finding myself stoking the fire of learning…

See my next post: Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

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Motivation: A Necessary Tool for Learning

Motivation.  It’s key.  Necessary for learning AND life.

Have you ever known someone who barely made it through high school, or even college, but then went on to be very successful in their life? I would venture to guess it happens quite often. But why?

motivation tool for learning

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).
Motivation: A Necessary Tool For Learning.

When one is forced to learn something that they have no interest or aptitude in, there is not going to be much desire to learn. There may be a desire to make the grade (I was this kid!) but the information will not be retained.

When there is freedom in the choice of what/how to study, there is more ownership and motivation. Here, true learning can occur.

I liken it to the motorized walkway at the airport.  Sure, we don’t NEED to take it (unless we’re in a real hurry!), but WOW, does it move us along faster!

I feel this way with my kids much of the time.  When I ride the wave of learning, I (or my kids) don’t have to exert extra energy. Their motivation serves as a tool, or a helper, in their learning.  There are still things I require of them of course, regardless of motivation, but it certainly is helpful to use whatever inspires them, when I can.

Do you ever feel like you’re playing tug of war with your kids?

Do you feel like you’re cattle prodding them to get their work done?  Oh boy, do I!  It does me well to read inspirational quotes or books to remind me of the advantages of homeschooling and having the freedom to let my kids follow their interests.

If you want a great book on this topic I urge you to check out “Passion Driven Education.”

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

It’s not a science, it’s an art.  And what helps me most is taking the time to study and observe my kids.

What makes them tick?

What do they talk about?

Does anything get them excited?

How can I light that fire?

Hitting a Wall in Our Homeschool

Recently, I’ve felt like we’ve hit a bit of a wall with my oldest.  Her newest thing is Minecraft.  As a creative learner, she loves building things and is always thinking up new things to make.  She has expressed wanting to be a marketplace creator (the people who make things to sell in the Minecraft Marketplace).

Since Minecraft is what gets her excited these days, I’ve been looking up ideas to use Minecraft as a tool for learning.  After all, it’s her moving walkway (at least, currently).  Thankfully I’ve found some solutions where we can tie what we’re studying in with Minecraft.  Thank you, GamEd Academy!

Now that isn’t ALL she does, BUT she is very excited when playing Minecraft and I have no doubt when she is building historical landmarks in Minecraft, she is retaining more about those landmarks than me teaching it in other ways.

That’s not to say we won’t utilize other ways of learning too (if you’ve been here long enough, you know living books are one of my favorite ways of learning history), but allowing her some time to show her knowledge by doing a “build” in Minecraft is very gratifying for her.

And with my other kids too, when I tie in things they love and have interest in, there is so much more buy-in for their learning.  Because then the learning itself is motivating to them.  And I’ve played a part in “lighting their fire”.


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6 Delightful Math Games to Boost Learning

 

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through these links will result in a small commission for me (at no cost to you!) 

We love using math games in our homeschool to mix things up and “add” in some fun and fierce friendly competition.  The best part about playing math games is that it’s a DELIGHTFUL way to learn. No pressure. No dread. Just fun!

I’ve picked out our favorite, most played, math games that we use to boost learning in our home.  They are categorized by what math skill they build.

Math facts:

4 Way Countdown

Math Games for Learning
4 Way Countdown

The best part about this game is that it is all contained in one piece.  Rather than roll dice, the dice are contained in a popper, which is super fun!  You “pop” the dice and then use the two numbers to make a math fact – any kind of math fact (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.  You take the answer to that fact and get to flip a block.  The object of game is to be the first player to flip all 10 of your own blocks.  Suggested age: 6+     

Shut the Box

This is a great single player game.  My kids have used it on car trips and can play it over and over.  It is similar to 4 Way Countdown in that you roll the dice and then get to flip over blocks.  But shut the box focuses on addition.  It develops good number sense in kiddos and gives them the practice of simple addition facts.   Suggested age: 5+

Sum Swamp

Math Games for Learning
Sum Swamp

This is a colorful and captivating game for those kids who are new to addition and subtraction. We played this a lot when my middle child was just starting to learn basic addition. It was played nearly every day during that time!  Suggested age: 5+ 

 

Money:

PayDay

Math Games for Learning
PayDay

A favorite of my husbands from his own childhood, Payday is a great game to give kids a taste of “real life” and help them learn about loans and bills. Payday is a very engaging game that is always enjoyed! This is the updated version.   Suggested age: 8+

Probability:

Qwixx

Math Games for Learning
Qwixx

Described as a “fast family dice game”, Qwixx is one of those games that’s a little tricky to get the hang of, but once you do, it is quite addicting. It’s a favorite and can easily fit in a purse or backpack!  Suggested age: 8+

Logic:

Mastermind

Math Games for Learning
Mastermind

As a lover of codes and puzzles, Mastermind was a favorite game from my own childhood. It is the ultimate code breaking game. One player makes a code with different colored pegs and the code breaker has to try to figure out the code. This is another game that really stretches your brain!  Suggested age: 8+  *I linked to a different version than the one in the picture above.  The one we have has gone up astronomically in price!

Happy Gaming!
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Why I Named My Blog ‘Outside the Box Learners’

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of starting a blog, at least for me,  is all the ideas of possible posts that come to you and then having to decide what to write about next.  Well… that and the logistics of creating a website!  But to think I originally thought I might not have enough to write about!  Ha!  This has been a fun adventure for me.  Re-discovering the joy I experience while writing has been amazing, and the fact that I get to fuse it with my everyday job of homeschooling my kids makes it even better!

My blog is still very young at this point.  Before I write any more posts, I wanted to address why I named my blog  ‘Outside the Box Learners’.  It actually was my first choice for a website name and was thrilled it was available!

Defining ‘Outside the Box’

Let’s start with a definition of ‘outside the box‘.   When I hear those words I think of anything that is not conventional, or anything different from the norm.  Not mainstream.

According to Dictionary.com, ‘outside the box’ is an idiom that means:

“in an innovative or unconventional manner; with a fresh perspective”

What is an ‘Outside the Box Learner’

This might more appropriately be stated who is an outside the box learner?  People are who’s, not what’s, after all!  Unless maybe you are a character in a Dr. Seuss book. 😉

Since we’ve already covered what ‘outside the box’ means, it should be clear what an ‘outside the box learner’ is, because we’re just tagging learner to our definition.   And thus we get: A learner who learns in an innovative or unconventional manner or a learner with a fresh perspective.

When I first got the bug to start a blog, I knew I wanted to write about my homeschooling experiences both of my son with dyspraxia and also my daughter who is gifted, especially in the creativity arena.  From the little research I did about ‘outside the box’ students, it was my guess that my daughter more readily fit the stereotype usually thought of when one hears the words ‘outside the box‘.

Outside the Box Learners Learn in Unconventional Ways

Being the analytical person I am, I really thought about those words ‘outside the box’, specifically how they mean unconventional and outside the norm.  I use unconventional methods to homeschool both my 8 and 10-year-old.

For my son, I frequently make modifications to help him succeed, specifically with handwriting, which is very hard for him.  He is very asynchronous in that his reading capabilities and handwriting capabilities are lightyears apart.  If he was in a regular classroom, he would not be your typical student.  I LOVE that I am able to meet him where he’s at and he doesn’t have to feel like he’s “less than” or just “can’t keep up” due to his difficulties with handwriting.   And he is able to maintain a love for learning!

My daughter is my creative child who definitely approaches things with a fresh perspective.  She is inventive and always thinking of something new to try (as I write this she’s making sushi, which she’s done before, but this time experimenting with new ingredients!).  She is in her happiest and most peace-filled state when she is creating something new.  Her mind is in a constant state of motion. She hates worksheets and anything conventional really and learns by doing and teaching.   In my opinion, she is a poster child for an “outside the box learner”.

Emphasis On Learners

Since I knew I would be writing a lot about my kids and our homeschool, I wanted to emphasize learners in my website name.  And really the whole reason I’ve come around to homeschooling the way I do is to meet their needs, which I talk about in this post: How We Became Outside the Box Learners.

They learn in unconventional ways, so I’ve come around to teaching in unconventional ways.

 

 

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Letting Go of Normal: Homeschool vs. School at Home

Normal.  What is normal anyway? I don’t have the answer to that.  I know our current version of normal, and it probably looks different from yours, and that’s ok!

Homeschool vs. School at Home

This post is as much for me as it is for anyone reading this.  Writing helps me process my thoughts.  It helps me sort them out.  And I’m needing a heavy dose of reminding of what homeschooling is all about.  And it is NOT the same as school at home!

I am a recovering “School at Home-er”.  Is that a thing?  Part of it stems from my few years in the classroom as a 4th-grade teacher.  And part of it just stems from my rule-following, slightly rigid personality.   If you’ve read my post: How We Became Outside the Box Learners, then you already know that our homeschool has transformed from what it originally was.  I’ve had to tweak things over the years to find a rhythm that works for our family.  It is a constant work in progress by the way.  And it’s been a bumpy road at times getting here.

A Unique Start to the Year

We had a unique start to this school year.   The first few weeks of the year were spent out west in Yellowstone National Park!  That actually stressed me out a bit.  I mean, I wanted to start strong with our routine here at home.   It’s part of my rule-following nature.  But truly, what nature experience can compare to Yellowstone.  My kids learned a ton – a ton of info that will actually stick since it was interesting and in the context of real life, not just a textbook.  

When the kids arrived home from the trip, I got sick and we lost a couple of days.  The days were not really lost but I had to command the ship from the bed  – which shouldn’t have but did leave me to feel defeated.    Then we had a few days with appointments and such.   And now, it’s October!  Aaaagh!

Breathe Katie, breathe…

Checking or NOT checking the boxes

So, here I am reminding myself that homeschool is not the same as school at home.  It’s ok if the boxes aren’t all checked each day…  It’s ok that the first few weeks of the year were not at our house.  It’s ok if some days we spend a few hours on math, but zero on reading.  Or if we spend the day or part of the day serving together as a family, but don’t get to read as much.   Or if handwriting for the day is writing something completely unrelated to what’s in our handwriting workbook.  I am constantly learning to watch for cues of my kiddo’s brains being engaged and then trying to run with that.

After all, “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire”.  

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How Can I Get My Kid to Read?

Do you ever ask yourself, “How can I get my kid to read more?”  Whether your kids are readers or not, here some tips that are sure to get them reading more!

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).


1. Read aloud to your kids. 

There are so many benefits to reading aloud to your kids. Getting them motivated to read for pleasure on their own is just one of those benefits! Check out “The Read-Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease or “The Read-Aloud Family” by Sarah Mackenzie to learn more about the importance of reading aloud, and if you need some book ideas, here is a list to get you started.

2. Get books your kids are interested in.

For us, that is anything weather/natural disaster for our 8-year-old and cookbooks/sushi books for our 10-year-old. Our 4-year-old will “read” just about anything. Use your library! So many great books right at our fingertips for “free”!

3. Have books in every room, and the car too! 

We use baskets, bags, bookcases, whatever can hold books! And yes this may get a little annoying,  but isn’t it worth it, to have readers?

4. Leave books ‘face up’ around the house.

Especially in a place your kids are likely to lounge. For us, that’s our living room. The fronts or ‘faces’ of books are way more likely to entice a child to read.

5. Be a reader yourself.

Set an example! If your children see you reading for pleasure, they will be more likely to do so themselves.

Two great reference books (both include book lists):

           

Do you have any tips to add?  Please leave a comment below!

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How We Became “Outside the Box Learners”?

Isn’t it funny how so often things in life come about from what DOESN’T work? We can make plans but must adjust if we are hitting a wall.  

Homeschooling Outside the Box Was Not the Original Plan

I did not set out to be “outside the box” in regards to homeschooling my kids. I’m a planner and there are plenty of well-planned out homeschool curriculums. I would prefer to be using one of those lovely well planned out curriculums. I’m a list person. A box checker. I prefer to have my plan and stick to it. However a lot of methods that SHOULD work and DO work for most families, simply are the not the best way of learning in our home.

We have a wall hanging in our school rooms that says “Mistakes are lessons inside out.“ I had it custom-made for my daughter – to remind her it’s OK and NECESSARY to make mistakes! It’s part of the learning process!

Our family has come around to this “outside the box” approach to learning in an inside-out way. And it has been downright frustrating for me at times. There have been tears shed by more than one person…..including myself! And definitely more than once!

And the truth of the matter is my kids did not become “outside the box learners”. They always were. It just took me a few years and to catch on and have the confidence to do things in less conventional ways.

Finding What Works With Our Outside the Box Learners

After years of trying things that “should have” worked, I’ve learned to follow my kids’ lead more. Sometimes that means stopping what we’re doing, and continuing at night while drinking hot chocolate after younger siblings have gone to bed. Sometimes
it means switching between different types of math curriculum throughout the year. Often it means checking out loads of books at the library on whatever is interesting to them that week…..or decade! For my creative child, it frequently means letting her get her inventive ideas out of her head in the morning so she can more fully focus on her work later in the day.

Ultimately it means letting go of the idea of doing “school at home” (as a former 4th-grade teacher this is hard for me!) and remembering one of the beautiful things about homeschool is the flexibility it offers. This attitude/philosophy is a work in progress for me. I have certainly not arrived. And I am too much of a list/plan person to let all routine go to the wayside. I do have things I expect my kids to accomplish each day.

However, every day I also try to give them time to create, imagine, play and read. And the great thing is, when we’re in the rhythm of this, it doesn’t feel like school. It’s enjoyable and there’s plenty of learning happening. Just not the way I expected it to.

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Multiple Intelligences – Discovering the Ways Your Child is Smart

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

I first heard of multiple intelligences when I was a college student taking loads of education classes. The idea of multiple intelligences completely resonated with me and set a framework for how I now see my own kids.

So what ARE multiple intelligences?

The idea started with a man named Howard Gardner who came up with the “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” which he proposed in 1983 in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. As a side note – I have not read this book. I have read Dr. Kathy Koch’s book How Am I Smart? (now called 8 Great Smarts) which is all about multiple intelligences.

multiple intelligences

I am not here to debate the science behind this, but want to present the information for you to use as a tool to encourage and empower your own kids, especially those kids who may be “outside the box”.

According to Gardner there are eight different intelligences or “smarts”.

They include:

Spatial – “Picture Smart”
Possible careers: Architect, Illustrator, Construction Worker, Web Designer

Musical – “Music Smart”
Possible careers: Conductor, Disk Jockey, Music Therapist, Sound Engineer

Bodily-Kinesthetic – “Body Smart”
Possible careers: Actor, Carpenter, Dancer, Physical Therapist

Linguistic – “Word Smart”
Possible careers: Teacher, Lawyer, Politician, Writer

Logical-Mathematical – “Logic Smart”
Possible careers: Accountant, Banker, Computer Programmer, Scientist

Interpersonal – “People Smart”
Possible careers: Counselor, Teacher, Administrator, Nurse

Intrapersonal – “Self Smart”
Possible careers: Guidance Counselor, Comedian, Detective, Entrepreneur

Naturalistic – “Nature Smart”
Possible careers: Animal Trainer, Environmental Scientist, Meteorologist, Nature Photographer

Where do your kids fall in this list? OR, where do you fall? Happy learning!

This is merely a “cliff notes” version of Multiple Intelligences. I encourage you to check out the books(linked above) to learn more!

**For a more complete list of possible careers go to the Kathy Koch’s website listed below.**

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Here are some links for further reading:

www.8greatsmarts.com (Dr. Kathy Koch’s website on Multiple Intelligences)

http://multipleintelligencesoasis.org/ (This is Howard Gardner’s site on Multiple Intelligences)

Also, a book I just discovered while gathering info for this article is You’re Smarter Than You Think. I will be checking if our library has that one!

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