Archive for January, 2010

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#PTLA

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

We at Parentella believe that a working relationship between parents and educators will create a more productive and conducive learning environment for our children. As a leader in educational dialog, we at Parentella want to continue the education conversation with you on Twitter.

Beginning next week we will be hosting an interactive conversation on Twitter with parents and educators around the world using the hashtag #PTLA. The goal behind #PTLA is to encourage a productive dialogue between parents and educators. To bring you together in a new way and open up the lines of communication. We hope you will join us Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST.

The first topic of conversation will be: What is the ideal communication between parents and educators?

We will discuss the current method of communication, its pros and cons. We will then go on to talk about how it can be improved. Parents and teachers can provide their perspective.

Future topics will be decided by most votes in the days preceding the discussion. Whether you are a parent, an educator, or both we hope you will join in the conversation Wednesday, January 27 at 9 p.m. EST and let your voice be heard.
What should future topics be? Please let us know and we will add the suggestions for the topics for February 3, 2010.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

The Pros of Homeschooling

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

This is part 6 of a series on schooling options. The previous posts in the series have discussed regular public schools, magnets, charters, and private schools.

Some parents choose to homeschool because traditional school didn’t work out for their child for one reason or another. Maybe a child has special educational needs, such as being a little slower or brighter than the rest of their peers. Maybe the teaching style doesn’t mesh with a child’s learning style. Maybe a child is not having a good experience with their peers, such as not fitting in or being bullied. Maybe a child has behavioral issues and can’t be in a classroom environment. And these are just a few examples.

Some parents choose to homeschool because of assorted personal philosophies and ideologies. Some want to offer their kids a more conservative or liberal education than regular schools offer. Some believe one on one education is the most effective teaching method. Some want to shelter their children from certain things, such as peer pressure or exposure to drugs, sex and violence. Some want to expose their children to more things than school can offer, such as travel or interacting with people of other generations and cultures.

Whatever the reasons, homeschooling is rapidly growing in popularity across the nation and is becoming more socially accepted than ever before. There are many choices of curriculum available for parents to choose from that are approved by the states, and chances are you will be able to find one that suits your educational preferences. Homeschooling families are forming networks to provide support and help one another provide a more well rounded education. Says Karen Johnston “There are just a few areas of traditional schooling that homeschool kids may miss out on for example, joining a choir. However,  in communities where there is a strong homeschool network, there are group activities like choir in place for the kids to join.

Brent and Karen Johnston’s son, Matthew, is highly gifted. When Matthew started school in Virginia, the Johnstons visited the local public schools only to find there wasn’t a suitable gifted program. The simple solution would have been to skip him to first grade, but the school believed Matthew was not socially ready to be with older children. Knowing Matthew would be bored in a regular class, she enrolled him in a private school with a gifted program. “But, the private school didn’t work out” says Karen “because Matthew had an unusual skill set, advanced in some areas and not others. For example, his reading comprehension skills exceeded his grade level, but his hand writing skills were only on par with his grade. So, they wouldn’t let him take the 1st grade reading classes because he couldn’t keep up with the accompanying writing assignments. Matthew was bored and unchallenged with the kindergarten reading. And it was like that in several other subjects. I finally realized that home school was the best solution to meeting his educational needs.”

Jenni and Jason Amaden, from Washington, say their reasons for deciding to homsechool were complex. “We want them to enjoy learning instead of viewing it as rote and boring, only to be done in a classroom setting. We want to our kids to be free spirited, free thinking and creative, and we believe school tends to stifle those characteristics. But, the most important thing is we are trying to shelter our children from violence and consumerism, and we think our efforts would be undermined in school. For example, right now boys their age seem to like to play “Star Wars”, which mostly involves fighting.

Jeff and Karen Arnold, from California, decided to take their two daughters traveling around the world for three years and homeschooled them along the way. “The girls made friends with people of all age groups, nationalities and cultures while we were traveling. They got to see the world first hand instead of just reading about it in school books. It was an enriching experience for them.”

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Christi Grab is contributing editor and writer for Parentella. She is a native of Southern California. After graduating from San Diego State University, she went on to be a successful business woman. In April of 2007, she and her husband decided to put their careers on hold and travel the world for two years. Ms. Grab has recently returned from her travels and is currently writing a book about their adventure. For more information on the trip, visit http://kosmos.liveflux.net/blog.

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Posted in Christi Grab, Schools, home schooling | 6 Comments »

Snowman

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
Snowman Craft 009
We seem to be in the minority here on the west coast, we have no snow. I know my family in Texas has had more than us and friends in New York have been blanketed this winter already. Even if like us you haven’t seen a flake let alone enough to make a snowman you can still make one with paint!  This is the first time I have done plastic bag painting and we had a blast. Kids love using unconventional things as tools for painting so let your imagination and theirs soar!

1.) Gather your materials. You will need 2 pieces of construction paper, scissors, a plastic bag, white paint, some googly eyes, pom poms or buttons , some scrap orange and red paper , some masking or painters tape and glue.

Snowman Craft 001

2.) Start by folding on sheet of construction paper in half lengthwise and cut out the shape of a snowman to make a stencil.

3.) Tape the stencil over the 2nd sheet of construction paper to keep it in place.

Snowman Craft 003

4.) Crumple your bag and dip it in the paint. This is my hand because I needed both to help my 3 year old do it and couldn’t take any pictures. For really little guys use a small bag, I used a full size one and he needed both hands and help.

Snowman Craft 005

5.) Print onto your paper.

Snowman Craft 006

6.) Add your nose, mouth (feel free to make yours out of black circles, my son insisted on a red mouth) and eyes.

7.) Add glue for the buttons and add.

Snowman Craft 008

8.) Carefully remove the stencil and let dry.

Snowman Craft 009
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BIggest Snowman Ever

There are a lot of books about snowmen and winter at your local library and book store if you don’t have one handy at home but I wanted to share this one because it’s message is so sweet without being a lecture about cooperation with cute pictures. In The Biggest Snowman Ever two friendly mice are enjoying competing against each other to make the biggest snowman in their towns competition. The competition is stiff and soon they figure out instead of competing against each other they could combine forces and make an even bigger better snowman. Cooperation and friendship prevails in this sweet story.

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Allison McDonald is the founder of No Time For Flash Cards and former preschool teacher. She creates fun kids crafts in the Seattle area with her 4 year old son,  and infant daughter  who mostly just watches.

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Posted in Allison McDonald, Media, arts and crafts | 6 Comments »

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