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Keep on Track, Issue #022: Develop the habit of concentration June 20, 2011 |
Hello
The layout of the E-zine is as follows:
Greetings from MarianneWelcome to all the new Keep-on-Track Subscribers!Although some of the readers may not be officially 'schooling' at the moment and enjoying a break, it is helpful to think of games and other ways in which you can develop the habit of attention in your children. The ideas you will find later in this ezine can be useful anytime. I have called them, "Cerebration Concentration Games" (cerebration - brain); It could also be called Brain Training Games. Every homeschooling parent knows how frustrating it is to watch a child dawdle through a lesson. It is so easy for them to be distracted by anything else that is going on or creating a diversion – sharpening a pencil, playing with the baby, getting the mail. We, as parents would agree that what they are doing is fine and good and helpful – but, each interruption extends their lesson into a long, drawn out battle.
News - Monthly Giveaway!Writing Credits- new point system!Looking for some Homeschool Freebies in 2011?
Homeschooling Ebooks, Amazon and Christianbook Gift vouchers and Books - given away for free.... However, you have to do a bit of work for it.... I am excited to introduce Writing Credits! Check out the page - I have changed the points schedule! Become an 'author' for this website (write about what you're doing, science experiments, add to the nature journal, add a curriculum description and review or anything in the Homeschoool Gallery), earn credits, and trade your points for a prize! I will read your entry and publish it if it meets the website's requirements. Curriculum reviews will only be published if you express how the product was used personally in your homeschool as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the program. When you have earned enough credits, fill in the form below and list your published entries and your Homeschool Freebie will be sent to you! Join me on Facebook and earn your first 5 credits! Read more about Writing Credits here - and items for which you can trade your credits. COMING SOON! - The New Keep on Track Homeschool Planner will also be availabe on the Writing Credits system. You will get an email about this when it is ready - hopefully by the end of this week!
Charlotte Mason and the habit of AttentionA focussed mind, a mental force applied directly to the subject at hand, the ability to concentrate and keep focussed attention and work wholeheartedly at the task, without procrastination, is an important skill to cultivate in ourselves and our children.Charlotte Mason spoke of it as a ‘habit of attention’ and one way to develop the habit of attention is to have short lessons. In these lessons (which increase in time with age – 15-20 minutes for younger chn, 30 min for jnr high, 45 min highschool) the child must give full undivided attention to the subject. Charlotte Mason says, “never let the child dawdle over a copy-book [penmanship] or sum, sit dreaming with his book before him. When a child grows stupid over a lesson, it is time to put it away. Let him do another lesson as unlike the last as possible, and then go back with freshened wits to his unfinished task...the lesson must be done, of course, but must be made bright and pleasant to the child.” (Vol. 1 p. 141)
The lessons should be varied – and maintain interest for the child. They are short so that the habit is cultivated and even if it is not their favourite lesson, they know that it only demands a short amount of concentrated effort before they can move on to something else.
This ezine contains some ideas for short activities - games, lessons, reading, outside activities and even chores which involve the brain on a different level focussing on varied tasks. I would encourage you to have short lessons as advocated by Charlotte Mason and use these ideas scattered and mixed into your day. This is not designed to take the place of your subject matter, but rather some ideas which can help to foster the habit of maintaining attention in other areas. I hope you find them useful, inspiring, educational, fun and most of all, effective in training your child in attentiveness.
20 Ways to Cultivate Cerebration ConcentrationOkay, just a fancy way of saying, "Brain Training Games." Don't you love playing with words too?Well, here are 20 ways in which you can help your children to develop the habit of concentration. They are everyday sorts of activities which focus their attention on a given subject at hand. It is important that they complete the activity by focussing on it without distraction. Use a timer if necessary to keep their focussed attention.
Coming soon... Simply Stylish Homeschool Planner
In the last ezine, I mentioned the Homeschool Planner which is being created at the moment. The Planner, not only is set out to help the homeschooling parent plan the daily activities but also helping parents to set yearly, monthly family and individual goals and review them. The Keep on Track Homeschool Planner (due out late this week, or early next week) is the Simply Stylish Homeschool Planner. This will take the place of "Choose It" and will be the easy homeschool planning solution.
The Simply Stylish "Keep on Track" Homeschool planner - helps by keeping it simple .... BUT.... it is not only simple to use and print....
You'll be the first to know when it is ready!
May God bless your journey in home education!
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