Q: Mrs. Sherry,
Thanks for your tips about using graph paper to help a messy math whiz. Another problem I am running into is my son's general handwriting. I am constantly having to remind him to put space between his words. I remind him of spacing before he starts writing, but it doesn't seem to work. He hates writing anyway, so this is a source of frustration for both of us. Do you have any suggestions?
From Christine

A: I'd try two things.

1. Fold an index card in half and ask him to write SPACE on it. Let him decorate it with pictures or stickers with an "outer space" theme. Put it in front of him as a visual reminder to use proper spacing. He'll get the point.

2. Give him points for neatness on each assignment.
3=excellent spacing, excellent letter formation; big improvement!
2=good spacing and letter formation; noticeable improvement
1=completed work, but poor spacing and letter formation; little or no noticeable improvement

Allow him to accumulate "neatness" points through the week; on Friday, if he earns an agreed upon number of points, he earns a privilege. Fun, inexpensive privileges might include:
A. Blank Page Pass: This could be a big motivator! He can staple the pass to a penmanship paper giving him permission to skip it (or at least half of it)!
B. Allow him to use a gel pen or other fun writing instrument on his next page. Or, allow him to buy a fun new pencil or pencil grip at the teacher store.
C. Typing or Printing Pass: If cursive is the issue, kids will love to have the privilege of stapling one of these passes to a paper, giving them the option of typing or printing the assignment.

I'd also say that most doctors I know have illegible penmanship. Not that I think it's okay, in fact it could be dangerous, but it seems to be less important today than it once was to write neatly. Most doctors, in fact, are using Palm Pilots and laptops to keep patient records and order prescriptions. So, while I think an emphasis on excellence is important, and I think direct instruction in penmanship is essential, don't dwell on it too much and allow it to become a source of stress. For journaling, for example, just go ahead and let him type on the computer. You may find that he likes to write, and writes more, when he doesn't have to write it out by hand.

Let me know how these ideas work, and if you need more suggestions, I'd love to hear from you again!

Happy Home Schooling!
Mrs. Sherry

Q: In addition to workbook assignments, I have my daughter write her spelling words 5x each. She hates spelling, and doesn't do well on the tests. What do you suggest?

A: This is a fun question to answer! I have several ideas that might be interesting for you to try.

First, consider that your instructional approach may not suit her learning style. I've organized the following suggestions by learning style:

1. Visual learners need to SEE how to spell a word. Allow your speller to use markers or colored pencils to write the words; use one color for vowels, and another for consonants. Assign the student to use a third color to mark spelling patterns (such as blends, special endings or silent letters). You can also use crossword puzzles, or design boxes that are shaped to the size of each letter, and ask the student to fill in the shapes. Flash cards are another good tool to use; allow the student to see, then spell the word to practice. She might also enjoy taking her spelling words outside! On warm days, allow her to spell with sidewalk chalk. On snowy days, fill an old mustard or ketchup bottle with a solution of water and food coloring; she can spell out the words on the snow!

2. Tactile/kinesthetic learners need to EXPERIENCE and FEEL how to spell a word. Allow them to form the letter shapes with their bodies to practice spelling a word. Use any medium that is textured and can be manipulated; clay, play dough, pipe cleaners, and yarn on felt are great tools. One of my favorite tools is a "salt box." Simply pour salt or sand into a shallow lid or container, and ask the student to spell the words. You can gently shake the salt to "erase" and spell the next word. The outdoor suggestions listed above also provide good texture and activity for kinesthetic learners. Games such as Boggle, Boggle Jr. or Scrabble are great games for these learners.

3. Auditory learners need to HEAR how to spell a word. Allow the student to record the word, definition and correct spelling of her word list onto a tape to play it back for review. Oral practice with a partner (spelling bee style) also works well. Using chants, songs or rhymes are big keys to helping an auditory learner. You might also look for electronic games or computers that spell the words out loud as the letters are typed.

If you aren't sure what type of learner she is, try a different approach each week for three weeks. The week that is the most "fun" for the student and leads to fewer complaints and better test scores will probably reveal her learning style.

Second, you might want to look into a different curriculum. Here is an annotated list to consider:

1. A Reason for Spelling: a simple, traditional approach that seems to cover all of the bases

2. A Beka: a traditional, advanced approach that emphasizes phonics and vocabulary

3. Happy Phonics: a primary, hands-on teaching kit that includes lots of games; go to www.lovetolearn.com

4. The Natural Speller: This is my personal favorite, and includes a list of all the words and phonics rules needed for a comprehensive elementary spelling program. It's very inexpensive and allows room for you to create your own activities to fit the learning style of your child.

Check back tomorrow, and I will discuss how you can use journals to develop excellent spellers!

Happy Home Schooling!
Mrs. Sherry

Q: How can I post a question to this site?

A: Some of you have tried to leave comments/questions, but have been unable to do so; I have fixed the program error! You can now click on guest book to post a comment or question. If you want to comment or ask a more detailed question about an archived or current blog posting, you can click on comment at the bottom of that particular blog. I will receive an alert when you leave a comment and will respond. Thanks for reading my blog, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Happy Home Schooling!
Mrs. Sherry

Q: My child is a math whiz, but his work is so sloppy that he sometimes makes silly mistakes. What can I do to help him clean up his work?

A: Here are three tricks you can try to increase neatness with math assignments:
1. Have the student use graph paper. Allow only one number per box.
2. Require fewer daily problems. If your student knows he only has 15 problems to do rather than 30, he's less likely to rush through the assignment. If he's really a math whiz, maybe he's just bored with the routine. You might also consider assigning enrichment activities along with the daily lesson to encourage critical and creative thinking skills.
3. Give rewards or points for neatness. For example, give 1 point for the correct answer and a half point for readability and form; this is especially motivating for a high school student who needs excellent grades on his transcripts for college admission and scholarships. For younger students, you can let him earn stickers on a chart for each neat paper; he can trade in 10 stickers for a small prize; middle school students enjoy trading points for privileges.

In addition, I'd require the student to re-do any problem that is missed due to sloppiness and any problem for which you cannot read the answer.

Be sure that your child understands the reason why you require neatness. Discuss what might happen if a doctor, pharmacist, engineer or other person who uses math daily made an error due to sloppiness. What could the consequences be? We must always give our best effort in order to honor God and also to be effective with the job He has given us to do.

Happy Home Schooling!
Mrs. Sherry

My husband considered calling into his office this morning to say he couldn't get up due to overeating. We decided that this would be a bad career move, and drove two and a half hours to Iowa from Missouri early this morning so he could be back at work on time.

I'm sure you, too, are as stuffed as your grandmother's sofa, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'd like to depart from my usual FAQ format and reflect on the reasons why I'm thankful to be a home schooling mom this year.

My Top Ten List In No Particular Order
1. I get to determine my own schedule and calendar.
2. I get the pleasure of all the light bulb moments.
3. I get to smile when my 5 year old sticks his tongue inside his cheek and grins with his big blue eyes because he's feeling proud of himself for reading.
4. I get to answer questions like, "Where's heaven?" and "Does hell have a door?" whenever the questions beg for an answer. No one has to wait until it's time for Bible class to talk about the Bible.
5. My three year old can cut instead of color if she asks nicely.
6. Smelly stickers. I also appreciate scented ink pads.
7. I get to learn something new every day.
8. I get to pray with my kids any time.
9. I get to hear my 3 year old recite the pledge of allegiance everyday.
10. Life is school, and school isn't life.

I hope you take some time to consider why you're thankful for home schooling this season. The freedom we have in America to educate our kids at home is a blessing. Let's work and pray together to guard that freedom.

Blessings,
Mrs. Sherry