Online Resources for Enrichment

Students look forward to the summer because they want a break from the toil of rigorous, brain wrenching activities. However, too long of a break is counterproductive. Students need some mind provoking activity to keep their learning alive during the summer months. Educational experiences like visiting a museum or taking a trip to the library to check out a book can be profitable.

A great tool to utilize is the Internet. Interactive games and activities make learning and review fun. You’ll find limitless educational sources on the Internet for students to use, but to get started consider some of our teachers’ recommendations.

http://www.bartleby.com -- A good source for reading and research material. (adult level readers)

www.arcademicskillbuilders.com -- Math and language games (elementary)

http://www.softschools.com -- Math, history, and language games and quizzes (elementary and middle school)

www.ixl.com -- Interactive math reviews (elementary, junior high, and high school)

www.turtlediary.com -- Math and English (lower elementary)

www.fun4thebrain.com -- Interactive games (lower elementary)

www.iknowthat.com -- Interactive learning in science, social studies, math, and language arts (elementary)

http://www.kidsnumbers.com -- Interactive math reviews and games (elementary)

If you download Google’s browser Chrome, you can download many free educational apps for typing practice, science exploration, math review, foreign language learning, discovery, and research for all ages.

Thousands of instructional videos for all ages covering all subjects can be found at khanacademy. 

*Remember that we cannot endorse everything you may find on these sites. Please supervise your children carefully.

Does Cursive Writing Matter Anymore?

The Common Core Curriculum standards, now adopted by over 40 states, omit a requirement to teach cursive writing. Given the widespread use of technology, some believe that society will reach a day when words are only typed and nothing will be written on paper. Many schools have pulled the plug on cursive writing, stating that it is unnecessary and an unprofitable use of time. Since the cursive writing debate has now reached our state and has become somewhat of a controversy in Wake County, I’ve decided to weigh in on the subject. Here are some good reasons to continue teaching cursive writing, especially at a young age.

1. The constant motion required in cursive writing, as opposed to the ball and stick print method, works better, looks better, and reads better given younger students’ level of motor skill development.
2. Writing lower case letters requires up to 6 motions in print but only 3 in cursive.
3. Comparisons between cursive and print writers taking the SAT indicate a big advantage. Students writing in cursive have been able to write down a significantly greater amount of words than those who print.
4. Students who have developed cursive writing skills are able to take faster notes as required in older grades.
5. Cursive writing helps young students decipher between letters like p/q and b/d. Cursive has proven to be a greater help to students struggling with dyslexia.
6. Cursive writing helps develop intellectual tasks. Brain research, specifically PET scans, has provided evidence that motor skills used in cursive writing open neural pathways that enable language fluency. Additionally, some studies regarding adult language learners reveal better results when students wrote rather than typed foreign language assignments.
7. The bottom to up motion in cursive rather than the top down motion required for many print letters works better for left-handed students. They merely have to tilt the paper to keep from smudging their work.
8. Students who never learn cursive will have difficulty reading old historical documents. I realize this is not the most convincing reason to teach cursive. It would, however, be a shame if our students could not read original copies of the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.
9. The constant flow of cursive writing enables a better flow of thinking when students write essays, research, and other thought provoking documents.

Agreed, cursive writing does not make a student an intellectual, nor does the desertion of cursive leave a student entirely uneducated. Education must keep up with the times by incorporating current technology into the curriculum. That does not mean traditional methods must be kicked to the curb. The development of students’ motor skills, language fluency, and intellectual thinking benefit from cursive writing. That’s why we’ll keep teaching it, and students will keep benefiting from it.

6 Danger Signs to Watch for When Using Technology

There has been a buzz in the media lately about a study conducted by Baylor University and Seton Hall. They found that materialism and impulsivity drive much of the cell phone behavior observed among teens and young adults. Average students checked their phones 60 times a day, sent 109 text messages, and received 119 messages. Compulsively checking the phone for messages and experiencing withdrawals when you don’t have it mirrors the symptoms of other addictions. Another study by the University of Michigan explored the question of whether or not excessive texting hinders students from learning proper social skills. Among teens, 75% have cell phones, and the average teen sends 60 texts per day – some send as many as 300 texts per day. While technology can be a blessing, it can cause problems when used without limits. As your family uses technology for the right purposes, here are a few dangers signs to watch.

1. Overstimulation.  Excessive time spent on media will complicate a student’s ability to concentrate. Entertainment is mindless; it requires no critical thinking. Students can become conditioned to quick changes – television’s rapid images and the internet’s high speed. This makes listening to a teacher, solving problems, and staying on task more difficult. Children, and adults alike, become conditioned to a way of thinking – or not thinking – that they carry everywhere with them. When living a life of over-stimulation, it’s unfeasible to believe you can concentrate and focus on demand.
2. Excessive Use. Do you find your kids spending time in front of the television that should be spent doing something productive, like homework? Are they sleepy all day because they have been texting in bed until late at night? While technology and media can be used for educational purposes and productive communication, they still have an addictive quality that often results in overuse. For example, the internet can be used for research, but one could easily spend too much time researching and not enough time completing the other aspects of an assignment. It’s hard enough for adults to discipline themselves; imagine how hard it is for students to fight the pull of Facebook, ipods, and texting when they should be working. They need parental oversight and instruction in time management. Also, don’t overlook the need for kids to drop their tech-toys and play outdoors, play with real toys or games, and converse with other kids (I don’t mean via Skype or Facebook). Tech-addicted kids don’t benefit from those experiences, and they often miss out on enjoyable and beneficial experiences.
3. Nomophobia. This is a new term defined as the fear of being unconnected with people via your cell phone. Time Magazine conducted a survey and reported that 84% said they could not be separated from their cell phone for one day. A Maryland University study 74% of people said they would panic if they lost their cell phone. Cell phones are convenient, and for some, mobile phones are a necessary tool for daily business. But addictions are dangerous, especially in kids. Many kids suffer in their social skills because their communication skills have been shaped by their compulsive texting. When you observe a decline in person-to-person social skills, it’s past time to reduce mobile phone usage.
4. Invasion of the Family’s Privacy. Do you want your child Skyping their friends from inside their bedroom? When they become teenagers, that will present an even more crucial scenario. Do your children know what they are and are not permitted to post on Facebook about your family? Does your child know what should and should not be videoed in your home and posted for others to see? These are guidelines that will have to be formed and modified as children enter new stages of life and as new forms of technology enter your home.
5. Unfiltered Internet. If you have unfiltered internet and your kids freely surf the web, be assured your kids have seen objectionable content. The absence of a filter is not a risk, it’s a sure disaster. Your children will be exposed to content you do not approve. Not necessarily because your kids will be looking for it, but because it will find your kids. Don’t forget that smartphones have unfiltered internet, and kids can easily borrow a friend’s phone and view content your home filter would not permit.
6. Mischievous Friends. Some are tempted to discuss topics and use language in texts that would never be said verbally for fear that their parents would hear them. Facebook can also become a bad influence when others begin posting and boasting about things that you find offensive. This requires parents to supervise communication and make sure their child’s contacts provide good relationships.

Alexander Pope once wrote in a poem, “A little learning is a dangerous thing, drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring.” Apply this to your knowledge about your child’s technology usage. If you have let technology enter your home (we all have), then ignorance is detrimental. The Scriptures tell us that Satan is “like a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour.” Don’t be passive, be alert. Jump in, be informed, instruct, and supervise.

Where Can We Find Peace And Goodwill?

Where can “peace and goodwill” be found? It’s not merely a biblical cliché or a line in a Christmas tune anymore. Fictitiously, when the Grinch stole Christmas, the people still celebrated because “Christmas was in their hearts” not under the tree. That’s easy for them to say. They only had their presents and Christmas trees taken from them, not their children. Such heartwarming fiction dissipates when you have your children taken from you. Americans are desperately searching for peace. Even outspoken conservative pundits who typically rush to the microphone with solutions to America’s problems have admitted that they don’t have all the answers. Is it too late to find peace and goodwill? The nation with the strongest military in the world finds itself brought to its knees by inner struggles rather than foreign attacks.

A multitude of angels announced that peace and goodwill from God had been sent. So where do we find it? Peace cannot be found in politics. Mary and Joseph found first-hand that government leaders tend care more about preserving their power than anything else. The angels’ announcement was delivered to a nation in turmoil and captivity. Years of captivity had humiliated the Jews - people who knew they were supposed to be chosen of God; but God seemed to show them no favor. Every insurrection attempting to free themselves ended in more bloodshed. They were searching for peace. After the angels’ proclamation of peace, Herod turned his entire province into a Newtown when he slaughtered all the baby boys. Scripture tells us that Ramah was “weeping for her children and would not be comforted.” Even the Jews’ own leaders failed to show goodwill toward them. Crooked religion became the tool to enslave common people with legalistic requirements that bolstered the Pharisee’s power and failed to meet the spiritual needs of the people.

Peace not only fails to be found in politics, neither can it be found in popular belief. The people voted to crucify peace and goodwill. The ones longing for deliverance crucified their only hope for salvation. Christ promoted spiritual change, not political change. He did not deliver on their terms, so He was rejected. Consequently, Israel failed to find its independence. After the time of Christ, the temple was destroyed while poverty and captivity ensued. Their stubborn, human logic had obstructed peace and goodwill.

Does this sound familiar? Politicians fail to alleviate society’s unrest, leaders focus on self-preservation, the people vote to remove Christ’s influence, and uninformed, short-sighted ideas captivate mainstream thinking.

Where can peace and goodwill be found? In Christ. When the angels announced the coming of peace and goodwill, they were declaring the only One who can bring peace, and He came as a goodwill gift from heaven. Zechariah proclaimed that the Dayspring - the dawn of a new day – would arrive in Israel. A new day has been offered, but the gift from heaven requires acceptance.

Rather than placing peace and goodwill on your “grown-up Christmas list” of fanciful, utopian ideas, place yourself before the Prince of Peace who has already come. Bow before Him. Reverence Him. Make Him your king. You don’t have to wait on political action or public approval. Christ is heaven’s goodwill gift of peace. There’s no need to look relentlessly for Him. You’ll find Him on your knees. 

Lessons Angry Children Need to Learn

This is a classified add posted several years ago, illustrating how anger begins with hurt:

                Wedding dress for sale, never worn.

                Will trade for .38 caliber pistol.¹

Valid or not, hurt feelings pave the road toward anger. The child who feels offended will simmer in bitterness, react with anger, and eventually, if not corrected, turn rebellious. No parent wants their child to walk the path to rebellion, and dealing with the outbursts of anger can be exasperating enough. As parents, we must carefully detect signs of anger in our children. Not all anger manifests itself through overt or violent outbursts. Secrecy, withdrawal, sulking, and cynicism indicate deep seated anger problems. So how do we handle children who deal with anger issues? The parent’s task is two-fold: Teach them lessons that will help their attitude, and confront their anger in a proper way. Consider the following lessons that need to be taught:

1.  The world is not a perfect place. We don’t always get what we want. Our kids need to learn this lesson as well, but they’ll never learn if their anger manipulates adults into giving them what they want. Sometimes people mistreat us. Sometimes it’s not that we are mistreated; we just don’t get our way. Throwing a temper tantrum because she was not permitted to go to a friend’s house or because he did not get the birthday present he wanted may seem trivial in the total scheme of life, but how mom and dad react to this behavior will teach the child a life-long lesson. Children should learn to handle disappointment in life without lashing out in anger.

2.  Happiness should not depend upon me getting my way. How will kids learn that their joy should be in the Lord if their entire childhood has revolved around themselves? Good parents want to provide an enjoyable childhood for their kids, but the tendency can be to give too much. Kids need to learn that life is enjoyable while preferring others before themselves and while giving, not just receiving. How will children learn to enjoy a life of preferring others? When they are required.  Privileges should be held until a child earns them by having the right attitude. Associate good attitudes with privileges. This will help children learn the true source of happiness – godly living. Teaching this lesson can be more of a deterrent of anger than a way to handle angry behavior. Children who are less prone to have a self-centered attitude will naturally enjoy life better and be less prone to anger problems.    

3.  Authorities must be treated with respect.  Children must learn to address their grievances and disagreements in a respectful manner. A respectful tone and respectful word choice should be required. The absence of yelling and cursing does not suffice; sarcasm, scorning, and the silent treatment should not be permitted. Parents can help in two ways. First, always be willing to listen when children approach you with the right attitude at an appropriate time. Secondly, refuse to listen to a disrespectful rant. Consider the example of the Hebrew children. When they murmured and complained to God, he punished them. When Moses humbly took his frustration to God, he received instructions from God that met their needs.

4.  Anger cannot be used to gain control over people.  Don’t argue. Don’t give undue attention to anger. Don’t engage until the anger has subsided. Never yell – it’s a sign that you have lost control. Even when there needs to be consequences for a child’s angry, inappropriate behavior, shelve that conversation for a time when tempers have cooled. When angry children draw their parents into arguing, the child has gained control of the conversation. At that point, the parent’s initial instructions are no longer the focus of the conversation. Firm does not have to be loud. Calmly but firmly, instruct children to obey, reminding them that disrespectful responses has consequences.  

Dealing with angry children can be exasperating for parents, but prevention can be effective. Help children acquire the right attitudes about handling defeat, disappointment, and mistreatment. Steer their thinking toward a sovereign God who watches over His children. Help them focus on the biblical way to handle letdowns and frustrations. Life will present many opportunities to be angry; let’s teach our kids to handle themselves with discipline.

¹Taken from Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotes

Should I Let Them Do It On Their Own?

If you have ever undergone a major medical procedure or surgery, one of your first concerns was the surgeon’s experience. How many times has he done this surgery before, and how successful have his surgeries been? The diplomas hanging on his office wall and the style of his clothes don’t impress us when he has had minimal practice or poor performance with previous patients. Doctors, depending upon their specialty, spend 3 to 8 years in internships or residence after having spent 8 years in the classroom. You may wonder, “What’s going on during these years of internship and residency?” Supervised Practice. They are performing medical procedures and prescribing treatments as a doctor but under the supervision of a higher ranking doctor. And that’s an educational practice that can be applied to all students, at every age, and on every level.

It’s been said that a new skill must be practiced 24 times in order to accomplish 80% mastery. This emphasizes what teachers have always said, “Practice makes perfect” – at least, closer to perfect than no practice at all.  But there’s a requirement that cannot be overlooked. The student must practice it correctly. If a student practices doing something the wrong way, he’ll require even more time (and frustration) trying to correct the old way of thinking and making the right way the habitual way. This illustrates why students need to perform on their own, but with supervision. As you supervise your child’s homework and studying, consider a few factors.

1.  Students haven’t mastered a skill if they cannot think independently. Good parents have high expectations for their kids and want them to excel. Sometimes, a parent’s natural tendency is to offer a little too much instruction too early. Let them try the problem at first, seeing what they remember from the teacher’s instruction. When you feel like you must assert yourself, offer guidance by asking questions. “What’s the next step?” “Where should that comma go?” “How should you spell that word?” When students can deduce and answer on their own, they’re more likely to really “get it.”

2. Student work needs to be assessed often. As it was already mentioned, practicing the wrong way produces the wrong habits. We want students to learn to think and work independently, but the lack of supervision will be counterproductive. Time spent on task cannot be confused with quality work. Some parents have been surprised by their students’ poor grades after seeing them work diligently on their assignments. Unfortunately, they were diligent at practicing the wrong thing. We have to make sure their work is correct.

3. Students need to follow the teacher’s instructions regarding assignments. Generally, teachers assign homework practice so students can develop mastery in a skill, or teachers assign study requirements to prepare students for a test or quiz. Parental help is usually welcomed for these type of assignments. But on occasion, assignments are given to provide teachers an accurate picture of their students’ understanding. Teachers need to know how well students can perform independently. That’s the true sign of whether or not they are progressing academically. Parents should be careful to not incidentally hijack the task by offering “help.” Additionally, some assignments build critical thinking skills, and students need a chance to exercise their analytical skills. They need to find their own mistakes and correct them without a parent or teacher pointing out every one. For example, when a student must complete an assignment that requires research, the purpose of the assignment involves comprehension and reasoning skills. It might be helpful for the parent or teacher to recommend books and periodicals for the student to use, but if the student does not do the reading and writing alone, the purpose of the assignment has been defeated. Be careful to follow the teacher’s requirements that accompany specific assignments.

I have heard adults jokingly tell stories about their parents’ over involvement when they were in school. Their parents completed most of the project for them because of frustration over a difficult assignment or because the assignment was going to be late. The student is always the loser in that scenario. Students need practice to improve their skills, and they need to be practicing the right way. What they really need is supervised practice.

Getting Organized Early in the Year

When we get organized and get our kids organized, the school year goes more smoothly. In the busyness of the school year, supervising homework, helping the kids study for tests, returning forms, and keeping up with all of the events and extra-curriculars can be overwhelming. Here are a few keys to smooth out the ebb and flow of the school year and stay organized:

1.  Learn the scheduling cycles. Almost everything on a school campus runs on a strict schedule. There is a certain time of the week or quarter that everything is made available: Lunch menus, test folders, grade reports, etc. There are also deadlines and requirements for returning forms, ordering products, and, especially, arriving to school on time.
2. Learn how the teacher likes to communicate. There are many ways to communicate – email, written notes, phone messages – with the teacher, but the best way to communicate to specific teachers will vary. Most teachers will announce to parents or students, depending upon their age group, the most effective way to communicate with them.
3. Learn where to find the information you need. For example, if you want to know what your elementary student has for homework, you should be able find it in the student’s planner. Teachers develop routines and procedures for almost every task; it’s important to find out their plan so you can get the information you need. Another example is your student’s current grades. Elementary classes send home weekly test folders; secondary classes send home grade reports every three weeks. But you can always get the most current grades on headmasteronline.com (there is a link to it on our school’s website). The school office sends out announcement emails almost every week. Make sure you don’t dismiss and delete them as junk mail.
4.  Organize a place at home for school stuff. Where will forms be placed so they are properly returned on time? Where will completed homework be stored so it will be turned in the next day? Think about the regular school-related tasks your kids will have at home, and develop a plan to keep “the dog from eating it.”
5. Develop an organizational plan for home, and teach it to your kids. When will they complete homework immediately after school? How will they study for the test? How will you make sure school work get done in a time efficient manner?

Organizing a plan is only half of the task; it must be implemented. Begin building habits early, make follow-through a priority, and your family will soon be in a routine that makes every school task time efficient.

Learning a Lesson From Tebow's Parents

In Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow talks about a rule his parents instituted in their home:

My parents decided that, with three boys around the house who were as competitive as we were, we had to institute a new rule. I was still young, and they were already concerned about the bragging that we were doing among ourselves. Here was the rule: we were forbidden from talking about our own accomplishments, unless asked first by someone else. If someone specifically asked us how the game went or how we played, we could answer, but we couldn’t volunteer the information.

He noted their inspiration for this new rule. It was Proverbs 27:2: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” Why does God command us to refrain from boasting about ourselves? And why should our children also learn this principle?

First, we can easily fool ourselves into thinking that our accomplishments are greater than they actually are. Big mouths turn into big heads, and that only results in disappointment. Kids should learn that they are not the only ones who have accomplishments. Enjoy your success, but remember that your feats are not the only ones that matter.

Secondly, no one wants to be around a braggart. Acquiring this type of reputation is sure to alienate someone from his friends. Some gifted people lose friends almost as fast as they build popularity. No matter how great your accomplishments are, the dazzle eventually wears off and only your personality will matter to others. Let’s teach our kids character traits that will help them build healthy friendships throughout life. 

Thirdly, talking about ourselves too much traps us in a self-centered life. We don’t seem to notice them, or their difficulties. Obviously, we think about what we talk about. If we talk about ourselves too much, it’s because we think about ourselves too much. This inward self-centered focus distracts us, and in turn, detracts our attention from a world of people that God wants us to love, encourage, and edify.

Fourthly, humble people resemble Christ. Popular thought may claim that humble people get run over, but, in reality, pride always ends in destruction. It’s true that humble people will take their hits, but in the end, they win friends and influence people unlike their rivals. Egotistical people try to build their own monuments, but humble people try to build people – who are inspired enough to honor their mentors with a monument. Christ gave himself, and He changed the world. If anyone could have bragged, Christ could have. Rather, he served, and the world profited.

Professional athletes who earn the reputation of humility are a rare type. Frankly, in any profession, there are not many successful people who are humble. But Christ was humble, and He was successful. Teach your children to imitate Him.