One area I know I can not teach my children in is computer science. I’m also aware that it is essential that children of this day and age be proficient in all levels of computer science.
About three years ago I started searching for a homeschool-friendly computer science curriculum. I definitely found it in Motherboard Books. Their vision is computer literacy in every homeschool. Phyllis Wheeler, the founder of the company and fellow homeschooler, has created a curriculum that needs very little input from parents. It is written to the student for the student. I purchased Computer Science Pure and Simple for our then fourteen year old daughter. Since that time I have been given the privilege of reviewing the second volume as well.
Our daughter was very happy with Volume One’s clear step-by-step tutorial with visual computer screen shots showing her exactly what to do as well as telling her through written instructions.
Book 1, Second Edition -145 pages provides a comprehensive introduction to:
Your child will learn how to command a tiny robot turtle carrying a pen and a bucket. S/he will tell it where to go on the page, giving commands like forward 50 (go forward 50 turtle steps). The turtle draws lines as commanded and dumps colors. For animations, the turtle assumes a variety of shapes.
Our daughter enjoyed this aspect of the lessons. Her younger siblings also loved watching her make the turtle move and do ‘tricks’.
Although Logos is not used much anymore, it is still great for teaching reasoning to your child. It also still has all the bells and whistles of a robust programming language, including parallel processing. So it's a natural for teaching game programming.
Skills learned on Logos transfer easily to other languages. In fact there are many computer professionals out there who got started by learning Logos.
Book 2, Second Edition (grades 7 and up, 176 pages including answer key) builds on Book 1 and provides more work on:
This book starts up right where Volume I left off and Mr. Turtle is back making it just as entertaining. Using Computer Science Pure and Simple Book 2, your child can also create his/her own games. Look at videos of student games:
(For programming parents, these are the skills your child will learn: looping, incrementing, if-then statements, if-then-else, use of variables, starting with diagrams--the usual tools of programming.)
Phyllis has also created an e-book for younger students on how to create simple web pages:
Here's what's in Let's Make a Web Page!:
Table of Contents
Introduction for Parents ..............................................4Lesson 1: An Interview.................................................5Lesson 2: Download and Set Up the Program .............6Lesson 3: Add Text ....................................................17Lesson 4: Make a Table .............................................22Lesson 5: Add Photo ................................................ .27Lesson 6: From the Internet, Add Animations ............ 32Lesson 7: Browser Check, Backgrounds, Photos .......38Lesson 8: Sound ........................................................46Lesson 9: Links ..........................................................50Lesson 10: Post Your Work ........................................54Appendix: How to Upload to the Internet .....................59
Your student will download a free trial version of CoffeeCup HTML Editor, a user-friendly piece of software for making Web pages, compatible with Windows Vista. Your child will write an interview and make a Web page for it, including a photo and animations collected from the Internet. S/he will add a sound and some links. Finally, s/he will make his/her creation the "home page" for the browser on your family computer. There are also instructions for the parent on Internet safety and on how to upload to the Internet.
Again the format is simple and child-friendly. Your younger children will need you right by their side helping out, but the older students should be able to do it on their own in about two hours. There is nothing like creating your own web page to make you feel proud! This book is a great esteem booster for your children as well as good solid experience in the foundations of web design.
Phyllis offers other quality products as well. Be sure to look at all of them at her website www.motherboardbooks.com/ Her books are excellent and easy for your child to implement!
All About Spelling (AAS) is a comprehensive spelling program based on spelling concepts and patterns rather than grade level words.
The program is incredibly easy to implement, teaches to all learning styles (auditory, kinesthetic, visual) and has step by step lesson plans.
Currently AAS has 4 levels available. Each level uses color coded, magnetic letter tiles that help accelerate your students learning. The letters and letter combinations on the tiles correspond to the basic phonograms, making them the perfect manipulative to teach spelling.
My younger children (8 &11) really enjoy using the tiles and much prefer them to writing out their spelling words. It is important that each student have their own set of tiles. I learned that the hard way. They are sold separately on the website for the very affordable price of $12.95.
Each lesson can be customized to your child’s needs. We went quickly through the earlier lessons of level one and then slowed down when we reached spelling rules that my children needed to work on. Each lesson includes:
· Review of steps and rules that were taught in the previous lesson
· New Teachings
· Reinforcement of concepts through key flashcards
· Written practice through a few dictated words and phrases
We are now in level two and I can see great improvement with both my students. I am even learning a thing or two, myself! See lesson sample here .
One of the greatest things I appreciate about this program, besides the quick daily lessons, is that AAS doesn’t settle for short term memorization of spelling words. They teach and review the concepts behind why words are spelled the way they are - thus dramatically improving long term retention. I didn’t learn these concepts when I was growing up and can see that it really helps to improve overall spelling.
I do not see any drawbacks to this spelling program and if you start it in the pre-school years, your children will be natural spellers and readers. The program also works well with remedial spelling students of any age. I highly recommend AAS to all educators and plan to keep using it with our family for years to come!
The first two AAS levels are $29.95 and levels three and four are $39.95. The program is well worth the money, non-consumable and can be used with all ages. www.allaboutspelling.com
When my children were little I used puppets with them all the time, just for fun. Jeff Peyton, the founder of Puppetools, encourages parents and teachers to extend the use of puppets to include education. The paper puppets of Puppetools are powerful but inexpensive tools that help children engage in learning.
The site has available, upon subscription, 37 basic puppet templates which include a patented mouth hinge. There are forums for ideas on how to use the puppets to introduce learning experiences. He also has hundreds of pictures of puppets designed by teachers and students to help spark your own creations!
Jeff has done extensive research on how play is crucial for healthy child development. Homeschoolers generally understand this principle, but could benefit from further study.
Puppetools state that their mission is to open the door to sweeping change in education by advancing the principle of play in teaching and learning. It seems they are doing just that in public schools across the nation:
“We have done plant puppets for the Seed to Plant Unit, and sun and planet puppets for the Object in the Sky Unit. The students never get tired of them, and can’t wait for a new visit to talk with them.”
“I continue to see more and more avenues of use for these puppets as part of the lessons and the life of the classroom. They enhance the atmosphere and bring such delight.”
These puppets could also be very effective in the Sunday-School arena. Both in the making of them, and in the sharing of Biblical stories and principles through them.
There is a 60 day individual trial subscription available for $20 or you can purchase a year for $99 and have thirty people in your user group (good for co-ops, churches or schools). Take a look at www.puppetools.com and prepare to create!
