Saturday, August 15, 2015


Watch this interesting video where Sal Khan has a conversation with MIT Dean of Admissions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u3xaicPnA0&feature=em-subs_digest

Many times parents in the past have complained to me that their child has no time for anything outside of hw.  Even when they are just working on their hard courses, there is no guarantee they are getting all As.  Maybe they shouldn't take all the possible hard courses and instead leave some time for an outside project.  They would then have time to work on one of their passions and develop them.

Colleges definitely do not look only at your grades.  This is a blessing for kids as it gives them leeway to also work on things they like outside of their classwork.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Multiplication Tables



When was the last time you tested your child on their times tables?  This is the perfect time for them to review them if they have forgotten it.  Let them write them down and use note cards to test them.  It is the most frustrating thing for them if they have to use a calculator to find out what 6 x 8 is before they solve their math word problem in 7th grade.

And believe me, in my 10 years of mentoring youth in middle school, most still haven't memorized their tables.  Unfortunately, I've seen that even in SAT prep sessions.  When you have only 25 minutes to solve 20 math problems, how sad is it that you have to waste your time to calculate the product first.

Most likely if they do not know their tables, they will also fall behind in other areas of Math and will eventually decrease their confidence in solving problems.  So regardless of what grade your child is,  TEST their knowledge of the multiplication tables.  Make sure they can say it without thinking about it.  Your persistence at an early age will help them throughout their lives.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Benefits of Entering Contests



Why take the extra effort to enter contests when kids already have so much work from school already?  I've found quite a few benefits.  First, they get excited to win something.  Thus, they work harder.
They will keep working on their work to make it perfect.  I remember when my kids where younger they would take part in many poster contests.  They would draw, throw it away, draw again and throw it away again until they were either satisfied with the picture or there wasn't time to draw another sketch.  Whether is is drawing or writing, by practicing many times, they will only get better at both.

They research about a topic that wasn't necessarily in their school curriculum.  Online there are so many different contests with many interesting topics.  They get a chance to think about something different than the science chapter they have been on for a week or 2.

Kids only win by entering contests.  Even if they don't get the prize, your child will still have the beautiful drawing or hard worked on essay which only increased his/her writing skills.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Read, read & read a little more..



I remember when my 17 year old was once a toddler.  I would read out loud all the time to her.  All types of books.  Even when I doubted she understood much.  I would read all types of books.  In the morning, bedtime and in the library.  By three she could read most of our house books from memory and then she started sounding the words out.  And by 4 she was reading chapter books.
Ofcourse I had more time then and did not have 4 other children to look after.  But as years go by in Kose Homeschooling, I have learnt that not all kids like reading as a hobby.  I have had to set aside time each day for just reading.
I would never have to tell my eldest to read.  It was the best hobby for her.  But for my fifth child, I have had to make a cozy corner for book reading.  Just for her and me.  It took extra effort on my part.
Make reading fun and make the reading place enticing.  When your precious ones are young, keep reading to them.  When they are older, dedicate a time for just reading in the house when no electronics are used.
They will appreciate this once they are older.


Monday, August 3, 2015

School starting soon...



Many parents start getting ready for school supplies early August.  Many schools start 3rd week of August. Most kids have not been studying for two months now.
Parents can help their kids review many of the previous year's concepts by printing out various practice state tests and letting them take them. It will give them a much better start to their school year.  I will be putting out links to tests that you can print out.  The great thing about them is that they have answer sheets!
They might not be excited about studying before school.  But tell them they will feel much more confident in class by using their brain cells before school actually starts.