July 27, 2008
Homeschooling, Writing
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In my last article I described a unique approach to teaching writing. It follows the guidelines set out by Andrew Pudewa in IEW’s Teaching Writing: Structure & Style. This program spends most of it’s time teaching students “how to write” instead of brainstorming “what to write about”.
Using that model, let me share free writing lessons online that you can use with your own children this week (or the first week of school). If your older children struggle with writing, this is a great place to start. Begin by choosing a story they enjoy. This is one way of using predictable books to teach writing.
DAY 1
In order to help your children with “what” to write, you should copy a simple, one-page story, perhaps Aesop’s Fables. Read the story aloud with your child. After reading the story, write an outline/structure so you can do a key word outline with your child. The structure should look something like this.
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
If you are an outline perfectionist, you might have a heart attack since there are no letters on my outline. The only person that will have a hard time with no letters is you. Children have no problem using an outline that has just numbers. In fact, they will find it easier to work with. There should a number for each sentence in the story.
Re-read the first sentence and have your child offer three key words from that sentence that will help him remember what is written. Underline or circle those words in the copy of the story as he tells them to you. Once he has chosen three words, write them in order on I.
Then, move to the second sentence and underline three key words for that sentence. Write them on 1. Continue until you have three words for each sentence. You may have less than three words, but not more. This forces your child to learn how to make a decision. Besides, he does not need to remember every detail in each sentence to learn how to re-write this story in his own words.
After you have your outline completed, put away the original source. Have your child use the outline and tell back to you the paragraph. Children have a much easier time verbalizing what they have read rather than writing it down. You just finished half of the writing lesson.
With older students, be sure to have them re-tell the paragraph to you. This may seem childish to you, but it is imperative to help with older kids’ thought pattern as he writes tomorrow.
In my next article, I will share the rest of these free writing lessons online. You will learn how to use this simple outline to teach your children to write in their own words.
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© Kerry Beck, 2008
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
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Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms with free writing lessons online. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing.
July 25, 2008
Homeschooling, Writing
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When I first started homeschooling, I decided not to buy a Writing Curriculum! Why? Because all the programs I reviewed were activities I could do on my own. I taught fifth grade for six years and most homeschool writing programs were like my public school writing curriculum, teaching students “what to write”.
Well, that was until I discovered Andrew Pudewa’s Institute For Excellence In Writing (IEW). IEW had a flagship product, Teaching Writing: Structure And Style, that intrigued me. Mr. Pudewa did not spend a lot of time brainstorming ideas for students to write. Instead he spent the bulk of his curriculum on “how to write”. This was a new concept to me because the biggest problem my students had, like all other students, was what to write about.
Andrew’s approach to writing solves the “what to write about” problem by simply telling the students what to write about. His program spends more time teaching “structures” or outlines for a variety of writings, offering lesson plans for writing process. Depending on the type of writing and your purpose for writing, you can use different outlines to organize your thoughts.
In addition to teaching structures, Teaching Writing also shows students how to improve their writing “style”. Thus, the name of the program is Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. Students learn a variety of ways to vary their writing style. Mr. Pudewa shows students how to dress up their sentences with strong verbs and quality adjectives. Other dress-ups include adverbs and clauses. After mastering the dress ups, students learn how to open their sentences in a variety of methods.
In my next article (part 2), I will share a simple activity you can use with your own children this week (or the first week of school). If your older students struggle with writing, this is a great place to start.
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© Kerry Beck, 2008
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
———————————–
Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms about lesson plans for writing process. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing.
May 20, 2008
Writing
No Comments
I’m on my way to Texas this week so we can fix up our house before we move back. For those of you wondering . . . today we confirmed our moving dates. We leave Idaho on July 3 and arrive in Texas on July 6. We hope our stuff gets there soon after that.Speaking of “stuff”, we have some scratch, dent & used items. I haven’t had time to get them into our shopping cart, so you’ll have to call or email if you want any of these. When you call, we can take your payment info over the phone. If you email, be sure to leave a number where you can be reached. It’s first-come, first-served….based on when we receive payment.
Call right now 208-882-2477 or email info@CurriculumConnection.net.
Talk to you later. I’m working on a Summer Fun email so watch your inbox this week or next week.
Blessings,
Kerry Beck
ps. Here’s what is still left from our discounted sale
http://www.curriculumconnection.net/dsctcurriculum.htm
pps. Here’s what’s available right now.
CINDY RUSHTON
SOLD-Let’s Make a Lapbook (3 ring binder) retail 15.00, sale 5.00
SOLD- Notebooking, Yes You Can Be A Binder Queen retail 30.00 sale 10.00
VISION FORUM
DOUG PHILIPS SET
Role of Children in Meeting of Church-cassette
Defending the Fatherless-cassette
How to Evaluate a Suitor-cd
Wise Woman’s Guide to Blessing Her Husband’s Vision
all 4 - $7.50
SOLD-Dr. S.M. Davis CD Set (some never opened)
7 Bible Truths Violated in Christian Dating
How to Pass on Convictions to Your Children
Why Satan Wants Your Firstborn and What to do about It
How to Develop Character in your Children
How to Keep Children from becoming Bitter
What the Bible says about Scorn and Mockery
What to Expect from your 12 year old
How to Avoid Destructiveness of a Wrong Self Image
retail 80.00 sale 30.00
All Glory Laud & Honor cassette sale 1.00
APOLOGIA
Exploring Creation with Biology - Multimedia CD (retail 15.00) sale 5.00
IEW
SOLD- Student Writing Intensive - Level CD (dvds only) retail 85.00 sale 40.00
SOLD- Phonetic Zoo - level
flashcards, cds retail 99.00 sale 45.00
SOLD- Teaching Writing Structure & Style - older edition
7 videos (vhs) retail 139.00 sale 30.00
BEAUTIFUL FEET
SOLD- Geography Maps - never used retail 16.95 sale 7.00
CANON PRESS
Biblical Courtship Vol 2 - cds
Mothers & Teenage Daughters - cds
both items retail 24.00 sale 9.00
SOLD-Mothers & Teenage Daughters - cds
retail 12.00 sale 5.00
PUBLIC SPEAKING & DEBATE KIT 35.00
Beginning Public Speaking - Teacher ed.
Beginning Public Speaking - student workpack
As I Was Saying - Guide to Competitive Speech
An Intro to Argumentation & Debate
Lincoln-Douglas Debate Handbook
It Takes a Parent-Teaching Guide for first time parent/coach
SOLD-HENLE LATIN 7.00
First Year - student
Henle Latin Grammar
April 11, 2008
History, Homeschooling, Inspire You Children, Scrapbooking, Writing
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Yes, you read that right! 
Your child can make a notebook from paper bags and record what he has learned this week! Doesn’t that sound like fun???
All you have to do is choose the subject area you want to notebook and gather the materials. Then, your child can have fun “learning” and “recording”. He won’t even know he’s doing “school.
Click here to get the Paper Bag Notebook directions
Or, you can make the Waterfall Paper Bag Notebook right here
from scrapbook-crazy.com
April 2, 2008
Homeschooling, Inspire You Children, Living Books & Classics, Love of Learning, Notebooking, Reading, Scrapbooking, Writing
No Comments
Take some time to make this journal with your children. When you are finished, you can use it as a reading journal or notebook. If you use it for a notebook, put pictures, drawings and paragraphs about the science, history or literature topic you are studying. Have fun.
Change the colors and papers for a boy or a specific topic.
directions come from Splitcoaststampers.com right here
March 27, 2008
Entrepreneurs, Homeschooling, Raising Leaders, Writing
No Comments
It’s your last opportunity!
As of this morning, I have WAY overrun my spots for tonight’s FREE “My Can’t Miss Formula For Creating Information Products”
webinar, but I am trying to get an additional 200 lines.
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A few IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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We are LAUNCHING 8WeeksToProfits on April 1 (no joke!) at
12 noon (Pacific Standard Time)!
You can use it as a homeschool elective, as a family project or as a business course.
We will have FAST-MOVER Bonuses for those who ACT quickly.
We have killer bonuses for the first 3, the first 7, the first 11, the first 17, the first 22, etc. DETAILS to FOLLOW!
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There are 2 questions I keep getting about the webinar:
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==> What if I can’t make it to the webinar?
You need to try and make it to the live webinar because I’m announcing a special GIVE-AWAY to those who are LIVE…so be there LIVE to get a head start!
But if you can’t, REGISTER ANYWAY! Technology being what it is, I can’t guarantee a replay, but if we are able to record the webinar, ONLY PEOPLE WHO REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR WILL GET THE REPLAY LINK!
Here is the link to register:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2326678
==> What if I can’t afford the phone call?
Use the webinar link to watch the webinar and use Skype to listen to the webinar. Skype is a cheap downloadable software that will enable your computer to make long-distance calls (and international calls) - you listen with headphones through your headphone jack on your computer. Just type “Skype” into Google to see their rates.
If you are having trouble with time zone conversions (especially my international friends), here is a cool tool to use:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
You can use Los Angeles, California, USA for my time zone.
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What Steve & I will cover on the webinar:
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- The schedule you can follow to teach your children how to research, write, publish and sell their own ebook.
- The 4 biggest obstacles that stand between your kids and a completed ebook or info product
- How an ordinary person or teenager without extraordinary talent or skills can
create an information product that will sell like hotcakes!
- How a homeschool mom of three created a $27 ebook and made
$11,206 in her first 19 days almost by magic!
- The 6 steps to creating a “Can’t Miss” information product, and
how each step plays a specific role for neutralizing the risk of
starting an online business!
- As many different ideas for an information product as we can
squeeze into a 60 minute webinar!
Bottom Line…
On this 70-minute Webinar, you’ll discover more
about how your kids can create their very own information product
and how to put ALL of this on AUTO-PILOT so you & your kids can spend time doing what really matters to your family… reaching out to others and enjoying family/friends
In case my last messages to you didn’t make it, I’m sending this final reminder about tonight’s one-time-only webinar.
You can get the full story here:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2326678
Remember, I’ll be revealing how you can create an information EMPIRE on auto-pilot so you can spend less time worrying about those nagging money problems and more time with the important things…like spending more time with your family!
In fact, tonight’s 70-minute webinar will have a massive impact on your bank account, freeing you up to have your time where it counts most!
Visit this page to register now:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2326678
See you tonight,
Kerry Beck
P.S. - We’ve had a lot of people wondering about a replay of the webinar. We haven’t decided if we are releasing one, BUT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WILL GET IT ARE THOSE WHO ARE REGISTERED AT THE LINK ABOVE.
I’m announcing a special GIVE-AWAY to those who are LIVE…so be there LIVE to get a head start!
Here’s the registration link again:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2326678
January 30, 2008
Homeschooling, Inspire You Children, Love of Learning, Writing
No Comments
My son does not like history as most of you know. But he LOVES sports! Do you have a child like this?
This week you can tie in sports with studies. What subjects can you do?
– History
– Writing
– Research
Choose a famous football player from a past Super Bowl. Write a report about his life and achievements.
If you are unsure how to help your child write a short 1, 3 or 5 paragraph paper, use Teaching Writing: Structure & Style. It’ is absolutely the BEST writing program to tie in writing with ANY subject area, even football.
*** For younger children who aren’t writing papers, let them alphabetize all NFL teams by city and mascot.
January 18, 2008
Homeschooling, Leaving a Legacy, Raising Leaders, Writing
No Comments
Let your kids help you make a mini-book about this winter. This definitely counts as school because there will be lots of writing and organizing. Get some ideas at Two Peas in a Bucket
January 10, 2008
Homeschooling, Inspire You Children, Raising Leaders, Reading, Writing
No Comments
I gave you directions to Tag Book and I found another one. At least I found the pictures of one. I can’t find the directions. But, you could use the directions to the Mini Book and add the tags with information from the subject your child is studying.
Write on each tag a fact or paragraph about what has been learned.
ps. idea and pic from splitcoaststampers.com and scrapbook-crazy.com
January 8, 2008
Inspire You Children, Love of Learning, Raising Leaders, Writing
No Comments
Why bore your kids with worksheets?
Let them record what they are learning…and have FUN!
Here are the directions to a Tag Booklet. On each tag, have your children write or draw a concept they are learning on a specific topic. When they are done, let them decorate and add ribbon. They can even enclose their booklet in a special tin decorated for the topic they are studying! What FUN!
Check out the Tag Booklet right here: http://www.scor-pal.com/projects3/index_files/Page319.htm
What other ways do you record learning?
Kerry
ps. All ideas & pics are from scor-pal.com/projects3
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