For This Day
October 2015, Vol.3 Issu.2
Study Skills for the Grammar Student
Lori Pellerin
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Lori
The first “tip” that comes to my mind when I’m asked to give suggestions for Grammar School study le skills is, do what works rin , 2 nd Grade for YOUR family. One of the greatest blessings about CDA and our model of schooling is that you, as the parent, are the first and best teacher for your child. This is so wonderful! You know your child better than anyone and you can tweak great ideas that other moms share with you based on your child and how they best learn and perform. I love this! Please consider that as I lay out some ideas that I have found successful. Pick and choose what you like and discard what probably isn’t the best fit for you. I also know that even within the same family, siblings can have dramatically different styles of learning so keep that in mind as well. What works for one, might be a disaster for another. We all are trying our best to help our children succeed and some days we are simply better at it than others! l Pe
•Incorporate learning into your everyday…not just during “homeschool time”. I’m sure that I’m not alone in saying that my family spends a lot of time in the car, driving to appointments and extracurricular activities. Why not use that time to listen to the Shurley jingles or quiz your child over some math facts? When my kids were in grammar school, we always had their current Bible verse and history timeline taped onto the back of the seat in front of them in the car where they could easily see it and review. I would take a picture of their spelling list with my phone so I could quiz them in waiting rooms. There is always “waiting around” time it seems and I try to make the most of it. •Don’t ignore the “review” parts on the assignment sheets (especially in math)! This is critical! The kids must hear the new concepts on homeschool days that were introduced in class. Only learning them once in class isn’t enough, you must review. Trust me on this one.
•Go over missed questions with your child when you are correcting their work. This is another one of the fantastic things about CDA. You can stop your child from possibly misunderstanding a new concept and clarify anything that they may have missed before they get to too far down the wrong road. You really are missing a fabulous opportunity to help them comprehend if you don’t review missed problems. •People always told me to tackle the most difficult subject first thing. This is great for some kids but can set a negative tone for the day for others. This is one of the tips that I say do what works for you. Some kids just want to get the challenging subjects over with while other kiddos may need a little more easing in. I would not recommend leaving a time consuming writing assignment until the last thing though, tired kids aren’t the most compliant or productive! •Take breaks, set timers, use incentives. Timers can be a great tool for some kids! Set what you think is a reasonable amount of time to complete an assignment and see if it helps a slower worker get it done before the buzzer. I also like to take mini exercise breaks every so often. Get up, stretch, do some jumping jacks and get back to work-gets their blood pumping and the wiggles out too!
This is by no means an exhaustive list and I encourage you to talk to other moms, particularly ones who have kids older than your own. They are a wealth of information and support. We are so blessed to be a part of this great family at CDA, where people are so eager and willing to share and encourage. I learn something new every day from the amazing parents and faculty of Coram Deo. God has blessed us with these precious children and I commend you in your dedication to help them thrive and grow in His presence.
Parent Fellowship and Support Opportunities Straight Talk
For Logic and High School Families. Contact: Donna Rector
Idea Exchange
For Grammar School Families Contact: M/W: Jacque Younger T/T: Michelle Collins
Parent to Parent
For new families who would like to partner with a mentor. Contact: M/W:Jacque Younger T/T: Kimberley Lyons
Moms in Prayer
Weekly prayer meeting held on campus Contact: M/W: Leah Clark T/T: Michelle Collins