My Educational Influences

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January 12, 2019 By Jennifer 14 Comments

Education is supposed to influence us.

And it does.

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. ~Mark Twain

Don’t confuse education with intelligence.

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. ~John Dewey

Looking back, I realize that I was so isolated as a middle-class suburban white girl. When I went to college in downtown Atlanta, it was eye-opening. So many different people from different backgrounds. It helped me to grow and learn about the world.

When I became a teacher, I grew some more as I learned along with and about my students and fellow teachers.

When I became a mother, I wanted more than public and private schools could offer my children.

When we travel, we learn even more, expanding and shaping our views.

My Educational Influences

Past Teachers

Most of what I learned in school is negative.

Of course, I learned to write and multiply, but mostly to bend the rules.

I learned to avoid punishment. I was scared of my teachers. I was scared of bad grades.

I had teachers who yelled, tied students to their seats, gave detention for silly things, shamed and ridiculed, refused to allow bathroom passes, threw chalk and erasers and koosh balls, flirted with students…and lots more.

I was a good student. I learned to be invisible. I made good grades.

I had few positive teacher influences. Mostly, I learned what not to do as a teacher.

University Teacher Training

I got a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Yeah, pretty useless in any job market. If I had it to do over, I would at least have gone with journalism. It’s like having a degree in reading.

I earned a master’s degree in education with a 14-month urban education program to get quick teacher certification. And a job.

The program was kinda a joke. Pedagogy and methodology classes. The professors were out of touch with real schools and classrooms. The assignments were irrelevant. Most of what I was taught wasn’t feasible in an actual classroom when I got teaching jobs.

The other dozen students or so in the program were idealists who thought they were going to change the world. Most went to get teaching jobs in wealthy suburban white schools and districts.

Teachers don’t have a lot of autonomy in their classrooms.

We were taught how to manage students with punitive coercion such as humiliation and threats.

Administrators cater to parents and the school board. It’s very political. There’s lots of standardized tests that don’t really mean much.

Students are just seen as numbers and not as living, breathing, changing, growing human beings.

A poignant quip:
Someone asks: “What do you teach?”
Teachers respond: “English.” or “Science.” or “Math.”
A wise teacher responds: “Students.”

Homeschooling opened up a lot of doors for me as I did my own research into the world of educational philosophy.

I had to slowly unlearn everything I had experienced and been taught as a student and teacher.

My Favorite Educational Philosophies

The Well-Trained Mind and Classical Education

The Well-Trained Mind was the first homeschooling book I ever bought. I don’t remember how I found it, probably in an online forum as a great place to begin.

And it was.

Part of the school dilemma results from an over-focus on testing results; home educators are free from that pressure, so you won’t have to decide between test prep and expository writing. ~Susan Wise Bauer

I began homeschooling in 2005. My eldest was almost 5 and I was pregnant with my second. Number three followed a year after number two.

I liked the classics outline and resource lists for each year. It appealed to the intellectual in me as I set about developing a classical education for my daughter.

I loved the foundation on literature and history and still do. We all learn Latin together.

We never focused so much on a lot of memorization and writing early. I don’t like all the rules and scripts in CC.

The Well-Trained Mind was a perfect jumping off point for me as a new homeschool mom and offered us a good transition from school ideas to homeschooling freedom.

Charlotte Mason

I soon learned about Charlotte Mason after our first year of homeschooling.

It seems a softer side of classical education.

I love the idea of living books and nature study, art and music appreciation and history.

I’ve always felt these subjects are so important.

Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life. ~Charlotte Mason

Ambleside Online is a great resource but I needed more structure for our growing family.

We love notebooking.

We began to acquire an extensive home library.

Maria Montessori

When my son was born, I encouraged him with self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play – from birth.

Montessori has five key areas of learning:

practical life
sensorial
mathematics
language
culture

Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed. ~Maria Montessori

I included my middle girls and son in all aspects of our lives and schooling. It’s amazing how autonomous kids can be if we let them.

Rearranging our school room and providing many opportunities for practical play with small real tools helped our household dynamics.

Rudolf Steiner and Waldorf Education

Waldorf education is independent and inclusive. It upholds the principles of freedom in education.

Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education is based on an anthroposophical view and understanding of the human being of body, soul, and spirit.

I love the holistic ideals of Waldorf.

Art and music are so important to me and I love all the fun, natural materials in the Waldorf community that encourage learning this.

I love the focus on imagination.

We love nature and the outdoors.

It helped me become a gentler parent. We flow.

Summary:

I learned how to incorporate ideas and lessons that worked for us.

I believe in playtime and lots of informal, natural learning – especially outside – until the child is about 7 or 8 years old.

We work in a nice flow with the seasons, taking breaks frequently to enjoy the weather or rest when we need it.

I think there are lots of benefits to many different educational philosophies.

I love that, as a homeschooler, I have the freedom to pick and choose this and that for my children to learn best as individuals and different stages – practical Montessori, imaginative Waldorf, nature-y artsy Charlotte Mason, Latin and history classical.

It takes courage to do things differently.

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5 Ways to Learn Fast and Retain More

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April 19, 2018 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

The sooner you realize that learning never ends, the more willing you’ll be to expand, elevate in your profession, thrive in your life and even generate more income. Learning and studying can be difficult once we are long past our college years. For all the old dogs who might be reluctant to learning new tricks, we tapped the expertise of Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a New York based Neuropsychologist and Teaching Faculty at Columbia University to share 5 ways to learn fast and retain more so we can quickly grasp new concepts, technologies, business strategies and up-level our willingness to learn.

Independent learning is the hot new brain trend. Thanks to digital media, we see a new renaissance when it comes to learning. On the professional side, nearly two-thirds of U.S. workers have taken a course or sought additional training to advance their careers, according to a March 2016 study by Pew Research Center. On the personal development side, a simple Google search can lead anyone to a plethora of courses on everything from mastering personal finances, parenting, our relationships, nutrition, cooking, designing clothes, home organization and design.

“The key to longevity is the learning and application of new things. When we stop learning, we stop growing and that is a slow death to our brains and bodies. Luckily today there are online seminars and other ways to learn that speak to our interests. It’s also incredibly convenient to learn,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

What are the best ways to learn new things quickly? Dr. Sanam Hafeez offers the following 5 ways to learn fast and retain more.

1. Learn in quick sprints.

There’s a sweet spot for learning in the 30-50 minute timeframe. Dedicate that amount of time to learning and then take a 10 to 15-minute break to end a learning segment before starting a new task. “You’re more likely to retain more when you focus for a shorter amount of time at once,” explains Dr. Hafeez who helps people with ADHD to enhance their ability to focus and learn. “Using tools like notecards with quick points helps the brain absorb concepts even more,” she adds. Which leads to…

2. Take written notes and use color!

Ditch the laptop and go old school with a pen and paper. Outline important points with a different color pen or highlighter and if you can draw a concept out in the margin, go for it. Writing fuels comprehension and enhances listening skills. Studies out of UCLA and Princeton found students who took notes on laptops didn’t perform as well as students who wrote by hand. “When we handwrite notes we listen then process the information before writing. When we type on a laptop, we transcribe what we hear without any self-interpretation which is where the actual learning comes into play,” offers Dr. Hafeez.

3. Give your brain time to rest and recharge with sleep.

People brag that they work so much and sleep so little. Arianna Huffington’s book, “The Sleep Revolution,” and choice to add nap rooms at her Huffington Post offices turned the light onto sleep as a performance enhancer. “People who get a full 8 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep retain what they learn and have bandwidth to grasp more information quicker. We often feel tired after a course or following instructions. This is because focusing requires energy. Naturally, when we rest we get to reboot the brain,” says Dr. Hafeez.

4. Read out loud, record, replay.

Research has shown that reading out loud engages both senses of sight and sound which heightens retention. “Recording yourself reading and elaborating with your own idea of how the concept resonates then replaying the recording a day or two later, is a great technique that fires up the part of the brain that processes concepts like a computer filing information for later use,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

5. Break things down and relate it to what you already know.

We all heard of the math teacher who used the example of rock concert ticket sales to get kids to grasp algebra. According to Dr. Hafeez, “when we take a concept and link it to something we already know about or have genuine interest in, we retain that concept. Anytime we can internalize a concept is has resonance. It sticks.”

About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens.

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com

You might also like:

Learning Styles and Personality Types

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February 22, 2018 By Jennifer 20 Comments

Knowing myself and my family members helps me to understand our interactions and work towards peace and cooperation.

I have a master’s in education and a minor in psychology.

Personalities, learning styles, emotions, and motivations have always interested me. This interest has guided my work with my students and my family. It’s important to understand and work with differences for good leadership.

My kids enjoy taking the tests and discussing the results. We learn about each other and it helps us in our relationships.

Enneagram

The Enneagram of Personality has been widely promoted in both business management and spiritual contexts. The underlying structure of Enneagram is based on testable ideas about motivations and emotions. There are 9 types.

I’m a combo 1 and 5.

My husband is a solid 3.

Two of my kids are 7 and two of my kids are 9.

Knowing and working from this knowledge helps us with conflict transformation.

We first heard about Enneagram about 6 years ago when we attended a hippotherapy family camp. That whole week was the beginning of improving our family relationships.

Learn your Enneagram here or here.

MBTI

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator^® (MBTI^®) personality inventory makes the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful. There are 16 types.

I am INTJ (which is apparently unusual for a female).

My husband is ENTJ.

My kids are ENTP, ENFP, ENFJ, and INFJ (which is apparently the rarest personality type).

Having only two introverts in a household of extroverts can be stressful.

When my 7-year-old son took the MBTI quiz, one of the questions was “Would you prefer your son to be kind or smart?” He didn’t hesitate before saying “kind.” I am so proud.

Find your MBTI type here.

Another fun personality test is the Gary Smalley John Trent test from Making Love Last Forever. I’m a lion and my husband is a golden retriever. You can probably guess how that works out.

The Four Lenses Assessment assigns colors. I’m purple and my husband is green. There’s a similar FREE test: True Colors.

Learning Styles

As a teacher, learning styles have always been important in the classroom.

I taught English for over 10 years…and incorporating all the learning styles in a lesson could be challenging at times.

As a homeschool mom, I make sure to include different learning and teaching styles in our educational activities.

There are four main types of learning:

Visual: The occipital lobes at the back of the brain manage the visual sense. Both the occipital and parietal lobes manage spatial orientation.
Auditory: The temporal lobes handle aural content. The right temporal lobe is especially important for music.
Reading/Writing: The temporal and frontal lobes, especially two specialized areas called Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas (in the left hemisphere of the two lobes).
Kinesthetic: The cerebellum and the motor cortex (at the back of the frontal lobe) handle much of our physical movement.

Discover the Types of Learners:

Pure Flix offers a variety of wholesome content to supplement homeschool curriculum for visual learners, and check out these 20 activities for learning with Legos to use with your kinesthetic learner!

I am definitely not an auditory learner. My teen creates little jingles and parody songs all the time and she has a great ear to teach herself piano and guitar. I try not to fall into the comfort zone of verbal and visual teaching all the time. Kinesthetic lessons help us all to learn by doing.

Multiple Intelligences

I’m careful not to place my children into a box. Schools make it more difficult for students to shine in their talents and abilities.

Howard Gardner uses the word “intelligence” where other people have traditionally used words like “ability” and “aptitude.”

I know what my kids exhibit as their natural abilities. We work together to hone that and also improve in other areas, without shaming. We want to be well-rounded.

There are 8 (maybe 9) intelligences. Moral or Existential is sometimes included.

I love how these Intelligences further explain personality and learning style. My extrovert family members are interpersonal. Two of my kids are so naturally self-aware, intrapersonal, that it astounds me.

Emotional Intelligence

An often forgotten issue is emotion. We learn and teach to stifle emotion…but that’s not healthy. We are a shaming and humiliating culture.

In our home, we are learning how to be healthy with our emotions – in all their mess and discomfort.

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.

Emotional Intelligence gained popularity in his 1995 book, written by the author and science journalist Daniel Goleman.

Since our culture stigmatizes mental health issues, I feel it’s very important to help my children realize their emotional intelligence. We discuss and learn together.

Getting in touch with our emotions, recognizing and experiencing both positive and negative feelings is key to being wholehearted.

We have many wonderful tools to help us wholeheartedly teach our children well.

I use these tools so I know myself and my children. I want my children to know themselves and their abilities and vulnerabilities so they can grow into whole and healthy adults.

More Resources:

Kidzmet Review

Learning and Teaching Styles and How I Use Them in My Homeschool

StudentKeys Review

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Our Homeschool Learning Spaces in Utah 2013

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August 14, 2013 By Jennifer 9 Comments

Welcome to our tour of Our Homeschool Learning Spaces…

Our front room on the main level is my office. I have two overflowing bookcases. I love my desk setup! I have everything I need within reach.

We are so blessed to have a basement! We use it for our main learning space. I know we probably won’t have this luxury when we PCS in a year or so.

I keep many books on this bookshelf that we’re not currently using, but we will use again for another round of history, science, Bible, or art. The green cube holds scrap paper for crafts. I also have magazines {Nat Geo Kids, Ranger Rick, Zoobooks} in the files on the floor beside the art boxes.

I found these matching desks used and the girls’ bedroom furniture is the same design and company. I love shopping at thrift stores, yard sales, or online at ksl.com. I have buckets of school supplies on a lazy Susan on the table in the corner. Teacher books are on shelves in that table too. And new stuff is stacked on the floor ready to begin in a couple weeks – after our Yellowstone trip!

I found this amazing table and (don’t they match?) 4 sturdy chairs…at TWO DIFFERENT YARD SALES ON THE SAME DAY. Score! The girls use that cube unit from Target for workboxes. I jot down our themes each week on the pictures for each subject. Our clean new empty Tapestry of Grace Year 3 notebooks are propped on the floor for now.

We do lots of lessons in front of our All About Reading board and our We Choose Virtues board is above that.

Our messy book nook with easel and magnets. We can never have enough books!

This is the wall where Alex does his preschool magic. We keep our Montessori mats for all the kids in that basket and toys in the bins. Our calendar is on the cellar door. I found this awesome school desk at Savers and he LOVES it!

That cube unit is from Target. All About Reading posters and a U.S. map from the $1 spot with a fun U.S. magnet game. and trucks. Always trucks!

Here’s Liz’s setup in our sewing/craft room. Also a cube unit from Target. {yeah, I love em!} She has one cubby for each school subject {history, foreign language, Bible, math, science, and ELA} and a thrifted basket for art. Notebooking binders are propped in between.

Wanna see what curricula we’re using this year.

You might also like:

A Parent’s Playbook for Learning Review

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May 30, 2013 By Jennifer 2 Comments

Find out how to teach your child effective learning strategies. (Plus when and how to use them!

Did you miss my post on learning styles?

The Kidzmet company is near and dear to my love of learning and the study of how humans learn. What is your child meant to become? How can you help him or her achieve his or her potential?

Because every child deserves to feel inspired, admired, motivated, engaged and enriched. Let us help you nurture your child’s unique spirit

I received A Parent’s Playbook for Learning to review.

Here are samples from A Parent’s Playbook for Learning.

This general TOC lists the chapters covering all learners.

Here’s the TOC from my Personal Playbook for Victoria.

Most of us assume extraverts are social and introverts are wallflowers, but it’s more complex than that.

There are the personality types listed in the Kidzmet books.

Judgers are not negative (our Christian beliefs and society would like us to think so!), but they tend to weigh pros and cons of situations and how people react to certain environments. They need to know options to feel comfortable.

Perceivers are more aware of themselves and others and the motivations that make us act certain ways.

Here is Victoria’s personal profile from the website. You can see the three sections it’s broken into: learning style, preferred teaching approach, and intelligences.

Obviously, I’m her teacher since we homeschool and the program is adaptable to work with parent-teacher relationships. For homeschoolers, this is successful to help explain to the other parent who may not interact in a main teaching capacity, or other family members or tutors, co-op instructors, and other extra-curricular leaders.

8 types of kids–8 types of learners. Which one is your child?

Free personality quiz for kids!

Since Tori is my most different child, I want to make sure I accommodate her needs. I have the whole kit for her. She learns differently from myself and her siblings. She is extremely sensitive and I don’t want her to get frustrated and hate learning. I am so thankful for my different child who makes me think and rethink how to teach her. Her gentle heart makes me slow down and reevaluate why I do anything. I trust she will grow up to do radical things for God’s glory!

How to teach your child effective learning strategies. (Plus how and when to use them!)

Want your own Personal Playbook? Or A Parent’s Playbook for Learning?

Help your child excel and develop confidence in their abilities.
Understand what makes your new students tick…before you even meet!

Join the Kidzmet community and get monthly suggestions of ways to nurture your kids’ unique spirits in a way that celebrates their personality type, learning style and innate talents.

But, I also have purchased all the playbooks for my own personal use. ‘Cuz they’re that awesome.

You might also like:

Determine Teaching Method and Kids’ Learning Styles

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May 23, 2013 By Jennifer 12 Comments

Welcome back to the How to Begin Homeschooling series!

Did you miss Part 1: Getting started with homeschool?

Here’s Part 2: Determine your teaching method and your kids’ learning styles.

Coming up:

Part 3: Curriculum planning with multiple kids

Part 4: Homeschooling as a lifestyle

Teaching method is important. If you don’t have a background in teaching, then this will require some prayer, thought, perhaps research.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a jumping off point for you in researching your direction for your family’s homeschool journey.

So, How do You Determine Teaching Method and Kids’ Learning Styles?

First, consider your purpose and vision for homeschooling.

Is your purpose primarily for

academics? {our first reason was academics. Liz has an October birthday and couldn’t start Kindergarten. I was worried she’d be teaching the class or in the office for behavior problems every day that next year!}
religion? {Homeschooling allows us to educate our children in the Word and not in the worldly values that diminish God.}
health? {I know many families who have health issues or special needs and homeschooling is flexible and makes their lives easier.}
some other reason? {being military and homeschooling makes transferring during the school year less stressful.}

Parents are vision casters.

You set the stage for success for your children and your homeschool. Set the vision and go after those goals. Win that race.
What are your goals? {Set a goal and think backwards to determine how to get there.}
Think positive. {For example, if you’re pulling your kid out of public school due to bullying or poor performance, then don’t make your child feel guilty or put him or her in a social bubble. I’ve noticed that it’s seldom his or her fault.}
Have a firm foundation. {Pray for direction. Enlist your husband’s support. Find a local or online homeschool support groups.}
Who gets credit or blame? {You? Jesus? Your children? Your husband? For years, I was still stuck in the school mindset and anxious about my kids’ progress, grades, accomplishments. But you know what? God fills in the gaps and leads us where He wants us – and it’s so much more peaceful giving Him the control and glory.}

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.
Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.
But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
~1 Corinthians 9:24-27 AMP

Tori persevered in her 5K and won a medal! She wanted to quit halfway through, but she’s been trained to always try her best. Character development at its finest. She just turned 7 in March.

What methods are you comfortable teaching?

Your teaching style may change over time or with each child or during certain seasons of life.

More info about teaching styles:

What are the learning styles of each of your children?

It’s important that you understand how your kids learn so you can best teach them.

And there are multiple intelligences to consider (very similar to learning styles) – based on Howard Gardner’s theories.

Most kids have a blend of learning styles and multiple intelligences with a prominence. For instance, my four kids are all different – to keep me on my toes all the time. God is laughing, I’m sure. I am fascinated and horrified at different times.

Elizabeth is an Extrovert, iNuitive, Perceiver (ENP) . She’s an Auditory (aural) learner. Her intelligences: music, verbal, visual. She loves to read and discuss history and she’s highly social (interpersonal). She is very aware of others.

Victoria is an Introvert, Sensor, Judger (ISJ). She’s a Visual learner. Her intelligences: numbers (logic-math), nature, music. She would like nothing more than to sit quietly and do puzzles – with others nearby for comfort. She is painfully shy and always wants everything to be fair.

Katherine is an Extravert, iNtuitive, Perceiver (ENP). She is a Kinesthetic (physical) learner. Her intelligences: self (intrapersonal), nature, body (kinesthetic). She’s always moving and loves to do her own thing. She is very self-aware and meta-cognitive.

Alexander is an Introvert, Thinker, Perceiver (ITP). He’s a Kinesthetic (physical) learner. His intelligences: numbers (logic-math), body (kinesthetic), pictures (visual-spatial). He has a mind of his own and loves to play games. He is aware of others (interpersonal) and naturally empathetic.

Understanding my children’s personalities and intelligences help me to teach them most effectively. I know that math rules will be easier for Tori and Alex. I can’t get angry with Liz for not “getting” algebra. I shouldn’t get upset with Tori for not enjoying reading. And Kate and Alex both need to move around a lot to keep their brains stimulated. Tori, Katie, and Liz all love music and it can help them learn other subjects. I know that one of the best things I can do for Tori, Katie, and Alex is send them to nature camp in the summer.

Focus on your children’s strengths and pray about the weaknesses that they won’t hinder your child or your relationship with them. {TWEET THIS}

Don’t allow your children to get lazy though. They do need to learn basic math and reading skills and life skills to function in society. They must be able to interact politely with other people no matter how shy they feel. There are many activities I don’t particularly enjoy, but character development is more important. You have to make the call. And there are always appropriate seasons to teach these skills. Don’t traumatize your child because she won’t learn something right now. Pray for God to open your child’s heart and mind and give you peace to know when the time is right.

note: extravert and introvert have nothing to do with being comfortable socially. It’s how you recharge your batteries. For introverts (me, Tori, and Alex), being in a social environment is exhausting and I have to be alone to refresh my spirit. For extraverts (my husband, Liz, and Kate), being in a social setting is exhilarating and they get irritable being alone.

Resources

Personality types play into learning styles. For older kids and adults, you can go here to take a free quiz to learn your Meyers Briggs letters. I am an Introvert, iNtuitive, Thinker, Judger (INTJ).

For detailed explanations of personality types, visit this The Personality Page site.

Knowing your and your children’s spiritual gifts is important too. This can help identify strengths to focus resources. My gifts are teaching and exhortation.

Take the Multiple Intelligences quiz to find strengths and weaknesses. Great explanations here.

Find your child’s learning styles with free quizzes. Kidzmet offers personalized books for your child so you can assist him or her best in individualized learning. There’s even a picture quiz for non-readers. I think they’re amazingly accurate.

A great homeschool site for all things legal, and here’s a great article about learning styles: HSLDA

Stay tuned for next week’s post: Curriculum Planning with Multiple Kids – multiple age groups.

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