Parents Encouraging Scientific Thinking

As I discussed in a previous article, the gender gap in science and math is likely due to parent expectations and attitude. It is very important for parents to nurture and encourage scientific thinking in both boys and girls. Scientific thinking is not a mysterious concept that can only be accomplished by a select few. Scientific thinking is simply being curious and questioning the world around you. Most children are naturally curious about their surroundings. Children need direction in helping to find answers and make sense of their observations. Parents do not need a science degree to help their children … Continue reading

Education Week in Review: April 7 – April 13

This week, I continued my focus on science and began a new focus on adults returning to school. In the area of science, I offered outdoor activity ideas and insight on gender gap. I also discussed study tips for adults returning to college. I hope that you enjoyed the week! Sunday, April 8 Outdoor Activity Ideas Many schools do not have outdoor classrooms. Even if you do not have access to outdoor instruction materials, you can easily conduct outdoor lessons. I offered some ideas in this article. Parents Prepare for Parent Teacher Conference It is important for parents to attend … Continue reading

Ideas for Science at Home

As you know, there are now ideas that a child’s attitude about science comes greatly from home. It is very important for parents to encourage scientific thinking in both boys and girls. Everyday is full of science learning opportunities for children. Parents can easily instruct children in scientific thinking without chemistry sets or expensive equipment. In this article, I would like to offer some very simple and easy ideas for parents to complete with their children to encourage a positive attitude about science. ยท Observe a flower or vegetable in your yard. Make estimations on how long it will take … Continue reading

Eclectic Schooling, Unschooling, and Deschooling – New Age or Long Overdue?

In my last few blogs I have discussed many options for you and your homeschoolers regarding curriculum. There are a few more that I would like to mention that seem to be growing in popularity and that you may want to consider. The first one is Eclectic Schooling. This means that homeschooling families use parts of preplanned curriculum along with supplemental workbooks purchased from local educational vendors. This also means using educational games on the internet, maybe using a virtual school or a co-op for more supplemental classes. It could also mean that you may use Alpha Omega for English … Continue reading