The first two posts in this series briefly discussed basic learning styles and multiple intelligences. The rest of this series will cover each learning style in greater detail. To keep things simple each intelligence will get its own post. Just know that everyone has several intelligences and so will not fit exclusively into one category. To make it more personal I’ll also be using my own children/family as examples.

My oldest is a lot like I am, at least with her learning styles/multiple intelligences. We both LOVE to read and can learn anything through reading. We enjoy word games, writing, book groups, dictionaries, the history of a word and its meaning, etc. One thing that IS different between us is I disliked English in school. I didn’t like that my writing grade was really up to the interpretation of the teacher. I much rather preferred the set-in-stone, follow-the-rules, only-one-right-answer of math.

Linguistic learners are known for their good recall of dates, places, names and other trivia. They have an inherent natural ability for spelling words correctly. They have a great vocabulary for their age and enjoy puns, tongue twisters, and word games.

I remember teaching my oldest how to play Scrabble when she was about six. I couldn’t get anyone else to ever play with me so I decided I’d teach her how. I figured as she got older she’d get better and better and our games would become more intense and enjoyable to play. At age eight she got her first 50 point bonus.  She used all of her letter tiles to spell “glittery” using the ‘t’ off another word. I was probably more excited than she was! The time of having a good Scrabble match was closer than I thought!

The types of activities linguistic learners enjoy the most are:

• word games
• sharing time
• storytelling, speeches, reading to class
• lectures, debates
• large- and small-group discussions
• books, worksheets, manuals
• brainstorming
• writing activities
• publishing (e.g., creating class newspapers)
• audio books and cassettes
• group reading
• individualized reading
• memorizing linguistic facts
• journal keeping
• tape recording one’s words

As you have probably guessed, the majority of public school teaching is geared towards those who are linguistic (and mathematical/logical). With textbooks, lectures, worksheets, etc. linguistic children thrive in that type of environment. I LOVED school! I cried when school was out for the summer. I looked forward to getting (and smelling) the new books each year. My husband is not a linguistic learner. He had trouble learning how to read, couldn’t (and still can’t) spell very well and basically went through school thinking he was stupid and dumb because he just couldn’t/didn’t learn well in that environment.  He cried when it was time for school to start again. He plain hated school! Now that he knows how he learns and what his multiple intelligences are he has made great strides in teaching himself things he never thought he’d be able to understand or learn.

I think that linguistic learners have it the easiest in that our world deals with words – whether in speaking, reading, or writing. Because of this many linguistic learners are considered to be the ‘gifted’ ones because they do so well in this environment. Hopefully in this journey through each of the multiple intelligences we’ll come to learn that other ‘intelligences’ can also be ‘gifted’ especially when given the chance to learn in a way that is best for them. They just need to be given those tools. As homeschoolers we aren’t bound by rules, regulations, and traditions on what teaching methods to use on our children. We have the benefit of gearing how we teach to how they learn.

Montserrat Wadsworth is completely devoted to her wonderful husband, Joseph, and their eight children (seven girls and one boy!). They live on a 4,000 acre alfalfa farm nestled in a small Northern Nevada valley. They’ve been homeschooling for 11+ years. Montserrat enjoys, photography, cooking, crafting, chocolate, and sloppy goodnight kisses. She strives to live each day as God would have her do following Mary’s biblical supplication, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) You can find her at her blog Chocolate On My Cranium.

After hours and hours of research, consultation, lists and that big ol’ investment… what did you finally decide for your curriculum? Please share your choices – by age (or grade) if possible. There is no wrong or right way to share your curriculum! Photos, lists, links … whatever goes.

Blog Hop Rules

• To add your link, click the small blue button that says “Add your link” at the very bottom of the post. Please do not leave your link in the comment section of this post. Leaving your link in the comment section will most likely cause your post to be missed.

• Do not create an empty “placeholder” post to save your link high up in the blog hop list. If there is no substance or curriculum information in your post, it will be removed.

• You must link to your blog post permalink, not your blog URL. If you do not link to your POST, your link will be removed and you’ll have to come back and re-add it. Keep in mind that readers will still be visiting this blog hop months from now and if they click your link and end up on your blog homepage, they won’t be able to find your post. To find your post’s permalink: After you publish your post, go back to your blog and click on the post’s title. Copy everything in the top browser bar. Please see Darcy’s post on how to find your permalink for more details. For example:
  … 
  • WRONG: http://www.milkandcookiesblog.com/
  • RIGHT: http://www.milkandcookiesblog.com/2011/07/not-back-to-school-hop-curriculum-week.html

Come back often to visit new additions all week this week, and next Monday is school room post. Get those “where we do school” photos ready! Grab a button so your bloggy friends can share their hard work, too.

<a href="http://heartofthematteronline.com/"><img src="http://heartofthematteronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/nbts-blog-hop-2011.png" alt="Not Back to School Blog Hop" width="125" height="125" /></a>

I once read a great article by Diane Flynn Keith entitled “7 Dumb Mistakes Smart People Make When They Homeschool and How to Avoid Them.”  The article really struck home with me in areas where I’ve been, and some areas in which I insist on returning, despite my best efforts. For copyright’s sake, I won’t post the entire article here, but I will share her list of mistakes:

1. Unrealistic expectations (or no expectations) regarding yearly or daily goals
2. Over-scheduling & under-scheduling
3. Ignoring child feedback
4. Overspending
5. Isolation
6. Thinking you can do it all
7. Striving to convince everyone else that they, too, should homeschool

Like I said, I could preach a sermon on all but #4, and I’m good enough to even get an offering on #s 2 and 6. The reason that I’ve not been guilty of overspending, at least not yet, is more of a function of the method I chose for homeschooling than any well thought-out savings strategy. One great benefit I’ve always enjoyed about Charlotte Mason’s principles is that there isn’t a lot of curriculum to buy if you play your cards right. I have used as a mantra that quote I heard early in my journey about ‘all you need to homeschool is a Bible, a math book, and a library card.’

As a curriculum developer and self-publisher, I am not condemning the idea of packaged curriculum. To be clear, bought curriculum is the unofficial, yet official mark of a homeschooler. Think about it: how wealthy would you be if you had a dollar for each time another homeschooling parent stopped and asked you, “So, what curriculum do you use?” Moreover, there are wonderful homeschool-friendly products available from parents who have traveled the same path and appreciate the roses, and thorns, along the journey. Where would the homeschooling movement be without this type of ingenuity?

For me personally, as I pray and do the homework regarding what to buy, I have a couple of homeschooling jewels that I often refer back to, especially at the year’s end when I’m beginning to think about the years to come.

Jewel #1 on buying curriculum: consider the following questions:

• Is this something I can teach without a curriculum?
• Am I attracted to the content, or the packaging and promotion?
• What do the reviews say about it?
• Finally, this one is my favorite: buy books instead of buying “stuff ”.

Jewel #2: get stuck in a rut.

Yes, that’s right. I said do get stuck in a rut. Although our routine has had some variance over the years—an extra workbook here or different teaching element there—we have stuck, pretty much, to the same schedule and basic subjects each year. So, without additional prep work (besides my own), our children know what is expected of them each day of the week. Unless we have an interruption (a field trip, travel, or unplanned event), they can sit and complete their work whether I’m around or not. Only once in our time at home was I too sick to get out of bed, but I was astonished and thrilled that the kids came downstairs and did everything they were supposed to do, only consulting me if they had questions.

Routines are just what the name suggests—routine, boring, and monotonous. I can, however, offer the carrot in front of this ho-hum horse. As a college instructor, I reach out to students each day who are having a less-than successful start in post-secondary studies. In some cases, they are simply not college material. However, in many cases, they are bright learners who could have an academically successful experience, but they lack the skills to be good students—discipline, time management, and concentration. As much as we hate to admit it, these are the roles we often play as parents in the homeschool.

So the question becomes, how do we help our kids transition to do these things themselves? Cutting them off cold turkey after 12th grade doesn’t work in many cases, so we have to create an environment for certain habits to form. Moreover, those habits must form in us first. We can’t lead where we aren’t willing to go; how dare we expect children who can manage themselves when we present ourselves as flighty and undisciplined. School can still be filled with love and laughter, but think about and certainly pray about making it boring enough for your children to learn to discipline and manage their lives.

Again, these nuggets have been invaluable for me as we progress through the years. Prayerfully, they will bless you, too.

Belinda Bullard is a wife and homeschooling mother of three, Belinda is an author and the owner of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, a literature-based history curriculum featuring African-American presence in history, as well as the contributions of other races to American history. A chemical engineer by formal education, she also serves as adjunct faculty for college distance learning programs.

June is the time of year when many local libraries and other bookstores offer Summer Reading Programs.  If school is out for summer in your house, these programs can put some oomph and education into your lazy summer days.  If you happen to be a year-round homeschooler (like yours truly), it’s also a great way to add a little spice and motivation to your school day!

My boys registered with our local library’s program yesterday and have already been able to mark off 2 hours of reading on their forms.  Once they reach 10 hours of reading (either reading by themselves, to a sibling or even listening to an audio book), they will be able to attend a special pizza party at the end of July.  They also receive prizes like a free book, kid’s meal at a local restaurant and even admission to a skating rink.

To help you get started in this exciting reading adventure, here is a list of Summer Reading Programs that may be in your area.  Be sure to check out the details and rules of your particular reading program as they usually require registration.  Also, they may require a certain number of books to be read rather than reading for a particular length of time.  If there are any Programs that I might have missed, please let me know so l can add them to the list.  And don’t forget to check your local public library!

Barnes & Noble

Borders/Waldenbooks

Chuck E. Cheese

Fazoli’s Friendly Reader Program

Half Price Books and Cici’s Pizza

H-E-B

Multiplex/Showcase Cinema’s Bookworm Wednesdays

Scholastic Books

Sylvan’s Book Adventure

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Marsha is proud to be the Mrs. to David for over 12 years. They have been homeschooling their rowdy boys in the Lone Star State for the past 5 years. When she’s feeling like a slacker, you can find her drinking coffee, reading a book and writing at her blog — and sometimes all at the same time! You can find Marsha at Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings.

Well Heart of the Matter is not short on ideas for summer fun!

Our contributors have created an e-book that is jam packed with ideas to keep you and those kiddos busy for the duration of the summer months. Some bring family closer. Some give the kids one on one time but all are fun and have amazing growth and learning potential. Try them and let us know how much your family enjoyed them. From time to time we will share those stories on Heart of the Matter!

And we’d like to give you a copy for free, just for subscribing to our newsletter! So enter your name and email address into the form on the top of our sidebar, confirm your subscription, and then you’ll automatically receive your e-book within a day or two. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you will receive your free e-book sometime on Friday, June 19.

Sometimes I think I enjoy my homeschool planning waaayyyy more than I should. The excitement I get from getting out The Well-Trained Mind, the Rainbow Resource catalog, the year’s homeschool magazines, Home Learning Year by Year and sitting for hours on end with thoughts of the perfect school year we’ll have next year may be a bit excessive. But I’m sure I’m not alone. (Right?)

This is the-grass-will-be-greener-next-year time; the I’m-sure-we’ll-get-to-that-next-year time; the thank-goodness-the-year-is-over-and-I-didn’t-ruin-them time.

Can I get an “Amen”?

By July I will have a list of resources, topics, field trips, books, websites, “National Whatever Month/Week/Day” schedules, and a whole host of other things. I will have the best of intentions. I will plan to do every single thing on my list. I will be highly motivated and have the utmost confidence that my children will also be highly motivated come August. They will be bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and rosy-cheeked. They will be unable to stand the waiting and will beg to begin the wonderfully organized projects and studies that I have so lovingly planned.

But of course, as it says on the cereal box, Contents May Settle.

The full schedule I make for myself and my children is an ideal that can’t be realized. The vast amount of curricula, resources, and materials that I drool over while thinking “That is definitely going on the list!” makes it impossible to realistically implement them all. While the excitement of the possibilities can lead us into the school year, eventually some things will have to go. Important things will stand the test, priorities will be readjusted, and inevitably the contents of the “box” may appear less than before.

So what is important in our homeschool come October? What has stood the test and proven itself worthy of our time and attention?

• Reading together- by far, this is the way we spend the bulk of our learning time. I have found that providing good quality literature, frequent trips to the library, reading aloud on the couch every day, and taking dictation excerpts and dictionary work from our book choices can provide nearly all of the language arts that we need. We read history and science books, biographies, poetry, classics, children’s bible stories, picture books…the list goes on and on.
• Geography- this year the US, next year the world. Games, atlases, maps all have their place.• Good quality math programs- math is one of those things that requires repetition on a daily basis. Sometimes the repetition takes the form of a game, sometimes 5 problems in a lesson, sometimes a whole worksheet, but either way when the settling happens, math stays.
• Unstructured family play time- lots of educational games, pretend play activities, building materials and puzzles are available and we allow time for them to be used.
• Discussion- we talk a lot about what we’re learning; we make connections between a history read aloud and what our government is up to now. We play word games in the car, make up songs, pray, quote bible verses, tell jokes. We enjoy our children and what they have to say!

If the mood strikes us we’ll do a project, experiment, puppet show, or art lesson. Many times all of these make their way into our week, sometimes none. But the job we have as teachers of our children isn’t to schedule every “good” thing into our schooling, but to create learners, readers, questioners, and enthusiastic contributors to God’s world.

So if the contents begin to settle, let them. You’ll then be able to fit what really matters. And you’ll keep your sanity in the process.

Christine is a homeschooling mom of four, three boys and a girl ranging in age from infant to 7 years. A musician by trade, she desires to help other homeschoolers find the beauty and simplicity in teaching the arts to their children. Visit her blog at Fruit in Season.

I’m excited to bring forth what I think is a great idea and I hope many of you will participate. The more the merrier! Heart of the Matter is going to host the first used book/curriculum sale online (as far as I know).  The sale will go from May 11-15th.

Please visit this post for more details on the book sale. If you have used curriculum or books to sell, please add your name and blog link to Mr. Linky below. Otherwise, have fun shopping!!

If you have any questions, please contact Susan at susan@heartofthemattermagazine.com

Photo Credit: Darcy LWM3B

Fortunately, I did have a spending cash limit but the sad thing was I bought a lot of great books that were not on my list for that year and in my excitement I had spent the money that should have been used on what we really needed for that year. Now, five years later I would like to share some of my favorite tips to help prepare you to spend your money wisely, without a lot of stress, while getting the most out of your homeschool convention experience.

Plan and Prepare for the Best

Start now by creating a spreadsheet for each child that has every subject you need and want to cover. Under each subject list the items that you plan to purchase for that category including the price. If you are unsure of what you will use, then make a running list of the items you want to explore for that subject. Conventions are a great place to compare resources and research what will work best for your family. There is nothing like holding a book in your hand and flipping through the pages to give you an honest feel for what that resource is really like. If you have a general plan before you head to the book mecca, you will be less likely to spend your money on things you really don’t need.

Make Hubby your Spending Ally, not your Adversary

There is nothing more discouraging to an excited homeschooling mom then to hear her husband say, “You spent how much?!!!” as you walk through the door. A husband needs to know the bottom line before you start spending money. To avoid this happening in your home, make a spreadsheet for each child showing each subject. Under each subject list the items that have to be purchased with the suggested price. Decide together how and when you want to purchase these items.

Transform Your Scoffing Spouse into a Homeschool Cheerleader

Do you have a spouse who is still questioning the validity of your joint decision to Homeschool? Then by all means find a way to take them with you! This is one of the best things a new homeschool family can do. Some spouses do not realize how vast the homeschooling community is, nor do they grasp the potential it can hold for their children. They usually have not had the chance to soak in all of the info that we have and there is nothing like walking into a convention and being startled by the fact that there are thousands of other families there. They suddenly realize you are not the only family who has chosen to Homeschool. After attending his first convention, my husband went from being my faithful supporter to being an adamant pro-homeschooling cheerleader. It enhanced his perspective and gave him the information he needed to become totally committed to our decision. It makes a huge difference when both spouses are equally committed to the task of homeschooling.

Quick! Find that Money Tree!

My husband is always telling me, “Babes, we don’t have a money tree growing in the back yard.” Well ,we may not have a money tree, but there are ways to beef up your wallet with some extra spending cash. Somehow I have always found a way when there wasn’t one, when I really knew I needed something we couldn’t afford. Here are some things I will gladly admit I have done:

• Have a Yard Sale
• Recycle and Sell Your Curriculum
• Exchange those Baby Items for Cash – Most big cities have used baby boutiques that will gladly give you immediate cash for your nice baby through toddler items.
• Remind the Grandparents – Let them know what you are doing. They may just bless you with some extra cash that can help you buy that expensive writing program you have always wanted.

Put a Padlock on Your Wallet

Warning! Warning! Be careful! The atmosphere of a Homeschool Convention has a way of making us want to overspend and buy too much all at once. Decide before you go what your budget will be. If you have that spreadsheet ready, it will be easy to see what you will need to buy and how much that it will cost. Decide now how you will attack your plan. Can you afford it all today or do you need to pace your spending? Most families find it necessary to spread their spending out over a period of time rather than purchasing it all in one day. By creating your spreadsheet and then making a planned budget before you go, will ensure that you invest your money wisely.

When You Can’t Buy It All

Sometimes we have to make hard choices. If you have to spread your purchases out, consider buying your history and science first. These two subjects tend to need more planning and take more time to bring together. If you buy them first, you can ensure that you will have the time necessary to sit and plan out your year in a way that is best for your family. I have also found it helpful to bring a small notebook so that you can make a list of the things to buy later that you didn’t plan for.

Don’t Stop to Smell the Flowers

It is so easy to walk into a convention and get sucked in and before you know it they are announcing it’s closing time and you still haven’t made it to that one place yet. To avoid this happening to you, go ahead and download a vendor map before you go.

Most conventions have a map you can download and print that tells you where the vendors will be. It’s important to print this off before you go and highlight the ones you don’t want to miss. This really comes in handy when you are pressed for time and it’s convenient to be able to quickly locate them, especially when you are in a hurry.

Plan for Inspiration

One of my favorite resources available at a homeschooling convention is the speakers. No matter how many years you have homeschooled we all can use the inspiration and encouragement that comes from the voice of experience. Print off your list of speakers and make it a point to be encouraged.

Plan to Buy the CDs
More often than not conventions will have multiple speakers speaking simultaneously. Don’t worry! Pick your favorite and then buy the CDs of the ones you missed. You can help your pocketbook by splitting the cost with a friend.
My Best Advice
Don’t be afraid of buying mistakes. It is going to happen. You can count on it. As your homeschooling journey continues, what you base your decisions on will morph. You will gradually have a better understanding of what works for your family and what does not. You are going to have those moments when you suddenly realize that what Suzie raved about on the phone for over an hour does not fit your family’s needs. And you will come to understand that it’s okay.

Give Us Your Feedback

• What tips can you share that have helped you?
• How do you prepare for a homeschooling convention?
• What’s a mistake that you have made that others can learn from?
• How has going to a homeschooling convention helped you?

Beth discovered how fun learning can be when she began homeschooling in 2003. She considers homeschooling to be a treasured blessing.On the path with her are her 2 boys and husband John, who is her biggest supporter and fan. Somehow she has enabled her frog loving outdoor boys to love tough subjects like Latin, Writing and Grammar. (She is not kidding!) Now if she could only get them to eat all their vegetables. Beth loves capturing life’s precious moments with her camera and decorating them with Photoshop. You can visit her blog at Pages of Our Life.

This means out with the old and in with the new. I have books on my shelf that worked for one child but not the next, and books that didn’t work for any of them. I think it is time to clear some stuff out to make room on my shelf.

I’m excited to bring forth what I think is a great idea and I hope many of you will participate. The more the merrier! Heart of the Matter is going to host the first used book/curriculum sale online (as far as I know). There will be several steps involved and I hope to make them clear but please leave a comment if you have question. The sale will go from May 11-15th. This should give people time to get their books ready and posted by then, and they will have a week to shop and sell. You may post your books on your blog anytime during that week.

1. Collect your books you want to sell.
2. Take photos of them.
3. Post photos of books with a brief description/condition with the price you would like for them.
4. Add a Paypal button for each book.
5. Come to Heart of the Matter and leave the url for the post in Mr. Linky on May 11th.
6. Make sure to shop on other blogs for books you might need.
7. Blog about the book sale so that word gets around.
8. Post a button on your blog.

Paypal is the easiest way to make payments and receive money from buyers. If you do not have a Paypal account I recommend you set one up. It is quick and easy, but does take about 3 or 4 days for it to be completely set up.

When you log in to your Paypal account select the Merchant Services tab at the top. Steps one, two and three will walk you through making a buy now button for your item. Copy and paste the code in your text box on your blog. Make a separate button for each item. This will take some time depending on how many items you have to sell.

You may group your books in a lot. Just make sure to note what books come in that lot and then a price for the whole lot. You can add a shipping amount when you make the button or you can include shipping in your asking price.

Heart of the Matter is not responsible for any disputes that may arise between book seller and buyer. You sell and buy at your own risk. We trust that those who participate will do so with integrity by accurately describing material and shipping in a timely manner.

If you have any questions, please contact Susan at susan@heartofthemattermagazine.com

Susan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three daughters, two cats and a dog. She has been homeschooling for 7 years. She started in the beginning and plans to homeschool through highschool. Each year has been an incredible learning experience for her. She is convinced that she has learned far more than her students. When not teaching or taking care of the home Susan enjoys reading, crafting, which may include sewing, crocheting, or jewelry making, and drinking various coffee and tea drinks. Susan writes about her journey at From the Narrows.