Choosing a Good Story for Children

photo credit: Ryan McVay

Children often look forward to story-telling time at the end of the day. How do you choose a good story so it will also be a worthwhile and a learning experience? Here are some pointers.

1. A good story simplifies truth.
It doesn’t make truth any easier, only easier to understand. We best learn a new thing by its being likened to something we already know, by the unfamiliar being compared with the familiar. A good story makes that possible.

2. A good story helps one remember what it taught.
It is like a lighted candle held up to a painting. It is not intended that the beholders should look at the candle but at the painting upon which the candle its throws light on. A good story ties lessons to people and things so that every time someone encounters a situation or do things, they are reminded of the lesson the story taught, not necessarily the story’s detail.

A good story does not make the truth beautiful; it showcases the beauty of the truth. It does not only impress you; through it, the truth is impressed in you.

3. A good story teaches a lesson without being preachy.
It calls attention to a person’s mistakes indirectly. It is a tactful way of making a point. It seldom, if ever, makes an enemy out of someone.

4. A good story motivates.
Kids need information, even adults do. But to do something about what you know, you must be motivated. And to be motivated, we must feel what we learned. Like most people, we do what we feel like doing. That’s how simple it is even with children. A good story helps them feel what is taught.

I am not to influence you on what books to be read for there are multitudes of books and stories available out there. When it comes to teaching good values to children, and you have no idea where to start, the Bible and other literary classics are readily available. From there, you can diversify to other reading materials; just take note of the guidelines suggested above.

Happy reading.

Copyright © 2009 Athena Goodlight (8/1/2009 Bookstove)

Dyslexics: Coping with Their Learning Difficulties

One out of every five children is possibly affected by dyslexia, making it one of the most widespread of the learning disabilities. In the USA alone, 10 million children are dyslexic. Many children are suffering, yet still more remain undiagnosed and unable to receive the needed support to overcome this condition.

Understanding Dyslexia

In 1896, W. Pringle Morgan, an English medical practitioner, provided the first description of dyslexia.  Prior to that, the disorder was thought to be a form of mental retardation.  Published in the British Medical Journal was Morgan’s case of a 14-year old boy who had extreme difficulty in reading yet excelled in game and was at the same level with his peers.  This intrigued many scientists who had been studying the disorder for years.  They finally realized that those who have the disorder could actually possess above average to exceptional intelligence.  Some, they found out, even excel in sports and the creative arts.  Because of this, their notion that dyslexia is a form of mental retardation was finally ruled out.
From the Greek words “dys” meaning difficulty and “lexia” meaning verbal language, dyslexia can be defined as a specific learning disorder resulting from neurological and genetic causes.   It affects one or more of the basic processes involved in understanding spoken or written language.  This results in the difficulty of the brain in stringing words, numbers, and symbols at least average intelligence. Dyslexia may show up as a problem in listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, or spelling or in a person’s ability in math.  Letter and word reversal and disorganization of word order are common symptoms.  Problems with coordination, memory, depth, perception, and discerning left from right may arise.  This explains why most dyslexics find it difficult to transfer information exactly from what is heard to what is seen and vice versa.

Researchers determined that a specific gene is responsible for dyslexia.  The condition results from a brain difference.  The right hemisphere of the brain of dyslexics is larger than that of normal individuals.  This may be the reason why dyslexics excel in areas controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain – such as artistic and athletic; 3D visualization ability, musical talent; and creative problem solving skills but are poor in perceptual, motor, linguistic, and adaptive—areas controlled by the brain’s left hemisphere.
For years, the organic cause of dyslexia has puzzled doctors who have been studying the disorder.  A significant breakthrough, however, was provided in 1998 by Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a researcher at the Yale University of Medicine and author of the book Overcoming Dyslexia.  Dr. Shaywitz’ s findings revealed that areas in the back of the brain that are usually activated when readers sounded out words are significantly less activated in dyslexics.  Areas in the front of dyslexics’ brains show more activity than in those of the brains of normal individuals.

Battling Dyslexia

The best way to treat dyslexia is to recognize it in the earliest stage, between the ages of 5 and 7 when the elementary reading skills are still easily learned.

The nature of dyslexic’s learning difficulty should be explored by a physician.  This is done by conducting physical examination and obtaining a comprehensive health history.  Upon confirmation of dyslexia, the child should then be referred to a specialist in psychoeducational diagnosis for further evaluation and treatment.
The primary goal of the specialist is to determine what appropriate educational intervention should be administered since no single learning method works for all dyslexics.  Each dyslexic has his own particular learning difficulties.  For instance, one dyslexic may be poor in reading but seldom reverses words while another may have long attention span but have poor memory.

Choosing Appropriate Learning Strategies

After determining the specific learning difficulties of the dyslexic, as well as his strengths and needs, the specialist then chooses appropriate learning strategies.  These strategies are usually based on the three main styles of learning:  auditory (use of sounds and words), visual (use of images and mental pictures), and kinesthetic (touch, active participation, hands-on activities).

Science has progressed enormously.  With the extensive researches done, there are specific scientifically-based programs that work.  Finding the right school with the proper reading programs and well-trained teachers is also essential.  Dr. Shaywitz, in an NBC News Today interview, states that “there’s a huge need to educate our parents and our teachers.”
Though dyslexia is permanent, it does not leave dyslexics in a helpless condition for the rest of their lives.  However, recognizing it and accepting their limitations are the very first steps in dealing with the disorder.
Dr. Shaywitz’s advice is, “go get help.  It’s remarkable.  The news is so good.  We’ve learned so much and people who go and get help can totally turn their lives around.”

published by by Athena Goodlight 10/2009 Healthmad

Montessori Style of Homeschooling

Formulated from the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, this manner of teaching aims to replicate natural laws that a child encounters in life.


Hence the aim of the teacher is to contain the surroundings and not the child.  Studies have shown that children who are allowed to interact with their environment built up an innate self-discipline, love for order and raw curiosity.

The Montessori technique of teaching is particularly suitable to the preschooler who wishes to do everything by himself. Looking for ways in which your kid can take part in the cleaning, gardening, washing, cooking, and other ‘grownup’ activities arranges the perfect background for the learning experience. By catering such opportunities for independence, the child’s self-regard also gets a large boost.

Cultural, artistic and scientific activities abound in the Montessori thirty to six class. There’s no junk food, TV or computer. Material is picked out carefully. The child is never forced to work. Rather he is encouraged to do things that matter to him, and the teacher picks up the teaching from cues presented by the child.  The Montessori process centers on the child’s inborn ability to learn from his environment. Hence the teacher aims to promote the natural curiosity of the child. He is never coerced to learn or explore. When the child realizes why he needs to learn something, he will like the learning process.

Using Online Resources for Homeschooling

If your child is captivated by the flashing cursor and scrambles to master the motions of the mouse, you might want to check out some of the latest developments in homeschooling methods. Gone are the times when parents had to purchase material from vendors then pass it on to their children using explanations. Nowadays, you get the full course details, test papers and materials online.

Almost everyone loves to sit down with the computer, especially children. Besides having them feel like an adult, the computer also takes advantage of the visual and sound medium to make learning fun and easy. Streaming video and audio displays diverse scientific processes in excellent detail. The colored pictures and the various methods used help to effectively attach the data to the child’s memory.

Numerous online resources have a fun examination center that aims to evaluate the knowledge and skill level of your kid. Complex math and science problems are addressed deftly and elegantly. A visit to an e-library may also be fun, particularly when there’s an audio clip that reads out loud the passage to you.

E-learning has only started to revolutionize the world of studies. If harnessed the right way, a kid can absorb an amazing amount of information from that exciting resource seated right there at your table – your personal computer.

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight

Homeschool Tips: Staying Connected with Your Child

The world we live in has become a jungle of knowledge. Wherever you go, you chance upon a fresh fruit that just has to be handed to your child. In the midst of all the knowledge fast-flying back and forth, let us not forget to converse and relax with our kids. A mother who doubles as a teacher must leave the teacher behind and just become mom or a dad for a couple of hours everyday.

Listen attentively to your child. Don’t just hear the words, but acknowledge the emotion too. A lot of children find it hard to express precisely what they want. Talk to your child regarding general stuff and grant him to be ‘just a kid’. Once you talk to your kid, ask for his opinions. Few things delight him more. It also adds up kilos to his self-confidence.

Nearly all parents cut off when their kids talk. We, as grownups, hate it when somebody cuts across our lines. Children may simply clam up because they are coerced into being silent when we shut them up. But this is unhealthy and simply not fair. Allow your child to finish then express your opinions in a rational manner. The child would have the confidence to confide in you.


Gentle nurturing is the key to successful homeschooling. First, be a parent, and then a teacher.

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight

Tips on Homeschooling a Child with Disability

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If your your child has been diagnosed or is presently suffering from a disability that severely hinders his ability to adhere to a regular school routine, then homeschooling is your better choice.

The child will be always under close guidance would still be getting a lot of quality education, despite the disability. This is greatly beneficial especially to your child, considering how kids with disabilities are branded in public schools.

Goal setting is a crucial part of homeschooling a child that has a disability. Arrange the length of working hours in a week for the child. A child having a disability might experience some bad days. Therefore, the schedules of the learning hours will be adjusted according to the interests and needs of the child. The computer and the internet plays a large role in this process. In this manner, he will have all the essential information at his fingertips while staying within the confines of the home.

Field trips and extra educational activities are just as significant. Get some help from your support group. Visit locations of interest and interact with other homeschooled kids in the group. Take your child out for a few activities, for purposes of face to face and physical socialization. This will assist in fortifying your child’s self-esteem.

Most importantly, keep in mind that the basic principles of homeschooling are generally the same, even if your child is suffering from a disability. You’ll just have to seek the right opportunities and the most comfortable alternatives to accomplish equivalent goals.

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight  

Tips on Homeschooling Teenage Children

As children mature and become young adults, parents feel speculative about homeschooling.

A lot of parents then break the homeschooling process and merrily turn in the reign to outside authorities. But is this actually necessary? Is the purely compartmentalized education system offered in traditional schools the best option?

When the growing burden of a few of the higher level Math or Science appears to be beyond you, draft the help of somebody who knows a lot. You will be able to even swap your own services and so save some money. With homeschooling going more and more popular, support groups would have countless resources that help you locate the proper teacher for your child.

The fundamental principle that guides homeschooling is this: any child has the inherent capability to grow, develop and accomplish its full potential. All it requires is the correct environment and all the correct answers. Be there to give these and think doubly before you turn over this obligation to a third party.

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight

How to be an Effective Homeschool Teacher

The success of imparting knowledge lies greatly in the hands of the teacher. In most homeschooling situations, the teacher is a close relative or a parent.

In a few cases, parents might split up the subjects between them. Seldom, if both parents are busy, they might hire a homeschool teacher. Whatsoever the case, children require time with their parents. Parents, as a rule, make up very good teachers.

Teaching doesn’t require a clinical demonstration of facts. Learning has to be structured lovingly into daily life with the interest of the child in mind. That’s where parents come into the picture. Grandparents also make fine teachers, particularly since they possess an abundance of patience.

If you feel uneasy about your knowledge or skill, relax. There are plenty homeschooling resources that are directed at aiding you. Professional curriculum bundles, support groups, virtual schools, online help desks and library resources are all in hand. When you begin, you would like to capitalize on the commercial curriculum packages. Readymade software package also allows for you to record and log crucial accomplishments.

Local support groups are a great source of help, materials and ideas. This is where you have the chance to meet seasoned homeschoolers, who would be more than willing to offer their perceptiveness and advice. Once you fall into the homeschooling routine, you’ll find yourself tailor-fitting the curriculum to befit your own needs.


Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight

Activity Overload and Child Stress

Numerous studies are conveying a developing concern that after school curricula are pushing children to do too much too soon.
They remark that when a child’s afternoon is filled up with classes, sports, trips and other forms of coordinated activities, children don’t quite get the time to be just kids. They’re even being stripped of the treasured family time.

Beyond any doubt, there are children who are being weighted with a schedule that puts greater demand on their time. This results in increased degrees of stress on the child and the family. As regular studies can’t be brushed off, children are nearly always on the run to accomplish more. Such children are actually bearing a burden that’s too big for their capacity.

In a suitable world, all kids will go home straightaway after school to loving and caring parents who are awaiting for the arrival of their children. But the social and economic facts demonstrate that a lot of kids have to attend after school courses since there is nobody available at home. For such kids, these classes are a boon.

Parents must however limit themselves from depending too much on these activities just to get children off their backs. After school programs are complimentary in nature and are generally beneficial to the child’s physical, intellectual, and emotional development. They give added support.  However, it is for us parents to control the balance wherein parental participation is also as significant as the academic and extra curricular activities in order to raise a well-rounded and happy child.

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight

Some Encouraging Facts on Homeschooling and College Education

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As children grow out of their small trousers and are geared up to start out their teens, a lot of parents marvel if they must carry on with the homeschooling program. They fear that colleges might not afford equal chances to a kid educated at home.

Much of the common fears associated with homeschooling were put to rest when two homeschooled boys got admitted into Harvard. Harvard doesn’t require a high school diploma for attaining admission to their degree program.

Another fine example is the testimony of the family of Dr. Art Robinson, a father of six and the developer of the Robinson Curriculum, who singlehandedly homeschooled his 6 children after his wife passed away.

“During their university years, the Robinson children excelled in science, with five of them earning BS degrees in chemistry and one in mathematics and three of those degrees being earned in only two years. Subsequently, Zachary and Arynne earned doctorates in veterinary medicine at Iowa State University and Noah earned a PhD in chemistry from Caltech.” – Art Robinson

In fact, at present, three of Dr. Robinson’s children are completing a Ph.D program in nuclear engineering.
These are only among the few examples of the many homeschoolers who have and are excelling in the university education.

Several colleges are more concerned in the range of acquired knowledge and pleasing attitude that the homeschooled children showed instead of their high school diplomas. As a matter of fact, other things being similar numerous colleges prefer homeschoolers because of the variety and richness they bring to their college life.  At present, there are a growing number of established homeschooling programs which provide the necessary, certificates, progress reports, and records for national academic accreditations to fulfill university requirements.

Admission requisites may vary. While a few colleges call for the child to appear for the SAT, others might need a universal equivalency diploma. And some could not care for whatever tests in the least. The criterion may vary depending on the college that you want to apply to. Some college courses really don’t demand any high school background or exceptional training.

It is more common to chance upon parents who frantically try to shift out their homeschooled kids to high schools since they fear inaccessibility of college admittances. But college admissions are afforded to all educated persons, irrespective of whether they’re educated at home or at a public school.

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight

Homeschool Tips: Avoid Homeschool Burnout

Once a parent takes on the obligation of educating his or her child, homeschool burnout is among the more common effects they must deal with.

There are several reasons that head to this burnout; an illness, a new baby, additional responsibility, change in daily routine etc.

The symptoms of burnout deviate from lack of patience to binging and crying with no obvious reasons. Astonishingly, a burnout does not have to be such a bad thing. It’s a wake-up call – a signal that things are not holding out well and that you have to reschedule. Inverting or avoiding a burnout is conceivable if you have fair warning.


First, bring down your expectations. Don’t be a perfectionist. Accept the good days as well ad the not-so-good ones. Then when something doesn’t appear to work out, search alternate methods. Flexibility is a central factor. If stress starts mounting up, take a break. When necessary, alter the trend of teaching. For example, small children love to take on their spellings when they quiz an adult.

Stave off overkill. Don’t compact too many activities for the sake of the socialization of your child. A stressed out mom signifies a grouchy kid and that means zero happiness. Get back up from your spouse or a neighbor or a support group. Do not try to accomplish everything by yourself. Homeschooling means ‘happy schooling’ – do not ever forget

Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight