Young Children & Communication

However we don’t wait until the Jr. High or high school years to teach communication this starts from the time children first become a part of our lives. They are talked to on an ongoing basis and gradually learn to speak. When my children were babies I would sprawl out a blanket on the floor lay them on their backs get down on my back with a book and read to them. I would point at the pictures and tell them what each one was and make sounds if appropriate. This is a time I cherish to this day and have done this with my husband grand son as well, I suppose I may do the same for my grandchildren. I want to mention that while this might not have anything to do with it all my children love to read.

Now that they can speak it is time for the ABC song and from there they should be introduced to the alphabet by sight. Because young children learn best through play let’s take a look at how this learning time can be made more enjoyable through play. There are so many fun ways to teach the alphabet such as coloring pages, lab books, crafts and Story Time Felts. Each one of these can be utilized in a variety of ways to teach children the alphabet.

In the upcoming days I will be posting on the topics previously mentioned with more detail and links. I have been working today to find the best of the best and I am excited to bring them to everyone.

What Makes A Great Leader?

While I was completing my last class (fundamentals of management) I remember reading about how philosophers tried in a variety of ways to determine a good leader. They thought that maybe leaders had a variety of personality traits in common, but as they continued to seek ways in determining a good leader they failed to find any specific common traits. One thing which was determined however was that good leaders had charisma, the ability to get others to listen to what they had to say and then act on it.

While Adolf Hitler committed horrendous acts against humanity he had the ability to communicate and others would listen, this is what made him a good leader. This is not to say that what he did was valid only that because of his ability to communicate effectively he was able to lead others to do what he wanted them to. Martin Luther King Jr was another leader who had this gift and was able to led groups of individuals to also behave in the way he wanted them to. He taught those which he led to be peaceful during their protests so as not to obtain any negative response, while this back fired the individuals which he taught did their best to act accordingly.

You may be wondering where there is leading or have already figured it out, our children need to learn how to communicate effectively in order to become good leaders. This may be in their community, church, school activities, sports and later in their future management positions, politics, business owners, or even as an employee. Communication is an important trait to have no matter what type of leadership role an individual might hold. While this is important to teach to our children the way in which we communicate to others effectively should also be considered. It is for this reason that not only my son but also myself will indulge greatly in the effective art of communication.

My oldest son will be in seventh grade this year and we will be using a book called “Painless Speaking.” We will continue to work on this topic from now until he graduates high school. I already have some other books in mind such as “Communication and Interpersonal Relationships.” Because I have spoken in front of groups before and realize my weaknesses I have started reading a book called “101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers Controlling Fear, Commanding Attention” by Caryl Rae Krannich, Ph.D. I had the pleasure of indulging in the library yesterday looking for more material on communication to digest and came across a book called “God Still Speaks A Biblical View of Christian Communication” by Robert E. Webber. While the book is geared towards our greatest commission I feel it still will hold information to be utilized on an ongoing basis.

If anyone has any other reading suggestions on the topic of communication for the youth and or adults please leave your comments.

Painless Speaking
This link will allow you to view the contents and preview some of the book. While it is not stated the age or grade for this book, Rainbow Resource states in their catalog grades 6-12

Communication and Interpersonal Relationships
View contents and one page for this book along with viewing similar books and ratings. Rainbow Resource states that this book may be used with students 7-AD.

101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers Controlling Fear, Commanding Attention

Homeschool Methods the TJed

When I first started homeschooling twelve years ago there were a handful of methods and styles in which to utilize. We would fall under the category of eclectic, this means we combine a variety of different methods into our homeschooling. Some of the other methods which were acknowledged when we started are as follows, the Charlotte Mason Method approach, classical, unit studies, distance learning, Montessori, Waldorf and unschooling. Recently two other methods have been brought to my attention, I will not say they are new to homeschooling just that I have not heard of them until now. They are delight directed and TJed, for Thomas Jefferson, this one has been of great interest to me. The main reason is that the focus of this method is to teach children how to be great leaders. Considering the fact that our children are our greatest natural resource and the future for this planet it makes sense to arm them for success. I am not necessarily talking about financial success, while this is wonderful there are many individuals who have contributed greatly to our world and country who were not financially well off as the world views it. Conducting research on success recently revealed to me that success is accomplishing what ever it is you set out to do no matter how great or how small. When we achieve goals we have obtained success. The TJed helps caregivers instill these values into young minds. Will I become a TJed method user now? Nope I like being eclectic, but we will be incorporating some of that philosophy into teaching our children.

While I have yet to read any of the books found on the USA Patriotism link I will in hopefully the near future. If you have read them please post a comment, or if you utilize the TJed method please do the same.

Methods & Styles - A to Z Home's CoolI want to add that this is one of the best resources for new and veteran homeschoolers on the web.

A Thomas Jefferson Education
While this is linked to the TJed part of the web site delight directed is easily accessible through the utilization of the side bar.

USA Patriotism...USA Store Scroll down to "A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the 21st Century" by clicking the link it will direct you to Amazon which shows what customers bought who purchased this book geared towards the same topic.

Learning Through Play & Senses

What causes a shutter down my back? Individuals wanting to have actual curriculum for pre-school and kindergarten. This is the time for play and outings, a child will learn more by exploring the world around them then sitting and doing some redundant worksheets. Worksheets have their place, but I never forced them on my children. I would leave them on the table and if they did them OK, if they didn't that was OK also until my youngest. The two older children loved the worksheets and would complete up to four a week, but the youngest simply pushed them aside at meal times and wanted nothing to do with them. At first it didn't bother me, but after a while I started hyper ventilating wondering was wrong with my child, OK calm down remember all the articles previously read how each child learns in their own time in their own way. OK we played more, talked more and learned things from the environment around us. For instance numbers were learned through the micro-wave which he wanted to utilize everytime we went to fix his favorite food, the hot dog. He soaked up information as I taught his sister and brother and is still a sponge today.

Through play children also utilize a variety of their senses, sometimes all of them. They touch a toy, feel it and sometimes even taste it. Their young eyes stare at the images before them in pictures books and the world around them in wonder. They grab at whatever they can get their little hands on to explore what ever it may be. Little ears listen intently as music and language fills the space around them.

When children utilize a specific sense in order to gather information it is known as a learning style. For instance auditory learners utilize hearing in order to process the information being received. Visual learners love items to look at in order to gain information. Lastly the learners who have to touch everything because that is how they learn best is referred to as kinesthetic.

This is why Story Time Felts are such a great product they allow children to play and have fun while they learn. All the learning styles are also covered so no matter how the child/children in your life learn Story Time Felts is there. They allow them to utilize their imagination as they create a farm of dinosaurs or decide that Papa Bear is the giant in "Jack in the Bean Stalk." They are not confused, test them do the same thing and they will correct you, they are learning to form new ideas and thoughts about the world around them and Story Time Felts can help.

Play: It's the Way Young Children Learn

Learning Styles-Helping Children Succeed in School

August Back to School Specials!

The August specials for the Story Time Felts are a great addition for pre-schools, daycares, classrooms, and homeschool. There will be a link on my web site Education Jump-Off for preschoolers. Here there are a variety of links which include themes which would work really nice in addition to the items on special this month. While there also check out how to win $25.00 in FREE Story Time Felt products or FREE shipping

Please note this is not the corporate site, Education Jump-Off is just an independent distributor for this wonderful company. Please be kind and use my name Joyce Wheeler if you place an order on the corporate site, thank you.



6314 School Fun Toggle & Safety and Manners CD Save $4
Uncut $19.99, Pre-cut $22.99

Ease the mind of your new student with this fun set. You can set up scenarios that will come up for every student and help them to prepare how to handle it. One side is the inside of the classroom and the other side is the play ground. There are 44 fun figures to play school any time. Set includes book, Safety and Manners CD and vinyl bag.

55030 Preschool Pals Save $5
Uncut $34.99, Pre-cut $44.99

Teach your preschooler the ABC’s, upper and lower case letters, colors, and numbers…a whole bunch of fun activities. There are five different sets all wrapped up in one! The set includes Rhyme Time, ABC Trains, Stack Up Snowman, Little League Line-up, and Sunshine Search.

7503 Food Guide Pyramid Save $4
Uncut $34.99, Pre-cut $39.99

Over 90 figures teach children good eating and exercise habits. Set a table with a plate, knife, fork, and spoon and select a balanced meal. The pyramid measures 15” x 16”. The food looks good enough to eat!

Large or Small, Spanish or English,
Save $5 on any of our Calendar Sets!

Brightly colored figures bring fun to learning the seasons, months, and days. Special days can be noted and the weather can be posted in the form of a smiling sun or a grouchy thunder cloud. Includes a SM 15” x 23” or LG 23” x 31” mounted background, Velcro, and 73 Appropriate sized figures.

77097 SM English Calendar Uncut $37.99, Pre-cut $43.99

75067 SM Spanish Calendar Uncut $37.99, Pre-cut $43.99

77077 LG English Calendar Uncut $57.99, Pre-cut $63.99

76077 LG Spanish Calendar Uncut $57.99, Pre-cut $63.99

Items For Sale

Well it is that time of the year again time to sell last year's curriculum in order to buy this school year's curriculum. While I have what we need to start at the beginning of August there are some items I would really like to have. But first take a look to see if there is anything here which can be utilized for the upcoming school year. Prices are negotiable.

BJU Bible 3rd Following Christ 2nd edition TE 114801 excellent condition $32.00 ppd

BJU Heritage Studies 3rd TE 2nd edition 115006 excellent condition $15.00 ppd

BJU Heritage Studies 3rd ST 2nd edition 105957 used condition plenty of
wear left writing on map in back of the book. $8.00

BJU Science 3rd distance learning 2nd edition TE 195065 excellent condition $20.00 ppd

BJU Science 3rd distance learning 2nd edition ST 222174 excellent condition $20.00 ppd

A Beka Math 3rd teacher key 54798009 fourth edition purchased new 2007 $12.00 ppd

BJU Spelling 4th TE 125484 excellent condition $15.00

Rod & Staff Math 5th tests chapter 1 & 3 were completed and removed. 13511.3 $0.75

Rod & Staff Bible 5 God Chooses a Family TE 17591 $5.00

BJU 5th Science Activity Manual Answer key 3rd edition 228270 excellent condition $15.00

BJU 5th Science Activity Manual 3rd edition 228262 some slight bends from being opened the following has been completed in pencil teacher grades and corrections in pen. Learning from fossils six pages, Biomes four pages, Aquatic Biomes two pages this out of 178 pages. $12.00

BJU 5th Science tests 3rd edition 228247 chapters 2 & 6 are completed in pencil with teacher grades in pen along with corrections. $9.00

BJU 5th Science test key 3rd edition 228254 new condition $5.00

BJU 5th Heritage Studies 2nd edition TE 124552 excellent condition $15.00

BJU 5th Heritage Studies 2nd edition ST 108944 very good condition no writing $12.00

BJU Spelling 6th TE 125468 excellent condition $15.00

Shurley English teachers edition like new condition with jingle CD 3rd & 5th $25.00
Each ppd.

Math U See Epsilon teacher edition with DVD. $25.00 ppd. PENDING

Discovering Great Artists MaryAnn F. Kohl, Kim Solga like new condition purchased new last school year. $10.00 ppd. PENDING

Truthquest History Ancient Rome Grades 5-12 like new condition purchased new last year $18.00 ppd