YouthMUSE

Does You Kid Hate School?

As a kid, there were times I loathed school. I gave all kinds of explanations for not liking it: “The teacher’s mean.” “The test is stupid.” “The school bus smells.”

But I had no idea my complaints were simply symptoms of an educational blunder
that has gone on for centuries.

When people are no longer capable of starting and carrying on interesting and lively conversations, they become dependent on outside influences to give them something to talk about – movies, video games, newspaper headlines, the weather, accidents, etc. Perhaps this is why shallow gossip so readily abounds.

Hints for Parenting a Precocious Child

I am going to confess 3 of my most unusual Parenting Techniques for helping the above average child.

I want to confess these to you so that you can seriously think twice before falling into the same parenting traps I’ve found myself attempting to crawl out of when I least expected to fall in.

Due to their seemingly mature nature, there are things you will be tempted to do for your precocious (way beyond their years) child – DON’T!

Tax Lovers of America – Beware! A FairTax Movement…

I wish to alert you to a serious problem. There is a movement across the country to dispose of the Federal Income Tax System and replace it with a National Sales Tax, also called a “consumption tax.” It’s known as the FairTax proposal.

Not only will we lose our income and payroll taxes but we will also lose our gift taxes, estate taxes, capital gains taxes, alternative minimum taxes, Social Security/Medicare taxes, self-employment taxes, and corporate taxes. All this WITHOUT reducing revenue to the Federal Government!

In case you’re concerned that the government is not taxing us enough, YOU ARE NOT ALONE ! See this IMPORTANT MESSAGE *Caution – Funny

The Super Power of Words to Improve a Parent-Child Relationship

“Believe it or not, using one pronoun over another can actually
improve a parent-child relationship.

It appears then that a child’s social behavior hinges entirely upon the attitude shown to him by the people who are dominant in his life.

Using I over you is one such example. When Mom tells Joey, “I like it better when your bed is made in the morning,” he knows she is talking about herself.

But if Mom says, “You didn’t make your bed this morning,” Joey knows the finger is pointing directly at him.

Why I Taught Four-Letter Words to My Children

“I know a lot of words,” she explained. “Would you like to hear about some others?” She listed several more four-letter words and offered to give the etymology of each one.

I didn’t explain that Dorothy Jr.’s erudition was part of an experiment of mine to see whether knowledge of taboo words could erase their black magic. If my kids learned the story of individual “foul” words, would they seem so foul when it came time to use them?

It’s not that I wanted potty-mouthed offspring. On the contrary, I wanted my kids to rise above foulness. Rather than be shocked or victimized by the crude language the permeates our culture, I wanted them to become connoisseurs of language.

Refuse to be a Slave to the School System

            This Valivictorian, Erica Goldson, surprised everyone with this powerful stand against the modern school system. This took guts and an ability to finally think and speak for herself. My hat goes off to her; a job application to follow. Please watch this, it will be a well spent 9 [...]

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother – Book Review

For those unfamiliar with the highly publicized title and the wave of discontent it spawned among parents, journalists and bloggers virtually everywhere, Tiger Mom is a so-called memoir penned by a woman eager to share the secrets of raising hyper-successful children, warts and all. Children who weren’t allowed to attend sleepovers, to watch TV, to be in a school play, to get any grade less than an A, or to play any instrument other than the piano or violin. Children upon whom unreasonable — and some would argue, cruel — demands were placed relative to their studies and music lessons.

Is Homework Dangerous to Kid’s Minds?

There is no doubt that if every child went through school filled with wide-eyed wonder for the things he or she studies, we would have a world of geniuses.

To determine whether a particular piece of homework is “beneficial” or “dangerous,” try running it through this list of questions to see how it plays out:

President’s Day Education

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people . . . They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” — Thomas Jefferson

Learn Outside of the Classroom to Grow Super Powers

The end goal of any educational program is to teach children to become confident adults who can use critical thinking for success in life and through their chosen professions. Finding ways to link that learning to real-world experience cuts out a middle step, showing the practical application of concepts.

A solid curriculum is key to a sound education, but learning doesn’t take place just inside the classroom. Studies have shown that experiential learning — either in conjunction with classroom lessons or as part of on-the-job training — can contribute to future success in college or in the workplace.

The Power of Fresh Books for the “Tired” Routine

Fresh words for an exhausting nightly activity; Kids aren’t the only ones tired of these routines!

My 7-year-old could fully relate as he laughed and smiled. The books are fun to read and emotionally spot-on.

The subtler messages leave the child with his own ideas, allowing him to …

Kid Summer Camps – Find Their Muse During a Summer of a Lifetime

It’s Winter for land sakes! We are snowed in – why in the world would we be interested in Summer Camps for our kids?

The really GOOD summer camps FILL UP fast – I am talking with lightning speed. January and February are heavy traffic months for most private summer camp facilities.

Why can’t there be ONE camp that covers most everything a child could ever want in a Summer Camp, while working on any weak academic area so they are sharp for the new school year?

Well – I found one that does it in spades.

The SECRET SILVER BULLET for Educators and Parents

If you only applied only one idea and method to the education of adults and kids alike, which of thousands would give you the biggest bang for your buck?

I’ve tugged and pulled from all corners of my own mind and others’, observing and experimenting with adults and kids alike. And I found what works 100% of the time in both a classroom and household setting. It even works with husbands and conversely, wives.

I laugh now at the simplicity!

Benefits of Home Schooling – The “Unschooling”

Here are four good reasons behind Home Schooling:

1. Students can acquire the passion Stanford University looks for in higher education.

“Homeschooled students. . . have consciously chosen and pursued an independent course of study. . . The distinguishing factor is intellectual vitality. These kids have it, and everything they do is responding to it.” Jonathan Reider, PhD, senior associate director of undergraduate admissions at Stanford University for 15 years; Stanford Magazine

Brilliant New Game for Adults & Kids – Cut the Rope

Cut the Rope rivals Angry Birds, without the fanfare.

This was a mind challenge for any age I put in front of it. It required Problem Solving skills and a utilization of basic physics.

This is a great “break” between Home School classes, or for the coveted “Computer Break” you might give your school kids. It is innocent and challenging.

“Quality” of You – a Telling Super Power

“By their works ye shall know them.”

This can be good or bad, but it’s a truth.

I gravitate towards people who are really good at what they do. What makes them really good is that they put their true selves into their work and it shows.

A long time ago I delved into the meaning of the word “quality” and I discovered something very interesting.

YouthMUSE Oz and Ozette – Are you SURE you want to visit this site?

In the spirit of FULL disclosure, I thought it only proper I reveal the OZ and OZette behind the curtain of YouthMUSE.

Guest Blog – Science for Youth: What is Energy Flow

  We welcome our Guest Blogger Ron Seagal, the President of “True Education Solutions.” Ron has a number of informative articles and services for Home Schoolers and Educators.  Here is one of them: Part II – Energy Flow Defined

Kid Inspiration – How to Explain Halloween History to Kids

A festival is a party to celebrate the end or beginning of something the people of a culture think is important. In America, many of our holiday festivals are a blend from older celebrations in other countries, just like our people are a blend of people who arrive here from other countries. Halloween is such [...]

Musings of a New Delphian School Teacher Intern

In the Summer of 2011, I sought adventure. Little did I know how intense and exhilarating my summer adventure would turn out to be.

One philosophy that has always remained the same in my life:

“If you want to learn something new, seek out who has an excellent record of achieving the very thing you want to learn.”

After seeing the test results and college acceptance letters from a number of graduates of the prestigious Delphian School in Sheridan, Oregon, I felt this must be the right place. I applied and was accepted for a 7-week summer teaching internship.

Knowledge and Power Seekers Website – Videojug

Parents, Students, Home Schoolers and those just seeking knowledge! A website exists with over 60,000 FREE somewhat professionally-produced ‘HOW TO’ videos and guides. It claims to provide expert solutions and step-by-step advice on all topics under the sun. It had something for each topic I searched for.

Book Review – The Thinking Book

The subject of Reason is not one taught in modern schools. It died out on the curriculum back in Socrates days.

The almost unbearable course in Logic, sometimes found hidden under the Philosophy section of the college course list, was one of the most difficult and convoluted courses I had to sit through for the most obvious fact of there being no clear and agreed upon definition of “Logic” used throughout the ages, much less modern times.

With such an unpresumptuous book cover it is, by far, the simplest and best course I have ever come across to teach young adults the concept of reason and logic.

Finally! Super Power of Space Exploration from Home

“Terapixel gives you the ability to take a virtual tour of the cosmos from your living room.” Dr. Brian McLean Observatory Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute

Microsoft and NASA have teamed up to create what they say is the largest seamless, spherical map ever made of the night sky, as well as a true-color, high-resolution map of Mars that users can explore on their computers in 3D.

Super Insight from our Youth

“Life is a pencil without an eraser.” Dakota – Age 11 The fact that they can see this, at such a young tender age, is why YouthMUSE does what it does. It’s why Home Schoolers choose the burden and cost over the establishment. It’s why you, the parent or student, are looking for tools and [...]

Fortifying your Child’s Positive View of Education

While your child may have already adjusted to their new back-to-school routine, waking up for school each and every morning doesn’t necessarily imply that your child truly understands why they go to school in the first place (especially the younger children).

For some children, school is just seen as a dreaded and mechanical obligation more than an opportunity to enrich his or her mind. Viewing school so negatively at an early age can have serious long-term consequences—your child may begin to lose motivation at an early age, may drop of high school if given the chance, or may choose not to pursue a higher education.

Enjoy the rest of this Guest Post and her suggestions!