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Homeschool Ideas & Tips >
Homeschool Ideas & Tips Newsletter Summer, 2005
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*** Hello from Charmaine ***
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Dearest Reader,
I'm sure some of you think I've fallen off the edge of the
earth! I'm sorry I have not gotten an eNewsletter out to
you since last April. Summer just sort of took over (I'm
sure you know how it is)and this is the first time I've had
a chance to write. To all my new subscribers, welcome!
To all my current subscribers: Due to lack of time to
write, I am going to go to a quartly format. You will now
receive this eNewsletter once every 3 months.
I'm going to keep this month's issue short and to the point
(as I'm sure you're just as busy as I am). However, I do
have a very helpful article for you, which was written by
JoJo Tabares of Art of Eloquence. If you enjoy the article
be sure to also check out JoJo's website and curriculum.
In our busy world, what can be more important than good
communication skills? As a life coach and veteran
homeschool mom, I highly recommend JoJo's curriculum: Say
What You Mean. This easy to use curriculum is a valuable
tool for teaching homeschoolers to communicate clearly and
effectively in a world that so badly needs to hear a
positive message. You won't be disappointed as you and your
students investigate and apply the ideas in this
exceptional curriculum. Learn more about it at:
http://www.artofeloquence.com/
blessings on your day,
Charmaine
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*** In This Issue ***
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1. Ideas & Tips: Communication FUNdamentals
by JoJo Tabares
2. About Charmaine
3. The Small Print
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*** Ideas & Tips ***
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Communication FUNdamentals
10 Fun Ways to Teach Your Children Communication Skills
By JoJo Tabares
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of
silver.” Proverbs 25:11 Communication skills are vital
-especially in the information age. Studies show that
effective communicators are happier, do better in school,
are more successful and make more money than their less
eloquent counterparts. So how do you teach your children
to express themselves better? The FUN way!
The best way to teach children anything is to make it fun
and involve as many of their five senses as possible. Here
are a list of 10 games/activities that will foster
effective communication skills in your children.
1. Play Telephone.
The more the merrier. This old elementary school game is a
delightfully fun way to develop your child’s listening
skills. This game is perfect for any age. Begin with a
simpler message for the younger children and gradually
increase the size and complexity as they get older.
2. Directions to Fun.
Have your older child write out directions from your house
to somewhere fun; for example, the ice cream shop.
Preferably give the directions to a third party who is
unfamiliar with the area, and have him follow the
directions precisely. Did you get there? If so, have an
ice cream cone! If not, talk about what went wrong in the
communication. What could be changed that would help get
you there the next time. This is a wonderful exercise to
help children from 4th through 12th grade learn to give
better directions. But it also is a lesson in itself about
communication. In order to effectively communicate what
you want, you must learn to say what you mean so that
others can fully understand.
3. Dress for Success.
Go to the store or any other public place dressed in your
Sunday best. Notice how you are treated. Next go to the
same store or a similar location dressed shabbily or
inappropriately for the occasion. (Ex: to a Mercedes
dealership in old jeans and a worn out T-shirt) Notice how
differently you are treated. This illustrates that their
nonverbal communication has consequences. You will want
to point out that strange person walking on the street and
do a little of what I call "brain washing". Paint them a
picture of the consequences of the communication that is
sent when people wear skimpy clothes or dress like
hoodlums. Tell them what their choice of clothes is saying
to the average person...to a prospective employer. Give
them the facts on how this will impact their lives a
year...two years...ten years down the line. Tell them what
could happen tomorrow if someone draws a conclusion based
on those clothes that puts them in harms way.
4. Talk n Listen.
Have your child sing Yankee Doodle while another person
recites the Pledge of Allegiance. See how long they can go
without flubbing it up. If your child can do this too
easily, have each one read from a different book. Tell
them to each take turns relating what the other had read.
This helps illustrate that old saying that God gave us two
ears and one mouth in order that we listen twice as much as
we talk.
5. Um Contest.
Have your child talk about a familiar topic. Any topic.
For example, his/her favorite activity or book. See how
long he/she can keep from uttering “um”, “er”, “uh”,
“like”, or “ya’ know”. This develops the child’s
confidence as well as eloquence. Eliminating these “words”
in your child’s vocabulary will cause the him to focus on
becoming more articulate and increasing his vocabulary.
6. Feed Me Applesauce.
Blindfold someone and have that person feed applesauce to
another blindfolded person. Have a third person who is not
blindfolded giving the directions to both parties. This
teaches students to give directions more effectively.
*NOTE* This is messy! Fun, but messy! You will want to
make sure that your children are not wearing their good
clothes and that this activity takes place on a bare floor
and not carpet.
7. Presentation.
Have your child give a presentation of sorts to a local
retirement home. This can include giving a craft
demonstration, playing piano for them as in a short
recital, singing or reciting a poem. This teaches your
child how to present him/herself. This can be done with
children of all ages. The sooner you get your child
comfortable talking in public, the better. It will become
like second nature to them and they may be able to avoid
the biggest fear that most people have: PUBLIC SPEAKING.
Studies show that people who enjoy speaking in public are
more successful than those who do not. So get them out
there showing off the talents God gave them!
8. What's Going on in the Picture.
This one is great for the little ones. Have your child
tell you what he sees in a picture. Encourage him to
describe the scenery, the people, the colors...anything he
sees. For older children, have them talk about what they
think might have just happened before this scene and what
they think will happen after. This gives them practice in
formulating ideas in a logical manner that others can
easily understand.
9. Finish a Story.
This one is also very good for different age groups. Kids
love stories! You start off a story and have your child
finish it. For very young children, you can tell them a
nursery rhyme and have them make up an alternate ending or
add on to the story. This exercise is great for teaching
beginning verbal communication skills.
10. Impromptu Speech.
This exercise is wonderful for children of all ages. Pick
a topic that your child is familiar with or just loves and
ask him/her to speak for about 2 minutes on that topic.
After a while, have your student graduate to speaking on
more difficult topics and/or for longer periods of time.
You can start them off by talking about their favorite
movie and eventually graduate them to controversial topics
like prayer in school.
"You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them
across, they won't get you anywhere." Lee Iacocca The
more your children practice communication skills, the more
effective they will be in communicating their needs and
ideas. The more fun you can make it, the more they will
want to practice these essential skills.
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication and has
over 20 years of experience in the field. She is the
author of the Say What You Mean series of studies on
effective communication skills. For more information,
please visit her website, Art of Eloquence at
http://www.ArtOfEloquence.com
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*** About Charmaine ***
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Charmaine Wistad has successfully homeschooled her two
children from pre-school through high school. Now she is
turning her attention toward helping other homeschooling
moms.
Through regularly scheduled telephone coaching sessions,
Charmaine helps homeschool moms identify and define their
ideal homeschooling lifestyle, then make a plan and set the
realistic goals to achieve it. She also provides the
accountability necessary to carry through and have true
victory. Charmaine helps homeschool moms THRIVE - not just
survive.
Be sure to visit her website:
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com
You are invited to try a fr*ee no-obligation telephone
coaching session. You'll be amazed at how much can be
accomplished in just one session!
Email to request your fr*ee sample session at:
wistad@chibardun.net
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***The Small Print ***
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If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to
everyone you know. Thanks!
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Homeschooling Ideas and Tips Copyright 2005,
Victory Coaching
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com
All rights in all media reserved.
The content of Homeschooling Ideas and Tips
may be forwarded in full without special permission
provided it is used for nonprofit purposes and full
attribution and copyright notice are given. For other
purposes, please contact:
Charmaine Wistad
P.O. Box 343
Spooner, WI 54801
wistad@chibardun.net
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