New Learning Tools to Help You Homeschool Your Kids
Gone are the days when devices were considered a distraction to quality education. Education is becoming increasingly digital, now that 75% of U.S. classrooms are using desktop computers.
Societal trends are shifting within the educational sphere. As a result, preschool and childcare center directors make sure that their educational centers adjust to these educational trends. Their leadership training in a fast-changing world gives them the foresight to react to changes within the educational landscape. As such, preschool and childcare centers often integrate devices for better institutional management, parent-teacher communication, and student learning outcomes.
Due to these rapid changes, home-based learning teachers and parents are expected to keep up with the integration of information and communication technology. Since these devices create more meaningful learning experiences for students, home-based learning educators are urged to shift to a more extensive and dynamic educational design. Many homeschoolers and their guardians struggle to make this shift, however.
Fortunately, thanks to the development of new learning tools you and your little learner can find the best options for your learning needs. Here are the learning tools that you can employ to make digitalized homeschooling easier for both you and your child:
Flashcard tools
Parents know from experience that flashcards are effective in testing one’s knowledge. While traditional cards have been tried and tested for many generations, your kid will be more engaged to pursue independent learning through digital flashcards.
Flashcard and study tool Quizlet is used by two in three high school students and by one in two college students for a good reason! Digital flashcards test students’ knowledge in various subjects. As a result, these kids eventually feel more confident to learn on their own. So if you want your kid to learn how to study independently, you can slowly introduce them to the study sets that are created by teachers, lecturers, and students on Quizlet. Once they feel more comfortable with the app, they can start to create their own quizzes and study tests for a more personalized learning experience.
Assistive technology
No student will be left behind, particularly now that assistive technologies have been made for educational purposes. Homeschooling will definitely be much easier if your kids with disabilities have tools that meet their needs.
Approximately 7 million students in the US need special education services. This is why assistive technologies are crucial in breaking down the barriers that students with disabilities face. While your kid may be accustomed to manual practices, you can slowly introduce them to speech-to-text technologies by testing the solution together. Once they see that it’s quicker to type texts or look for information this way, they will be more encouraged to adjust to this innovative solution.
On the other hand, kids on the autism spectrum or those with hearing impairments may hesitate to use FM listening systems at first. In this case, you can encourage them to test these systems with or without a hearing aid. Also, allow them to choose the technology that helps them absorb the information much better.
AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) technologies
AR and VR technologies can be frightening or shocking for younger kids. So it’s crucial to check in with them as they check out the devices by themselves. Iff they’re excited to go on a field trip through AR and VR, try a special headset. For example, Merge Headset. Start by playing 360° videos of museums for a more familiar experience. Once they’re comfortable with the technology, you can give them the freedom to go on a virtual field trip. And you can choose destinations that are related to their current lessons.
Gamified learning tools
Who says kids can’t have fun while learning? Most kids find games to be highly engaging. Thus, companies are leveraging these activities to make educational tools more interesting.
Math can be challenging to teach in homeschooled environments. However, a research study revealed that gamified learning tool Classcraft was effective in boosting the involvement and academic performance of kids in their math course. So, encourage them to use tools like Classcraft for their learning experience. Use these gamified learning tools as a bonding activity. Also, create avatars and complete quests together. This will help them understand the game and be interested to navigate through it on their own.
There is a learning curve with assistive technology. However, increase your kid’s engagement and academic performance by using these innovative learning tools. To make your child’s homeschooling experience even more fun, look into our recommended educational materials here. Go through the rest of our posts to find the right tools and technologies make each subject much easier.
Article contributed by Reanne John:
Reanne John became a learning advocate after her daughter entered nursery. After discovering helpful educational tips, Reanne decided to pursue a career in blogging to support other parents.
You may have heard that weight loss works better when you lower carb intake. This may be true to some extent but know that your body needs carbohydrates. Children burn off a lot of energy doing things like growing, running around, mastering new skills, and developing their brains. Then they reach childbearing age and still need an energy source, to raise kids and then to run after them for a while. Read on to learn more about the importance of carbohydrates and fats when considering recipe makeovers.
During our later years of life, we need less carbohydrates, but we still do need them in moderation because carbohydrates help us to digest our food. As you age, your tummy doesn't work as efficiently as it once did, so fiber is necessary…never mind what some misinformed members of the low carb crowd may be telling you!
Fun fact: protein on its own does not pass through the digestive system without help from carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are made of plant matter which contains fiber. Think potatoes, rice, corn, oats, and any veggie such as broccoli, celery, carrots. Plant fiber is “undigestible” and that's why it works to clear our digestive system. This might sound gross, but it's the reason fiber helps you digest more efficiently and weigh less.
The fiber from plants you eat attracts water, bloats up and fills our intestinal tract. This activates peristalsis or pooping and it's how we pass waste from our bodies.
A body that's clear of waste is a healthy, happy body.
Forms of carbohydrates that have not been processed to death include all fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains. Many so-called experts advocate a low-carb diet. You can still do low carb the healthy way as long as you're heavy-handed with the dark, leafy, and cruciferous veggies. But if going to that extreme just isn't your cup of tea, or you'd prefer to stick with a balanced plate at every meal… you can simply modify the type and amount of carbohydrates you eat.
Take some time to rethink carbs.
Instead of processed flour, go for whole grains
Instead of filling half your plate with a starchy side, go with 1/4 greens and 1/4 whole grain such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta on your plate.
With time and practice, you'll eventually gain a new perspective on what's a healthy amount of carbs –which is much less than you have been conditioned to eat daily.
Know Your Lipids for Weight Loss and Good Health
If you think your body doesn't need fat, you're wrong. Fat is also an essential component of a well-balanced diet.
If you've ever been fed intravenously in the hospital, you may have noticed that a bag of lipids is included free with your overnight stay. Fat is that important to our body function. But as far as healthy eating goes, you don't want just any fat. You want the good kind that helps your hormones function and clears out the toxins in your blood.
Good fats come in many forms. And this includes fat from fruits like
Saturated fat, which is the more-harmful-less-healthy kind, shows up in
meat
dairy products
Full-fat dairy has the most saturated fat
sour cream
butter
cheese
whipping cream
While saturated fat is an essential nutrient that your body needs, too much is harmful and can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. So it's important to balance it with other vital nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
A Great Example is the Mediterranean diet
Now that we know the building blocks of your healthy diet, let's explore how some simple changes help you enjoy your favorite foods but healthy them up. What you prepare in the way of daily meals can make all the difference in your health and in your size, shape and how much you weigh.
For decades, people who were looking to lose weight simply reduced fat in their diets.
That was the trend. The concept seemed easy enough, but it overlooked the fact that certain fats really are good for you and essential to a healthy and well-functioning body. Just think of how your skin and hair look when you include olive oil and avocado in your diet. That's just two examples…healthy fat is especially GOOD for aging people.
Nowadays, when it comes to fat, we know better. If you get enough good fat in your diet, you can minimize the health risks that come from eating bad fat aka saturated fat from animal products.
So doing something like indulging in a couple of bacon slices can be counterbalanced with a side of healthy fat, like avocado, along with a healthy dark green veggie, like spinach or kale. Add in a protein source – boiled egg- to round out the meal.
This is an example of a well-balanced lunch that is good for your health, and you get to enjoy a small portion of saturated fat!
In my next post, we will discuss the basics of a healthy recipe makeover.
There are so many awesome reasons for eating more vegetables, I hardly know where to start! And there are a great many healthy vegetables to choose from. Everyone should be able to find some they like. Below are 6 reasons you need more vegetables in your diet.
I do know that I like to be reminded of the nutritional benefits of consuming more vegetables, because I find that when I am reminded, I'm inclined to eat more of them! So, for starters we're going to look at 6 reasons you need more vegetables in your diet.
One of the reasons why variety in your diet is so important is because every unique food has something special to add. This is especially true of vegetables. In fact, I believe that's one of the main reasons God created so many different kinds of vegetables.
6 reasons you need more vegetables
Low in calories – eating more vegetables will fill you up without the overload of calories and will help with weight control
Small amounts of good carbohydrates and high in Fiber
The exception to “low carbs” being starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn, winter squash)
However, all carbohydrates in vegetables are GOOD carbohydrates, so potatoes are not a BAD vegetable. And potatoes and other starchy vegetables are excellent sources of fiber when you eat the skin.
Vegetables are low in fat.
Avocados are an exception; however, avocados are excellent sources of monounsaturated fats which are good fats.
Naturally low in sodium when fresh (or canned with no salt added)
Rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, B6, potassium, manganese
Now that we've discussed 6 reasons you need more vegetables in your diet, lets discuss 6 different vegetables and how their individuality can enhance your health when you eat more of them.
The wonderful thing about tomatoes is that they are available year-round, plus they are so versatile, you can sneak these vegetables into almost any diet, no matter how “vegetable hating” the individual is.
Tomatoes have a low glycemic index, are low in sodium (fresh, no salt added canned), are low in calories, and low in fat. Tomatoes are also high in fiber.
For example, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, which is about 8-10 tomatoes, only has about 27 calories, less than half a gram of fat, only 7.5 mg sodium, 5.8 grams carbs, with 1.9 of the carbohydrates being fiber.
High in Vitamins
The same serving size of tomatoes is packed with vitamins and minerals, as the list below shows.
Vitamin A (1241 IU – 25% US RDA)
Folate (6% US RDA)
B6 – (6% US RDA)
Vitamin C (18.9 mg 32% US RDA)
Vitamin K (11.8 mcg 15% US RDA)
High in Minerals
Potassium (353 mg 10% of US RDA)
Manganese (8% of RDA)
Choline (No established RDA, but significant to persons with Diabetes)
See Below for delicious recipe that contains tomatoes.
Bell Pepper
Low in Calories, (15 calories in one small pepper), fat, sodium (similar to tomatoes), and carbs, 6.9 carbs, 2.5 fiber
One of the best sources of Vitamin C of any vegetable. One small bell pepper will provide you with 100% of your needs for the day.
Also, a significant source of vitamin B6. This is important because vitamin B6 is low in many diets. This is because of high intake of enriched breads and cereals, which have been stripped of the outer bran and endosperm.
Bell peppers are not as good a source of potassium as other vegetables, but they do have potassium. And, it all adds up, right?
Broccoli
Low in calories, sodium, fat, and carbohydrates. For example:
“Beets are highly nutritious and “cardiovascular health” friendly root vegetables. Certain unique pigment antioxidants in this root and its top greens have been found to offer protection against coronary artery disease and stroke. These antioxidants also lower cholesterol levels within the body and have anti-aging effects.”
Carrots
Like most other vegetables, carrots are low in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and excellent sources of fiber.
One thing about carrots stands out, however:
Carrots are a supersonic source of vitamin A. For example, 1 cup chopped carrots contains 12,383 IU of vitamin A (a whopping 428% of US RDA)!
In addition, 1 cup chopped carrots provides 13% of your daily needs of vitamin C, 21% of vitamin K, and 6% of folate and vitamin B6.
And carrots contain more than 400 mg of potassium per 1 cup serving.
Mushrooms
Of course, mushrooms are low in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium like other vegetables. However, mushrooms are totally unique on this list.
First, mushrooms are not actually vegetables. They are technically fungus. Second, mushrooms are “the only vegetarian food” that are known to have their own vitamin D.
I always suspected this is because they naturally grow in the sun. And that's what science says.
When mushrooms are exposed to UV (sun) rays, they make their own vitamin D. This increases the vitamin D content of them for eating. I don't know about you, but that is so cool!
According to www.Berkeleywellness.com:
“Mushrooms contain a “pro-vitamin,” or precursor, called ergosterol that is converted into vitamin D when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This is like how your skin synthesizes vitamin D in response to sun exposure. However, commercially cultivated mushrooms are almost always grown indoors in the dark. As a result, they usually have negligible amounts of vitamin D. In contrast, wild mushrooms—notably chanterelles, maitake, and morels—are usually rich in D because they get sun exposure.”
Going on a camping trip with kids is always interesting, right? Children love to play and have fun in nature but how about you change the game and plan an educational trip to the outdoors? Camping should be fun but if you also teach them some survival skills and nature basics that won’t hurt.
In this article, I will show you which educational camping activities are perfect for young kids. I guarantee you that they won’t get bored over them as they will be occupied with new things. Check the camping ideas that will awaken their curiosity and the will to explore.
Learning New Things in Nature
I will show you how you can teach your children some new skills, and knowledge through games, play, exploration, and other types of activities so they will be more educated and prepared for life.
Camping Activities
In this section, I will list activities that are linked to camping itself. Invite your kids to help you with the tasks around the campground and they will know how to survive in nature when they get older.
Pitching a camping tent
Invite your children to help you to set up a family cabin tent where you will spend nights and play. Grab the instructions and start building the tent. I see how children help their parents set up a tent at the camps and they can be of great help.
Kids can pass you the poles or even insert them into the sleeves. Give them an easy task so they will be able to accomplish it. Talk to them in the process so they will know what has to be done to enjoy tent camping.
Make a tour inside a tent when you will be done with the setup and show them what features the tent has and how to adjust them regarding the needs.
Making a Campfire
Teaching them how to make a campfire is important. The first thing to mention is that fire is dangerous and can make damage or hurt people, so they should be cautious while starting it and when it burns.
Ask your children to go pick some kindling and tinder while you pick some logs. Go in the forest together and pick the firewood. Set a fire together while explaining the process.
Cook your Favorite Dishes
When you have a campfire burning, you can make some delicious meals. How about making some pancakes or s’mores for the kids? Let them bake a pancake and put their favorite filling on.
Learn from Mother Nature
Mother Nature is our biggest teacher. Plan a daily hike in the woods where you will explore a new area, learn about the trees, and wild animals. If the trees have marks, teach them why the trees are colored. Get some books about plant recognition so they will learn to identify the plant species. It is especially important that you teach them about poisonous plants like poison ivy, poisonous oak, and others that they should leave alone. You can also download an app about plant identification on your phone if you want.
Make an Herbarium
Kids can pick some of the tree leaves and plants and make a herbarium. Tell them to pick 10 plants (tree leaves, bush leaves, or plants from the meadow). The picked items should be dry to put in the herbarium.
What does the herbarium have to have? Each plant should have its (Latin) name, place, site, date, and the name of the picker. I enjoyed making one when I was young, and I am sure your children will too.
Grab some Nature Books
I encourage you to pack some kid's books about nature. These books are great as the children will be able to stay occupied, have fun and learn at the same time. Pick picture books like pack some kid's books about nature. or others if you have younger kids (3-7 years).
Before going to the wild, go to the library with your kid and let him pick his favorite books to read at the campsite.
Play Scavenger Hunt
I love this game! It is a game where the participants make a list of items that must be found in nature. You can make two teams. Each team should find all the items first to win the game. I recommend that you pick items such as an oak tree leaf, a fruit, a feather, etc. so children will learn about nature while searching.
Do you want to make a scavenger hunt even more exciting? Give a task to take a picture of a bird or to record the sound of an animal. Don’t forget to take a camera or a phone to do that.
Play Games
Play games that involve nature like deer, deer, deer, fire tender, food chain lap-sit, flower face, judge nature says, and others that will make your camping trip interesting and educational.
Teach them about Good Camping Etiquette
When you go outdoors with the kids they should know how to behave and what is good camping etiquette. Teach them about the “leave no trace” rule and put a few garbage bags around the camp so they will throw trash there and not leave them on the ground in the camp or in the woods.
Teaching your children to be responsible and environmentally aware is important as they will leave the place as it was, without changing the natural habitat of the wild animals. Did you tell them that bears love food and trash? Make sure you mention this fact so they will be strict to leave the place clean.
Use your imagination and include activities that you see as worthy to do at a campsite with your family members to entertain and learn. Happy camping!
“Tadej Kozar is \the founder of Camping Valley. The site is an extension of my lifestyle and passion for outdoors. Everything that I learn, experience, and find valuable is on the site for you. We live in a technological era, but nature is reminding us more and more that we should go to the places where our heart and soul feel like home.”
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