There is no feeling more exhilarating than combing through hundreds of cheap books desperately needed for your children’s education.
I just returned from the Ghana Book Trust and was immersed from head to toe with books, for all subjects, all grades. Athough two hours was not enough time for me to explore all content, I am happy to say I will no longer be in need of materials for schooling my children.
The books at the Trust are not organized, but I am happy to say, I no longer have a need to order materials for my children’s curriculum via Amazon. I also no longer need to burden friends, colleagues and people I just met with bringing me books.
I’m sure I must have lost friends that way. No wonder people stopped telling me about upcoming trips to Accra.
Home schooling just got a little easier in Ghana! The materials are here…although lightly used, but only 1.50GHC. Can you say Kwanzaa gifts?
Monday, 21 November 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
7 billion people in the world
The world’s population has exploded to 7 billion! That’s one billion more people our children will have to compete with for education. According to a UNESCO article on the subject, 7 billion people make access to education even less probable for girl children.
This means that as the world’s population grows, life will get more difficult for girl children, particularly those living in poverty in Africa. Most countries were already unable to provide education for all; growing populations further stress a dire situation. A large population will also affect gender distribution in the schools. As parents find it harder to find good schools, and those few good schools will tend to be private and expensive; only a limited number of parents will be able to afford tuition. In UNESCO’s letter to the 7th billion child born, it states that child should demand and fight for his/her right to education. Girls will most likely have to fight harder and demand more in order to be educated.
All the research proves that an educated girl does more for society. However, the problem is no longer cultural but poor policy. They will now have to compete for access to education and amongst the educated. I realize that although access to education is a must; quality education is failing. That child can have access to a brand new school; but poor teachers with no quality materials will not empower her to compete with the world.
Glad that UNESCO has changed its language by asking for education for all; as opposed to schools for all. Opening more schools is NOT the answer. Providing education and opening school buildings are two different goals. With such a large population, policy makers should be vying for alternative ways to educate the masses. In situations where there are few teachers and fewer relevant materials to teach with; empowering enthusiastic and motivated parents and guardians is the way to go.
This means that as the world’s population grows, life will get more difficult for girl children, particularly those living in poverty in Africa. Most countries were already unable to provide education for all; growing populations further stress a dire situation. A large population will also affect gender distribution in the schools. As parents find it harder to find good schools, and those few good schools will tend to be private and expensive; only a limited number of parents will be able to afford tuition. In UNESCO’s letter to the 7th billion child born, it states that child should demand and fight for his/her right to education. Girls will most likely have to fight harder and demand more in order to be educated.
All the research proves that an educated girl does more for society. However, the problem is no longer cultural but poor policy. They will now have to compete for access to education and amongst the educated. I realize that although access to education is a must; quality education is failing. That child can have access to a brand new school; but poor teachers with no quality materials will not empower her to compete with the world.
Glad that UNESCO has changed its language by asking for education for all; as opposed to schools for all. Opening more schools is NOT the answer. Providing education and opening school buildings are two different goals. With such a large population, policy makers should be vying for alternative ways to educate the masses. In situations where there are few teachers and fewer relevant materials to teach with; empowering enthusiastic and motivated parents and guardians is the way to go.
Monday, 31 October 2011
LegonMoms
Are you a mom in the city of Accra? Do you need help finding out what fun things to do with your children? Or what about advice on education and health? Or just sit and chat with moms going through a similar experience raising children in Ghana.
LegonMoms was created just for those purposes.
We are a network of fabulous mothers living in Accra.
We provide information and support for moms to help them raise wonderful children. Need information on education, health and extracurricular activities for your children?
Send us your queries, suggestions and comments. They will be forwarded to the larger community for answers. Don't do this job alone. Join and help us better provide information and the necessary links you need to make motherhood easier in Accra.
For more information how to join LegonMoms, please contact Mikelle Antoine at mikelleantoine@gmail.com
LegonMoms was created just for those purposes.
We are a network of fabulous mothers living in Accra.
We provide information and support for moms to help them raise wonderful children. Need information on education, health and extracurricular activities for your children?
Send us your queries, suggestions and comments. They will be forwarded to the larger community for answers. Don't do this job alone. Join and help us better provide information and the necessary links you need to make motherhood easier in Accra.
For more information how to join LegonMoms, please contact Mikelle Antoine at mikelleantoine@gmail.com
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Nokia preschool home learning project
Nokia has launched a contest asking for people’s best ideas on how to better educate the world. They pick weekly winners and the final best idea will be designed into a Nokia phone application providing education to all. You can learn more at www.ideasproject.com.
It is interesting to note that one of the winning ideas promises to make home education more accessible and available to parents all over the world.
The preschool program would provide entire curricula via the phone. Children would play and learn games teaching topics such as shapes, colors, etc. They would play these games repeatedly on the Nokia phone. The idea is to provide repetition and help learning that way. This design could potentially be amended for higher grades as well.
I am excited that Nokia has chosen an application that would centralize home schooling in the dialogue on education. This says a lot; that the powers that be are paying attention to this movement, although at times silent. It also says that a viable response to the global education problem is not more schools, but more empowered parents.
It is interesting to note that one of the winning ideas promises to make home education more accessible and available to parents all over the world.
The preschool program would provide entire curricula via the phone. Children would play and learn games teaching topics such as shapes, colors, etc. They would play these games repeatedly on the Nokia phone. The idea is to provide repetition and help learning that way. This design could potentially be amended for higher grades as well.
I am excited that Nokia has chosen an application that would centralize home schooling in the dialogue on education. This says a lot; that the powers that be are paying attention to this movement, although at times silent. It also says that a viable response to the global education problem is not more schools, but more empowered parents.
Monday, 10 October 2011
My favorite sites for free worksheets and resources
www.africa.mrdonn.org
www.starfall.com
www.brainpop.com
www.polarbearsinternational.org
www.ixl.com
www.worksheets4teachers.com
www.spellingcity.com
www.hoodmath.com
www.bigbrainz.com
www.tutpup.com
www.tux4kids.alioth.debian.org
www.superteacherworksheets.com
www.theheadoftheclass.com
www.oldfashioneducation.com
www.powermediaplus.com
www.Khanacademy.com
www.primarygames.com
www.readinglogs.com
www.scholastic.com
www.crayola.com
www.pbs.org
www.nickjr.com
www.tlsbooks.com
www.curriki.org
www.oxfam.org.uk.education/resources
www.lifelearning.org
www.enchantedlearning.com
www.billybear4kids.com
www.bbc.co.uk/schools
www.school.discoveryeducation.com
www.softschools.com
www.janbrett.com
www.edselect.com
www.quia.com
www.learningpage.com
www.thecanadianteacher.com
www.schoolexpress.com
www.abcteach.com
www.starfall.com
www.edhelper.com
www.familyeducation.com
www.ezschool.com
www.math-drills.com
www.dadsworksheets.com
www.rhlschool.com
www.superkids.com
www.time4learning.com
www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets
www.dltk-kids.com
www.allmath.com
www.teachervision.com
www.sciencewithme.com
www.lessonplanet.com
www.worksheetplace.com
www.mathworksheets4kids.com
www.sitesforteachers.com
www.teachers.teach-nology.com
www.englishforeveryone.org
www.schoolexpress.com
www.starfall.com
www.brainpop.com
www.polarbearsinternational.org
www.ixl.com
www.worksheets4teachers.com
www.spellingcity.com
www.hoodmath.com
www.bigbrainz.com
www.tutpup.com
www.tux4kids.alioth.debian.org
www.superteacherworksheets.com
www.theheadoftheclass.com
www.oldfashioneducation.com
www.powermediaplus.com
www.Khanacademy.com
www.primarygames.com
www.readinglogs.com
www.scholastic.com
www.crayola.com
www.pbs.org
www.nickjr.com
www.tlsbooks.com
www.curriki.org
www.oxfam.org.uk.education/resources
www.lifelearning.org
www.enchantedlearning.com
www.billybear4kids.com
www.bbc.co.uk/schools
www.school.discoveryeducation.com
www.softschools.com
www.janbrett.com
www.edselect.com
www.quia.com
www.learningpage.com
www.thecanadianteacher.com
www.schoolexpress.com
www.abcteach.com
www.starfall.com
www.edhelper.com
www.familyeducation.com
www.ezschool.com
www.math-drills.com
www.dadsworksheets.com
www.rhlschool.com
www.superkids.com
www.time4learning.com
www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets
www.dltk-kids.com
www.allmath.com
www.teachervision.com
www.sciencewithme.com
www.lessonplanet.com
www.worksheetplace.com
www.mathworksheets4kids.com
www.sitesforteachers.com
www.teachers.teach-nology.com
www.englishforeveryone.org
www.schoolexpress.com
10 Easy steps to take back your children’s education
1. Breathe; it’s easier than you think. Realize that you are about to embark on the most rewarding gift you can ever give to your children. This foundation will guarantee them successful futures. There is no greater sense of accomplishment. You will also learn a great deal or relearn what you were never taught. I just figured out fractions!
2. Think about what your children’s needs are. You might want to read up on what other home schoolers’ are doing. Remember that home schooling is a million dollar business; others have done the work for you. All you need is to pay attention and find your child’s needs.
3. Join an online support network. I belong to Blackhomeeducators.com. Some of the members have been schooling their children for decades and have tons of experience to share. They also have a “how to get started” packet co-produced by yours truly.
4. Find like minds in your community or create your own. Reach out to others and let them know what you are doing. Begin by speaking to people you meet in your children’s extracurricular activities. You will be surprised how many people your initiative helps.
5. Start browsing available materials online. You can search by subject and grade and get free downloadable worksheets. Check out some of my favorite cites in the next blog. Not finding the worksheets you need; make them yourself. Check out this worksheet generator for more info. www.worksheets4teachers.com/generators.php
6. Feel free to develop your own curriculum. Not all books, worksheets and materials will work for you; hence why it’s best at times to develop your own. I like materials that are colorful and not too wordy. I don’t like most materials designed for the British and Indian market. I find them too confusing to follow.
7. Frequent local bookstores for other materials you cannot find. Most of the cites listed are limited on science materials. Luckily I found great science materials from Harcourt and Evan-Moor. Some of my favorite book stores are: EPP, Kingdom Books, Systrus in Osu and Ghana Book Trust. My list of favorite educational book companies are listed on this cite.
8. Develop a work place. I designed a classroom where we work; but any corner will do. Design to your taste.
9. Be flexible. Teach when best for you and child. I teach in the mornings and lecture at Ashesi in the afternoons. This is one perk of being an academic; find what works for you. I have colleagues who teach in the evenings after they come home from work.
10. Breathe some more. It will feel as though you are not getting much accomplished in the beginning. Reach out to your community when that happens. You will feel exhausted or frustrated at times; but know that nothing tops the gift of education.
2. Think about what your children’s needs are. You might want to read up on what other home schoolers’ are doing. Remember that home schooling is a million dollar business; others have done the work for you. All you need is to pay attention and find your child’s needs.
3. Join an online support network. I belong to Blackhomeeducators.com. Some of the members have been schooling their children for decades and have tons of experience to share. They also have a “how to get started” packet co-produced by yours truly.
4. Find like minds in your community or create your own. Reach out to others and let them know what you are doing. Begin by speaking to people you meet in your children’s extracurricular activities. You will be surprised how many people your initiative helps.
5. Start browsing available materials online. You can search by subject and grade and get free downloadable worksheets. Check out some of my favorite cites in the next blog. Not finding the worksheets you need; make them yourself. Check out this worksheet generator for more info. www.worksheets4teachers.com/generators.php
6. Feel free to develop your own curriculum. Not all books, worksheets and materials will work for you; hence why it’s best at times to develop your own. I like materials that are colorful and not too wordy. I don’t like most materials designed for the British and Indian market. I find them too confusing to follow.
7. Frequent local bookstores for other materials you cannot find. Most of the cites listed are limited on science materials. Luckily I found great science materials from Harcourt and Evan-Moor. Some of my favorite book stores are: EPP, Kingdom Books, Systrus in Osu and Ghana Book Trust. My list of favorite educational book companies are listed on this cite.
8. Develop a work place. I designed a classroom where we work; but any corner will do. Design to your taste.
9. Be flexible. Teach when best for you and child. I teach in the mornings and lecture at Ashesi in the afternoons. This is one perk of being an academic; find what works for you. I have colleagues who teach in the evenings after they come home from work.
10. Breathe some more. It will feel as though you are not getting much accomplished in the beginning. Reach out to your community when that happens. You will feel exhausted or frustrated at times; but know that nothing tops the gift of education.
Monday, 3 October 2011
The Homeschooling Advantage
About 4% of all educated children in the US are homeschooled. This number is even higher if we contemplate on the fact that home school is growing across the globe. There is a growing home schooling movement in South Africa, Kenya and other parts of the world. In the US alone, this number has exploded due to the plethora of online sources and materials that make it easier to educate from home. Another reason is that parents are looking to give their children an advantage to allow them compete in the world. (“The Home Advantage,” Coure Hero, 2011).
Finally research that gets it right! No more sidelined to the periphery, I hope such study will ignite much needed debate and gain attention from UNICEF and UNESCO. These two global bodies can only strengthen education by paying attention to the home schooling advantage and observe how it can be copied in other places; especially amongst the worlds’ disadvantaged.
Imagine if the girl child who is barred from attending school outside of the home had an alternative? Or the child who has to walk hours to reach a school only to find the teachers not there and no books? Imagine the young and old getting a second chance to learn to read, write and to educate themselves? What other educational problem could home school not solve? The home school advantage can benefit on a global scale if international bodies like the UN acknowledged the potential. How many more children would be educated if homeschooling was removed from the periphery and given its rightful place as a solution to this global problem.
Research has also found that you need not be college educated or rich to home school. The key ingredient is parental involvement. Empowering parents as key educator benefit the child. It’s only wise for the world to pay attention to this method and not dismiss it as fanatical; at best. Textbook producers and online businesses are surely paying attention; home education is a million dollar business. All that is needed is the UN to come on board.
Finally research that gets it right! No more sidelined to the periphery, I hope such study will ignite much needed debate and gain attention from UNICEF and UNESCO. These two global bodies can only strengthen education by paying attention to the home schooling advantage and observe how it can be copied in other places; especially amongst the worlds’ disadvantaged.
Imagine if the girl child who is barred from attending school outside of the home had an alternative? Or the child who has to walk hours to reach a school only to find the teachers not there and no books? Imagine the young and old getting a second chance to learn to read, write and to educate themselves? What other educational problem could home school not solve? The home school advantage can benefit on a global scale if international bodies like the UN acknowledged the potential. How many more children would be educated if homeschooling was removed from the periphery and given its rightful place as a solution to this global problem.
Research has also found that you need not be college educated or rich to home school. The key ingredient is parental involvement. Empowering parents as key educator benefit the child. It’s only wise for the world to pay attention to this method and not dismiss it as fanatical; at best. Textbook producers and online businesses are surely paying attention; home education is a million dollar business. All that is needed is the UN to come on board.
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