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Everyday Life in Cuenca Ecuador

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing everyday life in Cuenca Ecuador today.Also, look at my page Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

We have been on the house hunt this past week, but with no car to get around, location is going to be everything for us.  Each day has already proven to be an adventure though. 

We get ready to scout out the area and then have to stop to admire some of the everyday life in Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Calderon ParkPhone Charging

Calderon Park is one of the beautiful parks here in the center of town.  We have some research to do find out about the local statues and markers, but it has been nice to spend some of the day just people watching.

Even charging our phone is an adventure here. 

There are two companies for cell phone usage here, which are Claro and Moviestar. 

Finding a place to recharge cell minutes is an everyday thing.

Have you tried prompting along and following instructions on your phone when it’s all in Spanish? We are fast becoming immersed in the language.

Also, look at some of these books about South America.

Books for Kids About South America

13 Resources for a Study of South America

Add some of these fun books and resources to your study of South America.

Favorite Restaurant Don ColonFlower Mall

We have located one of our favorite places to eat at.  Don Colon is owned by a local who spends part of his time in the states and in Cuenca. 

He uses bottle water to make the local fruit juice so this place has been great on our stomachs. 

Too, you can beat the price of almuerzo (lunch) for $4.00. You get an entrée, soup, drink and dessert.  The lunch choices yesterday were steak, fish, chicken and pork loin, so we are not talking sandwiches.  

More Activities About South America

Then of course, I have been drooling over all the beautiful flowers offered here for just a few bucks.

I can’t wait to get our own place so I can have fresh flowers each day.

stunning architectTraditional Native American Dress

Just a walk down the streets and you are in awe of the dated architect. 

Then when we were out house hunting, we had to pause for this guy who was dressed in his Native American dress of Incan heritage as he played the flutes. 

The music filling the air on that block was beautiful.  It’s hard to house hunt with so many things to look at in every corner.

We took a tour too and I will share some of those pictures soon.  It has rained the last 3 days, but today is sunshine so we will be getting out again to learn some about the local customs.

Everyday life in Cuenca, Ecuador

What You’ve Got To Know About Teaching Reading Comprehension

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, in what you’ve got to know about teaching reading comprehension, I will share surefire ways to rekindle the love of reading. More important these tips will help your child understand what he is reading.

When I took Mr. Senior 2013 out of public school for the short time he was in Kindergarten and started homeschooling him again, I realized that he had changed from adoring his reading time to abhorring it.

Reading Material Matters. 

I am always astounded at how children naturally figure things out and they know when something they are reading matters.  One book I had chosen to focus on my son’s reading comprehension was called Bags The Lamb.

Okay, not very inspiring title and so I soon learned that my first mistake in helping my son to care about what he was reading was to make it matter. 

One stepping stone to having your child lap up reading is to give him a meaningful purpose.

For Mr. Senior 2013 that meant reading a comic book or a non-fiction book about science or history. 

If you are using a reading program that has dry, boring books that do not matter to your child, then use a book they choose so it matters to them. 

What You’ve Got To Know About Teaching Reading Comprehension

This is the first step to encouraging them to make meaning of what they are reading.

A Skillful Teacher Models the Process. 

Then there is one pet peeve of mine that we unknowingly do in a lot of subjects that we teach and that is somehow by osmosis we expect our kids to know what we want.

I too made this mistake in thinking my son knew how to skim the material, ask questions silently and look for answers in reading material.

Switching my approach, I focused on one paragraph in the book that he chose and talked out loud while he was sitting with me.

I would continue to talk out loud asking who is this character or I would say this reminds me of so and so whom we both know.

In talking out loud, I was helping my son to make a connection with what he knew right now and otherwise question what he was reading.

He soon learned that it was okay to have questions and that questions are the beginning to understanding what he was reading.  It is not necessary to

have all the questions answered, which is what Mr. Senior 2013 was doing.

Reading comprehension is about weighing and identifying facts though not always having the answers until the end of the story.

Slow Down Your Reading Pace Mama! 

Another mistake I was making was allowing my kindergartener to read the whole story in one gulp. 

What good did that do him if he didn’t understand the first paragraph?

He had me fooled because he was such a good reader, never mind the fact that he didn’t understand too much of what he read. 

I realized he was hyper focused on rapid reading and correct pronunciation instead of understanding what he was reading.

No wonder he didn’t like reading at the time because it became more about reciting meaningless chants instead of savoring the satisfaction that comes from filling his mind about the fascinating world around him.

From that time on, I assigned my 1:1 reading time with him for just one or two paragraphs each day. 

Implementing my tip on modeling the process, I read the paragraph or two aloud the first time. 

Pausing at commas, and emphasizing important words by the inflection in my voice helped him to see how he should be reading. 

This tip significantly improved his reading comprehension in the first few months.

Besides forming a close bond with him, to this day he has never forgotten the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from understanding what he is reading.

The rest of the day as a Kindergartener he spent with alone reading time, but I could hear him off in the room practicing some of what I had modeled.

By taking this 1:1 crucial time with him, my reader who once loved reading prior to sending him to public school returned to a love of reading.

Visualize and Imagine. 

Too, I had not tapped into my son’s love of visualization. 

Boys especially need to use this strategy. Again, he was a very visual person, but I had not helped him to see that he needed to use that strength to visualize the characters or place.

I had read somewhere that we should teach them like it’s a movie going on in their head. 

It’s true.  I helped him to see that if he could picture what a character wore, how he sounded when he talked and where he lived that those things would add to his understanding of what he was reading. 

It worked. Simply explaining that to my son and helping him to make that connection was all he needed to rapidly improve his reading comprehension.

I learned again that we need to tell and give our kids those strategies specifically instead of thinking or assuming they learn those things by absorbing them. 

Too, let them turn their imagination loose even if you don’t see a fact in the reading for their imagined thought. 

Just the fact they are imagining shows they are attempting to make connections with what they are reading. 

It adds to the intrinsic value too of making reading a lifelong habit.

Too, don’t break down every reading lesson into a chore, but choose carefully when you want to apply the strategies above. 

In the beginning, I did it every day, but after a few weeks, I applied these strategies about 3x a week so that it didn’t become boring. 

Remember, changing from repeating words or phrases over and over again because a child may be intensely focused on phonics or how-to ready instead of meaning takes time to slowly change.

Many children are afraid in the sense they think they are not pleasing you if they don’t read rapidly. 

Every bit of time I have put into helping Mr. Senior 2013 slow down and absorb what he was reading had paid off with tremendous benefits to him as a young adult now.

On many days, he reads more than I do and my heart leaps because of his fondness for reading knowing he has carried this into adulthood. 

There is nothing more satisfying to me as the teacher!!  Give one or two of these tips a try and you’ll see improvement.

What You’ve Got To Know About Teaching Reading Comprehension

Look at some of these other articles:

What You've Got to Know About Teaching Reading Comprehension

How to Catch Up When Your Homeschooled Teen Tests Below Grade Level

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You have had some great questions lately and I can’t help but to ask you if I can share them with my other readers.  Today the dynamic reader question: when your high schooler tests below grade level is one I feel some of you may also be wondering about. 

Homeschool High School Teens

This is one of those questions that you may think that you are alone in asking, but you are not.

Check out Suzanne’s question:

Hi Tina. I just started this homeschooling adventure with my 16 yo/10th grade son…this week! My question is, his assessment says he’s at a 7/8th grade level in Language Arts! He’s feeling kind of bummed out about it. How do I get across to him that this is just the beginning, and he may breeze through this 8th grade work quickly as well as the next couple of levels to get him caught up with actual 10th grade work? I hate to say it, but I didn’t realize it was this bad and he had been “pushed through” these last few years! I’m very upset with our public school system here, and so glad to have this chance to help him. I just want to help him anyway I can.
Thanks for your advise!

First, thank you for asking me!  I know this can be a sensitive subject because as the parent, we may have a tinge of guilt feelings. 

But I am here to tell you that even if you rocked along happily homeschooling on grade level that life could throw you an unwelcoming event.  When the Mr. had his heart attack, I found it more helpful to focus on what I could do to help Mr. Senior 2013 get caught up in high school and not focus on what we had lost.

Help Your Child to See Not All Goes As Planned.  Your attitude in helping him to see that this was not all his fault will help him to not only cover language arts with more focus, but it teaches him that we have to roll with life’s punches. 

View this as an opportunity to turn this into a lesson about more than language arts.  How he deals with this set back is preparation for adulthood and high school. 

He is old enough to appreciate that sometimes because of no fault of our own, we can get behind.  This helps him to focus on a “fix” for the solution and keeps it positive.

Maintain Your Balance In Test Results.  Without knowing what type of test he took, it is hard to assess it (no pun intended).  Though a lot of research goes into standardized testing, there are some tests that are not worth taking.  Remember to not be so quick to assign them validity.

Too, curriculum providers vary from grade level to grade level when it comes to language arts. For example, Rod and Staff, which is one of the most rigorous grammar programs that I have used has a student completing grammar by eighth grade. 

It wasn’t until recently (say within the last 5 to 7 years) that they came out with a high school program. 

Other providers, like Bob Jones High School prefer to use a spiral method of teaching some of the same concepts taught since 4th grade all the way to high school.  Does he really need that much review?

Testing your son using various resources like both the online tests (free or otherwise) provided by language arts provider as well as standardized testing gives you a much more broader view of his capabilities and skills.

Dynamic Reader Question When Your High Schooler Tests Below Grade Level

Language Arts Consist of 4 Skills.  Then after having received a much more clear picture, it is important for you to understand that language arts consists of basically 4 different skills.  This will help you to hone in on the one or two skills that need immediate help. 

The 4 basic skills of language arts are Grammar, Reading, Writing(Composing), Spelling.

Others come into use too like vocabulary, which generally is best learned within a literature or reading program.  Sharpen the skills that are more vital now.

For example, though grammar is important, it is a tool that helps us to navigate while composing thoughts.  If a highschooler is behind in knowing how to master the basics of composition or how to communicate his thoughts effectively, then he will be hampered life-long.  So what I am saying is that not all skills, even under language arts deserve the same amount of time at this age.

It does not mean that he should not work on them, but give the best or earliest part of his day to the most critical skills that he needs so that he is able to master them quicker.  Spelling too can be learned right alongside what he is writing.  For example, hold him accountable to spell each word correctly that he uses in his essays. 

If you do this, (hold him accountable for each language art skills), you will see that on one essay, he will work on all 4 basic language arts skills more effectively. This is a feat to cover each week and he will make rapid progress.

In addition, an online course where a child can go his pace AND get credit is sometimes the solution. Look at this Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved) course that one of my teens did.

Set A Limit.  I found too in working with highschoolers that having clear cut guidelines as to when something needs to be completed by gives him the encouragement and hope to know that it’s not always going to be like this. 

Most teens like to know clear cut guidelines and a stopping point.  When a teen works with no clear cut goal, though we think we have a goal of catching them up, it’s not a finite goal to them.  Most teens will work harder knowing that they will accomplish their first goal.  Anybody works better knowing they have accomplishments.

If need be, cut the assignments in half and especially if he his quickly catching up.

Highschool Graduation “On Time” is VERY Possible.  I learned a very valuable lesson with my first son that I am now practicing with my second highschooler and that is to have a backup plan. 

With Mr. Senior 2013, I had planned all of his high school courses.  Then when we got side swiped, I didn’t have a back up plan.  We had to step rapidly to finish our set course by high school graduation.

With Mr. Awesome, I felt like I have had the best of both worlds,  which is where I lesson planned 2 years of his high school and used part planned for the other 2 years. 

Using an online school, I didn’t want Mr. Awesome to have the unnecessary stress that Mr. Senior 2013 did in that all his course planning came to a halt when I was at the ICU and taking care of the Mr. during Mr. Senior 2013’s high school years.

So what I am saying is that using a very basic high school program like Penn Foster or American School, where they review remedial skills can be a life saver when needed.  Most easy high school programs like that take only two years to do. 

Again, by using part of my courses I selected along with the ones the online school offered, I feel like Mr. Awesome still has a unique high school experience.  It was the perfect compromise for my situation.

Finite goals by both the online school and your courses gives your teen a goal to look forward to and can help close any gaps in his learning.

Being behind is a very grown up and adult issue.  It does not have to be a negative experience, but can be an experience for rapid growth and maturity in how to deal with what comes at us as adults.

Too, don’t forget learning doesn’t stop at high school graduation.

It has been my experience in helping hundreds and hundreds of homeschoolers that these kids are bright, caring and motivated when giving the right reason to be. 

He is not studying language arts just for the sake of catching up, but he is studying language arts because he needs those coping skills as an adult. 

And oh good grief, if I could only answer your questions without writing an online book then I would be happy.  I hope this helps you. 

Give your son a lot of praise, a great big hug and working hard never hurt anybody, but builds strength, character and determination.

You’ll love some of these other tips:

Hugs and love ya,

Divide And Conquer The Ever Growing List of Homeschool Subjects

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We always have the best intention when we add more homeschool subjects to our already busy and jam-packed schedule.  More is better right?Today, I want to share a few of my secrets that help me to divide and conquer the ever growing list of homeschool subjects.

Are You Sabotaging Your Homeschool Day?

Child’s Age Matters.  When teaching the younger grades from PreK to 3rd grade, try to resist the urge to add subjects that go beyond the core subjects.

Look here at What Subjects To Teach and When to Teach Them Part I, What Subjects To Teach and When to Teach Them Part 2,What Subjects To Teach and When to Teach Them Part 3 to get a good overview of the core subjects.

I know, I know, foreign language is best taught in the early grades, but it should not be at the expense of your child not being able to read and write. Too, remember not every homeschool approach is for every child.

When I started homeschooling, I followed a more classical approach, which included teaching Latin extensively.  There were some benefits of learning Latin to Mr. Senior 2013, but looking back I see that I could have given him about half as many lessons to accomplish my purpose.

Instead of helping him at the early ages, I was weighing him down with the complexes of language arts that could have waited until the older grades.

On the other hand, if your child is middle school or high school, you want to have a variety of subjects to whet their appetite.  By this age, they are beyond the learning to read age and need changes in their schedule and how subjects should be approached.

Look at a few of these other posts to help with those ages too. Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 1 and Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 2 .

Teaching Your Children To Be Quitters

Keep it Skinny in the Beginning.  Waiting until your child has a good foot hold on the basic subjects in math and language arts until you introduce other subjects will help him to avoid burn out.

Too, it will give your child a sense of accomplishment because he finishes what he starts.  Why is this important? Because if your child, whatever age they are, never gets past the struggling level, he will never find the intrinsic value of learning.

He never gets the satisfaction and pleasure that comes with learning because he has only struggled with every subject.

Don’t throw out stepping stones to help him be a quitter by continually adding to his mounting list of subjects.

Reevaluate Often/Watch for Overkill.  Life changes, our children grow up and have different opinions than us, and you might find a new side or angle to your child that you didn’t know existed before that you now want to nurture.  Go with it!

Pitch your curriculum in the trash or toss your subjects aside when they have accomplished whatever immediate need that you wanted to.

For example, all of my boys loved covering critical thinking skills when they were younger.  But as they grew older, I realized a lot of the math and history resources that I was using covered some very detailed critical thinking skills.

Divide and Conquer the Ever Growing List of Homeschool Subjects

Covering both history and critical thinking at the same time is a much more better use of your time instead of flipping open the critical thinking workbook after having just covered those skills in history.

Avoid Separating the “Yoke“ Syndrome.   Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves and feel we need to compartmentalize every subject, but learning just does not take place like that no matter how hard we try to keep subjects separate.

Even without trying, our children understand they are covering two or more subjects at a time.  They understand when they are reading a paragraph about the bull fights in Spain that they are not only checking for cohesiveness in a paragraph, but they are learning about another culture.

You can be the only judge of when homeschool subjects are closing in on your homeschool day. Adding a few of these tips that I shared today, I am hoping they will add the spring back into your step and allow you to check the box “completed”.

What do you do when you find that you have more homeschool subjects than children?

Also, you’ll love these tips:

Hugs and love ya

2015 Year Around Homeschool Planning Schedule

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When possible, I always like to give a couple of color choices for most all of my forms. Who doesn’t like choices?  So today, I have a second color choice for the 2015 Year Around Homeschool Planning Schedule.

Here are some of the ways you can use this form:

  • This form works if you live in a country where your school year begins with the physical year.
  • This forms works if you prefer to follow the physical year instead of the school year.  By the way, I did this for many years and I loved it.  I wouldn’t have all the school hype for changing grade levels during a busy time and it seemed prices were cheaper too on some curriculum during mid-winterish.
  • This forms works if you pull your children out mid-school year and want to start planning.

 

2015 Year Around Planning Schedule Pink Smudge Luv

Download 2015 Year Around Planning Schedule Pink Smudge Luv Here.

Sometimes you know you just need a do-over too.  So many times, I have used this form if my academic year got off to an unplanned rocky start and I wanted a do-over.  We can do that you know in homeschool.

Too, if you missed the first color choice I shared a few months back, I have it for you below because I haven’t put it up on STEP 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You! yet.  But since you are following me, you are not missing out.

2015 Year Around Planning Schedule

Download the 2015 Year Around Homeschool Planning Schedule here.

Remember, if you need calendars they are found on STEP 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers.

One more last thing since I have been behind in updating my Curriculum Planner pages under each step on my blog because of my move and all, I wanted to be sure you had grabbed the Field Trip Reference Chart. 

With all the beautiful weather lately, do not wait to start planning and taking field trips.  I have listed field trips by seasons and my page is called Beyond Museums & Zoos  Homeschool Field Trip.  It will help you to think beyond those two places when planning your year.

Field Trip Reference Chart Collage

Download Homeschool Field Trip Reference Chart Here.

Okay, you know I love ya and enjoy,

 

2012Tinasignature Beyond Museums and Zoos Homeschool Field Trip Form

Linking up @ these fabulous places:

Thoughtful Spot | One Project At a Time | The Hip Homeschool Hop |Laugh & Learn | The Mommy Club |What You Wish Wednesday |Finishing Strong Middle & High School |