The Kids Who Need Homeschooling the Most

Children who learn by doing and by direct involvement are tailor-made for homeschooling. These kids remember best by what was done, not what was seen or talked about. They are often the wiggle-worms who find reasons to move no matter how much they're told not to.

If you force these children to sit at a desk all day to do their work, it's about like fitting them in a straight jacket and telling them to have a nice time doing their work. They'll concentrate so hard on ways to move, they won't be able to concentrate on their work.

Instead of stressing over them, unleash them and let them go. After all, someday they just may be a David out slaying a Goliath. God put this extra energy in him for a purpose. Reward this child with pats on the back, hugs, or better still, just go play ball with him.

But here's a few more ideas for those kids who need movement to learn:

• Have them jump rope as they learn the times tables
• Let them race, jump on a mini-trampoline or have some other physical exercise in between subjects.
• Have them do their work on a large white board.
• Have them act out a story instead of writing it.
• Allow them to squeeze a soft ball as they work.
• Allow them to work at a standing position.
• If they must sit for a while, let them sit on a large therapy ball. (I know of one boy who went from a five minute attention span to forty minutes after he began to sit on a ball.)
• Allow them to mold clay as they learn a new concept.
• Place the answers to questions across the room on note cards and have them cross the room to bring the right answer back.

Whatever you do with these kids, don't keep them in the prison of a chair and desk.

What ideas can you share with us for a kinesthetic learner?