Homeschooling ADD Kids

Here’s the first unit study that we created that we are sharing with our subscribers and blog readers.  If you are visiting here for the first time or have forgotten what unit studies are and how than can help you with homeschooling, click here to read our previous posting about unit studies.

As the title of this post suggests, this unit study focuses on dogs as it’s theme.  The skills taught within either this unit study or further sections of the Unit Study on Dogs include reading, writing stories and poems, math, problem-solving, cooking, vocabulary-building, responsibility, geography and art.

Before starting this unit study, please read our previous post on How to Use Unit Studies on This Blog.

STORIES

SKILLS: READING, WRITING, ART, CONVERSATION, FORMULATING OPINIONS

Start by having your child read a story, or part of a story somehow related to dogs.  If you child cannot read at all yet, then simply read to him.  In the future we will write a blog post that focuses completely on how to teach a child with ADD how to read.

You might choose to use a book that you already have at home that is about dogs or pick one up at the library.  Since books can be expensive to buy, check out SwapTree.  SwapTree is an online community you can use to trade books you that you no longer want for books that you are would like to have.

If you choose to get a book or use one that you already have,  before starting, read through our post entitled "Tips on Teaching Your ADD Child How to Read Better".

If you don’t want to go to a library, and you don’t have any books around about dogs, you can find entire children’s books online.  Which one you choose will depend on the reading level of your child.  Here are some links to books focusing on dogs from various sites:

Antique Books: Click on any of the books about dogs.

Mother Hubbard at Children’s Books Online

Nobody’s Dog at Children’s Library

Have your child read out loud for about 15 minutes.  If he has trouble concentrating for that long, cut it down to 10 minutes or less.  Ask him what he liked and didn’t like about that book or the chapter that he read.  Ask him why he thinks the dog or other characters acted the way that they did.

Next, choose a book that is above his reading level, but not above his level of comprehension.  This time you read the book or chapter to him.  Read for about 15 minutes if you can retain his attention for that long, less if not.  Ask him similar questions as you did with the book that he read.  Try not to ask trivia such as people’s names or dates.  Get him to focus on the why’s and how’s of things instead.  Don’t fret if he misunderstands some points in the book.

Now have your child write a few sentences or paragraphs about what he liked in the story, what he didn’t like, and how and why the characters did certain things.  Since he first responded orally, he should have a basic idea already of what he will write.

If he enjoys drawing, have him draw his favorite part and use comic book-like clouds above the characters heads to write some things that they said in the story.

Do not correct his spelling, but help him if he asks you how to spell certain words.  Save what he wrote and teach him the correct spelling of words he spelt wrong on another day.  You don’t need to explain that you are using those words.   If you focus too much on his misspellings he might not write so freely and willingly in the future.

Add the page or pages he wrote to a "reading journal".  He can help you make it by  drawing a picture for its cover and stapling it together.  Review the journal from time to time with him and talk about books he read in the past.

How much time it takes to verbally answer the questions and then write the answers will vary greatly from child to child.  Generally, you don’t want him to spend so long on it that he gets tired of it and becomes uninterested.  On the average it will probably take an additional 20 minutes to do the questions part.

BREAK

Take an exercise break with your child.  If the weather is nice enough, go for a brisk, 10-minute walk or do some jumping jacks, pushups, jogging-in-place, squats and similar exercises that can be done indoors.  Read more about the advantages of doing these physical exercises periodically.

MAKING DOG TREATS

SKILLS: MATH, WRITING, GROCERY SHOPPING, COOKING, SHARING, CARING

Go to the the "Treat Your Pet" page on the National Geographic Kids website to read a recipe about how to make your own dog treats.

You probably won’t have all of the ingredients.  This gives you the opportunity to teach him even more skills.  Make a shopping list together.  Have him write it while you help him.  Then go to the store together.  Make sure to bring cash if possible.

Ask him to try and figure out where the items would be in the store by looking at the signs in each aisle.  Help him to reason on why flour might be in the "BAKING" aisle and so forth.

When you get to the cash register, either have him figure out how many bills to give the cashier or help him if he hasn’t done it before.  Ask him to figure out how much change he will get back.  If he can’t figure it out just calmly and happily say "oh, we should go over that on the whiteboard (or chalkboard) at home".  When you get home use the whiteboard and change and help him to figure out why he was given the amount of change he was given.  Come up with a simple cash/change problem that you think he can figure out.  Do just a few and then make sure to commend him.

Show him how to print out the recipe, instead of just printing it out yourself.  Then make the treats together.

While measuring the ingredients, teach him how to use measuring cups and what is 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, and how they relate to each other.  Show him how 2 half cups make 1 whole cup and 4 quarter cups make 1 whole cup, etc.  Don’t concentrate so much on getting the dog treats made that you don’t take the time to teach him how to use fractions in cooking.  Don’t worry if he doesn’t seem to understand it fully.

Once the treats have cooled, let him feed the treats to your dog, if you have one, or go to a friend’s or neighbor’s house and give the treats as a gift to one of them for one of their dogs.

Between going to the store, reviewing how to figure out change, and possibly traveling to a neighbor’s house, you could easily spend several hours on this activity.

JUST FOR FUN

Go to this online video: : Guiness Book World Record for Dog Popping Balloons.  End your day watching it and laughing together.

COMING NEXT WEEK

Next Monday we’ll continue the "dogs" theme with activities that will teach more math and writing as well as geography and problem-solving.

FEEDBACK

Please comment on this unit study.  Let us know what you liked and didn’t like about it so we can improve future unit studies.  Or let us know how you used it with your child and any variations you made in the activities.

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