Tailor Home School Learning to Child and Parent (Or How to Effectively Involve Your Husband!)

"Dad, can I PUH-LEEZ have this video game forcurrently re-enacting so he can make timely and
Christmas?" My thirteen year old son plaintivelyappropriate assignments.
begged his Dad for the millionth time. Over the lastWhy is this method so effective for both my son
couple of years, my son had really developed anand husband?
affinity for video games.Well, my very astute husband has chosen to teach
If my memory is correct, my son was ten years oldwhat my son is already passionate about: war and
when he was introduced to electronic games at aweapons! Instead of reading a dry, boring textbook
friend's house. Before we purchased his first gameon World War II, my son gets to choose multiple
system, we discussed the pros and cons; mytexts from which to learn (by the way, even at 13,
husband and I are so old that we remember playinghe chooses books from the library or bookshelf with
the old Atari game system twenty years ago, andlots of glossy photos!) My husband also benefits from
we always had fun playing with friends. We agreedthis teaching method because he gets to draw from
to limit his playing time and monitor the content. Wehis own extensive interest in the subject and teach
started with games that were rated E which meantsomething he knows alot about. He doesn't have to
the content was suitable for everyone, and as hespend a lot of his free time on researching the
matured we allowed T or teen games.subject so this type of teaching doesn't cramp his
His first real passion was fueled by Nintendowork schedule. What a win-win situation for both my
GameCube. I cannot tell you how many times overboys!
the years he played and mastered The Legend ofHow can you use similar teaching techniques in your
Zelda and Super Smash Brothers; I have heard thehome school?
theme music so often that I can recall it in my sleep!First, pay close attention to your children's interests.
Next, he became absorbed in Microsoft Xbox gamesHow do they spend their free time? Does your
like Star Wars Battlefront II and Knights of the Olddaughter like to write or cook or collect earthworms
Republic.in her spare time? Does your son collect baseball
Recently, my son began to yearn for games thatcards, build with lego blocks, or meticulously paint car
imitated battles like Call of Duty III which is a Tand airplane models? Make a short list of their
game that is based on World War II battles ininterests, abilities, and blossoming gifts.
France. We were concerned about the possibility ofNext, make a short list of what interests, gifts, and
realistic battle scenes, but my husband came up withabilities you and your husband have. You may be an
a creative way to capitalize on my son's passion foravid chef while your husband may be an expert at
the game by incorporating some learning in historybuilding models. Find the intersections of your
and science.children's interests and your interests, then use those
Since most of the battles take place in a realstrengths as starting points for launching studies.
geographical place and revolve around real battles,Craft a learning plan that is tailored to both child and
my husband decided to use my son's interest in theparent, and be flexible with the type of content.
game to advance his knowledge and understandingVary the materials: use books, photos, and DVDs for
of military and political history. Periodically, he has mythe initial research, and be sure to incorporate lots of
son research one of the historical events like thehands-on experience so that the child begins to really
battle of Normandy, write an essay, and then discussmaster the subject matter.
it. Future plans include some physical scientific studyWhen both parents are involved with home schooling,
by assigning some of the weapons and munitions forthe burden is shared, and learning will be fun for the
research and discussion. By watching my son play theentire family!
video game, my husband knows what battles he is