Author: Karen Lemons

#skilled #fun #relational #experienced #faithful
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Unleashing Social Learning: The Lemons-Aid Way in Virtual Classrooms

Social Learning Online

God created us to be social beings, and we need connection with others like we need oxygen. Sadly, during the COVID-19 shutdowns, loneliness struck with a vengeance, and we realized that our mental and physical health, and even our ability to learn, are significantly impacted by our interactions with fellow human beings.

 

Social learning encompasses two aspects: learning with and from others. Think of it as joining a community where you not only soak up knowledge and learn skills but also observe the behavior of those around you and model it. It’s like watching a bunch of adorable puppies learning good manners and pack norms from their fellow furry friends. However, not every environment is a puppy paradise. Take off-leash dog parks, for instance. They might provide an emergency vet’s job security, but they’re not exactly the best place to socialize your puppy. Why, you ask? Well, there’s a risk of learning bad behaviors and even getting hurt.

 

Now, let’s tackle a persistent myth about homeschooling. People often assume that homeschooled kids aren’t “socialized.” They think public schools are the holy grail of social skills education and social connection. But hang on a second! Some public schools can be downright toxic cesspools of chaos, devoid of any godliness. In these places, kids feel unsafe, their values are ridiculed, and their identities are challenged or even despised. Despite being surrounded by peers, they can end up feeling lonely and disconnected. These schools are like those off-leash dog parks but for humans. Not the kind of place you’d want your kids to learn social skills, right?

 

In stark contrast, homeschooling parents are the champions of social opportunities for their children. They create a network of family life, church, sports, jobs, and neighborhoods where social skills are honed in a much more healthy way because they have better models.

  • Family life is like a crash course in sibling diplomacy, submitting to authority, pulling their own weight, playing, negotiating, loving, sacrificing, putting the needs of others ahead of their own, laughing, crying, and serving God with gusto.
  • Church is more like a hospital than a country club, filled with imperfect people whom kids learn to serve and love sacrificially. It’s where kids deepen their understanding of God and build healthy relationships with mentors.
  • Sports is the ultimate training ground for teamwork, collaboration, sacrifice, and the rollercoaster ride of victory and defeat. Failures and successes are shared with others, creating bonds and memories that last a lifetime. Parents are right there with them helping them understand the fallen nature of man, how to deal with conflict, and how to please God even in a community of people with different values.
  • Jobs—when kids reach the age to work, it’s time to dive into the world of jobs. They learn the art of treating customers with respect and kindness, even in the face of mistreatment. They discover the importance of hard work, effective communication, submission to authority, money management, and so much more. My own kids even mastered the fine art of smiling, making eye contact, and engaging in delightful conversations with strangers at our local Chick-Fil-A. It was “their pleasure!” 😉
  • Neighborhoods become the place for adventurous kids on bikes. They explore fields, play street hockey, engage in the occasional argument, and learn the art of conflict resolution. It’s a playground where they discover the magic of solving problems together.

But what about education? Skilled homeschool moms and dads know how to create social learning opportunities for their kids as their children learn with and from siblings, extended family, and in online classes, co-ops, micro-schools, local pods, and other exciting new ways.

 

Welcome to Lemons-Aid Learning, where students have a positive community in virtual classrooms! We’ve mastered the art of social learning, ensuring that our students not only acquire knowledge but also thrive in a supportive community. Whether students are discussing grades with teachers, cheering on fellow students during presentations, praying together, or meeting deadlines with finesse, our platform provides a healthy environment for social growth. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable educational adventure where learning and camaraderie go hand in hand. It’s the Lemons-Aid Way.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Boosting Learning through Accountability: The Lemons-Aid Way

Let’s dive into a crucial aspect of learning: accountability. Did you know that holding learners accountable for their education can significantly improve their learning outcomes? Let’s explore why this is the case, introduce the concept of authentic assessment, and connect it all to biblical principles. 

Accountability: The Key to Effective Learning

Holding students accountable for their learning means making sure they take responsibility for their educational progress. When learners understand that they’re expected to actively participate and engage with the material, they will learn. They even begin to pursue knowledge and understanding with genuine enthusiasm as their natural curiosity kicks in.

Roadblocks to Accountability

Pain. That’s what gets in the way. Since learning is an active process, it takes engagement and intentional effort. But learning is hard! Remember struggling with a piece of writing or a math concept? It’s uncomfortable. We don’t like it. We want it to come easy. 

The second roadblock is an education system and a culture that won’t allow our kids that struggle. When my kids were little and in Christian school, they would throw themselves on the floor, spewing bodily fluids from their noses and mouths when things were hard. I confess I sometimes removed the struggle for them by contacting the teacher and saying it was too hard. Embarrassing, I know. But other times, I told them to suck it up and be tough. I reminded them that learning is hard and that they can do hard things! We want our kids to struggle! They should be standing up on their tippy, tippy toes to reach new learning. Learning takes effort, work, and perseverance. If we remove the struggle, they miss out on so much, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

Thankfully, I figured this out. When they were homeschooling with me in middle and high school, they had learned to work through those painful moments of confusion. They learned to use resources to figure it out! They got tough. I stopped being a roadblock myself by allowing the natural roadblocks to remain in place for them to navigate. This is accountability. 

Authentic Assessment: A Form of Accountability

Now, let’s talk about authentic assessment. Why do I use the word “authentic?” It means the assessment is a true measure of student learning or skill acquisition. It’s a tool to measure AND communicate. As an educator since 1995, I have grappled with this issue, reading theory and research, to understand the relationship between assessment and learning. But the most formative lessons I learned were in the classroom.

I discovered that the more accountability I removed, the lazier students became and the less they learned. It was when I stood firm on due dates, limiting “re-does,” and using authentic assessment, students rose to the occasion. Learning improved. I could only do this in a school where things were a little counter to our culture. Grace Christian School in Alaska was a special place with special families. People in Alaska embrace struggle just to live in America’s Last Frontier. Everything is hard work but worth it because the enjoyment that comes after or from the work is outstanding. Think hunting, fishing, hiking, and skiing! Those things are hard, but so fun. So, most parents didn’t get mad at me when their kiddo got a bad grade. Instead, they told their kids to work harder. Get help. Toughen up. And they did! 

Biblical Principles: Humility & Wisdom

The Bible emphasizes the importance of learning from parents (and by extension, teachers). Proverbs 1:8-9 (NIV) says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” This passage highlights the value of seeking wisdom from those who guide us and the idea that wisdom is a treasure worth pursuing.

Embracing this biblical principle, we encourage students to seek guidance from their parents and teachers, taking ownership of their learning and becoming wise learners.

The Lemons-Aid Way: Accountability and Assessment in Action

At Lemons-Aid, we’re dedicated to helping learners reach their full potential. We understand the importance of accountability and authentic assessment in the learning process, so we’ve designed our courses with these principles in mind.

Our approach ensures that students not only grasp the material but also develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for real-life success. Through assessments and ongoing feedback, we help learners stay accountable and track their progress, setting them up for a bright future with the skills to leap over those roadblocks. Because they’re tough enough!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

How Engaged Learners Succeed: The Lemons-Aid Way

From the pink sand beaches to the green rolling hills and spotted islands, from the pastel homes to the stunning blue waters filling the coves, this is Bermuda. Isn’t she beautiful?

 

“Are any of you in Bermuda? Come back to me. Engage your minds! No cognitive vacations!” These are comments students hear in my classroom as I watch them, making sure their minds are engaged. It’s normal for students’ minds to wander when they’re bored, tired, distracted, worried, or a task is hard. My mind wanders, too. So does yours. Have you ever been reading a book and your eyes fall on all the words…you turn the page…and then you realize, “I have no idea what I just read!” Has it happened to you while driving where you can’t remember the last five miles? Whelp! I daydream about the pink sand and rocky shores on my favorite beach in Bermuda. I call this unplugged brain a “cognitive vacation.” The brain says, “See ya! I’m headed somewhere a little more interesting.”

Which learner is not engaged with the teacher?
 
Teacher Observations or Student Observations?

As a teacher of teachers, I observe instructors’ lessons and watch the students as much as I watch the teacher. What am I looking for? Learner engagement! When learners are engaged, it means their brains are thinking as they are watching, listening, or doing. It’s an active process! And it produces excellent learning. Unfortunately, students prefer to be passive “attenders” instead of active learners. It’s hard to engage sometimes. At Lemons-Aid, keeping learners engaged is essential. When learners are engaged, they can do hard and incredible things!

She is ENGAGED!
 
So, what does engaged learning look like?

It’s when kids are active in the learning experience. They’re asking questions, participating in discussions, and completing assignments with intentional effort, even when it’s hard. They’re not just going through the motions – they’re invested in what they’re learning, even if the subject matter isn’t their favorite.

The Lemons-Aid Way to Learner Engagement:
  1. First, we teach our students what active engagement is. They learn to recognize when their brains take a cognitive vacation and then have the ability to shake off that beachy sand and return to whatever they’re doing in the classroom. Sure, some learning tasks are tough and, honestly, not enjoyable. It’s hard to struggle with a math concept, and it doesn’t feel great when confused. We teach kids that they can do hard things if they embrace the struggle and power through it. There is a great reward when they can do this. All students can learn and can achieve!
  2. At Lemons-Aid, we work hard and are intentional in keeping learners engaged. One way we do this is through gamification. We use games and interactive activities to make learning more fun and to keep them engaged. Gamification is much more than rewards for accomplishing a task. Lemons-Aid is developing authentic gamification for our courses that keep our learners coming back. We have just scratched the surface.
  3. We also focus on real-world learning applications so kids can see how their learning is relevant to their lives. We accomplish this in a few different ways. For example, on the Lemons-Aid “road map” of future platform development, we are planning a student-led marketplace where students can create and sell products as business professionals. The real-world application of their learning is motivating and rewarding.
  4. Perhaps most important is teaching them the biblical application of what they’re learning. All learning is the study of God and His world, and all learning is about Him. It’s exciting to know God better from our studies.
  5. Practically speaking, we have kids keep their cameras on during online classes. This helps them feel more connected to their teachers and peers, making the learning experience more interactive. We have other class management superpowers we use to keep them focused as well.
  6. Finally, we make sure that our lesson development is engaging for learners. We use a variety of interactive lessons and multimedia, like videos and infographics, and we encourage collaboration between students. We also provide timely feedback on assignments and assessments so kids can see their progress and stay motivated.

At Lemons-Aid Learning, we commit to keeping kids engaged in their learning. We know that when students are active learners, they can achieve amazing things!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Glory of Beauty: How Aesthetics Reflect God’s Character

God is the ultimate Creator, and all beauty ultimately comes from Him. From the stunning majesty of the natural world to the intricate details of a work of art, God’s handiwork is all around us, reflecting His character and reminding us of His goodness and grace. This is why we are careful at Lemons-Aid to select beautiful literature, study the wonders of science, and learn the structure and design of mathematics. 

The beauty in our surroundings and in our focus of study can inspire and uplift us, bringing peace and joy to our lives. When we contemplate the majesty of a sunset, the intricacy of a snowflake, or even the artful and creative way a story is written, we are reminded of God’s sovereignty and power, bringing hope and trust in God. A painting, its beauty holding our gaze, or a building, its elegance drawing us inside, helps us see glimpses of God’s creativity and design. In my younger years, I worked on cruise ships and traveled extensively. When off the ship, I used to rent a scooter and drive around the island of Bermuda, the most beautiful place on the planet! As I drove up a hill and around a bend, my breath was taken away at the vast scene before me. The ocean, with various colors of blue as a result of the coral reefs underwater, hit a pink-sand shoreline, lined by lush trees, bushes, and rocky cliffs, my heart jumped in praise to the Creator of such a stunning landscape.

However, not all things in our world are beautiful. Poorly designed architecture or other forms of visual pollution can have a demoralizing effect on us. Despair, hopelessness, and emptiness creep into our minds and our moods. Think of a gray, uninspired building, quickly built for high-occupancy housing. Nothing about a building like that brings about awe. It’s ugly! In contrast, beautiful things can bring hope and encouragement, reminding us of the greatness of our God and the possibilities of what He can do in our lives.

In the Bible, the importance of beauty is especially seen in the design and construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple in the Old Testament. These structures were created to be beautiful and to reflect the glory of God. They served as a visual reminder of God’s presence and His holiness, inspiring the people to worship and praise Him. Imagine the splendor of the new heaven and new earth when they are revealed! Do you think we will see colors never seen before when we are in heaven? What beauty will we bestow when we look upon Jesus Himself?

As believers, we have a responsibility to cultivate and appreciate beauty in all its forms. By doing so, we honor God and reflect His character to those around us. Let us seek to surround ourselves with beauty, whether in the form of nature, art, or people, and let us be inspired by its transformative power. Through our appreciation and study of beauty, we can bring glory to God and experience His magnificence in a way that will be far surpassed when we are in heaven and without the taint of sin!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The College Application Essay: How to Get Started

black woman writing with pencil in notebook

Dear high school juniors,

You have one more year of high school, and graduation is on the horizon. Senior year of high school is a busy one, so now is the time to write those college application essays. You don’t need to feel overwhelmed, because you are ready, and you can do this! Here’s a tip to get you started: first consider your purpose by understanding and analyzing the writing prompt. Of course, your purpose is to convince them that you are a perfect fit for their institution and that you will be successful there. It is also an opportunity to show off your writing skills and illustrate a side of you that isn’t represented in your transcripts and test scores.

But I want you to do more. I mean, really think about what you are being asked to do.

For example, let’s say you are applying to Stanford University. Stanford requires the Coalition application or the Common Application which has essay prompts of their own. But Stanford also requires responses to the “Stanford Questions.” For example, applicants must write a reflection “on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.” Now ask yourself these questions: based on the prompt, what is Stanford looking for in their students? Well, they want curious students who are intrinsically motivated to learn. Did you notice the word “genuine?” They want you to reveal an authentic side of you that has a passion for learning as a result of an interesting idea or something you experienced! Take a minute to think about what that means. What does excitement for learning look like? Hmmm. Well, let’s think of a couple of examples. To the extreme, consider the literary scientist, Dr. Frankenstein! He saw lightning strike a tree that sparked that ardent desire to understand the deepest mysteries of creation and destruction. Nothing was going to stand in his way. He’s the prototypical mad scientist! Now consider a first-grade student. That inquisitive little boy or girl that always asks why questions comes into a classroom enthralled by the world and exhibits genuine—yes, genuine—excitement about learning. You can hear it in their squeals while watching a chemical reaction that results in something that looks like dragon–or is it elephant–toothpaste! So what about you? What idea or experience has sparked a deep desire for discovery?

Do you see how an understanding and analysis of a prompt can help you begin? It will serve you well to talk to your parents, teachers, and friends about the prompt before you put one stroke of your pencil to paper. You are preparing yourself to write and all of this thinking and talking is helping you generate ideas! This is pre-writing!

So, what are you waiting for? Get started by analyzing your writing prompts for your purpose.

If you want some support and more instruction in this process, join me for a writing workshop! I’ll walk you through the process and then help you with grammar and editing. You will finish the workshop with at least one polished essay.

And remember, when you get to Stanford, I expect you to send me a postcard saying hello, okay?

Come see me! Sign up for the College Application Essay Writing Workshop!

I’ll see you soon, but in the meantime, take a look at the red and yellow elephant toothpaste!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Is Teaching and Learning Grammar a Waste of Time?

The Purpose.

The purpose of learning grammar is to write something beautiful. Or persuasive. Or inspirational. Or . . . . Fill in the blank. Authors strive for clarity, but writing is also an art. Grammar knowledge is like having a number of gadgets in your toolbox to help you get the job done. If you want to build a beautiful piece of furniture–say a patio table that will seat your guests for long, summer dinners–you need to have the right tools. Furniture has function, of course, but it also has style. Do you want the top of your table to have a beveled edge? Why? Your choice to stain the wood instead of paint it is grounded in a stylistic or functional purpose. Writing is the same! How can an author use words, syntax, and grammar to bring about an emotion in his reader? When should you start a sentence with an participial phrase? What effect does a long string of dependent clauses have on the advancement of an idea or theme? So, teaching and learning grammar is not a waste of time. To communicate well, and with a stylistic and functional purpose, writers need to understand how to use the tools of the trade–nouns, verbs, semicolons, oh my!

What About Sentence Diagraming?

I used to teach sentence diagraming. I liked the mathematics-like structure of the language and saw beauty in the variety of how words could be placed together to form an idea. Frustrated that my middle school students didn’t see it my way, I was even more discouraged that their skill in diagraming didn’t translate to beautiful composition. What was I to do? 

The Vertical Planning Meeting.

As a middle school teacher and high school teacher at a small Christian school, we had a vertical planning meeting for English language art curriculum. An elementary teacher asked a high school teacher what she should be doing to prepare students for secondary school. The high school teacher responded, “Teach them how to write a sentence!” At that point, our sweet elementary teacher was not so sweet anymore. “That’s all we do!” she responded defensively. 

Research to the Rescue.

I wanted to know why my middle school and high school students couldn’t write sentences since that’s all they had done in elementary school. 😉 

I discovered that students compartmentalize grammar knowledge and do not transfer their knowledge when composing pieces of writing. I also discovered that students should be combining sentences all the way through high school! We high school teachers are the ones that need to teach them how to write a sentence! As students age, their speech naturally becomes more complex; they don’t know how to punctuate those complex sentences. 

Recommended Curriculum.

Homeschool moms know a thing or two! They’ve been using the following curriculum for a long time, but once I implemented the techniques in these books, my students made quick progress that awed me. Here’s the list: 

Easy Grammar. The sentence combining is the most valuable and without this aspect of the curriculum, I would not recommend it. 

Donald & Jenny Killgallon texts. I start with the elementary book even with high school students as it’s hard for them. There is one caveat here–these are not texts to just give to your learners and have them go at it alone. I found that you need to explicitly teach and model and guide them along, so they have success. 

Recommended Courses.

If this is something you want to outsource to Lemons-Aid, we are happy to teach! Check out these courses: 

A Cut Above (a 2-day, get-your-feet-wet course)

State of the Art (an ongoing subscription course)

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ten Secrets for Teens who are Learning Online or at Home

Teens online learning

Whether your teenager is a seasoned online learner or is navigating online or at-home learning for the first time, they all have moments or seasons of struggle. Motivation can be a killer. Here are some tips for your teenagers to make learning online or at home more productive and successful!

Grind on One Subject

If you have the flexibility to work on only one class per day, you may just love this idea! I found that when my own teens work on just one self-paced class for weeks at a time, they are more focused, learn the material better, get better grades, and they lose very little time switching to five different subjects each day. For example, my 9th grader is doing Social Studies right now. He finishes a week of Social Studies in one day, which is about four or five hours of work. He does this for four weeks and is then finished with a semester. Try it out if you can!

No Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room

Wait, huh? Let me explain. You know the kids that skip class to vape in the bathroom? I hope that’s not you. If so, stop it right now. You’re better than that. The online version of “skipping class to vape in the bathroom” is the YouTube sneak that sucks HOURS of your productive time. It’s bad, bad for the brain. You are doing a lot of damage to yourself. Oh, the temptation will be real, like a vortex, sucking you into that hype YouTube channel. This is especially true if your mom walks out of the room. Don’t click! To fight it you will need to own your own learning. Decide for yourself to be a learner, grow, and get smart. Save YouTube for when you’re done for the day. Repeat after me: I am smart! I am successful! I will not vape in the bathroom….or watch YouTube during school.

Get Your Zzz’s

Did you know that super-smart scientists say teenagers need lots of sleep? Just don’t sleep on a railroad track like the dude in the picture above. That seems dangerous. And not super comfortable. Some teenagers need to sleep later in the morning, too. Talk to your parents about this to work out a schedule that allows you to get healthy sleep, and be careful of getting too much sleep, which isn’t good. This is one of the biggest benefits of online learning–you get to customize a schedule. Also, you may find that you are really productive in the evening hours. I only let one of my three teenage boys work late at night by himself because he has proven himself responsible by getting good grades and meeting deadlines. The other two? Um, no! If you like to work late at night, prove to your parents that you’re grown-up enough to be trusted.

Schedule Your Breaks

Back to our smart scientists. They also say that an hour of vigorous exercise helps with focus JUST AS WELL AS ADHD meds. Slay, scientists! Take a break at the intervals you need and think about managing these with a timer. Get up and jump rope for five minutes after you’ve been sitting and staring at a screen for 45 minutes. Race your brother around the block. You’ve just exercised your brain. Now go exercise your quads.

Wait Just a Minute!

By break, I didn’t say video game break, did I? If you take a break to play video games, your motivation to get back to school will go down to the depths of, well, a bad place. Seriously, use video games to motivate you to finish your work! When you’re finished with school, you can relax and enjoy that NHL game, Call of Duty, or League of Legends.

Dress Smart. Get Smart.

Don’t think Zoom won’t see your bare legs if you decide to go commando during your live class session. Just ask that reporter in the screengrab above. Yep, he did an interview on national television and didn’t wear pants! You may want to wear them, just in case. What about PJ’s? I used to think a benefit to online learning is being able to stay cozy. But I found that it is a motivation-killer. You feel how you dress. Dress smart; get smart. And wear pants.

Move Your Mouth.

Get snacks if you want. Chew gum. There are no rules about munching while you study! Chewing gum can actually help you stay focused. Really! That is unless you’re talking to a teacher online while munching on chips–then it’s kind of gross.

Stay Organized.

Sit at an organized desk, preferably in an area where a parent can see what you are doing. If your environment is messy, you’ll feel it. You may need a little more accountability to work hard when what you really feel like doing is plopping on your bed for “just a sec.” If you do work in a room by yourself, keep it organized.

You Can Do Hard Things.

Motivation is an issue. I know. Your mom will absolutely annoy you the more she nags. You will have days where you just aren’t feelin’ it. But, you are tough and strong and can make good decisions. And your feelings aren’t the boss of you. Online learning requires a lot of independence and personal responsibility for solving problems. Typically, online classes have less direct instruction from a teacher, which means you have to figure things out on your own, using resources. If you have a math problem that only a quantum physicist can solve, you can fall back on a strategy. Be proactive and take these steps:

  1. Take a big breath and embrace this disequilibrium. Confusion and frustration are normal when you’re learning. If you don’t feel it, you are not being challenged enough. You’re about to learn something new, and that is cool!
  2. Say out loud, “This is hard, and I can do hard things.”
  3. Ask yourself: What do I already know about this? What do I not understand and why (are there too many tough vocab words in the math problem)? Where can I find the answers to my questions? Then think of resources (your textbook, Khan Academy, Crash Course, Google) and use them before you ask an adult. For example, let’s say you have to write a paragraph on why Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, which you find difficult even after reading your textbook. Google to see if there’s a video that can help you. I know what you’re thinking! YouTube! Well, so long as you are learning and not smoking, you’ll be fine. But check the credibility of the video to make sure you can trust the information. Watching a short video on this topic could help you build up your understanding. Then go read your textbook again. You can do it!
  4. If you have taken steps to solve this problem on your own and are still struggling, then ask your parent for some support, or fire off an email to your teacher. He or she may even meet with you to support you. Teachers are awesome, and they like teens…generally.

Minimize Distractions.

Listen to Mrs. Lemons–put your phone away, set your computer up to a “do not distract” setting, close unnecessary tabs, turn off notifications, and focus! If your phone is blowing up, it is nearly impossible to stay focused on your reading. There are even apps on the phone that help with focusing your attention. One is called Forest. As you focus, accomplish tasks, and even take breaks, you build a big forest. The app will detect if you pick up the phone, which will kill your beautiful trees!

So there you go! Do you have other suggestions for teenagers? Share them in the comments for others to read.

See you soon!