ML Workshop Weekend

My brain is done hurting.

Oh, I jest!

Or do I?????

I attended (and presented) Friday's workshop #1 with the magnificent Therese and the effervescent Jocelyn. We had so much fun connecting with the moms.

Shout out to Coreen, Corie!, Nancy, Suzanne, Veronica, Jorien and Corrina!!! We had a lot of laughs, great discussion and tons of enthusiasm as everyone caught onto the foundations of Mediated Learning.

I would insert the pictures I took, but my camera is still acting up.

Boo, camera, Boo!!!!!! :(

I will say, however, that I scored a seat next to the food and the bowl of chocolate mints that Jocelyn brought. The bowl was empty at the end of the day and I may have contributed to that.

Hard to tell.

This was a great group to hang out with and they were very forgiving when I introduced myself with, "...most of you have had the pleasure of speaking with me on the phone."

What I meant to say was, "I have had the pleasure of speaking with you on the phone."

This was how the morning began...raucous laughter from start to end--and not all of it was caused by my innate ability to collect embarrassing moments like a bad hobby ;)

THEN...

Saturday I attended Workshop #4 Learning Challenges. Have you attended that one yet?

You need to.

But be forewarned: it.is. INTENSE.

I came home after the workshop and went to sleep for 10 hours after the workshop. It was that intense.*** My brain was saying, "Thanks for all the info. Now go to sleep so I can store it in its proper places."

I was all too happy to oblige.

Shout out to great hubby who put the kids to bed for his wife who was sawing logs!

I LOVED this workshop. I was a bit hesitant to attend because I don't have any (that I know of) learning challenges in my home that fall under the typical labels of ADD, Autism spectrum, and the like.

But the information I learned about strengthening the cognitive functions and the stories that other mothers shared about where their kids struggle was a treasure all its own.

Shout out to Veronica, Jorien, Lynn, Yvonne and Ann--all incredible ladies who I love to spend time with and were most gracious with me as we neared the end of the workshop and I became convinced that I had all the cognitive function weaknesses that were being pointed out.

I claim being on overload as my defense!

Anyhow, if you can get to one of these workshops, do it!

The time invested will pay off tremendously.

***it must be mentioned that I did too workshops back to back. So, "intense" is a relative description here :)

WHERE TO START--WORKSHOP #1

Did you just finish Workshop #1?

Here's a quick guide to my blog that coincides with the workshop sheet suggestions for getting started and implementing Workshop #1 principles into your home.

I've included posts of how it's looked in my own--both the flops and the successes

Remember the 3 Core Elements

(click here to be reminded)

Chose 1 basic issue per child (academic or behaviour) and simply start mediating there.

Click here to read a post on character

Click here to read a post on academic

Read Your handouts and learn more about how the brain learns

ASK,ASK,ASK. Ask process questions--find out what they are thinking?

Click here to read a post on process questions

Wait a l-o-o-o-n-g time for your child to answer(5 seconds or more) patiently and pleasantly

Click here to read a post on waiting for an answer

Do the Human Figure drawing regularly, weekly or bi-weekly--discuss it with your child

Click here to read a post on Human Figure Drawing

Play logic/strategy games, do puzzles, brain benders with your children often

Click here to read a post on a strategy game

Talk about your history/ethnic background and include family traditions. This helps your child know who they are and whose they are and facilitates a sense of belonging.

Click here to read a post on having a sense of belonging

Appreciate your children's differences. Include different activities.

Click here to see how I vary activities for my family

Discuss the reasons behind activity/behaviours--the underlying theme, pattern, principles

Focus on steps forward NOT failures-no sarcasm or anger

Click here to read a post about leaving your children in a place of success

Click here to read about leaving yourself in a place of success

Visit www.5minutemom.blogspot.com

Well, you are here, thanks for stopping in. Please leave me a comment and let me know if I'm helpful!

Workshop #1 Get started!

I just came back from another fabulous workshop. (Woot! Woot! Therese and Jocelyn)

Mediated Learning workshop#1 was held at the lovely Kendra's home. I enjoyed meeting everyone (shout out to Kendra, Faith, Paul and Bev and Lisa! I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Is it time for a break yet?")

We had loads of fun and a good time learning about everyone's story regarding homeschooling and mediated learning.

Attending this workshop has got my brain ticking.

Tick,tick,tick.

Yes, my brain is making the same sound that a time bomb makes.

Draw your own conclusions.

So, in an effort to be helpful to those attending the workshops, I will be making some posts that you can access immediately after you've attended a particular workshop. These posts will be connected to what parts of the material you can implement and some of my own stories on how I put the information into practice.

I hope this provides some help to everyone.

Expect those to be up and running in a week's time.

In the mean time, check out this post right here to give you some ideas to get started.