learning languages

“What’s this?”- Tips for homeschooling curious kids!

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

If your kid is always asking “What’s that?” or “What happened?” and dives into research like it’s a treasure hunt, you’ve probably got a Detective Learner. These curious kiddos are a joy, with their endless questions and passion for uncovering answers. You can help channel their investigative energy into their homeschooling. Homeschooling curious kids can sometimes be tiring; they often have a lot of questions. Today I’ll provide a few tips to help them- and you- thrive. 

Who Are Detective Learners?

Detective Learners are all about solving mysteries and digging deep. They’re the kids who love libraries, computers, and anything that feels like a puzzle—whether it’s figuring out how reptiles tick or why Minecraft blocks behave the way they do. They’ll take apart a gadget just to see what’s inside. They ask a million “What?” questions: “What’s it made of? What happened next?” They might spend months or even years obsessed with one topic. These kids will either guard their knowledge like a secret or share it like they’re teaching a masterclass.

Understanding Their Learning Style

Detective Learners thrive when they can chase their passions and dive in deep. They can become experts young, especially if you let them focus on what they love. Some might be super private about their research, treating it like a personal mission, while others can’t stop talking about their latest findings. Many Detectives, including some with Asperger’s, have a knack for hyper-focus and love science & hands-on experiments. They need structure and the right tools to keep their curiosity from feeling overwhelming. 

Tips to Help Your Detective Learner Thrive

  • Follow Their Passions: Let your Detective choose their study topic—whether it’s bugs, inventions, history, or something totally out of left field. Encourage them to go deep; don’t worry if they stick with one subject for ages. Let them use our core journals to dive deep into anything they want to learn about while covering all the required subjects.
  • Set Up a Research Haven: Create a cozy spot with a desk, good lighting, research materials, and shelves for their books and projects. Libraries are a favorite place, so plan regular visits to let them hunt for answers. Give them plenty of uninterrupted time and space to dig in. Include a copy of Lost & Found or another Brain Games journal. These are full of puzzles to solve that Detectives love.
  • Encourage Hands-On Exploration: Detectives usually enjoy flexible guided learning, especially materials that let them uncover facts. Our theme journals like All About Bugs, 7 Subject Science Portfolio: Minecraft & The Real World, and Travel Dreams: 30 Cities are goldmines. These are a fun way to let your student deep dive into their interests!
  • Nurture Their Career Dreams: Help them learn about the career path they are interested in. It’s not uncommon for a Detective to know what they want to do for work at a young age. If unsure, How to Make Money gives children dozens of options for potential jobs. It will teach them how to take their interests and make a financial future with them! They’ll research money-making ideas, from starting a business to side gigs, building skills for their dream career while satisfying their need to plan & research.
  • Be Patient with Their Questions: Those “What?” and “Why?” questions are their learning engine. Answer what you can, then point them to resources. Fun-Schooling journals can take a bit of pressure off of you by allowing them to learn how to answer their own questions.
  • Explore Unexpected Interests: Detectives often love patterns and systems, which can appear in surprising places like dance or movement. If they’re curious about how things move, the Book of Dance lets them investigate dance history, styles, and even physics. It’s a sneaky way to blend their analytical side with creativity. Or let them learn about Science, Cultures, Mythology, and Animals with Endangered, Extinct, and Legendary Animals. Sometimes, presenting something new and unexplored for Detective kids is a good idea. They do tend to get tunnel vision and may miss a new interest!
  • Protect Their Focus: When they’re deep in a project—whether it’s a science experiment or a carefully built Lego set—try not to interrupt. Their concentration is intense, and they need space to think. 

A Word on Balance

Detective Learners can get so caught up in their research that they forget to come up for air. Gently nudge them toward balance with activities like time in nature or art, to stretch their minds. They also might need additional support with Language Arts, as these kids are often very science-minded. Warrior Word Work is a good place to start with younger Detectives; Pirate Pronunciation for older students. 

If they’re private about their work, give them space but ask gentle questions like, “What’s something cool you found out today?” For chatty Detectives who share every fact, listen with a big smile—they’re letting you into their world.

For kids with Asperger’s or similar traits, routine is everything. Create a predictable schedule, but let them pick the topics. If they’re super protective of their projects (or that one special Lego creation), set clear boundaries with siblings about respecting their space. Above all, celebrate their expertise—it’s their gift, and you’re helping them shine.

Enjoy! 

Homeschooling a Detective Learner is like being their partner on a grand investigation. They’re wired to ask questions, solve puzzles, and chase their passions, and you get to be their guide. Listen to their interests, give them room to dig deep, and watch them become the experts they’re meant to be. 

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We cultivated this Detective Learner bundle with your curious students in mind! It contains our most popular journals for kids who love research, puzzles, and problem-solving. We’ve also included a suggested lesson plan to make implementing it easier.

Helping your creative student THRIVE

/ Amanda Osenga / 1 Comment

Does your child seem to learn like no other? Are they bursting with ideas? Do they need to build, paint, draw, photograph, and create? Is it hard for them to sit still- they always need to MAKE something?

If your child is always sketching, storytelling, or turning random objects into masterpieces, you might just have a Creator Learner. Let’s dive into how to nurture their gifts and make learning a joyful adventure!

Creator kids are the dreamers and doers. They don’t just want to learn facts—they want to make something with them. These kids show their true colors when given freedom to create. They’re the ones building elaborate LEGO worlds, not because they’re told to, but because their minds are buzzing with stories and possibilities. They learn best when they can express themselves, whether through art, music, writing, or even math turned into a creative puzzle.

What Else Can I Do?- Helping your creative student THRIVE

Homeschooling a creative student is about giving them tools to bring their ideas to life. Here are some ways to spark their imagination:

  • Let Them Tell Stories: Creator Learners love weaving narratives. The Secret World of Talking Animals lets your students dive into imaginative worlds and craft their perfect stories. While Creative Comic Book Spelling journal turns spelling practice into comic-strip adventures, letting kids craft stories while mastering words. Mix in a bit of history study with the Past Times Paper. Put students in the role of the reporter of key events in American history.
  • Make Math Imaginative– Math can be painful for creative students because it feels too rigid. Try Create Your Own Book of Complicated Math Concepts—it’s a playful way for students to approach math. They can design their own problems & projects and write stories around numbers. It helps make math a creative quest. This is also a good option to use alongside your chosen math curriculum to solve equations and document learning.
  • Music as a Muse: If your child writes their own tunes or dreams of performing, the Singer & Songwriter and its companion Workbook are perfect. These guide them to write songs, explore emotions, and even design album covers, blending music with self-expression.
  • Building Art Skills: For kids who want to develop their drawing skills, try Teach Yourself to Draw. These books encourage them to explore techniques and create portfolios of their own designs. The Artist Core Journal lets your Creator Learner study all the basic school subjects with a focus on art. They’ll complete art challenges, work on their skills, and learn about art & art styles worldwide.
  • Give them the World as Inspiration: My Wide World Fashion School gives your student a chance to design clothing inspired by cultures worldwide—they’ll even sneak in some social studies along the way! Tropical Birds Research Journal incorporates nature study, science, and art. The color photos capture the imagination of artists and there are plenty of drawing and coloring opportunities included too.
  • Capture the World: Creator Learners often see beauty everywhere. The Camera Quest journal turns photography into a learning adventure, prompting them to snap photos and write about what they see. It’s like a scrapbook of their unique perspective. This is also popular with students who have desires for a career in filming.
  • Destress and Relax: Even Creator Learners need a mental workout. Morning Light Brain Games offers puzzles and activities that feel like play but sharpen their thinking, giving them new ideas to fuel their next project.

Creator Learners thrive when the focus is shifted away from grades or perfection to joy, creativity, and discovery. Homeschooling a Creator Learner means trusting their process. They might not follow a straight line, but they’re building something incredible. When they’re deep in a project, they’re learning to think, solve problems, and express who they are. That’s the heart of Fun-Schooling—celebrating their gifts, not fixing their “flaws.”

So, if your child’s desk is a mess of sketches, half-built models, or story fragments, don’t worry. You’re not raising a kid who fails—you’re nurturing a Creator Learner who’s growing every day. Grab one of these journals, step back, and watch them soar.

If you’re homeschooling creative kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It’s also a popular Mom School bundle! It contains our most popular journals for Creator Learners and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our April 2025 Creator Month.

PEEK Inside THIS BUNDLE – 

Hop over to Facebook and Instagram for a chance to peek inside the bundle. 

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Creator kid.

Read more about Fun-Schooling Creator Learners

Discover Your Child’s Secret Learning Language with Legos!
Understanding Super-Creators: How to Nurture Your Child’s Creative Spirit
Do You Have a Super-Creator?

We’re Following the Leader: Nurturing a Love of Learning Through Structure and Guidance

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Are you homeschooling a child who thrives on directions and instructions? Does your child prefer to work with clear boundaries and structure? Does your child follow instructions in kits and recipes exactly? Is your child eager to please and loves to gain approval from adults and others they respect?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are raising what we call a Follower Learner.

Follower kids often thrive in a more traditional school-like setting. This doesn’t mean they can’t be home-educated, though. Today, we’ll offer a few tips for helping your Follower Learner develop a lifelong love of learning.

Homeschooling Follower Learners- Nurturing a Love of Learning Through Structure and Guidance

Unlike Explorers, Follower learners are not necessarily driven by a need to “discover” or question the material. These learners want to do things correctly and succeed by the given standards. 

Usually, these students won’t ask, “Why do I need to know this?” They’ll be motivated by the learning process itself, completing assignments accurately, and getting approval from others. However, outside-the-box thinking may be a bit more difficult for these students. Sometimes, this can be hard for parents who want a more relaxed homeschool. These students often require more effort from parents to provide a setting with clear expectations, schedules, and structure.

Building Skills and Confidence in Follower Learners

One of the best ways to support Follower Learners is to provide materials that cater to their need for clear instructions and guidance. Some of our more open-ended journals will frustrate Follower Learners. Parents may need to provide guidance and direction for these kids. For example, a sticky note with exactly what pages should be read from which book, how long an answer is required, and any other guidelines. We also offer several more structured journals, some of which I’ll mention below. As your student completes these activities, they will build confidence! 

Our journals offer predictable, engaging content and activities that help Follower Learners develop attention to detail, focus, and comprehension skills. Through these resources, your child can develop a love for learning.

Creating a Structured Learning Environment

Your Follower Learner likely appreciates a schedule. Starting the day with something like “circle time” and a visual schedule can be helpful. You do not have to be rigid in saying x activity at x time. Providing them with an expectation for what will occur in what order helps. Many families with Follower kids include pictures of the journals a student will be working in for the day. Have a quick wrap-up at the end of the day. This will give your Follower a chance to see all they accomplished and receive feedback- which they thrive on- from you or another adult! 

Journals like Transportation History and Adventures Around the World will appeal to their love of lists, charts, and historical facts. Each section of these journals is structured the same way, giving your Follower learner a clear expectation and predictability for what’s to come. Meanwhile, topics like Rocks & Minerals, All About Rainforests, and American History Timeline will appeal to their interest in organized, factual knowledge and clear timeframes. These provide a lot of structure and guidance—American History Timeline is one of our most structured journals.

Activities and Projects for Follower Learners

It is essential to have projects and activities that allow Follower Learners to follow instructions. Piano Lessons for Kids gives students a chance to learn to play without needing to hire outside help! They include lots of structure and detailed instructions for your students to learn to play the Piano confidently. The lessons will also appeal to their desire to please others by providing beautiful music for your home. 

Candlelight Brain Games is the most open-ended suggestion I will make today. Though it still appeals to Follower Learners. The goal of our Brain Games is to complete the missing parts of the pictures. Many Follower kids love it when a parent, older sibling, or another adult works on these with them. These allow students to embrace imperfection and creativity. If they become completely stuck, you can complete part of the page to give them an idea of what to do- or let them watch you finish it in your own copy.You can also encourage their love of lists and organization with projects like the Garden Research Handbook, which outlines the steps of planning and cultivating a garden. Through hands-on activities, they can see their plans come to life.

Fostering Independence While Providing Guidance

These learners also LOVE to follow any rules they possibly can. The Top 30 Grammar Mistakes is always a favorite for Follower Learners. It clearly outlines exactly what you should and should not do in Grammar. It is a journal students will sometimes complete once in late Elementary School/early Middle School and then again in High School. No matter your student’s future career or calling, knowledge of proper grammar will be needed. This is an excellent way to provide it in a way they can independently learn.

Our goal is always to help foster independence in our children. Rocks & Minerals and All About Rainforests also include fun hands-on projects for your students to complete. These give them another chance to follow instructions and learn to complete projects independently. Of course, you’ll be there to offer any needed guidance. For the most part, students should be able to complete these projects alone. 

You can also encourage students to create “step-by-step” guides for things they enjoy. By increasing their autonomy, you will help them learn to make decisions while still providing the support and structure they need to succeed. 

Involve Them and Have Fun!

Homeschooling Follower Learners is an exciting journey where structure, guidance, and encouragement are key. Ask for their feedback. See if they need/want more or less guidance, instruction, and lessons. Gradually ease up and see what they do independently after a while. About six weeks is a reasonable length of time to try something out. Then ask for their feedback and see what else would be helpful for them. As always, reach out if we can help at all.  With the right resources, like the We’re Following the Leader bundle and carefully selected books and activities, you can help these learners thrive, develop new skills, and take pride in their accomplishments. By fostering a structured yet nurturing environment, you’ll empower your Follower Learner to reach their full potential and enjoy the learning process every step of the way. 

If you’re homeschooling social kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It contains our most popular journals for Friend Learners and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our March 2025 Follower Month.

PEEK Inside THIS BUNDLE – 

Hop over to Facebook and Instagram for a chance to peek inside the bundle. 

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Follower kid.

21 Thoughts About Core Journals

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 2 Comments

1. I originally created the Core Journal so I could take a break from customizing each child’s curriculum around their interest, while making sure we included copywork, nature study, logic, film study, math time… I wanted a way to document internet based learning, library based learning, and include the Charlotte Mason goodies into each day without searching for the individual notebooks.

(View the Core Journals Here: https://www.funschooling.com/homschooling-bookstore-core…)

2. I was about to have our tenth baby and wanted to take time off, but keep learning going, according to the daily structure that works for my kids.

3. They need to have a balanced plan that covers the basics, while allowing them to dig deep into the topics they love.

4. We were also about to move from Florida to Ukraine and I wanted a way for each child to have all their work in one portfolio.

5. My kids were already studying their interests, doing copywork, nature study, logic games, drawing, reading and watching documentaries… But nothing was being documented. Sometimes I would be busy or sick and they would watch YouTube and read all day and not remember to do the simple things like nature study.

6. I only planned to use the Core Journal for 6 weeks, but found it to be wonderful long-term for some of the kids.

7. My Detective and Explorer kids really thrive with them.

8. My Friend learners enjoy them when doing it with others, but like the smaller themed journals best.

9. Followers who are motivated to study a topic like the routine, but they find the journals to be too open-ended and they may try to just get by with whatever is the minimum to move on. With Followers, a strong example is needed, this we have Mom-School.

10. Creators like a lot of variety, and in some stages of life really need to learn to have more structure, for them the journals are not open-ended enough and they may feel limited… So they skip pages or repurpose them. Not all children have the drive, skills or personality to really embrace to potential of the core journals. They don’t work for everyone.

11. Many kids are okay with a system that doesn’t require them to use a lot of research, creativity or thought. These books are designed to be a launch pad for learning.

12. Kids who are in a rush to move on to play, chores, gaming, social media, or personal projects may feel that the core journals are just something that should be rushed through so they can do what they love.

13. It’s okay for a child to not use any system of learning that doesn’t work. For the many kids who have a Follower Learning Style they will actually do better with some classroom style learning, fill in the blank, memorize and test methods.

14. For the Super-Creators the core journals may feel boring and limiting. You need to know your child.

15. My Detectives and Explorers do especially well, but work in different ways.

16. The Detectives need quiet and focus, while the Explorers move from place to place all over the house and yard, and need to be told that chores come after they finish their work in the core journal, so they don’t rush. They really learn to look forward to the activities they love in the daily routine of the book.

17. For kids who thrive on structure they enjoy using a core journal daily, but really need to know what is expected. I suggest doing the first 20 pages together to teach the child how to do copywork, a nature study, or creative writing. It’s so important to be an example.

18. In most cases, don’t say “when you finish you can play Xbox” — they will rush. It works much better if the next activity is something they don’t mind putting off while they focus on their work, like cleaning a bathroom. For example say: “You can take as much time as you need to finish five pages, then show me your work and I’ll show you how to clean out the oven.”

You will be amazed at how much detail they pour into their work.

19. It’s also very important to be available to your child to help them find the right documentaries and books to study their topic. Most of the actual learning isn’t in the journal, it’s what the journal reminds them to do.

20. So know your child. If they don’t put their heart into learning with a core journal, what will they put their heart into? Starting a business? An online course? A textbook? A series of Documentaries? A boxed curriculum that tells them exactly what to memorize? A classical education? Dance school? An internship? Volunteer work? Building a fort? Sewing a dress? Baking? Full-on Unschooling?

21. Some kids are like, “I don’t care… Whatever!” Then they get on their phones and post 80 selfies, and play games until midnight, and complain about everything that requires any effort at all. In that case you just need to pull the plug and light a fire under the child.

I hope that helps someone out there! Let me know if there is a specific example of a child’s struggle that I can help with.

What is your child like? Of these 21 thoughts what stood out to you and why?

See a Flip-Through of the core journals here:

Is Fun-Schooling for You?

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Fun-Schooling wasn’t designed to work for every family.

So, who does it work for?

Who does it NOT work well for?

Instead of having to give it a try and discover it was a waste of time and money, let’s first get a few things out of the way.

1. Fun-Schooling is not for parents who love testing, grading and correcting their child’s schoolwork in order to make sure their child is standardized.

2. Fun-Schooling is not for parents who believe that education is all about discipline and perfection, all work and no play.

3. Fun-Schooling is not for parents who feel that children should not be allowed to follow their own interests but must study a formal curriculum designed by professionals. If you believe that your child will never be able to teach himself and needs to be taught through rigorous memorization of facts, maybe Fun-Schooling will be a disappointment to you.

4. Fun-Schooling is not for parents who want to play the roles of “teacher and student” rather than “parent and child”. If you want to teach your child every lesson and recreate school at home, maybe Fun-Schooling will not be a good match unless you and your child are both “friend learners or followers”.

5. Fun-Schooling is not usually a good match for parents who plan out every minute of every day to make sure the child stays on task. If giving your child freedom (balanced with responsibility) scares you, don’t Fun-School. You won’t be comfortable.

6. Fun-Schooling doesn’t work well for parents who love teacher’s keys and multiple choice workbooks with answers in the back. Our journals are very open ended and there are no answers keys or teacher’s guides. Why? Because the books are based on research and curiosity so one page in a Fun-Schooling Journal will be one-of-a-kind when a child completes the activities. For example the Journal may prompt them to choose their favorite extinct animal and write down four interesting things about it. Trust me. An answer key would not be helpful because your child’s answer is completely unpredictable.

7. Fun-Schooling is not for parents who do not appreciate creativity, imagination and fun. Seriously there are zillions of parents and teachers who work hard to keep schooling serious. If you are this kind of parent/teacher don’t waste your hard earned money and precious time on Thinking Tree books.

Was this helpful? Is Fun-Schooling for you? Click here to learn more about How to Flip to Fun-Schooling!

Everything You Always Wanted to Ask About Fun-Schooling!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 3 Comments

 

What do I need to Fun-School besides journals?
Some- especially math and spelling- are open and go with nothing other than writing and coloring utensils needed. Others need library books, podcasts/documentaries, music, and other research materials. You can include games, craft projects, and other activities on the subject(s) your child is studying if you’d like but they’re not required to Fun-School.

 How many pages per day should students complete?
We suggest the same number of pages per day as your child’s age. For example, a 10-year-old would complete 10 pages per day in a core journal. Or they might complete 2 pages in a math journal, 2 pages of spelling, 2 pages of nature study, 2 pages history, and 2 pages Bible. A page is one single side of paper, not both sides. 


What should I do if there isn’t a journal for what my student wants to study?
While many of our journals are themed, we have dozens of journals that can be used to study anything. The seasonal core journals are especially popular, any core journal can be used along with books and documentaries/podcasts on the subject your child wants to study. Master Class- 30 Day Portfolio is another option to study anything your child wants. 

What are Learning Languages?

Learning Languages are five unique learning styles.  Think of these as like The Five Love Languages. The Languages are Creator, Detective, Explorer, Friend, and Follower. You’ll find more info here.  These can be helpful in selecting journals and troubleshooting issues in your homeschool. 

 What are Dyslexia Games?

Dyslexia Games is our one-of-a-kind Language Arts curriculum.  It’s excellent for all students as it helps build problem-solving, creative thinking, right/left brain integration and more.  Children with Dyslexia, Aspergers, ADHD/ADD and Autism especially benefit.  

You can find more information in this document. 

 Can you help me with record keeping and compliance?

Laws vary by state/country as to what records and subjects are required.  We are happy to offer suggestions, you need to verify they are compliant with your local laws. Many families choose to use the 10 Subject Portfolio or the 12 Subject Portfolio for record-keeping.  The HSLDA is a great source for homeschool compliance information by state.

What about High School Credits?
We have a comprehensive guide to Fun-Schooling High School here. 

 Can I purchase materials with charter funds? 

Yes! Most charter schools allow you to use your charter school funds for Fun-Schooling materials.  Find more information here. We also put together the bundles with Charter Schools in mind. 

 How do I schedule a school day with these materials?
 We are happy to help you with a plan and offer suggestions.  Our bundles come with a suggested lesson plan for your schedule.  PM us here or email us here for help.  You’ll find lots of sample schedules by searching for “schedule” or “scheduling” here in the group.  

Some families use only a core journal while others use multiple journals per day. The beauty of Fun-Schooling is you can adapt to what works best for your family! There are thousands of Fun-Schoolers and no two families have the same schedule.

Here are a few popular options for scheduling but you can truly do whatever works best for your family-

(This mentions loop scheduling. In case you’re not familiar with a loop schedule- stack up all your “loop” journals up. Whatever is on the top is what you start with. No need to assign certain journals to certain days or worry about a specific schedule. When you’re done w/ the journal for the day, it goes on the bottom of the pile.)

Option 1-Pure loop- Stick everything in a pile- including the core journal. Let your child decide how many pages to complete in each journal as they work their way through the loop. Some days they may decide to do all pages in one journal. On other days they may decide to do a few pages from each journal. This is the most child-led and relaxed method.

Option 2-  Half pages per day from a core journal. Half pages per day from 2-4 loop journals. 

Option 3- Rotate core day/ single subject journals day. For example, Monday they would do all pages/day in her core. Tuesday would be 2+ single subject journals. Wednesday would be all pages in the core again. Etc.

Option 4- Half pages from a core journal, and the rest of the pages from only one single subject journal. Stick with this single subject journal until it is done and move on to a new one once it’s done. 

You can also look at our bundles – they all have suggested lesson plans in the bundle description. Look at the bundle that’s closest to your child’s grade level and you can plan in the same way as our lesson plan with the journals that you already have. https://www.funschooling.com/all-curriculum-bundles

Sarah’s Mom Tips: Strategies for Different Learning Styles

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 6 Comments

Recently a mom asked this question:

How should I handle a child who doesn’t put forth much effort on the Fun-Schooling pages?

The truth is, he was just hacking his homeschooling and doing the minimum, which is what kids do when they want to move on to doing something they feel is more important. The problem is that kids all have a different learning style. We make Fun-Schooling journals for all the different styles. Let’s start off by talking about these, and what I call the Five Learning Languages.

There are some kids who are Creators. The kids who are Creators learn everything for one purpose: to create something. All their education has to revolve around creativity. That’s what they are motivated by. These kids will not do normal workbooks. They need things that are open-ended, that revolve around their passions and interests.

Then you have the kids who are Detectives, who get really deep into the one thing they are passionate about. They love research and are not interested in anything that you want to teach them. They are only interested in what they want to learn. They are very difficult to give a standard education to because they aren’t going to remember anything or make any effort to retain anything that doesn’t revolve around their interests.

Then we have the kids who are Explorers. These kids will not sit still. They can’t. They want to be going from place to place. They can give maybe 5-15 minutes of focused attention to some sort of lesson, or activity and then they need to switch. They won’t sit at a desk, doing workbooks, textbooks, or even online school that makes them sit for very long. I developed a lot of materials for this kind of kid. We call them the “active kids”.

Then, the next kind of learner is the Friend Learner. These are kids who are motivated to learn through social experiences. They do not want to sit by themselves and do anything. They want to be with somebody collaborating, bonding, talking, or doing a project or reading with someone. If you ask this kind of kid to do something alone, they are going to get bored and distracted and wander off to find somebody to play with. Sometimes pets help.

Finally, we have the classic students, the little scholars, and we call them the Followers because these kids just want to please the teacher, the boss, the authority, the leader, the parent. They will do everything you ask them to do really well, step by step. They don’t put their heart into it for the sake of learning, but more for the sake of making somebody proud. They really like grades and scores and tests and multiple choice and ways to just prove that they are good at something and worthy. They are really good at “in the box” type of schooling, but a lot of times they don’t tap into their own creativity and curiosity. (click Page 2 to continue reading)

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