I believe that in a debate, everyone wins because of the work that goes into it. In preparation for a debate each participant researches, explores, and discusses both sides of [...]]]> This week, I am truly excited to share the fun and intrigue of DEBATE and help introduce children to the power of public speaking.

I believe that in a debate, everyone wins because of the work that goes into it.  In preparation for a debate each participant researches, explores, and discusses both sides of a topic.  So even if a child doesn’t perform in our M&B debate, they will have gained so much in preparing and supporting their teammates.

So for this week, the kids will practice Debating with this topic –

Should All Animals Live in the Wild?

Even if your child doesn’t end up speaking in front of everyone, help them prepare at least ONE valid point for BOTH sides of the discussion. Use library books, youtube, google or let them discuss ideas with an adult.  That’s two reasons.  No one will have to speak who doesn’t want to, but everyone should be prepared to help their teammates with their points.

Two things to keep in mind with ensuring kids have one Pro and one Con point.  Firstly, debate is about the Art of the Argument which includes hearing  both sides.  Learning one on both sides helps you be a better listener as well as help you counteract the other opinions.  More importantly, in concern for the sensitivity of our children’s emotions, we must help them consider perspectives that they may not believe in.  Be gentle as you help them navigate feelings and ideas about being dis-genuine, misleading, or immoral.  Some children will have no problem with alternating viewpoints and being prepared to “convince” someone of their point; whereas others will feel very false and emotionally bothered about being untrue.

John F. Kennedy said, “I think debating in high school and college is most valuable training whether for politics, the law, business, or for service on community committees(…). A good debater must not only study material in support of his own case, but he must also, of course, thoroughly analyze the expected argument of his opponent. The give and take of debating, the testing of ideas, is essential to democracy. I wish we had a good deal more debating in our educational institutions than we do now.”  August 22, 1960

After your kids get the idea for debate preperation, don’t let them get frustrated if they can’t come up with ideas on their own.  Here are some ideas to help them get inspired and motivated!  I know they will have some really original ideas.  I can’t wait.

Pros for animals ONLY living in Wild

1. State of Zoos

2. Separation of animal families

3. Proper habitats

4. Natural order before humans gained control

5. No experiments in labs

Cons for animals not only living in Wild

1. Protecting species from going extinct

2.  Loving homes for pets

3. Allows more people to meet exotic animals encouraging people to protect

4. Inspires animal protection

Debate Events

This Spring, join me on a field trip to witness the Urban Debate’s National Championships, usually held in Washington DC, but this April 10-12 on the campus of USC.

Model UN is a wonderful secular debate style forum that recreates the UN and platforms best for our global neighbors.  Some local chapters exist for homeschoolers.

How to help your child research…

It might take a lot longer, but it is invaluable to wait patiently as your child thinks of ideas to research.  By giving children “our” ideas ALL the time, we undermine the very logic and critical thinking we are hoping to help hone.  Many children gave up long ago sharing their original ideas if they were oftentimes rejected or demoted by someone else’s ideas.  Maybe because the parent always offered a better solution.  Or maybe we weren’t patient enough to wait until they found the right words to convey their reasoning.

The good news is that you can always start fresh and new.  But not when it is the eleventh hour.  YOU must practice being patient and being a listener when you have unlimited time.

For the example today, let’s use how to  help your child research a debating point about animals in the wild.

1. Ask you child what they think about the topic. What is the first thing they think of.  Your job here is to pause and look interested (fake it if you have to).  Many kids are really good at stalling, if they know you are just waiting to jump in and give them an answer.  Waiting for 2-5 minutes here might feel like an hour, but I have faith you can do it.

2.  So after you have waited and still no response.  Ask them again.  Maybe even rephrase your query like this, “If you were in charge of all the animals on the planet, what would you do?”  And then, you guessed it, wait another 5 minutes.  If they see that you are not frustrated waiting and that you are not expecting any particular answer, they might stick their head out of their shell and attempt a bit of a response.  It might be a few words, or a sentence.  Some children might burst forth with a paragraph or two.

3.  If your child offers one word, they might be testing to see if you will finish their sentence.  Don’t fall for that trap.  Smile and nod and wait for more.  Offer a very interested, “hmmm.”  It is about encouraging them and letting them feel valued for whatever they are considering and sharing.  Sometimes the biggest consideration isn’t coming up with an answer to the question, but your reaction to it.  If you are willing to listen to what they have to say… unconditionally, they will trust you and themselves more and focus more on the answer than the reaction to that answer.

4.  So let’s be optimistic and say they came up with an idea, maybe two.  Or maybe two that are mashed up together.  Ask them what kind of fact might make that reason even more powerful.  If they don’t understand what you mean, you can rephrase it a few times or use this example to illustrate your point. Use a different topic, so you are still honoring their opportunity to be the only one in the room to come up with answers.  Use a similar discussion question instead, such as,… Should We Recycle Paper? And we all want to save trees.  For that discussion, it might be a good idea to find out how many trees it takes to make a ton of paper.  The answer from a website says, “it takes between 17 and 24 trees” that could be saved if we recycle paper.  Ask you child if they think there might be an interesting fact that would make their point about animals in the wild.  If they can’t that is okay.  Take a moment to value their statement and reassure them it is a good one.

Then move on to explaining why they should also come up with an idea for the other side of the discussion. And go through the whole process again.  I bet at least half of the kids will spontaneously think of a fact for their first point while they switch tracks to the new reason.

If your child comes up with an idea, ask them where they think they might find more information on that topic.  If it is a book, suggst you go to the library or look up in a reference book, dictionary or encyclopedia you have at home.  If it is the internet, help them get on google or whatever search engine they want.  Or is there a person they think might know more than they do you can contact.

Let’s say it is the computer.  Ask them what words or question they should type in to get a list of possible sites that might hold the answer.  Remember to be patient.  if they don’t do something that you have seen them do a thousand times, act as patient as if this is the first time.  Find a way to smile, laugh, make a joke.  Keep the tension light and low.  When you ask a question, be happy to wait for an answer.  Help redirect them to the task if they get distracted, but don’t do it if you can’t be neutral and light about it.

Give them positive feedback each step and choice along the way.   Don’t read everything for them.  Let them sit in the chair, type in the words, determine which site to go to.  And be patient, calm and the opposite of frustrated.

There are two goals here.  One for them to find a fact or statistic. But more importantly, you are validating their mind and ability.  The more it feels like they are doing what you want, the longer it will take to get to the day, when your child will do all of this research on their own.

Time to get Creative! Everyone [...]]]> Do you have one favorite book? Or a favorite character?  With out giving the whole story away, how could you convince someone to read one of your favorite books?  Would you tell them about your favorite part of the book, or your favorite character, or how it made you feel?

Time to get Creative!  Everyone is invited to present an author, a story or a character from a book you love (or all three).  If you can, Dress up and make it even more fun.  Or you can build or create something inspired by your favorite book.  We can all try to guess before everyone shares.  Get as creative as you like.

Can you guess what famous literary characters these kids have imagined themselves?

Bring as many  books as you wish to affix your handmade book plates into them.

I will have supplies to make some really special bookmarks.

And if you are willing to loan one of your books out to a friend that you convinced will love your favorite book, we will have cards for people to sign a book out from  you.  Anyone book collector can be a library.

And if you want to refresh your memory, here is a list of 50 books every kid should read, broken down in age groups.

Or Time Magazines 100 Best Novels of All Time.  (no Jane Austen on this list).

Or 40 Classic teen books every adult should reread.  Parents, I look forward to putting a master list together of books that we want our kids to read, at the appropriate time.

See you at the park.

We [...]]]> It looks like Thursday will be mostly Sunny! (But bring rainboots to play in the puddles). Join us for a day of Idioms brought to us by M&B Mom Maria!  We will be crafting and play-acting with .  We will bring these fun phrases and important parts of our literary world to life.

We use idioms to pepper our speech and writing, often without even realizing we’re doing it. These odd little phrases are used to express a sentiment other than their literal meaning. It doesn’t really “Rain Cats and Dogs,” as the world and his wife knows.

There are English Idioms and also World Idioms, both equally fun to explore.  Did you know that in German you can say “To Live Like a Maggot in Bacon” instead of “To Live the Life of Luxury”? Idioms can tell us a lot about what matters to a nation. They’re are a “Window into the Soul.”

Maria will share a bit on the history of Idioms and why we use them all while playing games and using clay to bring it all alive with fun.  See you there.  Here are a few to think about.

They don’t see eye to eye : They don’t agree with each other
She’s got a nose for a bargain : She’s very good at finding …
I was on my knees by the end of the day : I was very tired
There’s no elbow-room : There isn’t enough space
We did it by the skin of our teeth : We only just succeeded, we almost failed
He doesn’t have a leg to stand on : There’s no justification for what he did or says
I really put my foot in it : I said something by mistake that I shouldn’t have said
She gave him the cold shoulder : She rejected him; she ignored him.
He’s pulling your leg : He’s pretending something is true when it isn’t, as a joke
The car is on its last legs : It’s old and will soon be unusable
He welcomed us with open arms : He was very pleased to accept our help.
We soon lost heart: We became demotivated?)