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Marvelous Monday- ELECTIVES
By Kendra | June 8, 2009
Electives. Wasn’t that the category you loved in high school? Finally, you could study something you really loved or at least wanted to know more about.
In our home, electives are chosen either because we see an area of giftedness in a child, the child has a growing interest in something, or because we know it’s a skill they’ll be thankful for later in life.
Case in point: I didn’t take typing in high school because I thought something really lame like, “I don’t plan to be a secretary; why would I need to know how to type?” Oh brother. Proof that parents are wiser.
Let’s start with typing 
We have used Typing Instructor Deluxe with good success in the past. It is a straight-forward program that features the ability to tailor-make a typing program for the student’s unique needs. Unfortunately for us, Typing Instructor does not have a platform for Mac.
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When my husband was in dental school, I taught myself to knit. At the time, knitting wasn’t enjoying the popularity it has in recent years, and there just weren’t as many lovely books on the subject available. I checked out every knitting book our library had, pouring over them and soaking in everything I could.
My favorite book for beginning child knitters is Melanie Falick’s Kids Knitting. Explanations are clearly illustrated and the projects are cute and enticing. Among my favorite websites are KnittingHelp.com, Knitty.com, and Ravelry.com.
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I know I’ve touched a wee bit on cooking before, but just in case you’re looking for some good kids’ cookbooks, here are our favorites:
Pretend Soup, by Mollie Katzen
Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook, by Paula Deen
Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook
Our copy of Pretend Soup is soiled, dog-eared, and used weekly here. Such a simple book, such good results. Even the teenagers drag it out, but don’t tell them I told you 
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If you have a budding draftsman or someone who needs a constructive way to spend some free time this summer, check out Complete-a-Sketch books. All three of my older guys loved these when they were in the 8-12-year-old bracket, and I think I’ll give them to my almost-10-year-old-daughter this summer as well.
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I’ve linked several times to homeschool graduate Amanda McCoy’s really fun nature and art kits. We’re a season behind, but my younger kids have all loved these projects. Several of them have been county fair entries for us, and blue ribbon winners! (I’ve learned to save the really good projects they do all year long for the fair. Otherwise, we’d be scrambling at the last minute and that’s never fun).
If you’ve got crafty girls and boys, they’ll love the projects. If you have nature lovers, they will too. It’s an elective that can also be counted as nature study and art!
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My boys and oldest daughter have dabbled somewhat in woodworking, but we are blessed to have a grandfather on the property who has all the tools and patience they need. I have some neat homemade gifts they’ve given me over the years, and just tonight there was talk about asking Pop Pop to show them how to make boxes with locks so they can keep little peoples’ wandering hands out 
They’ve browsed the Woodworkers Resource site for free patterns and help.
Incidentally, asking grandparents to give tools for gifts is a great way to build a stash for your young men and women. The look of elation on the face of our then-nine-year-old boy when he received his own cordless drill was priceless!
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I’m looking for a good beginning sewing DVD or online instruction for our almost-ten-year-old. Anyone have any favorites?
Cheryl’s Marvelous Monday post can be found here. She has at least one child who has exceptional baking skills!
Topics: Educating at Home, Resources, Reviews | 14 Comments »
June 8th, 2009 at 4:47 am
I have to laugh at your comment on learning to type! I, too, do not know how to type. Almost daily, I think, “Grrr…I wish I knew how to type!” Here’s the funny part: I am (was, now sort of retired) a pharmacist! My excuse is that it was no longer a requirement when I applied to pharmacy school (late 80’s, the advent of computers in pharmacy).
Now, I am planning to find something to teach me and my son how to type (we have a Mac)!!!
Thanks for all of the MM info!
June 8th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Can you tell me what age the Kids Knitting is appropriate for? My 5 year old is begging me to teach her how to knit and I have no idea how to teach her. I am a self-taught not so talented knitter. Wondering if the Kids knitting would be too old for her. Thanks!
June 8th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Thanks for all the info!! We love Roller Typing (from Discovery Toys). I will definitely have to check out the cook books!! My kiddos will love them!
As for sewing you might want to check out Kathy’s site at teachinggoodthings.com she may have something there.
I muddled my way through learning how to sew when we first got married. I wished that I would have listened better to the sewing portion in home ec. in high school. : )
June 8th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Terrific recommendations. I have found that the Keepers of the Faith (www.keepersofthefaith.com) have tremendous resources for learning crafts, wordworking, cooking, etc..
June 8th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Leah- I think it’s a tad above her right now, but if you started out teaching her the knit stitch, she can make dishcloths (squares), doll blankets (squares or rectangles), and lnog scarves (long rectangles). Then if she really gets into it, in a couple of years you can give her the book.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:09 am
We purchased an instructional sewing DVD at a convention this year. Neither my husband nor I know anything about sewing, so we just chose what seemed like a good program for my 13YO daughter to begin to teach herself. We tried checking out books at the library, which helped a little bit. We are hoping the visual and audio instruction will get my daughter going on the basics and build a foundation for her to then continue teaching herself. I really like the approach the woman takes The website is: http://georgieporgiedesigns.com/
We are going to start it this summer!
Megan
June 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Future Christian Homemaker’s Handbook is available online for a free download through http://www.moneysavingmom.com and it looks like a great resource for teaching our daughters all kinds of things in addition to sewing. Lauri Bluedorn recommended it also in her latest Trivium newsletter.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Kendra, you may want to check with your local 4H office on sewing resources. They have great books and possibly DVDs for free or very little money. My dd has been sewing, courtesy of 4H, since she was 6. She makes bags, pants, pajamas, skirts, dresses, just about everything herself and places first at the state fair every year since she was 8 (she is now 12). Otherwise, I will ask her sewing instructor if she knows of any thing that would be helpful to you.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Hi Kendra
I was wondering if you had seen the book at Rainbow Resource called Stitches & Pins.
I received mine today, and it looks to be a lovely book. It has very easy things to make like a pillowcase, Bible or book cover, tote bag, and patterns for some clothes. There are lots of other easy and fun projects. The instructions are easy to follow and it has practice pages to perfect your straight and zigzag stitches. http://www.rainbowresource.com/search.php?sid=1244697744-1224027
I hope I did the link properly, and I hope this could be of some help to you.
I know my daughter will have great fun with this book.
Blessings
Angela NZ
June 14th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Not sure about books or online, but for sewing – have you checked into your local 4H club? I help to teach a sewing class through our 4H each spring and they have a nimi-class over the summer also. Call your county cooperative extension office to get more info.
I suppose I could offer to help, but not sure how productive it would be long distance. ;o)
June 14th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
What about knitting projects for boys? Doll blankies wouldn’t go over too well. Scarves might, dishcloths . . . ?
June 14th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
If you have them knit a rectangle, you can fold it into thirds, attach a button or some other masculine-looking thing, then attach a string to tie around the button, sew up the sides and you have a pouch for boy treasures.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I found a free online typing course that my kids and I like. http://www.powertyping.com/
(And there are no yucky flashing ads to disturbe you like so many other free websites)
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Thanks, Gina. Looks great!