Perusing Fast Times at Home School High, I saw Denise’s post on Learning Styles (I’m a visual learner by the way). It’s important for parents to discover and work with the way their youngsters learn.

One way to do this is by becoming familiar with Howard Gardner‘s Multiple Intelligences Theory, used by educators, curriculum development companies, and children’s book writers. A good source of information on this is at Casacanada.com, which gives in depth information on MI Theory in language parents can understand. I especially like how the site helps you assess your children’s learning style(s).

So once you learn your child’s learning style, how can you encourage him or her through books and activities?

Since she’s only three, Lucie’s learning style is a bit hard to figure out, unless there’s a Copying Everything Your Brother Does intelligence. Nathan’s much easier to figure out. He has Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, is terrific at sports like baseball, basketball and golf, and enjoys riding his bicycle. Nathan’s always touching something that is new to him, as well. I hate it when he presses all the buttons on the vending machines at the grocery store, but I guess that’s the way he learns. (Yeah, learns to drive me crazy.)

He also he has strong Logical-Mathematical Intelligence and loves math class and playing board games. Nathan’s participating in t-ball, golf lessons ,and golf league this summer. He’s also attending Art Camp, which should somewhat satisfy his need to touch stuff. However, I’ve had a hard time getting him to do math worksheets this summer. They’re different from what he was used to at school, and he quickly lost interest.

But there’s board games, especially chess, which he adores. As a reward for good behavior, I bought him Usborne’s Starting Chess (with internet links). The book is a good introduction to chess for younger children ages five years and up. It covers everything a young player needs to know, from how to set out the pieces to special moves and tactics. The illustrations bring the game to life, and simple diagrams make examples easy to follow. The book also contains information on chess web sites to visit.

I also got him Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster to play on the computer when it gets too hot to play outside. It wasn’t as big a hit as I thought it would be since he doesn’t like being by himself too much. He’d rather play the real game with a friend or his dad.

While chess is a rather serious game, why not have a bit of fun with it? One way is to make a checkerboard cake. This would be a wonderful birthday cake for your young chess enthusiast.

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Last night’s party was a success! I met the hostess’s goal for double free books and I got two home show bookings, too. Good feedback on the presentation, though as usual I try to say too much stuff in too little time, and leave out some big points as well. Need to work on my presentation some more.

It was nice to hang out with some of the attendees’s second graders, too – a really nice bunch of girls who helped me set up the show and took my racks out to the car for me. They attend Nathan’s school, and gave me glowing reviews of Nathan’s next teacher.

Then this morning, Nathan came in to tell me that I forgot to drive him to Art Camp yesterday. With all the preparations for the show, grocery shopping, dropping books off at the library, and getting a much needed pedicure, I completely forgot. In fact, I think I was at Safeway when I was supposed to be taking him. Argh! Bad mommy!

Honestly, it was just one of those days. Still, I feel crummy about it.  What’s next, leaving your kid at the golf course all day while you run errands? (Whoops, I did that too, and that was only because they got done much earlier than usual because of the heat. Most days, if I went by the golf course at the time I did, I’d be early.)

Even though I’m swamped with work from writing to Usborne matters, I think a well deserved breakfast out is in order. Life is getting way too overbooked over here, so we need a little time off and spontaneity.

So off we go to one of those awful buffet restaurants at the mall. But we have free meal coupons for the kids from the library reading program. I have a hankering for the rice krispie treats (the cereal makes it breakfasty, right?) My mother-in-law gets a senior discount, and I can take finally my ring that I got for Mother’s Day to be sized and my chef’s knife to be sharpened. Plus, J.C. Penny’s having some terrific sales because they’re moving their store to a vacant Shop-Ko across the street.

Great, the schedule’s booked up again. Blame Newton’s Law of Inertia: "Unless acted upon, a body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion." Maybe I should go back to bed?

I’m in the middle of preparing for a Usborne Books homeshow after taking Paul to the airport (where he’s stuck on standby) and hitting the grocery store and nail salon. One can’t have yucky toe nails and look professional, you know.

I’m beyond swamped and will have just enough time to eat and get dressed if I get off this darn computer. So visit the other ClubMom blogs, write some haiku, and maybe sign up for a Barnes & Nobles University FREE online class.

Moms, it’s time to pour yourself a tall cool one, and indulge yourself in a little reading. Enjoy!

(Thanks to SteveCambronne.com for the cool metal, bar art picture.)

Yesterday’s post got me thinking about gardening. Do you garden with your children? What do you grow?

Obviosly, some parents are because there are a slew of great websites on gardening with your kids:

• Gardening with Children from Colorado State University
• KidsGardening.com – a great gardening resource for educators, including grant information and an online teacher’s course. There is also a detailed parent’s primer showing how you can share gardening with your children.
• Eatheasy’s Gardening with Children – lots of tips and links to other online resources
• Kinder Garden – giving ideas on how children can interact with plants outdoors

Paul’s the one with the green thumb who takes manic pride in how green his grass is compared to everyone else’s on the block. Somehow I get roped into his gardening projects, whether it’s picking berries, drying hops, or finding ways to cook all those veggies.

Four years ago he had a huge bumper crop of tomatoes. I was pregnant with Lucie and the idea of eating tomotoes completely grossed me out. Too bad he’s cut down his tomato production in favor of berries and herbs since the idea of making homemade tomato sauce or gazpacho appeals to me lately.

Here are two recipes that’ll help you use up all of your homegrown tomatoes:

Tomato-Cucumber Gazpacho
recipe and photo courtesy of Sunset magazine
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Makes 8 servings

This simplified version of Spanish gazpacho is a light, refreshing way to use the very ripest (almost too ripe) tomatoes. Children can help by washing and cutting up the vegetables and measuring the ingredients. You may be able to get them to eat it since cold soup is rather novel. Just don’t tell them that it’s good for them.

Ingredients:

1. 2 pounds very ripe tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped
2. 1 seedless cucumber or 1 pound Persian cucumbers, peeled and roughly chopped
3. 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
4. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5. 1 tablespoon salt
6. 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
7. 1/4 cup diced red onion, rinsed in cold water and patted dry with paper towels (optional)

Directions:

1. In a blender or Cuisinart, whirl tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, olive oil, salt, and vinegar until smooth. (You may need to blend in batches.)
2. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
3. Garnish with red onion, if desired.

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