Teaching How to Crochet

I Taught Myself to Crochet book

Back cover of I Taught Myself to Crochet

Left-hander's instructions

Right-hander's instructions

I have been on a new push to crochet.  I get excited when the weather changes to the cool seasons.  I always look forward to making new things.  I like the chance at creativity.  This year is no different.

As soon as I took out the yarn and hooks, the kids made their requests.  Most of them asked for the triangular hats like the one below.  My oldest son asked for a bag, a gray one, to be exact.  That's the project I'm working on right now.

Santa-type hat I crocheted for younger son

I really did teach myself how to crochet.  I used the book above that came complete with hooks and needles.  I didn't wait for anyone to teach me; I took the initiative to learn.  It's something I hope my kids will do, when they want to learn something new.  Already, I see my youngest daughter, who is six, wanting to learn how to crochet.

Here's how I started to teach Kaelyn:  Over the years, I've given Kaelyn a ball of yarn and a large hook.  I've simply let her play with those items with no particular objective, except to expose her to the materials.  (This is akin to Montessori teaching.)  Recently, she wanted more definitive instructions so I let her see the pictures for right-handers.  I asked her to learn how to hold the hook, and that's as far as we've gotten.

Would I like her to learn how to do more?  Yes, of course, I would.  I just want to not frustrate her.  I want to take it easy.  I do know that my nephew, who was a left-hander did learn how to make a simple chain to create a bracelet; I am confident that my children can learn how to crochet.

The biggest challenge for me is that I am left-handed.  Most of my kids, who want to learn how to crochet, are right-handed.  Luckily, I have the book, which has directions for right and left-handers.  I also have the internet.  Over the years, I have found lots of useful hints and tips at wonderful websites.

 

Here are some helpful websites with patterns:

 

Crochet Lessons for the left-handed

 

Short Round Poncho

 

Easy Child's Poncho

 

Quick Crocheted Kerchief

 

How to Make Potholders (my first project)

 

Well, thanks for reading this entry about teaching how to crochet.  I hope I've given you some ideas for teaching crochet, a wonderful creative craft.

How about you, my readers?  How have you taught your children about creating with crafts?  Have you ever considered crocheting and/or knitting?  Your children can benefit from learning how to craft blankets, pillows, pot holders, and/or hats.

May God bless us all with His wisdom and peace, as we teach your children.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.  

 

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Homeschool Organization 1: Manipulatives, Books, Teaching Material, & Environment

Kaelyn, now 6 yrs. old, is happily using her learning space.

It is one thing to consider homeschooling.  It is another to realize that clutter can develop.  How does one handle it?  Decluttering is one solution.  Organizing is another option.

It is challenging to organize the homeschool.  A homeschool has the blending of a traditional house and the learning materials.  I have been homeschooling for over 10 years.  I have accumulated a lot of books, workbooks, and hands on materials.  It is easy to think of just chucking it all; that would be the end of the clutter.

The reality is that I have children ranging from Kindergarten all the way to high school.  Any good homeschooling parent will tell you that they keep some of that stuff for the younger children.  Fortunately, I have been slowly getting rid of material as Kaelyn, the youngest, outgrows it.  I've given away countless books, workbooks, and puzzles that all my children no longer need.  No, I'm not planning to have any more children, either; that's why I've been sharing Kaelyn's stuff.

Old entertainment center holds learning material like board games and 3D shapes.

Having a background in teaching has given me an edge at homeschooling.  I learned how to teach children.  I learned how to discipline students.  I learned about teaching styles and learning styles.  I also learned how to organize teaching material.

Organize books according to theme or type.  Line up spine to edge of shelf.

I learned about the need for books, which are rich sources of information.  I worked several times in libraries before having my children.  I learned a few tricks to organize books.  I organize books by subject.  I organize books by type, whether hard back or softback.

Hardback books are separate from softback books.

Manipulatives--hands on materials I've collected.

I learned about the need for manipulatives.  They are hands on learning materials, like the ones above.  It has been fun to use colorful rhyming wheels to teach phonics.  I also had to learn how to store them properly.  That's why I decided to use Kaelyn's panda bear box to store those for her grade in her room.

Panda Bear box holds Kaelyn's kindergarten manipulatives.

White bookcase holds material by grade level.

I've learned that it is necessary to have our learning materials in an organized manner.  That helps the educator, me, pull out the necessary tools for teaching a particular lesson.  It also helps my children reach the material if they desire to learn more about a particular subject.  When the homeschooling materials are organized, learning is more efficient.  Everyone is happier in our homeschool.

I hope this blog entry has served to help with ideas on how to organize learning materials.  Whether you are a homeschooling parent or not, you can still glean some ideas on how to organize your books and other learning aids.  I hope to blog on how to organize the posters, arts and crafts, audio/visual aids, and other manipulatives in the future.

My living room houses organized bookcases and cleared sofas, as part of an inviting learning space.

I keep dining table clear where my oldest does his schoolwork.

How about you, my readers?  Are your books organized in some way?  Is your home an inviting environment, conducive to learning?  I highly suggest assessing your home to see if the children in your life have opportunities (learning tools) to find books and other materials to use.

I pray that God bless you all, my dear readers, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.