We’re back in school. The kids come home and you ask, “How was school today?” And the answer is, “Fine.”Do you feel like your children just don’t want to tell you or are they answering like we often do when someone says, “How are you?”Here are some suggestions to get a conversation going.

• What did you do today that was fun?
• What was hard today?
• What was your best class? Why?
• Did you read any good stories?
• What are you studying in history? science?

All of these questions and more lead into conversations with your children that will help you engage with their education. Even if you’re homeschooling, these can be worthwhile questions to see where your children’s interest lie.

Let their answers tell you what to share about your experiences with your children. Suppose they say they had fun at recess. Next question,” What did you do?” It’s not likely they played jump rope or hopscotch or red rover, but maybe you did. Share those experiences. Teach them how to play those games and recite those jump rope rhymes.

If fractions were hard, pull out the measuring cups and spoons and ask them to help you make cookies or supper. Then show them how you use fractions. Money is another good way to teach fractions. Pour out the change jar and let them sort and count the money discovering what makes up the parts of a whole dollar. Show them how to count back change.

Maybe music was the best class. Ask about what they are singing and share songs you remember from childhood like Eating Goober Peas, or The Erie Canal. 

Are they reading Little House on the Prairie? Go explore a nearby antique shop or the basement if you happen to have family antiques. Subjects like reading, history, and science are always more meaningful if children can put their hands on what they are reading about. 

Are their historical parks in your area? Do they put on demonstrations? In my area, there is American Indian Days at Haygood Mill, reenactments at Cowpens Battlefield and Walnut Grove. What about your family history? Did your ancestors follow the wagon road down the mountains to settle southern Appalachia or were they already there to meet the pioneers? Did they come over on slave ships? Did they go with the wagon trains to settle the west? Were they stowaways on ships? Are they new immigrants who are fleeing harsh homelands? Let your children know and then tell them how good God has been to your family during the tough times as well as the good. 

Do your children enjoy science or need encouragement to study harder? Visit farms, orchards, festivals, planetariums, museums. The Creation Museum is close by for most of the east coast located in Kentucky. The Institute of Creation”s museum is located in Texas. 

As the holidays approach make sure your children are aware they can share the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter at school. FRee speech still exists even in the classroom.

Gail Cartee is hoping you enjoy learning with your children.

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