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Homework offers useful opportunities to learn about Microsoft Office
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Last time I introduced you to the idea of having a homework party where your kids and their friends can get acquainted with using Microsoft Office tools. Let’s explore the notion! Maybe we can inspire a whole new generation of potential Office users, or at least we can produce a few students who can competently create documents by the time they get into college!
Turn your Homework party into a project. You and your child can spend the week ahead of your party getting ready. Show them how to use Outlook to get organized and keep plans on schedule. Let them do as much of the interactive planning as possible, but try to limit your sessions to about ½ hour. Longer than that and they’ll start feeling like they’re back in school. It will only take an hour or two of planning to get tasks set up and scheduled. Add the guests to your contact list. You’ll make future invitations easier. The added contacts, and experience with learning and using calendar can do double duty by making it easier for them to let you know where they’re headed after school.
Decide on a homework project suitable to working with Office that the guests will work on during the party. Some useful and easy suggestions include creating an outline in MS Word, or checking math problems and verifying equations in Excel! If you have a digital camera available you can even start setting up a PowerPoint presentation and insert pictures or video clips during the party. On the day of the party let your kid lead the show and help his or her guests with the software. Guests can also take turns at the keyboard if you have limited computers at your disposal.
Don’t expect kids under 16 to have attention spans longer than about ½ at a time. That means they should intersperse homework or learning activities with food, exercise, and fun! Try this suggested schedule and have fun at the party!
Suggested Times | What to do |
5 Minutes | Assign everyone a task as they come in the door – some suggestions: Get the food out of the fridge, prepare what is necessary, and serve. Explain the rules – everyone has to cooperate or they will be asked to go home. Be sure they all agree that the goal is to "Get homework done while having fun.” Agree who will do what by the end of the party. Keep food & drink away from electronics! |
20 Minutes | Fuel Up and Socialize while getting into the homework zone! Set up work areas and make sure supplies are available/accessible to all. Ask if anyone needs anything – (don't ask what they forgot!) Put distractions out of sight for now. |
Organize your activities. Warm up after-school brains by sharing creative ideas and thoughts and talking about what you have to do. Break out into groups when appropriate. | |
30 Minutes | Work! While working feel free to get "fuel" as needed. |
10 Minutes | As work gets finished, or as attention spans wan, take turns warming up at the hoop, kicking the soccer ball around, or head out for a short walk. Start cleaning up the work area and getting ready for fun. Don't distract the others who are finishing – keep the areas separate whenever possible. (A shade tree work area a few yards from the basketball court or soccer field qualifies!) |
30 Minutes | Make sure everything's cleaned up and proceed with the party – pull out the games & play! Those with longer attention spans can feel free to finish up the work at hand. |
Contact this Examiner! pirate_examiner-examiner@yahoo.com All photos courtesy of DG Slayton/gone fishin studios. |
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