Recently I implemented “Right Answer Only” grading when correcting my son’s math tests.   Problems are graded as either right or wrong, and no partial credit is given even if the mistake is tiny.  For example, if the problem asks you to take a measurement in inches and you give the correct measurement but neglected to write down “inches,”  the problem is considered wrong.

After I grade the test, I give the test back to my son and tell him to rework all the missed problems WITHOUT my help.  He is to redo the problems on his own, and if he gets the problems correct, he earns half of the point back.  If he is not able to get the problems correct second time around, I step in and help him work through it.  In this case, no additional credit is given.

In my son’s last test, he got 16 correct out of 20 problems.  I circled the 4 wrong answers and gave it back to him to rework on his own.  He got 3 correct, but couldn’t figure one.  His final score was 17.5 out of 20, and how this was calculated was based on the original 16 problems he got correct plus the three problem he reworked, which was half point each:  16 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 = 17.5.  The percentage was 88% with a grade of B+.  As for the problem he couldn’t figure out, I worked with him and explained the steps.

I really like this grading approach because it forces my son to figure out where he went wrong.  He is more careful these days because he knows that he has to rework the problem if he gets it wrong the first time.  This method works so well that I decided to use the same approach for his regular homework assignments as well.

I got this “right answer only” grading from Ask Dr. Callahan, and you can read about it in the below links:

What is Right Answer Only? (A video explanation)

Why Grade Right Answer Only?

How do I Grade Right Answer Only?

Please note, Ask Dr. Callahan’s math program is targeted towards high schoolers and not elementary students.  However, I find the “right answer only” grading is beneficial for the elementary students as well.  I follow Dr. Callahan’s grading method mostly with the exception that I don’t have my student fill out a separate sheet explaining why he missed the problem.  I believe elementary math is simple enough that if he is able to get it right second time around, he has already figured out where he went wrong, thus eliminating the step to explain why he missed it the first time around.  I think it is beneficial to explain why when math gets more complex in the high school years.

Recently a friend pointed me to an organization call FabMo where they rescue discontinued designer fabrics.  Most of the fabrics are sofa and other home decor samples.  They hold monthly distributions where subscribers can take as much fabric as they need for FREE!  If you so desire, you can make donations so this volunteered based group can continue their effort.  If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and can use fabrics for projects, you should definitely sign up.

I went for the first time this month and got many pieces of treasures for my sewing needs.  I came away with some wool, cotton, linen, and leather samples.  I was so excited and went to work right away to create clothing for my kids.

I made a pair of soft-soled shoes (Robeez-style) for my one-year-old using  floral linen/cotton blend fabric for the outer pieces and leather for the sole.

I also made a cape for the girls using two square pieces of wool fabrics.

My brain is swirling with ideas and things to make for my kiddos.  So much fun!

Came across a quote that resonated with me in some areas I’ve been particularly convicted on personally as a parent.  It comes from a book that Lois recently began reading through.

Until you are convinced that you can’t change your child’s heart, you will not take prayer seriously.

–Paul Miller, A Praying Life

HT: Irish Calvinist

I’ve been using my ESV Study Bible for my daily Bible reading for the past two months and I’ve found the study notes to be very helpful.  I also like the colored maps and illustrations.  I was really stoked when I used the maps and pictures in my study Bible while teaching a history lesson to my children last week.  If you’re interested in learning more about this study Bible, you can read Tim Challies’ review.

I got the hardcover edition and quickly found the paper dust jacket that came with it was simply not adequate to protect the Bible (or itself!).  So, I made a Bible cover for the my new Bible.  Now it looks snazzy, cozy, and dignified (not that the Bible itself isn’t dignified because after all, it’s God’s Word).

Below are some pictures of the final product (click through for larger images).

Here’s my “naked” Bible with no cover:

Here’s my newly dressed Bible.  Nice and cozy.

Here are the details of the cover:

I’ve been enjoying reading and looking at my bible so much that I’ve decided to make a custom cover for one of my lucky blog readers.  You can even pick from a selection of different fabrics I have available:

To enter this contest:

• You must own or will very soon own a hardcover ESV Study Bible.
• Leave a comment on this post telling me that you want a Bible cover.  Please provide a valid e-mail address in the form (it will only be accessible by us).  If you like, explain why you want a Bible cover from Ding Family Creations.
• Enter by next Sunday (Jan. 17).  A random winner will be selected from all entries the following day and announced via email and the blog.

Good luck!

A couple of weeks ago, the boys went to bed for the evening in a different bedroom for one reason or another… which happened to have a baby monitor.  So I decided to listen in on their quiet settling down to sleep (not!).  Join me for this amusing clip…

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Last week when we were at the library one of the kiddos wanted me to read to her.  I sat on a kiddie chair and read while my kids huddled around me.  Few minutes in, a little boy huddled with my kids to listen.  That was a bit strange, but he wasn’t being disruptive so it was all good.  I was a bit surprised and curious why this little boy stuck around to listen to me read.  Having a stranger join in our reading time isn’t so strange to me because it’s happened several times in the past when we’re in public places such as the library or the bookstore.  I believe little kids enjoy being read to, especially with pizazz!

Whenever I read to my kids, I try to read with pizazz, i.e. with dramatization.  Reading with dramatization isn’t something I learned from a class or something I’ve known all along.  Rather, it’s something I’ve learned along the way as a mom while teaching and interacting with my children.  Nowadays such pizazz comes quite naturally, only because I’ve had years of practice.  I find that reading stories without dramatization is so boring, but adding a little pizazz makes the characters and the story in the book come alive.  Reading in such a manner also helps teach children how to read out loud.  They learn when to pause, when to breathe, and which words or phrases to emphasize.  I’m already seeing the fruits of such technique in my oldest whenever he reads out loud to the other kids.

If you want to learn how to read with pizzaz, here are some tips I learned along the way:

• Assign a different voice for different characters.  I use a higher pitch voice for girls and a lower sounding voice for boys.  I usually have two different voices because more than that would be too cumbersome to keep track of.
• Read fast or slow depending on the situation.  Try to go with the flow of the book.  If something exciting is about to happen, read a bit faster to signal that something extraordinary is about to happen.  If the story is about a lazy Sunday afternoon where people are relaxing or strolling along, read at a slower pace so your readers get the idea that the setting is happening at a slow pace.
• Bring the characters out with attitudes.  If the character is angry, read it with anger.  If the character is happy, read it with cheerfulness.  If the character is sad, read it with great sadness.
• Act out the characters in the book.  When the main character is mad about something, I may act out the character’s anger by my facial expressions such as pouting or huffing.  I may even stomp my feet or cross my arms to show my character’s disgruntled state.
• Give your characters accents.  I admit that I’m not good with accents, but my husband is quite good.  Recently we’ve been reading books where the characters are from England.  Very naturally, my husband reads with British accents and mannerisms (granted to an actual Brit they’re probably fake, but I think they’re pretty good).  Only use accents when you know how to do it right, otherwise it may come off as condescending or demeaning to other cultures.  I’m not good with this one so I pretty much stay away from accents, unless it’s Chinese accents!
• If all that seems too much, listen to and emulate professional storytellers such Jim Weiss, whom we love to listen to!  Many of his stories (adaptations as well as original works) are available from our local library on CD.

Early last year I made a commitment to read the Bible in one year (see this post), and I completed my reading on December 31, 2009.  I felt so happy with this accomplishment and it’s such a great feeling.  Looking back on the year, I wasn’t always on schedule and seemed like I was always playing catch-up.  As a busy mom, it was not easy keeping up with the daily reading but I refused to let my “being a busy mom” be an excuse.  I understand that whatever life stage we’re in right now we can always come up with different excuses for not reading.  I hope that those who didn’t complete their reading in one year won’t give up but be even more determined to finish a new round of Bible reading this year.

Over the year I discovered several ways to tackle my daily reading and I hope these “techniques” may enlighten you and help you be creative in keeping on schedule.

• I take a walk with a friend every morning at 6:30 a.m. for about 30-40 minutes.  After which I lock myself in a room to read my Bible for about one hour.   I discussed this first with my husband so he could deter any halflings (AKA: the little people in this house) from disturbing my daily reading.  While this was the best method in accomplishing my daily readings, this wasn’t always an option because things happen such as being up all night with a sick kid.  So in keeping with schedule, I have another method. . . . .
• Read the Bible whenever I can get a free moment.  I leave my Bible open on the kitchen counter and whenever I can steal a moment, I read a paragraph or two and most of the time I can read a chapter or two.  Sometimes I read my Bible while I feed my baby in her highchair.
• When I get really, really behind in my readings, I go and hang out at a local coffee shop to catch up on my reading for about an hour or two.  This usually happens on the weekends when my husband is home to watch the kids.  Chilling at a coffee house is such a precious and favorite pastime of mine.  I have finally figured out which is the best coffee house to hang out and read, and it’s not Starbucks. I think I’m getting old because I now find that the music at Starbucks is too disruptive for me.  I much prefer a nice and relaxing place that plays classical music.. . . . I know. . . I digressed.

I am excited to start another round of Bible reading this year.  Will you join me?  The reading plan I’m using is Discipleship Journal’s One-Year Plan.