It's so hard to believe that we've made it through our first TWO WEEKS of homeschooling this year! Things are going well. This week we added grammar to the basics (history, reading, math and science).
And yes, we found the missing science disk! Guess where it was. Under a pile of clean laundry waiting to be folded...uh huh. So yeah, my house is still a wreck. But we're working on it. :)
Next week I plan to add spelling, I'm using a combination of All About Spelling (affiliate on my sidebar) and SpellQuizzer. I hope to also add an elective like art...but we'll see how the spelling goes. I don't want to overwhelm them.
The major event that stuck out for me this week was when I discovered some gaps in Billy's (the 7th grader) education. Before I share this let me say I'm not trying to embarrass Billy and he's definitely not a dumb child.
I'm just shocked and dismayed that he made it through SIX YEARS of public school, plus head start programs, tutors, aides, and after school care without these issues being noticed or addressed. Not to mention his babysitters and father not picking up on it.
During math I discovered that Billy does not know his multiplication facts, he can work through them on his fingers but it takes him a long time. After a little Q&A I discovered that in his public school children are allowed to use calculators all the time from about 5th grade up. If your math facts are not strong before you introduce a calculator...you can see what happens.
But what disturbed me the most was during a word problem in which he was supposed to calculate what percentage of the months start with 'J' he admitted that he didn't know all the months of the year. He knew May-October and December, and not in the correct order either.
So over the next few weeks we'll be concentrating on multiplication tables and months of the year in ways that hopefully will boost his self esteem and not cause him to feel inferior because honestly I don't feel it's totally his fault, it's mostly "their" fault. And truth be told, I'm mad as hell about it. But I won't let him see that. :)
This was a full circle moment for me. Remember my Bright and Shiny Lights of Public School post? I think homeschool is the best choice for him right now.
I realize that no matter what educational route you take there will be gaps in education...but I think these are the most basic fundamentals that shouldn't be overlooked.
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A few years ago we pulled our 7th grader out of public school, and it saddens me to say that we are still trying to undue some of the awful habits that he learned. John Taylor Gatto is brilliantly correct, unfortunately. :O)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are able to identify and help your son grow stronger in his education. What a privilege God has given us to teach our children, and watch them learn.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks done now! Keep up the good work. I know you will find ways to bring everyone up to level. We have had a bumpy start to the school year- my dad finally passed away and the kids have had an extended break from school. Hopefully we can get rolling again next week.
ReplyDeleteWow. Finding gaps like that -- the kind that should have been noticed and addressed -- sure make you feel more confident about the whole homeschooling thing, don't they? It's great for Billy that you've noticed and are going to be able to take the time to address the gaps.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm certainly thankful that you now have an opportunity to fill in those gaps. Sadly, the gaps aren't that common of an occurrence. It's hard for one person to adjust one curriculum to fit 30 children.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing great! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteBlessings and FAVOR,
Janet
Shawntele - I'm sorry, but it's nice to know we're not alone.
ReplyDeleteSuanna & Giggly Girls - Thank you for the support, I like that perspective, it is a blessing.
AFWife, Kris & Janet - Thanks for the support, I appreciate ehe encouragement!
We also use All About Spelling. My son is a very reluctant reader. ABS is helping him build his reading skills.
ReplyDeleteKathi
http://time4learning.net/groups/pennsylvania-homeschool-support-group-online/
Dear Cheryl, My husband and I are wrapping up our homeschooling experience with our two children. We graduated our son, after 10 1/2 years of homeschooling, this past May. Our daughter will graduate next May. We pulled our children out when they were in the 1st and 2nd grades for half a year since our son had an incredibly bad teacher. We didn't intend on going on through high school.....In just a short time though, we saw what an incredible blessing homeschooling was and how absolutely horrible our public schools were. Now just because we saw homeschooling was a blessing, it doesn't mean I didn't have major crying spellings throughout our time homeschooling, because the pressure on the home school parent is intense....I would go through it all again though seeing where we are now.....I can't impress on new homeschooling parents to hang in there even through high school.....That high school is even more important to home school than ever before.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the gaps....
I was a public/private school teacher for 10 years prior to homeschooling. (It was definitely a hindrance being a teacher prior to homeschooling.) I used to talk against homeschooling....shows what ignorance does to an opinion!!!!!! Homeschooling is not to emulate public school. It is to give far more than the subjects.
Our son didn't learn how to read until he was in the 5th grade....If he had been in a 'regular' school, 'they' would have had him tested and in a special class. Having been a special ed. teacher in the public schools, I worried that I was just turning a blind eye to my son, hanging in there though with my mentors in homeschooling and my faith, our son started reading in the 5th grade because there was an interest and a reason....he soared up to where he should have been and is in college doing very well....he just wasn't ready when 'schools' the 'measurers' of when someone should grasp information said he should. He also didn't get his months and weekdays right until he got a job and he needed to get the months/weekdays right. It wasn't important to him....when it was, he remembered them. I would love to go back and do it all again, just so I wouldn't worry so much about the gaps. We just kept going over things and hit everything in different ways and more later than sooner, my kids caught on. In the end, they have tested well on standardized testing and now on college entrance testing.....I didn't need to worry....they caught up...But outside of me worrying, all the while though, I kept their hearts whole and happy. Take heart....lighten up on worrying about the gaps....they will 'fill' in.
Yes I am certain anger would be the feeling I would have also. But identifying those issues and assuring your son that you are here to help him learn and grown in the ways that he needs will do him so much good!
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