Do you let your kids read ahead in the curriculum?

[joannqn]

If your child wants to read ahead in the curriculum (even reading the whole text) before you get to it in your regular schedule for the school year, do you let him? Why or why not?

[dirty ethel rackham]

Like I could stop them:). Since my kids are voracious readers, I'd have to put things under lock and key to keep them from doing so. What kind of message would that send? Now, if we are going to use that material later, I may require them to re-read it, but that has never been a problem.

[Karen in CO]

Yep - can't stop them. Often, I'll find that when I bring out something to work on that she's already read it. The best stuff, I just skip and leave it to her.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Sure!

[Ester Maria]

Of course - it's a good problem to have. ;)

[LauraGB]

You bet. Part of the coolness of the homeschool thing is that they can work at their own pace. Provided they are understanding what they are doing and their work is good, they can go as fast or as slow as they want. Depending on the subject, though, I encourage going wider instead of just always ahead; read more books about a time in history than just the text and the few books I have chosen.

[joannqn]

Just wondering. We're using Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry and Physics level 1 this year. My son was begging for these two subjects. He's read most of the chemistry book and says he'll read the physics book as soon as we receive it. He has to do it all again when we get to it in our schedule because he's not doing the experiments/labs and I have to do it with my daughter too.

[Julie in CA]

Just wondering. We're using Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry and Physics level 1 this year. My son was begging for these two subjects. He's read most of the chemistry book and says he'll read the physics book as soon as we receive it. He has to do it all again when we get to it in our schedule because he's not doing the experiments/labs and I have to do it with my daughter too.

Reinforcement--it's a good thing. :001_smile:

[Dobela]

I tihnk it is great. When you go back over the material you may be able to study it deeper than you would have with the first go round.

[Rivka]

One of the things I hated most in school was being forced to drag slowly through our reading books, a tiny bit at a time. You bet my kid can read as much as she wants. ;)

[regentrude]

Sure - why would I want to stop them? I can not guess at the beginning of the year how long what section is going to take - so if they are faster, we move faster

[joannqn]

Sure - why would I want to stop them? I can not guess at the beginning of the year how long what section is going to take - so if they are faster, we move faster

 

The issue is that I have two kids doing this curriculum together. We read the text one day, do the experiment another day, work on the worksheets a third day, and take the quiz on the fourth day. We do this curriculum two days a week so each chapter takes two weeks. My son is only reading ahead, not doing the rest of the work. My daughter is not doing anything ahead of schedule. So, he still has to revisit each chapter when it comes up in the lesson plans.

 

Once the chemistry is done (beginning of January), we'll start physics on the same schedule.

 

We only do it two days a week because we are also doing Apologia. We'll be able to complete all three this year with time to spare.

[BikeBookBread]

My controlling, Type A personality screams this is wrong, but I know in my heart that it is a GREAT thing to be so excited about learning. As Julie in CA says, It's reinforcement.

[coffeegal]

My son is only reading ahead, not doing the rest of the work. My daughter is not doing anything ahead of schedule. So, he still has to revisit each chapter when it comes up in the lesson plans.

 

;) This means he'll review the material when he revisits the chapter, and have an easier time understanding what's going on. The material is also more likely to be retained. When I was in college, it was recommended by someone (can't remember who) to read our textbooks ahead of the lecture for better retention and understanding. :D

[Pippen]

One of my worst school memories was my third grade teacher putting a rubber band around my book so I couldn't read ahead. It was a primer on the Pilgrims and I really wanted to finish that story. Very frustrating.

[Jean in Newcastle]

;) This means he'll review the material when he revisits the chapter, and have an easier time understanding what's going on. The material is also more likely to be retained. When I was in college, it was recommended by someone (can't remember who) to read our textbooks ahead of the lecture for better retention and understanding. :D

 

I agree. You just make sure he knows that it is fine to read ahead but that he will still be expected to read it when you do it 'for real'.

[silliness7]

Why not? Reading it twice is better than reading it once.

[Angie in VA]

If your child wants to read ahead in the curriculum (even reading the whole text) before you get to it in your regular schedule for the school year, do you let him? Why or why not?

 

 

Goodness YES!!! :)

[regentrude]

As long as he voluntarily reads ahead, where is the problem?

If he did not like to revisit, he'd stop reading, wouldn't he?

 

 

The issue is that I have two kids doing this curriculum together. We read the text one day, do the experiment another day, work on the worksheets a third day, and take the quiz on the fourth day. We do this curriculum two days a week so each chapter takes two weeks. My son is only reading ahead, not doing the rest of the work. My daughter is not doing anything ahead of schedule. So, he still has to revisit each chapter when it comes up in the lesson plans.

 

[Garga]

Let him read it.

 

When my dh and I are taking various college courses, we read ahead in the texts. It's nice to have an idea of what's going on before the official class begins. Helps to cement the ideas in your head.

[mycalling]

 

One of the things I hated most in school was being forced to drag slowly through our reading books, a tiny bit at a time. You bet my kid can read as much as she wants. ;)

:iagree:

[IsabelC]

Reading the books ahead is half the fun isn't it?

At school, I used to read the whole year's books before the summer holidays were even finished.

[MorganClassicalPrep]

As long as he knows that he will be revisiting that material, and has no problem with that.... I'd be happy to see it!

 

Then again... I'm the same person who reads through all my books for the semester before it even starts... :tongue_smilie:Even back in high school when I was busy slacking off and doing no work, I still read the entire textbooks within the first few days of class.

 

DD isn't at that stage yet, but I sure hope she still has the love of learning that she wants to read ahead!

[amydavis]

It's so funny that I had this same question cross my mind this week. I've been busily piecing together ds10's science for next year. He LOVES science...well, that's actually an understatement. Anyway, as soon as I buy something - I see him walking by carrying it off to be devoured! (I mean, before I even have a chance to plug it into the lesson plans I'm still finalizing!).

 

Some OCD part of my brain kept screaming at me to make him stop, but I didn't. I kept telling myself, this is one of the reasons I homeschool. I'm getting material that he is excited about. He'll still have to go through most of it with me, but like others have said, it'll just give him double exposure. So, I just let him do it, and figure that it's a great "problem" to have! :001_smile:

[freerange]

It's so funny that I had this same question cross my mind this week. I've been busily piecing together ds10's science for next year. He LOVES science...well, that's actually an understatement. Anyway, as soon as I buy something - I see him walking by carrying it off to be devoured! (I mean, before I even have a chance to plug it into the lesson plans I'm still finalizing!).

 

Some OCD part of my brain kept screaming at me to make him stop, but I didn't. I kept telling myself, this is one of the reasons I homeschool. I'm getting material that he is excited about. He'll still have to go through most of it with me, but like others have said, it'll just give him double exposure. So, I just let him do it, and figure that it's a great "problem" to have! :001_smile:

 

:iagree: My Dd has begged me to buy Story of Science, and when it arrives I can see her not moving from the sofa till it's finished. They've retained SOTW much better when they've read or listened to it all through several times.

Edited September 2, 2010 by freerange
Pesky autocorrect

[amydavis]

:iagree: My Dd has begged me to buy Story of Science, and when it arrives I can see her not moving from the sofa till it's finished. They've retained SOTW much better when they've read or listened to it all through several times.

 

Thanks for the tip; I'm off to look up Story of Science. I can tell by the title that it would never make it to my desk. Ds will confiscate it as soon as the box enters the house, lol.

[vonfirmath]

Even in PS, I would read far ahead in textbooks. I was bored and I would not get in trouble for reading schoolwork!

 

I read all of Once and Future King while the other kids were going through the first "book" -- I just went back and made sure I was "on level" with them for class.