Tabrett Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 1. Lots of samples of regular children's work. Not the best and brightest children's samples; regular children's work. Especially handwriting (progressively through out the year) and composition examples. I really don't know what my dd's handwriting should look like?!?!?! 2. How much info your child should retain from the lesson. For example: If I am teaching my 5yo dd pennies, nickles and dimes, after one lesson, should she have remembered the names of the coins and the amounts they are worth or is it going to be reviewed over and over? Just a little side note that says something like-"Don't worry if your child doesn't remember it all, it will be review" or "If your child doesn't remember the names and amounts of the coins, don't proceed to the next lesson until they have the info memorized". 3. What to do if you dc can't answer the question! In RS Math A, I was instructed to have my child figure out how many there would be in 2 dozen. After your dc has done the problem have them explain how they got their answer. Keep doing this for 3, 4 and 5 dozen and ask you dc if they see a pattern. We had the egg carton and all the manipulative's necessary. When I asked my 5yo dd the question, I got a blank stare and an I don't know. I then proceeded to show her how to work out the problem. We worked out the questions together. I felt like this was an extremely hard question for a 5yo and was not shocked at the blank stare. I would like the TM to say "If you dc doesn't know how to answer the question, it is ok to work the problem out with your child. It is normal for a 5yo to not be able to figure out a solution for the problem" or "If your dc can't answers the question, please work the problem out with your dc. Do not proceed to the next lesson until your dc can do similar problems on their own." I'm one of those people who thinks you should have learned everything in a lesson. If it isn't learned, I get frustrated. I need a base line to know what to expect from my dc. A base line would help me stop pushing so hard or maybe push a little harder. I feel Like I push too hard because I expect at least 95% or I feel like I have failed. If I knew what to expect from my dc, I think it would help me normalize out my expectations. KWIM? Or at least: This is an introduction lesson or a mastery lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennefer@SSA Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I think that is a great idea. You have some great suggestions that you should consider sending to companies that publish curriculum for the home school community. I taught ps for 7 years so I don't realize how beneficial something like that could be for a mom who doesn't have that education background...and once I get past the grades I taught I think this could really help me too. Even if they couldn't publish it in the TM due to production costs, they could post these samples online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabrett Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 I think that is a great idea. You have some great suggestions that you should consider sending to companies that publish curriculum for the home school community. I taught ps for 7 years so I don't realize how beneficial something like that could be for a mom who doesn't have that education background...and once I get past the grades I taught I think this could really help me too. Even if they couldn't publish it in the TM due to production costs, they could post these samples online. The crazy thing is-I have an education degree!!... Well, in music.:D But even having subbed in all grades, for several years, and taught elementary and middle school music for 4 years, I still expect way more from my dc than the students I taught at school. Honestly, I wasn't worried if they understood all of the material or not. Not many kids do and they were not my kids. That is why the base line would be nice. Something to keep MY perspective correct.:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I am bumping this up because I SO agree and I wanted it to be right up there with that new thread on 'holes' in curriculum. This would be something great to add! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawberry Queen Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I agree with OP. It would be great to know if something is covered later or if this lesson is it. I find it really hard to evaluate my children's work. I also want to know the same thing with provincial standards. Do they want a concept mastered or do I check it off if I introduced it-even if dd didn't get it. I also have to agree that it matters less when it's someone else's child. If I did my best to teach a concept and the child didn't understand then there's not much I can do about it at the end of the year. There's not as much guilt because it's not in the teacher's power to really change things. But as a parent our children are under our rule. It is possible to spend the summer shoring up areas of weakness, or we can choose a different curriculum etc. All in all, it would be nice to have a better baseline of what is needed at each level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 You are completely right. This would be so helpful! You really should draft a letter with this suggestion and send it to as many curriculum companies that you can think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roses Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I think these are great ideas, especially #1! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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