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Originally Posted by LearningAsIGo
My niece and nephew are homeschooled by their mother.
That's wonderful!
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When baby #3 came in Nov. '06, they took a "2 month break"
Good idea.
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and are making up that work NOW.
Making up that work?
Most people are under the assumption that home schooling is public schooling at home. That is far from true.
Home schooling means true learning. It is not based on the public school schedule, but on the child's ability to learn.
If the child does not understand a lesson for whatever reason, there is nothing wrong with going over it again. No matter how many times. It's the equivalent of being held back, but it isn't a stigma that the child has to live with all his life.
And if the family has to put aside the books for a certain period, until things get settled, they can pick up where they left off. There should be no pressure to stay on the same curriculum level as the public or private schools.
Some families actually accomplish many grade levels in one school year. Some families have to go back to earlier levels which have to be reviewed because they've been forgotten. Others do both. The children may find one subject hard and another simple. There is no rule that one has to take a whole year to study one text book. If the child can devour it in one week then so be it. If the child needs two years, so be it.
The whole point of home schooling is quality. Not keeping up or setting pace with Public Schools.
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She said they'll be done in 6 more weeks, take a "2 week summer break" and then start the next grade.
They do not take them to be tested for their age/skill level (the kids are 9.5, and 7).
When you teach your kids day in and day out, you know them better than anyone in the world. Why pay a "so called" expert to test them based on generalized data when you have personal, specific feedback everyday?
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They (parents) seem to think its not necessary. They said, "It cost money and they can't make you." In the mean time, they believe the younger is behind in reading, yet no help has been sought out.
You can't tell at a young age, what the children will be like later. Some children are late bloomers. Thank God this child is not in public school. He would be labeled as lazy or difficult or some other problem which would follow him for life.
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We're concerned, but can't talk to her as she obviously gets very defensive. I suppose there isn't anything I could do, but isn't it recommended that each home schooled child be tested to make sure they're "on track?"
No. Testing is considered detrimental by many home schoolers. It is simply an opportunity for the Public Schools to label a child as either dumb or smart. But tests are simply reflections of a child's progress at one point in time. There is no way to factor in the child's state of mind, state of health or any other contributing factors at that point in time. Yet those test results will be put on his record and follow him the rest of his life.
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They don't plan on entering them into public school until 6th grade. (Currently they're in 3rd and 1st.)
My children have never set foot in public school except to accompany their friends or cousins in some performance. I have graduated two from home school.
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I guess I was just hoping for a little insight. :confused:
Thanks
No problem. Many people are confused about home school. They assume it's a carbon copy of public school. But it isn't. If it were a carbon copy of public school, there would be no reason to home school.
You see, public schools do not take the individual into account. They have generic standards. The child either keeps up and fits in to the school schedule or he is labeled and punished. This is not only damaging to the child in the present but also in the future because records are kept and follow the child from grade to grade.
But the home schooling parent should take advantage of the fact that she ( I say she, because in every case that I know of, it is the mom who stays at home with the children) can tailor the school to her child. She can take advantage of aptitudes and make allowances for difficult subjects. What's important is true learning. Not keeping a schedule.
Sincerely,
De Maria