I was pre-reading a book that I want to have Seri read. It's the Rich Dad, Poor Dad; For Teens book.
At one point he said something that completely resonated with me. He was describing how Albert Einstein never really did well in school. He would rather use the storage in his brain for creative and logical thinking than for storing facts.
To be succesful you have to think outside the box most of the time and be creative and logical. You need to know where the facts can be found when you need them, not neccesarily to have them stored in your head.
I guess this is more or less the philosophy that I teach my children by. We don't do a lot of Social Studies or Geography or subjects of that matter. I do teach writing, reading and math when they are at a maturity level that it will be easy for them to learn those skills.
I would rather they be able to think abstractly, logically and I guess what I am is saying is that I want them to be able to think..... not regurgitate information.
Information that they do not really need to know as long as they do know where to look for it should they need it.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Disclaimer
If you haven't already noticed I am a horrible speller. I used to sit at the computer with a dictionary , but now that we have the lap top and I am never in the same place it is not as convienient (see, there I go again). Usually when I write I do utilize spell check or ensure that my spelling is correct.
Here, this is my space and I don't feel the urgency to correct it. If it concerns you that I homeschool and I can't spell then I would kindly suggest that you read another blog somewhere else :)
Here, this is my space and I don't feel the urgency to correct it. If it concerns you that I homeschool and I can't spell then I would kindly suggest that you read another blog somewhere else :)
Results are in for Michael
As per law we had Michael assessed this year. Seri was tested and those results wont be back until August. I adored his assessor and was so glad to have found her.
After the assessment she told me how much she enjoyed working with Michael and that he was a great kid. It is so good to hear compiments even if they are superflous (sp). It is especially nice when I am having one of those days that include me being sure I am raising menaces to society.
Anyhow, we recieved his report today and here it is folks:
Reading Comprehension third grade level
Oral Reading; second grade level
Spelling ; second grade level
Grammar; second grade level
writing; second grade level
Math; third grade level
"Michael has a very strong foundation in both reading and math. When he read the passage for the comprehension assessment, he read it, thought about it, and then made a thoughtful comment about it. In other ways he showed a deep interest in learning.
Areas that need extra work are handwriting, capitilization, and punctuation".
Since his birthday is mid-June I am pleased with the results and figure that I am doing about the same if not better with him than a PS school would.
The assessor told me that she had asked him what program he had used to learn to read and he didn't know how to answer that. She then asked me and I responded that we don't use any programs. We expose him to literature frequently as a part of his life. She was impressed.
My mother saw the results and then said, "hm and you don't really do any school work with him other than math, imagine how he would do if you actually did work with him on schooling".
I knew his writing skills would be a tad lower because I have not worked with him on those at all, I usually don't start teaching a skill until they show interest in wanting to learn it and being able to teach themselves after they are taught the basics. For Seri, I just started with her writing about two months ago.
It makes me laugh though. I am not sure how much I may have shared in other blogs about Michael and his reading but I will tell the story here. When he was in the first grade I put him in school for about three months. I was working and my mother had to leave Germany because they were irritated she had stayed so long. I was really doing it for the free daycare aspect. After two months the teacher scheduled a meeting with me and the reading specialist. When we had all sat down the specialist told me that she found Michael to be a delightful and polite child and that he had a way of making her smile. She then proceeded to tell me what I already knew and that was that Michael could not read. He couldn't write very many words when they gave him two minutes to write down all the words he could think of. Apparently the new fad was that what you can write you can read. They were severly concerned and ketp pushing this point like I wasn't getting it. Maybe I wasn't. He was six, still fairly young and I did not see this as the end of the world.
The teacher then told me that she felt sorry for him and that his lack of ability to read was hindering him socially. I thought this was strange as he had plenty of friends and no social issues outside of the classroom, so I asked her to explain. She said that they had circle time every day and that they would all read the same book, taking turns reading out loud. She called on Michael like she did everyone so that he would not feel left out. When he couldn't read it or stumbled on the words the other children would look at him in amazement that he could not read. I asked her how Michael responded to this situation and she said that he always kept trying or would ask for help. I remember thinking about how sad it all was. The teacher and school had basically set Michael up to be a social failure all because he was not on "their" timeline. I guesse this feeling must have shown because then they said they were worried because I did not seem concerned enough about the situation. They said that studies had shown that what a child can read at this age is indicative of how good a reader he will be as an adult. (I am still kicking myself for not asking them to provide hard copies of these "studies"). I explained that I was not concerned because he was six, not twelve, there was time left for him to learn to read before those skills would be needed to serve him in life. Because when I first sat down they told me that Michael was polite and a delightful child to be around. They had said that he was eager to learn and confident enough to ask for help when he didn't know the answers. This was vereification that I had been raising and teaching him the things that were truly important. How many times have you seen a kid that was a great reader but you couldn't tolerate being around him and he couldn't function effectively in society.
Not convinced they suggested that when we moved we place him in the first grade again. his skills would be a perfect match for a "first of the year first grader but not for and end of the year one", as if that time was of significant purpose in the long run.
So, we brought Michael home. I wanted him to feel safe and secure on his timeline and not to be pressured or harrased because of it. I so wish that I could have another meeting with those ladies and have Michael read to them from the Bible. He comprehends it sometimes more than I do.
Everyday I am thankful for that decision. I can't imagine what his psyche would be if we had left him in school. At home he knows he is perfect.
After the assessment she told me how much she enjoyed working with Michael and that he was a great kid. It is so good to hear compiments even if they are superflous (sp). It is especially nice when I am having one of those days that include me being sure I am raising menaces to society.
Anyhow, we recieved his report today and here it is folks:
Reading Comprehension third grade level
Oral Reading; second grade level
Spelling ; second grade level
Grammar; second grade level
writing; second grade level
Math; third grade level
"Michael has a very strong foundation in both reading and math. When he read the passage for the comprehension assessment, he read it, thought about it, and then made a thoughtful comment about it. In other ways he showed a deep interest in learning.
Areas that need extra work are handwriting, capitilization, and punctuation".
Since his birthday is mid-June I am pleased with the results and figure that I am doing about the same if not better with him than a PS school would.
The assessor told me that she had asked him what program he had used to learn to read and he didn't know how to answer that. She then asked me and I responded that we don't use any programs. We expose him to literature frequently as a part of his life. She was impressed.
My mother saw the results and then said, "hm and you don't really do any school work with him other than math, imagine how he would do if you actually did work with him on schooling".
I knew his writing skills would be a tad lower because I have not worked with him on those at all, I usually don't start teaching a skill until they show interest in wanting to learn it and being able to teach themselves after they are taught the basics. For Seri, I just started with her writing about two months ago.
It makes me laugh though. I am not sure how much I may have shared in other blogs about Michael and his reading but I will tell the story here. When he was in the first grade I put him in school for about three months. I was working and my mother had to leave Germany because they were irritated she had stayed so long. I was really doing it for the free daycare aspect. After two months the teacher scheduled a meeting with me and the reading specialist. When we had all sat down the specialist told me that she found Michael to be a delightful and polite child and that he had a way of making her smile. She then proceeded to tell me what I already knew and that was that Michael could not read. He couldn't write very many words when they gave him two minutes to write down all the words he could think of. Apparently the new fad was that what you can write you can read. They were severly concerned and ketp pushing this point like I wasn't getting it. Maybe I wasn't. He was six, still fairly young and I did not see this as the end of the world.
The teacher then told me that she felt sorry for him and that his lack of ability to read was hindering him socially. I thought this was strange as he had plenty of friends and no social issues outside of the classroom, so I asked her to explain. She said that they had circle time every day and that they would all read the same book, taking turns reading out loud. She called on Michael like she did everyone so that he would not feel left out. When he couldn't read it or stumbled on the words the other children would look at him in amazement that he could not read. I asked her how Michael responded to this situation and she said that he always kept trying or would ask for help. I remember thinking about how sad it all was. The teacher and school had basically set Michael up to be a social failure all because he was not on "their" timeline. I guesse this feeling must have shown because then they said they were worried because I did not seem concerned enough about the situation. They said that studies had shown that what a child can read at this age is indicative of how good a reader he will be as an adult. (I am still kicking myself for not asking them to provide hard copies of these "studies"). I explained that I was not concerned because he was six, not twelve, there was time left for him to learn to read before those skills would be needed to serve him in life. Because when I first sat down they told me that Michael was polite and a delightful child to be around. They had said that he was eager to learn and confident enough to ask for help when he didn't know the answers. This was vereification that I had been raising and teaching him the things that were truly important. How many times have you seen a kid that was a great reader but you couldn't tolerate being around him and he couldn't function effectively in society.
Not convinced they suggested that when we moved we place him in the first grade again. his skills would be a perfect match for a "first of the year first grader but not for and end of the year one", as if that time was of significant purpose in the long run.
So, we brought Michael home. I wanted him to feel safe and secure on his timeline and not to be pressured or harrased because of it. I so wish that I could have another meeting with those ladies and have Michael read to them from the Bible. He comprehends it sometimes more than I do.
Everyday I am thankful for that decision. I can't imagine what his psyche would be if we had left him in school. At home he knows he is perfect.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Last Saturday I went to a church conference for women. At one point a song was sung in which a woman feels she is doing something for everyone she loves and yet wonders what it is all worth and when she gets her time. The chorus went something along the lines of; In the meantime she is being molded and refined.
That really got me thinking. I once had it all figured out and was doing pretty good. Then another baby came along while my youngest was still a baby and ever since then I feel like I am losing it. Between the feedings, diaper changes, dressing and comforting it is impossible to do much else, oh, and then there is the house to take care of and the other three children to teach and nurture.
I picture myself one day as a mid-wife, helping other women bring their babies into this world. It is something I am passionate about and think I would not only be good at but would really enjoy. One day. when my children are old enough to build on the foundation their father and I have laid. When no one is dependent on me. When it is just me and the dream I want to pursue.
There is comfort in knowing that my time will come. I am sure of it. Please do not dissuade me, for there are days when this feels like my only comfort.
And as I change another diaper, feed another child, do another load of laundry, recieve another smile, kiss and hug, hear "your the best" from my child one more time; I will remember that not only will it be my turn someday, but in the meantime I am being molded and refined.
That really got me thinking. I once had it all figured out and was doing pretty good. Then another baby came along while my youngest was still a baby and ever since then I feel like I am losing it. Between the feedings, diaper changes, dressing and comforting it is impossible to do much else, oh, and then there is the house to take care of and the other three children to teach and nurture.
I picture myself one day as a mid-wife, helping other women bring their babies into this world. It is something I am passionate about and think I would not only be good at but would really enjoy. One day. when my children are old enough to build on the foundation their father and I have laid. When no one is dependent on me. When it is just me and the dream I want to pursue.
There is comfort in knowing that my time will come. I am sure of it. Please do not dissuade me, for there are days when this feels like my only comfort.
And as I change another diaper, feed another child, do another load of laundry, recieve another smile, kiss and hug, hear "your the best" from my child one more time; I will remember that not only will it be my turn someday, but in the meantime I am being molded and refined.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
This is a long one...
A few of my friends have blogs that they keep more as an everyday journal. I like looking at their posts, even on the days when it is only one line long. While I have the desire to do this, I do not think I want to start a whole other blog, so, I am taking this one over for my random thoughts, whether they relate to homeschool or not.
In the state of Washington we are required to have children age eight and over either tested or assessed by a certified teacher. Seri was assessed last year, but this year I feel she is mature enough to participate in testing. I don't want to give the impression that I agree with testing in this manner, but I am a law-abiding citizen.
Michael however will be assessed. I did not like the person we used for Seri's assessment and so I was on the hunt for another certified teacher who would perform it. At church there are a few certified teachers and I saw one in the hall so I asked if I could speak with her and politely explained that we were looking for someone to assess Michael and did she do assessments or know of someone who did.
Her response was "You must call the school district and see when the testing day is. In our school district they have chosen to deal with this by having all homeschooled children come in for testing. And you had better do it soon because the date is coming up soon". Shocked I told her this was the first I had heard of it and that I knew for a fact there were other methods of satisfying this law without bringing my children to a "mandatory" test day at the school.
She then told me that I had better get my curriculum evaluated soon also. Now, I am really in shock and reply that it is not stated in the law that my curriculum needs to be evaluated. Luckily there was another mother who had homeschooled her children who had the same response. Regardless, the "certified teacher" rudely told me that once again this was how our school district had choosen to deal with this since they were still responsible for my children even though I homeschool them. EXCUSE ME??? Who is responsible for my children? Their father and I are!!!! Guesse that is the major beef I have with the PS system is this disagreement over whose responsible for the children my husband and I concieved and I gave birth to.
Man, I was so ticked off!!! If you disagree with my homeschooling then just politely tell me you would not be comfortable with assessing my child and walk away, I promise not to be offended. But, please do not go spouting off inacurate information!! It only makes you look stupid. Trust me, as any home school mother will tell you, we are well versed on the state law. We have to be, to protect ourselves from self-righteous people like you who have a problem with those of "our kind".
Now, I am supposed to go to church and not harbor ill feelings towards this person.... I will be good, I will be good.......
On a brighter note I finally did find someone to assess Michael.
On a less-than-bright note, she charges $75.00. Add that to the $55.00 for Seri's tesing and I am once again irked.
We have to register our Declaration of intent with the school district who then gets the funding for my children to fund a school they will never attend. Meanwhile my husband works and pays taxes to help fund this school my children wont attend and then pays again to fulfill the requirements given us. We get no funds whatsoever. All curriculum and educational realted fees we pay out of pocket. Then when my husband gets a $1,800 bonus, we only see $1,300 of it because of taxes!!!! Man, this seems just so wrong!!!
On the other hand maybe I can't complain too much, a friend once told me that she budgets between $500 and $700 a year per child for school costs. Supplies, Clothes, PE uniforms, fundraisers, field trips, yearbooks, school pictures, lunches, etc....... Now, that's nuts.
Seri's youth group signed up to volunteer at a local Elementary school's end of year carnival. Wow, was that crazy. Walking through the school I couldn't help but to notice how institutionalized it was. Not inviting at all despite the colorful banners and posters on the walls and the little dog foot prints on the hall floors. The walls were of white brick and it was not enclosed, just had an open roof over the top which means (at least here in Seattle) that the hallway is always wet and cold.
They sold tickets for 25 cents or an all you can play bracelet for $15.00. Then the chidren all ran around playing stupid games for stupid prizes that would be thrown away or trashed before they probably even got home, while parents followed behind dispensing cash and looking as if this was the last place on earth they wanted to be.
There was nothing about the situation that made me want to rush out and enroll my kids for next fall. In fact, I felt the opposite emotion of "Thank God that's not us". But I did wonder if Seri saw it all in a different light. When we got in the van I asked her if being there made her wish she was in school at all. Her response was "Are you kidding me? Did you see how most of those kids behaved?". I would like to think that is entirely her own opinion but I do wonder if she does not pick up those attitudes from me.
For the most part I do not fight the battle of my children wanting to go back to school. In fact, I think Seri is very happy to not be in school. They have a highschool in Seattle called Aviation High that is strictly geared towards eniginering (sp) and aeronautics which is right up her ally. I tried to talk to her about maybe going there for Highschool and she responded by saying "But, that's a public school. I am not all that interested".
Michael has said recently that he wants to go to school. When I asked him why he responded because he would then see his friends everyday and get to ride a bus. I told him that in my opinion that was not a good enough reason for me to enroll him in school and that we would ride the local bus next week to get it out of his system. He was satisfied with that answer and finished his math.
As far as Isaac goes, I don't think he knows any better yet.
In the state of Washington we are required to have children age eight and over either tested or assessed by a certified teacher. Seri was assessed last year, but this year I feel she is mature enough to participate in testing. I don't want to give the impression that I agree with testing in this manner, but I am a law-abiding citizen.
Michael however will be assessed. I did not like the person we used for Seri's assessment and so I was on the hunt for another certified teacher who would perform it. At church there are a few certified teachers and I saw one in the hall so I asked if I could speak with her and politely explained that we were looking for someone to assess Michael and did she do assessments or know of someone who did.
Her response was "You must call the school district and see when the testing day is. In our school district they have chosen to deal with this by having all homeschooled children come in for testing. And you had better do it soon because the date is coming up soon". Shocked I told her this was the first I had heard of it and that I knew for a fact there were other methods of satisfying this law without bringing my children to a "mandatory" test day at the school.
She then told me that I had better get my curriculum evaluated soon also. Now, I am really in shock and reply that it is not stated in the law that my curriculum needs to be evaluated. Luckily there was another mother who had homeschooled her children who had the same response. Regardless, the "certified teacher" rudely told me that once again this was how our school district had choosen to deal with this since they were still responsible for my children even though I homeschool them. EXCUSE ME??? Who is responsible for my children? Their father and I are!!!! Guesse that is the major beef I have with the PS system is this disagreement over whose responsible for the children my husband and I concieved and I gave birth to.
Man, I was so ticked off!!! If you disagree with my homeschooling then just politely tell me you would not be comfortable with assessing my child and walk away, I promise not to be offended. But, please do not go spouting off inacurate information!! It only makes you look stupid. Trust me, as any home school mother will tell you, we are well versed on the state law. We have to be, to protect ourselves from self-righteous people like you who have a problem with those of "our kind".
Now, I am supposed to go to church and not harbor ill feelings towards this person.... I will be good, I will be good.......
On a brighter note I finally did find someone to assess Michael.
On a less-than-bright note, she charges $75.00. Add that to the $55.00 for Seri's tesing and I am once again irked.
We have to register our Declaration of intent with the school district who then gets the funding for my children to fund a school they will never attend. Meanwhile my husband works and pays taxes to help fund this school my children wont attend and then pays again to fulfill the requirements given us. We get no funds whatsoever. All curriculum and educational realted fees we pay out of pocket. Then when my husband gets a $1,800 bonus, we only see $1,300 of it because of taxes!!!! Man, this seems just so wrong!!!
On the other hand maybe I can't complain too much, a friend once told me that she budgets between $500 and $700 a year per child for school costs. Supplies, Clothes, PE uniforms, fundraisers, field trips, yearbooks, school pictures, lunches, etc....... Now, that's nuts.
Seri's youth group signed up to volunteer at a local Elementary school's end of year carnival. Wow, was that crazy. Walking through the school I couldn't help but to notice how institutionalized it was. Not inviting at all despite the colorful banners and posters on the walls and the little dog foot prints on the hall floors. The walls were of white brick and it was not enclosed, just had an open roof over the top which means (at least here in Seattle) that the hallway is always wet and cold.
They sold tickets for 25 cents or an all you can play bracelet for $15.00. Then the chidren all ran around playing stupid games for stupid prizes that would be thrown away or trashed before they probably even got home, while parents followed behind dispensing cash and looking as if this was the last place on earth they wanted to be.
There was nothing about the situation that made me want to rush out and enroll my kids for next fall. In fact, I felt the opposite emotion of "Thank God that's not us". But I did wonder if Seri saw it all in a different light. When we got in the van I asked her if being there made her wish she was in school at all. Her response was "Are you kidding me? Did you see how most of those kids behaved?". I would like to think that is entirely her own opinion but I do wonder if she does not pick up those attitudes from me.
For the most part I do not fight the battle of my children wanting to go back to school. In fact, I think Seri is very happy to not be in school. They have a highschool in Seattle called Aviation High that is strictly geared towards eniginering (sp) and aeronautics which is right up her ally. I tried to talk to her about maybe going there for Highschool and she responded by saying "But, that's a public school. I am not all that interested".
Michael has said recently that he wants to go to school. When I asked him why he responded because he would then see his friends everyday and get to ride a bus. I told him that in my opinion that was not a good enough reason for me to enroll him in school and that we would ride the local bus next week to get it out of his system. He was satisfied with that answer and finished his math.
As far as Isaac goes, I don't think he knows any better yet.
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