… not too smart or not too dumb …
I wonder if remedial English courses are available for potential home schoolers?
(English is a dying language!)
Home Schooling
- Thread starter carole
- Start date
I wonder if remedial English courses are available for potential home schoolers?
(English is a dying language!)
Canoepaddler
New member
… not too smart or not too dumb …
I wonder if remedial English courses are available for potential home schoolers?
(English is a dying language!)
nashy - I normally look forward to your comments, but in light of the passion and seriousness of the topic, this would have been one time to give it a rest. Just say'n...
I agree, that was a bit extreme, even for me, and I gave it some serious thought, but I believe it should definitely be a serious consideration for someone considering home schooling, no?
I'm sure it can be done successfully. But I haven't seen it personally. So my opinion is jadded. We know a couple families that choose to homeschool. And honestly don't feel the kids were up to their potenial. Yes they had impressive test scores on various things. But when it came to College life they seen to struggle anyway.
IMO these mothers were doing it more because they were less than happy with their own situations. Teachers that couldn't handle a classroom few of kids, so they fulfilled their own needs with their kids.
That said I don't know anyone but the parents should get involved in the decision.
Private schools are expensive, but if you choose to go that route there is always a way. And if the public school are unexceptable - MOVE. That should be #1 when choosing a place to live.
IMO these mothers were doing it more because they were less than happy with their own situations. Teachers that couldn't handle a classroom few of kids, so they fulfilled their own needs with their kids.
That said I don't know anyone but the parents should get involved in the decision.
Private schools are expensive, but if you choose to go that route there is always a way. And if the public school are unexceptable - MOVE. That should be #1 when choosing a place to live.
Thanks for everyones great input, especially Boondocker. Since home schooling is new to me and friends/people my age I have my concerns. Yes, Julie did a thorough research before making this decision, but still, I hesitate to say 'sounds like a good way to go.' I feel the grandkids would do well with this type of education and greatly benefit from it, but I do worry about the long commitment on my daughters part.
yamahauler
Active member
One thing that is interesting to me...people are always mention about large class sizes. My average class was 26 in high school with some up to 35 and it was never a big deal. Ya, you have some morons that caused issues, etc... If a kid is too smart, a parent so look into extra things to satisfy that, send them to camp, or make up some of your own things for them to do to jog the brain. If they are on the other end of the spectrum, then the parents should basically be doing the same. You notice I mention parents in every sentence. What is interesting is if you took a poll, I would be most kids with issues and not being up to snuff have parents that don't put any effort into it and leave it up to the school to raise their kid. Schools need to get back to the basics, teach, discipline, and if your kid isn't cutting it, they fail. Welcome to the real world.
I hasten to add, although it's just a hunch, that exceptionally bright kids should really thrive in a home-schooling environment, rather than being dragged down to some common denominator in a traditional classroom. In such a traditional classroom situation the bright kids who may be leagues ahead of their classmates are also at risk of losing interest and getting into other trouble. Assuming that the parents can manage to stay ahead of their kids! A potentially valuable experience for all participants!
booondocker
New member
Here are a couple more points I have thought about since my first odd comments...
In most school systems, there is an effort to group kids of like age. While there may not be as much effort to group them intellectually, this like age processing....puts a different spin on the educational process, allowing the kids to more or less gage where they should be...this can be a very very important motivator, OR...it can be a debilitation that turns them off and moves their motivation into the gutter.
Putting a couple kids who work well together in a class room working on a project creates interactions that is unique to larger school education. One feeds off the other and augments the thinking process, which is coveted in any learning classroom. This is very hard to duplicate in a home school environment.
As Nash points out, the reciprocal to this is that home schooling knows no boundaries. It is limitless in what can be learned, and there is little that will hold an obviously bright child from moving at the speed of light in areas of his education that he/she has extreme interest. Down side to this is that because of this rocket movement, it is very tempting for a "novice" teacher to allow it to continue AT THE DIRECT EXPENSE of covering ground that is NOT of such high interest. We are talking about "rounded" education here.
I still think that rather than pull away from typical schooling because of "funding" issues, and lack of additional help, etc....every parent should augment their kids education with field trips, and reading, and adventures of every sort and possibility, along with all the other socializing things that happen with a traditional schooling environment. Together....like a symphony orchastra, you bring out the best that any child can be.
If there is one thing that is certain, is that schooling has a million different avenues to be taken...and they all accomplish the same basic things...it is just that some do it better than others.
My hat is off to anyone who wants to tackle this on their own...knowing what I know, this job is probably THE most important process that kids can go thru in their formative years. I would NOT do it, because I am no where near qualified to do all of what SHOULD be taught and learned over that period of your child's life. I did supplement my kids educations, as much as I could to the maximum that they were able to learn it. Jury is still out on whether they learned all that I was TRYING to learn em!
Education is not about books alone.
In most school systems, there is an effort to group kids of like age. While there may not be as much effort to group them intellectually, this like age processing....puts a different spin on the educational process, allowing the kids to more or less gage where they should be...this can be a very very important motivator, OR...it can be a debilitation that turns them off and moves their motivation into the gutter.
Putting a couple kids who work well together in a class room working on a project creates interactions that is unique to larger school education. One feeds off the other and augments the thinking process, which is coveted in any learning classroom. This is very hard to duplicate in a home school environment.
As Nash points out, the reciprocal to this is that home schooling knows no boundaries. It is limitless in what can be learned, and there is little that will hold an obviously bright child from moving at the speed of light in areas of his education that he/she has extreme interest. Down side to this is that because of this rocket movement, it is very tempting for a "novice" teacher to allow it to continue AT THE DIRECT EXPENSE of covering ground that is NOT of such high interest. We are talking about "rounded" education here.
I still think that rather than pull away from typical schooling because of "funding" issues, and lack of additional help, etc....every parent should augment their kids education with field trips, and reading, and adventures of every sort and possibility, along with all the other socializing things that happen with a traditional schooling environment. Together....like a symphony orchastra, you bring out the best that any child can be.
If there is one thing that is certain, is that schooling has a million different avenues to be taken...and they all accomplish the same basic things...it is just that some do it better than others.
My hat is off to anyone who wants to tackle this on their own...knowing what I know, this job is probably THE most important process that kids can go thru in their formative years. I would NOT do it, because I am no where near qualified to do all of what SHOULD be taught and learned over that period of your child's life. I did supplement my kids educations, as much as I could to the maximum that they were able to learn it. Jury is still out on whether they learned all that I was TRYING to learn em!
Education is not about books alone.
booondocker
New member
And a teacher who does more than pick up a paycheck, should with all his/her wisdom and experience, SPOT that kid who is bored out of his mind and work to "challenge" the kid and poke him til he looks like a pin cushion.
The exceptional teacher responds to the likes of boredom with challenges, and peaks curiosity that few see in the kid or care to address if they do.
These are the very teachers WE all had growing up and the ones that we remember the most....why? Because they were worth their paychecks, and that my friends is a commodity getting harder and harder to find....but is never taught in college, and develops over time with experience and intelligence...assuming there is some of the latter.
Now how is a rookie going to deal with that??
snow_monkey
New member
I give you five gold stars for your interest in a childs education. In Lansing Michigan they gave away free turkeys to lure the parents to come to the parent teacher conferences. Less than 30 percent showed up the year before and when they gave away free turkeys it jumped to 80 percent. This was disturbing to read. You can try it for a year and see how it shakes out.
I also agree that comment might have been a touch "rough", but to each his own (nothing against you, I also enjoy/appreciate your input). Some of us might be better at math then reading or just better working with our hands then pen and paper. Personally my spelling is a weakness of mine and I know it! My fault for not working harder at it when I was younger.
frnash what your back round? You some kind of English major or some thing?
But like others have said I give the mother all the credit in the world for thinking about doing this! It's a huge commitment that most of us would never thing about doing.
Good luck to the mother, I hope you can prove all the nay sayers wrong!
Funny thing, I never worked at it at all, I even hated English classes — mainly 'cuz they spent all their time trying to teach stupid, boring rules — while for me spelling and most grammar and languages generally (including computer programming languages!) are like breathing, pure instinct! Gawd, if I could package it and sell it I'd be a zillionaire! But working with my hands? I swear I have twelve thumbs! So I do much better with software than almost any kind of mechanical/hardware tasks!
From my profile:
Biography: <dl class="list_no_decoration profilefield_list"><dd id="profilefield_value_1"> Education: BS - Math, MTU, 1962. Amateur linguist, philologist. </dd></dl>To which I can add: Pilot, former aircraft owner, weather nut, and geography nut (the latter both related to my aviation background). Now retired, after over 40 years as a software engineer.
I do find it extremely troubling to see English language skills going down the toilet in this country while watching kids with mainly Indian and Chinese ancestry winning the National Spelling Bee and National Geography Bee, and the like. Have you noticed where our jobs are going? Is there a connection there?
I can agree on that, more power to you, mom!
The very thought of homeschooling a child frightened me to no end a few years ago. Then my child went to school. I have been involved in many ways of his education and have fought his teachers over silly matters such as New Years Resolutions and even the principal to change my son's teacher. I have volunteered so much of my time that my 5 year old daughter is on first name basis with much of my son's third grade class. I have seen, asked, fought for, been pushy about, and most of all given my opinion (whether asked for or not). My concerns over these past years about my son's education and the fact that I have homeschool my daughter since January have led my down this path. I also believe that I have been led down this path by a higher power. I am not a trained teacher. I am a college educated parent who wants to educate my children in the best way that I can. The lack of proper english is in one sentence is not precursor for teaching my children the wrong way. It is simply an error. However, I do believe that in teaching children we can all relearn what we have learned in the past as well as picking up a few things that we have not. As a mom, my most important job is my children and if that means dedicating myself as their teacher, then I will do that. The commitment of their education can come in many ways (public, private, or home educating) and this is the way that I have chosen. I also know that at any time things can change and my kids may have to go back into the public education setting. For those very reasons, it is wise to make sure that what you are teaching correspond to the state requirements. Those requirements are generally pretty low in our state so I fully expect my kids to exceed those requirements.
I appreciate all of the opinions that have been expressed from each of you and thank you for giving me additional things to think about in making this very challenging decision.
Julie
I appreciate all of the opinions that have been expressed from each of you and thank you for giving me additional things to think about in making this very challenging decision.
Julie
snow_monkey
New member
A couple of nuns and a ruler can bring out the best in some children.
booondocker
New member
That's old school nowadays....get yourself sued by the parent or the child.
Now that reminds me of an experience in (public) elementary school. The fifth grade(?) social studies class was "ruled" (or should I say "rulered") with an iron fist by a Prussian tyrant named Frau Glotzbecker. Think of the sadistic Colonel Rosa Klebb, in the the James Bond movie From Russia with Love (1963), but with a sturdy wooden ruler instead of the the poison-tipped shoe blades. Oh yes, I got my knuckles cracked, undeservedly, of course!
booondocker
New member
Now that reminds me of an experience in (public) elementary school. The fifth grade(?) social studies class was "ruled" (or should I say "rulered") with an iron fist by a Prussian tyrant named Frau Glotzbecker. Think of the sadistic Colonel Rosa Klebb, in the the James Bond movie From Russia with Love (1963), but with a sturdy wooden ruler instead of the the poison-tipped shoe blades. Oh yes, I got my knuckles cracked, undeservedly, of course!
I rest my case!
See what it did to this poor innocent kid who was well intentioned, but was roughed up by the Scourge of the tempo of the times. Now just a poor old guy stuck in spellin class and miss'n the ole daz...but he is in good company.
Hey booner, that's gettin' viscous [sic]!