Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
what about pre-school?
Be careful with formal learning if he is too young. You need to do things with your child that he enjoys. Why do we think we all need to do the same things at the same time as in a group setting?
Every person, even young children, need to go at their own pace and as your son develops, you will find he has wonderful gifts, which might not match everyone else on the planet and I say, "GOOD for Him!
Our society rewards adults that are "different" but in children, we think we have to make everyone the "same." Think of the salaries and fame of unique dancers, sports figures, etc who have a different skill set. Give your son lots of time to explore the world and let him grow up. How do you do this?
go places, walk outside, let him be part of your "work", help in the kitchen, use a mini-broom, do things that you are doing. talk about what you are doing, let him try what you are doing. play with a wash cloth while you are folding laundry, etc. Lot of good things at the local library for free.
And, when he is ready, a little group play such as Joy School, for ages 3,4, & 5!
This is a "do-it yourself" program with other moms using the curriculum
meeting twice a week in homes. After that, it was easy to go into homeschool though some of the Joy School moms went on to send their kids to K and first grade.
here are some links for more research.
http://www.joyschools.com/
Unique Preschool teaching children the fundamental "joys" of life.
Joy Schools are well-established (over 100,000 parents have been teaching) and truly unique preschools. The central belief of Joy School is simply that children, while in their most impressionable years, should be taught life's most important thing, various capacities for joy. A related belief is that children suffer not from being started in academic learning too late, but in starting too soon, before they have a basis of social and emotional self-esteem.
The Joy School preschool lesson plans are written for three, four and five year olds. An age variety in a Joy School group is no problem. In fact, it is often an asset as older ones teach and "tutor" younger ones. There are two different sets of lesson plans, so children can participate in Joy School for two years in a row.
When I did it we only had one year and it was the first set of Joys. Nice way to start out slow!
enjoy them while they are young!
Every person, even young children, need to go at their own pace and as your son develops, you will find he has wonderful gifts, which might not match everyone else on the planet and I say, "GOOD for Him!
Our society rewards adults that are "different" but in children, we think we have to make everyone the "same." Think of the salaries and fame of unique dancers, sports figures, etc who have a different skill set. Give your son lots of time to explore the world and let him grow up. How do you do this?
go places, walk outside, let him be part of your "work", help in the kitchen, use a mini-broom, do things that you are doing. talk about what you are doing, let him try what you are doing. play with a wash cloth while you are folding laundry, etc. Lot of good things at the local library for free.
And, when he is ready, a little group play such as Joy School, for ages 3,4, & 5!
This is a "do-it yourself" program with other moms using the curriculum
meeting twice a week in homes. After that, it was easy to go into homeschool though some of the Joy School moms went on to send their kids to K and first grade.
here are some links for more research.
http://www.joyschools.com/
Unique Preschool teaching children the fundamental "joys" of life.
Joy Schools are well-established (over 100,000 parents have been teaching) and truly unique preschools. The central belief of Joy School is simply that children, while in their most impressionable years, should be taught life's most important thing, various capacities for joy. A related belief is that children suffer not from being started in academic learning too late, but in starting too soon, before they have a basis of social and emotional self-esteem.
The Joy School preschool lesson plans are written for three, four and five year olds. An age variety in a Joy School group is no problem. In fact, it is often an asset as older ones teach and "tutor" younger ones. There are two different sets of lesson plans, so children can participate in Joy School for two years in a row.
When I did it we only had one year and it was the first set of Joys. Nice way to start out slow!
enjoy them while they are young!
Monday, September 21, 2009
what changes did the PDE make to testing requirements
CHANGEs-WRAT not accepted for the 09-10 school year.
The WRAT is a wonderful test that is only an hour and done mostly orally one-on-one, but it is no longer on the accepted list of tests for grades 3, 5, & 8.
I have spent a lot of time trying to plead my case, but as of now, no WRAT's can count for the law. I can still give them and some parents have asked for them, but it is a double cost, since you still need to do one that complies with the law. So, here is the list. I recommend you just do it with YHSA (www.yhsa.org) unless I find another test that I am willing to administer.
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=54281
is the link for the info below.
The Department has approved the following nationally normed standardized tests for use by home education programs if they choose not to take the statewide test:
1. California Achievement Test
2. Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPIV)
3. Iowa Test of Basic Skills
4. Metropolitan Achievement Test
5. Peabody Achievement Individual Test – Revised Version
6. Stanford Achievement Test
7. Terra Nova
8. Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement III
The following additional tests will be accepted until June 30, 2009:
1. Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPII)
2. Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
3. Peabody Individual Test
4. Wide Range Achievement Test
5. Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement
The WRAT is a wonderful test that is only an hour and done mostly orally one-on-one, but it is no longer on the accepted list of tests for grades 3, 5, & 8.
I have spent a lot of time trying to plead my case, but as of now, no WRAT's can count for the law. I can still give them and some parents have asked for them, but it is a double cost, since you still need to do one that complies with the law. So, here is the list. I recommend you just do it with YHSA (www.yhsa.org) unless I find another test that I am willing to administer.
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=54281
is the link for the info below.
The Department has approved the following nationally normed standardized tests for use by home education programs if they choose not to take the statewide test:
1. California Achievement Test
2. Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPIV)
3. Iowa Test of Basic Skills
4. Metropolitan Achievement Test
5. Peabody Achievement Individual Test – Revised Version
6. Stanford Achievement Test
7. Terra Nova
8. Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement III
The following additional tests will be accepted until June 30, 2009:
1. Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPII)
2. Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
3. Peabody Individual Test
4. Wide Range Achievement Test
5. Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement
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