Quote From: danamikaylHow do I know if my children are learning?
Children are always learning - they just can't help it! Just like when they were babies and toddlers, you can discover what they are learning by spending time with them and observing the growth in their understanding of the world. Observation as an assessment (titled 'authentic assessment' and a big educational buzzword these days) acknowledges growth in understanding and skill level. Homeschooling allows for direct observation by the parents who knows their child better than anyone else. There is a smaller child to adult ratio in the home environment (compared to 1:25 or 1:30in schools) so it is easier to observe the progress of the child. Unlike standardized testing, direct observation by the parent doesn't give a 'snapshot' that attempts to quantify learning at one point in time. It is fluid and flexible and has no preconceived notions about what a child 'should' be able to do. You can look at the whole person and concentrate on what your child knows, instead of what your child does not know.
Children are constantly asking questions so we know that they are thinking and curious. Everyone has their own internal schedule for learning (i.e. not every child is ready to read at the age of 5-some may start to read as early as age 3 and others may not be ready until they are 8, or 9, or 10) and we need to try to respect the internal schedule of each child. If you use a curriculum package with your child you will know whether or not they understand the material they are learning when you review the lessons with them and look at their work.
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Should I test my child?
Testing, like many other educational concerns, should be a personal decision. Some questions to consider before making this decision include: which tests will be used and why, how might the testing process affect the learner, how will the test results be used, and are there less intrusive alternatives that can be utilized instead? Testing, in the home environment where parents are always very aware of how well their children are doing, is unnecessary and intrusive. Testing is under fire from many teachers and educators, and many educational establishments are attempting to eliminate standardized testing in their schools. Very careful consideration should be taken before any testing is done to children for any reason.
See our page on testing for more information.
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What about higher education?
Homeschooled children can and do attend college and university. Many homeschool through the elementary years and attend high school to get their diploma. Others homeschool through the high school years and obtain credits through correspondence schools and virtual schools. Many universities and colleges in Ontario are starting to prepare admissions policies for homeschoolers. However, even if a college or university does not have a specific policy, homeschoolers have still been able to gain admittance to many of these institutions. Another option for homeschoolers, who do not have a secondary school diploma, is to attend college or university as a mature student - age 21 for university and age 19 for college - since the criteria for the admission of a mature student is different than it would be for a student under the age of 19 or 21. It is recommended that you determine what the admissions policy is for homeschoolers (if a policy exists) or determine what the admissions policy is, in general, for a particular college or university that you are interested in attending. It is also a good idea to speak to the Registrar to inform them of your particular situation in order to determine what criteria is necessary for you to gain admittance.
In the United States, hundreds of colleges, universities and vocational institutes all over the nation are accepting homeschooled students. In fact, many actively recruit home schooled students because of their creativity, independence and ability to work on their own. Most are thrilled with these intelligent, responsible, capable young people and many are actively recruiting them. Most of these institutions value ability and attitude over formal transcripts, diplomas or GEDs. Most libraries and bookstores carry a wide assortment of books, directories and guides that will help older homeschoolers get information and prepare for this next step. On the other hand, many homeschoolers ultimately choose an apprenticeship over formal schooling as a faster and more satisfying entry into their adult lives. Cafi Cohen's book "And What About College?" (Holt Associates, 1998) and Grace Llewellyn's "Teenage Liberation Handbook" can be great helps to families working through these decisions. It should be noted that college is not necessarily the only or even the best route for every young person. Going to college without a clear idea of what you expect to gain can be a very expensive form of self-discovery. And for many teens who already know where they are headed, apprenticeship opportunities and other forms of 'on-the-job' training can be a faster and more satisfying entry into their adult lives. And remember, the decision to forgo college is never irrevocable. Most institutions highly value older students, since they are usually enthusiastic and focused on learning.
Some well-known homeschoolers include: John Quincy Adams, Winston Churchill, Alexander Graham Bell, Albert Einstein, Agatha Christie , Astronaut Sally Ride, Noel Coward, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt.
"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." Albert Einstein
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Mark Twain
See our pages on University/College Information for more details.
I was looking for your info you refer to here and on these posts and cant find it i am interested in homeschooling my children but am totally lost at how to go about it and if it would benefit them or not my oldest is 4.5
