Not learning enough-doubting myself

As a former public high school teacher, I encourage you to relax! Perhaps your son heard a couple things the cousins said that he didn’t know, but if the tables were turned, I am sure the same would be true. I had my students for 50 minutes a day (high school biology teacher). Out of those 50 minutes, I had maybe 20 good minutes of instruction time. The rest was classroom management, bellwork that had nothing to do with what I was teaching that day (mandated by administration), etc.. Elementary students may go to school for 6 hours a day, but they probably get less than 3 hours of instruction – and that is in a larger group with lots of interruptions – not with the small student:teacher ratio of the homeschool environment. And you choose what your child is exposed to – living books, virtue and character, great art and music and poetry…. Not politically correct, morally neutral (at best) stories with nothing to excite the mind of ideas.

Thinking back to Sonya’s thoughts on academic progress in our children, sometimes we don’t see growth right away or even for a long time. But so often we are not remembering that so much is going on underneath the surface – and suddenly, they are making great leaps in reading, or mathematical thinking, or grasping elusive concepts – all because learning is not always evident on the exterior…but so much is going on within!

A somewhat of an aide, I think the idea that common core is more rigorous than almost any other educational method is a lot of smoke and mirrors. I recently saw an article that compared 4th grade math questions asked on standardized tests from common core and previous educational method. The common core’s most challenging question involved something involving multiplication while the previous method’s test had an algebraic equation! Of course, most 4th graders don’t know algebra (though mine has been exposed to al lot of algebraic concepts through Life of Fred!) but the idea that Common Core’s simple math question was the hardest one on the test is frightening to me. It’s part of the dumming down of America. Common Core has changed all the educational vocabulary (“beginning sound” in teaching reading is now called the “onset sound”; the “thesis” of a paper is now called a “claim”, etc., etc.) Changing all the vocabulary serves to alienate anyone who is not familiar with the vocabulary. This vocabulary is also carried over to the SAT verbiage, so children not familiar with common core expressions will have a great deal more difficulty deciphering the questions which will reflect in their scores and make college acceptance more elusive. Sorry for the soap box! I will close with a simple encouragement to stay the course! Best wishes!

To gcbsmommy – Thank you. I won’t get on my soapbox about common core either, but I think it’s extrememly important for teachers from the public school system to speak out against common core when they see the negative impact on our nation’s children. Thank you for your time and long response to momof3.  

None of mine have graduated yet, but a good friend from church has graduated one daughter using CM methods.  This daughter had no trouble getting into a university and has done well in her classes.  The daughter married another homeschool graduate who was also taught using CM.  He’s currently working on his master’s degree.  So, yes, these methods really do work!  🙂

I read an article on HSLDA website that stated……the only math professor asked to evaluate common core’s math standard, would not sign off on it. He would not because he said by the time a child is in 7th grade we would be 2 years behind the Asian countries in math (among other reasons). On The English side, Dr Sandra Stotsky, who provided Massachusetts with the best English Language Arts standards in the country, said that common core’s ELA standards would only allow students to be high school ready, not college ready.

I do worry about the changes to the test, but we need to pray that this common core will go away as many people are trying to fight it.

Many states who agreed to it are now worried about the cost of implementing it so they are beginning to try to back out of it. Hopefully this happens!

Consistency is the key to spelling (whether you’re using SW, another program, or a combination of various resources.) Some will learn to spell quite easily, others will need consistent practice for years….and will still utilize spell check ;0)

As for CM methods, you won’t necessarily observe immediate paper proof style evidence that it works. But, whether they pursue college, or work, I can attest to the fact that they become very observant, life long learners with skills that will serve them well. The curiosity and appreciation of life and learning alone are worth sticking with it. Our three adult children pursue their own studies in non-traditional ways, but are thorough in their research. They apply everything new to that which they learned previously and make very wise observations concerning how the new relates to the old, how it applies to their own lives, and how they can utilize this knew knowledge to better themselves and to help others. They are all three concerned with the moral decay they see and are appalled at how little their peers seem to be concerned about the state of, well, anything. They recognize that their friends and co-workers are clueless as to how to learn and apply much of anything into their real lives, as they tend toward a fictionalized reality, which quite frankly seems odd as many have never really read a book, fiction, or otherwise.

Our younger two thrive on CM methods! The little glimpses of beauty throughout the week bring so much inspiration into their lives. A picture here, a flower, or insect there. Books, books, books. Ideas to discuss and ponder. History, science, poetry. Their friends, even many homeschooled, aren’t receiving as broad an education. It’s canned, frozen dinner type stuff compared to our gourmet meal.

I don’t know how else to explain it. Patience, habitual pursuit of Truth and beauty, words, numbers, and ideas all build a foundation that will offer your children the freedom to succeed in anything they will pursue. It’s worth it. It works. It lasts.