Shelves are lined with books on how children learn. Educators, psychologists, pediatricians, and experts on child development contribute to our understanding of effective childhood education, nutritional effects on body chemistry, appropriate behavioral learning outcomes, and other aspects of child development. As a parent, however, YOU are the expert. You know your child better than anyone else.
Usually well-meaning educators and experts contribute positively to your child's learning environment. Sometimes, however, you have to protect your child - using your own intuition and common sense.
About five years ago, in what one would hope is a fairly isolated occurrence, this true story happened.
A family I came to know used common sense, and exhibited uncommon courage, on behalf of their autistic son who was chronologically entering high school, but functioning at a first grade level. The school informed the family the child would be bussed ninety minutes one way to another high school with a special needs program. The parents felt the three hour daily trip combined with an unknown class and teacher would cause extreme agitation for their son. The upheaval would negate any hoped for learning outcomes. The parents said no. The school district threatened truancy.
The parents exercised their right of educational choice by withdrawing their son from public school and enrolling in our private school satellite program. They continued battling a year and a half long truancy lawsuit while simultaneously locating behavioral learning specialists to perform in-home skills assessment and teaching for their son.
It was a privilege to support this family and witness their courage and resilience on behalf of their child. After winning the lawsuit, the parents happily found a small private school in their area serving autistic children. They were able to provide an appropriate learning environment for their son based on their understanding of his needs.
Against all odds, or expert advice, it is what parents do.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A New Year - Re-use/Re-cycle
Happy 2011! Best wishes for a fantastic homeschooling year to everyone!
Often a new year encourages new plans, new resolutions, even new curriculum. But, you might want to think before throwing out those textbooks that are dust-collectors. On occasion we dumped an entire curriculum that just didn't fit our family. However, we have also been able to re-use old textbooks in creative ways.
In fact, we were "green" long before it was re-defined. Thick, dust-laden collegiate textbooks were stacked three high with boards laid across to make shelving units. Dog-eared tomes became flower presses. Photos from old workbooks were artistically re-used in science project montages. Paperback Zoo Book pictures were cut out and pasted into home-made alphabet booklets for the littlest ones.
We also incorporated a compare and contrast approach with subject material. What does Textbook A offer that is similar to or different from Textbook B, or Reference Material C? Teach your child to use the index pages in the back of the book to search for specific information. Then compare and contrast the different resources. Or compare the material with online resources. Compare different viewpoints, how the manner in which information is presented has changed, how our understanding of science, medicine and technology has expanded. This approach helps a child understand that information is fluid.
You can always share or trade resources with another homeschooling family, or donate books, puzzles and games to a local shelter or library. Your cast-offs may become someone else's treasure.
Often a new year encourages new plans, new resolutions, even new curriculum. But, you might want to think before throwing out those textbooks that are dust-collectors. On occasion we dumped an entire curriculum that just didn't fit our family. However, we have also been able to re-use old textbooks in creative ways.
In fact, we were "green" long before it was re-defined. Thick, dust-laden collegiate textbooks were stacked three high with boards laid across to make shelving units. Dog-eared tomes became flower presses. Photos from old workbooks were artistically re-used in science project montages. Paperback Zoo Book pictures were cut out and pasted into home-made alphabet booklets for the littlest ones.
We also incorporated a compare and contrast approach with subject material. What does Textbook A offer that is similar to or different from Textbook B, or Reference Material C? Teach your child to use the index pages in the back of the book to search for specific information. Then compare and contrast the different resources. Or compare the material with online resources. Compare different viewpoints, how the manner in which information is presented has changed, how our understanding of science, medicine and technology has expanded. This approach helps a child understand that information is fluid.
You can always share or trade resources with another homeschooling family, or donate books, puzzles and games to a local shelter or library. Your cast-offs may become someone else's treasure.
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