Make This School Year Great

Here we go again. Another school year is about to start, so it’s a fitting time to ask ourselves how we --parents, teachers, and students -- can make this a great and productive year. Everyone has a stake in the education of the children of this country because these youngsters are our future voters, employees, and employers.

Parents need to realize that their children’s education is ultimately their responsibility, no matter how or where this education is taking place. Even if your children have wonderful, caring teachers, these same educators have many more students that they are also responsible for, so there is only so much time they can devote to each child. It is imperative that parents understand educational milestones and check their children’s progress regularly and frequently. My sister-in-law, a New York public school teacher, said that if a child doesn’t learn to read by third grade, he or she is basically considered a lost cause. This should never happen. Parents need to be aware of what their children should know and when, and if there’s a problem, they need to address it sooner rather than later. Advocate for your child and make yourself known in the school. Be prepared to speak up if there’s a problem, and stay informed by reading communications from the teacher or other school personnel. Check your child’s homework frequently to make sure all is well.

Teachers, especially those in public schools, have a lot of restrictions placed upon them by the federal government, and unfortunately must dedicate a lot of time to bureaucratic matters rather than actually teaching. This is a real problem, and the children of this country are getting short-changed as a result. Great teachers everywhere need to remember their calling, take matters into their own hands as much as is humanly possible, and get back to imparting real knowledge that will actually educate children and make the United States competitive again. They need to spend time every day reading great works of literature, helping their students analyze what has been read. Analytical thinking hasn’t really been a focus of teaching in the public schools for years, which is one of our country’s biggest problems. Teachers are being forced to spend way too much time preparing their students for the next standardized test because successful outcomes means more money. A long-term view is what is needed instead in order for the U.S. to regain its competitive edge.

Finally, students need to internalize the fact that they are in school for their benefit, not anyone else’s. Many young people don’t take their education seriously until sometime in high school when they realize that there’s a relationship between their performance and their future. Those who realize it sooner are at an obvious advantage. As parents and educators, we need to try to get them to understand this. They are not in school for our benefit. It is their future that is on the line. So, if any students are reading this, remember that you won’t ever regret working hard in school. If you don’t work hard, however, you will likely be sorry later, and your path in life may be much more difficult as a result.

Here’s hoping for a great school year for everyone – parents, teacher, and students. Let’s give it our best.

Developing Good Writers

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in The Old Schoolhouse magazine, Feb. 2013 edition. To visit that site, go to http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine-digital.com/thehomeschoolmagazine/201302/?pg=67&pm=2&u1=friend 

As an editor, writing tutor, and homeschool teacher of twenty years, I am frequently asked for advice about improving children’s writing skills.  Most of the calls I receive are from parents of high schoolers, while some calls concern college-aged students.  Although it is never too late to improve skills, there are some ways that young parents can ensure that their children have the best start and the greatest chance at writing success. 

First, all children who are not yet reading independently should have books read to them on a daily basis.  This may sound obvious to many, but a lot of modern-day parents do not read and do not understand its value.  My daughters have babysat in homes where there are no books – and I am not exaggerating, as shocking as that may be.  It is simply unfathomable to me that there are any parents in this country who do not have a stockpile of books for their children to peruse.  This does not have to be a budget-breaker, either, since our country has thousands of libraries full of books available for borrowing at no charge. The importance of this cannot be overstated: Children who are read to develop a love for books, and tend to have greater and more active imaginations. They are also more curious and ask more questions, and they are more able to discern good literature, especially if what is being read is well-written.  In addition, parents who take time out of their busy schedules to read to their youngsters are demonstrating, in a concrete way, that they highly value books and reading. This is the first and most basic step that must be taken if parents want to ensure academic success later.

Homeschooling: When Should You Begin?

If you are a young parent who is seriously considering homeschooling, then I would advise you to think about starting right from the beginning of your child’s education, rather than waiting.  It is easier for a couple important reasons: your child won’t have to adjust to a “new” school; and it is also less difficult for the parent, who has probably been out of the school system for years, to learn how to teach material when it is basic and the subjects are few.

If your child has been attending school outside of the home, then he will have an adjustment to one extent or another once you start homeschooling. Our oldest child went to a Christian preschool and then public school kindergarten. We learned about homeschooling and decided to do it because his experience in kindergarten was so negative. He was happy and relieved to be taken out. If, however, it is the parent only who is unhappy with the public or private school, then you may have a battle on your hands, which just adds to the challenge of figuring it all out. Therefore, if you are considering homeschooling and your child is just beginning his academic career, you might want to think about starting now. If you are uncertain, you can always do what we did: take it one year at a time and see how it goes.

In addition, it is much easier to learn how to homeschool when your child’s subjects are few and relatively simple. Even though teaching a child to read is one of the most important things a homeschooling parent will do, there is so much help in almost any curriculum you may buy, that you don’t have to worry at all. In Sing, Spell, Read, and Write, which we used, there are step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. The program is pricey, but thorough, and includes everything you will need to teach early language arts. It is especially worth the price if you are new to homeschooling, thus perhaps lacking confidence, and would like the work laid out for you. This way, there are no worries about forgetting an important point or doing something incorrectly or in the wrong order. Also, the initial expense is one time, since you will only need to purchase the consumable workbooks for subsequent children. You may be able to recover some of your expense by trying to keep the non-consumable parts in good shape and selling when you are done on www.amazon.com .

Teaching mathematics is also much easier when you are starting from ground zero. Early math should be very hands-on with the daily use of manipulatives so that young children, who are unable to think abstractly, can plainly see –and touch -- what is being taught. The focus should be on understanding concepts and memorizing basic facts, such as addition and subtraction (and a little later, multiplication and division) for numbers one through ten. It is much easier for a new homeschooling parent to teach these things, especially when it is all laid out, as it is in the programs we have used, Making Math Meaningful by Cornerstone Curriculum, and Saxon Math, then it is to jump in later when the child will be introduced to algebraic concepts and so on.

Thus, if you have a choice, consider beginning your homeschool journey when your child is starting kindergarten or first grade. It will be an easier adjustment for all concerned. Don’t despair, though, if you are starting later. There is a lot of help available. Just google “homeschool support groups” to get in touch with homeschoolers in your area, or to get help from online experts, visit http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/ and http://www.homeeducator.com/familytimes/newsletter/index.htm. For additional encouragement, visit Karen Andreola’s beautiful blog at http://www.momentswithmotherculture.blogspot.com/. Mrs. Andreola is well-known in the homeschool community as an expert on education pioneer Charlotte Mason, as well as being the author of numerous books, articles, and product reviews.