It turns out that my apprehension about posting our schooling choice for the school year was for naught. On day 20 of kindergarten, BB was asked to not return to school. He was not expelled, he could have come back, but the school personnel made it clear that one more infraction and he would be expelled. As DH and I do not want a school expulsion on his record, we withdrew him from the school.
With the exception of hitting a student on the playground, the infractions were things that I considered minor, such as failing to put both feet flat on the floor, drawing on his desk, and making engine noises when lining up. To me, while these behaviors were not appropriate for school, they did not merit such disciplinary action. Especially when the student in question is only five years old and has been in school for less than a month. I know that with my students, it was not uncommon for some students to have a period of adjustment to school.
The school's decision to send BB home with essentially the promise of upcoming expulsion came to us out of the blue. Every day when DH or I picked BB up, we would ask his teacher how he had behaved. His teacher did inform us when he hit another student, and BB was punished for that. She also told us about any issues she may have had regarding his schoolwork that day. But she never once gave us the impression that BB's behavior was a big deal, asked us to come in for a conference, or did anything to signal that BB's enrollment might end. All we got were passing comments delivered in a casual manner that did not convey (at least to us) any hint of what we were blindsided with. According to the school handbook, there is a set procedure to follow if a teacher is having trouble with a student, and the teacher did not follow that procedure.
Initially, part of me wanted a meeting with the teacher to come up with a plan that would enable BB to continue going to school. But after some reflection, I do not think that it would have been beneficial. The teacher clearly did not wish to continue interacting with BB and any attempt to get her to do so would not have been good for BB.
The school's take on BB's behavior was that it was repeated instances of defiant behavior. BB is certainly capable of that, as are all children. If that was the case with BB, however (and honestly, I don't think it was), then the school's response is even more puzzling. Removing the student does make things easier for the teacher, but it does nothing to help the student who has been removed. As BB's school is a private, church-run school, I would have made the assumption that the school would be interested in developing a student's character. But clearly that is not the case. BB has yet to ask any questions about why he no longer goes to school, and the only explanation DH and I have given him was that we did not think that the school was the best place for him. If BB does ask any more questions, I am not sure how I will answer honestly yet in a way that does not negatively affect him.
Starting tomorrow we will begin our new school plan for the year. As I had not planned on homeschooling this year, I had not selected any curriculum. When the school surprised us with their decision, I was thrown into a state of panic (also being 1 week postpartum did not help any). So rather than some thoughtful customized curriculum, BB and I will be participating in our state's online academy. Most of BB's schoolwork will be traditional pencil and paper, but some work will be done online. In addition, we have a supervising teacher that we will periodically submit work and assessments to. My motto for this school year is to just survive. Next year will be better, right?
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
September 21, 2011
August 8, 2011
Ch-ch-ch-changes
I've had this post in mind for at least 3 months, and I'm just now getting around to writing it out. Mostly because I've become flat-out lazy about posting, but also because I haven't quite known how to go about it. While I am devoted to homeschooling, DH and I have decided to enroll BB in a local church's half-day kindergarten for the upcoming school year.
The decision wasn't an easy one and it is not one that we are entering into lightly. We only plan for BB to be in school for this one year. Mostly to gain some much-needed socialization skills. I know that many homeschool parents feel that socialization is over-used as an excuse to place children in school. For the most part, I do agree. However, they are also not BB's parent.
Something that I have not mentioned on my blog before is that BB is autistic. You probably wouldn't immediately guess it upon first meeting him, unless you have had experience with such individuals before. BB is high-functioning, and is merely on the spectrum of autism. In other words, he comes across as quirky and precocious. He knows far more academically than most of his peers, yet is a year or more behind when it comes to interpersonal skills. The school has a small class size of 12 students, and the 3 hour school day should move quickly enough to prevent BB from becoming too bored academically or overwhelmed from social interaction.
There is also the fact that Baby Deux is due any day now. I don't quite trust my abilities to maintain a consistent homeschool schedule with an infant in the house (although I know many who have done so). During my postpartum with BB, I really struggled with depression, far beyond typical baby blues. In an attempt to avoid that this time around, I think placing BB's education in the hands of someone else temporarily is wise. I am already feeling conflicted about adding a sibling to BB's life; I do not need to feel as though I am failing him in his education as well.
I am sure that there will be drawbacks to placing BB in a school setting. While he will gain some much-needed interaction skills, he will also learn things I will wish he hadn't. There is no perfect solution. But this solution has what we believe to be the fewest drawbacks. Prayers for BB, his teacher, and his classmates are appreciated. :)
The decision wasn't an easy one and it is not one that we are entering into lightly. We only plan for BB to be in school for this one year. Mostly to gain some much-needed socialization skills. I know that many homeschool parents feel that socialization is over-used as an excuse to place children in school. For the most part, I do agree. However, they are also not BB's parent.
Something that I have not mentioned on my blog before is that BB is autistic. You probably wouldn't immediately guess it upon first meeting him, unless you have had experience with such individuals before. BB is high-functioning, and is merely on the spectrum of autism. In other words, he comes across as quirky and precocious. He knows far more academically than most of his peers, yet is a year or more behind when it comes to interpersonal skills. The school has a small class size of 12 students, and the 3 hour school day should move quickly enough to prevent BB from becoming too bored academically or overwhelmed from social interaction.
There is also the fact that Baby Deux is due any day now. I don't quite trust my abilities to maintain a consistent homeschool schedule with an infant in the house (although I know many who have done so). During my postpartum with BB, I really struggled with depression, far beyond typical baby blues. In an attempt to avoid that this time around, I think placing BB's education in the hands of someone else temporarily is wise. I am already feeling conflicted about adding a sibling to BB's life; I do not need to feel as though I am failing him in his education as well.
I am sure that there will be drawbacks to placing BB in a school setting. While he will gain some much-needed interaction skills, he will also learn things I will wish he hadn't. There is no perfect solution. But this solution has what we believe to be the fewest drawbacks. Prayers for BB, his teacher, and his classmates are appreciated. :)
April 30, 2010
BB's Sensory Tub
Tara at Feels Like Home posted about her daughter's sensory tub yesterday. Since BB loves digging, I knew he'd like this activity. I had the idea to make BB's tub into a scavenger hunt.
I put some rice and popcorn kernels in a Rubbermaid container. I then went around the house and found some small toys to bury in the container.
Any good scavenger hunt has a list to check off, so I made one for BB using my printer's scanner. When BB found an item, he matched up the item with the item's picture.
We've played with this 3 times already. After a while, I think I will change up the items hidden and add some more rice to make it a bit more of a challenge.
For a child that can read, the pictures could be omitted, requiring the child to match the item with the description of the item.
I put some rice and popcorn kernels in a Rubbermaid container. I then went around the house and found some small toys to bury in the container.
Any good scavenger hunt has a list to check off, so I made one for BB using my printer's scanner. When BB found an item, he matched up the item with the item's picture.
We've played with this 3 times already. After a while, I think I will change up the items hidden and add some more rice to make it a bit more of a challenge.
For a child that can read, the pictures could be omitted, requiring the child to match the item with the description of the item.
January 27, 2010
Homeschooling Questions
Feel free to pipe up with your opinion, regardless of whether or not you're a homeschooler :)
- What phonics system do you like the best? BB isn't quite old enough to read, but he is interested in how to spell words and I've started to teach him letter sounds. Part of me knows that I could probably manage to teach him to read without a pre-made system, but the teacher in me likes having something to follow.
- While we're on the subject of phonics, is it really necessary to code those words? I learned how to read with ABeka phonics, and I taught my students with Saxon phonics. Both methods involve extensive coding. Now that I'm not required to code words, I'm wondering if it's really that important. My students would get so caught up in trying to remember all of the special symbols that they would forget to read the word. And let's face it - after you've covered the words with half a dozen pencil marks, it can be hard to even see the word you're supposed to read!
- D'Nealian or Zaner Bloser? I learned the traditional way, which is pretty similar to Zaner Bloser. I taught D'Nealian, because that's what my school system required. I like the traditional way of teaching, so Zaner Bloser appeals to me. But I do admit that cursive seems like it would be easier to teach with D'Nealian.
January 5, 2010
I Survived Day One of Pre-K
... now where's my commemorative t-shirt?
The original plan was for BB to start Pre-K in the Fall. However, due to our move, Pre-K got put off until after the holidays. And, I might add, pretty much forgotten about until Sunday, when it dawned on me that the holidays were now over. Drat.
Fortunately, I had purchased the marerials needed prior to our moving. All that was needed was for me to go over the materials, set up, and plan. Two days is a bit of a short planning period, but BB doesn't know what to expect when it comes to school, and it's only Pre-K.
Our first day went surprisingly well. We're definitely going to have to work on sitting still and listening. I'm a bit unsure as to what level of behavior I should expect from BB during school. There's a whole new level of familiarity with BB that I haven't had with a student before, so I'm not sure if I should treat him like his mom or like his teacher during the school hours.
The plan as of now is to do Pre-K 3 days a week, for a couple hours each day. Since I have already taught BB some of the basics, I will most likely focus on what I'm not inclined to do already with BB - art, music, and science. For the three R's, I plan on assessing what he already knows and building from that.
I've never homeschooled before, and I've never seen it modeled (my homeschool year was correspondence). I don't know how else to teach except for how I taught in the classroom. This will certainly be a learning process for both of us. I might post about what we're doing from time to time, but don't count on schooling becoming a regular feature ;)
The original plan was for BB to start Pre-K in the Fall. However, due to our move, Pre-K got put off until after the holidays. And, I might add, pretty much forgotten about until Sunday, when it dawned on me that the holidays were now over. Drat.
Fortunately, I had purchased the marerials needed prior to our moving. All that was needed was for me to go over the materials, set up, and plan. Two days is a bit of a short planning period, but BB doesn't know what to expect when it comes to school, and it's only Pre-K.
Our first day went surprisingly well. We're definitely going to have to work on sitting still and listening. I'm a bit unsure as to what level of behavior I should expect from BB during school. There's a whole new level of familiarity with BB that I haven't had with a student before, so I'm not sure if I should treat him like his mom or like his teacher during the school hours.
The plan as of now is to do Pre-K 3 days a week, for a couple hours each day. Since I have already taught BB some of the basics, I will most likely focus on what I'm not inclined to do already with BB - art, music, and science. For the three R's, I plan on assessing what he already knows and building from that.
I've never homeschooled before, and I've never seen it modeled (my homeschool year was correspondence). I don't know how else to teach except for how I taught in the classroom. This will certainly be a learning process for both of us. I might post about what we're doing from time to time, but don't count on schooling becoming a regular feature ;)
August 4, 2009
WFMW: Back-to-School Tips from a Teacher
This week, WFMW is a back-to-school edition. As a former public school teacher, here are my tips for parents:- Write your child's name on their school supplies, especially in early elementary grades. You don't have to write the name on every pencil, but folders, scissors and glue should probably be labled. The same goes for bookbags, especially if your school requires all students to have a clear backpack.
- Fill out all forms completely. I know you filled out the same form last year, and you have 4 kids. But I can't rely on last year's information. Many students move from year to year, or even during the school year. If you happen to move during the school year, please notify all teachers and the school office.
- Keep medical information updated. If your child has any type of allergies, takes regular medication, or anything similar, please tell the school nurse AND me. If your child has to take the medication at school, please make sure that the nurse has medication on hand. Try to not let the medication run out. Some types of medications wear off very quickly, causing a big change in behavior even one day off of the medication. Your child's behavior doesn't just affect your child; it also effects the rest of the class. If a student suddenly starts acting out of character, it is a distraction to other students, and it takes my time away from teaching the rest of the class.
- Have your student memorize your name, where you work, a reliable phone number, and a reliable home address. Accidents happen, and kids miss the bus. Having a student reply that their mom's name is "Mommy" and she works at "a store" isn't terribly helpful. Even a small child can learn a parent's name and a phone number.
- If you happen to have the time, offer to help out during the school year. Don't worry that you will be at the school every day. Sometimes, just knowing that there is a supportive parent in the class can be a Godsend. At the most, I might ask you to read with a slower student, or tag along on a field trip. Did I mention that chaperons usually get to go on the trip free? :)
- Support me at your home. I know that personalities can clash, and I'll admit that some teachers don't do a great job. But there are far more good teachers who genuinely care. If you have concerns about me, please talk to me directly, not through your student.
- If you have religious concerns or obligations, please let me know. Some kids don't celebrate any holidays, while others just skip Halloween and pictures of Santa. Knowing what level of diversity I have in my class will help me better plan the school year. Depending on the school district, you might even be able to come in and share some holiday traditions with the class, if you're so inclined.
- If you have concerns about your student's behavior, please tell me when your student can't hear. At the beginning of each year, there was always at least one parent who would come in with the student and loudly proclaim how troublesome the student was going to be. I know it's been a long summer, but be mindful of the effect your words have on your child. Kids live up to expectations, good or bad.
- While we're on the subject, be careful of over praising. Kids know if they've done a good job. By all means, be supportive and encouraging, but don't overkill. Praising every small thing repeatedly just makes it harder to truly praise a noteworthy accomplishment.
- Please try to show up for parent-teacher meetings, award ceremonies, school plays, etc. I know that you don't want to disappoint your student. If you're not going to be able to make it to an event, please tell your student beforehand so they don't anxiously watch the crowd. I will be happy to reschedule a meeting with you at a later date.
- If you're going to give me a teacher appreciation present or Christmas present, think giftcards! I would love a giftcard to Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, etc. Even $5 would be great. I really do have lots of coffee mugs, pens, and lotions.
- Don't forget that YOU are your child's most important teacher! I can teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, but you can teach responsibility, wisdom, and ambition. I will have your student for 180 days, but you have him for life.
March 1, 2009
My Interview
The "other Heather" over at Want What You Have has been conducting a series of interviews of fellow bloggers. As I can rarely pass up a chance to talk about myself (therefore, I blog), I signed up to be interviewed. My questions and answers are as follows:
1) Like me, you recently began a diet and exercise plan, and your ticker says that you've already lost 11 pounds! What advice can you give to other who want to lose weight and get healthy, but don't know how to start?
For a frugal (re: free) weight-loss program, check out www.sparkpeople.com. This site offers exercise guides, suggested menu plans, an on-line calorie tracker, health articles, and so much more. When I use this site regularly, I have great results.
I would encourage anyone who is trying to lose weight to spend some time learning how their weight came to be a problem. For many people, being overweight is so much more than just eating too much of a good thing. If the person is an emotional eater, than dieting alone is not going to be a long-term fix.
One thing that I am doing differently with this diet is praying several times a day about eating. I pray when I wake up that I won't eat too much or eat when I'm not hungry. I pray before I eat to not only give thanks, but to also be able to know when I have had enough to eat. At the end of the day, I give thanks for any success I might have had, and I pray for strength for the next day. I know this approach isn't for everyone, but for me, it really does seem to help. I haven't been as hungry as I normally am, and I haven't had as many instances where I have just pigged out on something. I am much more conscious of when I am full.
2) You used to teach in the public school system, and based on that experience, you've decided to homeschool your son. Can you explain your reasons, for those of us who are still on the fence about homeschooling?
Whew! This subject is a soapbox issue for me. I have written about homeschooling before on my blog here. To give a short answer, I will say that DH and I believe that one day we will have to give an account to God for how we parented BB. I want to make sure that BB has a strong foundation in both academics and faith. While BB is young and impressionable, I don't want to expose him to things that will undermine what DH and I are trying to teach him at home. For a more specific answer about a part of homeschooling, please feel free to ask me. I'm more than happy to give my opinion to anyone who asks! ;)
3) You are the mother of a little boy. What do you think is the greatest joy, and greatest challenge, of raising a son in the world today?
The greatest joy for me would be to see BB grown up to be a Godly young man. To one day be able to see this accomplished is certainly the greatest challenge as well. There are many day-to-day joys with any child. My day-to-day challenge is to remind myself that I am not raising a child to simply live in the present - I am raising a child to become a man in the future.
4) When I read your blog, I'm always impressed by the balance in your life, and the amount of time you devote to your faith. What advice can you give to other moms who are struggling to find time for God in their busy lives?
I know it has been said before, but getting up early is key to making sure that you have a daily devotion. I find that when I get up early to have my devotions, the rest of my day flows more smoothly. You don't have to have hour-long devotions. My favorite devotional is My Utmost for His Highest. I have read that countless times, and I find something new each time. I often pair the day's reading with either a Psalm or Proverb. When I am participating in a group Bible study, I will do the Bible study's assignment instead. If you have trouble fitting in a devotion, grab bits and pieces throughout the day. There's nothing wrong with leaving your Bible open in a prominent place to remind you to read!
5) If you could have one day to yourself, with no obligations or responsibilities, what would you do?
You don't know how good that sounds to me right now! Although I never thought I would be the type to say this, I am currently in love with the idea of going to a spa. I've never been to a spa, and the idea of a manicure, pedicure, massage, etc. sounds so lovely. If I weren't going to a spa, I would sleep in, take as long as I wanted to in the shower, and then find neat little antique or thrift stores in some quaint little town. I love looking through other people's junk!
Thanks Heather for the great questions! If anyone reading this would like me to interview them, please e-mail me or leave me a comment below. I'll look over your blog and then send you 5 questions for you to answer!
1) Like me, you recently began a diet and exercise plan, and your ticker says that you've already lost 11 pounds! What advice can you give to other who want to lose weight and get healthy, but don't know how to start?
For a frugal (re: free) weight-loss program, check out www.sparkpeople.com. This site offers exercise guides, suggested menu plans, an on-line calorie tracker, health articles, and so much more. When I use this site regularly, I have great results.
I would encourage anyone who is trying to lose weight to spend some time learning how their weight came to be a problem. For many people, being overweight is so much more than just eating too much of a good thing. If the person is an emotional eater, than dieting alone is not going to be a long-term fix.
One thing that I am doing differently with this diet is praying several times a day about eating. I pray when I wake up that I won't eat too much or eat when I'm not hungry. I pray before I eat to not only give thanks, but to also be able to know when I have had enough to eat. At the end of the day, I give thanks for any success I might have had, and I pray for strength for the next day. I know this approach isn't for everyone, but for me, it really does seem to help. I haven't been as hungry as I normally am, and I haven't had as many instances where I have just pigged out on something. I am much more conscious of when I am full.
2) You used to teach in the public school system, and based on that experience, you've decided to homeschool your son. Can you explain your reasons, for those of us who are still on the fence about homeschooling?
Whew! This subject is a soapbox issue for me. I have written about homeschooling before on my blog here. To give a short answer, I will say that DH and I believe that one day we will have to give an account to God for how we parented BB. I want to make sure that BB has a strong foundation in both academics and faith. While BB is young and impressionable, I don't want to expose him to things that will undermine what DH and I are trying to teach him at home. For a more specific answer about a part of homeschooling, please feel free to ask me. I'm more than happy to give my opinion to anyone who asks! ;)
3) You are the mother of a little boy. What do you think is the greatest joy, and greatest challenge, of raising a son in the world today?
The greatest joy for me would be to see BB grown up to be a Godly young man. To one day be able to see this accomplished is certainly the greatest challenge as well. There are many day-to-day joys with any child. My day-to-day challenge is to remind myself that I am not raising a child to simply live in the present - I am raising a child to become a man in the future.
4) When I read your blog, I'm always impressed by the balance in your life, and the amount of time you devote to your faith. What advice can you give to other moms who are struggling to find time for God in their busy lives?
I know it has been said before, but getting up early is key to making sure that you have a daily devotion. I find that when I get up early to have my devotions, the rest of my day flows more smoothly. You don't have to have hour-long devotions. My favorite devotional is My Utmost for His Highest. I have read that countless times, and I find something new each time. I often pair the day's reading with either a Psalm or Proverb. When I am participating in a group Bible study, I will do the Bible study's assignment instead. If you have trouble fitting in a devotion, grab bits and pieces throughout the day. There's nothing wrong with leaving your Bible open in a prominent place to remind you to read!
5) If you could have one day to yourself, with no obligations or responsibilities, what would you do?
You don't know how good that sounds to me right now! Although I never thought I would be the type to say this, I am currently in love with the idea of going to a spa. I've never been to a spa, and the idea of a manicure, pedicure, massage, etc. sounds so lovely. If I weren't going to a spa, I would sleep in, take as long as I wanted to in the shower, and then find neat little antique or thrift stores in some quaint little town. I love looking through other people's junk!
Thanks Heather for the great questions! If anyone reading this would like me to interview them, please e-mail me or leave me a comment below. I'll look over your blog and then send you 5 questions for you to answer!
January 8, 2009
80 Favorite Children's Books
I apologize beforehand for such a lengthy post, but I couldn't narrow the list down any further. I have the books sorted into younger/older children, but some books are meant to be read over and over no matter how old. Children of all ages enjoy being read to, even once they can read. I left out the true "classics" on this list, and just focused on books that I like.
Did I leave any of your favorites out?
- A Chair for My Mother - Vera B. Williams
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Judith Viorst - be sure to check out the other Alexander books.
- Amelia Bedelia series - Peggy Parish - older elementary children will probably enjoy these books the best, as all of her situations occur from taking phrases literally. Younger children will still enjoy the messes she creates. A good book to read for a mixed-age group.
- Bedtime for Francis - Russell Hoban
- Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey
- Caps for Sale - Esphyr Slobodkina
- Chrysanthemum - Kevin Henkes - be sure to check out other books by this author!
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Ron & Judi Barrett
- Courduroy - Don Freeman
- Diary of a Worm - Doreen Cronin
- Dr. Seuss books - just about every book written by him is entertaining for children. Your tongue may get tangled in knots from re-reading the nonsense words over and over, but your kids will love it.
- Five Little Peppers and How They Grew - Margaret Sidney
- Goggles - Ezra Jack Keats
- Goodnight, Gorilla - Peggy Rathmann
- Goodnight Moon - Margaret Wise Brown - just go ahead and buy all of MWB's books. You won't regret it. Make sure the books are hardback and strongly bound. I've yet to meet a child who doesn't love hearing her stories read over and over.
- Happy Birthday, Moon - Frank Asch
- Harold and the Purple Crayon - Crockett Johnson
- Henry and Mudge series - Cynthia Rylant - if you liked the adventures of Henry and Risby as a kid, you will love the Henry and Mudge books
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Numeroff
- If You... series - various authors - explore what life was like in colonial times, on the mayflower, with various NA tribes, and other historical events. Educational for child and adult alike.
- Ira Sleeps Over - Bernard Weber
- Joseph had a Little Overcoat - Simms Taback
- Leo Lionni - if you like Eric Carle, you will love Leo Lionni.
- Love You Forever - Robert Munsch - if you have a 1st-3rd grader, they will love reading Munsch's books for themselves. This particular book is serious (and a tear-jerker!), but his other tales are hilarious.
- Make Way for Ducklings - Robert McCloskey
- Mercer Meyer's Little Critter series - I think that the older ones are best. The newer ones are still good, but they try too hard to teach a message. These books are great for 1st-3rd graders learning to read books themselves.
- Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel - Virginia Lee Burton
- Mouse Paint - Ellen Stohl Walsh
- My Great-Aunt Arizona - Gloria Houston
- No, David! - David Shannon - actually, all of the David books are great. David gets into a lot of trouble, however, so little kids might copy what they see and hear.
- Olivia series - Ian Falconer
- Pat the Bunny - Dorothy Kundhart
- Prayer for a Child - Rachael Field
- Richard Scarry books - these books are filled with so much detail on each page, your child will actually sit down and study the pages. Quietly. You're welcome :)
- Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl - Kate Waters - a wonderful book to enrich your studies
- Sheep in a Jeep - Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple - the entire sheep series is delightful
- The 100 Dresses - Eleanor Estes
- The Flea's Sneeze - Lynn Downy
- The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein - I know some people criticize this book by trying to assign it an environmental or political message, but I never thought of any of that as a child.
- The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher - Molly Bang
- The Little House - Virginia Lee Burton
- The Little Mouse, the Red, Ripe Strawberry and the Big, Hungry Bear - Don Wood - a great read-aloud
- The Moffats - Eleanor Estes
- The Napping House - Audrey Wood
- The Relatives Came - Cynthia Rylant
- The Runaway Bunny - Margaret Wise
- The Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats
- The Story about Ping - Marjorie Flack
- The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams - my favorite book as a child. I read this book aloud to my students every year.
- Toes, Ears, and Nose - Marion Dane Bauer
- Tomie De Paola books - many of his books have magic mentioned, but I still love his books.
- Tops & Bottoms - Janet Stevens - this is a wonderful book to use when teaching about plants.
- Trucks - Donald Crews
- Value Tale series - Johnson and Pilleggi - this is the series that got me to love reading. Each book is a kid's biography of a famous person and how a specific character trait helped them develop into the adult they were known for.
- We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury - great read-aloud, especially if you get into the sound effects!
- When I was Young in the Mountains - Cynthia Rylant
- Where is Baby's Belly Button? - Karen Katz
- Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
- When Marion Sang - Pam Munoz Ryan
- When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really, Angry - Molly Bang
- A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal 1830-1832 - Joan W. Blos - excellent if you are studying this time period
- Anne of Green Gables series - L. M. Montgomery - I personally only like the first 2 books, and the writing style is not for everyone. But if you have a daughter who is a dreamer, she just might find a bossom friend in Anne.
- Artemis Fowl series - Eoin Colfer - I have only read the first 3 books, so I can't vouch for the entire series. There is some magic (fairies) in the books, so read at your own discretion
- Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Patterson - don't waste your time on the movie.
- Bud, Not Buddy - Christopher Paul Curtis
- Charlotte's Web - E.B. White - read the book before you watch the cartoon. Disreguard the movie.
- Chronicles of Narnia series - C. S. Lewis - a wonderful read-aloud, especially for children who are good at "seeing" a book in their minds. Focus on the Family radio has a wonderful version on CD. This is a series you can read over and over and glean something new each time.
- Dear Mr. Henshaw - Beverly Cleary - this book deals with the topic of divorce
- Encyclopedia Brown - Donald Sobol - perfect for the budding scientist or detective. Enjoyable for boys and girls.
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - E.L. Konigsburg
- Harriet the Spy - Louise Fitzhugh - the book is MUCH better than the movie!
- Henry Huggins series - Beverly Cleary - buy a good set of these for your son and keep them for the grandkids.
- Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder - I can read this book over and over. The entire Little House series is wonderful, and nothing like the TV show.
- Marguerite Henry books - perfect for the horse-lover.
- Number the Stars - Lois Lowry - a moving tale of life in Denmark during WWII. An excellent resource to supplement studies.
- Ramona Quimby series - Beverly Cleary - buy a good set of these for your daughter and keep them for the grandkids.
- Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry - Mildred D. Taylor - the entire series (Let the Circle Be Unbroken, The Road to Memphis, Roll of Thunder, and The Land) is a thought-provoking series on what life was like during the 1930s in the South. Some harsh realities are discussed, most suitable for older elementary and junior high.
- Sarah, Plain and Tall series - Patricia MacLachlan - the first book is an excellent supplement for studies on how the midwest was settled, as well as the harsh realities that faced people in those times. The other books in the series are well-written and enjoyable.
- The Giver - Lois Lowry - moving and thought-provoking. Parents might want to read this book first, not for young children.
- The Watsons go to Birmingham - Christopher Paul Curtis - I read this book aloud to my 2nd graders and they understood the story, although older students would get more out of the tale. Be warned that the n-word is used.
Did I leave any of your favorites out?
January 5, 2009
My Educational Soapbox
Preface: this post started out as a comment I was leaving on this post by Minnesota Mom. I realized how long my comment was becoming, and I decided to make it into a post. To see the video I am referencing, please click on the above link to view her post.
What is expressed below is my opinion, nothing more. It is not my intent to hurt or offend anyone who believes differently from the view I express below. What you have decided regarding your children is between you and God. I am not saying that anyone is a bad parent, or that their child is doomed. We all know the expression about opinions... I am sure that what I have to say about public school is not true for every school system. I happen to live in a state with a inferior public school system, and I taught in a low-income school. But I do believe that what I have to say concerning morality and the values taught in public school applies to public schools across the board.
The ideas expressed in the video seem very radical when you initially see the video. While I don't agree with the way they phrased some things in the video, I do agree with the overall sentiment behind them. Christianity is not present, welcomed, or allowed in the public school system, but everything contrary to Christianity is. Children are highly impressionable, and I don't think that they should be exposed to all that is present in public school until they are old enough to distinguish what is right and wrong, and WHY.
I attended Christian school, where I received a far better education than my public school contemporaries. I was surrounded by teachers and students who believed the same as I did. Thanks to the close-knit aspect of my school, I made life-long friends. I believe that if parents have the resources, and there is a quality Christian school available, then Christian school can be the best educational situation.
However, Christian schools are often seen by parents as a last-resort measure for their kids. My school had several students enrolled who were sent to our school because they had been kicked out of public school. Believe me when I say that it takes a lot to get permanently kicked out of public school. These students exposed my classmates and I to a lot of things that were contrary to what we believed. The good thing about those situations was that when we encountered a peer who believed contrary to what we believed, we were the majority and the other person was the minority. We had teachers who took a personal interest in the students and tried to teach them what was wrong with their ideas when compared to Christianity.
In a public school situation, the Christian child is the minority, and the teachers are made to explain that there is no one right way. Mommy and Daddy might teach the kid moral absolutes several hours a week, but the kid is hearing that everything is relative 30+ hours a week. It is very hard for a young child to stay strong in his faith when confronted with peer pressure. We all know about the admonition not to be unequally yoked within a marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14). This is because the chances are that the unbeliever will pull the believer down, instead of the other way around. Humans are wired for companionship and nearly everyone has a need to be accepted. When there are 1 or 2 students who try to do the right thing in a class of 25, the students will probably not stay strong in their morals. They will most likely be pulled down.
I taught public school for 3 years before BB was born, and I saw firsthand how the Christian children were treated. Even though I taught in the Bible Belt, the children who tried to always do what was right were ridiculed for being weak and were labeled as goody two-shoes. Sadly, it was other teachers who enlightened the students on what to call the Christian kids. I should explain that when I use the word Christian to describe students, I mean students that behaved as Christians should. If I had surveyed my students as to their religion (which I wouldn't have been allowed to do), I am sure that 80% or more of my students would have called themselves Christian, and probably close to half went to church each Sunday. But like I said before, children (and adults) tend to model what they see the most.
Another important factor to consider is that teachers serve as role models for many of their students. Teachers are not allowed to discuss religion, or allowed to say that something is right or wrong unless it has to do with being intolerant. Yet the same teachers are not prohibited from using bad language or gossiping about adult matters with other teachers in situations where the students can overhear.
My husband was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. Other than his love for video games, I believe that he was probably the stereotypical homeschooler. As more people are turning to homeschool, there are more opportunities for homeschoolers to interact with others their own age. My husband's kid brother and sister attend weekly classes with other homeschoolers and they have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities with their homeschool group.
The public school system is damaged beyond repair. Pouring more money into the system is not going to solve the problems. Parents have a responsibility to God on how they raise their children. I believe that I will one day have to answer to God for how I raised BB (Hebrews 13:17). I do not want to do anything that will cause BB to question his faith, or to make him less likely to stand strong in the face of adversity. Until BB is old enough to know right from wrong and has the ability to use critical thinking skills to determine his stance on moral issues, I don't believe that he should be extensively exposed to the world's point of view.
I am not advocating a bunker mentality; I do not think that Christians should only deal with other Christians. I realize that we are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) and that we are to go into the world and preach (Matthew 28:16-20). Yet Jesus was speaking to adults in these situations, not wide-eyed 5 year-olds. We are commanded to not offer our children to idols. I make the argument that it is possible to do this by sending your child to public school. An idol is certainly the graven image that was prevalent in Bible times, but it is also the worship of ideas. There are many ideas offered in public school today that children are expected to embrace. These same ideas are often contrary to the Bible, thus making the ideas false. Children are expected to learn these ideas and implement them into their thinking. Proverbs 23:7 cautions us about what we think, because what we think becomes who we are. As a Christian, I am to uphold God's teachings. I am to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). I cannot do that 100% if part of my mind is given over to false teachings. Christians need to be able to recognize false teachings for what they are and to reject the false teachings when they hear them. If a false idea is encountered before a Christian is able to refute it, there exists the possibility that the idea will be internalized and will influence the person's development. Once an idea becomes ingrained, it is very hard to displace. I do not want to throw up a stumbling block to BB's development.
I pray that BB will come to know Christ personally at an early age and that he will have a meaningful faith; a true thirst for God while he is still a child. I am so far from perfect. I know that I will not do a perfect job teaching BB. But I believe that God does not expect perfection. I do believe that God expects me to do my work to the best of my ability (Ecclesiastes 9:10). For me, that includes how my son is educated.
What is expressed below is my opinion, nothing more. It is not my intent to hurt or offend anyone who believes differently from the view I express below. What you have decided regarding your children is between you and God. I am not saying that anyone is a bad parent, or that their child is doomed. We all know the expression about opinions... I am sure that what I have to say about public school is not true for every school system. I happen to live in a state with a inferior public school system, and I taught in a low-income school. But I do believe that what I have to say concerning morality and the values taught in public school applies to public schools across the board.
The ideas expressed in the video seem very radical when you initially see the video. While I don't agree with the way they phrased some things in the video, I do agree with the overall sentiment behind them. Christianity is not present, welcomed, or allowed in the public school system, but everything contrary to Christianity is. Children are highly impressionable, and I don't think that they should be exposed to all that is present in public school until they are old enough to distinguish what is right and wrong, and WHY.
I attended Christian school, where I received a far better education than my public school contemporaries. I was surrounded by teachers and students who believed the same as I did. Thanks to the close-knit aspect of my school, I made life-long friends. I believe that if parents have the resources, and there is a quality Christian school available, then Christian school can be the best educational situation.
However, Christian schools are often seen by parents as a last-resort measure for their kids. My school had several students enrolled who were sent to our school because they had been kicked out of public school. Believe me when I say that it takes a lot to get permanently kicked out of public school. These students exposed my classmates and I to a lot of things that were contrary to what we believed. The good thing about those situations was that when we encountered a peer who believed contrary to what we believed, we were the majority and the other person was the minority. We had teachers who took a personal interest in the students and tried to teach them what was wrong with their ideas when compared to Christianity.
In a public school situation, the Christian child is the minority, and the teachers are made to explain that there is no one right way. Mommy and Daddy might teach the kid moral absolutes several hours a week, but the kid is hearing that everything is relative 30+ hours a week. It is very hard for a young child to stay strong in his faith when confronted with peer pressure. We all know about the admonition not to be unequally yoked within a marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14). This is because the chances are that the unbeliever will pull the believer down, instead of the other way around. Humans are wired for companionship and nearly everyone has a need to be accepted. When there are 1 or 2 students who try to do the right thing in a class of 25, the students will probably not stay strong in their morals. They will most likely be pulled down.
I taught public school for 3 years before BB was born, and I saw firsthand how the Christian children were treated. Even though I taught in the Bible Belt, the children who tried to always do what was right were ridiculed for being weak and were labeled as goody two-shoes. Sadly, it was other teachers who enlightened the students on what to call the Christian kids. I should explain that when I use the word Christian to describe students, I mean students that behaved as Christians should. If I had surveyed my students as to their religion (which I wouldn't have been allowed to do), I am sure that 80% or more of my students would have called themselves Christian, and probably close to half went to church each Sunday. But like I said before, children (and adults) tend to model what they see the most.
Another important factor to consider is that teachers serve as role models for many of their students. Teachers are not allowed to discuss religion, or allowed to say that something is right or wrong unless it has to do with being intolerant. Yet the same teachers are not prohibited from using bad language or gossiping about adult matters with other teachers in situations where the students can overhear.
My husband was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. Other than his love for video games, I believe that he was probably the stereotypical homeschooler. As more people are turning to homeschool, there are more opportunities for homeschoolers to interact with others their own age. My husband's kid brother and sister attend weekly classes with other homeschoolers and they have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities with their homeschool group.
The public school system is damaged beyond repair. Pouring more money into the system is not going to solve the problems. Parents have a responsibility to God on how they raise their children. I believe that I will one day have to answer to God for how I raised BB (Hebrews 13:17). I do not want to do anything that will cause BB to question his faith, or to make him less likely to stand strong in the face of adversity. Until BB is old enough to know right from wrong and has the ability to use critical thinking skills to determine his stance on moral issues, I don't believe that he should be extensively exposed to the world's point of view.
I am not advocating a bunker mentality; I do not think that Christians should only deal with other Christians. I realize that we are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) and that we are to go into the world and preach (Matthew 28:16-20). Yet Jesus was speaking to adults in these situations, not wide-eyed 5 year-olds. We are commanded to not offer our children to idols. I make the argument that it is possible to do this by sending your child to public school. An idol is certainly the graven image that was prevalent in Bible times, but it is also the worship of ideas. There are many ideas offered in public school today that children are expected to embrace. These same ideas are often contrary to the Bible, thus making the ideas false. Children are expected to learn these ideas and implement them into their thinking. Proverbs 23:7 cautions us about what we think, because what we think becomes who we are. As a Christian, I am to uphold God's teachings. I am to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). I cannot do that 100% if part of my mind is given over to false teachings. Christians need to be able to recognize false teachings for what they are and to reject the false teachings when they hear them. If a false idea is encountered before a Christian is able to refute it, there exists the possibility that the idea will be internalized and will influence the person's development. Once an idea becomes ingrained, it is very hard to displace. I do not want to throw up a stumbling block to BB's development.
I pray that BB will come to know Christ personally at an early age and that he will have a meaningful faith; a true thirst for God while he is still a child. I am so far from perfect. I know that I will not do a perfect job teaching BB. But I believe that God does not expect perfection. I do believe that God expects me to do my work to the best of my ability (Ecclesiastes 9:10). For me, that includes how my son is educated.
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