One of the big questions that most educators at home ask is: "How will I know if my child is learning?"
When a child is in a public school, he or she is subjected to constant testing. Every week there are spelling tests, there are chapter exams on a regular basis, and in many states there are standardized tests. Many parents of public school students decide that if the grades that come home on tests and report cards are good, then your child should be learning.
When students are removed from a traditional school setting and placed in homeschooling, it is sometimes difficult for parents to know if the student is learning enough to keep up with their peers. A big problem is that home school students tend not to get tested as often as public school students. But is it really a problem and is proving the only way to know if a student is learning enough?
How long?
Sometimes it is difficult to know if a child is learning enough in home education because home education usually takes much less time than traditional education. Home-schooled children generally do not spend as much time on a particular subject as traditionally educated students because they are neither in the lead nor behind their classmates. Part of the reason for this is that your child educated in the home receives individualized attention. They do not have to wait for others to catch up, or delay other students if they need to spend more time on a topic. If the student understands the subject, he can continue immediately.
Traditional education is established for a traditional school year, in many states which is approximately 180 school days. That is, for each subject one hour of instruction per day for 180 days, or 180 hours per subject. Now, consider this question: is the public school's instructional time really an hour? Students must move from class to class, spending time talking to classmates, going to lockers and moving between classrooms and even buildings. One hour of traditional school education can be as little as 45 minutes when you take into account the changes, arrangements and preparation to really learn.
Students at home can take almost all the transition time out of their day. The shift from mathematics on the kitchen table to the story on the sofa takes much less time than going from one end of a building to the other and climbing a flight of steps or two. When was the last time you heard about a traditionally educated student who completes a full textbook in one year? It is safe to say that a home-schooled student can probably cover more material on a school day than students with traditional education. It is not unusual for a home-schooled student to complete the entire course in a home-based education curriculum.
Tests?
Home-schooled students generally do not take as many tests as students in public schools. As a result, less time is spent teaching "on probation." The teaching of the test limits the exploration of a topic by the student by limiting it to the material that will be tested. The tests are not necessarily a true measure of understanding of a topic.
In fact, standardized tests can be harmful for students who have different backgrounds and education. Consider, for example, a standardized test question that asks the reasons for the Civil War. Since the Civil War is viewed differently by different ethnicities, as well as in different places, a question designed to show understanding of the reasons behind the war might not realistically test a student's knowledge.
Another problem with standardized tests is that some students are very knowledgeable about the tests, and understand how to perform the tests well, even if they do not understand the subject. Other students are bad candidates and do not do well under the pressures of timed tests. A low score for a poor examinee is not a true measure of their knowledge or ability to learn, only their test skills.
You will know!
It sounds corny to say that you will know if your child is learning, but the reality is that you will know if your child is learning. You can see it in their faces, you can see it by their attitude, and you will see progress forward.
If your student begins their home school day ready to go to school, moves quickly through their homework and is hungry for more information, it is safe to say that the student is learning.
If your student can not only give you the instructional materials in a multiple-choice test, but can have a conversation about the material, you will know that you understand the material. When a student can play the role of the teacher, either giving a speech or teaching other children in a subject, then that student will have enough knowledge of a subject to move to the new material.
Finally, as a parent and as a teacher, it is possible to see the student in all stages of learning. You will not have to rely on a report card or a test score. You will see that your student works through the didactic material, sees how they answer questions and can judge for yourself if your student is really learning.
When a child is in a public school, he or she is subjected to constant testing. Every week there are spelling tests, there are chapter exams on a regular basis, and in many states there are standardized tests. Many parents of public school students decide that if the grades that come home on tests and report cards are good, then your child should be learning.
When students are removed from a traditional school setting and placed in homeschooling, it is sometimes difficult for parents to know if the student is learning enough to keep up with their peers. A big problem is that home school students tend not to get tested as often as public school students. But is it really a problem and is proving the only way to know if a student is learning enough?
How long?
Sometimes it is difficult to know if a child is learning enough in home education because home education usually takes much less time than traditional education. Home-schooled children generally do not spend as much time on a particular subject as traditionally educated students because they are neither in the lead nor behind their classmates. Part of the reason for this is that your child educated in the home receives individualized attention. They do not have to wait for others to catch up, or delay other students if they need to spend more time on a topic. If the student understands the subject, he can continue immediately.
Traditional education is established for a traditional school year, in many states which is approximately 180 school days. That is, for each subject one hour of instruction per day for 180 days, or 180 hours per subject. Now, consider this question: is the public school's instructional time really an hour? Students must move from class to class, spending time talking to classmates, going to lockers and moving between classrooms and even buildings. One hour of traditional school education can be as little as 45 minutes when you take into account the changes, arrangements and preparation to really learn.
Students at home can take almost all the transition time out of their day. The shift from mathematics on the kitchen table to the story on the sofa takes much less time than going from one end of a building to the other and climbing a flight of steps or two. When was the last time you heard about a traditionally educated student who completes a full textbook in one year? It is safe to say that a home-schooled student can probably cover more material on a school day than students with traditional education. It is not unusual for a home-schooled student to complete the entire course in a home-based education curriculum.
Tests?
Home-schooled students generally do not take as many tests as students in public schools. As a result, less time is spent teaching "on probation." The teaching of the test limits the exploration of a topic by the student by limiting it to the material that will be tested. The tests are not necessarily a true measure of understanding of a topic.
In fact, standardized tests can be harmful for students who have different backgrounds and education. Consider, for example, a standardized test question that asks the reasons for the Civil War. Since the Civil War is viewed differently by different ethnicities, as well as in different places, a question designed to show understanding of the reasons behind the war might not realistically test a student's knowledge.
Another problem with standardized tests is that some students are very knowledgeable about the tests, and understand how to perform the tests well, even if they do not understand the subject. Other students are bad candidates and do not do well under the pressures of timed tests. A low score for a poor examinee is not a true measure of their knowledge or ability to learn, only their test skills.
You will know!
It sounds corny to say that you will know if your child is learning, but the reality is that you will know if your child is learning. You can see it in their faces, you can see it by their attitude, and you will see progress forward.
If your student begins their home school day ready to go to school, moves quickly through their homework and is hungry for more information, it is safe to say that the student is learning.
If your student can not only give you the instructional materials in a multiple-choice test, but can have a conversation about the material, you will know that you understand the material. When a student can play the role of the teacher, either giving a speech or teaching other children in a subject, then that student will have enough knowledge of a subject to move to the new material.
Finally, as a parent and as a teacher, it is possible to see the student in all stages of learning. You will not have to rely on a report card or a test score. You will see that your student works through the didactic material, sees how they answer questions and can judge for yourself if your student is really learning.
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