I think that I have mentioned that ironically I am working on at a site that trains teachers for public schools. Tonight, the speaker is talking about rubrics. I know that you are thinking what does this have to do with homeschooling, but I am sitting her listening, thinking that this would work wonders especially for my older child on larger projects. A rubric is a preplanned, objective driven assessment tool that helps teachers greade assignments but also helps students prepare their work to meet the stated goals.
Websites Related to writing Rubrics:
http://www.carla.umn.edu/assessment/VAC/Evaluation/p_7.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2083034_create-rubric.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/eta/Rubric_Tutorial/default.htm
While obviously these are traditionally used in schools, I can see how we can use such a tool especially for some unique work like computer presentation, etc. The benefit to the homeschooling community is not the ability to “grade” our students; frankly, many of us who homschool have moved away from the grading idea anyway. As homeschoolers we can use rubrics as a tool to help our children clearly understand what is expected of them and help them arrange their projects so that the subject / objective is clearly covered. Rubrics can also be a great tool for the kids themselves to evaluate their work before they even turn it in. After completing a project, give them the rubric to review their work and determine if it meets the goals and if they need to adjust something before they consider it finished.
What other “school” ideas have you adapted to homeschooling?
Showing posts with label homework. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homework. Show all posts
Monday, December 8, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
One Day at a Time - A Day Makes all the Difference
Yesterday, DS made me want to write an article called, “Can I have some Ritalin, Please!” I could not get DS to focus. He was anxious and easily distractible. Trying to get through our work was like pulling teeth.
Today, a new day has dawned. He is rocking on his work. He has even stopped to ask extra questions. And then was able to explain the answer in correct geometric terms.
“Mom, if you have two lines next to each other,” he placed a pencil and a plastic piece next to each other, “are they still parallel?”
As always I tried to understand the question and answer it. “Yes.” I just thought he wondered if parallel only worked in one plane i.e. on top instead of next to. “It doesn’t matter if they go this way or that. They are still parallel.”
“No, Mom, I know that, but are the lines parallel if they are different sizes?”
“Well, we need to start the conversation using proper terms. Is this,” I held up the pencil, “a line?”
A light bulb went off in his head, “No, it’s a line segment. A line goes on in both directions forever. A line segment has two endpoints. If it were a ray it would end on one side and go vomph on the other.” He pointed to the ceiling.
He gets it.
Of course to balance the positive exciting portion of my day, math with dd turned into a disaster. We did recover, but trying to get her to listen sometimes can be quite frustrating. When her answer is not correct, she will often go back, make a quick change or two and quasi guess at the answer. If it’s not 2, how about -2.
I tried to get her to back up and go through the process. I tried to get her to understand the process, but I could not get through her. This was not an issue of this specific problem but of the process in general. I blew up and walked away.
When we finally had both calmed down enough to talk again, I tried to explain that she would probably never see that exact same math problem again, but she would do the same process over and over again. She apologized for her behavior. I told her that there were three things I expected as her teacher:
1. Respectful Attention
2. Thoughtful Questioning
3. Patient Listening
Being that she was pulled out of school in 2nd grade, she has had no experience with a school teacher that leaves you behind, while the class moves on and no idea how lucky she was to have a teacher who was completely individualizing their program to suit her needs. After her apology, we were at least able to finish the section, but I’m sure it won’t be the last outbreak.
Yesterday, I was looking for Ritalin today for a Valium. Homeschooling is nothing if it isn’t exciting. Wouldn't it be great if they both had a good day on the same day? I don't want to think of the flip side of that though.
Today, a new day has dawned. He is rocking on his work. He has even stopped to ask extra questions. And then was able to explain the answer in correct geometric terms.
“Mom, if you have two lines next to each other,” he placed a pencil and a plastic piece next to each other, “are they still parallel?”
As always I tried to understand the question and answer it. “Yes.” I just thought he wondered if parallel only worked in one plane i.e. on top instead of next to. “It doesn’t matter if they go this way or that. They are still parallel.”
“No, Mom, I know that, but are the lines parallel if they are different sizes?”
“Well, we need to start the conversation using proper terms. Is this,” I held up the pencil, “a line?”
A light bulb went off in his head, “No, it’s a line segment. A line goes on in both directions forever. A line segment has two endpoints. If it were a ray it would end on one side and go vomph on the other.” He pointed to the ceiling.
He gets it.
Of course to balance the positive exciting portion of my day, math with dd turned into a disaster. We did recover, but trying to get her to listen sometimes can be quite frustrating. When her answer is not correct, she will often go back, make a quick change or two and quasi guess at the answer. If it’s not 2, how about -2.
I tried to get her to back up and go through the process. I tried to get her to understand the process, but I could not get through her. This was not an issue of this specific problem but of the process in general. I blew up and walked away.
When we finally had both calmed down enough to talk again, I tried to explain that she would probably never see that exact same math problem again, but she would do the same process over and over again. She apologized for her behavior. I told her that there were three things I expected as her teacher:
1. Respectful Attention
2. Thoughtful Questioning
3. Patient Listening
Being that she was pulled out of school in 2nd grade, she has had no experience with a school teacher that leaves you behind, while the class moves on and no idea how lucky she was to have a teacher who was completely individualizing their program to suit her needs. After her apology, we were at least able to finish the section, but I’m sure it won’t be the last outbreak.
Yesterday, I was looking for Ritalin today for a Valium. Homeschooling is nothing if it isn’t exciting. Wouldn't it be great if they both had a good day on the same day? I don't want to think of the flip side of that though.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
September School Scramble
Another school year is soon upon us. Even though we obviously don’t go to school and have no obligation to follow the school calendar, there is that itch and I know that I am not the only one that feels it. Summer has led us to be lax and now we must tighten up the reigns. I start flipping through curriculum catalogs, crawling through homeschool webpages. I even consider buying that teacher’s planner. This year is going to be different, more organized. I write out plans through Christmas, order curriculum. Everything needs to be ready for September . . .
Wait – Stop! I think we did this last year and the year before. Oh my goodness. This is a sickness. If you look on the bookshelf, you may still see the books that seemed so promising last year. The first few pages filled in and dated chronologically, but then September faded to October and every day became once a week. By Thanksgiving, the books were pushed aside for more pressing issues. January and February brought a slight revival, but as the crocus burst forth the books closed again.
Maybe it is not the kids that need to be deschooled but me.
Have you felt the itch? What do you do to get ready for September schooling? Do you stay on track?
Wait – Stop! I think we did this last year and the year before. Oh my goodness. This is a sickness. If you look on the bookshelf, you may still see the books that seemed so promising last year. The first few pages filled in and dated chronologically, but then September faded to October and every day became once a week. By Thanksgiving, the books were pushed aside for more pressing issues. January and February brought a slight revival, but as the crocus burst forth the books closed again.
Maybe it is not the kids that need to be deschooled but me.
Have you felt the itch? What do you do to get ready for September schooling? Do you stay on track?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I didn’t tell you to do it . . . Getting your child to do schoolwork
Most parents of picky eaters will admit that they find ways to hide vegetables in their child’s food. Tons of us have hidden their medicine in jelly, ice cream, or pudding (goodness, one brand even markets theirs as a popsicle). But many of you don’t realize that we homeschoolers hide the teaching / learning of school (we homeschoolers don’t consider it “hiding” it; we just believe that it proves our point that learning isn’t the property of schools and certified teachers). Even my kids would be surprised that one, I/we do this and two, that they comply so easily. The secret is . . . I don’t ask.
Their computer games do - My daughter lover her RP (role playing) games. What does she have to do to participate? Write. What does she have to do to be included well in the RP’s? Write well. This is from the same girl who told me, when she was asked to write something creative, “I can’t write!”
Their Scout projects do – Today as my son works on his Community in the Nation patch, we read Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” and then he had to respond in writing. You can only imagine the response I would get if this was an assignment. Instead, he is begging me to sit down with him.
Their theater classes do – Memorize a poem or speech for lessons – NOT INTERESTED. Memorize a play – She won’t just memorize her part but everyone else’s too (You never know when an understudy might be called in.) When she had to write a monologue for the theater group, she couldn’t get pen to paper fast enough.
Their minister does – Ask them to give an oral report and suddenly they are must, but have an opportunity arise for them to speak in front of the congregation and you would think that they were grand orators.
You get the idea. It is like the difference between chores and a job. The kids hate to mow the lawn but have a few neighbors offer to pay them and they’ll willingly give up a whole day. Some people may call my methods deceitful trickery; I call it using my resources wisely.
Their computer games do - My daughter lover her RP (role playing) games. What does she have to do to participate? Write. What does she have to do to be included well in the RP’s? Write well. This is from the same girl who told me, when she was asked to write something creative, “I can’t write!”
Their Scout projects do – Today as my son works on his Community in the Nation patch, we read Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” and then he had to respond in writing. You can only imagine the response I would get if this was an assignment. Instead, he is begging me to sit down with him.
Their theater classes do – Memorize a poem or speech for lessons – NOT INTERESTED. Memorize a play – She won’t just memorize her part but everyone else’s too (You never know when an understudy might be called in.) When she had to write a monologue for the theater group, she couldn’t get pen to paper fast enough.
Their minister does – Ask them to give an oral report and suddenly they are must, but have an opportunity arise for them to speak in front of the congregation and you would think that they were grand orators.
You get the idea. It is like the difference between chores and a job. The kids hate to mow the lawn but have a few neighbors offer to pay them and they’ll willingly give up a whole day. Some people may call my methods deceitful trickery; I call it using my resources wisely.
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