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Using Content Standards
Dateline: 1/31/02
by Ann Zeise
Yes, I know, I know. I don't pay much attention to the state
government "Content" sites. We like to do "child
led" learning, as I know many of you do, too. So why have
the government content standards
linked on a homeschooling website? Why do homeschoolers bother
to look at my page of links to these government websites?
- Some new homeschoolers are concerned about what a child should
learn and when.
- The Content Standard sites help new homeschoolers understand
that it is concepts to be learned that matter, not specific books
read.
- Some are just worried about what order some concepts should
be realistically introduced.
- Some families plan to homeschool for brief amounts of time,
while they are going through some transition, intending to go
back to a school system in a few months.
- It is handy for those who must file a plan of some kind to
use these "content" sites to pull from. Homeschoolers
who must file an annual "curriculum" plan seem to think
this means to list the books they'll use. They can easily copy
off one of these state plans and turn it in, whether or not they
intend to follow it, it gives them something concrete.
- Some just need to file reports and need some "educationalese"
to interpret what they've been doing to some bureaucrat.
- Some who still have children in public schools can take a
look at these pages and learn just how poor their own schools
are doing compared to their government's own mandated plan, and
may start to consider to homeschool as a result.
- Some may want to contrast the standards with their family
standards for excellence.
- Many read the standards, and check off what their child already
knows, realize that assigning a grade level to their children
is absurd, and never look at the "Content" pages again!
- Writers of homeschooling essays may want to use the Content
Standards for their research.
- Developers of educational material for homeschoolers may
want to use the standards when creating their materials to ensure
that the curriculum will be age-appropriate.
- I use the so-called "standards" to point out to
people that if no two states or provinces in several countries
can agree on what a child should learn and when, then they have
a legal leg to stand on if they want to teach their child something
different and not at grade level."
- Curing Scope and Sequence Syndrome
Why am I homeschooling? I want to prepare my children to be competent and independent adults, fully capable of being a productive member of society. I want them to know what they believe, but especially why they believe it. ~Joy
The "Content" page is here on my homeschooling site
to use as you will. Call it a "crutch," if you will,
for newbies until they learn the real joy of "free range"
homeschooling by trusting their children.
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-
-
- Homeschooling Content Standards
Instead
-
- Home Learning Year by Year : How to Design
a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School
- by Rebecca Rupp
- Rebecca Rupp presents a structured plan to ensure that your
children will learn what they need to know when they need to
know it, from preschool through high school.
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