Does your child get completely distracted and overwhelmed by the timer involved in a timed test of Math facts or other details? Timers certainly added a lot of pressure when I was a child – my body would tense up and my mind would be dominated by the ticking of the timer rather than the facts that I knew flowing onto the paper. Can you relate? Can your child?
So, what’s the point of the timed test? We recognize the benefit of being able to quickly present Math facts as the basis for more involved calculations, but does the timed test provide an incentive that works for all children? Why not let your child compete against himself, rather than others or that dreaded timer? Provide your child with the test sheet, record the time that he begins, and the time he finishes the page. The next time, his goal is to complete it in less time. That would be improvement, right? Try it … I would bet your child will like it!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Have a Tête-à-tête …
The term is borrowed from French, meaning “head to head,” which is a great description of discussion in the homeschool environment. Of course, the French term implies a private conversation between two people, and your discussion can include several family members, but I think you get the idea.
Narration can be part of this discussion. When you read a book out loud to your child, or your child reads a book independently, you can use narration to determine how much the he or she grasps the content. If the book is non-fiction, ask your child to share details from what you read. Does this request leave him or her stymied? Lead off with a question, or ask your child for information regarding a particular person or event. If the book is fiction, ask your child to retell the events of the story. Doing this helps him or her to practice following the plot of the story. After your child has completed the narration, you can expand on the retelling of the story by asking clarifying questions, helping your child to further explore the action in the story or the choices made by characters.
Take narration a step further and you can combine fine arts and kid creativity by having your children reenact the story. Costumes and props can be simple or they can further expand the visual aids you employ in reviewing what was read. Have artistic children? Let them draw or create 3D representations (we called these dioramas when I was in school) of the story. Incorporate other subject skills by having them create a newspaper article or another form of creative writing that will go far beyond the traditional book report. Remember the enticing presentations at the end of Reading Rainbow? Those children were “selling” the books that they had read, providing just enough information and personal testimony to catch your attention and make you want to read the book, too.
Any of these methods will demonstrate your child’s grasp of the book content, and make the most of his or her creative nature.
Narration can be part of this discussion. When you read a book out loud to your child, or your child reads a book independently, you can use narration to determine how much the he or she grasps the content. If the book is non-fiction, ask your child to share details from what you read. Does this request leave him or her stymied? Lead off with a question, or ask your child for information regarding a particular person or event. If the book is fiction, ask your child to retell the events of the story. Doing this helps him or her to practice following the plot of the story. After your child has completed the narration, you can expand on the retelling of the story by asking clarifying questions, helping your child to further explore the action in the story or the choices made by characters.
Take narration a step further and you can combine fine arts and kid creativity by having your children reenact the story. Costumes and props can be simple or they can further expand the visual aids you employ in reviewing what was read. Have artistic children? Let them draw or create 3D representations (we called these dioramas when I was in school) of the story. Incorporate other subject skills by having them create a newspaper article or another form of creative writing that will go far beyond the traditional book report. Remember the enticing presentations at the end of Reading Rainbow? Those children were “selling” the books that they had read, providing just enough information and personal testimony to catch your attention and make you want to read the book, too.
Any of these methods will demonstrate your child’s grasp of the book content, and make the most of his or her creative nature.
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