|
Conversation certainly gets the brain cells moving, don't you think?
Such a conversation took place recently. We were discussing whether it is necessary to assess how well our children are doing academically and to what do we look to help us to do this. In a homeschooling environment is it necessary to compare our children to find out their level of ability?
I know the opinion on this is going to be very varied. Wherever you fit on the spectrum of opinion, I think we all want to feel satisfied that our children are reaching their full potential. The law that enables us to educate our own children at home is clear that all children should receive an education that is suitable for their age and ability. The question is: How do we go about it?
The school system is predominately target-orientated; teachers spend endless amounts of time filling in forms that are supposed to enable them to assess a child's progress. Children from reception up are tested to some degree or another, and these children spend a great deal of time sitting exams that hopefully show the knowledge they have attained. Then the right box can be ticked.
As homeschoolers, many of us feel that in some way we need to emulate how they assess children in schools. I know for certain things I closely follow National Curriculum guidelines for the year groups of my children. I have in the past bought SATs practice papers for my oldest to do. I use a National Curriculum based Maths course.
I suppose what I am getting at is whether or not the way we assess our childrens' progress is based on how confident we feel to teach them. Does other peoples' negativity about home schooling affect our confidence? I think it is important to know how well our children are doing, and we need to find a good way of doing this. We don't want to lose the fact that we can treat our children as unique individuals and not shuffle them all into a box called "sameness".
Deb |
Comments