Tales from the Manse

• Apr. 17, 2008 - Children's Book Project

I have been teaching enrichment classes in a local home school co-op this year, even though my children are very little. Last month I had the high school group and did a project on the elements of a short story and had them write children's books, with info, guidelines, activities, rubrics and all. I even had two help sessions.

It's been an interesting lesson for me in the dynamics of home schooling. Only two of my ten students completed the project on time. We had to move back the due date and change the judging procedure. It's been a hard day. I had a preconceived notion that home schoolers would have the work done on time more than those in the public schools. My lesson is that that is not necessarily so. Teaching in public school I'd have 50-60% projects turned in. I had 20% today. I've worked hard on the project, even spent some money and it is kinda sad.

So, the project has been moved back two weeks to give those who have been sick or out of town more time to finish. The competition was in jeopardy. I also want those to know that they are held accountable for finishing a project they started. I don't want some to think that just because they don't want to do it, they aren't expected to. The former teacher in me can't let that happen. A lesson in finishing by a certain time will have to be learned in the future, I'm afraid.

I really like teaching this class. I hope that by pulling back the date, the competition will be really neat and the little ones in the co-op really like the books the older ones wrote. So, how can I get them excited about participating, do the work, and look forward to May 1st and awarding of the prize?

• Apr. 17, 2008 - Hey

Posted by Holly S.

Hey Eliza!

This is Holly Seufert. I noticed this blog on my comments. That's one thing I find troubling about some homeschooling students/families. The lack of structure. My mom was very structured when homeschooling me. We were up at 8AM and school was a total of 180 days each year. Projects were to be done on the due date. All the work I did was reported to the SCAIHS. They did my high school transcript and made sure I was completing my work. I liked having that structure. I hope to have similar structure when Paul and I homeschool our kids one day.

I think a lot of these parents are new at homeschooling and they haven't experienced it for themselves, so they don't understand that their child needs due dates and structure. It is nice to be able to go to the beach during the fall when everyone else is in school, but that doesn't mean you can't complete your english project! I don't think my mom was mean when making me read a chapter for history while sick in bed. I think she was looking out for my future! I appreciate the fact she did that. She has taught me not to be lazy about task and to get them done not matter how I feel about them.

Well, that's just a grown homeschooled student talking. Those are my thoughts about homeschooling. That's neat that you can teach a class! I wish I had done more of that while homeschooled. :) That's something I will get my children involved in one day too. I will be like a miltary mom. *laughs* Part of being a teacher is setting guide lines and due dates that are too be abided by. How will they make it in the real working world if they never complete a project by the due date?

-Holly

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• Apr. 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Mary

Hi, Elisa! Good to see you blogging again! I hope the project goes well!

I thought I'd copy my reply to your comment on Holly's blog about the flowers here, so we can continue any further discussion on your blog:

I'm a bit mystified by the two plants you mention. Does the alyssium look like the picture on this website: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1056667755000528100PvSing

It's the only website I could find anything about alyssiums, yet I'm sure I've heard the name before.

I've not heard of Bervinas nor could I find anything on them on the internet. Strange! Sorry about that.

Hope you have a great day!

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• Apr. 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Mary

P.S. I was thinking further about your difficulties with the home schoolers. It's a shame that their parents aren't making sure they have the discipline to get things done on time. We were fairly structured when I was homeschooled: started a certain time, finished around the same time, etc. I felt motivated to get done too because then I would have free time!! :) When I was older and more independent with my work, I used to start earlier just to get my things done earlier (I knew what to get done each day and Mom checked all our work)!

I know it can vary according to the parents, though! I hope these families learn to be more disciplined! God bless your efforts!

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• Apr. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by OldSchoolMarm

Elisa, I hope you're not too discouraged with your high school homeschoolers and I hope you don't let this experience sour you on homeschooling as a whole. Many of us are very disciplined in our studies and observe completion dates with the rigidity of a public school teacher. I, of course, can't speak for the students or families that didn't feel that your completetion date for the project applied to them, but can say that part of what homeschooling is about for me is learning what didn't work previously and making it work next time. As a public school teacher I'm sure you were taught that part of the teaching and learning process is being a reflective teacher. It really is the same with homeschooling. Sounds like you are being flexible in giving the kids some "grace" time to complete the project but I can't help but wonder about the two that finished the project on time and how they feel about the others getting more time. Sort of a catch22. Please keep us updated on how it all goes. Blessings, Julie

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• Apr. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Elisa

Hi Julie,
I'm giving Timothy a rubric/check list. We will give extra points to those who finished on time and I'm going to think of an extra "reward" and give it to them in front of class. I am also going to give bonus points to those who stayed on subject. I gave a rubric to the parents to evaluate their work and I'm going to adapt that. There are some pretty great rubric makers on line.

I am a little discouraged with homeschooling. There's not many children involved that are my son's ages. Some times when I teach, there's no one to watch my sons in the nursery. (That has been getting better when I mentioned it to the coordinator.) Every time we go, my boys get really sick. That's every two weeks. Doctor bills and medicine are costing us so very much money. Today, I've been nursing Andy's 102 degree fever. The other thing I noticed when I put Andy in Mother's Day Out was how very much Andy needed to be around other children his age. There is no child Andy or Joey's age at church. There is no socialization for him, except for one little boy down the street. The Home school co-op at the PCA church failed. (Parents just dropped off their kids and left.)

The major issue is what is best for Andy- home schooling or Christian Private School? Timothy and I are really looking at Christian Private School, only if I can go back to teaching to be able to afford tuition (and pay off bills). Then that leaves the question about what is best for Joey? If I go back to teaching, he'd be with Timothy on Monday's all day then in Mother's Day Out/the preschool where I teach the other four days a week. We'd come back and look it our situation in three years and decide to home school or continue in the private school. Hopefully by then, we'd have other children our sons' ages and like-minded parents within our congregation.

Andy just craves being around other children. He learns so much when he is around them. Yet Joey... My heart is broken. What is best for one, might be detrimental to the other and vice versa.

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