Two Kid Schoolhouse

• Oct. 19, 2006 - A time and place for workbooks

Posted in Home Education

So often when I come across homeschooling advice I see "throw out the workbooks!" This is often offered as "your best piece of advice for a new homeschooler." The implication is that workbooks are boring and will produce bored kids who can't think outside the workbook. Uusually an exception is made for math. But mostly workbooks are looked at as inferior home education tools. I've even sensed some snobbery at times when I've mentioned some workbook we've used. This snobbery is, of course, antithetical to the idea of homeschooling, which is all about family choices and decisions, but hey, we all have our vices.

As I kid I loved workbooks. I adored the cute pictures and the spaces to write my answers. I loved the feeling of accomplishment when one was full, and the anticipation of the next one. Did I learn anything from them? I don't know. I was also read to a lot, and read a lot myself once I knew how. But it seems reasonable to attribute some of my skills to those workbooks, if not any knowledge.

And that's what workbooks can be great for. Manuscript and cursive workbooks, find-the-missing-punctuation workbooks, find-the-rhyming-words workbooks and even math workbooks can help with those basic skills all kids need to learn. I wouldn't use workbooks for everything. We do a lot of reading, (some) writing, game playing (well, not as much as I'd like), more reading, projects, and still more reading.

Lately my kids have been starting their "school" day with Spectrum test-prep workbooks. They ask to. They love them (right now). I got one last year so I'd know what kinds of things my boy would encounter on his 3rd grade test and to give him an idea of what testing is all about. My little E was so envious I got her one too. They think of them as puzzle books.

Busy work? Maybe so. Useful? Sometimes.

The last few days both kids have been a little sick. Sick enough that our usual morning copywork, Latin, memorization, etc. seem a little too taxing. We've done a lot of reading - I mean to say, I've done a lot of reading aloud. But both kids have mustered the strength to work a little in their Mathematical Reasoning books - working a bit on math concepts, and in their test prep books, working on such skills as punctuation, pronouns, and reading.

I wouldn't say it's been a great week, academically. Certainly my kids are learning more from my reading to them. But if the enjoyable workbook work helps them in their understanding of angles and pronouns and antonyms, who am I to argue?

So, next time you see "toss out the workbooks" in some homeschooling advice, think about it. Do your kids enjoy a little workbook action from time to time? Do you think they might benefit from it?

Back to reading. Is it time for Peter Duck, Wings Like a Dove or Trial and Triumph now?

• Oct. 19, 2006 - I totally agree!

Posted by SmallWorld

My kids love some workbooks. My oldest loves his Test Prep, his Daily Grams, and Analogies. In fact, the only workbooks he really disliked were history ones. I think workbooks are great for encouraging kids to work independently. I get a lot done with my youngest while the oldest are doing their independent work.

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• Oct. 19, 2006 - Couldn't have said it better...

Posted by jugglingpaynes

I've always felt we should do what works for our kids. Workbooks definitely helped us through the lower grades while we were still finding our homeschooling way. We used Spectrum as well! I think they are not as necessary as my kids have gotten older, but if a good one came my way, say for spanish or algebra, I wouldn't turn my nose up at it!

Cristina

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• Oct. 19, 2006 - Yep, we use them too, where necessary or beneficial

Posted by HomeGrownKids

I've found that not only do some children enjoy them but it can be very beneficial.

1) The child can achieve a sense of accomplishment. The book is complete, the work is done. There is something satisfying about that. This can be a good motivator for our children...helps them to achieve a little success, which breeds motivation and more success.

2) Allows the student to have a sense of initiative...independance...that sort of thing. This assists them to feel like it is THEIR education and not just mine. It allows them the freedom to go ahead with work, without Mum...creating that wonderful circle of achievement and success, by their own doing! That empowers them to know that they can achieve learning by themselves. See, we know they can learn but not all children know that...it can help here too.

Catchya,
Susan <><

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• Oct. 19, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by fallinglikerain

I really think our philosophy should be "Use whatever works." As in, use whatever you have to use to make sure that school actually happens everyday. If that's a workbook then I'm all for it. You are right about the homeschool snobbery. It's a nasty thing and has probably made homeschooling harder than it needed to be for a lot of moms.
Sandy

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• Oct. 20, 2006 - Hmmmm....

Posted by Devonbunny

Speaking as a homeschooler who has seemingly tried all methods with my children, I can definitely say that workbooks work for us! My kids love them, so we use them. :)

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• Oct. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by bookwormmom

We use workbooks, and they work well for us! C.O. loves his math and phonics books. It does give him an incentive, because he loves to look at the finished work, and to be able to say "I did that!". I honestly think whatever works for your children is the RIGHT choice. We may not always use workbooks, but right now they WORK!

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• Oct. 22, 2006 - Workbooks

Posted by BarbaraFrank

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said your kids LIKE workbooks. If they like them, they should have them. Some kids adore workbooks. All of mine went through a workbook phase, but one liked them the way you say you did....the feeling of accomplishment, etc.

With my youngest (who has Down syndrome), we went through two sets of the preschool series of workbooks published by Rod and Staff. I recommend them to people all the time. With their adorable drawings and fun activities (including lots of cut and paste), they were my younger kids' favorite workbooks. Bottom line: ignore anti-workbook snobs :)

Good topic!
Barb

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