Selecting
instructional materials for science and reading that build on a child's
natural wonder, while supplementing a good academic program, requires
careful consideration.
The best materials will foster a feeling of discovery in the
child, but at the same time, they will include instruction that expands on the child's basic understanding of the
world. When successful, this combination of discovery and enrichment boosts children's self-confidence and enables
them to begin to connect the many concepts and ideas they have encountered in various course studies.
It's
eight P.M. and your child has just finished
reading an "awesome" book about the Ancient Egyptian mummification process. The book is
thorough, but she wants to know if the mummification jars had a specific name,
and how to write her name in Hieroglyphics and . . . She is so excited and motivated
that she wants to learn more – now! In two minutes or less you and your historian-to-be can be searching the
Ancient Egyptian highway – the Internet. In the fast moving
Information
Age, children can learn about anything they are interested in at any time via the
Internet – they just need to know where to look!
Question:
As you prepare your child for life in a global economy, what gift can
you give to them that would help insure their success and would also
- Ensure higher scores on SAT and college entrance
tests
- Increase cognitive skills, decision making skills, creativity, music and math
skills
- Increase opportunities for careers in business, commerce, world
affairs, politics, and humanitarian work
- Increase speaking and comprehension skills in their native
language
- Not require any great financial investment?
In
the fall of 2001, a Homeschool.com survey revealed that only 25% of
homeschool parents think their children read at a level that matches
their full potential. That same survey discloses that 77% of homeschool
parents want to learn more about the theory and practice of reading
instruction. In an effort to meet that thirst for knowledge, this
article strives to give you an overview of a complex yet often
oversimplified subject; reading.
For younger children, the
emphasis is usually on building a solid foundation in reading, writing,
and basic math. Where schools believe in starting formal learning as
early as possible, most homeschoolers believe in delaying formal
studies until the child is seven or older. This allows the child to
mature physically and emotionally before she is asked to sit down and
study.
