4Real Forums: Assessing Progress

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Assessing Progress

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Sarah
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Posted: Sept 19 2007 at 3:24pm \| IP Logged

This year I'm really feeling like this is all a big experiment and I'm not sure its working.

Part of the problem is that over the last 7 years of my hs-ing career, I've slowly changed my idea of what a REAL education is. I used to "do school at home." It has become much more free.

Last fall my own mother so much as told me, " Well, this homeschooling thing is very experimental. . .time will tell."

Her words have stuck with me for a year now (why? She's my Mom! She has that power over me.

).

SO, this leads me to ask you how you assess yours children's progress. I know we cannot see into the future but how can I see that what I'm doing is the best I can do for preparing them for life? What if this is all wrong? I'm feeling kind of nervous this year.

Any ideas????

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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9

mom2mpr
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Posted: Sept 19 2007 at 3:53pm \| IP Logged

Sarah,
I don't really have any answers. I do know I worry too! My Mom hasn't said anything lately and is fairly supportive. I worry all by myself

I do know when I am feeling worried and not confident in this decision God sends me a little "moment." Today it was sitting on the piano bench with dd on my lap and ds playing "All in All" with all 3 of us singing at the top of our lungs. I just looked down at dd and she looked up at me and the smiles were just so warm. It was the moment I needed after getting off the phone with the children's choir director and she was telling me all about why she put her dd in preschool(do I really care?)because she needed socialization even though she is only 2. Sigh.
I have tried tests and the portfolio reviews and nothing gives me the confidence I need more than these little gifts in my everyday life. Try to look for them, write them down, keep them in your heart.
I also keep repeating to myself a lot lately that I am growing the WHOLE person, not just a test score.
Hope that helps! Have a good day!
Anne

Macmom
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Joined: July 06 2007
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Posted: Sept 19 2007 at 6:55pm \| IP Logged

ROTFL!

Do you really think the SCHOOL SYSTEM has a plan for real assessment? They teach to the test (all the info the kidlets need to know) and then teach how to TAKE the test. Sure a kid learns their math facts and the parts of speech, but do they learn the rhythms and beauty of numbers and how to write in a compelling way? Heck no! All kids learn are mcthoughts.. no body of knowledge is connected to other disciplines. And often, it's not connected to real life. I mean, if a kid can't seem to learn at school and fails the test, does anyone recommend HOMESHOOLING as quickly as if a homeschooled student didn't seem to be progressing and the only option seems to be AWAY schooling? Seriously, the schools only "test" what they can measure- math skills, factual recall, etc. But they don't really "educate" a child to prepare them for life.

And let's face it, real life goes beyond academics. Real life is learning to live in God's love and share that love with those around you. I am still a student in that area! The test I try to train the kids for is when they stand at the pearly gates and God says "Why should I let you in?"

So, you want to assess? Academically, take stock of where each child needs to improve, set goals, and work towards them. This requires docility and cooperation from the child. Which brings us to the topic of assessing virtue- see (and pray about) each child's strengths of character and weakness, and set a plan to help/ guide them in conquering their flaws. We've had to assess and come up with plans for different kids over the years!

It took us 2 to 3 years of steady pressure on oldest son (now 13) to get him out of his pity party and constant foul moods. But he wakes up with a smile now, and only occasionally needs to be reminded "if you want to be happy, be good!" My 7 year old dd has a violent temper and likes to hit her siblings when they annoy her. We are currently working on suppressing that with love and reminders "Do unto others!" "It doesn't matter how you FEEL you still have to DO good!"

I've been homeschoolng for 11 years now. Its not a job for whimps. And it isn't a pleasant job if you keep second guessing yourself. Do the kids like to learn? Do they discus academics with you and dad and tell you what new thing they understood today? Most important, do they love God and try to love each other and you? Then everything is OK.

I'll bet you're a better mom than you think! Get your mom's voice out of your head, and ask God to replace it with a willingness to do His will. :-)

Peace,
Macmom

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