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Connections
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 4:35pm | IP Logged
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Assuming you are in a state that does not require proof of homeschooling, how important is it that your children create a product to demonstrate learning?
Are learning notes written by mom, discussion and the occasional product (i.e. when the child is inspired to create something) enough?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
If it is important for children to demonstrate learning through products, can you explain why? Are certain products more valuable than others? What would you/your child be missing without them?
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Blessings,
Tracey
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Martha
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 6:09pm | IP Logged
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I'm blessed to be in one of those states that doesn't require such things.
I keep various art and written works as well math tests.
I do not keep it for "product" reasons. In fact, I'd fight being required to hand it over to anyone! LOL
I keep it because we like to see their growth and so do they. It's nice to look back and see that they went from struggling with math facts, or writing to progress. It's really hard to see progress when you're in the thick, kwim? But when we look over work for the year, of even a semester, it give us all a feeling of satisfaction and refreshment for continuing.
That, and the kids like to have something to show off to grammy and papa, or even daddy.
For us, it's simply that everyone likes to see the fruit of their efforts. 
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Martha
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Sarah M
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm.... thinking on this...
I'd be willing to bet that having a product is more important and easier to do with children who are 10 or older. I don't have any 10 or older, though, so I don't really know what I'm talking about  .
I do like to have little notes/lists of what we've done. This year I am writing monthly reviews of our learning. Even in our most unstructured, hay-wired, chaotic months, I am amazed at the end of the month when I look back over what we've accomplished. It always looks so much more impressive than I expect it to.
Like Martha said, I think having something to show to gma, gpa, daddy, whoever- is a real bonus. Especially when certain extended family members are not especially happy that we're homeschooling  - it's nice to have a "look and see what we did" product. Lapbooks do this for us, when we feel up to making them. So do nature notebooks (for my 7yo, anyway) and the little stories/books the kids write in their freetime.
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 8:32pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
Are learning notes written by mom, discussion and the occasional product (i.e. when the child is inspired to create something) enough?
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My first instinct is to say that writing is an essential "product" in an education. Whether it is in a journal, letters, etc..., I think most people need to practice it a good deal to become proficient.
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Lindsay
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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KerryK
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 10:21pm | IP Logged
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I agree with Lindsay, and for us, writing is a required "product", although it can take many forms, and they certainly have a lot of latitude and choice with it. If math could be considered a "product", I require that as well. As for other finished "products," I do try to encourage them to follow through on their project ideas - sometimes producing something can contribute greatly to the learning process. And for writing, going through the process of writing a rough draft and editing it is invaluable for older kids, imho.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: How important is a product?
