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DianaC
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| Posted: May 21 2009 at 8:59pm | IP Logged
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We are finishing up our 2nd year of homeschooling. For our first year(2nd grade), I set 2 specific goals: to master basic math facts and to improve reading skills. Really, after two years in public school, this was a tall order! Throughout the year when we floundered a bit, I faithfully reviewed my goals and had renewed faith in our progress. My dd progressed beyond my expectations. For our second year (3rd grade) I had one vague goal: to really kindle a love of learning. Although we made steady progress throughout the year, I don't feel I accomplished this goal.
So, I feel that I need more specific goals to keep me on track (and maybe to give us a more concrete sense of accomplishment at the end of the year). However, I am at a loss as to what specific goals to set for 4th grade.
My dd continues to progress at an OK pace, but she really is not the enthusiastic student that I would love for her to be.
I'd appreciate any ideas, suggestions and advice. 
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mom3aut1not
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| Posted: May 21 2009 at 10:27pm | IP Logged
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Diana,
What are *your* goals? What do you want her to learn in each area?
I decided years ago that I wanted more specific goals. So I started thinking and discerning what I wanted each child to learn. Now I have only one student who is also disabled. Because he has such severe language delays, I'm a little vaguer than i would be with a more typical child. In past years with other students, I specified some memory work as well as specific concepts.
I'll give you a sample of my goals for him.
Social Studies (2008/2009)
Learn about community helpers.
Learn about communities.
Learn that people have had different foods, clothes, and houses at different times.
Learn how people lived in different eras.
Complete the What Makes America Special Achievement. (Cub Scouts)
Complete the The Past is Exciting and Important Achievement. (Cub Scouts)
Be introduced to world history, focusing on ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome, the Vikings, and the Middle Ages.
Learn about holidays pertaining to American history: Columbus Day, Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day), Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Earth Day, and Memorial Day.
Science (2009/2010) --- goals so far
Goals
To learn the characteristics of amphibians: cold-blooded; lay jelly-like eggs; live in water and on land; have an aquatic existence when immature and breathe through lungs when mature; have a backbone; and have a wet, smooth skin.
To learn the characteristics of fish: cold-blooded, lay lay jelly-like eggs; live in water and breath through gills; have a backbone; usually have scales and fins.
To learn about the water cycle.
To learn about the various kinds of clouds.
To record weather for at least two weeks.
To learn what makes wind.
To learn the characteristics of birds: warm-blooded; lay hard-shelled eggs; have a backbone; and have feathers.
Record birds seen during a two month period of time.
Learn about the planets.
Learn the names of the planets in order.
Make a model of the solar system.
Learn about the sun.
Learn that the Earth is unique in its ability to support life in this solar system.
Learn that the Earth rotates on its axis.
Learn that the Earth and the other planets orbit the sun.
Learn that the Moon orbits the Earth.
Learn how a lunar eclipse occurs.
Learn how a solar eclipse occurs.
Learn that plants require sunlight, water, and (usually) soil.
Learn the parts of plants.
Learn how plants reproduce.
Learn how seeds are spread.
Grow plants in containers.
Learn what products we commonly use are made from plants. Make a list of such.
I have goals for each area of study. I don't achieve all of them, but having a list helps me in a number of ways: I focus on what *I* want and not what some other person (author or whoever) decides a child should learn; I save money by buying materials that are relevant to my goals; I can see progress even with my son when I review his goals.
HTH!
In Christ,
__________________
Deborah
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anitamarie
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| Posted: May 21 2009 at 10:36pm | IP Logged
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Have you asked her what she wants to learn about? Or have you noticed what really lights her fire? My dc really like to give input into what's on the menu for school. Maybe if you include in *your* goals some of *her* goals, it might help her get more excited and enthusiastic. One of my dc really likes Math, (soooo not me) and games, so we include lots of those for her. It's hard for me sometimes to let go and let them choose, so I feel for you.
Anita
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Rachel May
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| Posted: May 22 2009 at 12:54pm | IP Logged
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One thing I have done, although not in a big way, is to take the rubrics from my curriculum (MODG) and then try to have the kids work toward those goals through unit studies that we mutually choose.
One example would be our nature studies. Recently, we were learning about amphibians. For 4th grade this year, the boys have been praciticing outlining before they write a paragraph. So we read a book on amphibians together, and then I asked them to write an outline of main points about amphibians. Then they orally told me the paragraph they would write. The next day they wrote it out and I corrected it for spelling and punctuation.
For me, it is helpful to let someone else who has wisdom and experience set the educational goals, but I give the kids some freedom in how we get there. We choose MODG syllabi to do that now. My first year here, I used Deborah's goals which was exactly what I needed that year.  I hope this is making sense, I'm feeling like I'm not being as clear as I would like. 
__________________
Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: May 23 2009 at 9:56am | IP Logged
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You might also want to look into the book discussed in this thread. It's possible that you could find a different way to present some of the material that would really appeal to or excite your daughter more.
__________________
Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Setting Goals
