How do I know if my child is ready for more structured learning? Today on Home School Heartbeat, HSLDA President Mike Smith discusses that question with June Oberlander, a retired teacher with several homeschooled grandchildren.
Mike Smith:
Mrs. Oberlander, children develop at different rates, both intellectually and emotionally. How can parents know when their child is ready for formal education—for example, when should they start the 1st grade or kindergarten?
June Oberlander:
Well, parents should observe and assess the child’s progress, and determine some things that I’m going to cite. Has he developed his fine motor skills well enough so that he can write legibly? Some of them are really shaky with that. Is he able to follow three-step directions? Can he sit still for 20-30 minutes in order to complete a task? Is he aware of letters and sounds and their relationship to reading? Can he retell a story with accuracy and with some detail? Does he recognize and understand number concepts from 1 to 10? Can he count to 100? Can he count by twos up to 20? Can he count by fives up to 30? And can he count by tens up to 100? I feel that deficits in any of these areas can hinder the child’s progress.
Mike:
Well, thank you for sharing; that’s very helpful. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
|
|
Written by a retired kindergarten teacher, this book shows you when, how, and what skills to develop in your child from birth to age 5.The 260 developmental activities take only about 10 minutes each and use common household items. Slow and Steady also contains measurable parameters for profiling your child’s early development and tips for solving behavior problems.
Whether you want to stay abreast of homeschooling news and legislative issues, hear about the latest @home e-vent webinar, or get specialized help for teaching your high schooler—or struggling learner—or elementary student, HSLDA’s e-lert service has something valuable for you. Sign up here!
|
|
