How We Keep Learning Alive at Home

Parents are key to their child's success (2)

When it comes to our children’s education there are so many more options available now than when we were kids. Should we put our children in private school? Should we home school, and if we choose that should we join a co-op home school group? Should we send our children to school two days a week, and home school the other three? Should we send our children to a charter or specialty school? Or should we just send our children to “dreaded” public schools?

For our family, we have chosen to give our son a supplemental education for his first year in Kindergarten. This is a term I feel like I have made up myself but I am pretty sure it has been used before. Supplemental education for my family is the investment and partnership that we have with our child’s education and school. We have been pleased with our son’s education but still feel that there are pieces missing in areas that he could be a little more challenged, or even topics that he is interested in that he doesn’t exactly get to explore in a public education setting.

What supplemental education looks like in our family:

1. I have researched the academic standards for our state for a child entering Kindergarten. {Oklahoma Standards can be accessed through the click through link.}

2. I have informally assessed my child’s academic level using free online diagnostics. {Reading & Math Assessment, Comprehension & Math Assessment and Reading Only Assessment}

3. I have chosen areas that he has his greatest strengths in to continue to challenge him in those areas. I also have determined areas that he tends to be weaker in so I can help him build confidence in those areas.

4. I discuss with him topics that he is currently interested in, and help him learn more about those topics. For example, one of his biggest interests was outer space. Together we found books about this topic, looked online and researched questions he had and also found museums to visit that covered outer space.

5. Tools that I use to supplement his education at home are online worksheets, flash cards,  books from the library, around the town “field trips” and LOTS of one on one reading. {Starfall, K5 Learning, Turtle Diary, AplusMath, InsideStory Flashcards, Scholastic Flashcard Maker, Metro Library System and be sure to check out our site for several “field trips” that you can take your kids on to explore their imaginations and senses!}

Overall, with supplemental education I have learned that exposure is the key to success. If I am wanting my child to read early then I need to be the one responsible for exposing him to books, letter sounds and sight words. Entering the world of education as a parent can be scary, but it can also be a fun growth experience for you and your child! Discovering what type of educational avenue is the best for your family that might be different from others is OKAY – have fun along the way!

What educational option have you chosen for your family? Any tips to share with other families?

 

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Jenna Vasquez
I have the absolute two cutest boys in my life, my husband and son! I love being a mom of a boy. I love the TBall games. I love the bow ties. I love the spiked hair. I love the funny quotes. I love the way he loves me with such an innocent heart. I consider myself a stay at home mom that cannot stay at home! I love to get out and explore our wonderful city with my family. Other side notes that make me who I am are the outdoors, swimming, working out,family, friends, church, talking really fast, dates with my husband, cuddling with my son, and garage sales!

1 COMMENT

  1. As a teacher in a public school I cannot thank you enough for helping your child learn!! So many parents feel it is our sole responsibility to teach your child. Honestly, with 27 students in my class, I can’t explore all of their unique interests. As much as I would like to, we just don’t have the time. I especially want to thank you for looking up the academic standards to see what is required of your student at this age. The standards are what give teachers a starting point and I love that you incorporated that into his learning. I’m sure your sons teacher is appreciative. Thank you for being an awesome mom! He can come to my school for second grade 🙂

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