Here’s one mother’s clever way of motivating her children to do excellent work!Contributed by Carol Johnson
Gainesville, Florida
I had heard all the arguments for and against grading your children in homeschool, and had decided not to grade. Going along with the theory that they will learn better when something is interesting to them; I teach them until they understand, or until I completely lose their interest. I couldn’t figure out how to use grades in this form of “school.”
Question:We need to know about testing. When? What materials? How often?
Please help! Our son is in the 4th grade.
As home school moms, we are trying to put information into our children’s minds and hearts, not pull it out, which is what testing seems to be all about. The most effective test that can ever be given is to talk to the student for 5-10 minutes, asking questions, asking him to explain details of the subject you are testing him on. This was the method (oral evaluation) used in educating our founding fathers and it was very effective. Most homeschoolers find eventually that oral testing is the most revealing of the student’s knowledge level, and can be pleasant, rather than nervewracking.
Heaping Coals Upon Their Heads
