The elusive textbook.
Lucas comes home with various worksheets to do as homework, and as I look at the work, I can get an idea of what they are doing in school, but it is not the same as having the textbook at home with me to look at the ideas, presentation, examples, etc. contained in the books.
Right now, I can help him with his homework, but even so, I find that I am very cautious when clarifing a point to him because I don't want to get him confused. What if I am telling him something different than what he learnt in school? How do I know the "right", "better" or "current" approach to the topic? This school system where the kids have textbooks in school, but do not own them or don't bring them home with them, makes me very uncomfortable because I'm not confident that I know what they are covering in class or how.
I was thinking about this because of recent confusion in the schools (in Texas) about history texts and what they include and exclude, not only about historical events, but also about religion and the context they provide. How do I package my "brand of thinking" on what they do when I don't know what they do? Aargghh! And don't get me started about Math. I eventually did go and buy a Math text book for k-3 when Lucas started elementary school because the worksheets didn't help me figure out what he was supposed to know. And I like checking his understanding of what he's been taught. But that's me.
I remember in my school days, we bought all our own texts so I could read ahead or review on my own. A very expensive proposition, which would put a hefty price on "free" education.
Should I go out and buy the textbooks myself? Should I petition for a "parent copy" of all school texts so parents can borrow them? What if I need a memory jogger of some specific area? Buy my own book?
And please tell me, does the situation change in middle or high school?
Lucas comes home with various worksheets to do as homework, and as I look at the work, I can get an idea of what they are doing in school, but it is not the same as having the textbook at home with me to look at the ideas, presentation, examples, etc. contained in the books.
Right now, I can help him with his homework, but even so, I find that I am very cautious when clarifing a point to him because I don't want to get him confused. What if I am telling him something different than what he learnt in school? How do I know the "right", "better" or "current" approach to the topic? This school system where the kids have textbooks in school, but do not own them or don't bring them home with them, makes me very uncomfortable because I'm not confident that I know what they are covering in class or how.
I was thinking about this because of recent confusion in the schools (in Texas) about history texts and what they include and exclude, not only about historical events, but also about religion and the context they provide. How do I package my "brand of thinking" on what they do when I don't know what they do? Aargghh! And don't get me started about Math. I eventually did go and buy a Math text book for k-3 when Lucas started elementary school because the worksheets didn't help me figure out what he was supposed to know. And I like checking his understanding of what he's been taught. But that's me.
I remember in my school days, we bought all our own texts so I could read ahead or review on my own. A very expensive proposition, which would put a hefty price on "free" education.
Should I go out and buy the textbooks myself? Should I petition for a "parent copy" of all school texts so parents can borrow them? What if I need a memory jogger of some specific area? Buy my own book?
And please tell me, does the situation change in middle or high school?
Comments
I would suggest that regardless of access to school textbooks, you can focus on exposing them to your own thinking systems and problem solving approaches. At least that's what I do. I feel the school is capable of teaching them reading, writing and arithmetic so i am focused on problem solving and creative thinking. So I have started giving assignments that would require the use technology for communicating, problem solving etc.
Also - did you read the Global Achievement Gap? Those 2 items are on the list of what kids today need most to succeed and the education systems are poorly designed to deliver.