Educated Child

Contents

Acknowledgments

Before You Begin

Introduction

• You Are Your Child's Most Important Teacher
  
• Lessons That Good Schools Teach
  
• Will Your School Educate Your Child Well?
  
• Our Schools and Our Culture
  
• Ten Principles for Parents of Educated Children
  

Part I: The Preschool Years

Chapter I: Fostering a Love of Learning

Your Love, Protection, and Care

Your Time

A Positive Learning Environment

An Attitude That Values Learning

Early Moral Training

How Young Children Learn

Chapter 2: Getting Ready for School

Kindergarten Readiness List

Getting Ready to Read

• Making Your House a Book House
  
• Choosing Books for Children
  
• Thirty Great Books Every Preschooler Should Meet
  
• Setting a Good Reading Example
  

Reading to Your Child

• Reading Rules of Thumb
  
• Checking Out the Library
  

Getting Ready to Write

Learning to Speak and Listen Well

Getting Ready for Arithmetic

Preschool Science

Building Motor Skills

Resources to Help Your Preschooler Learn

Chapter 3: Character Education in the Early Years

Forming Character for School Success

Discipline in the Preschool Years

Social Skills

Helping Your Child Learn Self-Reliance

Chapter 4: Day Care and Preschool

Day Care

• A Word About Day Care Licensing
  

Preschool

• Is Preschool Necessary?
  
• Looking for a Good Preschool
  
• Staying Involved
  

Part II: The Core Curriculum

The Importance of a Solid Core Curriculum

Checking on Your School's Standards of Learning

How to Use This Book to Examine Your School's Curriculum

Ten Signs of a Good School

The Core Knowledge Sequence

Chapter 5: English

What Good Schools Teach -- and Why

• Reading
  
• Writing
  
• Speaking
  
• How Do You Recognize "Great" Literature?
  
• How Are Schools Doing?
  

The English Curriculum

• The Primary Grades
  
  
  
• Kindergarten
  
• First Grade
  
• Second Grade
  
• Third Grade
  

• Good Books for the Primary Grades
  
• How Well Read Is Your Primary Grade Child?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• What If My Child Has a Reading Problem?
  
• The Intermediate Grades
  
  
  
• Fourth Grade
  
• Fifth Grade
  
• Sixth Grade
  

• Good Books for the Intermediate Grades
  
• How Well Read Is Your Intermediate Grade Child?
  
• Wellsprings of Western Literature
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• Junior High
  
  
  
• Seventh Grade
  
• Eighth Grade
  

• Good Books for Junior High
  
• How Well Read Is Your Junior High Schooler?
  
• Memorizing Poems and Prose
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
  
  Issues in Language Arts Education
  
  
  
• Phonics Versus Whole Language
  
• When Should Students Start to Read?
  
• Should Schools Group Children by Reading Ability?
  
• When Should Children Learn to Write?
  
• What If the Teacher Does Not Correct Spelling?
  
• How Important Is Penmanship?
  
• What Is the Place of Western Literature in the English Classroom?
  
• Why Are Children's Classics Being Slighted?
  
• Is My Child Really Learning to Understand Literature?
  
• Should Children Study Much Grammar?
  
• Should Schools Be Sticklers About Proper English?
  
• Warning Signs of a Weak Language Arts Program
  

Teaching Reading, Writing, and Literature at Home

• Helping Your Child Learn to Read
  
  
  
• Help with Phonics
  
• Building Reading Comprehension
  
• Resources That Help Your Child Learn to Read
  

• Helping Your Child Learn to Write
  
• Gauging Your Child's Interest and Progress
  
  
  Chapter 6: History and Geography
  
  What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
  
  
  
• The Intellectual Function of History
  
• The Civic Function of History
  
• The Moral Function of History
  
• History Lessons That Good Schools Teach
  
• The Place of Geography in the Curriculum
  
• What About Economics?
  
• How Are Schools Doing?
  

The History and Geography Curriculum

• The Primary Grades
  
  
  
• Kindergarten
  
• First Grade
  
• Second Grade
  
• Third Grade
  

• Is Your School Teaching Historical Literacy?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
  
  The Intermediate Grades
  
  
  
• Fourth Grade
  

• How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
  
  
  
• Fifth Grade
  

• Does My Child Know the Map?
  
  
  
• Sixth Grade
  

• Is My Child Geographically Literate?
  
• Is Your School Teaching Basic Economics?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• Junior High
  
  
  
• Seventh Grade
  
• Eighth Grade
  

• How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
  
• Is Your School Teaching Literacy in American History?
  
• s Your School Teaching Literacy in World History?
  
• Is Your Child Learning How American Democracy Works?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
  
  Issues in the Teaching of History
  
  
  
• What Happened to the Story in History?
  
• "Expanding Environments"
  
• What Is "Social Studies"?
  
• How Important Are Facts in History?
  
• Dates Your Child Should Learn
  
• What Is the Place of Multiculturalism in History Class?
  
• How Much Western Civilization?
  
• Is It America the Beautiful -- or the Bad?
  
• Warning Signs of a Weak History and Geography Program
  

Teaching History and Geography at Home

• Teaching History at Home
  
• Resources That Help Your Child Learn History
  
• Teaching Geography at Home
  
• Resources That Help Your Child Learn Geography
  
• Teaching Civics at Home
  
• Teaching Basic Economics at Home
  

Chapter 7: Art and Music

What Good Schools Teach -- and Why

• How Are Schools Doing?
  

The Art and Music Curriculum

• The Primary Grades
  
  
  
• Kindergarten
  
• First Grade
  
• Second Grade
  
• Third Grade
  

• The Intermediate Grades
  
  
  
• Fourth Grade
  
• Fifth Grade
  
• Sixth Grade
  

• Junior High
  
  
  
• Seventh Grade
  
• Eighth Grade
  

• How Strong Is the Fine Arts Program at Your School?
  
• Teaching About Art and Music at Home
  
• Resources That Help Your Child Learn About Art and Music
  
  
  Chapter 8: Mathematics
  
  What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
  
  
  
• How Are Schools Doing?
  

The Mathematics Curriculum

• The Primary Grades
  
  
  
• Kindergarten
  
• First Grade
  
• Second Grade
  
• Third Grade
  

• Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• What If My Child Is Falling Behind?
  
• The Intermediate Grades
  
  
  
• Fourth Grade
  

• How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
  
  
  
• Fifth Grade
  
• Sixth Grade
  

• Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
  
• Why Does My Child Keep Counting on Her Fingers?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• Junior High
  
  
  
• Seventh Grade
  
• Eighth Grade
  

• Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
  
• How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
  
  Issues in the Teaching of Mathematics
  
  
  
• What Is "New" New Math?
  
• Is Memorization Outdated?
  
• How Important Is Practice?
  
• What Is the Role of Calculators in Math Class?
  
• What Is "Discovery Learning" in Math?
  
• What Is "Real World" Math?
  
• How Important Is Getting Exact Answers in Math?
  
• Does the Teacher Know Enough Math?
  
• Warning Signs of a Weak Mathematics Program
  

Teaching Mathematics at Home

• Math Homework Counts
  
• Memorizing Math Facts
  
• Resources That Help Your Child Learn Math
  
• Math Activities Around the House
  

Chapter 9: Science

What Good Schools Teach -- and Why

• The Value of a Solid Grounding in Science
  
• How Are Schools Doing?
  

The Science Curriculum

• The Primary Grades
  
  
  
• Kindergarten
  
• First Grade
  
• Second Grade
  
• Third Grade
  

• Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• The Intermediate Grades
  
  
  
• Fourth Grade
  

• How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
  
  
  
• Fifth Grade
  
• Sixth Grade
  

• Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
• Junior High
  
  
  
• Seventh Grade
  
• Eighth Grade
  

• Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
  
• How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
  
• Questions to Ask the Teacher
  
  
  Issues in Science Education
  
  
  
• Is Your School Teaching Enough Science?
  
• Is the Curriculum Challenging?
  
• Does the Teacher Know Enough Science?
  
• What Is the Best Way to Test Students in Science?
  
• Should Schools Teach Evolution?
  
• Are Science Lessons Getting Too Green?
  
• Warning Signs of a Weak Science Program
  

Teaching Science at Home

• Teaching Your Child to Think Like a Scientist
  
• Science at Home and Beyond
  
• Resources That Help Your Child Learn Science
  

Part III: Making It Work

Chapter 10: Helping Your Child Succeed in School

Teaching Your Child Good Study Habits

• Teaching Your Child to Study Actively
  

Helping Your Child with Homework

• Warning Signs of a Weak Homework Regimen
  

Tests and Testing

• Types of Tests
  
• What Are the "Standards" in Standardized Tests?
  
• Preparing for Tests
  
• Test-Taking Tips
  
• The Anti-Test Bias
  
• "Authentic Assessment"
  
• Warning Signs of Weak Testing Methods
  

Grades and Report Cards

• Grade Inflation
  
• Grade Aversion
  
• Warning Signs of Weak Grading
  

What If My Child Isn't Promoted?

• Warning Signs of Academic Trouble Ahead
  

Getting Involved at School

• Great Ways to Get Involved
  
• Volunteering at School
  
• Signs of Schools That Welcome Parents
  

Good Teacher Relations

• The Parent-Teacher Conference
  
• Working Out Problems with the Teacher
  
• Your Principal and Your School
  
• Getting to Know the Principal
  
• Grading Your Involvement
  

Chapter 11: Special Needs and Special Gifts

Children with Disabilities

• What Is "Special Education"?
  
• Identification and Evaluation
  
• Learning Disabilities
  
• ADD and Ritalin
  
• Developing a Plan
  
• Deciding on the Placement
  
• Looking Out for Your Child
  
• Where to Get Help and Information
  

Gifted Children

• Options for Gifted Students
  
• Being an Advocate for Your Gifted Child
  
• Where to Get Help and Information
  

Chapter 12: School Problems

Low Standards and Expectations

• A Fifth Grader Asks Her Own Questions
  
• Are Your Child's Textbooks Challenging?
  
• How to Gauge Your School's Expectations
  
• Warning Signs of Low Expectations
  
• Fighting Low Expectations
  
  
  
• More About Home Schooling
  
• More About Charter Schools
  

Bad Teaching

• Warning Signs of Bad Teaching
  

Poor Discipline

• What Good Schools Do
  
• What Parents Can Do
  
• Warning Signs of Discipline Trouble at School
  

Chapter 13: Along with Academics

Character Education

• How Schools Teach Good Character
  
• Signs of Good Character Education
  
• Does Your School Live by a Character Code?
  
• Teaching Character at Home
  
• Character-Building Books
  
• Where to Get Help and Information
  
• Character and Faith
  

Health and Physical Education

• What Good Schools Teach
  
• Keeping an Eye on the Health Program
  
• Physical Fitness and Health at Home
  

Extracurricular Activities

• Summer Learning and Fun
  

Chapter 14: Temptations and Troubles

Drugs and Alcohol

• What Parents Can Do
  
• Signs of Drug Use
  
• Teaching Your Child to Say No
  
• Supervising Older Kids
  
• What Good Schools Do
  
• Questions to Ask About Drugs and Your School
  
• Where to Get Help and Information
  

Sex and Sex Education

• Principles to Look for in Sex Education
  
• What Parents Can Do
  
• Where to Get Help and Information
  

Television and Your Child's Education

• Establishing Good TV Habits
  
• Internet Safety Rules
  

Chapter 15: Current Issues in Education

Outcomes-Based Education

Education Standards

Skills Versus Knowledge

Multiculturalism

Discovery Learning

Teachers as Facilitators

Developmentalism

Multiple Intelligences

Cooperative Learning

Self-Esteem

Choice Among Schools

Public Versus Private Schools

Public Charter Schools

Home Schooling

For-Profit Schools

Religion and Schools

Social Promotion

Tracking

Class Size

Spending on Schools

School Uniforms

Year-Round Schooling

Computers in the Classroom

Teacher Training and Certification

Teachers Unions

Bilingual Education

Chapter 16: Parents and Education Reform

The Education Establishment: The Blob

• Special Interest Groups
  
• The Anti-Blob
  

Ways to Bring About Change

• Tips and Warnings
  
• Good Books About Education Reform
  Good Web Sites for Parent-Reformers
  

Notes

Index