AMDG+

Dear Parent;

Thank you for an excellent question, that is, how one might determine whether or not learning is really taking place when using non-traditional approaches to coursework.

First, High School of Your Dreams offers a wide variety of materials and approaches, from traditional texts with answer keys for those who desire that approach, to books, articles, internet research, videos, hands-on projects, and experiential learning e.g., volunteering in a veterinary office, for those who would prefer more engaging means of learning.

Traditional education relies heavily on testing, but testing is only one of many methods that may be used to determine if learning has taken place.

For example, if someone wanted to prove that they knew how to make a cake, they could certainly study the process and fill out answers in a workbook, or sit down for a written test.  E.g., At what temperature should the cake be baked?  For what length of time?  List the ingredients and their amounts. How are the ingredients assembled?  How is 'doneness' of the cake determined?

However, someone could also prove that they knew how to make a cake by baking a cake! 

Which method of 'testing' actually proves mastery of cake-making skills?  Which testing method would the student prefer and find motivating?  That's one of the numerous gratifying aspects of homeschooling; there are many ways to demonstrate learning and earn a grade.

Other means of 'testing,' or proving knowledge of a subject, include:

-- talking about what has been learned, from dinner table discussion to giving a speech or presentation, to family [Grandma and Grandpa] or to a group

--writing about what has been learned, from creative writing 'Heidi's Twin Kids' to reports of various lengths -- 'Gestation and Birth in Dairy Goats' to keeping a journal of events and what has been learned 'April 5: Today Heidi seems to be eating more as the kid/s grow inside her.  She is in her 43rd day of gestation, which means that the kids weigh about____ and are ___inches long, according to my research taken from________.'

--projects, such as entering Heidi in the county fair and journaling about the  experience, or creating a portfolio filled with detailed, labeled illustrations of Heidi's skeletal structure, heart, eye, etc.

This approach to learning seems almost foreign to us now, but in times past it was the primary means of training for most occupations.  From cooks to silversmiths to surveyors, training progressed from hands-on apprenticeship to hands-on journeymen to hands-on professional work.

Does your daughter like history?  Do you think she might choose that as a college major?  If so, then she probably needs to be challenged, which means texts and answer keys and testing and enrichment on top of it all.  If not, your instincts were good!  Putting her in the same class with her brother is a fine solution.  If you think appropriate, the older of the two students could be given an additional reading assignment beyond what is required of the younger student [historical fiction is generally engaging, adds depth to what is being taught in the history text, and is a good way to learn about history!] but not necessarily be required to report, if you think that might be too burdensome for her abilities.

Remember, too, that even if you think your daughter is a little behind, she is likely still learning more than if she were in public school.

Overall, High School of Your Dreams is designed to 'fit' your child's interests and goals, providing many different 'avenues' to learning, without being burdensome beyond the abilities of the student or family. 

May our good Jesus guide and bless you in your homeschooling,

Nancy Nicholson