Week 27 - About Balancing Pacing & Progress
Lesson Planning, Vol. 10
Dear Mama,
Do your children ever get behind on their independent work? Independent work includes math, language arts, literature, etc. Although it is good work at the child’s pace, it is also important for them to be caught up by the time they graduate. So how do you balance staying at their pace and keeping them at their expected level?
Charlotte Mason says regarding getting a math problem wrong, “That which is wrong must remain wrong; the child must not let run away with the notion that wrong can be mended into right…But the wrong sum must just be let alone. Therefore his progress must be carefully graduated” (Home Education, p. 261).
As much as I admire Charlotte and follow her method, I must disagree with her style here. I do believe it is okay to point out when a child is wrong and redo the problem. A child cannot move on if they don’t master the problems.
I believe this is where many parents make the mistake; it is okay for a child to move only at his or her own pace. However, as we see, children who go only at their own pace can fall far behind.
Today, I’m going to share how to balance student pacing and staying at grade level.
A child must finish the day’s lesson: My children know that they are to complete a day’s lesson that day. I may have to give them breaks in between, but the lesson must be complete.
Grade their work: I do grade or check their work. If it is a couple of problems they got wrong, they redo them in the afternoon. Sometimes they complete it on a Friday afternoon and sometimes on a Saturday morning. I also say they cannot play with friends until their work is done. This motivates my children to do their work.
Add in fun games: There are fun language arts games, like Scramble, and math games, like Sudoku, that may help them improve their skills in a fun way. This is not the curriculum; this is in addition to their work and could be a great substitute for TV in the afternoon.
Finish the book: When it comes to Language Arts and Math, it is important to finish the book. Don’t fall for the argument that it doesn’t matter if you don’t complete it. It doesn't matter when it comes to Math and Language Arts. Finish the book, even if it means working on vacation and in the summer.
Language Arts and Math require mastery before moving on. They are subjects that build on each other. They are the pillars of the other subjects because all other subjects require knowledge in Math and Language Arts. Take them seriously.
Other things to do this week are:
Make copies for the school week.
Schedule appointments.
Meal planning.
I hope these tips help you balance pacing and progress. Falling a couple of days behind is one thing, but don’t let it add up.
Take care for now, bye!
Mirley
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