Lessons in Choosing a Textbook

 

By Cindy Garrison

 

Chosing text-books for your children to use can be tricky. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to use for math as my nine-year-old daughter began fourth grade. We used Modern Curriculum Press math books, but for fourth grade I chose Saxon 54. My daughter loved math and was good at it, learning came easy for her in this area. I felt the Saxon math would give her a challenge and I liked the way each lesson was reinforced throughout the book.

Have you noticed that l am the one who made all these decisions. I was about to learn a valuable lesson.

The first half of the school year went fine. My daughter likes workbooks and does her school work with little hassle. She could do most of it on her own. However, after 80 lessons, she began complaining about having to do math. I thought that was odd and felt she was being stubborn, although this is not her usual character. I insisted she continue the lessons. She continued to dislike doing math. At times she would cry and get angry because I insisted she do the lesson. After about a month of this I decided I needed to step back and take a look at the situation.

 

•••

At the beginning of the school year, I had a happy child who loved math. Math came easy for her, she enjoyed math and she liked a challenge, but not anymore. Now, I had a unhappy child who hated math. I decided that forcing her to use a math text she disliked this much was doing more harm than good. I did not want her to hate a subject that she enjoyed before I introduced her to this textbook. Her major complaint was that she did not like all the repetition of the concepts previously learned.

We agreed together to put the Saxon54 book away for awhile and that she would work out of various textbooks I had on hand. We also got the Key To . . . workbooklets and used them. This continued through her fifth grade school year.

As she finished fifth grade, she came to me and told me she needed something different in math. She noticed, as I had, that she was having difficulty remembering things she had previously learned and had to spend extra time reviewing or relearning concepts.

This time I decided to let her help in choosing the right text. We went to our local curriculum bookstore and together we looked at math textbooks. The one she decided on may surprise you, she chose Saxon 65! Because the first lessons of the text looked like things she already knew how to do, we also got Saxon 76. She choose Saxon because she liked the way it repeated the concepts previously learned in future lessons. She was excited and happy about her choice. She loves math again and eagerly does her lessons.

I do not know if it was too early to introduce her to Saxon when I did, or if it was too easy and she was bored. But I learned that involving her in the selection of a textbook that she would be working out of, made her feel good.

Letting your child have a say in every textbook or workbook you want to use in your curriculum may not always be a wise choice, but as children grow older, I have learned that letting them help choose a textbook can be a positive experience.Y

 

 

"Love one another warmly as Christian brothers, and be eager to show respect for one another.
Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times."
Romans 12:10-12

contributed by Cindy Garrison




...is pleased to announce the upcoming publication of...

A Catholic Homeschool Collection

Compiled and Edited by
Rachel Mackson and Maureen Wittmann



Created on October 1st, 1998 at 2:44 AM MST [UTC -0600] by JNR
Updated February 14th, 1999 at 5:10 PM MST [UTC -0700] by JNR
Last change February 15th, 1999 at 2:51 AM MST [UTC -0700] by JNR


This website is Copyright © 1998,1999
Rachel Mackson & Cindy Garrison
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, WORLDWIDE


For comments and suggestions about this site,or for
information on subscribing to the "Heart, Mind, and Soul"
newsletter, contact Cindy at <aHomeSchool@geocities.com>



   

      
         

         
         
This
         Catholic
         Homeschool

         site is owned by

         

         
         Rachel Mackson 

         &
         Cindy Garrison

         

         Want to join the Catholic
         Homeschool Webring?

      		
   

   

      
         
[Skip
         Prev][Prev][Next][Skip
         Next][Random][Next
         5][List
         Sites]

      		
   



Site design and maintenance is donated by
Jay Riley of DATAMAGIK in Boulder, Colorado
This page has been visited times since October 1st, 1998,

and is hosted by Get your own Free Home Page

1