Can you encourage personal style
within the provided structure of Heart of Dakota's plans?
You certainly can! In fact, as I shared last
week, the opportunity for personal style is already part of Heart of Dakota’s plans.
You may be wondering, how are both
included then? Well, the daily plans provide specific guidelines for each
school subject, which gives structure for each assignment. Structure
might include which kind of oral narration to give, how many sentences to write,
what headings to use, etc. So, needed parameters are given, but they need
not squelch the creativity of personal style!
How can students get creative with
their personal style then?
Excellent question! Well, blessedly personal
style is a natural part of a living books approach to homeschooling. Better yet, a living books approach to
learning is already included in every Heart of Dakota guide! Narrations
have structure, like which book to read, which pages to narrate upon, and which
kind of narration to give. But, they also encourage personal style. Students can choose which parts to retell, what
manner to retell them, and what connections they’ve made. This is the
opposite of a textbook and workbook approach, which includes a more encyclopedia-like 'facts
only' response. Similarly, the different assessments
included in the structure of the plans are the opposite of ‘test and forget it’
assessments.
Do you have some examples of personal
style being encouraged within the structure of the plans?
I sure do! I’m so glad you asked because this
is what I wanted to share with you in my weekly check-in. Let's chat
about my son, Riley, this week, who is using World Geography this year. I’ll start with the Living Library
one-sentence summary assignment. This
assignment is harder than it seems! In
fact, as Riley is my detailed narrator, trying to respond to his reading with a
one-sentence summary is difficult. At
the start of the guide, he chose the option to write 3 sentences on scratch
paper first. Then, he took each of the
most important parts from the 3 sentences and consolidated them into one
sentence. Twenty-three units into the
year, he no longer chooses to start with 3 sentences. In fact, he has become adept at writing a
one-sentence summary with every part the guide asks him to include. This assignment is the perfect follow-up to
his Living Library reading. It does not
‘get between the child and the book,’ as Charlotte Mason would applaud. Keep in mind, this isn’t a required part of
earning credit, but rather a way to earn extra credit. So, as a follow-up to the already extra
reading of the Living Library, the assignment is kept appropriately short.
Living Library One-Sentence Summary
Assignment
- certain pages must be read
- a one sentence summary must be written
- the main character(s), the main action taken, any important conflict, the goal, and the setting must be included
Personal Style:
- option to write 3 sentences on scratch paper first
- chose what to include in summary
- chose to read aloud summary to me
A Few Things to Remember:
This is an extra credit option in the plans, so if
the summary isn’t the exact sentence you would have written - in the name of
personal style - let it be! However, structure demands the summary is
limited to one sentence and includes the main character, a main action taken, a
conflict, a goal and a setting.
World Geography Written Narration
Assignment
Structure in the Plans:
- read assigned Mapping the World with Art pages
- must be 3-4 paragraphs long
- must be read aloud to try to catch any mistakes
- must stick to the topic, support it with details, write in the author’s style, include a strong opening and closing
- must use the Written Narration Skills in the Appendix to edit
Personal Style:
- chose his own details to retell
- chose whether to write 3 or 4 paragraphs
- chose whether to write in print or in cursive
- chose his own way to open and close his narration
A Few Things to Remember:
This isn't a quiz!
So, if your student didn't write what you’d have written - for the sake
of personal style – let it be! However, structure demands reading,
writing at least 3 paragraphs, reading it aloud, including noted parameters,
and editing. If it’s not legible enough
for the student to read aloud, that’s not ok either. This is just one more reason not to skip this
step!
Geography Activities Assignment:
Structure in the Plans:
- must watch DVD Scenic Cruises of the World
- must make bulleted list of important things to experience or see
- must make lists for 3 provided topics
Personal Style:
- chose his own details to include in his bulleted lists
- chose whether to write list in phrases or in sentences
- chose whether to write in print or cursive
- chose to read his notes aloud to me
A Few Things to Remember:
This isn't a composition assignment for English credit. It’s a response to a DVD viewing of
geographical places being studied. So,
if your student didn't write complete sentences or certain facts – for personal
style - let it be! However, structure demands the DVD is viewed and
bulleted notes are written pertinent to each provided topic.
World Religion and Culture’s
Assignment:
- must read the assigned pages of the book
- must answer each of the provided questions
- must answer the questions over multiple days as assigned
Personal Style:
- chose how much detail to include in his answers
- chose whether to write in phrases or in sentences
- chose whether to write in print or cursive
- chose to read his answers aloud to me (he orally shared his page numbers/quotes for #2)
A Few Things to Remember:
This isn't a composition assignment for English credit. It’s a response to a DVD viewing of
geographical places being studied. So,
if your student didn't write complete sentences or certain facts – for personal
style - let it be! However, structure demands the DVD is viewed and
bulleted notes are written pertinent to each provided topic.
Next week, I'll share Part 3 of this series on personal style within the
structure of the plans. That final post
will be in regard to my son, Wyatt, who is completing U.S. History II this
year. Hope you had a good week, ladies!
In Christ,
Julie
No comments:
Post a Comment