Posted by Karen Boyd on December 28 2009 at 19:54:36:
In Reply to: doubting my methods posted by Amy on December 28 2009 at 12:13:38:
You haven´t said how old that youngest child is so it is hard to make specific suggestions. However, there are many ways to document progress in a portfolio besides reports and worksheets, even at the high school level. Furthermore, I urge you to try to conbine as much of the history and science for all three kids as you can. For example, everyone can study the same topics at the same time. Each child can respond according to his or her own grade level. If you are studying the geography of a your state, the kids may draw maps, but what is included would vary. The older children could research a specific aspect of state history and share what they have learved with each other and the younger student. Models can be built. Games may be devised to review facts and concepts and so on. The children can wrote their own short stories about what they are learning. They may write a story which freatures a specific time period, place, invention, event, etc.
While it is important to provide some evidence of learning, not every moment must be proven. Think about proof that is a help to them. What I mean is a way for your students to look back and appreciate and remember what they have learned. Photo journals of a process, posters, videos of skits they acted out, are just a few ways to "prove" learning without being deadly boring.
I think what you need to do is plan a fun field trip to a place of educational value and take lots of pictures for your portfolio. Be sure to have a lot of fun, and you will be reenergised for the New Year.
BTW my kids are both PHAA grads and college grads and my son is now 30! gulp.