CBS "News" strikes AGAIN

"Judah" wrote in message
...
My kids are just starting in school. My son is in 3rd grade and my
daughter
will start Kindergarden next fall.

Please advise on how I can ensure that my children grasp the knowledge
presented to them.

1) Avoid public schools
2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method
3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation
(note: this teaches children to make associations, rather then just
perform memorization)

There is more, but this should hold you for a year or so. Note, too, that
very little of this material is found in the conventional literature of
education.

If you need some sources, leave you email address.

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message ...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

So you can know why you want to avoid it.


5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation
(note: this teaches children to make associations, rather then just
perform memorization)

Also note that the ability to think abstractly is a developmental stage that
typcially happens rather late. Trying to cram abstract thinking into kids
who aren't developmentally ready for it isn't any better than rote learning.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

So you can know why you want to avoid it.

And why is that?



5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation
(note: this teaches children to make associations, rather then just
perform memorization)

Also note that the ability to think abstractly is a developmental stage
that
typcially happens rather late.

Kids are good at forming concepts from the time they're about two or three.
So how do _you_ determine when they're ready?

Trying to cram abstract thinking into kids
who aren't developmentally ready for it isn't any better than rote
learning.

If they're ready for learning (other than potty training and the like) they
can start with easy concepts.

Tom Sixkiller wrote:

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

So you can know why you want to avoid it.

And why is that?

Many Montessori schools only go up to 6th grade (some 3rd) and the students
often have a tough time transitioning to a more structured environment. Some
Montessori schools are more involved with making sure the parents (the ones who
pay the rather steep tuition) happy than making sure the children progress.
Some children do very well with the Montessori method and others do very
poorly.






5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation
(note: this teaches children to make associations, rather then just
perform memorization)

Also note that the ability to think abstractly is a developmental stage
that
typcially happens rather late.

Kids are good at forming concepts from the time they're about two or three.
So how do _you_ determine when they're ready?

Read Piaget, although his sample size was totally inadequate his theories have
played true for years.



Trying to cram abstract thinking into kids
who aren't developmentally ready for it isn't any better than rote
learning.

If they're ready for learning (other than potty training and the like) they
can start with easy concepts.

Not higher order, abstract concepts! Keep it concrete and real for kids under
about 12.

Margy

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

1) Avoid public schools

The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

1) Avoid public schools

The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

Since it is basic fundemantals, why would some do worse?


3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

And teaching them to think for themselves and not be beholden to any agency.

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

Since it is basic fundemantals, why would some do worse?

I don't know.

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

And teaching them to think for themselves and not be beholden to any
agency.


And still be respectful and be able to work with said agancy. You must
learn to follow before you can learn to lead.

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
news
"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

Since it is basic fundemantals, why would some do worse?

I don't know.

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and
their
education is always a good thing.

And teaching them to think for themselves and not be beholden to any
agency.


And still be respectful and be able to work with said agancy. You must
learn to follow before you can learn to lead.

One has noting to do with the other. You may be thinking of "One must learn
ot follow orders before one can command".

Command and leadership are not necessarily the same. In the same vein, one
can command obedience, but not respect...that must be earned.

Tom Sixkiller wrote:

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

1) Avoid public schools

The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

Since it is basic fundemantals, why would some do worse?


Because of the teaching techniques.

I've stayed out of this so far, but....
I'd say the biggest determination of a successful
education is the involvement of the parent(s). Next comes
the child themselves and the type of school is last. (There
are good and bad teachers in all kinds of schools.)

My 'credentials' are purely to have raised two sons, educated
through the public school system. One of which now has
dual BS degrees and the other is about to get his Phd from
Emory Univ. That, and a lot of observing why some
children had problems and others did not....

Mike




Peter Gottlieb wrote:
"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...


1) Avoid public schools


The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.


2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method


Some kids do better with this, some worse.


3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation


Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.