Homeschool Issues: Educationese

Educationese
Educationese- {or Teacherese} is the name sometimes given to the jargon too frequently employed by some of those who train our schoolteachers. It is characterized typically by its humorlessly abstract, Latinate, and polysyllabic diction and its involuted, rambling, and frequently passive syntax. Its fights are never fights and rarely even quarrels; they're conflict situations. At its worst, instead of correcting imprecision and ignorance, it tries to conceal them, frequently even from itself.
Ref: The Columbia Guide to Standard American English

When you begin to Homeschool [ *if your state requires you to keep daily records of what your child has learned ] , you may find it difficult translate to Educationese. And if you have decided "unschooling" is the right path for your family, you may find things even more difficult.

*Click here to check your state's requirements.

However, using the key elements of learning - interest + pratice = better understanding - it can become easy.
Relax, knowledge is power.

Teachers in public schools were taught a method in college. They take a simple activity and turn it in to a something that sounds impressive. It is a language that educators understand. Everything is learning, so surprisingly, you can call most of life "school".
It's also useful to answer that typical question "What DO your kids do all day?".

An example [*PDF] from PA Homeschoolers *Download the latest copy of Adobe Reader - FREE*

Examples of Daily Activities Translated into Educationese:

*Trip to the Library: Research Instruction; Silent, Sustained Reading; Resource Identification

*Field Trip to Store:{depending grocery, building supply,Walmart} Consumer Math; Health & Hygiene Instruction, Geography, Consumer Education, Time and Money

*Trip to the Homeschool Support Group: Socializational Development.

*Playing Outside: Low-Organized Physical Education

*Interesting Family Outing: {even if it's on the weekend, call it a school day if there's enough time spent)- Educational Field Trip; Resource Field Trip in conjunction with _____(name of subject)

*Arts & Crafts: in relation to any subject- Manipulative Construction relating to ____ (name of subject)

*Chores along with the family: Manual Arts; Home Economics; Time-on-Task development

*Child Learning to be helpful:Values Education

*Legos, K'nex or Blocks: Building Critical Thinking, Small Motor Skills, Design

More Daily Activities Translated into Educationese

*Trip to the library: Research Instruction; Silent, Sustained Reading; Resource Identification

*Field Trip to Store:{depending grocery, building supply,Walmart} Consumer Math; Health & Hygiene Instruction, Geography, Consumer Education, Time and Money Gardening: Science

*Trip to the Homeschool Support Group: Socializational Development.

*Playing Outside: Low-Organized Physical Education

*Interesting Family Outing: {even if it's on the weekend, call it a school day if there's enough time spent)- Educational Field Trip; Resource Field Trip in conjunction with _____ (name of subject)

*Arts & Crafts: in relation to any subject- Manipulative Construction relating to ____ (name of subject)

*Chores along with the family: Manual Arts; Home Economics; Time-on-Task development

*Child Learning to be helpful: Values Education

*Child Learning to be Brave: Independent, Resourceful People- Quantitive, Contributive Sociological Development

*Field Trip to Dentist: Geography, Health, Occupational Education

*Legos, K'nex or Blocks- Building Critical Thinking, Small Motor Skills, Design

*Kicking Around a Soccer Ball: PE, Angles, Critical Thinking, Large Motor Skills

*Field Trip to Zoo: Reading(zoo map}, P.E.(walking all day) reading and narrating(read and observe-tell about what you saw and read about)

*Nature Walk:{collecting while on the walk} PE,and if look up the care and kind of critters, Reading and Science

*Reading the Daily Paper: Social Studies

*Drawing: Art

*4-H Activities: Social Studies/Science/Language Arts

*Bicycling: PE

*Talking with Grandma About Her Life and Experiences: History

*Playing Monopoly: Math

*TV Documentaries/Movies: History, Geography, Science

*Channels Like TLC, History, National Geographic,Animal Planet, PBS, and The Health Channel: {Depending on Subject} History, Science, Social Studies, Geography

*Painting a room: Math and PE

*Pet care: PE and Science

*Volunteering at the Library: Language Arts

*E-mailing friends/Writing a Pen Pal: Language Arts

*Guitar/Piano lessons: Fine Arts

*Volunteering with a community drama group: Fine Arts and English

*Red Cross First Aid Class: Science

*Travel: Geography, social studies

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