CTC Reading About History Research

[ncmomof5]

Hello Ladies,

I was just wondering how you all do this box in CTC. I went over it with my children today, and I could tell that they didn't really dig for answers. I helped them using the book of Judges, but it got me thinking that maybe I should have a way that I can check to make sure that they are answering one or more of these questions.

Do any of you have them actually write out their answers? Or do some of you just discuss the questions with them as I did today? I know this is supposed to be an independent box, but I still feel the need to "inspect what I expect" if you know what I mean.

I would appreciate any thoughts or ideas on this one.

Thanks!

[ncmomof5]

Bump I know somebody has got to have something on this for me.

[water2wine]

I have just one in CTC and she is my oldest. She is fairly good about getting things done but sometimes I feel like she could do more than she is, meaning give a better effort. I have a rule for all my kids. All things done independently have to be shown to me. I have my dd in CTC do her research written and she has to show me what she wrote. She does sometimes have to rewrite things if I feel like it was not in depth enough. And all of this is exactly for the reason you say, to inspect what you expect. So in our house school can never be over until I say it is and the only way that can happen is if you show me everything that you have. I hope I am answering what you are asking.

[ncmomof5]

That's exactly what I was wondering. I haven't made them write down the answers to these questions, and so I just said, "Hey, what did you guys find out about . . . . .", and I was not satisfied with their verbal answers. I try to limit how much they have to write because my 10 year old son HATES to write, and my 11 year old daughter is so thorough and verbose that it would take her FOREVER. But I am going to have to find a way that will allow me to check this box better in the future, and if that means writing, so be it.

Thanks for your answer to my question. Anybody else have any thoughts/check this box another way?

[water2wine]

Just hearing your dilemma with your kids writing a thought came to mind so I will share it. How about having them do index cards and write the bullet points of the research with a small picture almost like how they vocabulary and from that have them orally narrate. Kind of an in between to work them into written narration of their research eventually. Anyway just a wild thought I had.

[Carrie]

RuthAnn,

Water2wine is doing a great job of talking through this with you! We're just getting ready to head out to Rochester tomorrow A.M., so I'm just stopping in for a bit. But, I noticed your question and thought I'd let you know what we were thinking when we added the research assignment to the CTC guide. Depending on how old your student is, you may approach the research different ways. For a child who has already been through Preparing Hearts and has had your guided help training them how to do the research section, the research within CTC can be more independent. For those who have not been through Preparing, the research will need to be more parent led in CTC.

Within the CTC guide, we're thinking that there is more than enough writing for a 9-11 year old, so we planned for the research questions to be answered orally. If your kiddos aren't giving you the answers you're looking for, I'd sit down and help them through it. For research, you're wanting them to learn to skim for information, use headings within an index or table of contents to guide them as to where to look for answers, and also to be able to summarize the answer succinctly when they retell it to you. For older students, asking them to write the answers would be fine too. We will have kiddos synthesize their answers into a postcard response format for research within RTR. So, the oral assignment within CTC is a step in that direction - preparing them for the written part that is to come.

Hope that helps!

Blessings,
Carrie

[ncmomof5]

Thank you, Carrie. That helps so much. My 2 oldest did not do Preparing, so although they are 10 and 11, I think I need to sit down with them, as you mentioned, and show them what to do and what's expected of them from this box.
Since I know that you don't just put assignments in there without having a purpose, skill or something that you are looking to accomplish, I am so glad you took the time to answer.
Water2wine, thanks for your input. I appreciate your willingness to put yourself out there and help any way you can.

[ncmomof5]

Thank you, Carrie, for your specific points on how to help my children learn to do this box, since they did not have the training in Preparing. I wrote a little sticky note with skim, headings, summarize, etc. and put it on the page for today near the Reading about History box. Of course they asked what it meant, and I explained it to them. My daughter seemed relieved. She really appreciated the guidance this gave her.
Later, when we went over the questions, they were much more confident and able to answer the research questions. Thanks for helping me over this hurdle. I wish we could go back and do Preparing, but we've got to move forward from here. At least, it only took a little bit of extra info and guidance to help them grasp this skill a little more firmly.
Thanks again, and we continue to pray for you and your family.

[Carrie]

RuthAnn,

What a great idea! I'm glad we were able to help you guide your kiddos into the skills needed for the research in CTC. It will be of great help to your children as they head into RTR! I appreciate the update.

Blessings,
Carrie