William J. Bennett, Chester E. Finn Jr, John T. E. Cribb Jr

The Educated Child: A Parents Guide from Preschool Through Eighth Grade

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

A comprehensive, thoroughly practical approach to the fundamentals of education, written by the former secretary of education whose insights into the concerns of contemporary parents catapulted "The Book of Virtues" to the top of national bestseller lists. It covers specific objectives for each of three grade groupings: K-3, 4-6 and 7-8. (Education / Teaching)

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Touchstone Books
• Seitenzahl: 688
• Erscheinungstermin: November 2000
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 233mm x 159mm x 45mm
• Gewicht: 760g
• ISBN-13: 9780684872728
• ISBN-10: 0684872722
• Artikelnr.: 22317025

Autorenporträt

William Bennett

Inhaltsangabe

Contents
Acknowledgments
Before You Begin
Introduction
* You Are Your Child's Most Important Teacher
* Lessons That Good Schools Teach
* Will Your School Educate Your Child Well?
* Our Schools and Our Culture
* Ten Principles for Parents of Educated Children
Part I: The Preschool Years
Chapter I: Fostering a Love of Learning
Your Love, Protection, and Care
Your Time
A Positive Learning Environment
An Attitude That Values Learning
Early Moral Training
How Young Children Learn
Chapter 2: Getting Ready for School
Kindergarten Readiness List
Getting Ready to Read
* Making Your House a Book House
* Choosing Books for Children
* Thirty Great Books Every Preschooler Should Meet
* Setting a Good Reading Example
Reading to Your Child
* Reading Rules of Thumb
* Checking Out the Library
Getting Ready to Write
Learning to Speak and Listen Well
Getting Ready for Arithmetic
Preschool Science
Building Motor Skills
Resources to Help Your Preschooler Learn
Chapter 3: Character Education in the Early Years
Forming Character for School Success
Discipline in the Preschool Years
Social Skills
Helping Your Child Learn Self-Reliance
Chapter 4: Day Care and Preschool
Day Care
* A Word About Day Care Licensing
Preschool
* Is Preschool Necessary?
* Looking for a Good Preschool
* Staying Involved
Part II: The Core Curriculum
The Importance of a Solid Core Curriculum
Checking on Your School's Standards of Learning
How to Use This Book to Examine Your School's Curriculum
Ten Signs of a Good School
The Core Knowledge Sequence
Chapter 5: English
What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
* Reading
* Writing
* Speaking
* How Do You Recognize "Great" Literature?
* How Are Schools Doing?
The English Curriculum
1. The Primary Grades
* Kindergarten
* First Grade
* Second Grade
* Third Grade
2. Good Books for the Primary Grades
3. How Well Read Is Your Primary Grade Child?
4. Questions to Ask the Teacher
5. What If My Child Has a Reading Problem?
6. The Intermediate Grades
* Fourth Grade
* Fifth Grade
* Sixth Grade
7. Good Books for the Intermediate Grades
8. How Well Read Is Your Intermediate Grade Child?
9. Wellsprings of Western Literature
10. Questions to Ask the Teacher
11. Junior High
* Seventh Grade
* Eighth Grade
12. Good Books for Junior High
13. How Well Read Is Your Junior High Schooler?
14. Memorizing Poems and Prose
15. Questions to Ask the Teacher
Issues in Language Arts Education
* Phonics Versus Whole Language
* When Should Students Start to Read?
* Should Schools Group Children by Reading Ability?
* When Should Children Learn to Write?
* What If the Teacher Does Not Correct Spelling?
* How Important Is Penmanship?
* What Is the Place of Western Literature in the English Classroom?
* Why Are Children's Classics Being Slighted?
* Is My Child Really Learning to Understand Literature?
* Should Children Study Much Grammar?
* Should Schools Be Sticklers About Proper English?
* Warning Signs of a Weak Language Arts Program
Teaching Reading, Writing, and Literature at Home
16. Helping Your Child Learn to Read
* Help with Phonics
* Building Reading Comprehension
* Resources That Help Your Child Learn to Read
17. Helping Your Child Learn to Write
18. Gauging Your Child's Interest and Progress
Chapter 6: History and Geography
What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
* The Intellectual Function of History
* The Civic Function of History
* The Moral Function of History
* History Lessons That Good Schools Teach
* The Place of Geography in the Curriculum
* What About Economics?
* How Are Schools Doing?
The History and Geography Curriculum
19. The Primary Grades
* Kindergarten
* First Grade
* Second Grade
* Third Grade
20. Is Your School Teaching Historical Literacy?
21. Questions to Ask the Teacher
The Intermediate Grades
* Fourth Grade
22. How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
* Fifth Grade
23. Does My Child Know the Map?
* Sixth Grade
24. Is My Child Geographically Literate?
25. Is Your School Teaching Basic Economics?
26. Questions to Ask the Teacher
27. Junior High
* Seventh Grade
* Eighth Grade
28. How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
29. Is Your School Teaching Literacy in American History?
30. s Your School Teaching Literacy in World History?
31. Is Your Child Learning How American Democracy Works?
32. Questions to Ask the Teacher
Issues in the Teaching of History
* What Happened to the Story in History?
* "Expanding Environments"
* What Is "Social Studies"?
* How Important Are Facts in History?
* Dates Your Child Should Learn
* What Is the Place of Multiculturalism in History Class?
* How Much Western Civilization?
* Is It America the Beautiful -- or the Bad?
* Warning Signs of a Weak History and Geography Program
Teaching History and Geography at Home
* Teaching History at Home
* Resources That Help Your Child Learn History
* Teaching Geography at Home
* Resources That Help Your Child Learn Geography
* Teaching Civics at Home
* Teaching Basic Economics at Home
Chapter 7: Art and Music
What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
* How Are Schools Doing?
The Art and Music Curriculum
33. The Primary Grades
* Kindergarten
* First Grade
* Second Grade
* Third Grade
34. The Intermediate Grades
* Fourth Grade
* Fifth Grade
* Sixth Grade
35. Junior High
* Seventh Grade
* Eighth Grade
36. How Strong Is the Fine Arts Program at Your School?
37. Teaching About Art and Music at Home
38. Resources That Help Your Child Learn About Art and Music
Chapter 8: Mathematics
What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
* How Are Schools Doing?
The Mathematics Curriculum
39. The Primary Grades
* Kindergarten
* First Grade
* Second Grade
* Third Grade
40. Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
41. Questions to Ask the Teacher
42. What If My Child Is Falling Behind?
43. The Intermediate Grades
* Fourth Grade
44. How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
* Fifth Grade
* Sixth Grade
45. Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
46. Why Does My Child Keep Counting on Her Fingers?
47. Questions to Ask the Teacher
48. Junior High
* Seventh Grade
* Eighth Grade
49. Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
50. How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
51. Questions to Ask the Teacher
Issues in the Teaching of Mathematics
* What Is "New" New Math?
* Is Memorization Outdated?
* How Important Is Practice?
* What Is the Role of Calculators in Math Class?
* What Is "Discovery Learning" in Math?
* What Is "Real World" Math?
* How Important Is Getting Exact Answers in Math?
* Does the Teacher Know Enough Math?
* Warning Signs of a Weak Mathematics Program
Teaching Mathematics at Home
* Math Homework Counts
* Memorizing Math Facts
* Resources That Help Your Child Learn Math
* Math Activities Around the House
Chapter 9: Science
What Good Schools Teach -- and Why
* The Value of a Solid Grounding in Science
* How Are Schools Doing?
The Science Curriculum
52. The Primary Grades
* Kindergarten
* First Grade
* Second Grade
* Third Grade
53. Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
54. Questions to Ask the Teacher
55. The Intermediate Grades
* Fourth Grade
56. How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
* Fifth Grade
* Sixth Grade
57. Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
58. Questions to Ask the Teacher
59. Junior High
* Seventh Grade
* Eighth Grade
60. Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
61. How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
62. Questions to Ask the Teacher
Issues in Science Education
* Is Your School Teaching Enough Science?
* Is the Curriculum Challenging?
* Does the Teacher Know Enough Science?
* What Is the Best Way to Test Students in Science?
* Should Schools Teach Evolution?
* Are Science Lessons Getting Too Green?
* Warning Signs of a Weak Science Program
Teaching Science at Home
* Teaching Your Child to Think Like a Scientist
* Science at Home and Beyond
* Resources That Help Your Child Learn Science
Part III: Making It Work
Chapter 10: Helping Your Child Succeed in School
Teaching Your Child Good Study Habits
* Teaching Your Child to Study Actively
Helping Your Child with Homework
* Warning Signs of a Weak Homework Regimen
Tests and Testing
* Types of Tests
* What Are the "Standards" in Standardized Tests?
* Preparing for Tests
* Test-Taking Tips
* The Anti-Test Bias
* "Authentic Assessment"
* Warning Signs of Weak Testing Methods
Grades and Report Cards
* Grade Inflation
* Grade Aversion
* Warning Signs of Weak Grading
What If My Child Isn't Promoted?
* Warning Signs of Academic Trouble Ahead
Getting Involved at School
* Great Ways to Get Involved
* Volunteering at School
* Signs of Schools That Welcome Parents
Good Teacher Relations
* The Parent-Teacher Conference
* Working Out Problems with the Teacher
* Your Principal and Your School
* Getting to Know the Principal
* Grading Your Involvement
Chapter 11: Special Needs and Special Gifts
Children with Disabilities
* What Is "Special Education"?
* Identification and Evaluation
* Learning Disabilities
* ADD and Ritalin
* Developing a Plan
* Deciding on the Placement
* Looking Out for Your Child
* Where to Get Help and Information
Gifted Children
* Options for Gifted Students
* Being an Advocate for Your Gifted Child
* Where to Get Help and Information
Chapter 12: School Problems
Low Standards and Expectations
63. A Fifth Grader Asks Her Own Questions
64. Are Your Child's Textbooks Challenging?
65. How to Gauge Your School's Expectations
66. Warning Signs of Low Expectations
67. Fighting Low Expectations
* More About Home Schooling
* More About Charter Schools
Bad Teaching
* Warning Signs of Bad Teaching
Poor Discipline
* What Good Schools Do
* What Parents Can Do
* Warning Signs of Discipline Trouble at School
Chapter 13: Along with Academics
Character Education
* How Schools Teach Good Character
* Signs of Good Character Education
* Does Your School Live by a Character Code?
* Teaching Character at Home
* Character-Building Books
* Where to Get Help and Information
* Character and Faith
Health and Physical Education
* What Good Schools Teach
* Keeping an Eye on the Health Program
* Physical Fitness and Health at Home
Extracurricular Activities
* Summer Learning and Fun
Chapter 14: Temptations and Troubles
Drugs and Alcohol
* What Parents Can Do
* Signs of Drug Use
* Teaching Your Child to Say No
* Supervising Older Kids
* What Good Schools Do
* Questions to Ask About Drugs and Your School
* Where to Get Help and Information
Sex and Sex Education
* Principles to Look for in Sex Education
* What Parents Can Do
* Where to Get Help and Information
Television and Your Child's Education
* Establishing Good TV Habits
* Internet Safety Rules
Chapter 15: Current Issues in Education
Outcomes-Based Education
Education Standards
Skills Versus Knowledge
Multiculturalism
Discovery Learning
Teachers as Facilitators
Developmentalism
Multiple Intelligences
Cooperative Learning
Self-Esteem
Choice Among Schools
Public Versus Private Schools
Public Charter Schools
Home Schooling
For-Profit Schools
Religion and Schools
Social Promotion
Tracking
Class Size
Spending on Schools
School Uniforms
Year-Round Schooling
Computers in the Classroom
Teacher Training and Certification
Teachers Unions
Bilingual Education
Chapter 16: Parents and Education Reform
The Education Establishment: The Blob
* Special Interest Groups
* The Anti-Blob
Ways to Bring About Change
* Tips and Warnings
* Good Books About Education Reform
Notes
Index