I haven't had a school experience in 17 years:drop: Did I really say that?

We have followed our own path with homeschooling & I try very hard not to feel like I need to compete with a school environment. As in, we don't test, I try not to care what public/private school kids are doing b/c my dd learns at her own pace. I guess I am just shocked when I talk to a public school mom and they mention what their kids are doing. I was at the spa the other week and the woman there was saying her 2nd grader was doing algebra. Then, one of the mom's at my dd's class mentioned something that I thought was a bit much and her dd is in first grade like mine.

I think a lot of it is the "No child left behind" act, right? I know the schools here go crazy over the FCAT. Every mom that asks me what school my dd goes to also asks if she has to take the FCAT. Apparently, the higher the scores, the more funding they get.

Times have really changed. I guess I just didn't realize it until lately. LOL. I like the way we do things. I like that my dd doesn't have homework, have to worry about tests and the like. I find all of that too much. I have my days where I worry about my dd being up to par but then I remember what a smart cookie she is & feel better. I'm just rambling...

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Schools have changed in lots of ways since we were in school...and not always for the better.

Tara

the second grader doing Algebra was most likely her doing addition and subtraction problems with one number missing. Yes it's algebra... but they don't 'know' it, kwim?

ex find the missing number: 3+__=5 5-__=4

or even putting in a shape - rather than a number. They are just getting exposed to the thought of using something other than a numeral to express the same thought.

Ya know, from what I have heard from Europeans and south Americans is that our education system is relaly low compared to these other places. I was so surprised.
Why woudl American education be less than other places?

the second grader doing Algebra was most likely her doing addition and subtraction problems with one number missing. Yes it's algebra... but they don't 'know' it, kwim?

ex find the missing number: 3+__=5 5-__=4

or even putting in a shape - rather than a number. They are just getting exposed to the thought of using something other than a numeral to express the same thought.

I see, Heather. I haven't even peeked at 2nd grade work so I have no idea what's in store for us. We do the math problems like that already. I didn't realize that was called algebra. Thanks for explaining.

Ya know, from what I have heard from Europeans and south Americans is that our education system is relaly low compared to these other places. I was so surprised.
Why woudl American education be less than other places?

Yes, it's said that the public system here is far behind other countries.

Part of my thought on the testing is that pushing so hard leaves little time to grasp each concept. Some childen pick up skills easily but not all. Kids are so worried about the testing that they're not concentrating on the content.

It was just something that ran through my mind.