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The Educated Child
The Educated Child
A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade  
By William J. Bennett, Chester E. Finn, Jr. and John T. E. Cribb, Jr.
Read by: William J. Bennett
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents

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

  • The Primary Grades
    • Kindergarten
    • First Grade
    • Second Grade
    • Third Grade
  • Good Books for the Primary Grades
  • How Well Read Is Your Primary Grade Child?
  • Questions to Ask the Teacher
  • What If My Child Has a Reading Problem?
  • The Intermediate Grades
    • Fourth Grade
    • Fifth Grade
    • Sixth Grade
  • Good Books for the Intermediate Grades
  • How Well Read Is Your Intermediate Grade Child?
  • Wellsprings of Western Literature
  • Questions to Ask the Teacher
  • Junior High
    • Seventh Grade
    • Eighth Grade
  • Good Books for Junior High
  • How Well Read Is Your Junior High Schooler?
  • Memorizing Poems and Prose
  • 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

  • Helping Your Child Learn to Read
    • Help with Phonics
    • Building Reading Comprehension
    • Resources That Help Your Child Learn to Read
  • Helping Your Child Learn to Write
  • 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

  • The Primary Grades
    • Kindergarten
    • First Grade
    • Second Grade
    • Third Grade
  • Is Your School Teaching Historical Literacy?
  • Questions to Ask the Teacher

The Intermediate Grades

  • Fourth Grade
  • How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
    • Fifth Grade
  • Does My Child Know the Map?
    • Sixth Grade
  • Is My Child Geographically Literate?
  • Is Your School Teaching Basic Economics?
  • Questions to Ask the Teacher
  • Junior High
    • Seventh Grade
    • Eighth Grade
  • How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
  • Is Your School Teaching Literacy in American History?
  • s Your School Teaching Literacy in World History?
  • Is Your Child Learning How American Democracy Works?
  • 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

    • The Primary Grades
      • Kindergarten
      • First Grade
      • Second Grade
      • Third Grade
    • The Intermediate Grades
      • Fourth Grade
      • Fifth Grade
      • Sixth Grade
    • Junior High
      • Seventh Grade
      • Eighth Grade
    • How Strong Is the Fine Arts Program at Your School?
    • Teaching About Art and Music at Home
    • 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

    • The Primary Grades
      • Kindergarten
      • First Grade
      • Second Grade
      • Third Grade
    • Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
    • Questions to Ask the Teacher
    • What If My Child Is Falling Behind?
    • The Intermediate Grades
      • Fourth Grade
    • How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
      • Fifth Grade
      • Sixth Grade
    • Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
    • Why Does My Child Keep Counting on Her Fingers?
    • Questions to Ask the Teacher
    • Junior High
      • Seventh Grade
      • Eighth Grade
    • Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?
    • How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
    • 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

    • The Primary Grades
      • Kindergarten
      • First Grade
      • Second Grade
      • Third Grade
    • Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
    • Questions to Ask the Teacher
    • The Intermediate Grades
      • Fourth Grade
    • How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?
      • Fifth Grade
      • Sixth Grade
    • Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
    • Questions to Ask the Teacher
    • Junior High
      • Seventh Grade
      • Eighth Grade
    • Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?
    • How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?
    • 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

    • A Fifth Grader Asks Her Own Questions
    • Are Your Child's Textbooks Challenging?
    • How to Gauge Your School's Expectations
    • Warning Signs of Low Expectations
    • 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 Good Web Sites for Parent-Reformers


    Notes

    Index