The Educated Child; A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade

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

• ISBN13: 9780684833491
• ISBN10: 0684833492
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-11-10
• Publisher: Free Press

Summary

If you care about the education of a child, you need this book. Comprehensive and easy to use, it will inform, empower, and encourage you. Just as William J. Bennett's The Book of Virtues has helped millions of Americans teach young people about character, The Educated Child delivers what you need to take control. With coauthors Chester E. Finn, Jr., and John T. E. Cribb, Jr., former Secretary of Education Bennett provides the indispensable guide. Championing a clear "back-to-basics" curriculum that will resonate with parents and teachers tired of fads and jargon, The Educated Child supplies an educational road map from earliest childhood to the threshold of high school. It gives parents hundreds of practical suggestions for helping each child succeed while showing what to look for in a good school and what to watch out for in a weak one. The Educated Child places you squarely at the center of your young one's academic career and takes a no-nonsense view of your responsibilities. It empowers you as mothers and fathers, enabling you to reclaim what has been appropriated by "experts" and the education establishment. It out-lines questions you will want to ask, then explains the answers -- or non-answers -- you will be given. No longer will you feel powerless before the education "system." The tools and advice in this guide put the power where it belongs -- in the hands of those who know and love their children best. Using excerpts from E. D. Hirsch's Core Knowledge Sequence, The Educated Child sets forth a state-of-the art curriculum from kindergarten through eighth grade that you can use to monitor what is and isn't being taught in your school. It outlines how you can help teachers ensure that your child masters the most important skills and knowledge. It takes on today's education controversies from phonics to school choice, from outcomes-based education to teaching values, from the education of gifted children to the needs of the disabled. Because much of a youngster's education takes place outside the school, The Educated Child also distills the essential information you need to prepare children for kindergarten and explains to the parents of older students how to deal with such challenges as television, drugs, and sex. If you seek high standards and solid, time-tested content for the child you care so much about, if you want the unvarnished truth about what parents and schools must do, The Educated Child is the one book you need on your shelf.

Author Biography

William J. Bennett was Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and Secretary of Education under President Reagan, and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Bush. The author of The Book of Virtues and several other bestsellers, he is a fellow at the Heritage Foundation and codirector of Empower America. He lives with his wife, Elayne, and their two sons in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xix
Before You Begin	1	(5)
Introduction	6	(1)
You Are Your Child's Most Important Teacher	7	(3)
Lessons That Good Schools Teach	10	(2)
Will Your School Educate Your Child Well?	12	(3)
Our Schools and Our Culture	15	(3)
Ten Principles for Parents of Educated Children	18	(3)
PART I: THE PRESCHOOL YEARS	21	(70)
Fostering a Love of Learning	24	(12)
Your Love, Protection, and Care	24	(1)
Your Time	25	(2)
A Positive Learning Environment	27	(1)
An Attitude That Values Learning	28	(2)
Early Moral Training	30	(1)
How Young Children Learn	31	(5)
Getting Ready for School	36	(31)
Kindergarten Readiness List	37	(4)
Getting Ready to Read	41	(4)
Making Your House a Book House	41	(1)
Choosing Books for Children	42	(1)
Thirty Great Books Every Preschooler Should Meet	43	(1)
Setting a Good Reading Example	44	(1)
Reading to Your Child	45	(7)
Reading Rules of Thumb	47	(3)
Checking Out the Library	50	(2)
Getting Ready to Write	52	(3)
Learning to Speak and Listen Well	55	(3)
Getting Ready for Arithmetic	58	(2)
Preschool Science	60	(3)
Building Motor Skills	63	(2)
Resources to Help Your Preschooler Learn	65	(2)
Character Education in the Early Years	67	(13)
Forming Character for School Success	71	(3)
Discipline in the Preschool Years	74	(1)
Social Skills	75	(3)
Helping Your Child Learn Self-Reliance	78	(2)
Day Care and Preschool	80	(11)
Day Care	80	(3)
A Word About Day Care Licensing	83	(1)
Preschool	83	(8)
Is Preschool Necessary?	84	(1)
Looking for a Good Preschool	85	(4)
Staying Involved	89	(2)
PART II: THE CORE CURRICULUM	91	(314)
The Importance of a Solid Core Curriculum	92	(2)
Checking on Your School's Standards of Learning	94	(1)
How to Use This Book to Examine Your School's Curriculum	95	(4)
Ten Signs of a Good School	99	(1)
The Core Knowledge Sequence	100	(1)
English	101	(86)
What Good Schools Teach---and Why	101	(9)
Reading	101	(4)
Writing	105	(2)
Speaking	107	(1)
How Do You Recognize ``Great'' Literature?	108	(1)
How Are Schools Doing?	109	(1)
The English Curriculum	110	(39)
The Primary Grades	111	(2)
Kindergarten	113	(2)
First Grade	115	(2)
Second Grade	117	(2)
Third Grade	119	(3)
Good Books for the Primary Grades	122	(1)
How Well Read Is Your Primary Grade Child?	123	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	124	(1)
What If My Child Has a Reading Problem?	125	(1)
The Intermediate Grades	126	(3)
Fourth Grade	129	(2)
Fifth Grade	131	(2)
Sixth Grade	133	(2)
Good Books for the Intermediate Grades	135	(1)
How Well Read Is Your Intermediate Grade Child?	136	(1)
Wellsprings of Western Literature	137	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	138	(1)
Junior High	139	(1)
Seventh Grade	140	(3)
Eighth Grade	143	(2)
Good Books for Junior High	145	(1)
How Well Read Is Your Junior High Schooler?	146	(1)
Memorizing Poems and Prose	147	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	148	(1)
Issues in Language Arts Education	149	(20)
Phonics Versus Whole Language	149	(3)
When Should Students Start to Read?	152	(1)
Should Schools Group Children by Reading Ability?	153	(2)
When Should Children Learn to Write?	155	(1)
What If the Teacher Does Not Correct Spelling?	156	(3)
How Important Is Penmanship?	159	(1)
What Is the Place of Western Literature in the English Classroom?	160	(2)
Why Are Children's Classics Being Slighted?	162	(2)
Is My Child Really Learning to Understand Literature?	164	(1)
Should Children Study Much Grammar?	165	(2)
Should Schools Be Sticklers About Proper English?	167	(2)
Warning Signs of a Weak Language Arts Program	169	(1)
Teaching Reading, Writing, and Literature at Home	169	(18)
Helping Your Child Learn to Read	171	(2)
Help with Phonics	173	(4)
Building Reading Comprehension	177	(1)
Resources That Help Your Child Learn to Read	178	(1)
Helping Your Child Learn to Write	179	(6)
Gauging Your Child's Interest and Progress	185	(2)
History and Geography	187	(75)
What Good Schools Teach---and Why	188	(13)
The Intellectual Function of History	188	(2)
The Civic Function of History	190	(2)
The Moral Function of History	192	(1)
History Lessons That Good Schools Teach	193	(2)
The Place of Geography in the Curriculum	195	(3)
What About Economics?	198	(1)
How Are Schools Doing?	199	(2)
The History and Geography Curriculum	201	(11)
The Primary Grades	202	(1)
Kindergarten	203	(2)
First Grade	205	(2)
Second Grade	207	(2)
Third Grade	209	(2)
Is Your School Teaching Historical Literacy?	211	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	212	(1)
The Intermediate Grades	212	(23)
Fourth Grade	214	(2)
How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?	216	(1)
Fifth Grade	217	(3)
Does My Child Know the Map?	220	(1)
Sixth Grade	221	(2)
Is My Child Geographically Literate?	223	(1)
Is Your School Teaching Basic Economics?	224	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	225	(1)
Junior High	225	(1)
Seventh Grade	226	(2)
Eighth Grade	228	(3)
How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?	231	(1)
Is Your School Teaching Literacy in American History?	232	(1)
Is Your School Teaching Literacy in World History?	233	(1)
Is Your Child Learning How American Democracy Works?	234	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	235	(1)
Issues in the Teaching of History	235	(15)
What Happened to the Story in History?	236	(2)
``Expanding Environments''	238	(1)
What Is ``Social Studies''?	239	(2)
How Important Are Facts in History?	241	(1)
Dates Your Child Should Learn	242	(1)
What Is the Place of Multiculturalism in History Class?	243	(2)
How Much Western Civilization?	245	(2)
Is It America the Beautiful---or the Bad?	247	(2)
Warning Signs of a Weak History and Geography Program	249	(1)
Teaching History and Geography at Home	250	(12)
Teaching History at Home	250	(4)
Resources That Help Your Child Learn History	254	(1)
Teaching Geography at Home	255	(2)
Resources That Help Your Child Learn Geography	257	(1)
Teaching Civics at Home	258	(1)
Teaching Basic Economics at Home	259	(3)
Art and Music	262	(15)
What Good Schools Teach---and Why	263	(2)
How Are Schools Doing?	265	(1)
The Art and Music Curriculum	265	(4)
The Primary Grades	266	(1)
Kindergarten	266	(1)
First Grade	267	(1)
Second Grade	268	(1)
Third Grade	268	(1)
The Intermediate Grades	269	(3)
Fourth Grade	270	(1)
Fifth Grade	270	(1)
Sixth Grade	271	(1)
Junior High	272	(2)
Seventh Grade	272	(1)
Eighth Grade	273	(1)
How Strong Is the Fine Arts Program at Your School?	273	(1)
Teaching About Art and Music at Home	274	(3)
Resources That Help Your Child Learn About Art and Music	276	(1)
Mathematics	277	(68)
What Good Schools Teach---and Why	277	(7)
How Are Schools Doing?	283	(1)
The Mathematics Curriculum	284	(35)
The Primary Grades	286	(1)
Kindergarten	287	(2)
First Grade	289	(2)
Second Grade	291	(2)
Third Grade	293	(2)
Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?	295	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	296	(1)
What If My Child Is Falling Behind?	297	(1)
The Intermediate Grades	298	(2)
Fourth Grade	300	(2)
How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?	302	(1)
Fifth Grade	303	(2)
Sixth Grade	305	(3)
Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?	308	(2)
Why Does My Child Keep Counting on Her Fingers?	310	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	311	(1)
Junior High	311	(1)
Seventh Grade	312	(2)
Eighth Grade	314	(3)
Does Your Child Know Basic Math Facts?	317	(1)
How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?	317	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	318	(1)
Issues in the Teaching of Mathematics	319	(14)
What Is ``New'' New Math?	319	(3)
Is Memorization Outdated?	322	(2)
How Important Is Practice?	324	(2)
What Is the Role of Calculators in Math Class?	326	(1)
What Is ``Discovery Learning'' in Math?	327	(2)
What Is ``Real World'' Math?	329	(1)
How Important Is Getting Exact Answers in Math?	330	(1)
Does the Teacher Know Enough Math?	331	(2)
Warning Signs of a Weak Mathematics Program	333	(1)
Teaching Mathematics at Home	333	(12)
Math Homework Counts	334	(4)
Memorizing Math Facts	338	(2)
Resources That Help Your Child Learn Math	340	(1)
Math Activities Around the House	340	(5)
Science	345	(60)
What Good Schools Teach---and Why	345	(8)
The Value of a Solid Grounding in Science	350	(2)
How Are Schools Doing?	352	(1)
The Science Curriculum	353	(32)
The Primary Grades	355	(2)
Kindergarten	357	(1)
First Grade	358	(2)
Second Grade	360	(2)
Third Grade	362	(2)
Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?	364	(2)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	366	(1)
The Intermediate Grades	366	(1)
Fourth Grade	367	(3)
How Are American Fourth Graders Doing?	370	(1)
Fifth Grade	370	(3)
Sixth Grade	373	(2)
Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?	375	(2)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	377	(1)
Junior High	377	(1)
Seventh Grade	378	(2)
Eighth Grade	380	(2)
Is Your School Teaching Science Literacy?	382	(2)
How Are American Eighth Graders Doing?	384	(1)
Questions to Ask the Teacher	384	(1)
Issues in Science Education	385	(9)
Is Your School Teaching Enough Science?	385	(1)
Is the Curriculum Challenging?	386	(2)
Does the Teacher Know Enough Science?	388	(1)
What Is the Best Way to Test Students in Science?	389	(1)
Should School Teach Evolution?	390	(2)
Are Science Lessons Getting Too Green?	392	(1)
Warning Signs of a Weak Science Program	393	(1)
Teaching Science at Home	394	(11)
Teaching Your Child to Think Like a Scientist	395	(4)
Science at Home and Beyond	399	(3)
Resources That Help Your Child Learn Science	402	(3)
PART III: MAKING IT WORK	405	(241)
Helping Your Child Succeed in School	409	(56)
Teaching Your Child Good Study Habits	410	(6)
Teaching Your Child to Study Actively	415	(1)
Helping Your Child with Homework	416	(7)
Warning Signs of a Weak Homework Regimen	423	(1)
Tests and Testing	423	(12)
Types of Tests	424	(1)
What Are the ``Standards'' in Standardized Tests?	425	(2)
Preparing for Tests	427	(3)
Test-Taking Tips	430	(1)
The Anti-Test Bias	431	(2)
``Authentic Assessment''	433	(2)
Warning Signs of Weak Testing Methods	435	(1)
Grades and Report Cards	435	(7)
Grade Inflation	437	(2)
Grade Aversion	439	(3)
Warning Signs of Weak Grading	442	(1)
What If My Child Isn't Promoted?	442	(3)
Warning Signs of Academic Trouble Ahead	445	(1)
Getting Involved at School	445	(10)
Great Ways to Get Involved	450	(4)
Volunteering at School	454	(1)
Signs of Schools That Welcome Parents	454	(1)
Good Teacher Relations	455	(10)
The Parent-Teacher Conference	459	(1)
Working Out Problems with the Teacher	460	(1)
Your Principal and Your School	461	(2)
Getting to Know the Principal	463	(1)
Grading Your Involvement	464	(1)
Special Needs and Special Gifts	465	(27)
Children with Disabilities	466	(17)
What Is ``Special Education''?	467	(1)
Identification and Evaluation	468	(3)
Learning Disabilities	471	(1)
ADD and Ritalin	472	(2)
Developing a Plan	474	(2)
Deciding on the Placement	476	(2)
Looking Out for Your Child	478	(2)
Where to Get Help and Information	480	(3)
Gifted Children	483	(9)
Options for Gifted Students	485	(3)
Being an Advocate for Your Gifted Child	488	(2)
Where to Get Help and Information	490	(2)
School Problems	492	(30)
Low Standards and Expectations	492	(13)
A Fifth Grader Asks Her Own Questions	495	(1)
Are Your Child's Textbooks Challenging?	496	(1)
How to Guage Your School's Expectations	497	(3)
Warning Signs of Low Expectations	500	(1)
Fighting Low Expectations	501	(2)
More About Home Schooling	503	(1)
More About Charter Schools	504	(1)
Bad Teaching	505	(7)
Warning Signs of Bad Teaching	507	(5)
Poor Discipline	512	(10)
What Good Schools Do	513	(4)
What Parents Can Do	517	(3)
Warning Signs of Discipline Trouble at School	520	(2)
Along with Academics	522	(31)
Character Education	523	(17)
How Schools Teach Good Character	527	(2)
Signs of Good Character Education	529	(2)
Does Your School Live by a Character Code?	531	(1)
Teaching Character at Home	532	(5)
Character-Building Books	537	(1)
Where to Get Help and Information	538	(1)
Character and Faith	539	(1)
Health and Physical Education	540	(6)
What Good Schools Teach	543	(1)
Keeping an Eye on the Health Program	544	(1)
Physical Fitness and Health at Home	545	(1)
Extracurricular Activities	546	(7)
Summer Learning and Fun	551	(2)
Temptations and Troubles	553	(31)
Drugs and Alcohol	554	(13)
What Parents Can Do	556	(4)
Signs of Drug Use	560	(1)
Teaching Your Child to Say No	561	(1)
Supervising Older Kids	562	(1)
What Good Schools Do	562	(3)
Questions to Ask About Drugs and Your School	565	(1)
Where to Get Help and Information	566	(1)
Sex and Sex Education	567	(9)
Principles to Look for in Sex Education	571	(1)
What Parents Can Do	572	(3)
Where to Get Help and Information	575	(1)
Television and Your Child's Education	576	(8)
Establishing Good TV Habits	579	(3)
Internet Safety Rules	582	(2)
Current Issues in Education	584	(42)
Outcomes-Based Education	585	(1)
Education Standards	586	(2)
Skills Versus Knowledge	588	(2)
Multiculturalism	590	(2)
Discovery Learning	592	(1)
Teachers as Facilitators	593	(2)
Developmentalism	595	(2)
Multiple Intelligences	597	(1)
Cooperative Learning	598	(2)
Self-Esteem	600	(1)
Choice Among Schools	601	(2)
Public Versus Private Schools	603	(1)
Public Charter Schools	604	(1)
Home Schooling	605	(1)
For-Profit Schools	606	(1)
Religion and Schools	607	(3)
Social Promotion	610	(2)
Tracking	612	(1)
Class Size	613	(2)
Spending on Schools	615	(1)
School Uniforms	616	(1)
Year-Round Schooling	617	(2)
Computers in the Classroom	619	(1)
Teacher Training and Certification	620	(3)
Teachers Unions	623	(1)
Bilingual Education	624	(2)
Parents and Education Reform	626	(20)
The Education Establishment: The Blob	627	(6)
Special Interest Groups	631	(1)
The Anti-Blob	632	(1)
Ways to Bring About Change	633	(13)
Tips and Warnings	639	(3)
Good Books About Education Reform	642	(1)
Good Web Sites for Parent-Reformers	643	(3)
Notes	646	(5)
Index	651