Since I'm reading aloud to the LG, I'm aware of what they are doing. If I had a D/R student, I'd be doing discussions with them. But with my UG student, who does his reading independently, I'm not sure how to go about making sure he is learning what he should be. I'd like it to be more than "tell me what you are learning," since I feel at this age (5th) he should be coming away from his studies with more than just the basic exposure.

How do y'all handle this?

Hi! Are you concerned about history readings or literature readings (or both)?

I do have weekly discussions with my UG about both. For lit, I use the the discussion questions in the weekly overview pages as a starting point. I may delve more into "what example from the book makes you say that?" or "what else could that character have done?" if it seems appropriate. We also talk about the lit worksheet(s) completed that week.

For history, some of the comprehension and processing comes through in the writing assignments since they're linked to the history topics. I also use lapbook booklets, some hands on projects, "presentations" (all my kids love to make a poster or something and then present it to the whole family -- even my 3-yr-old presents something -- each presenter takes questions from the audience -- it's a hoot!). For a more structured approach, check out the LG and UG generic response pages on the Loom. Both your LG and UG kids should be able to do at least one of those each week.

Also, if your 5th grader is ready for some D-level work, you could ask him to do some of the accountability questions and/or thinking questions. I wouldn't load him up with all of them at this point, though.

Hope this helps! My UG dd loves to read but if I just ask her to tell me what she read, she doesnt' give me much. But if fine tune or direct the questions, she'll talk away!

Blessings,
Monica

Hi,
We also used the threads from the teacher's notes, and the "people" from the Weekly Overview Pages. I just changed the statements into questions to make sure they did their work.

Blessings,

quote:

Originally posted by Renaissance Mom:
Hi! Are you concerned about history readings or literature readings (or both)?

Both.

quote:

I do have weekly discussions with my UG about both. For lit, I use the the discussion questions in the weekly overview pages as a starting point. I may delve more into "what example from the book makes you say that?" or "what else could that character have done?" if it seems appropriate. We also talk about the lit worksheet(s) completed that week.

For history, some of the comprehension and processing comes through in the writing assignments since they're linked to the history topics. I also use lapbook booklets, some hands on projects, "presentations" (all my kids love to make a poster or something and then present it to the whole family -- even my 3-yr-old presents something -- each presenter takes questions from the audience -- it's a hoot!).

Thanks for this!

quote:

For a more structured approach, check out the LG and UG generic response pages on the Loom. Both your LG and UG kids should be able to do at least one of those each week.

Oooooh thanks for the reminder that that is there!

quote:

Also, if your 5th grader is ready for some D-level work, you could ask him to do some of the accountability questions and/or thinking questions.

LOL he is most definitely NOT ready LOLOL. He did LG last year as a 4th grader, and I am REALLy pushing him this year by making him do UG work. I'm so mean.

Thanks again!

quote:

Originally posted by DanaCinTN:
Hi,
We also used the threads from the teacher's notes, and the "people" from the Weekly Overview Pages. I just changed the statements into questions to make sure they did their work.

Thanks, Dana! This helps a lot!

quote:

I'm so mean.

Yup ... I tell my kids that it's my job to be mean (LOL)!

Blessings,
Monica

LOL I say the same thing! Whenever someone tells me how mean I'm being (and I full well I'm NOT just "being mean" ), I tell him/her, "Good, I'm doing my job then."