Speaking?

[Iamwinkyak]

"Parents must provide 4 hours of instruction on average a day; must include reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, science, and the Constitution;..."

I am researching on homeschooling; I understand the meaning of different subjects that are recommended to be taught. However, I am clueless to the meaning of "speaking". Is it foreign language, phonics, public speaking, debating, or what? "Speaking" can mean many things. Anyone with homeschooling experience may clarify what "speaking" is?

Thanks
Wendy

[Iamwinkyak]

Language arts?

I have been researching and it seems if "speaking" requirement may meant for "language arts"? Can anyone share their input based on their experience?

Thanks

[moominmamma]

Oral language skills commensurate with age and ability. Asking questions, giving oral reports, answering questions, explaining ideas, storytelling, planning and sustaining conversations, debating, narrating, speaking in public, all those things would "count." Real life covers "speaking" fairly robustly in my experience.

Miranda

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by moominmamma

Real life covers "speaking" fairly robustly in my experience.

Being read to, having lots of good conversation with parents and friends, listening to audio tapes and radio, attending plays and watching movies, eventually reading independently - a person can't help but learn to speak well!

But as far as I'm concerned, if a law doesn't spell everything out in detail, it's leaving all the space in the world for your own reasonable take on it. Lillian

[mommy68]

Maybe it's public speaking? The local 4-H offers classes and group things regarding public speaking in our area and quite a few HS get involved.

[Iamwinkyak]

Thanks for your input; they are helpful! Looks like I might want to clarify the state's meaning of "speaking" for homeschooling, just to be sure. There are much more than just public speaking, language arts, etc. That gives me more idea to homeschooling "lessons".

[JeniferS]

I would think that it depends on the age level of the student.

With a young elementary child, it would likely mean: conversation, verbally retelling a story (narrating), presenting something to a group, etc.

I was actually thinking about this earlier today while doing some planning work on our next science unit (human body). I am going to have my children each select a body system to research and then present to the family (mom, dad, grammy, brother or sister). I was always so shy about getting up in front of people that I'd like to aid my children to become comfortable for such a thing.