Three Teaching Me

Feb. 18, 2007

One Teaching Two?

When I made the decision to teach my boys, I knew we would experience highs and lows. The highs are wonderful and I come away from those days knowing without a doubt I have made the right choice. The lows, on the other hand, leave me with deep feelings of self doubt - almost to the point of regret! Do all first time home schoolers go through this?

We are standing still.

I have one student who moves along at a stunning pace. He takes in everything I give him and is always ready for more. I could easily see him well above 'grade level' in no time....but I am holding him back.

I have another student who is sitting still - unable (or is it unwilling?? I don't know!) to move forward in math. This is affecting every other aspect of his learning.

How do I get past this obstacle? How do I allow one to excel while allowing the other to sit still? If I allow one to push ahead, will this motivate the other - or will it discourage him?

We have been way off our game since Christmas break. I am in the middle of a period of self doubt. This is the lowest low I've experienced thus far. I don't like it - but I am determine not to allow it to take over. We will come through this, I know. I owe it to my boys to find a way to push upward into the high places again.

Pray for us. :-)

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Comments

May. 29, 2007 - The Love of Math

Posted by WisdomBuilders

I'm not in your place in the teaching realm, since my oldest is in Kindergarten, but I know about being behind in math. Up until the middle of sixth grade, I was horrible at math, to the point of total frustration. But, all of a sudden, in sixth grade, it just clicked. It became real to me and I suddenly understood it. It wasn't about the teacher or my study habits, it was just a matter of patience. I would say, just encourage him to take it slow and study what he thinks he needs work in until he understands it better before continuing on. Let the other one go full speed ahead. After all, it evens out in the end anyway. I ended up in honors math in high school after being in special ed in elementary. Remember that verse in the bible, "Precept upon precept" in Isaiah 28? There is just some concept (precept) that has not come to full fruit yet.

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About Me

We are fairly new to the home school experience (now in our third year). After too many years of fighting the system and pleading with the schools to challenge my kids, I finally took the bull by the horns and purposed to wrestle the matter firmly into my own hands. Before we set out on this adventure, I imagined all the things I would be able to teach my boys. What I never considered, but have now discovered (much to my delight), is what my boys would teach me! After just two years on the road to 'retraining our minds', we have shared a growing fulfillment that I WISH I had been smart enough (and brave enough) to experience from the beginning of their academic 'career'. As we continue on our journey, I hope our ups and downs will inspire and encourage you.