Three Teaching Me

Jan. 10, 2008

Mojo and Slow Joe

AHHHH! Is it only Thursday? I am pulling my hair out this week!

I know I am teaching two sons. I know both are different. I know their learning styles are different and I know they have different strengths and weaknesses. AND...I know they both like to work at different speeds.

But....this week - one has purposed to drive his mother c*r*a*z*y.

Meet Mojo and Slow Joe.

Mojo is my younger son. He has always been my early riser. He works best in the mornings. Since Christmas break, he has been getting up almost an hour early JUST so he can finish his school work early. Ah....my wise little bird....catching the best worms.

Now, meet Slow Joe. This is my older son. He is my grumpy riser. He works best when he feels like it. Since Christmas break, he has been getting up late JUST so he can delay his school work. Ah....my sleepy little bird....catching the best zzzzzzzzzzzzs.

Ok. Feeble attempt at humor aside, this has been a REALLY difficult week. Slow Joe has been dragging through every single subject. This lack of speed doesn't concern me nearly as much as his lack of focus. I know it is the ADHD rearing its ugly head, but it has been exhaustingly frustrating watching him snail through one math problem after another - all while constantly asking me how to implement concepts he has already mastered (I THOUGHT!). And, please, don't ask him this week what a 'verb' is....because if you do, you'll be left to wonder HOW one can "jigsaw puzzle" up a tree.

I don't know what to do to fix this. I don't even know if I SHOULD do anything to fix it. We have been through this before.....and just when I didn't think there was any more hair to pull out of my head, Slow Joe finds his mojo again.

So I'm left to wonder ~ do I wait this out and hope the 'missing pieces' fall back into place? Do I backtrack and go over 'lost' concepts once again?

*sigh* I guess I'll get another cup o' joe and think about it some more.

From the House of Hooligans ~ Happy Almost Weekend!

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

Jan. 10, 2008 - I feel your pain

Posted by netherfieldmom

I have an older one sort of like that...I'm learning to live outside the box. Check out www.amblesideonline.org to get reading ideas. Whatever he's interested in, pursue that. Set minimum requirements and try not to micromanage. Remember what you learned and how much you don't really need. My goal is for her to love learning, not to parse a sentence. Try to fill him with great reading, some math and lots of practical stuff--building, making change, whatever floats his boat. There are some things you cannot force, no matter what. Math is not an option at our house and music is also required, at this time. Everything else ebbs and flows, cause really, that's how life works. Hang in there!

• Permanent Link

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.