Apr. 24, 2007
"What You Talking 'Bout Willis?"
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Yesterday the boys and I were discussing what we wanted to finish up before summer break. Just an ordinary conversation on an ordinary day. Then...those crazy children started making statements like "I used to like History but I don't really enjoy it anymore" and "yeah, we don't like history anymore" and "It's just not interesting anymore". Ack! What?? I quickly inspected to make sure that they were, indeed, my children. Yep, their mine. But.... I love history! Surely they are confused....surely they don't mean these bizarre things that are coming out of their mouths! Okay kids, History - it's that subject with all of the interesting things that happened long ago, blah, blah, blah. Yes, mom we know what history is. Why couldn't they say that they hated math... *that* I can understand; that, I can get on board with. Lots of deep breaths later we get to the root of the problem. They don't like doing the index cards and the timeline, etc. Funny thing is that I had decided to ditch the timeline; I just hadn't informed them of that yet. The index cards...well, I get what they are saying...but I'd always hoped to push through them thinking that they would make an awesome review tool for the bigger tests that are still to come. They're telling me that they don't learn anything from doing the index cards. Hmm. After this entire school year of doing a timeline that started out fun, but quickly became a chore, and just more of the dreaded busy-work...I had decided that it was time to let it go. Ya know, you've gotta take what works for you and be willing to leave the rest. My kids were not learning anything from coloring some little pictures and taping them to a line. They were so busy rushing to finish it that it was a meaningless task for them. I love the idea of being able to look at something that gives a chronological order of events, but, shoot, I can buy a timeline and save us all the frustration. The index cards...well, we are using The Mystery of History and the author suggests an index card of facts from each chapter that we keep in a small index card binder. I'm not sure if they are benefiting from this or not. It's a great study tool, and a good way to seal it all into their little brains a little better as they write out the facts. But, I can understand why they aren't all that enamored with it. But, still, I'm going to have to give that one some more thought....I'm thinking that the good might just outweigh the bad on this one and they will just need to suffer through it. In my oldest son's defense he did say that he wanted to study politics instead. He says that they are listening to a political show on the radio at night in their room. Oh, if only he knew how politics could make you pull your hair out at times...or many of the politicians at least. I'm planning to do another election study with them next year. We did one in 2004 during the campaign/election, but they were younger and precious little of it sank into those brains of theirs. During the 2008 elections the older two will be 13 and 10 so it'll come to life a little more for them this time I'm sure. But.... History - not interesting?! Sacrilege! I'm going to chalk it up to spring fever. Yeah, that's it....they're not crazy...they're just -- ready for summer. uhhh, yeah, we'll go with that. ;) |