No, I don't know. In fact I couldn't have come up with the name "Peregrine Falcon" if you'd offered to pay me. What is a Peregrine Falcon anyway?? But, that's what my little boy wants on his birthday cake. Oh, and he wants to go bird watching at his party....
What's his fascination with birds, I wonder. Then I remember. Zack and Rylie have been studying birds in science. We do science together. I study with the two of them on the couch while Kade plays cars or ball on the floor. He's 4, not nearly old enough to understand fourth grade science right? Plus, he just plays on the floor with his toys in his own little world. Half the time he's singing or talking to himself. So, why does he know so much about birds?
Zack is 9 and in fourth grade. He drives me crazy during school sometimes. Mainly because when he's studying his spelling he's usually on his head. Literally. Upside down, on his head with his rear end in the air. "Zack, you're supposed to be studying," I say. "I am, Mom," He replies. "Prove it," I say. He then rattles off a list of words to me that most adults have trouble spelling. OK, so he was studying. He memorizes states and capitals while shooting hoops, he does his reading while hanging off the end of the couch, he does his math homework on his stomach on the floor, and geography facts are beast learned while riding in the car trying to beat dad. I know it's not traditional, but he's getting it. And isn't that the point in the end?
Boys are a different breed. I can say that because I'm not one. =) I'm a school nerd. I loved school. I loved sitting at my little desk diligently doing my work. The thought never even crossed my mind that my seat was too hard and it made my bottom hurt. (This is the story I get every time I make Zack sit at the table. Somehow the comfort of his derriere is connected to the level of activity his brain can handle.)
I'm not saying boys CAN'T learn the traditional way. My husband who can't sit still in church to this day made it through traditional school quite well. I am saying that maybe boys learn better a different way. I substitute taught for several years and had the privilege of being in the high school special ed class frequently. The observation I made was that 8 out of 10 in those classes were BOYS. They weren't dumb, they just weren't cut out to sit on a hard chair and listen to lectures. They thought they were dumb though, because they were stuck in the special ed class.
It's hard for me to think outside the box. I love homeschooling, but I want everyone to sit down and study like I would. My way tends to frustrate my boys. They work better if they are sent outside first for exercise and fresh air. (And maybe again frequently between subjects.) They like goals and responsibility. I have a friend who makes a checklist for her son and he's responsible to complete it on his own. It's been one of his best school years yet. He likes knowing what he needs to do and being responsible to get it finished. Boys definitely DON'T like to be micro managed. They don't want to sit in one spot to do their work. Variety of location definitely improves attitude!
These are just a few things I've observed in my short time of schooling boys. Mine aren't grown yet, so I don't know what the final outcome will be. I'm willing to take a chance on this education thing though. I hope when they're grown they will have learned well, and that they look back on their years of school with good memories.
Me? I'm learning every day. I'm learning that I'm not always right. I'm learning that God made every child unique and they all learn differently. I'm learning to roll with that. I'm learning that WHAT you learn is more important than HOW you learn it.
After all, God gave me 3 sons.......
*I wanted to add a disclaimer to this post.*
I do not think boys cannot do well in a traditional school setting. There are so many that do. I also don't think that homeschooling is for everyone. I DO think that no matter where your son is in school that you can creatively help him learn and do his best by learning how he learns best and giving him opportunities to learn in that way.
I'm not saying boys CAN'T learn the traditional way. My husband who can't sit still in church to this day made it through traditional school quite well. I am saying that maybe boys learn better a different way. I substitute taught for several years and had the privilege of being in the high school special ed class frequently. The observation I made was that 8 out of 10 in those classes were BOYS. They weren't dumb, they just weren't cut out to sit on a hard chair and listen to lectures. They thought they were dumb though, because they were stuck in the special ed class.
It's hard for me to think outside the box. I love homeschooling, but I want everyone to sit down and study like I would. My way tends to frustrate my boys. They work better if they are sent outside first for exercise and fresh air. (And maybe again frequently between subjects.) They like goals and responsibility. I have a friend who makes a checklist for her son and he's responsible to complete it on his own. It's been one of his best school years yet. He likes knowing what he needs to do and being responsible to get it finished. Boys definitely DON'T like to be micro managed. They don't want to sit in one spot to do their work. Variety of location definitely improves attitude!
These are just a few things I've observed in my short time of schooling boys. Mine aren't grown yet, so I don't know what the final outcome will be. I'm willing to take a chance on this education thing though. I hope when they're grown they will have learned well, and that they look back on their years of school with good memories.
Me? I'm learning every day. I'm learning that I'm not always right. I'm learning that God made every child unique and they all learn differently. I'm learning to roll with that. I'm learning that WHAT you learn is more important than HOW you learn it.
After all, God gave me 3 sons.......
*I wanted to add a disclaimer to this post.*
I do not think boys cannot do well in a traditional school setting. There are so many that do. I also don't think that homeschooling is for everyone. I DO think that no matter where your son is in school that you can creatively help him learn and do his best by learning how he learns best and giving him opportunities to learn in that way.
No comments:
Post a Comment