mlbuchina Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I have been feeling this way for several months now. I can't decide if it is because I'm compairing her to her older sister (who seems to learn effortlessly, while younger seems to fight hard for everything she learns), not using the right materials for her learning style (that I don't know, and can't seem to figure out), a personality clash (we are both so similar), or something else. Do you ever fear you can't teach your child? If so, what do you do about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAutumnOak Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Do you ever fear you can't teach your child? If so, what do you do about it? I feel this all the time :tongue_smilie:...What helps me is to listen to "The Joy of Classical Homeschooling" talk that SWB did...I feel so much better after that!...I also look over some parts of WTM, whatever I don't feel confident in at the moment...I feel better with a plan, so I write one out when I feel less than...And then I just keep homeschooling :001_smile: * I intentionally left out all the parts about crying on DH's shoulder, sending him sad sounding text messages and eating lots of cookies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I remind myself that I taught them their first words. I teach them about everyday life. I remind myself that it is my God-given duty to teach my child, that if I delegate that duty, I am still 100% responsible for the outcome. You know your child best. You love your child the most. If it is just a simple fear standing in your way, then kick that fear goodbye. I'm not saying every child ought to be homeschooled or that every parent must do it, but I believe if you want to, you can. I'd recommend you read as many hs books as possible; arm yourself with knowledge. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele B Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 1. Eat chocolate 2. Pray. That should be #1, but I thought I would be honest. ;) 3. Listen to an SWB audio lecture - very inspiring, 4. Look online at what is being taught in local public schools. 5. Listen to other moms talk about what is being taught in public schools 6. Listen to homeschool moms who have children that have graduated and actually gotten into college. 7. Remember the time my then-5 year old was pretending to be an Egyptian, and was asked if she was Cleopatra. She was horrified, "Cleopatra wasn't Egyptian - she was Greek!" 8. Remember my public highschool civics class - I remember nothing from it except our ancient teacher told us eating catfish was a sin. 9. Then I think it will be OK. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 You're talking about your 5 y/o? Maybe you should just back off a bit with the curriculum stuff if it's not going well at the moment. Maybe she's just not ready. She's young. Where I live, compulsory school age doesn't even start until age 8, and if you've never read "Better Late Than Early" by the Moores, maybe you should- if only for a bit of perspective, even if you don't fully agree or wait as long as they suggest. A child that age learns SO much, all the time, informally, and just may not be ready for a "curriculum" and "workbooks" and "worksheets" and "deskwork" and so on yet. And that's okay. It's fine to just stop and keep it informal, creative, hands on, play-based, conversational, and so on and wait a while longer to reintroduce the other stuff. I had to do that with my son. I wrote about it here if you want to take a peek: http://nancextoo.livejournal.com/190076.html (I call it "A Kindergarten Dropout" lol). (He's now 5.5 years old- I will be giving another try to K in September when he's 5.10 months old and we'll see what happens). :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostinabook Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Honestly? I think about my own education & remember that I cannot possibly do any worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchara Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Lots of chocolate, something with alcohol in it, and prayer. I have one like that, too. His therapist told me to send him to school, so he wouldn't hate all women, just me. :glare: That's not an option. So I eat copious amounts of chocolate, have a drink, and pray. A lot. Oh, and I go on my message boards and get encouraged. While I'm eating chocolate and having my drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 The five year old? I wait for them to get older. Oh, and FWIW, I almost quit homeschooling when my 'easy to teach' older child was 8. That was the year from hell. These things pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJCMom Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 What do I do when I have that fear? I remind myself that it would be impossible to avoid teaching my child, even if I were to send him to public school. I will always be teaching him something. Sometimes we just need to take a break for a day or five and eat popcorn and watch movies and come back to homeschooling refreshed. Other days I just need to lock myself in the bathroom and cry for a good 10 minutes. Still others I need to come on here and stare at the screen for an hour while the kids run around outside with friends. You can absolutely teach your kids everything they need to know. Some days it's just harder than others. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Five year olds are learning wonderful things every single day. I would try to slow down and see the bigger picture. Trust in the natural eagerness of a small child can go quite a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Learning doesn't come from being taught/lectured too/etc... It comes from having the freedom to explore, problem solve, and from working alone as well as with others. Unfortunately, little of this comes from the standard, sit at a desk for 6+ hrs and do busy work. The hardest part is trusting your child and their inner drive to learn. We all have it. The trick is learning what turns that light bulb on, what makes them go AHHHHHHHHHH.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Set aside the work that causes the most frustration and just read good books by day...search the forums here for practical advice by night. 5yo's vary greatly - GREATLY - in ability to do formal schoolwork. I would start with looking at what is absolutely necessary (I would argue none of it, yet, for my dc.). My two youngest are 14mo apart. dd6 is advanced, and ds4 is ahead of the game but not as advanced as she was this time last year. It would be easy for me to compare the two and worry over ds4 (though he is F.I.N.E. where he's at). dd6 is 26mo younger than ds8. They are about the same level in LA. Comparing these two can end up equally bad. My .02 is to ignore those comparisons (each child is different!) and avoid stressing over state standards (which have gotten ps graduates where???). Look at your 5yo and evaluate what is needed. Tweeze apart reading, writing and math...many 5yo's vary greatly in skill within these 3 areas. Scale back to 5min per day on each skill...and do reading on the couch, math on the floor, writing at the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I'm pretty much afraid I can't teach my kids Chemistry, Physics, or Trig and higher. That's because I bombed Chem and Trig, and never took Physics or Calculus. Sooo.... When we get to something I know I can't teach my kids (my reasons are different than the OP, but still)...we will outsource. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 My oldest has/had some learning problems and we tend to clash. When I feel at my wits end, I review my options and am reassured that I am still his best chance at a good life and a complete education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I'm that way with dd9. I've had to go back to the drawing board. I come here, ask questions, research, research, research. I spent 3 hours today at the homeschool store today pouring over materials. I go back again tomorrow. (My kids are testing for 2 days). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted April 6, 2011 Author Share Posted April 6, 2011 I feel this all the time :tongue_smilie:...What helps me is to listen to "The Joy of Classical Homeschooling" talk that SWB did...I feel so much better after that!...I also look over some parts of WTM, whatever I don't feel confident in at the moment...I feel better with a plan, so I write one out when I feel less than...And then I just keep homeschooling :001_smile: Oh yes, I do that, too. I love her lectures! * I intentionally left out all the parts about crying on DH's shoulder, sending him sad sounding text messages and eating lots of cookies! :lol: Do that, too! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted April 6, 2011 Author Share Posted April 6, 2011 Thank you, all, for your thoughts and suggestions. Coming here always makes me feel better, and I will definately be taking this advice to heart.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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