I've said this before, I'm saying it again and I'll probably keep on saying it - we're struggling with math again. It isn't the concepts or the logic, we get that. Most of us LOVE that part. It's the speed and accuracy tests that are killing us.
We've discovered recently that in order to score well on a timed test, such as the SAT or ACT, you have to be able to process the questions quickly. Especially with the math. There isn't a lot of time to stop and think and calculate in your head, at least not if you want to do well.
So, we've been drilling math, and I mean DRILLING!!!! Yes, it has been as painful as it sounds.
We've tried to make it a little more fun. For example, we've done flashcard competitions. It's a head to head challenge and whoever says the correct answer first gets that card in their pile. The person with the tallest pile at the end of the challenge wins. The loser has to do a nasty chore. So far, the most motivating chore has been cleaning the toilet. My 10 year old lost to his older sister and after one round of toilet cleaning has been hiding away with the flashcards, memorizing them as fast as he can so he never has to clean the toilet again. How's that for motivation?
Also, we've been doing those torturous Minute Drills - you know the ones that you had to do in school - 60 facts in one minute or 100 facts in five minutes. So, I wanted to give a plug to the website that has made my life easier as we go through this math speed journey. http://www.math-aids.com/
Math-Aids provides free customized worksheets of all kinds. We've really appreciated the easy to create, print and use drill sheets. I really love that it is free and easy to navigate. I encourage others to visit.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Tiger Mother, To Be or Not To Be
My child has a talent. She's going to throw it away. I'm going to let her. That's one way to parent and it's okay. But, oh, the guilt. And, then, I wonder what if?
What if someone - anyone really, this is not a jab at my mother, it's just a question - what if someone had recognized in me, a capacity for greatness and taken the time to push me to be great. What might I have accomplished if someone had invested in me? What skills would I have today?
I'm not trying to lay any blame. I went to public school with hundreds of other kids. I was average. There wasn't anything particularly special about me that would justify a stranger devoting their time and energy to push me to be something more than average.
It is an investment. It requires time and energy and a great deal of patience and persistence. Children don't appreciate what's being done on their behalf, and I wouldn't have either. I would have cried and protested and probably even thrown a few tantrums. I have no reason to expect anyone to invest in me. But, still, I wonder, what if someone had?
So, then to the real question: I can't change the past, I can only work in the present to effect the future; when I recognize the capacity for greatness in my child, what will I do about it? Will I let her be a child and behave childishly, and skip over all things difficult? Will I force her to push through the challenges because I can see what lies on the other side and she can't?
It's a decision every parent makes, even if it's made by default. For some the decision is easy; their own personality dictates how hard they will press their child. I want to be the mother who pushes her children to greatness. My heart and my mind tell me I must do this. I've seen the results when I do push. I want my child to see their potential for greatness and experience the successes that come with hard work and I want them to learn to push themselves.
But, I am also easily discouraged and often lazy. It takes so much work. I admit to my children that sometimes I am a Tiger Mother and sometimes I am a total slacker, but most days I fall somewhere in between.
On every day - I love them and want the best for them and I am always afraid of making the wrong choice. So, I pray every parent's prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept my children for who they are;
the courage to push them even when it's hard;
and the wisdom to know when it's better to just hold on for the ride.
Not sure what a Tiger Mother is? "The tiger mother's cubs are being raised to rule the world,... while the offspring of "weak-willed," "indulgent" Westerners are growing up ill equipped to compete..."
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043477,00.html#ixzz2HO0zcDYX
What if someone - anyone really, this is not a jab at my mother, it's just a question - what if someone had recognized in me, a capacity for greatness and taken the time to push me to be great. What might I have accomplished if someone had invested in me? What skills would I have today?
I'm not trying to lay any blame. I went to public school with hundreds of other kids. I was average. There wasn't anything particularly special about me that would justify a stranger devoting their time and energy to push me to be something more than average.
It is an investment. It requires time and energy and a great deal of patience and persistence. Children don't appreciate what's being done on their behalf, and I wouldn't have either. I would have cried and protested and probably even thrown a few tantrums. I have no reason to expect anyone to invest in me. But, still, I wonder, what if someone had?
So, then to the real question: I can't change the past, I can only work in the present to effect the future; when I recognize the capacity for greatness in my child, what will I do about it? Will I let her be a child and behave childishly, and skip over all things difficult? Will I force her to push through the challenges because I can see what lies on the other side and she can't?
It's a decision every parent makes, even if it's made by default. For some the decision is easy; their own personality dictates how hard they will press their child. I want to be the mother who pushes her children to greatness. My heart and my mind tell me I must do this. I've seen the results when I do push. I want my child to see their potential for greatness and experience the successes that come with hard work and I want them to learn to push themselves.
But, I am also easily discouraged and often lazy. It takes so much work. I admit to my children that sometimes I am a Tiger Mother and sometimes I am a total slacker, but most days I fall somewhere in between.
On every day - I love them and want the best for them and I am always afraid of making the wrong choice. So, I pray every parent's prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept my children for who they are;
the courage to push them even when it's hard;
and the wisdom to know when it's better to just hold on for the ride.
Not sure what a Tiger Mother is? "The tiger mother's cubs are being raised to rule the world,... while the offspring of "weak-willed," "indulgent" Westerners are growing up ill equipped to compete..."
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043477,00.html#ixzz2HO0zcDYX
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Homeschooling: Defining Failure
At the end of the homeschooling journey, somewhere around high school graduation or college graduation, or when they get a job or something like that. I don't know. When does homeschooling end? How do we know that we are finished? How do we know if we've succeeded?
I find myself wondering, not if I've succeeded, but in how many ways have I failed?
After four years of dance class, my child knows little more than the basic ballet steps that she learned in the first six months. Shouldn't she know more than that? She isn't on her way to the Royal Ballet, so who's fault is it? Hers? Her teachers? Or mine?
After two years of piano lessons, my child has no interest in playing a musical instrument and she can't even play a simple tune. I'll never hear her play Mozart at Carnegie Hall. Who's fault is that?
After seventeen years of teaching my child, she tests at a sixth grade level in math - I know this one is my fault. She scored high in every area and whizzed the un-timed math, but when it came to speed of calculations, she couldn't do it. My fault! I think flashcards are like torture; for me and for my child. But, because I failed to drill them, my child can not do math facts quickly. She knows them, but not fast enough.
I want to do better with the children who follow her. I don't want to feel as though I've failed them all. I don't want to do flashcards, but I feel guilty every day that goes by and I've skipped them.
How do we overcome this guilt?
I heard a speaker say that the most insecure people on earth are homeschooling moms.
We have no one to blame but ourselves.
How do you handle this issue?
I find myself wondering, not if I've succeeded, but in how many ways have I failed?
After four years of dance class, my child knows little more than the basic ballet steps that she learned in the first six months. Shouldn't she know more than that? She isn't on her way to the Royal Ballet, so who's fault is it? Hers? Her teachers? Or mine?
After two years of piano lessons, my child has no interest in playing a musical instrument and she can't even play a simple tune. I'll never hear her play Mozart at Carnegie Hall. Who's fault is that?
After seventeen years of teaching my child, she tests at a sixth grade level in math - I know this one is my fault. She scored high in every area and whizzed the un-timed math, but when it came to speed of calculations, she couldn't do it. My fault! I think flashcards are like torture; for me and for my child. But, because I failed to drill them, my child can not do math facts quickly. She knows them, but not fast enough.
I want to do better with the children who follow her. I don't want to feel as though I've failed them all. I don't want to do flashcards, but I feel guilty every day that goes by and I've skipped them.
How do we overcome this guilt?
I heard a speaker say that the most insecure people on earth are homeschooling moms.
We have no one to blame but ourselves.
How do you handle this issue?
Thursday, January 3, 2013
My 5K, This is Too Easy
Day Two of my quest to complete a 5K run. I started out yesterday trying out the Couch to 5K training schedule.
It didn't go so well.
Today, I tried again. I stayed in my slippers and skipped the running shoes; I mean, who am I kidding? I set the timer for 25 minutes and headed out through the house, shouting out orders as I went.
"Ethan, put away the K'Nex"
"Jacob, get the Lego's out from under the couch"
"Tyler, sweep the floor."
After the first five minutes, I had a little parade of giggling followers. They thought it was a game, like follow the leader. I kept marching and jogging (I'm really glad we live in a huge old house with large rooms and plenty of room to run around). As I came to a toy or piece of clothing or trash, I sent one of my little copy cats off on a mission to put it away.
Then, I turned on some music. I bought this CD set called "CardioBoost". It has three CD's. It's filled with "pumped-up hits". It was perfect. It energized everyone and by the time the 25 minute timer went off, I felt like I could keep going (although I was sweaty and my legs were hurting), and the playroom was clean too.
It was great. I think it's an awesome way to start the day.
But, it was too easy, I think. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to fool my children into cleaning up like this every day. But, I plan to try it again.
It didn't go so well.
Today, I tried again. I stayed in my slippers and skipped the running shoes; I mean, who am I kidding? I set the timer for 25 minutes and headed out through the house, shouting out orders as I went.
"Ethan, put away the K'Nex"
"Jacob, get the Lego's out from under the couch"
"Tyler, sweep the floor."
After the first five minutes, I had a little parade of giggling followers. They thought it was a game, like follow the leader. I kept marching and jogging (I'm really glad we live in a huge old house with large rooms and plenty of room to run around). As I came to a toy or piece of clothing or trash, I sent one of my little copy cats off on a mission to put it away.
Then, I turned on some music. I bought this CD set called "CardioBoost". It has three CD's. It's filled with "pumped-up hits". It was perfect. It energized everyone and by the time the 25 minute timer went off, I felt like I could keep going (although I was sweaty and my legs were hurting), and the playroom was clean too.
It was great. I think it's an awesome way to start the day.
But, it was too easy, I think. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to fool my children into cleaning up like this every day. But, I plan to try it again.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
My 5K, Day One
I accepted an invitation to participate in a 5K run. I can't quite figure out why I said yes. I think I must have had a moment of delusion. There is a reason this blog is called One Crazy Lady - sometimes I do things that just can not be explained by any rational person.
So, here I am. I've committed. Now, I have until June 8th to prepare myself or quit.
There is this voice in my head (I'm pretty sure my mother put it there) telling me "You said you would, so now you have to." So, now I have to.
I tried to run track in high school. I was bad at it. I've never really had the speed or the endurance to be a racer. But, this isn't a race, it's just a run... speed is not important, endurance is. All I have to do is make it to the end. Technically, I could "walk" it, but, really?
I can do this. At least, I think I can.
I thought I would start with this training plan from the Couch 2 5K program. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Day One says: Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
So, here I am. I've committed. Now, I have until June 8th to prepare myself or quit.
There is this voice in my head (I'm pretty sure my mother put it there) telling me "You said you would, so now you have to." So, now I have to.
I tried to run track in high school. I was bad at it. I've never really had the speed or the endurance to be a racer. But, this isn't a race, it's just a run... speed is not important, endurance is. All I have to do is make it to the end. Technically, I could "walk" it, but, really?
I can do this. At least, I think I can.
I thought I would start with this training plan from the Couch 2 5K program. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Day One says: Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
I changed out of a skirt and into comfy pants, put on socks and dug my Reeboks out of the back of the closet. I set up a track in my house with chair placement to give me a figure eight to walk. I completed the five minute walk with no problems, although five minutes is a long time when you are just walking in circles. AND, all I kept thinking about was how much I needed to vacuum the floor.
I got a drink of water and started the timer for twenty minutes. Four minutes in, the phone rang. My daughter needed directions, so then I was online looking them up for her. When I got off the phone, I went back to the kitchen and found out that I hadn't actually paused the timer and it had run out.
So, then, instead of starting over, I decided to vacuum the floor. Now, I'm looking for the step by step plan that gradually gets me to Day One of the C25K program.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)