Tip 1
In a class on early education I recalled the story of how Rabbis used to make school enjoyable. After a little research I found this article, from which I have chosen a few excerpts.
Around the twelfth century a custom developed in Germany of bringing a child to school for the first time. … The rabbi reads every letter of the alef-bet and the child repeats after him.
Then the rabbi puts a little honey on the slate and the child licks the honey from the letters with his tongue. A child who licks honey from a slate … will immediately understand that the Torah is “as sweet as honey”.
Since attitude is a big part of education, let’s do what we can to make learning enjoyable. I don’t have a long list of suggestions, but here are a few that may help to prime the pump.
Perhaps you could begin every day with what some schools call “free exploration.” This is where the classroom teacher encourages each of the students to play with their blocks for 10 minutes to begin each class.
Or, take the number of the date, and express it in different ways. For example, if it is September 5th, use the 5 and express that number as 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5, or 4 + 1 = 5, or 6 – 1 = 5, or 2 x 2 + 1 = 5, or 10 ÷ 2 = 5. You could do this with all of your scholars around the breakfast table and see the older and younger students each use their skill set to contribute a suggestion.
Perhaps the last one to get up in the morning would have to sing a skip count song when he or she appears at the breakfast table. Well, maybe this wouldn’t be fun for the person who is late; it sounds too much like boot camp.
Tip 2
Part of making learning enjoyable is experiencing success. As school begins for the year, take it slow at first, do some review, and let the brain have time to recall what has already been learned. Maybe you could review the last three lessons from last spring by watching the DVD and working the example problems in the instruction manual.
Or perhaps you, as the teacher, could walk through a lesson step-by-step: building, writing, and saying. Work several problems while the student just observes, with no pressure to do any by himself for a few days. When the student does begin to solve problems, make sure they are doable and within the grasp of his or her math abilities. Nothing succeeds like success!
May you and your student each have fun and experience success this school year,
Steve
Enjoy the testimony of the month from a home school mum in Canada. Aye?
Hi Steve,
Just wanted to let you know that after 12 years of Math-U-See, our son is on a 120K scholarship to the Royal Military College of Canada to become an engineer. His feedback, ”Mum, I’m over-prepared!” What a blessing to see the fruit of our labour. Math-U-See was definitely a highlight. The program was so easy to use and obviously the lessons were learned.
Thank you!
Stephanie
