Battleground.
We are indeed having a splendid time in Sri Lanka, the only hurdle we seem to have not overcome yet is homework time – it’s a battleground and I don’t cope well with it.
I get incredibly frustrated and upset when one or both the children refuse to engage their brains, they / we can make whole activity unbearable.
Arlo isn’t a natural writer and it can take us hours to write a recollection piece about an experience we’ve had, there’s usually tears, threats and sulks – and that just me. He loves his maths and is happy extending his lead at the top of the TT Rockstars Maths web site.
Henna struggles with settling into her maths homework on the My Maths web site, she refuses to ask for help and instead will sit in tears until I end up sending her away to have a think about how she could better deal with the situation. I am not totally blameless in this, I get frustrated and angry because I try to help her but she just shuts down.
She loves to write so her journal and her blogs are coming on great and she needs no encouragement with this. Her drawings are superb and she’s really getting into the swing of sketching.
John and I have to play tag team on this, if I’m upset with Arlo (and he with me), we’ll swap over and I’ll sit with Henna and attempt to help her, if Henna isn’t happy to include me then John will try, usually one of us works with either child and we get through it after much pain and pissing about. A task that should take an hour or so ends up in a painful, whole morning or afternoon drama.
Both kids have already ’emailed’ their teachers to ask for help.
Any advice on how we can all get better at this is greatly appreciated. 😞
19 COMMENTS
They are learning a lot of new things while they are out there. They will soon pick up their education when they get back. Don’t be too hard on them. They are fantastic kids. Love nana gwen xxx
Thanks for reassurance Gwen, you’re right, they are great kids and I need to lay off a bit.
They’re still adjusting to this new set up. we all are. They’re actually more up to date with their journals than I am with mine. It’ll all be fine.
Don’t worry Colette. They will be just fine, they’re probably still in holiday mode….woo hoo!!! Try just 5 or 10 mins sessions on the subjects they’re not so keen on to get a few quick wins and build up from there as they get used to the new set up….just a thought. We’re really enjoying reading what you’re all getting up to. Sending lots of love from us all
Thanks S, the voice of reason.
Totally understand C but let it go ( it my best Elsa voice). YOUR homework is to read up more on unschooling. Our kids are learning everyday no matter where they are and your kids are have an exceptional experience learning things they will never learn at school or at home. Henna can learn maths thru budgeting the daily finances with her shrew Mama or something make it a game. Let her run with her writing if she loves in she’s gonna have sooo much to inspire her on this trip. Arlo will listen and learn from u reading with him make games out it all. My E has never had a formal lesson in his life and his reading is coming along just fine. I’ll be expecting a full report of ur homework C. xo
Thanks H, I’ll look at your ‘unschooling’ suggestion.
We all have these fights and it never brings the best out in any parent. It might be a case of teaching your own children to drive, not many parents can do it. How would they feel if someone else set their homework ‘an online teacher (friend) that would also mark their work? Can Henna apply her maths problems to the real world. If she is doing fractions how can she work out her carbon footprint for her next flight and then times it by 4 for the family. Can Arlo be writing the next LEGO movie script all about his adventures that will be a hit on you tube.
Still very early days, everyone has to need their own rhythm and kids always take longer than us. Enjoy the adventure it’s not all about text books and numbers.
They really have done loads of all kinds of stuff. Both got the coding bug early on and we found a new app that taught them lots. Henna’s fine with her maths – she just catastrophizes (I know that’s spelt wrong) when she can’t do a new aspect of it first time. Once she accepts a bit of help and guidance, she gets back on the horse and flies with it. In her own words she believes she ‘should know it all before she knows it all’ if that makes any sense. Arlo’s got a great imagination and wants to invent things. It’s a good idea to let him go off on a tangent and take some of the stuff he’s loved seeing/ doing and create new animals/ places/ happenings. Let’s face it – we’re 3 weeks into a 35 week trip. They’ve continued their learning when all else were still in the swing of Christmas. So much more than any of that is their confidence, worldly-wiseness and thirst for knowledge in all it’s forms. Henna will be quick to convert currencies and work out if something is a good deal (10p ice cream!) or timescales for walks or steps to be climbed. Arlo observes the most wonderful intricacies of the world around him and offers up his own take on it. And BOTH are really taking the ‘let’s do this’ attitude by the scruff of the neck. Arlo will stop and talk to anyone now and if either want to know something, they know to just go straight to the source and ask – people rarely brush off an inquisitive kid! Meanwhile, I’ve still not found time to edit down video footage – too busy living it!
You had to mention the CF word didn’t you?
I would forget about homework and let them develop their learning as it comes naturally to them throughout the trip. They are in a completely different environment, without their peers or teachers so trying to concentrate on school type acitvity is bound to be hard. Let them write when they have something they want to write about and work things out with numbers as part of this adventure. Don’t let your memories of this trip be peppered with homework struggles! They won’t fall behind, They are bright kids and are absorbing so much already and learning from everywhere they go. They will be so.much more confident when they come back to school that they will pick up on anything they have missed in the blink of an eye. So relax, enjoy the experiences you are sharing with them and make happy memories. Don’t worry! Xxx
Totally agree with Helen. John sounds like you guys are all good, forget the homework sessions. Life is an education and you guys are letting them live it xo
Thanks H!
Thanks H… Very calming words from you as usual.
Try my best x
Keep calm and carry on…The more you get upset the worse it becomes…I remember my Dad throwing my maths homework across the room as I was so slow and difficult…yet I survived to tell the tale…You have two very bright children, who will no doubt get the most out of life….just enjoy ….love H
Hey, if Boris can be appointed Foreign Sec with his complete lack of basic maths (£350bn anyone?)…there’s your answer.
Even as a deputy head I (*hangs head in shame*) think that formal homework is a load of pants and little is learnt from it other than frustration and trying to get it out of the way. Your children are learning a phenomenal amount from this journey you are on together as a family; precious and powerful moments that will develop them and stay with them forever… more than a maths app ever will.
Hello! Don’t be too hard on yourselves. You’re all learning a new routine and are adjusting. As kids go through school, they understand what is expected of them (especially by the time they are in Years 5 and 2). They understand that they have to learn in a certain way. You guys are all learning in a different way and this is wonderful. It just might take a bit of time to get used to it! If Tom were here, I’m sure he’d be advocating the importance of learning character values, which I’m sure you are learning by the bucketful!! You are doing brilliantly, I’m sure. Not sure I’d even have adjusted to the temperature difference yet!! Much love from us xxxxx
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