...Only when ready

After 3 years of my eldest daughter in school, I noticed that the lessons are just constantly repeating and I wonder why this is so, Then I've come to realize that the schools now are not paying attention to the developmental readiness of each child.

I remember when my daughter was still a baby, I've read that not all babies develop at the same pace. Some may be early crawlers, or early walkers. Some may eat on their own by 1 some may be up and running at before a year old. We respect each child's individuality. we don't scold them, we don't reprimand, we don't consider it as a disappointment. We expect them to learn things on their own pace. Then parents put them to school at age 3 (others at 2 1/2 yrs) and all of this respect for their individuality gets thrown out the window. They are now expected to do what other children can do at certain time of the year. They're now expected to do what other children do at a certain time of the day. They become just a number in the statistics. A nursery student in a class of 20, for example.

When nursery students are expected to trace the names of the colors and your child simply doesn't want to, your child gets a low grade for that. What if the child simply isn't ready for writing but he is very artistic and likes painting and coloring instead of writing the names, wouldn't that be a more appropriate way of teaching colors. What if a child doesn't like reading the words in the flash card but gives his full attention to reading books with lots of illustrations, wouldn't that be enough to enrich his vocabulary skills. What if a child seems to be lazy when answering loads of worksheets but actively participates in games, wouldn't the lessons incorporated in games be more appropriate in  teaching that child. In school, it isn't. Because what is accepted and deserves an excellent grade is a child who can do whatever the teacher tells him to do, with no respect to his character and individualism.

The schools now are so focused on academics that they move more and more topics and more and more subjects to a lower year. It seems now that the trend for schools is whoever teaches the most subject is perceived as the better school. And subjects taught are only those that can be graded, how about life skills, how about habits and values. If they can't be graded then it is at the bottom of the priority list of things to teach.

Why would they include the names of the continents when a child hasn't even memorized the letters of his name? Why would you teach the parts of a grasshopper when he doesn't even know what insects are? Then they teach colors and shapes for three consecutive years with the same objectives each time?

In school, it's all about following a certain syllabus at a certain time. The child's interest, developmental readiness, learning style, basically his individuality is not given importance. Sad but true!

I believe that teaching is most effective when the focus is on the learner. You teach what they are ready to learn. You teach when they are ready to learn. You teach in a way they learn most. You teach what is important to learn. You will be able to teach well when you learn about the one you are teaching.

Teaching a 6y/o and a 2y/o together

How do you teach a 6y/o and a 2y/o at the same time? This is how I manage…

Late this morning while taking their breakfast, we started our Saturday homeschool sessions. I asked my 6y/o to pick any plant from our pocket garden and try to draw it (Nature Study).

While she is doing this I gave my little boy a place of his own to draw and scribble as well. He is now practicing his fine motor skills to prepare him for writing. Here he is proudly showing his work.

Just as expected, the 2y/o was just at it for a few minutes. Then he started to become restless. So, we moved on to the next activity: "Big and Small". I showed him drawings of objects that are big and small. I drew the objects using crayons because I noticed that colourful pictures get his attention longer than just plain drawings. Plus, it gives us a chance to review lessons about colors. (Colors and Sizes)

Meanwhile, the 6y/o just finished drawing so I asked her to label the different parts of the plant (Science). Since the 2y/o was now all over the place looking for something else to do, I asked him to water the plants (Science: taking care of plants). It is an activity that he likes to do all by himself.

After awhile the 2y/o was again distracted and wanted his picture taken.

After the 6y/o finished labeling the parts, I asked her if she wanted to color her work, and so she did. (Arts) While waiting for the6y/o to finish coloring, the 2y/o now moved on to the next topic: animals. He pretended to be a dog, down on his hands and legs while barking.

Finally the 6y/o is done.

So after their morning activity, they had a break and let loose. (P.E.)

Then they're off to take a bath while I prepare for lunch. And that's a wrap of our morning session.