Date: 5/6/2004Brenda wrote:We just started MFWK. My ds is just five last month. We slowly started school only every other day and skipping some of the learning your letters stuff as he knows that already. We did some review but just quick and easy review.
Ok, we started with the letter S today. I did everything as instructed so I could have a good idea of the program, how it runs, etc. Even though ds flew through some things that was fine as he struggled with others.
DS struggles a lot with verbalizing his thoughts or answers. Am I expecting too much from him? As I ask the questions from the TM I expect him to have listened to some of the things I have said and be able to answer. He can't. If I tell him the answer several times and ask him to repeat what I have said, he will come close.
He can talk all day long in complete thoughts and sentences about absolutely anything until my ears ring from his nonstop chatter. However when it comes to answering my questions it comes to a screeching halt. His speech is closer to a 3 y.o. He answers in simple one word statements in a 3 y.o. voice.
For example, tomorrow we are to emphasize that the sun helps us see where we are going so we don't get hurt. Then ask, "How is the sun like Jesus?" which we discussed today and will discuss again tomorrow. I know he will not be able to answer. He will look at me and say a one word answer that makes no sense.
How can I work around this? through this? with this?
Brenda
mother to ds 5 and dd 2
Your situation sounds too familiar - and I can imagine the same scenario around thousands of hsing tables around the world :)
I wouldn't give up - but I would be sensitive to the fact that analogies (like how Jesus is similar to the sun) and critical thinking skills come very slowly...especially at age 5. In fact, the steps to success are sometimes so slow they seem invisible :) The key is patience and perseverance.
One thing that helps me is to try to remember how hard it sometimes is to communicate things "I" know to other people. Take electricity for example - or even certain doctrines that I completely believe and understand....until my neighbor asks me to explain them!
There is a small possibility that your son has some learning problems - many times these don't show up until school age - but I would give him a little more time. Your job is to make learning a pleasurable (fairly non-stressful) experience and I know MFW is a great tool for that.
Blessings-
Debbie Pittman, mom to 11 (7 boys who've kept me on my knees <g> and 4 girls), homeschooling for 19 yrs and still trying to figure it out!