Foul
is about the only way to describe my mood lately. Normally I can attribute it to my time of the month, but I know it’s not that this time. I’m just a grumpy cow 
I think it’s mostly down to me doing a *lot* of thinking about our learning styles at the moment and it’s just really taking its toll. I’m finding it utterly fascinating though. I’ve been talking with James a lot about it and for the first time really in the last 6 years he’s ‘getting’ why we’re doing HE. The reason I think he’s getting it is because we’ve been talking about the Right Brain stuff and we think that is what James is like. Which has finally showed him that he’s not as stupid as he’s always believed and as everyone (school, his parents etc) have thought of him. He recognizes so many of the things I’m telling him and it’s like a light has switched on in him. It’s quite fun really! So he’s seeing that if this is a part of the kids in whatever way then school won’t help them either.
I do recognise a lot of RB things in both kids, specifically in M and to some extent in A though i’m not sure how much with A. My dilemma is how to proceed with everything. I don’t want to be pushing them and really that’s the beauty of HE isn’t it? But I think this is what’s stressing me. From what I read about it things like reading and maths computation are going to come later (like age 8-10), they’ll get maths concepts but remembering the facts will be a long slog. But these are the things that I know they are judged on by people like James’ dad and I feel like it’s just not what I need. We were at his house the other day and something was on the telly and he was showing M some words and I said ‘he can’t read that it was too quick’ and straight away he was saying ‘oh he should be reading by now’ and it reminds me how against it all they are. Ugh. I do find it all hard.
Anyway I got a book about it all today (ignore the ADD thing, it’s more just about RB learners, I don’t actually think my 2 have ADD or anything like that) so I’ve been reading more about it and have some ideas to help so I think the next few months are going to be spent watching and trying to work out how they both learn better so I can tailor what we’re doing. Feels like such hard work I have to say!!
grrr to the judgers of he. I look at m and a, seeing 2 happy well adjusted kids that have enthusiasm. i don’t think they would be reading any faster at school - after all, how could they? they wouldn’t get the 1 2 1 or the attention you give them. it would be stressful, they may be already switched off to reading, and anything else. hope the books prove an inspiration.
Comment by HelenJ — August 29, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
That’s interesting Kirsty, I’ve been reading a bit about different learning styles recently.
The thinking part of HE is occasionally draining isn’t it? (I try to do the minimum possible)
Comment by layla — August 29, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
lol yes it’s been a while since I’ve done any major thinking about it! i think that’s why it’s taking it’s toll so much. Plus am fed up of summr holidays, will be glad when schools are back.
Thanks Helen - it makes sense to us, but I fear it will never to James’ dad. james def seems more on board now though, not that he wasn’t really unhappy about it, I think he just always saw it as something that was my forte. He sees himself as no help in the process I think, but now he’s seeing himself in the kids and can see there are positives that can come out of it. Hope that made sense -is late!
Comment by Administrator — August 29, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
I’ll be glad when the neighbours are back at school too. Want to wander over soon?
Comment by Sarah, Dino and Mimi — August 29, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
looks an interesting book, I’m still enjoying the monte one.
Comment by jax — August 30, 2007 @ 10:02 am