Quote:
Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy
Go back to regular school. Seriously. Academics are important, obviously, but I would argue that social skills are even more so. There are many jobs that don't require academic aptitude, but not many that allow you to be antisocial. I have a good friend who was homeschooled up until highschool, he described himself as "socially retarded". This is despite his parents being very involved in their church and other activities. You simply cannot replace spending 8 hrs/day every day in a school setting. Not very helpful, I know, but it's something I feel strongly about. I think parents who homeschool are putting their kids at a disadvantage. Rant over.  |
Very well put Matt; although I wouldn't call that a 'rant'?
I have a similar background as you KC, with math being easy for me and assisting others to learn more difficult courses. So I think the key for you in helping out the boy is to take in the info and then re-teach it in your own method. I'm sure you'll have success. Trouble with math is that it's compounding, if you don't know that 2+3=5; you're sure not going to understand 2x3=6; once they fall behind in learing 100%, the next lesson will be more challenging.
As for home schooling, I'm with Matt on the social skill thing. My kids go to Private School, however we've encouraged many activities outside the school with sports and church. You'd think as a straight A student myself, that my kids grades would be important to me. The thing is, my grades came easy, where most have to work at it? I dunno? What I do believe though is that it is far more important for kids to learn a value system.
I've taught my kids many lessons and the important ones that I've emphasized over and over are:
1. Family is the most important
I've taught my kids to be best friends with each other. I've showed them through countless examples of how their relationships with each other must be protected, respected and preserved; now at their ages it is one of their most powerful traits.
2. Right from Wrong, Good from Bad.
My wife and I have lived our lives by example for our children. Nuff said.
3. Failure
Too many people today call it quits too soon; but also they don't understand the concepts of failing forward. All greatness is accompanied by more failure than any success; to be great at something truly means that you were the best failure at it. I've taught my kids the power of true failure. I've shown them by many examples how to apply rule #2 to rule #3.
I've always said that the best thing a parent could ever teach their child is "how to fail."
The best thing you could ever do for your child is to "love their mother."
Peace!