children testing children
sonyacurti
This is what I hate about the holidays.
Children testing my son !!
They spell words and ask him.
More than one child has done it.
I know that other adults are probably looking at me like what does
she do with him ?????? Yeah the work books and flash cards for the
beggining site words were the first tell-tale signs LOL.....I know
in my heart everything is fine and that he will be reading when he
is ready. I also know that he is a happy child who gets to play a
lot while other children are getting information jammed down their
throats. I can see this is going to get questioned more and more
though. My son is 7 going on 8 this May and cannot read so now he
will be compared to other kids in our family that are in school. I
usally ignore them just like I think my son does but I was wondering
if any one had any words of wisdom ???
Thanks,
Sonya
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Children testing my son !!
They spell words and ask him.
More than one child has done it.
I know that other adults are probably looking at me like what does
she do with him ?????? Yeah the work books and flash cards for the
beggining site words were the first tell-tale signs LOL.....I know
in my heart everything is fine and that he will be reading when he
is ready. I also know that he is a happy child who gets to play a
lot while other children are getting information jammed down their
throats. I can see this is going to get questioned more and more
though. My son is 7 going on 8 this May and cannot read so now he
will be compared to other kids in our family that are in school. I
usally ignore them just like I think my son does but I was wondering
if any one had any words of wisdom ???
Thanks,
Sonya
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Wife2Vegman
--- sonyacurti <jcurtielectric@...> wrote:
bothers the parent because we see it for what it is, a
judgement on our choices, but the kids just see it as
a game that they are taught in school. Even other
homeschoolers do it to my kids. I know of a 6yo who
quizzes my 5yo in math and reading, until I remind him
that Aaron is a year younger.
If it does bother your son, help him develop some
really interesting questions about the things he knows
that he can ask them back, things they might not know
because they are in school.
=====
--Susan in VA
WifetoVegman
What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all. John Holt
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing.
http://photos.yahoo.com/
> IDoes it bother him to be quizzed? Sometimes it
> usally ignore them just like I think my son does but
> I was wondering
> if any one had any words of wisdom ???
> Thanks,
> Sonya
> Attleboro, Massachusetts
>
>
bothers the parent because we see it for what it is, a
judgement on our choices, but the kids just see it as
a game that they are taught in school. Even other
homeschoolers do it to my kids. I know of a 6yo who
quizzes my 5yo in math and reading, until I remind him
that Aaron is a year younger.
If it does bother your son, help him develop some
really interesting questions about the things he knows
that he can ask them back, things they might not know
because they are in school.
=====
--Susan in VA
WifetoVegman
What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all. John Holt
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing.
http://photos.yahoo.com/
Holly Furgason
My oldest son (now 18) still has scars from the way schooled kids
treated him. :-( We moved when he was 10 (and not reading yet) to an
apartment in a big complex in the city after we had been living on a
farm in NH and the testing got so much worse.
After we thought about it and talked about it, we dicided that he
could come up with his own "tests". So when the kids would ask him
something like "how much is 234,628x73,410" (which they didn't know
the answer to anyway!) he would answer with a question of his own;
who were the Gods on Mount Olympus or what is the definition of a
Shakespearian comedy- something like that. That shut the kids right
up.
The funniest time was when some nasty woman asked him in front of the
kids in theatre class after finding out he was hsed who discovered
America. (I hate that and now we know where the kids get it from.)
He went on to explain about land bridges, reed rafts, Vikings and
several other theories and then told about the 9,000 year old
skeleton they had just found in the Pacific Northwest. He never
mentioned Columbus. When he went into class she looked at me very
confused and said, "I just expected him to say 'Columbus'"
After we got home, I aksed him why he never said anything about
Columbus. I knew he knew that that was the short answer to the
question and I knew he knew the year, the names of the ships etc. He
looked at me and with all seriousness said, "It's obvious that
Columbus didn't discover America- there were already people here.
That answer is wrong!" He was 12.
Holly
--- In [email protected], "sonyacurti"
<jcurtielectric@m...> wrote:
treated him. :-( We moved when he was 10 (and not reading yet) to an
apartment in a big complex in the city after we had been living on a
farm in NH and the testing got so much worse.
After we thought about it and talked about it, we dicided that he
could come up with his own "tests". So when the kids would ask him
something like "how much is 234,628x73,410" (which they didn't know
the answer to anyway!) he would answer with a question of his own;
who were the Gods on Mount Olympus or what is the definition of a
Shakespearian comedy- something like that. That shut the kids right
up.
The funniest time was when some nasty woman asked him in front of the
kids in theatre class after finding out he was hsed who discovered
America. (I hate that and now we know where the kids get it from.)
He went on to explain about land bridges, reed rafts, Vikings and
several other theories and then told about the 9,000 year old
skeleton they had just found in the Pacific Northwest. He never
mentioned Columbus. When he went into class she looked at me very
confused and said, "I just expected him to say 'Columbus'"
After we got home, I aksed him why he never said anything about
Columbus. I knew he knew that that was the short answer to the
question and I knew he knew the year, the names of the ships etc. He
looked at me and with all seriousness said, "It's obvious that
Columbus didn't discover America- there were already people here.
That answer is wrong!" He was 12.
Holly
--- In [email protected], "sonyacurti"
<jcurtielectric@m...> wrote:
> This is what I hate about the holidays.wondering
> Children testing my son !!
> They spell words and ask him.
> More than one child has done it.
> I know that other adults are probably looking at me like what does
> she do with him ?????? Yeah the work books and flash cards for the
> beggining site words were the first tell-tale signs LOL.....I know
> in my heart everything is fine and that he will be reading when he
> is ready. I also know that he is a happy child who gets to play a
> lot while other children are getting information jammed down their
> throats. I can see this is going to get questioned more and more
> though. My son is 7 going on 8 this May and cannot read so now he
> will be compared to other kids in our family that are in school. I
> usally ignore them just like I think my son does but I was
> if any one had any words of wisdom ???
> Thanks,
> Sonya
> Attleboro, Massachusetts
J. Stauffer
<<<<< I
If its not worrying your son, blow it off.
My dd had this happen to her once when she was the "new kid" at a gymnastics
class. They got really mean about it. So I pointed out to Adriane all the
things she knows that those girls don't (how many pounds of milk make a
gallon, how to tell when a goat is in labor, that chickens need sunlight to
lay eggs, etc.)......she wasn't particularly impressed because in her young
mind, EVERYBODY knows THAT, mom.
So she wanted curriculum, wanted to learn her multiplication tables....so I
said ok. I pointed out tools we had (sing-song tapes about it, math blaster
games, etc.) that would help her memorize multiplication tables. She worked
really hard for about 3 days. She memorized her tables, realized that it
was not rocket science, not something she particularly needed at that point
in her life, and promptly forgot them.
Adriane just needed to see for herself that there was nothing magical about
what was going on in school.....that she could most certainly do any of that
herself if she chose to.....that there are many more interesting things to
do than memorize numbers.
Now that Adriane is 13, it never happens. She is smart, confident,
verbal........no one ever asks about her times tables now.
Julie S.
> usally ignore them just like I think my son does but I was wondering********************************************
> if any one had any words of wisdom ???>>>>>>
If its not worrying your son, blow it off.
My dd had this happen to her once when she was the "new kid" at a gymnastics
class. They got really mean about it. So I pointed out to Adriane all the
things she knows that those girls don't (how many pounds of milk make a
gallon, how to tell when a goat is in labor, that chickens need sunlight to
lay eggs, etc.)......she wasn't particularly impressed because in her young
mind, EVERYBODY knows THAT, mom.
So she wanted curriculum, wanted to learn her multiplication tables....so I
said ok. I pointed out tools we had (sing-song tapes about it, math blaster
games, etc.) that would help her memorize multiplication tables. She worked
really hard for about 3 days. She memorized her tables, realized that it
was not rocket science, not something she particularly needed at that point
in her life, and promptly forgot them.
Adriane just needed to see for herself that there was nothing magical about
what was going on in school.....that she could most certainly do any of that
herself if she chose to.....that there are many more interesting things to
do than memorize numbers.
Now that Adriane is 13, it never happens. She is smart, confident,
verbal........no one ever asks about her times tables now.
Julie S.
----- Original Message -----
From: "sonyacurti" <jcurtielectric@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 7:33 AM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] children testing children
> This is what I hate about the holidays.
> Children testing my son !!
> They spell words and ask him.
> More than one child has done it.
> I know that other adults are probably looking at me like what does
> she do with him ?????? Yeah the work books and flash cards for the
> beggining site words were the first tell-tale signs LOL.....I know
> in my heart everything is fine and that he will be reading when he
> is ready. I also know that he is a happy child who gets to play a
> lot while other children are getting information jammed down their
> throats. I can see this is going to get questioned more and more
> though. My son is 7 going on 8 this May and cannot read so now he
> will be compared to other kids in our family that are in school.> Thanks,
> Sonya
> Attleboro, Massachusetts
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/31/03 8:36:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
jcurtielectric@... writes:
to be tested he would be in school" Or from the child "if I wanted to be
tested I would be in school".
We use that a lot. LOL
Pam G
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jcurtielectric@... writes:
> Children testing my son !!Wasn't it someone on this list who had the brilliant comeback "If he wanted
> They spell words and ask him.
> More than one child has done it
to be tested he would be in school" Or from the child "if I wanted to be
tested I would be in school".
We use that a lot. LOL
Pam G
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lyle W.
In a message dated 12/31/03 8:36:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
jcurtielectric@... writes:
Sometimes they don't know what it means, they only know the 'answer'. Dylan went to school for a few years, so he knows how the game is played. Most tests only require answers, why learn anything more than that?
Lyle
***Always remember, Lead By Example***
--
___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm
jcurtielectric@... writes:
> Children testing my son !!We've used those too, and another one of my son's favorites is when someone asks him a question and he doesn't know the answer, he says, "I don't know, what's the answer?", and IF they can give him the answer he then asks, "Ok, what does that mean?"
> They spell words and ask him.
> More than one child has done it
>Wasn't it someone on this list who had the brilliant >comeback "If he wanted
>to be tested he would be in school" Or from the >child "if I wanted to be
>tested I would be in school".
>We use that a lot. LOL
>Pam G
Sometimes they don't know what it means, they only know the 'answer'. Dylan went to school for a few years, so he knows how the game is played. Most tests only require answers, why learn anything more than that?
Lyle
***Always remember, Lead By Example***
--
___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm
Mary
I knew my in laws were going to start that with Joseph. So as soon as I
heard the first test start, I simply said we didn't do that kind of that
thing with him. That pretty much stopped most of it right away, lucky me.
But there were still times when they just couldn't help themselves. Joseph
wasn't up on school stuff so always wanted to know why they other person was
asking him? Didn't they know the answer to the question. He made it so
difficult for them, they stopped asking!!!!! And I always let him know he
didn't have to play that game with them. So he was confident that he could
say no he didn't want to do that.
Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com
heard the first test start, I simply said we didn't do that kind of that
thing with him. That pretty much stopped most of it right away, lucky me.
But there were still times when they just couldn't help themselves. Joseph
wasn't up on school stuff so always wanted to know why they other person was
asking him? Didn't they know the answer to the question. He made it so
difficult for them, they stopped asking!!!!! And I always let him know he
didn't have to play that game with them. So he was confident that he could
say no he didn't want to do that.
Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com
pam sorooshian
On Dec 31, 2003, at 8:14 AM, Lyle W. wrote:
honestly asking - it is friendly and interested and she really wants to
know how she learns anything. She asks her what she does all day.
She'll see her at soccer practice in the evening and want to know,
"What did you do TODAY?" Rosie says, "I watch TV, go to the grocery
store with my mom, play games, play dolls, play with my dog, go to the
park with my friends, go to a movie, read books, ...."
The other day, I heard her friend say, "How are you going to know stuff
like formulas for science?"
Rosie says, "Like what formulas?"
Her friend, "Like formulas for gravity and rates and stuff?"
Rosie: "What are they for?"
Friend: "To figure out stuff."
Rosie: "Tell me some of them."
Friend: "Well, I can't remember any right now but we had to know a
whole bunch of them for a test last Monday."
Rosie: "Well, if you remember any, tell me."
Then they ran off playing and I didn't hear any more.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
> "I don't know, what's the answer?", and IF they can give him theRosie's friend regularly asks her "How do you LEARN anything?" She's
> answer he then asks, "Ok, what does that mean?"
>
> Sometimes they don't know what it means, they only know the 'answer'.
honestly asking - it is friendly and interested and she really wants to
know how she learns anything. She asks her what she does all day.
She'll see her at soccer practice in the evening and want to know,
"What did you do TODAY?" Rosie says, "I watch TV, go to the grocery
store with my mom, play games, play dolls, play with my dog, go to the
park with my friends, go to a movie, read books, ...."
The other day, I heard her friend say, "How are you going to know stuff
like formulas for science?"
Rosie says, "Like what formulas?"
Her friend, "Like formulas for gravity and rates and stuff?"
Rosie: "What are they for?"
Friend: "To figure out stuff."
Rosie: "Tell me some of them."
Friend: "Well, I can't remember any right now but we had to know a
whole bunch of them for a test last Monday."
Rosie: "Well, if you remember any, tell me."
Then they ran off playing and I didn't hear any more.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
Tia Leschke
>One unschooler told the kid who was trying to test him to, "Do your own
>Wasn't it someone on this list who had the brilliant comeback "If he wanted
>to be tested he would be in school" Or from the child "if I wanted to be
>tested I would be in school".
homework. You'll never learn anything if you get me to do it for you." <g>
Tia