Do you partner with your child?
One of your roles as a teacher is to partner with your child in his/her education. So, what happens when your child is running behind, or is frustrated, or has gotten a late start? It is up to you to determine how this affects the day. When this happens at our house, I have two choices. I can either be very upset, or I can partner with my child. If I choose to be very upset, I am setting a mood of frustration for the day. If I choose to partner with my child, there is a sense of relief. Through the years I have learned that partnering with my kids is the better plan of action!
What does partnering with your child mean?
Partnering means that I jump in and do whatever it takes to get my child back on track. I am not a skipper by nature, simply because I know everything in the guide has a purpose. So, instead of skipping things, I look for ways to complete the assignments while allowing the child to catch up.
What are some ways to partner with your child?
Partnering with my child may mean I do the grammar lesson orally, rather than having the child write part on paper. Or, it may mean that I sit right beside the child for a subject he is supposed to do on his own. In this way, I can quickly help him move through that subject. Or, maybe I get out needed books or get everything ready for the next few subjects. This minimizes time lost getting books out or finding the correct page. It could be that I just clear and correct, putting everything away to minimize clutter.
To save time, I could allow a child to read on his/her own something I was meant to read. Or, I might have a child do just the odds or evens in math to catch-up there. Maybe I have my child save a subject to do in the evening. Or, I might have a child orally narrate into his iPod or narrate to a sibling instead of to me. Perhaps, we might have the poetry discussion during lunch while we eat. Or, I might write my child’s responses in the Student Book for Drawn into the Heart of Reading as he dictates them. These are all ways you can creatively jump in and help your kiddos get their day back on track.
Partnering with your child often saves the day!
Partnering together often saves the day! It shows your child that you are on this journey together. So, the next time something derails your day, don’t let it dictate your day. Instead, partner with your child to take the day back!
Blessings,
Carrie
This Post Has 4 Comments
Thank you for this Carrie. It’s a great reminder. So often I get frustrated and it does really set a bad tone for the rest of the day! I will try to remember this post next time.
Agree!!! Something I have learned over the years, is that sometimes partnering means taking a little break. I don’t skip subjects or lessons, either. However, I will do things such as allow a child to move on to a different subject and then come back to the one that is challenging for him, or maybe just letting him lay down for a few. Sometimes, I will let them sleep in a little later or we’ll go outside for a bit. Just a little something to break up the mundane will allow for refocus a lot of the time. Sanity over schedule!!!! Fighting with your kid to complete his lessons doesn’t do anything for him or you other than cause more frustrations. And it’s exhausting.
So true, Kerri! What good thoughts you have shared here!
We all need to be reminded of this once and awhile, don’t we?!? This kind of partnering need not be every subject, every day, but it can truly save the day when – for whatever reason – it derails. Thanks so much for sharing here, Julie!