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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: July 07 2010 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
Andrew Pudewa has what I've heard is a great talk on this topic - Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Build Forts All Day. |
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I've heard this talk before at our conference and it is great. Some things I've never even thought off. One quick example is how boys do better in air condition rooms (colder vs warmer temp.) And who can resist listening to Mr. Pudewa
I'm enjoying this thread since I have four boys; my oldest starting Kindergarten this fall.
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Jenny, mom to dds (00, 03) and dss (05, 06, 08, 09)
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: July 08 2010 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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Counterintuitive to the whole "Boys need lots of mobility and action" that we all know, I've found that establishing a regular period of quiet, alone time has been greatly beneficial to refocus the frenzies around here.
It is ideal if we have an active morning, lunch, then everyone separates for an hour of alone time, reading, napping, drawing, legos, whatever.
Then we all come back together for a snack around 3pm and go into our afternoon refreshed.
I think quiet, alone time is incredibly important. It also teaches boys that there are times for rowdy and times for reverant... which aids in trying to accomplish family prayer time too.
If the entire day is rough and rowdy, my boys are not apt to settle down easily into evening prayer.
But our after-lunch quiet time establishes a steady rythym... and it works great.
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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TracyFD
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| Posted: July 13 2010 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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Nodding my head "yes" as well!
Quiet time - yes! From 2:00-3:00 we have quiet time. The older girls read alone in their room. Until he is a more proficient reader, I read to my 7yo son for half an hour and take the other half hour for myself.
For poetry memorization he has to walk around in circles as he practices his weekly stanza.
He chose to illustrate his own Aesop fable book rather than use the Dover coloring book.
Thinking Putty has been great for read aloud time.
I am loving this thread - after two girls I have a lot to learn about boys. The girls have a lot to learn as well, because they often unfavorably compare him and his level of both schoolwork and housework to their own. This irritates their sense of fairness!
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Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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Betsy
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| Posted: July 13 2010 at 3:42pm | IP Logged
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I am SOOOOO getting some of this. I just called one of our local toy stores and they carry it! YEA!!!!!
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 13 2010 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
I am SOOOOO getting some of this. I just called one of our local toy stores and they carry it! YEA!!!!! |
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Did you see the heat sensitive and glow in the dark? So cool!
How does it come out if on fabric or carpet? Because if it's like Silly Putty, I need to know! 
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 13 2010 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
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I am so interested in this putty!
Crazy Aaron's Puttyworld has more detail, and a fun blog with fun pictures.
Amazon also carries some
Also, back to the main thread, I also agree quiet time is mandatory, especially to teach them how to calm down (and time for Mommy to regroup).
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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TracyFD
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| Posted: July 13 2010 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
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My ds once got silly putty in his sheets and it would not come out!
So far so good with the thinking putty but they are older now and I made it VERY CLEAR that I am not to find bits and pieces ANYWHERE and that's it is to stay downstairs and not to go upstairs!
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Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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Betsy
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| Posted: July 20 2010 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
I am SOOOOO getting some of this. I just called one of our local toy stores and they carry it! YEA!!!!!
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OH MY!!!! I picked it up last week and it's has been wonderful for our literature time. They only had limited colors (Bronze, Silver and Oil Slick) but it has been wonderful!!!!!! In the store they offered little tins that were ~$3 vs. the 1/5lb for $10. I love the little tins. They are perfect to play with and allowed me to get more colors. I can't recommend this enough.
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Trinity
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| Posted: July 21 2010 at 1:30pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for sharing about the Thinking Putty. What a wonderful idea! I think I will order some and just let DS use it during our read alouds. For the most part he does great with reading time. I find it helps if we take turns reading every couple pages, but after awhile he sometimes asks "are we are done yet?".
What surprised me is that handwriting is his favorite subject right now. He is learning cursive and loves working on it on and off all day long!
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: July 21 2010 at 3:38pm | IP Logged
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Without reading any replies, I'll brainstorm some ideas about educating boys.
I need to remember that I am educating men-in-training. It is very important to treat them with manly respect, even when they are little.
My young men aren't complicated machines. Really. I am the one that complicates things  . I work to keep things simple, direct, and honest with them.
I need to let go of many of my womanly ideas of what a good education is. Snuggle time on the couch? Not so much. They are more likely going to need to draw or toss a ball while I'm reading aloud.
They are listening. Often their bodies make them appear to not be listening by their roaming eyes and hands. I've learned to ask questions like, "What did I just say?" 9 out of 10 times, they repeat back perfectly.
Boys stuff is important...rough-housing, pranks, sports, bravado, competition, one-upsmanship...somehow it is all important to developing maleness. I may not always get it, but I need to consider seriously that I don't get what needs to be gotten  .
Dad gets the final say. Having boys has really humbled me and helped me to respect and admire my dh more. I trust him and his expectations of our boys.
So...I'm thinking that how this fits with educating is that my mindset needs to be right. So much of modern education is fem-i-nine. Sitting quietly in chairs for long stretchs. Having pretty handwriting. Being neat and tidy. I need to look at expectations with a critical eye. Do they really need to sit for an hour? Do they really need to do workbooks until their eyes gloss over? Should they be compared to their female peers?
That's why, in part, I love home educating my boys through living books, living faith, movies, discussion, sport, nature, character formation, short lessons. Add in a math program, hands on science, and lots of breaks, fresh air, and physical activity. They thrive! They get it! It makes manly sense! We balance expectations of what they need to do each day/week/year with encouraging them to take initiative and responsibility for their education. They use checklists for mundane tasks and have long stretches of time to fill in with their passion, relaxation, and fun. They are supported to become experts in a few areas while also exploring broader studies.
Well, that was long-winded! I hope you can tell that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE mothering, teaching, and learning with my boys! One more gem...
Be sure to surround yourself with other mothers of boys...they get it  .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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imcatholic
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| Posted: July 27 2010 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
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For us read out loud with narrations really help - I learned about it when I started Noeo Science. It worked so well using Noeo Science I started doing it for History and Religion.
Beth
Mother of 4 ds
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quiltmomof3
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| Posted: July 28 2010 at 9:06am | IP Logged
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Give him his own space to work, his own table with his supplies at hand.
Time the lessons, meaning give him clear goals, that he sees as doable for one subject at a time and set the timer. What he doesn't finish in that time is homework to be done after supper.
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NMMountainMom
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What a wonderful thread! I am the mother of five boys, no girls. I actually don't have much to add because most of what I have observed/believe has already been stated. The one thing I would reiterate is not to push them too early on certain things. My 13 year old is a great reader, but he couldn't write or spell very well until 4th grade. Now he is a fantastic writer. My 7 year old is a very good reader, but he has a hard time with handwriting. We're practicing, but I'm not pushing too hard. Too early to tell with the other boys- they are 5, 3 and 5 months!
Danielle in NM
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4 lads mom
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| Posted: Aug 26 2010 at 11:00am | IP Logged
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With four boys, I say, ditto to everything everyone has said times four!!!! One thing after I had Lily that I noticed, and maybe it is just me....but I had sort of morphed into “one of them, one of the guys” sort of....and now I am remembering that I like pink, and wearing earrings, and wear my makeup about every day, and talk about things that are important to me, being a “girl”. Does that make sense?? I think, as one of two females in the house, it is important for them to see the distinction, and that they learn to respect and honor those differences, starting with their mama and little sister. Who I am foolin?? Lily pretty much did all of my work for me these three years, they are a much chivalrous bunch around Miss Lil, and I pity the fool who would dare mess with her.
Angie, as usual, you hit every nail on the head...so much food for thought there, Sister!!!
Great thread!!
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Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Educating Boys. Your best tips.
