Wow, it happened! The first step!

[eilonwy]

Today, for the first time, BeanBean encountered something in his schoolwork about which he actually had to think!! He didn't respond well initially, ended up throwing his pencil and saying, "I'm not ready for kindergarten!" and running off.. but when he came back a few minutes later, he was calm, and he thought about things a bit and found it fairly easy. Hooray! This signifies a whole new level of school-- encountering ideas he's got to think about to learn. The next level, of course, would be presenting him with material that actually *challenges* him. Here's hoping that in one class, at least, it's not too far off.

[supervee]

He didn't respond well initially, ended up throwing his pencil and saying, "I'm not ready for kindergarten!" and running off

This sounds familiar... When DS runs up against something he has to think about, he throws a major fit. Then he thinks about it, gets it, and is very happy. It's gotten to the point I remind him of the pattern, and he is starting to work through the thinking without the fit, whew.

[eilonwy]

Yes, in his oh-so-extensive 4.5 years of life, he's never encountered such a thing. It was a whole new experience for him... but I'm glad to see him encountering it at this age, rather than 16 (as I was). I'm also hoping that, by challenging him from relatively early in his educational career, I can prevent him from getting into the nasty habit of thinking that all of his work will be easy, and watching him shirk from challenges when he finally encounters them. Just last week, I spent six hours online with a friend helping him do his homework not because it was difficult, but because he'd put it off assuming that it would be very easy. When it wasn't as easy as he'd expected, he had a complete anxiety attack and ended up sobbing into his pillow "Why can't everything be fine?" for two solid hours. I spent most of the six hours basically convincing him that he was capable of doing the work, and that he needed to calm down and think about it, but he'd be fine... :

[supervee]

Oh, yes, do not let it wait until high school! With you there...

[carmel23]

I laugh only because this is so my oldest ds. He is usually a super cool guy. Unless he has to try, or doesn't know it innately, or it doesn't happen *instantly* ... he pitches such a fit, and he is stupid, and hates himself, and blah blah...

[eilonwy,I've been thinking about y'all lately and your homeschoolin' program. I'm going to start a new thread about this but I am considering either pulling my kid out of his current school (which might be too dramatic for him and possible harmful to not finish it through) or homeschooling next year. Only I have these hang-ups that I'll have to air out, but basically, it comes down to learning how to handle good old fashion work or challenge. But more on that later.]

[wannabe]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

I'm also hoping that, by challenging him from relatively early in his educational career, I can prevent him from getting into the nasty habit of thinking that all of his work will be easy, and watching him shirk from challenges when he finally encounters them.

from me who spends weeks and months compulsively playing civilisation, but never at any grade beyond the simplest.

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by wannabe

from me who spends weeks and months compulsively playing civilisation, but never at any grade beyond the simplest.

So ironic.. Civilization is Bean's favorite game right now. He told his teacher all about it. "I like to play a game called 'Civilization,' and the word 'civilization' is right here in my history book, did you know that? Yeah, I know that word from my game..."

[wannabe]

LOl, I'll bet he'd beat me, too. Did you know there's a version that has no wars in it? You just gather resources, explore, build, trade, etc. I saw it years ago, but maybe worth looking for. I think that sort of game has so much to offer a kid, minus the world domination by war bit.

[eilonwy]

We didn't! That would be so brilliant-- the wars are the one aspect that we don't really care for (nor Bean, to be honest). Thanks so much!

[purposefulmother]

Oh how exciting -- to see him as he decides what to do about a challenge, how great! It sounds like he handled it very well, and that you all are off to a great start!