Schools everywhere are starting up again. For some, it's a happy return; for other's, it's a shock to the system.
My friend fell into the second category this year. Her oldest started sixth grade– junior high here. After six happy years of elementary school, her daughter is now entering the fast-paced, competitive world of placement tests and honors classes.
And she wasn't prepared for it.
At least, not as prepared as the students who had spend the summer doing workbooks or going to tutoring sessions, learning advanced math. My friend's daughter had had a wonderful summer playing games, practicing piano, and camp with her family. She is not "behind", but now feels like she is.
My friend shared her frustrations on her blog, ending her post with:
Now that I "know" what I should have known about school, I think next summer is going to be different for my kids. Less time in the backyard and more time plowing through workbooks.
This doesn't sound like my friend at all! To encourage her, I wrote her a lengthy reply:
I understand your frustration. You expected school to be a place of learning, but now your children are unknowing entered in a race. Be careful because you will pass on whatever anxieties you have. If you give top priority to academic achievements, your children will learn to do the same. Then they see school as a series of tests and peers, with the end goal being "prestigious school" and "top career", rather than learning for the sake of learning and applying it to life.
My friend fell into the second category this year. Her oldest started sixth grade– junior high here. After six happy years of elementary school, her daughter is now entering the fast-paced, competitive world of placement tests and honors classes.
And she wasn't prepared for it.
At least, not as prepared as the students who had spend the summer doing workbooks or going to tutoring sessions, learning advanced math. My friend's daughter had had a wonderful summer playing games, practicing piano, and camp with her family. She is not "behind", but now feels like she is.
My friend shared her frustrations on her blog, ending her post with:
Now that I "know" what I should have known about school, I think next summer is going to be different for my kids. Less time in the backyard and more time plowing through workbooks.
This doesn't sound like my friend at all! To encourage her, I wrote her a lengthy reply:
I understand your frustration. You expected school to be a place of learning, but now your children are unknowing entered in a race. Be careful because you will pass on whatever anxieties you have. If you give top priority to academic achievements, your children will learn to do the same. Then they see school as a series of tests and peers, with the end goal being "prestigious school" and "top career", rather than learning for the sake of learning and applying it to life.
It is true that the start of junior high means less time to "play", but I don't see "lots of boredom time to become naturally creative" as always equated with "play", especially as children grow. Children need time to pursue what feeds their soul. They need time to rest. They need time to process emotions and thoughts. They need time to invest in people. (Adults need this too- why do you think adult coloring books are such a big thing right now?)
The key is balance. I am grateful to my parents for giving me time to play piano and allowing me to take music classes while my friends took AP French and AP US History. But I wish they had also put less emphasis on academics and more on family time, friendships, Sabbath rest, and learning life skills. There are things that schools do not teach our children. There is so much more to life than GPAs, SATs, and PhDs!
You're doing a great job! It doesn't sound like your children wasted their summer in front of a screen. Your son loves looking at giant books on chemistry! Your daughter loves playing piano. Nurture those desires in them and they won't have a problem in the future.
It is so easy for parents to get lost in the busyness of school and forget that education goes beyond the classroom. Maybe you are feeling frustrated with school. Maybe you feel lost in the shuffle too. I hope this encourages you as another school year begins!
It is so easy for parents to get lost in the busyness of school and forget that education goes beyond the classroom. Maybe you are feeling frustrated with school. Maybe you feel lost in the shuffle too. I hope this encourages you as another school year begins!
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