My parenting experience started with a child that was yearning to learn. At 3 years old she was reading and since kindergarten she’s been an honor roll student. Just a couple years left of high school and her academic record IS something to write home about it.
My son came along and he was full of energy and personality and lit up every room he walked into. Daycare gushed over his charisma and ability to draw new teachers and other kids in to play. Family loved his over the top sense of humor. I loved his morning cuddles and sweet crooked tooth smile.
Elementary school started and we began to see some troubles. He was easily distracted. He didn’t want to complete assignments at home. He was getting notes asking to work in writing. First grade was rough. He was instantly labeled as a problem child. His behavior issues were on display to the class. He was made to feel that he had a problem and didn’t want to be part of class.
It took many conferences with his teacher and other staff we realized he was just bored. He needed to have hands on learning. Sitting in a chair for 7 hours a day was not working for him. He needed to have interaction. He needed engagement. He needed to be the class helper. Simple tasks such as handing out papers and sharpening pencils woke up his mind enough to easily move onto the next educational step.
His grades and behavior improved drastically. He wasn’t just an over active boy who wasn’t interested in learning. He wasn’t immature and didn’t know how to communicate effectively. He wasn’t refusing to cooperate in class. He was bored. He needed a different kind of learning process. He needed to be vocal and participate and be a part of the learning. He loved learning. He was curious about everything, asking question after question of the world around him.
Boys are often coined as trouble makers and difficult to teach. It’s an unfair statement that can often lead to children being lumped into categories. Children, especially at younger ages need to be watched for their own learning tools and tricks. The education system needs to open not just their eyes but their minds to help encourage children to find out what works best for them.
Photo courtesy of Holtsman/Flickr
