Out of the Mouths of Babes... Sort of.

Trying to teach my home schooled daughter has been enlightening to say the least.  I have learned more than I think I have taught her.  Like, how to rephrase the question to actually mean something that somewhat resembles what I want to ask.  She is a sweet girl who is very bright and gifted in many ways.  She has challenges that lead us to homeschooling which she has made remarkable progress overcoming.  My daughter is persistent, thoughtful, creative, beautiful, forgiving, and has an incredible memory.  She is also one of my greatest challenges in life. 

When she takes a test on the computer, the system grades it and we can track what she needs to study more.  Yesterday she had three questions on the test.  If one question is missed, you do not pass the test and must re-take it.  As with all tests, I let her work on it by herself.  When she came to me to report her score she was disappointed that she needed to take it again.  She had missed one question. Math is especially challenging with her dyslexia.

I asked her, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

“Yes.  I chose the wrong button to click on. Then I got it wrong.”

“Okay.  I mean, do you know how to fix it?”

“Yes.  Click on the right answer.”

“I mean, what to you need to do to find the right answer?"

At this point I am trying to figure out how to word my question in a way that won’t make me laugh or make her feel stupid or embarrassed.  Often she switches the numbers around.  I wanted her to tell me something like, I subtracted when I should have added.  Or maybe I thought the five was a two.  What she said made me send her back to the test because I couldn't find a response.

She said, “Yes, I know exactly what I need to do!” Her eyes got bigger as she stepped closer to me, waving her hand to emphasize the words as she spoke. “I need to use my brain! I need to focus and do my best, and not cry!” She stood there with a giant grin, slightly bouncing on her toes. She was emotionally ready to try again.

I sent her on her way thinking, 'If I just used my brain a little more, focused a whole lot more, and remembered not to cry when I make a mistake life would be just great'

She returned in tears confused that when she used her brain, she still got the same problem wrong.  I went to see for myself what it was and we worked through it together so when she took the test again, she passed. 

This is my mantra this week.  Use your brain.  Focus.  Don’t cry.  Ask for help.  Accept the help.  What a marvelous plan! Do you have any experience with needing to follow this plan?  Feel free to share them.