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I just want to share a victory we have had in our household over the past week regarding math lessons with a 'stubborn dawdler.' That term is not my own, but comes from the book by Catherine Levison, More Charlotte Mason Education. Every school day has been a struggle to get beyond the math lesson with this particular child. We try and do math first up, when the children are thinking clearly. But for this 'I hate math' child, being fresh didn't help at all. We would begin our day of lessons and by lunch time no other subject had been touched, because the math wasn't even begun. I tried many forms of encouragment, discipline, and loss of privileges, all to no avail until I re-read this book. Actually, I didn't read it, my daughter pointed out the section on stubborn dawdlers. I had read this book six years ago, so didn't think I had any need of it again. I am thankful my daughter decided to read it for herself. Catherine goes through the various things to try with someone who is struggling in math, but we had already tried most of those. Really, what she suggests, if those things don't work, is so simple. I didn't think it would work. But I was willing to give anything a shot. Her suggestion was as simple as just leaving the math lesson until last. Why hadn't I thought of that. In doing so, the child is able to complete all of his other subjects - and feel good about it - then with all of that encouragment under his belt, he will be better able to plough through the math lesson. It worked. I couldn't believe how such a minor adjustment could make such a big difference. We have had a couple of days where we had to resort to using this method plus other encouragments (like, you can't go out to play until this is done). But usually, this works alone. I am indebted to Catherine for her tips in More Charlotte Mason Education. Love Amanda
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