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Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Oct 13, 2014 9:51pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Any tips for a resistant student?
She's pretty sure she already knows everything she needs to know and history is dumb.
A week without videos or video games...all she has to do is a few hours of work to earn them. (Not hard work, and not all at once.)
Incentive program in place...work=invite school friend over in afternoon and/or go on outing.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872395 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 13, 2014 11:28pm
Thread (disabled) Board
take her on outings to local history sites, even if it's not "important" history. Getting hands on, walking where "they" walked, seeing what they saw, eating what they ate...if you have a living history museum so much the better. Or make the history happen, do historical costuming, make and eat historical foods. When you make history come alive to kids and not just a list of dates, names, and places to memorize, then they get interested in all of history.

There are historically based books that read like novels available now, too. Don't know your grade level, but Philippa Gregory has written some YA/Adult novels set around the war of the roses, that are marvelous reads. There's two different series of princess diaries type books where a historical princess has supposedly kept a secret diary. We usually find them in the children's room at the library, but they're interesting on an adult level, as well.

Romana
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872395 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 13, 2014 11:36pm
Thread (disabled) Board
The best thing I did for my resistant students was to stop pushing so hard. I am not saying that you are, but some of us (pointing the finger directly at myself) do. I set up a reward system. I got it from the dollar store. Basically there is a 5x5 grid and they put stickers in them everyday they complete ALL of their work. Then I asked them what they would like as a reward. Rewards have changed over the years as the kids have grown, but now it is $10 every time they fill up a chart. Some of my friends have balked at the idea of paying them to do their work, but in my eyes it is the same thing as being paid for doing chores or getting paid for a job. I told them the benefit of this system is that they can get ahead by doing their work on free weekend days. My daughter liked that, but my son is happy just to get a reward once a month.

As for history, my favorite subject, we use Story of the World. We use the audio recording and listen as a group Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the same lesson all three times. I didn't see it as any different from reading it to them, however it really changed the way they pay attention, plus we can do it in the car when we are in a hurry. Then throughout the week we do the questions and map work you will find in the activity guide. I give my 14yo a written test, from their test book, that she does in her room and ask my 6yo the questions. We also check out LOTS of books on the topic from the library. Some I read out loud and some are for them to peruse at their leisure. It is ok if these books go unread, but they rarely do. We also do many of the hands on activities found in the activity guide and there are a lot of great activities on Pintrest. I have been using SOTW since my 14yo was 6ish. We started at volume 1 then once we completed volume 4 we circled back around to 1, but went more in depth.

I hope this helps,
Moon Flowers
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872395 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 14, 2014 4:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
I agree with history being boring! But, I have started my genealogy research and now, history is very interesting! But only on the family level. My 8 year old is interested in our family stories, and asks questions about the time periods they lived in as well. The battles of the civil war that grandfathers fought in, are now personal and not just history. So, that might be an option to help learn history too.
Also, consider their learning style. Are they more hands on or visual (I am) if so getting out there to learn At museums or historical places might be a better option. National parks have a passport and cancelations they can collect and make it a fun learning experience. Plus, if they enjoy letterboxing and there is a box there, might be good incentive to go to learn. Do they enjoy listening about things? Audio books might help. Maybe a fun family game of trivial pursuit might make studying fun.
I don't home school, so kudos to you for doing that! Good luck to you :)
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872395 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 14, 2014 5:13am
Thread (disabled) Board
What age? I have a 9 year old and an 8 year old. Both super resistant to groundings and wanting to learn things regardless to the fact that they have both tested to be super smart. How did I solve it? Make history relevant. Any re-enactment faires, festivals with different countries, family history involvement, Skype with people who lived it (ie. the depression, WWII, etc.), what is her niche? Art? Use it as a history lesson. Find a famous art piece that she likes from an era and track it's movements through wars and time. A famous person she may idolize to bring her into an era - Amelia Erhart, Susan B. Anthony, Florence Nightingale, Marie Currie (can also work for science), Jane Austin, any of the president's wives, etc.. Take her to a museum (we have one here in Milwaukee that's good) and let her find an exhibit that she likes and do reports around that.

Take it from me - Grounding doesn't work. Bribes don't work. Find her hook. My daughter was reading and clothing. My son was weapons and vehicles. Seems odd, but you work around it.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872412 by SeerMeesh
Oct 14, 2014 5:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
If you are looking for reading novels, try Beware Princess Elizabeth and Mary, Bloody Mary, They are two younger novels that might catch her eye for the 1500's. They are fictional, but the author used so much of history, it's very close. There are more by the same author, but those are the only two we have at home. Same as Little House On The Prairie books. American Girl has some good novels too. I know their main books are a bit young, but they have some preteen novels too. American Diaries is also a series that Mo has quite a few of too.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872412 by SeerMeesh
Oct 14, 2014 9:01am
Thread (disabled) Board
Another idea popped up. You can make it a mystery she has to solve. Very Nancy Drew or Scooby Doo.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872395 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 14, 2014 12:52pm
Thread (disabled) Board
How old is she?
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872462 by FloridaFour
Oct 14, 2014 3:55pm
Thread (disabled) Board
She is 12. Her 'thing' is dogs. There are very few dog history resources easily available for middle school kids! LOL.
We have Story of the World. She's finding it jumps around too much, even following a map with her finger.
We are using a charter school to take care of all the legal aspects, so she needs to show work she's done. There just isn't much this month. :-(
I'm having a lot of trouble getting her out places because of her anxiety and depression, but I'll keep trying. Maybe she'll make a scrapbook...It's sort of a joke in our family that I love historic plaques and learning about their history. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to pass that bug on but I keep trying!
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872480 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 14, 2014 6:44pm
Thread (disabled) Board
This was interesting....use the dogs as a basis for learning more about each era?
http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/photos/11-of-the-bravest-dogs-in-history
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872480 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 14, 2014 7:08pm
Thread (disabled) Board
How about the roles dogs played throughout history? Hunting, protection, rescue, companionship.... I know Germans used dogs in the wars. Irish wolf hounds for hunting especially during King Henrys reign. Hounds for tracking criminals. Etc.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872510 by SeerMeesh
Oct 14, 2014 7:09pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Anxiety.... hmmmm.... I know of a few of those cases. What about virtual tours?
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872511 by SeerMeesh
Oct 14, 2014 7:11pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Or a one on one with someone who reenacts and loves the era? Maybe someone who can bring history to her? Or Skype?
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872512 by SeerMeesh
Oct 14, 2014 7:12pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I really hope I am helping and not just spouting off random ideas. Lol
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872505 by Teeker
Oct 15, 2014 1:13pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I like this article...I'm going to have her look through it and encourage her to do more research on one of the dogs.
I've been trying to find different ways to get dogs involved in the state standards for history (medieval times) and while I find bits and pieces, there isn't a lot I can give her to work with. :-(
I did read that Adam of the Road is a medieval historical fiction with a lost dog...so it's on my library list for the week.

If you give a child an assignment and they don't do it or don't finish it, do you wait or try something new? Since I'm the "teacher" I'm finding she doesn't care about timelines. Which would be more okay if she were getting excited about doing work...
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872512 by SeerMeesh
Oct 15, 2014 1:17pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Oh, you reminded me that Mr. Acorn knows how to make chainmail! He used to help out in an SCA armor shop. Maybe I can get her interested in making some chainmail jewelry and twist some historical perspective in there...
Fingers crossed!!!
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872480 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 15, 2014 3:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Last year we read the story of Lewis and Clark from the perspective of Seaman, the dog that traveled with the expedition. It was pretty interesting.

We are using Trail Guide to Learning. It uses 6 week units to make an immersive study of history. All subjects (except math) are wrapped into the historic framework.

-TheKindlyVikings
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872580 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 15, 2014 7:21pm
Thread (disabled) Board
What about games from that era? There was kick the cabbage. Lol
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872395 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 17, 2014 6:07am
Thread (disabled) Board
I didn't read through all the responses, so excuse me if this has already been said. I stopped when I read "history is boring", but also saw someone found the key of history when they said the genealogy was fun...

History is NOT about dates, It should be about PEOPLE.

Take away the tests about history and get to know some people and stories, even historical fiction puts history in a timeline, and help keep track who verses "1492". Focus on individual people, get to know them, The events will start to come together but don't worry about the dates, we live in a time where we can always look up the date, after all, I had to just now for the above date of Columbus. But if we know the people in an event we know how to look for the date. We love history in my house because it is like a great big old puzzle of people. Really get to know those people then you will meet their friends/enemies, and we end up learning their successes and mistakes. That is when you get all those little Ah-Ha moments of what they did and the timeline of how we got here (and hopefully how to not make all the same mistakes, which is what makes history important.)

(this post was approved by my 10-year-old homeschooler)
she was nodding her head so much I thought she became a bobble head.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #872579 by Uncorny Acorns
Oct 20, 2014 6:43am
Thread (disabled) Board
If you give a child an assignment and they don't do it or don't finish it, do you wait or try something new? Since I'm the "teacher" I'm finding she doesn't care about timelines.

It's tricky. In fact, I don't assign projects with a due date at all anymore. My kids are very "present tense" people. It works so much better to say, "Today, work on that project for 30 minutes." In fact, I use the timer A LOT. They know that they can be done when it rings, so they usually put in some good effort. I do have one daydreamer. He knows I'll set the timer over again if he just sits and dreams.

Something new that is working here: NO VIDEO GAMES until school is done for the day. This is the most motivating trick I have ever employed. They start math before breakfast, voluntarily, this year. I cannot get over how well this works to motivate them. Keep experimenting! Cool things happen.
Re: Resistant student
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #873092 by Geedyup
Oct 20, 2014 1:41pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I'm glad "no video games" works for you. I have a no games/tv/ipod rule here, but the one thing I have not been able to take away yet is her stories. She is an audio-book-aholic. I did try it once (and I was miserable all day) but she picked up the Bible and started reading it... How can a parent argue with THAT!? The other problem I have is she takes so long I can't get school done before the neighbors arrive, once school is out I have 4 kids standing on my porch waiting. (and a dog freaking out inside)