National exams can be good for you and the kids
We are finally out of the exam woods last Tuesday. Alhamdulillah, I am glad to say that I went through this second round of national exams much calmer than the first time with my eldest. I think that has had a positive effect on my second child. We also had tutors for the subjects he needed help most this time, so I had help, and it's ok cause there really is no reason for me to do everything.
The fact that I was calmer meant that I could be more positive and encouraging to the kids and this is a factor that can be overlooked when we are focused on the grades and the children's mistakes and weaknesses. I was also able to press on with matters that I felt that the children needed to put more effort in despite any unhappiness on their part, without losing my head.
With the limited time factor, I decided to focus on troubleshooting rather than trying to get my children to have deep understanding of the subjects as a whole. I know, this seems counter to our homeschooling principles, but it's only for the exams and exams are something that the children will continue facing all their lives and something that should not hold them back from moving forward.
Exams are not all bad. They encourage skills that every children should have. This includes identifying important topics, closing learning gaps, analysing questions and expressing their thoughts. The children will have to learn that the world works under a different system that is not always what they are used to. To me, what is bad is teaching to the exam all the time.
At the moment, I am decluttering (this is never-ending) and planning for the next school term. It has not been easy with my clingy 1-year old toddler who's full of drama. Plus, I have a co-op class to prepare that starts next week. Gasp!
O Allah, make it easy for me, insyaaAllah.
The fact that I was calmer meant that I could be more positive and encouraging to the kids and this is a factor that can be overlooked when we are focused on the grades and the children's mistakes and weaknesses. I was also able to press on with matters that I felt that the children needed to put more effort in despite any unhappiness on their part, without losing my head.
With the limited time factor, I decided to focus on troubleshooting rather than trying to get my children to have deep understanding of the subjects as a whole. I know, this seems counter to our homeschooling principles, but it's only for the exams and exams are something that the children will continue facing all their lives and something that should not hold them back from moving forward.
Exams are not all bad. They encourage skills that every children should have. This includes identifying important topics, closing learning gaps, analysing questions and expressing their thoughts. The children will have to learn that the world works under a different system that is not always what they are used to. To me, what is bad is teaching to the exam all the time.
At the moment, I am decluttering (this is never-ending) and planning for the next school term. It has not been easy with my clingy 1-year old toddler who's full of drama. Plus, I have a co-op class to prepare that starts next week. Gasp!
O Allah, make it easy for me, insyaaAllah.
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