Comments on: They love what they love! http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/ Thoughts from my jungle to yours Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Katie http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61737 Katie Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:00:21 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61737 Thanks, Julie!! A great reminder today :) Thanks, Julie!! A great reminder today :)

]]> By: Julie Bogart http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61734 Julie Bogart Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:21:10 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61734 So glad Kika! Thanks for the feedback, all of you. Should be back on track now for 4-5 entries per week. That's the goal. :) So glad Kika! Thanks for the feedback, all of you. Should be back on track now for 4-5 entries per week. That’s the goal. :)

]]> By: Kika http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61732 Kika Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:15:30 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61732 I've been checking your blog constantly for more WISDOM and encouragement so I, too, am thrilled to have your posts back. Last year, our first of Junior High, it was too academic - too busy - too boring. So this year with my oldest I'm trying to create a better balance of freedom/structure. We can cram in textbook learning and tests but what is the point if it is all drudgery? I think we're on the right path now but LOVE the encouragement from your blog. We're using "Help for Highschool" and all of us (including younger daughters) are enjoying freewrites this year (I can't believe how much my 9yo and 13yo enjoy this!). I’ve been checking your blog constantly for more WISDOM and encouragement so I, too, am thrilled to have your posts back. Last year, our first of Junior High, it was too academic – too busy – too boring. So this year with my oldest I’m trying to create a better balance of freedom/structure. We can cram in textbook learning and tests but what is the point if it is all drudgery? I think we’re on the right path now but LOVE the encouragement from your blog. We’re using “Help for Highschool” and all of us (including younger daughters) are enjoying freewrites this year (I can’t believe how much my 9yo and 13yo enjoy this!).

]]> By: Julie Bogart http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61729 Julie Bogart Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:28:54 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61729 High school is only different in that you feel more pressure to fulfill certain requirements for college admission. As a result, I like to go for as much buy in as possible from the teens. They need to "own" the goal of graduation or college. You can't do that for them and they need to know that. You won't "carrot and stick" them to the end. You'll offer them what they need and you'll remind them of the goals and you'll support them, but they have to take the ball and run with it. What that means for you: you don't nag, cajole, punish or blame them. You simply remind them with love what needs to happen. You mirror. I also think kids by this age are more able to tell you what works for them. If they do better with a math tutor than on their own with a book, get them the tutor (trade cleaning services if you have to!). If they work better in the morning than afternoon, then do that. If they like overarching goals with freedom to meet them, do that. If they need daily goals, sit with them and help THEM to learn how to write those out and fulfill them. This is the transition to college where they will be fully responsible for themselves. Facilitate that with support, not hovering. Know what I mean? And this is a time for big achievements and dreams: joining the Shakespeare company, being in marching band if the school district allows it, joining debate teams or playing ultimate frisbee. Do service projects and travel places. Let them manage their goals with input from you. Does that help? High school is only different in that you feel more pressure to fulfill certain requirements for college admission. As a result, I like to go for as much buy in as possible from the teens. They need to “own” the goal of graduation or college. You can’t do that for them and they need to know that. You won’t “carrot and stick” them to the end. You’ll offer them what they need and you’ll remind them of the goals and you’ll support them, but they have to take the ball and run with it. What that means for you: you don’t nag, cajole, punish or blame them. You simply remind them with love what needs to happen. You mirror.

I also think kids by this age are more able to tell you what works for them. If they do better with a math tutor than on their own with a book, get them the tutor (trade cleaning services if you have to!). If they work better in the morning than afternoon, then do that. If they like overarching goals with freedom to meet them, do that. If they need daily goals, sit with them and help THEM to learn how to write those out and fulfill them.

This is the transition to college where they will be fully responsible for themselves. Facilitate that with support, not hovering. Know what I mean?

And this is a time for big achievements and dreams: joining the Shakespeare company, being in marching band if the school district allows it, joining debate teams or playing ultimate frisbee. Do service projects and travel places. Let them manage their goals with input from you.

Does that help?

]]> By: Marcy http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61725 Marcy Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:54:03 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61725 You've summed it up! I've pondered this for weeks, what can I do to make this year different/memorable and then to read this is an answer to prayer. Always encouraged, hopeful, and enlightened after reading your entries - thanks. Marcy You’ve summed it up! I’ve pondered this for weeks, what can I do to make this year different/memorable and then to read this is an answer to prayer. Always encouraged, hopeful, and enlightened after reading your entries – thanks.

Marcy

]]> By: Lisa Rogers http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61723 Lisa Rogers Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:13:02 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61723 Julie, How does this look in a home with two high schoolers and a fourth grader? I think I've embraced this philosophy with younger ones, but am unsure how it looks in the midst of a high school curriculum. It was good to hear from you again! Lisa Julie,

How does this look in a home with two high schoolers and a fourth grader? I think I’ve embraced this philosophy with younger ones, but am unsure how it looks in the midst of a high school curriculum.

It was good to hear from you again!

Lisa

]]> By: Gaynor http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61718 Gaynor Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:37:17 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61718 Thanks for this Julie, this is just what I need to hear at the rather bumpy beginning of the home-school year: nothing to beat myself up about, no standard to fail, but some helpful pointers. I can see things I do ok and things I'd like to incorporate, and I can see how I'd like to do it. Thanks for this Julie, this is just what I need to hear at the rather bumpy beginning of the home-school year: nothing to beat myself up about, no standard to fail, but some helpful pointers. I can see things I do ok and things I’d like to incorporate, and I can see how I’d like to do it.

]]> By: Susanne Barrett http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/09/22/they-love-what-they-love/comment-page-1/#comment-61693 Susanne Barrett Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:24:07 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=1291#comment-61693 Love having the BW blog back! Thanks, Julie! Great stuff here. :) Love having the BW blog back! Thanks, Julie! Great stuff here. :)

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