Enchant the Environment
If you can’t enchant the education, enchant the environment.
The principle works like this:
Teach the subject.
When a child struggles, find a way to make the subject relevant—
- be hands on,
- use manipulatives,
- slow down,
- do it together.
If those attempts fail, enchant the environment—
- snacks,
- stickers,
- cozy space,
- candles,
- new pens,
- snacks,
- pet the cat,
- snuggle on the couch,
- use a clipboard.
Remember: Any strategy for engaging a child only works for a limited amount of time.
Let me say that another way.
Just because it worked once doesn’t mean it will work again.
Your children are human beings with tastes. They will sometimes find the addition of manipulatives too slow (my oldest son with Cuisinaire rods—he didn’t need them). Sometimes they will love being snuggled with a blanket and the next day, they won’t.
As you work with your children, your guiding light is flexibility. As you face a challenge, take the time you need to consider how to make it meaningful again. If you need a day or two skipping the offending subject while you think again, take it!
Enchant the education or the environment or take a break.
Keep going! It gets better from here!
This post is originally from Instagram and @juliebravewriter is my account there so come follow along for more conversations like this one!
