saxon math : No Fear
Homeschooling is always a courageous adventure but presents special challenges when the journey begins after years in public school. Last Fall we entered our third year of homeschool with our ninth-grade daughter and confidently began again as we welcomed home our seventh-grade son for that exciting and challenging first year.
After several weeks of relaxed, unstructured homeschooling, my 12 year old son fell into a weeping mess. Though my heart broke for his emotional pain, it taught me volumes about his public school experience through the 6th grade and strengthened my determination to help him find his way.
According to the school district, my son is advanced in mathematics. Since I had no idea where to start his studies, we decided to do Saxon Math placement testing. No score to achieve, no percentage correct or number incorrect to mark in red pen on the worksheets--simply 50 questions progressing through the levels of the Saxon Math textbooks--levels 54 through Algebra 1. Students are given up to one hour to take the test, may not use a calculator, and must show all their work. They are instructed to work until they cannot work any more problems.
My daughter took the testing in stride and placed higher than we anticipated, but my son was a completely different story. He sat down to the worksheet a relaxed, happy little boy but quickly turned into an anxious,grouchy monster. I was confused by the transformation and cautiously approached the situation. I explained again that the test wasn't really a 'test', that we just needed to know which textbook to purchase for him because mom didn't want to spend money on a book that was too easy or too difficult. I told him to do the problems until he came to those he couldn't complete. My words bounced off his forehead! He was determined he could finish ALL the problems and finish them correctly which, at his age and experience, was just not possible! First he became indignant, then angry, and then he began weeping. Not just tears, but deep sobs with tears running down his face. I stopped him and gave him a hug until he quieted down. Then I asked him to explain, but he truly didn't understand his reaction either. I said, "This is not a test. It's not important. Mom is the only one who will use the results." He just shook his head 'in defeat'. I said, "Look, this isn't school. We can stop and put this away and do anything else you want! This is mathematics and you like math--but this isn't school math." A sigh of relief came from his body. I asked him, "How did you ever get through math tests at school?" With new tears but less intensity he said, "Oh Mom, it was horrible. It was so much worse. It was so bad--not just math. I was so afraid." I gave him more hugs and validated his fearful experience.
by Jeanne Mills
After several weeks of relaxed, unstructured homeschooling, my 12 year old son fell into a weeping mess. Though my heart broke for his emotional pain, it taught me volumes about his public school experience through the 6th grade and strengthened my determination to help him find his way.
According to the school district, my son is advanced in mathematics. Since I had no idea where to start his studies, we decided to do Saxon Math placement testing. No score to achieve, no percentage correct or number incorrect to mark in red pen on the worksheets--simply 50 questions progressing through the levels of the Saxon Math textbooks--levels 54 through Algebra 1. Students are given up to one hour to take the test, may not use a calculator, and must show all their work. They are instructed to work until they cannot work any more problems.
My daughter took the testing in stride and placed higher than we anticipated, but my son was a completely different story. He sat down to the worksheet a relaxed, happy little boy but quickly turned into an anxious,grouchy monster. I was confused by the transformation and cautiously approached the situation. I explained again that the test wasn't really a 'test', that we just needed to know which textbook to purchase for him because mom didn't want to spend money on a book that was too easy or too difficult. I told him to do the problems until he came to those he couldn't complete. My words bounced off his forehead! He was determined he could finish ALL the problems and finish them correctly which, at his age and experience, was just not possible! First he became indignant, then angry, and then he began weeping. Not just tears, but deep sobs with tears running down his face. I stopped him and gave him a hug until he quieted down. Then I asked him to explain, but he truly didn't understand his reaction either. I said, "This is not a test. It's not important. Mom is the only one who will use the results." He just shook his head 'in defeat'. I said, "Look, this isn't school. We can stop and put this away and do anything else you want! This is mathematics and you like math--but this isn't school math." A sigh of relief came from his body. I asked him, "How did you ever get through math tests at school?" With new tears but less intensity he said, "Oh Mom, it was horrible. It was so much worse. It was so bad--not just math. I was so afraid." I gave him more hugs and validated his fearful experience.
by Jeanne Mills
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