The bit about making the things we require students to learn as frictionless as possible stood out to me. As a homeschooler/private tutor, I've decided that those 'unpleasant but required' subjects should be done in whatever manner the student finds most paletable. Eg. struggling reader gets to use a learn-to-read app, as well as play endless (boring to me) sound bingo games etc. Whatever gets them through - with as much handholding and gamification as required. Engleman is the perfect curriculum for this purpose.
The colluary is that I don't allow a student to coast along at grade level in a subject they are more able in. If the struggling reader has good head for maths they will be doing Beast academy math circles, given applied engineering projects etc etc, always with the aim of working at the sweet spot of 'a little bit hard'.
Yes, this is the way! The other thing I like to do with with boring-but-required subjects that require a lot of practice is to make sure to help kids notice how the practice does actually make it much easier over time. It does eventually seem to help get some more buy-in for those areas.
The bit about making the things we require students to learn as frictionless as possible stood out to me. As a homeschooler/private tutor, I've decided that those 'unpleasant but required' subjects should be done in whatever manner the student finds most paletable. Eg. struggling reader gets to use a learn-to-read app, as well as play endless (boring to me) sound bingo games etc. Whatever gets them through - with as much handholding and gamification as required. Engleman is the perfect curriculum for this purpose.
The colluary is that I don't allow a student to coast along at grade level in a subject they are more able in. If the struggling reader has good head for maths they will be doing Beast academy math circles, given applied engineering projects etc etc, always with the aim of working at the sweet spot of 'a little bit hard'.
Yes, this is the way! The other thing I like to do with with boring-but-required subjects that require a lot of practice is to make sure to help kids notice how the practice does actually make it much easier over time. It does eventually seem to help get some more buy-in for those areas.
Great essay, Sara!