Why do I love Club Month? I love it because it’s a big chunk of time where I see so many kids who have said “Saxon Math is hard” come through with major success stories. Kids doing big-for-them things and getting recognized for it. My inbox fills up with pictures of happy kids and I hear amazing stories of moms who see their kids’ abilities grow.
As an educator, it does my heart good to know their success stories, and to imagine how rising to a new challenge will affect them over time.
But I know that Club Month (or anytime kids decide to tackle the All-Right or 30-5 Club challenge) can also mean disappointment. Some kids aren’t going to get into a club they choose the first time they try. We all struggle sometimes, and it can be hard to watch your child deal with discouragement.
But there is another reason I love Club Month, and it may surprise you. You see, the work to get into the clubs is so much bigger than the curriculum! The fact that Saxon math is hard work for some kids is what builds character when they ultimately succeed at it. But it’s difficult to build character, without a little help, too. And this is where you and I step in to educate in the things that will have the longest-lasting effect on our children.
How our children react to early failures can determine personal success throughout their life. And they need us to help guide their reactions and give them strategies to overcome disappointment. These lessons will help them whether we are talking middle school math, projects at work, relationships–you name it.
Five Reliable Ways to Encourage Your Child When they Say “Saxon Math is Hard!”
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Listen
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Remind them that everyone struggles
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Point out past successes or areas of incremental improvement
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Encourage a break
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Consider new studying or test-taking strategies.