Attention

[Chatter Box]

So I have a child I have been trying to do learning activities with. I was wondering if anyone else has the same problem? Due to his schedule it has been difficult to do this every day because his parent's schedule is all over the place and they refuse to communicate with me about it. Since I have other kids I can't just move things around and "get to it" when they decide to show up with him at 11am. Their expectation however is that I do...

Anyway,

The problem that I am having is that I do feel as though he's retaining things however I feel like he is acting like he doesn't know them. I think this is some sort of attention driven even though he has my undivided attention. I kind of know this because when I'm doing the activities with him he will smile when he gives me the wrong answer. I tell him if he isn't going to do it right then I am going to stop working on it with him. He continues to give me wrong answers.

No amount of drilling will he give me the right one...however when the other older kids are here and there is competition he can most definitely get the answers right most of the time. When he wants something he will randomly tell me what color he wants or whatever... so I know that he knows it... I just can't get him to give me the answers during our learning times. I've tried making games out of it. I've tried rewarding out the wazoo... but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I don't know what it is. It's almost like he's seeking negative attention somehow and I'm getting to the point where I'm like, "What is the point of doing this if he's not going to cooperate."

He just turned 3 two weeks ago. He is actually very intelligent. I am just frustrated. Any direction? I have been held up moving forward with things because I want to know that he's digesting everything appropriately before I move forward. I don't want to overwhelm him if he's not taking it in but I can't tell sometimes.

[allsmiles]

So I have a child I have been trying to do learning activities with. I was wondering if anyone else has the same problem? Due to his schedule it has been difficult to do this every day because his parent's schedule is all over the place and they refuse to communicate with me about it. Since I have other kids I can't just move things around and "get to it" when they decide to show up with him at 11am. Their expectation however is that I do...

Anyway,

The problem that I am having is that I do feel as though he's retaining things however I feel like he is acting like he doesn't know them. I think this is some sort of attention driven even though he has my undivided attention. I kind of know this because when I'm doing the activities with him he will smile when he gives me the wrong answer. I tell him if he isn't going to do it right then I am going to stop working on it with him. He continues to give me wrong answers.

No amount of drilling will he give me the right one...however when the other older kids are here and there is competition he can most definitely get the answers right most of the time. When he wants something he will randomly tell me what color he wants or whatever... so I know that he knows it... I just can't get him to give me the answers during our learning times. I've tried making games out of it. I've tried rewarding out the wazoo... but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I don't know what it is. It's almost like he's seeking negative attention somehow and I'm getting to the point where I'm like, "What is the point of doing this if he's not going to cooperate."

He just turned 3 two weeks ago. He is actually very intelligent. I am just frustrated. Any direction? I have been held up moving forward with things because I want to know that he's digesting everything appropriately before I move forward. I don't want to overwhelm him if he's not taking it in but I can't tell sometimes.

no suggestion but i have that same problem with a 3 year old and a 4 year old that is no longer with me.. i couldnt honestly tell if they were faking not knowing because they would give the right answers sometimes with no effort?? not like they were just guessing but like they really knew.. then all of a sudden wrong answers.. didnt know if he was just bored, wasnt into the activity??

[Chatter Box]

no suggestion but i have that same problem with a 3 year old and a 4 year old that is no longer with me.. i couldnt honestly tell if they were faking not knowing because they would give the right answers sometimes with no effort?? not like they were just guessing but like they really knew.. then all of a sudden wrong answers.. didnt know if he was just bored, wasnt into the activity??

Exactly! :confused:

[itlw8]

so STOP DRILLING he is trying to tell you this is not how 3 yr olds learn nor do they enjoy it.

Who does like learning that way ?

hand him something yellow and say here is a yellow ball. Ask him during pick up time to get you the yellow ball. or what color cup do you want when you are serving snack.

They learn hands on not by flash cards

[nanglgrl]

so STOP DRILLING he is trying to tell you this is not how 3 yr olds learn nor do they enjoy it.

Who does like learning that way ?

hand him something yellow and say here is a yellow ball. Ask him during pick up time to get you the yellow ball. or what color cup do you want when you are serving snack.

They learn hands on not by flash cards

Exactly this!

[Chatter Box]

so STOP DRILLING he is trying to tell you this is not how 3 yr olds learn nor do they enjoy it.

Who does like learning that way ?

hand him something yellow and say here is a yellow ball. Ask him during pick up time to get you the yellow ball. or what color cup do you want when you are serving snack.

They learn hands on not by flash cards

Been doing that. Same response.

How do you teach the alphabet?

[Angelsj]

One quick way to find out if they know or not is to tell them wrong!
Play with blocks. Pick up the green block and say, "I am building with a yellow block. Could someone give me another yellow block?"

If you have their attention and they are watching you build, a child who knows will correct you, and feel very proud of themselves doing so.

We do letter of the week. It doesn't require drill, it just focuses on finding a single letter all week long. I also like zoo phonics, which gives the kids a motion to do along with the sound of the letter.

You don't have to do all the activities, but reading them will give you ideas on incorporating the learning into your day.

[Chatter Box]

One quick way to find out if they know or not is to tell them wrong!
Play with blocks. Pick up the green block and say, "I am building with a yellow block. Could someone give me another yellow block?"

If you have their attention and they are watching you build, a child who knows will correct you, and feel very proud of themselves doing so.

We do letter of the week. It doesn't require drill, it just focuses on finding a single letter all week long. I also like zoo phonics, which gives the kids a motion to do along with the sound of the letter.

You don't have to do all the activities, but reading them will give you ideas on incorporating the learning into your day.

Thank you! That was helpful!

[itlw8]

He just turned 3 you are fretting for nothing. He will be ready for school.

How do I teach letters ? I make a print rich environment. The tubs with toys are labeled with a picture and name of the toy. I point things out. There is a Mc Donalds See the big M Here is your name. DUSTIN

point out letters in a book, on the cereal, everywhere you see them. My ds could read garage sale at age 2 ok rummage sale was still garage sale to him LOL

Start with letters that mean something like his name or friends names. let them see it in writing. write their names on all pictures they make. and say it as you spell it

I limit tv but word world taught my group to sound out words and learn letters.

Just make it fun no drilling and you will be amazed.

[laundrymom]

Show them where to look, but don't tell them what to see.

Best advice I ever got.

[MamaBearCanada]

Show them where to look, but don't tell them what to see.

Best advice I ever got.

This might be my new favourite quote! Thanks. Love it!

[Blackcat31]

Learning ABC's and 123's and other academic things should be imbedded into play so the kids don't realize they are actually learning.

Kids retain pretty much everything they take in IF they did it while engaged and interested.

Flashcards, memorization, work sheets and repeated drilling are not developmentally age appropriate and set the stage for learning to be not-so-much fun.

[laundrymom]

This might be my new favourite quote! Thanks. Love it!

Thanks it is right up there with,


be careful what you teach, it might interfere with what they're learning.