Holding on to the Past can Affect the Future.
I always wanted to be a veterinarian. Currently we have 3 dogs, 2 cats, a bunny, a bearded dragon, and fish. I have been vegetarian for several years and for several reasons. This is main reason I love animals and can’t bear to eat them.
My educational past with mathematics was rocky to say the least. I had a ton of gaps in knowledge. Based on my history the message that I got was that I could never be vet because my math skills weren’t strong enough. When I grew up we did not dissect math into separate skills like math fluency. I was just weak in math facts. Coupled with bad experiences and struggling with self esteem I told myself I was bad at math. I got the message from teachers, my Dad’s strained tutoring sessions, and failing test grades.
My past truly affected my future and I had to teach myself how to approach math in my own way. Fast forward to now, I support my students with complex math. I also hired a phenomenal tutor to bolster my daughter’s self esteem about math.
Professionally, when working with older students I get a lot of them that are stuck in the past. I get a lot of parents that instill these ideas with their kids by accident.
It is realistic to say your kid has trouble with reading, but it is detrimental to confuse struggle with ability.
3 Points to Consider to Avoid this Blast from the Past
1. Kids are dynamic and their needs change on a continual basis. What worked in the past for your kid may not work in the future.
2. Schools are dynamic and change teaching styles. Educators come and go. Schools also change programming based on the needs of students. Good instruction can make a new future.
3. Your own past educational history and learning style impacts your kid’s education. If you hear yourself saying, “that’s not how I learned it, ” or, “I hated school when I was your age,” then you are sending a message. Those messages can be motivating to a kid or can provide a ton of excuses for your kid.
As parents we need to help our kids cope let go of times when they struggled to maximize their educational futures.
As always reach out to me if you need to create a new educational future for your kid.
Melissa Saliva is a Reading Consultant and founder of Beacon Valley Literacy Services. She helps parents help kids with dyslexia. Subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.