Tweaking Time
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips."Job 13:6
It's that time again! Three weeks into our new school year, and I need to evaluate. How are the kids doing? Is the curriculum challenging enough? Are the courses at their level? How much are we following a routine?
If problems are not detected early in the school year, I find that they are more difficult to correct later. Spotting a weakness in the initial stage also allows enough time to eliminate, change, or adjust a new course, or to change a way of tackling a subject.
Recently, I questioned if a Math text was too difficult for my 11th grader. When I asked him if he was keeping up with his weekly assignments, I discovered that my teenager was lagging behind.
"Is the material too difficult for you?" I inquired, initially thinking that he could handle it. "Because if it is, there's another textbook you could use instead."
"Would it be a step lower in math?" was his first reply.
"Yes," I answered, "But if that is where your ability is, then that is where you need to be." I waited for him to absorb this alternative. A part of me was not comfortable with switching, but I knew that his response would be helpful in determining the root of the problem. We then sat down together, and I shared more of my concerns. "Am I pushing you too hard? Are you struggling because you're having trouble understanding? Could it possibly be a time factor?"
In reviewing the textbook and problems with my son, I found that, with explanation, he was able to comprehend it. However, in examining my son's schedule, I realized that he was stretched too thin. And the reason was his part time job.
"School comes first," I emphasized. "Now that we know the problem, you need to set priorities. And if you can't do that, I'll need to do it for you."
He got the point. I didn't like being the bad guy, but, at the same time, this was the purpose of tweaking time – to identify, evaluate, and adjust. This time it proved not to be a curriculum problem, but rather an issue of time management, which is just as important, if not more so, for the success of homeschooling.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for helping me to identify trouble spots that could hamper the success of our homeschooling. Thank you for the receptiveness of my son to guidance and counsel. Help me to come along side Your Plans for my children's lives, and grant me wisdom and discernment in guiding them according to Your will.
