Stephen is perfectionistic. If he can't do something "right", he won't do it at all. And by that I mean he will attempt it, usually once, and upon failure he gives up. We've been working with him on how to accept imperfection as a part of learning as well as a part of life, but it's still hard for him sometimes. I can totally relate!
So this is the child that refused to use a crayon, marker, pencil, or any other type of writing utensil until he turned 4 because he couldn't do it "right". He refused to scribble. It was color in the lines or bust. One day he drew with a pencil all over a wall...I was so excited!! Finally, he was taking an interest in writing! And then I explained how paper should be the medium of choice in our house. He now happily draws and doodles frequently. He almost always wants me to display his artwork, so I do: )
Well, this year, he told me he wanted to start Kindergarten. He is 4 but will turn 5 shortly after the school year starts. Having a student with a late birthday while homeschooling yields a unique opportunity. He can go into the grade that best meets his learning curve and education level instead of meaninglessly being put into a grade based on what day of the year he was born. He knows and recognizes every letter of the alphabet, most of the phonograms, numbers from 1-12 and he loves being read to. I feel like he would be challenged but confident as a kindergartner, but what about writing? I figure if he's not getting it by the end of he year, we will just repeat it next year.
So today all of the kids were eager to begin school, so I told them to grab a book from their backpack and try it out. Stephen, fate would have it, chose handwriting. This particular book focuses on doodling, etc. to practice the correct pencil hold. As we began, I tried to explain and show him how to hold his pencil, but he grew frustrated so I let it go. After a few minutes, Kolbe (now in 3rd grade) became interested in what Stephen was doing and grabbed his own fine tip markers to "help" teach Stephen. I was reluctant at first, thinking Kolbe was going to do all the exercises too quickly and precisely leaving Stephen feeling, again, like *he* can't do it...so someone else needs to do it for him. But, I withheld my anxiety-laden reaction and calmly asked Kolbe to be sure he's only helping and not doing it for him, then went about my business helping someone else.
A few minutes later, I came back to check on the boys and discovered something. Stephen was using a correct pencil hold! Granted he was still holding the marker way too high, but it was correct formation. *shock. and. awe!* Kolbe explained to me how he taught his brother to hold his marker the correct way in order to color in the lines more easily. So, I asked him to show him how to move down the marker closer to the tip. He did and Stephen followed! Stephen, a right-handed student, learned a correct pencil hold from his left-handed older brother!! I love homeschooling!!!!
They went on to work together on coloring a stop sign. Kolbe traced an outline around it to give Stephen room for error, and Stephen colored inside the lines (mostly) and didn't get upset! They were both smiling, laughing and having fun...LEARNING! This is a beautiful thing for a mother to see: )
