Hawaiian Luau
Do you like word searches? I've always been good at them; in fact, I tired of them at an early age and moved on to more challenging word puzzles. My mind works the right way to see the words without really having to look for them. Not everyone's does though.HardPlace cannot do word search puzzles. He struggles and struggles. I've shown him how to use a ruler to move through the puzzle; I've taught him to look for unusual letters or letter combinations -- not too many Qs in the average grid. How long did it take you to find the double-P for pineapple in the above puzzle? I saw it right away.
HardPlace frequently has to complete a word search as a spelling assignment. It's on the regular rotation of weekly activities/games to supplement simple repetition of writing words. The poor kid can NOT do them. I have watched him struggle. And, now ... I do the puzzle for him.
I do not believe that the word search is helping him be a better speller, helping him learn the vocabulary words for the week. So I do the puzzle for him, without guilt. Is that wrong? I told him that I was NOT "doing his homework for him" because he was having a hard time, NOT doing it so he would get credit for the assignment, but because I don't believe this particular assignment is a good teaching tool for him.
I print out two copies, solve one, and then make him copy the answers onto the second copy. I want him to see where I found them. I want him to practice seeing them. But he still just can't do them.
Am I wrong to do this? Does it make me a bad parent, criticizing and interfering with the teacher's method? Should I tell the teacher that I am solving the word searches for my son?
... by the way, I chose this particular puzzle because we start our 2-week cruise in FIVE DAYS.
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9 comments:
I'm going to answer you with two different hats on; my parent hat, and my school nurse hat.
School Nurse says: This is a perfect example of how the different sides of the brain can process information, and some children process information differently than others. It has nothing to do with intelligence. If you can challenge him to try to find even a few, this can "exercise" that part of his brain. It may not improve his spelling etc, but it can speed up his mental processing skills which can aid in easier learning overall.
Parent says: Like HardPlace, my youngest son struggles with those. I have been known to help him with word search to the point of doing most of it for him. :) (hey, I'm a mom, right?)
(((Hugs)))
Stella
This is a perfect example of how the different sides of the brain can process information, and some children process information differently than others.
Exactly, which is why I thought it counterproductive to force him to spend 3 hours finding 20 words.
If you can challenge him to try to find even a few, this can "exercise" that part of his brain. ... it can speed up his mental processing skills which can aid in easier learning overall.
Hmmmmmm... I hadn't thought about that. I'll have to take this under advisement.
Homework is so interesting. I have always felt that it was meant to support what is being worked on in class. As a teacher that was my goal when I sent home homework. I would guess that Hardplace's teacher thought that the word search would be a fun diversion to the regular/traditional spelling homework. I think that as parents and as experts on our own children we have to do what's best for them and our family. No guilt.
Peace!
OMG--OMG!!!
This is just the argument I had with the reading teacher at our school. I don't get it --there is NO educational value what-so-ever in word searches--there is research to back that. In fact--for many "spatially challenged" students find word searches extremely frustrating. What could take you 10 minutes to complete, might take them 2 hours---in the end---NOTHING about the word (spelling and/or vocab) is retained or supported. I hate word searches---they are simply-----stupid. That is my professional opinion--LOL
Another educator here!
I agree with Stella about exercising different parts of the brain, so having Hard Place do at least part of it would probably be good.
As a former teacher, I do know that kids learn differently. If this really is an activity that's just for fun, it would be far better for Hard Place's teacher to have a variety of word games available so that kids could choose the one that they like to do. Word searches, crosswords, poetry, word art, Mad Libs, whatever. There are lots of "just for fun" activities besides word searches.
So, go ahead and keep helping him. You also might try to figure out what "type" of learner he is. Is he more visual or more auditory? How about tactile? It really helps some kids to "write" the word with their finger on their arm or the palm of their hand.
Hugs to you both and Rock, too. Have a great time on your cruise.
I do fairly well at them, and enjoy your cruise!
Recovering teacher here chiming in. I like your accommodation for him, though I think I'd like it better if you let him watch you do it, and then have him find the same word on his, one at a time. I, too, am good at word puzzles. Spatial puzzles, though, trip me up every time and make me want to throw a tantrum. I don't think homework should be torture for kids; if it isn't for independent practice, it's not worth doing. I think young kids have too much homework these days anyway, so that's my bias. My last teaching gig was at a local private school, and I couldn't believe how many hours of homework a night our kids did, even in 5th and 6th grade. Insane.
If it were my kid, I'd talk to the teacher about an alternate assignment. Is it graded? I wouldn't grade on something like that; it'd just be on completion (or attempted) or an in-class activity. I didn't know about the studies about these things that Marsha mentions; that might be worth a mention to her. But I would say that for some kids, like you and me, they ARE valuable, because our minds work in that way. The book I learned Spanish from is pretty craptastic for most kids, but it was great for me, and when I started teaching and found that was the book I was to use, I lobbied for a better one.
There is some value in following the program, being challenged, and trying things beyond your comfort zone; however, there is no value in making a kid hate school or himself. There are a lot of potential lessons to be learned here. One could be to fight the power openly and calmly, understanding the consequences. Another is that we can do what we think is right, and don't need committee approval of our actions if they are deeply considered. Both are good lessons. And I know you live a considered life with a strong sense of right and wrong.
Carry on, Mom. :)
Hmmmm.
I'm not big on homework. Many teachers assign it to keep parents happy. Talk to Hard Place's teacher, tell her that you are unable to see value in Hard Place completing word searches, her response my surprise you....
If she insists that Hard Place complete it, well, how about you find all but the last word and let Hard Place find that one? He would be completing the puzzle after all...
Not everyone shares our genius for spotting pineapples right off the blocks and I don't think their lives are any the less wonderful for it.
Ali - who wishes you a tonne of fun on your cruise
I am spatially challenged. I hated word searches when I was a child. I hated puzzles period.
When I became a teacher I resisted the use of word searches, but I found that many children enjoy them and for some of my at risk students it was a good way to wean them into the idea of doing work on their own and outside of class before giving them work that was more beneficial academically.
Word searches were always optional however. Except for my ESL students, I never saw improvement in vocab or spelling. To make it more challenging, I would have the kids write the words in sentences or give synonyms or define each word they found on the back of the paper too.
If his teacher is inflexible on the issue of alternative assignments (I don't approve of teachers who refuse to substitute or modify), keep doing as you are doing. I don't see anything wrong with it.
Oh, as an adult I am better at word searches. Possibly all the practice I got helping students with them, so I agree with Stella's point that doing them probably improves a person's ability to process. Perhaps if he must do them - you set a time limit and then help him? But I wouldn't sweat this. It's too small.
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