CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Hello all,
I would appreciate your input on this. My 13 yos comprehension skills seem solid, but he simply does not find much of the history he is currently reading in CTC interesting. As a result, he doesn't enjoy quite a bit of what he needs to do. He has enjoyed the books I selected for him for DITHOR, so that is going well. We're on week 16 - so we've still got quite a bit to cover. Your thoughts?!
I would appreciate your input on this. My 13 yos comprehension skills seem solid, but he simply does not find much of the history he is currently reading in CTC interesting. As a result, he doesn't enjoy quite a bit of what he needs to do. He has enjoyed the books I selected for him for DITHOR, so that is going well. We're on week 16 - so we've still got quite a bit to cover. Your thoughts?!
With Joy!
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Well, I think sometimes it's simply because a person is just not interested in that particular time period. I know for me personally, I'm just much more interested in American history than ancient history. I'm more interested in European history than Asian history. That said, I would probably find reading books on less interesting subjects to be just that - less interesting. I would just encourage him to keep with it and find interesting tidbits to share with you. He is less interested, so encourage him to have a goal to find SOMETHING interesting from each reading and to share that with you. As he gets a little more engaged in his reading, he may find he enjoys it more. We are 2/3 of the way through CTC, and my ds is getting more and more interested. He really is excited to study the Romans.
hth,
Laura
hth,
Laura
Wife to a great guy and mommy to:
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your thoughts. It's a bit all uphill at present for him. After 4 months of drudgery (in his opinion) it would be nice for him to turn a corner. We've scaled back quite a bit, so I can discuss the readings more with him, but that doesn't seem to help.
Thanks for your thoughts. It's a bit all uphill at present for him. After 4 months of drudgery (in his opinion) it would be nice for him to turn a corner. We've scaled back quite a bit, so I can discuss the readings more with him, but that doesn't seem to help.
With Joy!
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Another thing - Do you have any museums in your area that have exhibits of ancient cultures? That might make him feel more engaged as history comes "alive" a bit more. You may also want to search for some kid-friendly DVD's on that time period. I know there are some great ones out there - just can't think of them right now. The History Channel does a lot of drama-documentaries.
Wife to a great guy and mommy to:
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Honestly, not everything will be interesting to everyone.
It certainly wasn't to me in high school.
With HOD, Carrie does a great job of planning a variety of follow-ups, and there is a nice balance of all subject areas.
Looking at it from another perspective, I can't imagine telling my high school teacher I wasn't interested in a time period or some books and expecting him/her to change them then. Your ds is 13 yo and on the highest end of the age range for CTC with extensions, so I suppose it could be that some of it may be young for him. However, if it was my ds saying he was not interested in the subject matter, and there were not textbooks, workbooks, constant worksheets, rote tests, hours of extra homework, etc. involved, I'd probably use it as an opportunity to talk with him about "personal interest" not always being the #1 goal of middle school and high school requirements. Sometimes I think our dc are unaware of how blessed they are to be homeschooled with the living books, varied materials, and different assignments they get to use. I think they have no idea of how most dc their age are either going to school, at school, coming home from school, or doing homework for hours at night, for the majority of the day - and often times with dry textbooks and countless worsheets being the main mode of learning.
These teenage years are tough, for sure! I can empathize with you definitely, having an almost 13 yo myself. But when my ds begins to act this way about this or that, I am trying to look at it as an opportunity to help him see that entertaining him or catering to his interests are not my #1 goals, nor will they be his future college professors or future employers' goals. The truth is, sometimes school is just work. What one person considers to be "work" to do in school will vary from what another person finds to be "work". For one of our sons, it is "work" to do creative things - projects, painting, art focused things, etc. all fall into the "work" category for him, but he adores the more predictable assignments with an exact result. For another of our sons, cut and dry subjects such as grammar, math, writing assignments, etc. fall into the "work" category for him, but he adores the creative things. Likewise, different time periods have appealed to each of them. However, I am seeing that often times it is through the things they consider the "work" that they grow and mature the most, learning so much from doing them as they are not their natural interest or talent. The ancients certainly need to be taught, and CTC provides a lot of great resources and plans to do it, so in the hopes of producing a diligent worker, with an understanding that sometimes "work" is "work" and still must be done, I'd not let up and drop things or change things. But I would be sure to get into it with him, using meeting checkpoint times to share my interest in it with him. I know this is not a quick fix or an easy answer, but I feel in my heart it is the best thing to do. I hope something here helps, and perhaps all of us moms of almost - and already - teenagers need to keep each other in prayer! As this is definitely a new, and somewhat difficult stage. We need the Lord!!!
In Christ,
Julie




These teenage years are tough, for sure! I can empathize with you definitely, having an almost 13 yo myself. But when my ds begins to act this way about this or that, I am trying to look at it as an opportunity to help him see that entertaining him or catering to his interests are not my #1 goals, nor will they be his future college professors or future employers' goals. The truth is, sometimes school is just work. What one person considers to be "work" to do in school will vary from what another person finds to be "work". For one of our sons, it is "work" to do creative things - projects, painting, art focused things, etc. all fall into the "work" category for him, but he adores the more predictable assignments with an exact result. For another of our sons, cut and dry subjects such as grammar, math, writing assignments, etc. fall into the "work" category for him, but he adores the creative things. Likewise, different time periods have appealed to each of them. However, I am seeing that often times it is through the things they consider the "work" that they grow and mature the most, learning so much from doing them as they are not their natural interest or talent. The ancients certainly need to be taught, and CTC provides a lot of great resources and plans to do it, so in the hopes of producing a diligent worker, with an understanding that sometimes "work" is "work" and still must be done, I'd not let up and drop things or change things. But I would be sure to get into it with him, using meeting checkpoint times to share my interest in it with him. I know this is not a quick fix or an easy answer, but I feel in my heart it is the best thing to do. I hope something here helps, and perhaps all of us moms of almost - and already - teenagers need to keep each other in prayer! As this is definitely a new, and somewhat difficult stage. We need the Lord!!!

In Christ,
Julie
Last edited by my3sons on Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your thoughts. Perhaps, the title of my subject makes it sounds as if this ds is being difficult. But he's not. He's a very kind, obedient, dutiful son who finally decided to share with me in a very thoughtful way that he finds these books tiring to read. He's trying. We've had lots of good conversations on this. He's very diligent with his work and does everything asked. He's simply a child who truly struggles connecting with the subject matter.
Thank you for your thoughts. Perhaps, the title of my subject makes it sounds as if this ds is being difficult. But he's not. He's a very kind, obedient, dutiful son who finally decided to share with me in a very thoughtful way that he finds these books tiring to read. He's trying. We've had lots of good conversations on this. He's very diligent with his work and does everything asked. He's simply a child who truly struggles connecting with the subject matter.
With Joy!
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
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- Posts: 770
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:16 pm
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
He may or may not connect with the material before he is done, but I would praise him for his diligent work even though he is struggling with the material. Remind him that this is a wonderful skill he is developing that will take him far in life. Give him lots of positives. Maybe have him try to find one point/story/etc. that he found interesting for each unit. Sometimes going after something in a different way can change things for us.He's a very kind, obedient, dutiful son who finally decided to share with me in a very thoughtful way that he finds these books tiring to read. He's trying.
Countrymom
Wife to J
Big J - LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, Rev to Rev, Modern Missions, beginning parts of World Geography
Little J - LHTH, LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, working in CTC
Wife to J
Big J - LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, Rev to Rev, Modern Missions, beginning parts of World Geography
Little J - LHTH, LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, working in CTC
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
I agree with Countrymom. Praise his diligence and challenge him to find one thing he finds interesting. I know when my ds was struggling with some of the reading in CTC I emphasized the biblical connections that I saw. He is very interested in all things biblical so that seemed to help. For example we talked about how after learning about the Assyrians and how awful they were, we now understood why Jonah didn't want to go to Ninevah. I know once you get kind of a negative mindset about something it can be hard to turn it around, but maybe if he starts looking for positives he will be able to do that. Is it all the books including storytime he is struggling with or is it just the history spines? The history spines are challenging reading. Do you think that part of it is that it is just very taxing for him to read it and comprehend? I know that seemed to be the case with my ds ,so sometimes I would read the first few pages of the reading and then he would continue after that. He seemed to enjoy the readings more when we did that.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
Is he placed correctly? Perhaps he seems bored with the content because he's bored with the work that's required from it.
7 awesome kids!
3 graduated
4 at home this fall
DD6 Beyond
DS10 Preparing
DS13 MTMM
DS16 online high school
3 graduated
4 at home this fall
DD6 Beyond
DS10 Preparing
DS13 MTMM
DS16 online high school
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
I wondered this too - would he place better in RTR do you think? I wouldn't usually suggest skipping a guide, but with what you've shared here, maybe RTR would be a better fit?Mumkins wrote:Is he placed correctly? Perhaps he seems bored with the content because he's bored with the work that's required from it.
In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: CTC: Not interested in the subject matter
So sorry I lost track of this thread. We've decided to do a varied plan from now til Christmas. I have him just enjoying reading several threads of history simultaneously and a variety of literature, including some of the basic sources for CTC. He's much happier now (and so am I). I think putting the bulk of CTC away helped him feel that I was listening to him. Ironically, it's taking him longer now that it was and some of the material is more challenging, but it doesn't seem to be an issue. I think in January I'll move him into RTR, if not Rev to Rev. Thank you for your thoughts.
With Joy!
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM