Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy New Found Motivation!

All year I have been trying to get DS8 to do some after-school enrichment work with me. We joined EPGY, I created fun lessons and bought software and workbooks. He doesn't do his school homework, he doesn't do his work in school, he doesn't want to work with me. And yet, he claims he needs harder work etc. But still - his love of learning and his motivation seemed lost.
One day his little sister wanted some small marshmallows for a snack. I randomly asked her what 6 plus 7 was and when she answered correctly I gave her 13 mini-marshmallows. Well DS overheard and HE wanted a math problem for marshmallows and the rest is history! Everyday I get bugged to do "Marshmallow Math". Last night he did three sheets of math and did perhaps 30 mental math problems to earn marshmallows. I had to make him quit to go to bed. He isn't even eating the marshmallows but saving them in a zip-loc bag. His sister is asking for more math as well.

Marshmallows - who knew?

It's amazing marshmallow are magicial. Good job being creative.

Could it also be a bit of wanting what his sister is doing with you. My DS6 gets jealous when I work with our 2 year old and that motivates him some. But he has also lost that spark for learning since being bored at school. We struggle to get him interested again. We are doing CTYonline but that isn't getting him really motivated. These days video games trump everything.

Having a sibling breathing down your neck is wonderful encouragment. Think of you son as being like a bunch of molecules souping around. Once the right catalyst is found, the reaction procedes happily, but until then there is some waiting and aching.

Keep looking for openings - great job with the marshmellows!
Grinity

WTG Breakaway Mom! That is sooo awesome. Who knew the answer was $0.97?

You know the best part? It isn't just that he is doing the work but he is enjoying it AND he is showing me those glimpses of how he thinks that I haven't seen much of lately. We are working on fractions - adding, multiplying, dividing, subtracting with unlike denominators and as he is working he will say things that show me he is seeing the patterns and form behind the "rote" methods. I briefly mentioned the relationship to decimals and percents and he said "I get it!" and....he did! Nice to have the boy back. :-)

Yippee!

Whoo-Hoo!!!

That's great news.

Any extra?... I love marshmallows!