I learned multiplication in 3rd grade. I remember Ms. Jordan’s class at Carver Christian Day School. She had a multiplication poster on the wall that went up to 9×12 and we would recite the multiplication tables every day.

This year would have been Mighty’s 3rd-grade year. I don’t regret a single minute of keeping her out of formal school, but we are not immune from random freak-outs about her being “behind.” Even though I understand and believe the philosophy of children learning at their own pace, I have to admit there is lingering, low-grade stress that she won’t learn what we consider the basics, like multiplication.

She asked for $20/month and we agreed. I don’t expect it to stay at that rate for long but she was pretty excited. When we talked about a weekly amount, she thought we were cheating her. Really? So we helped her understand how $5 a week for 4 weeks would equal $20.

Then I said that if she understood that, then she understood multiplication. She asked for more explanation so I gave examples. I saw the light go on. She wanted to practice. So we went through the 2s, and the 3s, and the 5s.

She was so excited to understand this thing that she’s heard about, been curious about, but has been resistant to learning in any formal way. No worksheets for her. She refuses. But we made up a song and she was dancing and everything. She was way more excited than I’ve ever been about multiplication.

Is this what it looks like for someone to learn something when they need it? When their brain is ready for it? When they have a use for it?

#deschooling #deschoolingoutloud #unschooling