There are certain things that should be left to the specialists. Like many families, when my kids were at the age of learning to ski and swim, it only made sense to get them involved in lessons and programs. Is it the only way? Of course not, but these structures are proven to serve the function of specialized instruction without loss of tears and tempers. The same holds true for math or any school work.
Every parent wants to support their child's learning but can easily forget that just because they can perform a skill easily, it doesn't necessarily mean they can teach it effectively. Parents personalize their approach intuitively, as they know their own kids best, but also have to navigate the emotional layers that naturally present themselves when things get tricky. This can begin before even getting started (finding a sharpened pencil in the house can be as emotionally charged as trying to get ski boots on while wearing eight layers of clothes- I confess!).
We teachers have our degrees for a reason and pride ourselves on finding just the right way to reach a student, particularly a struggling student. This is at the heart of personalized instruction. Plus, students always find that extra level of cooperation and composure when working with someone other than their parent. True collaboration can sometimes mean getting out of the way when necessary.
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