4th Grade Math

Frederic is now in 4th grade. Technically, that's not true. If he attended a public or private school, he'd be with all of the other "eight going on nine years-old" third grade kids from the neighborhood. When asked, we typically tell people that, while he's homeschooled and would be in third grade, he is often doing schoolwork that is from a higher grade. Not because we are bragging or saying he's smarter than anyone else, but because homeschooling allows Cyndi the flexibility to teach ahead. At some point, everything evens out.

Today, Frederic was able to finish a 3rd grade math program that he has been working on for a couple of months. It's this computer based, online program called ALEKS. The system is pretty cool. It presents the user with math problems, explanations, pie charts, graphs, visual challenges, things that help make the learning process more enjoyable for kids.

Frederic had two questions left on his pie chart and when he answered them correctly, he could "graduate" to 4th grade math. He was really excited. He came into my office, quietly making sure I wasn't on a business call or in the middle of something that couldn't be interrupted, and when the coast was clear, proudly announced, "I'm about to go into 4th grade math!" He wanted all of us to watch him as this momentous event occurred in his life. Another plus for homeschooling.

One of the questions involved drawing lines to make an "X" symmetrical. Frederic struggled a moment with it, looking at me for assistance. I offered no assistance. Less because I shouldn't more because I couldn't. The other question was a division problem with quotient and remainders. Frederic had no issues with that one.

As his graduation acheivement took place ("smiles, everyone, smiles"), I thought about math when I was in 3rd grade. I've never been a math and science person. I'm more of an English and History kind of guy. Cyndi's the math and science guru in the house. I've never been very good at either subject. The only "D" I got in college was in a weather and climatology class. I was lost from day one. I think the only reason the professor passed me was because I tried. I showed up to every class, asked questions, asked for help. He recognized the effort.

When I was in third grade, the big thing was times tables. That I liked. I think I was good at it because of the memorization involved in multiplication. It made sense to me. When the teacher encouraged the class to get through all of the times table, I did my best to be the first one through 1-12.

I remember that one of the teachers, Ms. Johnson, gave a timed quiz to the class. Whoever could get through the full times table without making a mistake, as quickly as possible, won. We used to sit in circular tables of three/four kids per table. Ms. Johnson said that if anyone felt they needed to move because he was afraid that someone sitting next to him would cheat, he could do so before the test began. No one got up.

Except me.

I cannot remember who was at my table, but back then I was convinced whoever it was had wandering eyes. I wanted to be the winner, and I didn't want anyone to look at my paper in the process. So I got up. I made a big production out of it too. I slid my paper off of the table, raised my hand in the air, looked at the kids seated near me, and proclaimed that I "had to move."

Ms. Johnson sent me to the front of the class, next to the stacks of workbooks, handouts, and folders we used everyday. There was no way any of the kids would be able to see my paper from my position. I knew I would win.

It wasn't like me to be so egotistical. I was a shy kid, turning red with embarrassment very easily. I have no idea why I had to win or why I had to make a big production out of the entire situation.

Two minutes after Ms. Johnson told the class to begin, I was done. Victory was mine. I wanted everyone to be envious.

No one was.

Who would be? I won a times table test. What did that prove? I didn't win a prize. I didn't gain any friends from it. I didn't graduate from 3rd grade math to 4th.

Today was a private victory for Frederic. We quiety shared in his enthusiasm and joy. Cyndi was delighted in the fact that she could successfully teach our children at home.

I was reminded of the time I made an ass out of myself in front of a bunch of eight year-olds...