Holly Korbey: Elementary Schools Are Doing Too Much Too Fast

Starting at home one on one with me, I decided to only concentrate on a couple of things that were challenging for him: math and writing. He was really anxious, and would freak himself out before we even got started, already worried that he was going to do it badly. Ok, clue #1.

— Holly Korbey (@HKorbey) May 15, 2020

Elementary school moves very fast, and I think he never got a chance to get good at anything, which ate at his confidence. As soon as he'd start to catch on to long division, they were on to fractions, etc. His math curriculum covered about 275 concepts this year, I swear.

— Holly Korbey (@HKorbey) May 15, 2020

The other thing I wanted to work on was finishing things. He hadn't finished a single essay all year, and I was determined to show him that it could be done and not to be afraid of it. We took it slowly, one step at a time, making sure he was a pro at one step before moving on.

— Holly Korbey (@HKorbey) May 15, 2020

His essay is so good, and he is so amazed at himself, what he was able to do when he had the time and wasn't freaking out. Here's the cover he made for his essay, look at that perspective! I'm so proud of him. pic.twitter.com/RlmVhv2Ygi

— Holly Korbey (@HKorbey) May 15, 2020

And I know that a lot of teachers feel this way, too, so maybe this is no big news to anybody. But maybe somebody will hear me: slow down! My son is going to be much more prepared for middle school next yr. because of this time at home. /End

— Holly Korbey (@HKorbey) May 15, 2020