How can I help him to sloooow down?

[Gwithianrocks]

Hi...hope you clever people can help. My ds is almost 9, bright enough and works hard but rushes through everything at a million miles an hour and consequently makes lots of mistakes, or doesn't read questions properly, or produces work so scruffy it is hard to decipher. Any tips on how I can help him to see the value in slowing down so that he produces good and clear, full and correct work rather than just completing the bare minimum needed and zooming on to the next thing? Have tried getting him to do redo work, pasta jar type rewards etc but nothing seems to be successful at getting him to see the benefit of slowing down a bit.

Hi Gwithianrocks:

Same problem with DD1 (now Y6). I think it isn't helped by a very competitive spirit in her class so the children are constantly racing to finish whatever work they are set first or finish the guided reading book first.

So my advice:

Play stupid. So for example There's no way 378 divided by 14 = 27. How on earth did you get that? You're going to have to show me.

Or You got 27? Oh dear I got 37? Where did I do wrong?

My DD1 fell for this and has really done some brilliant work explaining to poor old Mom what to do.

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Make it an exercise in penmanship (this works because both DDs have poor penmanship). So when they have homework I threaten that if it isn't beautifully legible I'll erase the whole thing and make them do it over again. I've never had to carry out the threat - but it has slowed both DDs right down.

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In writing tasks if DD1 has been sloppy I just pretend that I can't read it. I take absolutely ages reading through what she's written whilst she's waiting on me and explaining what words are. I'm so obnoxious about not understanding her handwriting that the next time she makes a real effort.

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For maths a group of us realised that the teachers were only checking answers - so we suggested that the teacher require that they show their work. this is now part of the maths homework and because they get merit points if they show their work - the DDs are keen to do so at the moment.

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...and yes, I know I am evil!

HTH

Hi Pastsellbydate. Thank you so much .... Great suggestions and good to hear I am not alone. I think the competitive streak bit runs high in my sons class too - a trait made worse by the teachers telling the kids they stream based on speed rather than ability
Will try the stupid approach and see how things go

Oh - and evil is good in a parent I think!