We have just completed our ThinkingMath™ Parents Workshop (Part I and Part II) and I went away inspired by the parents, our participants. It may be unthinkable for some that parents are actually going to the extent of attending workshops on primary school subjects yet I have gained insights to this supposedly weird phenomenon otherwise known as ‘kiasuism’:
1) Humility
Never mind their success, they have humbled to learn what their children are learning or need to learn. They spent more than 20 hours working through challenging sums as any primary school students would so as to experience and understand their children’s challenge.
2) Children before self
They made the effort to inconvenient themselves including taking leave from work to avail to learn in order to better guide their children. I am sure many were uncertain about parting with the money for the workshop because it could well mean a much needed spa treatment or the latest electronic gadgets. Still, they robbed themselves off their personal pleasure for they derived their joy not from material pursuit or comfort.
3) Engagement & Support
They are not at the workshop for a career change. It was not a “How to grow your $” or “Be an inspirational leader” seminar that promises wealth, fame and success. It was an unlearning and re-learning process for many who went through the same local educational system as their children except decades ago. They will walk-the-talk, they will participate and they will demonstrate the support for their loved ones with action despite the other commitments that are shouting for their attention.
4) Role Modelling
They could have complained endlessly about the system and the what-not that comes with it but they chose to work alongside towards an amicable resolution. They joined in the learning to understand and to conquer the Goliath. They showed their children what tenacity meant and the concept of ‘when there is a will, there is a way – regardless of age and the nature of the challenge.’
From these parents, I have learnt much. Thank you.
Through this session we have picked up some skills instead of merely groping in the dark and can {hopefully} help when our kids have queries.
I am sure that our paths will cross in the future.
We parents have benefited a lot and it gave us an insight into the pain points of our kids and most importantly learned some tools, strategies to help our kids when they face such challenging problems.
Special thanks to Coach Kevin for his dedication and commitment in delivering every lesson to the maximum and providing tips and highlighting common errors made by kids. I learned a lot for the 4 lessons... The feeling is great... like going back to school and learning again. Definitely I feel more confident in helping my kids as I have better understanding of the concepts taught in the Onsponge book. In the past, prior to attending the course, I could not understand 'External changed concept' as to why they always make the end part equal...I simply followed the technique taught. After Kevin explanation, I know the rationale behind it and could appreciate it better.
Salute to the Onsponge team...
Looking forward to future workshop .. ha ha...
understand unless putting themselves in their children's
shoes. So such workshop will help.
Too bad I miss the workshop. Hope there is another one
coming.
We would be running another Parents workshop next year so do keep a look out in event updates that we send out via email. If you wish to be placed on sms alert, do write us at sales@onsponge.com.
Have a great day ahead!
