Teflon-Brain-Syndrome

I don't know about you, but in our homeschool we keep having epidemics of Teflon-Brain-Sydrome. TBS can be quite contagious, or it can choose a single victim. We try everything we can think of to combat this virulent virus, but there are those days when nothing seems to help!

Our two youngest sons and youngest daughter are especially susceptible. For example, one young man (who shall remain nameless) STILL DOESN'T KNOW HIS MATH FACTS!!! He is 12, but TBS prevents those old math facts from permanently implanting themselves in his brain. Our "house rule" for math is that you have to have all your math facts memorized before you get to start your first big, official math textbook. We make a big deal about it as each child "earns" their book. We really wanted this young scholar to experience the thrill of such a milestone. But no matter what we did, TBS prevented proper implantation. 

Now the fact of the matter is that studies have shown a direct connection between Teflon-Brain-Syndrome and motivation. The less motivated, the more violently the virus attacks the brain. We tried EVERYTHING KNOWN TO MANKIND! We tried flash cards, we used memory "wrap-ups", we used songs, we used prayer, we used paper and pencil, we used manipulatives, we offered rewards, we used consequences. NOTHING WORKED!! 

For a year!!

And then the clouds parted and the Lord spoke to me! He told me what would work.

Drum roll, please. . .


We were planning one of our epic road trips, for which we are famous, and "the cousins" were going along. This was to be a 19 day, 4600+ mile extravaganza covering much of the Western United States. When we travel with my sister and her family, the kids love to ride with each other somewhere in the caravan. I might have two of mine and three of my sister's in our suburban, while she has two or three of mine and one of hers. Anyway, you get the picture. Spending time with "the cousins" is the highlight of any trip. 


So guess what motivation I used?


Yup, I am that mean. I told the individual in question that if he did not know his math facts (all four stacks of flash-cards) he would be riding with me on "driving days" practicing flashcards. FOR ENDLESS DAYS AND NIGHTS OF DRIVING!


Miraculously, Teflon-Brain-Syndrome disappeared. One week later, he knew all of them! Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division!!! In one week!! Are you thinking what I was thinking?


We had been been working on this for A YEAR! And he learned them in one week!! 


Then I was mad. 


I think he was faking his TBS! I had been duped.


Regardless, we thought our troubles were all at an end. Having mastered all his facts, he received the coveted "first math book" in the usual ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance.  But, alas, as soon as the trip was over and he had his math book Teflon-Brain-Syndrome struck again.


And so I have decided that they will each just have to live with TBS for the foreseeable future. Until THEY decide to kick it to the curb.

Of course, MY TBS is perfectly explainable by circumstances beyond my immediate ability to control.  :)