|
|
|
|
|
Forum
-> Chinuch, Education & Schooling
amother
OP
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 1:35 pm
My 11 year old is BH a very bright child. He has always been doing well in school and flying through all the Chol and Kodesh lessons. Learning Gemara has always been so difficult for him- he just doesn’t get it. He can’t focus on it and his marks are far below marks he has ever gotten in anything.
Is this something that’s common and/or is it that he needs to be taught Gemara in a different method?
Welcome all advice and ideas! Thanks!
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
Pewter
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 2:16 pm
Is there a very experienced rebbe who can sit with him and evaluate? There are a number of possibilities - ranging from mild ADHD across to a sight issue (gemara is much smaller print) or a reading comprehension issue. No one can advise you without assessing properly.
https://www.drgaddouer.com/
You could try this dr. We found him very helpful.
| |
|
Back to top |
0
1
|
amother
OP
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 2:26 pm
amother Pewter wrote: | Is there a very experienced rebbe who can sit with him and evaluate? There are a number of possibilities - ranging from mild ADHD across to a sight issue (gemara is much smaller print) or a reading comprehension issue. No one can advise you without assessing properly.
https://www.drgaddouer.com/
You could try this dr. We found him very helpful. |
Thank you- all very helpful advice. I’m in the UK so can’t look into that doctor but I will research locally.
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
Pewter
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 2:27 pm
You can speak to him on the phone and see what he recommends. He speaks English.
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
OP
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 3:07 pm
amother Pewter wrote: | You can speak to him on the phone and see what he recommends. He speaks English. |
That’s so helpful- thank you!
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
Topaz
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 7:53 pm
amother OP wrote: | My 11 year old is BH a very bright child. He has always been doing well in school and flying through all the Chol and Kodesh lessons. Learning Gemara has always been so difficult for him- he just doesn’t get it. He can’t focus on it and his marks are far below marks he has ever gotten in anything.
Is this something that’s common and/or is it that he needs to be taught Gemara in a different method?
Welcome all advice and ideas! Thanks! |
Does he wear glasses?
My son had the exact same issue. Did so well in everything but struggled with Gemara. Hard to believe but it was his eyesight. As soon as he got the right glasses, he did well again. Something about the way the Gemara is formatted really made him struggle.
Edited to add
I'm in the UK too
We saw Dr Ionais Tompazos under the NHS in Alexander Kobrin opticians. He said it's a common issue with Jewish boys.
| |
|
Back to top |
0
1
|
amother
Obsidian
|
Sat, Nov 11 2023, 9:08 pm
Unpopular opinion, but we start teaching gemara too young. I know many boys, including my own, who struggled in the beginning and didn't really get the hang of it until 13-14 years old. Most 11 year old brains are not developed enough to really grasp the subtlety of gemara logic and not getting at this is more of a sign that WE are wrong than that there is something wrong with the boys.
| |
|
Back to top |
1
6
|
amother
OP
|
Sun, Nov 12 2023, 4:31 am
amother Topaz wrote: | Does he wear glasses?
My son had the exact same issue. Did so well in everything but struggled with Gemara. Hard to believe but it was his eyesight. As soon as he got the right glasses, he did well again. Something about the way the Gemara is formatted really made him struggle.
Edited to add
I'm in the UK too
We saw Dr Ionais Tompazos under the NHS in Alexander Kobrin opticians. He said it's a common issue with Jewish boys. |
Thank you so much- he does wear glasses and a very specific type of lense…
I wonder if that could be causing it. Does the wrong lense just make it hard to concentrate?
| |
|
Back to top |
1
0
|
amother
OP
|
Sun, Nov 12 2023, 4:33 am
amother Obsidian wrote: | Unpopular opinion, but we start teaching gemara too young. I know many boys, including my own, who struggled in the beginning and didn't really get the hang of it until 13-14 years old. Most 11 year old brains are not developed enough to really grasp the subtlety of gemara logic and not getting at this is more of a sign that WE are wrong than that there is something wrong with the boys. |
Boy oy boy do I agree it’s too young. And not visual at all other than text.
But if he has to learn it now then I want him to succeed best he can…
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
Topaz
|
Sun, Nov 12 2023, 8:26 am
amother OP wrote: | Thank you so much- he does wear glasses and a very specific type of lense…
I wonder if that could be causing it. Does the wrong lense just make it hard to concentrate? |
Who prescribed it?
Maybe worth getting a second opinion.
Mine got glasses from Silverman's first but then got frequent headaches so I tried at Kobrin for a second opinion and saw instant results bh
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
Seagreen
|
Sun, Nov 12 2023, 9:29 am
amother OP wrote: | Thank you so much- he does wear glasses and a very specific type of lense…
I wonder if that could be causing it. Does the wrong lense just make it hard to concentrate? |
Also check functional vision- how his eyes work together.
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
OP
|
Mon, Nov 13 2023, 7:26 am
amother Topaz wrote: | Who prescribed it?
Maybe worth getting a second opinion.
Mine got glasses from Silverman's first but then got frequent headaches so I tried at Kobrin for a second opinion and saw instant results bh |
We have seen a consultant after his regular optician so I think they are definitely right for him…
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
amother
OP
|
Mon, Nov 13 2023, 7:26 am
amother Seagreen wrote: | Also check functional vision- how his eyes work together. |
Thank you- I will look into this
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
SYA
|
Mon, Nov 13 2023, 9:39 am
Try the Visual Gemara by Torah For Children. It breaks down all the skills. Visual and interactive.
Currently, they only have on Tefillas Hashachar from Mesechta Berachos, but it gives a positive taste of learning Gemara and opens the way how to learn other Gemaras. They also have a Visual Introduction to Gemara which is on the history and system of Gemara. Helps understand how Gemara works and where it fits in Torah SheBaal Peh.
Here’s the link
https://www.torah4children.com.....79002
| |
|
Back to top |
0
0
|
|
Imamother may earn commission when you use our links to make a purchase.
© 2024 Imamother.com - All rights reserved
| |
|
|
|
|
|