Logic/Reasoning for 16 year old?

[dsacco]

One of our foster daughters is SERIOUSLY lacking in the whole logic/reasoning department. It's just from the way she was raised up until this point and she's a good student.... so I'm going to try and help her out over the summer.

What would be the best starting point for a 16 year old? She really needs to learn to read closely etc. Following directions is not always her strong suit...

Example.... she wanted to make bread..... I handed her my recipe that I use a lot - it's very simple..... she mixed it up..... then SWORE up and down it didn't tell her how to cook it... I said it was there..... she said it wasn't.... I sent her back in the kitchen and told her to re-read every instruction. She hadn't turned the page....

Next time - making hamburger buns using the bread machine to mix the dough.... said to make the buns 1" thick - she made them less than 1/4" thick....

I try every week to have her make something and follow directions.... she is amazed at some of the stuff I make (nothing fancy, I just follow the recipe)...

So I would like to try this out formally over the summer since we will be doing Algebra II as well.

[Teachin'Mine]

:lurk5: Good question!!! :001_smile:

[Cedarmom]

I think I would have her work on outlining the WTM way. This would hopefully help her pay more attention to detail.

I also would go over the recipe with her first each time. And show her how to make sure she has each ingredient and how to measure. SHe hasn't had it modeled for her, so this is all new.

On a side note, I'm a good cook but a lousy baker. I always goof something up in the ingredients. Yesterday, I mixed things in in the wrong order. Maybe I need to do more outlining.:001_smile: I'm hoping as I practice I'll get better.

[dsacco]

We've been over how to read a recipe - how to get the ingredients beforehand etc. She can make some stuff (tortillas.... ie guatamalen food) without recipes - she just does it.

She took "cooking" in school and still doesn't understand some of the stuff.

She needs to learn how to read to get to the answer.... does that make sense? Logical progression I would think... :)

[Cedarmom]

Yes that makes sense. That is why I think outlining would help. It teaches you to slow down and pick out the important details.

Another idea is narrating. Usually we do this with youngers, but it is a good practice. Have her read something then summarize it aloud or in written form to you. This will also help her focus on the main details.


You could also do logic puzzles/ books to work on the logic skills. Critical Thinking has some good ones.

The thing I am going to do to improve my baking skills is read my recipe aloud first before I begin. Hopefully, this will make it stick in my brain more, and cause me to slow down and think. She may want to try this. I do it in book passages too, when I am having trouble understanding.

[Nan in Mass]

I would make a copy and have her use a highlighter to cross of each part that she did. That will help her to see what she has and hasn't done yet. I do this with my boys with all sorts of things, from their assignment books to directions in paragraph form.
-Nan

[swimmermom3]

I would make a copy and have her use a highlighter to cross of each part that she did. That will help her to see what she has and hasn't done yet. I do this with my boys with all sorts of things, from their assignment books to directions in paragraph form.
-Nan

Nan, why is it that some times I really do need for you to tell me the obvious?:D I am off to check the highlighter supply.

[Nan in Mass]

I find it scary that how successful I am as a teacher depends on simple things like noticing that I always cross off lists as I do them. We struggled unsuccessfully for years with those assignment books before I figured this out. Sigh.
-Nan

[swimmermom3]

One of our foster daughters is SERIOUSLY lacking in the whole logic/reasoning department. It's just from the way she was raised up until this point and she's a good student.... so I'm going to try and help her out over the summer.

What would be the best starting point for a 16 year old? She really needs to learn to read closely etc. Following directions is not always her strong suit...

Example.... she wanted to make bread..... I handed her my recipe that I use a lot - it's very simple..... she mixed it up..... then SWORE up and down it didn't tell her how to cook it... I said it was there..... she said it wasn't.... I sent her back in the kitchen and told her to re-read every instruction. She hadn't turned the page....

Next time - making hamburger buns using the bread machine to mix the dough.... said to make the buns 1" thick - she made them less than 1/4" thick....

I try every week to have her make something and follow directions.... she is amazed at some of the stuff I make (nothing fancy, I just follow the recipe)...

So I would like to try this out formally over the summer since we will be doing Algebra II as well.

Dana, I wonder if this is not just a matter of logic and reasoning but more a matter of engagement. My observation has been that when a situation occurs like the one you described, the child is not fully engaged with what they are doing.

I am not always sure that our being wired in, especially teens, allows us to be engaged. Many kids are used to being fed information and have a difficult time turning around and applying it. For some reason your post made me think of a recent experience here. My middle child took his driver's permit test and failed. Turns out he had read half the driver's book thinking that it was all common sense. (Is there a snorting emoticon for that?) Ds was a step ahead of my nephew who failed the test three times before he decided to actually read the book. It's as if by holding the book or the recipe card in their hand, the information will magically be imparted to their brain.

You may have to go through each step asking your foster daughter to tell you what comes next. Both of you need to "there" in the moment, fully engaged in what you are doing. If you have already done this and I am barking up the wrong tree, my apologies. I may need more coffee.:D

[Nicole M]

Dana, I wonder if this is not just a matter of logic and reasoning but more a matter of engagement. My observation has been that when a situation occurs like the one you described, the child is not fully engaged with what they are doing.

I am not always sure that our being wired in, especially teens, allows us to be engaged. Many kids are used to being fed information and have a difficult time turning around and applying it. For some reason your post made me think of a recent experience here. My middle child took his driver's permit test and failed. Turns out he had read half the driver's book thinking that it was all common sense. (Is there a snorting emoticon for that?) Ds was a step ahead of my nephew who failed the test three times before he decided to actually read the book. It's as if by holding the book or the recipe card in their hand, the information will magically be imparted to their brain.

You may have to go through each step asking your foster daughter to tell you what comes next. Both of you need to "there" in the moment, fully engaged in what you are doing. If you have already done this and I am barking up the wrong tree, my apologies. I may need more coffee.:D

Yes, I thought of engagement, too. And your story reminded me of something similar. I grew up in an extremely chaotic environment. When I moved in with my step-mother and dad, things were much better, but my brain had been wired to simply not see things. One day I was told to go clean my room. I did. My step-mother stood in the doorway later with a look of astonishment on her face. "I thought I asked you to clean your room?" I was confused. "I did!" She blinked a few times and said, "Well, what about that pile of clothes?" Oh! I didn't even see the clothes. She went on pointing out problems for quite some time. If she'd just sent me back again and again without telling me what the problem was, I would never have learned to understand what she was actually asking.

So I think the highlighter is an excellent idea, as well as perhaps working through the recipe with her, having her read it aloud and repeating key steps. It will give your foster-daughter practice being successful, which, it sounds like, will be a great gift to her.

[dsacco]

I like the highlighting thing - that might help. DH teases her a lot because her favorite phrase is "I know...." but then 2 seconds later she will have NO CLUE what we are talking about.

She wants to keep doing stuff after school but keeps putting on the calendar that day and expects me to notice it - or asks me in the morning if she can stay after that afternoon and have me pick her up (3 other kids - so it won't always happen)....

We will keep trudging on!!