"I didn't want to teach him 'studying,' I wanted to teach him 'how to study'" | Chapter 2: Starting with 15 Minutes a Day Memorizing Prefectures ~The Birth of Dad's Cram School~

During the spring break before my son entered junior high school, I decided to have him take a practice test for the "proficiency test" that was scheduled for the day after the entrance ceremony, just on a whim. He scored 49 in social studies, and all his other subjects were in the 50s...

The previous story ended with the panicked father deciding to take on his son's private tutoring. This time, it's the continuation of that story.
This time, it's the continuation of that story.

The Birth of "Dad's Cram School": A Supportive Approach to Private Tutoring

The name "Dad's Cram School" eventually stuck in our household and continued until his high school entrance exams, but at the time, it didn't really feel like a "cram school" yet.

I worried that if he couldn't keep up with his classes after entering junior high, he might end up hating school itself.

Sometimes, children who struggle with their studies try to protect their immature hearts by replacing that complex with the excuse of "wanting to focus on club activities."

And so on...
I couldn't get the bits of child psychology knowledge I'd heard somewhere out of my head...

Anyway, as a father, I felt it was more about wanting my child to have the self-affirmation of being able to "do well in school" to the extent that he could enjoy his school life.
I wanted him to have the self-affirmation of being able to "do well in school" to the extent that he could enjoy his school life.
I think that feeling was closer to the truth.

However, what I felt during the review of the practice test I wrote about last time was,

Before teaching him how to study, I need to teach him how to study.

That is what I meant.

We weren't at the stage of overcoming weak subjects or improving strong ones yet.
I didn't even know what his current academic level was, and the only quantified indicator I had was that one practice test.

Relying on this, I started with social studies, the subject where he scored the lowest.

15 Minutes a Day: Starting with Memorizing Prefectures

Dad: "Your social studies score was a bit low. What parts did you find difficult?"
Son: "All of it."
Dad: "..."

Dad: "The history section in the first part was okay, but you didn't do well in the geography section. Are you bad at geography?"
Son: "What's geography?"
Dad: "..."

Dad: "You got the question about naming the prefectures wrong, but this is where you live, right? Did you learn this in class?"
Son: "I didn't learn that."
Dad: "..."

Dad: "Geography isn't just a subject for memorization. It's linked to history and politics (civics) through a concept called 'geopolitics.' That said, you have to learn the basic knowledge that forms the foundation for those connections. So, let's start by memorizing the prefectures."
Son: "Why?"
Dad: "... (I just told you...)"

What is the point of memorizing prefectures?
In the first place, why do we learn?

I struggled with this question for a long time after that...

"To go to a good school, get into a good company..."
"To broaden your future options."

These are lines a parent might easily say, but they probably wouldn't resonate with my son right now.
Actually, they might never resonate with him at all.
Even as a parent, I don't have a clear answer to that question myself...

Still, trying to get my son to sit at his desk somehow,
"Anyway, let's just try it for 15 minutes," I said,
and...

Son: "Hmm... I guess I can do it if it's only for 15 minutes."

Dad: "..."

While harboring mixed feelings about my son's way of putting it, the "Prefecture Memorization Course," which could be called the origin of Dad's Cram School, began.

"You said it would only be 15 minutes!"

With that, the memorable first lesson of Dad's Cram School began, starting with memorizing the prefectures.

Dad: "Do you know how many prefectures there are?"
Son: "Hmm... about 20?"
Dad: "... (This might be a serious case)"

While showing him a blank map of Japan I downloaded from the internet,

Dad: "What prefecture is this? (pointing to Aichi Prefecture)"
Son: "Tokyo?"
Dad: "... (I'm asking what prefecture it is, so Tokyo definitely can't be the answer...)"

Dad: "What prefecture is this? (pointing to Fukuoka Prefecture)"
Son: "Tokyo?"
Dad: "... (Like I said, Tokyo definitely can't be the answer...)"

Dad: "What prefecture is this? (pointing to Miyagi Prefecture)"
Son: "Is it Tokyo yet?"
Dad: "... (What do you mean 'yet'...?)"

In my plan, I intended to finish the review in 15 minutes by focusing on points that are easy to get confused, like the Tohoku and Shikoku regions, but it seems this isn't even at a review level...

It looks like I need to be prepared to teach him from scratch.

Dad: "I guess you're a bit weak in this area. Alright, today let's start by memorizing the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions."
Son: "I know Hokkaido."
Dad: "Good, good. Then what about this? (pointing to Aomori Prefecture)"
Son: "Tokyo?"
Dad: "... (You're betting too much on a 1 in 47 chance...)"

This article doesn't focus on specific teaching methods, so I'll omit the back-and-forth, but he cleared the 6 Tohoku prefectures plus Hokkaido quickly.

"What prefecture is this?"
and
"Where is XX Prefecture?"

By alternating between these, he was able to answer perfectly in about 5 minutes.
In this mood, we moved on to the Kanto-Koshin'etsu region.

He was memorizing them smoothly despite struggling with the North Kanto area, so I was feeling good about teaching,

Dad: "When this is done, let's try the Chubu and Tokai areas!"
I said, and the reply I got back was

Son: "You said it would only be 15 minutes!!! I want to play games after this!!"

...
That's right. My son wasonly going along with me because I said "it's just for 15 minutes."
I had forgotten that...

Dad: "Sorry, sorry. Let's try it again tomorrow, just for 15 minutes."
Son: "Hmm... okay, just for 15 minutes."

This was the memorable first lecture of Dad's Cram School.
You must not raise your voice, saying things like, "Is that the attitude of someone being taught!!"

Next time, I hope to write about something like, "My son's academic ability gradually becomes clear, and Dad makes up his mind."

Postscript

I am surprised that Chapter 1 was read by more people than I expected.
Thank you to everyone who read it.

As I was writing it little by little while remembering, it took about a week since the last post (lol). It looks like the next one will also take about a week, but I will post it again once I have written up to a good stopping point.

Revision History

2025/06/27
(This is a notice for the next chapter's post. There are no changes to the article.)
Chapter 3 will be posted tomorrow (6/28).

Next time, the topic is "Wrong Study Methods."
If you think, "My child was like this too!", I would be happy if you could like and follow.

I have compiled the one-month record of "Dad's Cram School" into a magazine.

It would really encourage me if you could like and follow, so please do!
Comments are also very welcome. I will definitely reply.
I would be happy if you could empathize with things like children's home study and parents' struggles.