Trick on Getting Kids to Complete Schoolwork

My son is 7 doing Ambleside Online Year 2. Luckily he's a Great reader but since he likes to read with someone I read everything with him. Sometimes, he reads the whole selection and sometimes we take turns reading 1 sentence back and forth.

Before the school week starts I figure out all the reading and assignments I want him to complete. Then I get out Index cards and write the day of the week at the top of each card. Then I write down everything that needs to be done for each day of the week. I spread long chapters out over the whole week. I also spread out his favorite reading books so that each day he really has a few things that he enjoys. I even add in Free Reading so he doesn't forget to read something each day that he gets to pick.

This has turned our house around! We were a family that took hours and hours to complete things. Now, at the beginning of each day he asks, "Where's the card, Mom?". Then he picks in what order he does things and just gets them done! We are finishing schoolwork before lunch and for us that is AWESOME!

Nature Study # 1

Brr! It's cold here in Texas(well at least for us Texans!). 62 F at 9:30 AM. Like I said, it's cold for us Texans. Green Hour # 1 was somewhat of a success. Laine played with the dogs, we discusses preening from the book, Flying Creatures of the First Day. Our goal was to hopefully see a bird preening - No such luck! But, we did draw a Female Cardinal. We had a moment of, "Mine's not very good, I want to help you and draw in your book." But, I stood firm and told him how "I was did my best work".

Then after a little while Laine decided to try again. And what a beautiful Cardinal he drew. I even let him borrow my special pen! Luckily, our cute little Gracie decided to draw too and thought that sharing the supplies was a nice thing to do.

Journey Begins

Homeschooling as a working mom, with a large blended family, and a special needs(almost adult) child is ALWAYS uniquely interesting. Some days are Beautiful and Wonderful and other days end in Tears but it is a Journey and that is what we have to All have to remember.

So, let's introduce ourselves. The head of our family is Keith an easy-going, fabulous man. Very kind, sometimes too nice but genuinely good hearted. I am lucky to be married to him. I, a Farmers Insurance agent for 10 years, have put my career on hold a bit(office is still open and growing) to homeschool the two littlest of our group, Laine(7 yo) and Gracelynn(23 months). Keith has two middle boys, Jeffrey(the trumpet player) and Andrew(the guitar player/swimmer) that go to Public School. And finally, we have Charlie. Charlie keeps us on our toes, diagnosed with PDD-NOS(Autism) many years ago, wanting to move out but not ready yet.

And so, our online Blogging Journey Begins! Join us if you like!