Homeschooling Success

If you’re a homeschooling mom, you know how it feels when you think what you’re doing is just not working with your kids. I’ve been feeling that way lately. Back in September I was super happy with everything we’d chosen for this end of the year (we run calendar years but started a lot of new stuff in August). Then as September turned to October I started worrying that none of this stuff was working for us. Michael was not having the retention I’d hoped for and Joseph was always being ornery.

Usually we just open our books and start where we left off (except history which actually requires advance planning) but this week I decided to try something different. I wrote out every little thing I wanted to accomplish this week. So far it has worked spectacularly. Everything I wrote down for the last two days we actually got done. Everything. That never happens to us.

The big surprise was the change in Joseph I saw this week. I laid the independent work on him thick. I brought out an old workbook that I’d decided not to use and undecided to not use it. I also found this sweet little workbook for the boys to work on about a year ago and finally brought it back out for them to work on. It’s just a simple book that has things they like, things they remember, things about themselves etc so that I can keep it for all of eternity and remember how cute they were. Then, because i *am* the meanest mom in the world, I also tore some pages out of some Kumon workbooks that have mazes, dot-to-dots, and cut and paste puzzles and put them in a file folder for him. Apparently what Joseph needed was more work! He has had 2 fabulous days. Today he skip counted for me without any help, read his reading book without pretending he didn’t know really really easy words and did all of his addition all by himself. Oh my gosh, I was wearing my happy pants!

Michael’s major achievement this week was more of an epiphany on his part. He suddenly realized that he actually *doesn’t* have that much work to do on any given day. He found out that when he sits down and works on his homework and doesn’t spend 20 minutes complaining about everything that he gets done and gets to go play. I’m sure the good weather helps. I’ve sent the boys out to play for a loooong time the last 2 days. I would love this weather if it didn’t cause the swarming bugs. Eh. So gross. I should take pictures.

I’m really excited about getting back into the groove of schooling. Sometimes all the field trips and grand fun we have gets in the way of doing bookwork. We’ve gone to Rockhome Gardens, the apple orchard, the pumpkin patch, the Bloomington children’s museum, and grandma took the boys to the Opera one day. That on top of our normal stuff has kept us very busy. Next week the boys are going to take horse classes where they learn all about horses and apparently get to ride one at some point. I can’t imagine Joseph being calm enough for this class but I know they’ll both love it.

Well, I believe that is the end of my monthly update. I have good intentions of getting the diapers in the wash and fixing our lunch for tomorrow before I go to bed tonight. First I have to watch 15 more minutes of Gilmore girls. I’ve decided to watch the whole series since I never did get to see the ending of the series.

1 Comment

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  By Joanna, October 26, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

  That is so excited. I love it when I feel like a success! How is it going now?

  Ummm… a horse class and you didn’t tell me about it!? I am no longer speaking to you.

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