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Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - Down Time

Posted in Homeschool FREEBIES. links and curriculum ideas

I sometimes get sidetracked during school time..... OK I get sidetracked A LOT......
And then I run into the problem of my kids, who I hoped would be finding something CONSTRUCTIVE or EDUCATIONAL( to occupy them for the half hour or so I spend answering email, going over finances, helping a friend,locating lost items.... planning meals... etc.....) doing all kind of things I would not call "school" for the most part. I believe in child-led education and unschooling principles, BUT I firmly believe that MY CHILDREN need structure. They also needed something to do when , for instance they were done with their work for a particular subject but I was busy helping a sibling and could not get them started on the next topic....because they tend to get into trouble otherwise.....

Usually the sound of bickering, goofing off and video gaming meet my ears from another room.... It annoys me when I am busy trying to accomplish something myself and I can't think.
So I have had to institute rules for downtimes. (I wish I could be more focused and less forgetful, but this is just me- I'm a scatterbrain and I always have been. I blame in on my grandma Bates, who is the same way- but she had 9 kids to drive her to distraction......)
ANYWAY..... So I compiled a list of acceptable downtime activities.
Here is my list of things they could do to occupy themselves for short times when they were not working on their schoolwork during the school day.....
1.- Work on something in the FACT FILE that you need to learn more about
( my "fact file" is what I call 2 small baskets filled with things like flash cards, wrap ups, trivia cards, file folder games, writing and math improvement books, and other educational booklets and activities that are quiet and good for self-teaching.) Here is a picture:

2. Do some cleaning in your room

3.Read silently any book you like.
4.Read silently a book related to your unit study topic.
5.pick a chore on your spin list ( see my past article about the Better Behavior Wheel
and the following one called Better Behavior Wheel is Working)
6.Draw or color
7.work ahead in one of your classes
8.see a mess and clean it up
9.Pray/spend time with God read your Bible.
10 Write something creative.
11.Write a letter ( or email)
12.Try some exercises in the Homeschool PE book.
13.Take your shower/bath if you have 30 minutes to spare.
14.Play on the computer on your day
15. Play outside.

This seemed to work for a day or two until they figured out that drawing and coloring were ok..... Then we had drawing and coloring CONSTANTLY... not what I had hoped 2 JR Highers and one 1st grader would do.....
So I had to resort to limiting how many times in a given week they could do each activity.
I had each of the kids use paper plates to make "pockets" to hang on the wall.

Then I used a flashcard making website ( can't remember which) to make cards with the down time activities on them. I had each child use 2 of their favorite colors to color the pockets and their own set of cards, so that I could tell them apart. Then I made a pocket for turning them in. Each time any of them has some downtime, they can choose a card and drop it into my pocket, then go and do that activity. At the end of the week, I give their cards back to them.This is much better and the kidlets seem excited about it.

The other day, I let the kids paint the "kitty box" - a press board box I have had since my 11th birthday that is looking rather old and ugly. It holds coloring books art, music and game books.

Rowan's- He calls it " Black Blood"

Harley's "Winged Eyeball"

and Trinity's "Fishtank".

� Post A Comment!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by cahanbury

You are a genius. Really.

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Friday, March 14, 2008 - I just

Posted by ltjewel

I just keep coming back to this idea. I think my children really need this. I just need a way to keep them doing constructive learning more! Plus, I think they would find it fun to have several options.

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