• Dec. 31, 2007 - Resolutions - Part 2 of Starting Our New Year
This topic came up on one of the loops I'm on. I had been meaning to actually write out my goals and post them publicly to help me be accountable so I answered over on the loop and also posted the information over here. And now one thing off my to do list.
We will be starting our whole new school year January 7th. We will be starting 9th, 6th, 4th, and 1st. While 2007 was an okay year I don't feel we accomplished all that we could have. I know that part of that is my fault for being inconsistent. This is in both things I didn't follow through on or things that I didn't make sure they followed through on. I feel we all got lazy. So I've also been working on resolutions for the New Year. Feel free to check up on me through out the year to see how I'm doing.
1. I have created a scheduled the makes time for school, chores, and fun. We need to be consistent in following through. School time needs to happen at school time so that other stuff gets done too. I recognize that most of the children unlike me need to be up a bit before they are ready to think so I have schedule a small chunk of chore time first thing in the morning and then we can get ready to work. There is a chunk in the afternoon that can be used to finish up school when necessary but can also be used for more productive free time. (ie no videos, tv, etc.)
2. One big goal is to make the children more responsible for completing their own chores and school. To give them ownership. I feel that all 3 boys can and should be doing a better job of this. This means I need to make sure I take time early in the year to train them in what I expect for a certain chore or what I expect in terms of getting their school work done. I also created a set of House Rules. On the surface they seem almost a bit harsh but if followed consistently they should really create the attitude and atmosphere I'm going for. (I'll post those on my blog.)
3. Clutter and mess are draining. I end up letting things go until I'm ready to go bonkers and then we miss several days of school time trying to restore order only to have things disintegrate again. This of course goes back to me being consistent in making sure that things are happening when they should. In addition to the pick up your room, make you bed, and pick up the living room type stuff I've ordered the new Motivational Moms schedule. This year I ordered the page a day. Printed 2 days per page, folded, punched and put in a small planner notebook. Each week I will assign chores for the new week. Some jobs will remain one persons responsibility and other jobs will rotate from day to day. Again I have to remember to train at the beginning so that they are working toward what I feel is a job well done. I plan to also assign bigger jobs to Hannah that we will do together. This will accomplish two things. She will be learning early to do these jobs and it will satisfy what seems to be her need for greater mom time.
4. I want to make sure that the big stuff like reading, math, and writing gets done each day. But I also want to be more consistent in areas that seemed to get put off this year. Spelling, sight words, handwriting. I do have time to read the history, science, and read-alouds each day but no more than 30 minutes for they younger two and no more than 60 minutes for Caleb and that will be during lunch so the other guys can listen in as well.
5. Giving myself permission to not be the homeschooler that gets written up in the magazines. Its okay if everyone does not work together on projects together. We don't have to do units as a group. Our school time can look just like that school time. Actually doing some lap book stuff with Hannah who really, really loves this format and not sweating it if they boys don't want to participate.
6. Make time for Mom to learn and grow. I need to make time for reading stuff that isn't for the children or isn't just junk because I'm worn out and don't want to think. I need to make time to pursue creative outlets. This can be in the form of paper or digital scrapbooking, cross stitching, or adding to my blog. I need to make time to exercise. Again this can be walking around the block, using the treadmill, or doing the dance pad on the video game system. |
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• Dec. 31, 2007 - The Magazine Homeschool Family
Robin