I've also found that my DD will perk up if I "make" her do things that have nothing to do with learning info at all, but count as life skills I guess, like making her own muffins to take for snack (since the class snack now is Cocopuffs). She can honestly say that she made them herself and feel mature about it. Also doing yard work. The "important things", like starting to clean up some of the leaves off the plants that are trying to come through, trimming the old stalks we left off the perennials from last fall. This seems to give her a sense of pride in her own home and when we get any compliments about our flowers she gets a glow because she took part in its care. Even if she gave me a little hard time when I tried to guide her to get started. It always comes out really well once she gets going.
Anyway not everyone has a garden, but this sort of idea...getting around the whole school/learning thing all together, it can be a relief.
