OK. I feel like I've had a bit of a kick up the butt today. Well deserved, mind you. I keep falling into the trap of thinking that I can outsource the girls' education, but I can't. The testing and advocacy has had me on an emotional rollercoaster for weeks, and all of our household routines, rituals, structure, etc. has gone out the window. So I need a re-set. In particular, the girls (7 and 4) are developing an extensive range of avoidance strategies to get out of work at school and at home. They've got their teachers wrapped around their little fingers at school, and when I try and do work with them at home they engage for 2 minutes before throwing a paddy (or using another technique to get out of learning). I need to nip this in the bud.
OK... so I'm looking for strategies, tips, advice, routines, rituals, structure, etc. anything that has helped you:
* re-set expectations;
* strategies that help children practice good learning behaviours;
* increase and enhance self-responsibility and self-regulation;
* sneaky ways of engaging the girls in learning without them necessarily knowing it (!)
*re-establishing nightly and morning routines
My ears are open...jojo
