This is what helped me a lot last year. If you think that whatever you are asking your DS to do won't go well then don't even ask for it. It's not worth the struggle. Most of the time it wasn't the subject or material which was the issue, it was the timing. Just because we were oh, so close to the end of the chapter didn't mean that it was a wise idea to push him to finish it when it was obvious that he had enough. Things did get done but not necessarily on my preferred schedule. This was the most important thing I learned last year.
If he gets tired or antsy give him a break. Let him run outside, jump on the trampoline, have snack, etc.
Another thing we do is having a choice free day. On Fridays I get to choose one activity and DS7 gets to choose the rest of them. As long as I find it educational he is free to do whatever he wishes. He can spend the whole morning doing geography if that's what he wants. The rest of the week my son gets to choose one activity as long as all of his work is done and I choose the rest. It gives him sense of control and I get to know pretty well what he likes
DS5 is still learning the rules
