Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion I need a re-set. Any strategies/suggestions?

Wow! What a difference a week makes!!!

I'm so excited. I implemented our new routine last Fri, and we're off to a flying start. While everyone in our family really resists routines and structure, it's been so successful. Here's how it works...

I've put up morning and afternoon routines on the fridge, using words and pictures to describe what has to be done and when. For Miss 7, the morning starts with the New York set puzzle game, spelling, music practice and a suduko puzzle before we get ready for school. For Miss 4, the morning starts with some phonics, spelling and music practice. I've put some jobs into the schedule and made them responsible for packing their school bag, packing the dishwasher, watering plants, etc.

After school, I let the girls have free choice play for 1.5 hours. At 4.30pm we start homework. This includes timestables, mathletics, spelling, reading and some writing. I take an exercise from mathletics (today we did contracted multiplication) and devise a practical, hands-on exercise based on it. I then use mathletics to reinforce the learning, and then have a pop quiz just before dinner to make sure it has sunk in.

The difference in Miss 7 has been extroidinary! She positively shone at singing today - playing her Suzuki singing songs on the piano for her teacher, and accompanying her sister (Miss 4 - who was singing in German!). Her attitude is positive, upbeat and very affectionate. After singing today, she asked if we could skip free choice so we could do maths!

What I need to get much better at is balancing the one on one needs of both my daughters. It's really hard for them to work independently of me, and it seems unfair to have Miss 4 tagging along while I do stuff with her older sister. But I feel like the stuff she can do independently (like colouring-in, for example) is a little demeaning. I think I might try and get some wildlife documentaries that Miss 4 can watch for 30 mins while I work with her sister and vice versa. Any other suggestions would be most welcome...

Just goes to show... a little change can make a HUGE difference...

jojo

Jojo,

Wonderful update! My kids thrive better with routines even though I am not that organized by nature. I have a DD9 and DS3. I feel like you do that when I work with DD, I need to find things to keep DS engaged and occupied. I usually have him pick out an educational DVD at the library and I have some "school work" type books for him that we only bring out during quiet time. He loves to trace letters, do simple mazes or even do puzzles especially when they are off limits otherwise. We also have a Leapster with phonics and simple math games that he plays (with headphones) when DD does her homework. I don't like video games in general, but the educational ones keep learning fun. I hope any of these ideas help you.

Jen

Yippee!

(I think coloring is nice. What if you printed really pretty geometic designs from the computer for Miss 4 to color. I mean, if she is willing to do it, it's very relaxing, and develops all kinds of wonderful eye-hand tone. just a thought...)

My friends and I used to color in college during finals week to relax. It's not completely demeaning if it's not approached as "real" work.