|
 |
Minute to Minute
Readers Helping
Readers | |
|
| September 1st, 2007 |
| Sometimes our children have an off day when they just
don't feel like doing school. It's one of those days when
motivation, no matter how tempting, just doesn't seem to work.
You sit there pulling your hair out, wondering if anyone else
has felt this way.
You're not alone. In fact, this week's question comes
from Alison, an Australian homeschooler, who wants your advice
on how to motivate her children. She's at her wits end because
every day is an off day. All her motivational tools have
failed and her children still hate school. What should she do?
What did you do? We want to
know. | |
 |
|
|
| Motivating my children |
G'day all you wise ones,
I
struggle with the problem of stubborn kids who decide to take
all day to do what should (when they set themselves to the
task it does) take only a couple of hours. Actually, the 3 of
them take it in turns to be difficult.
My husband and I share the home education; he does the
majority. We do schooling stuff 8am - noon. If they apply
themselves to their lessons they can be finished by
10 am, but usually this does not happen. By the end of the
day, I end up grumpy; they end up worn out, and it feels like
nothing gets achieved. The concept of having fun while
homeschooling seems like the diametric opposite of what we
achieve.
I have tried bribery with special outings or
privileges to get them moving on the 3 Rs. The days they zoom
through their work it is a much better day for everyone, but
such days seem to be rare and not
reproducible.
Australian home educator,
Alison |
| Homeschooling Resources |
 "How will YOU feel at the
end of the homeschooling road? Sure you want to do a good job!
But honestly, sometimes you wonder exactly what that means!
You try so hard, but you ask yourself, 'Am I doing the RIGHT
things?' You work so hard, and try so hard, but sometimes -
even often - you feel like a total failure. I know, I've been
there! That's why I've written this book." Lorraine Curry
takes the downhearted homeschool mom through a journey of love
and encouragement in her second 5-star book Easy Homeschooling
Companion.
In this book
she provides countless tips and lists that will help any
homeschool mom. Her nuggets of wisdom
include:
10 Ideas for
A Difficult Child
5 Parenting Keys
8 Questions for
Personal Bible Study
18 Techniques for a Gifted Child
8
Keys to Joy
6-Step Gentleness Checklist
6 Basics of
Faith
The 3-Fold
Crown of Education and so much more.
| |
|
Please email us with suggestions that
Alison could implement to motivate her children while
homeschooling. Tell us your tips, tricks, and rewards that
have helped your children enjoy homeschooling. When you email us you give us
permission to post your response in the Minute to Minute
e-newsletter, send your response to Alison, or use it in
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's "My Voice" column if
selected.
Sincerely, |
Paul and Gena Suarez, Publishers
The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine | | |
