Home Schooling 24/7?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Curt_Bumcrot]Curt Bumcrot
Now that the "honeymoon phase" of the new school year is over, productivity for some children starts to drop. In some cases, school work that should have been completed Monday through Friday now spills over into the weekend. "School" on Saturday two or three times in a row can be a miserable experience for everybody, not just the kids. If this describes what's happening with one of your children, here are some thoughts that may help you with the situation.
First, if you are seeing this in only one of your children, maybe there is a physiological reason behind it. What I mean by this is that if a child is a slow or reluctant reader, eye fatigue may be a factor. An optometrist could diagnose and prescribe stress lenses or glasses.
If you have a child who is entering into her teenage years, hormonal and/or chemical changes could be taking place which is affecting her mood and personality. Previously compliant, some children become oppositional and lethargic. Some Christian writers would lead you to believe that this kind of behavior is simply spiritual in nature (i.e. rebellion, sin, etc.), but this narrow view often prevents getting to the root of the issue. Making an appointment with a pediatrician for a physical would be a first step in addressing this issue.
Secondly, this may simply be an emerging personality trait. While some children "just get to it," others move methodically and slowly. While the promise of a reward or incentive may increase their productivity to some degree, it usually doesn't last. I saw this with a student who took a timed test in which the results pointed to below-average achievement. Weeks later we gave this student the same test but this time removed the time limits. The results were well-above average achievement. Sometimes you simply need to accept the personality trait and work with it by adjusting the amount of work assigned.
If your child is a "slow mover," consider making the work load on Fridays lighter. This is the day you "catch up" with little if any additional work assigned. Classroom teachers do this all the time (for themselves) when they get behind in their grading.
For older students, another possibility is to schedule the day into half-hour to one-hour time segments in which you move along to the next subject once the time allowed for the current subject is up. For younger students, setting a cooking timer for them to see may help build awareness of time elapsing.
Other issues related to productivity include structure, family dynamics, the use of incentives, interest level, and peer influences. More on this in another article.
Thanks for reading!
Curt Bumcrot, MRE
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Curt Bumcrot is the founder and director of Basic Skills Assessment and Educational Services. He holds degrees in Biblical Studies from Grace Institute in Long Beach, California, a B.A. in English from California State University at Dominguiz Hills, and a M.R.E. (Master in Religious Education) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He has been active both as a teacher and administrator in Christian Schools & has homeschooled his own 3 children.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Home-Schooling-24/7?&id=6619261] Home Schooling 24/7?