Ever since I started "School" with my 6 yo we have been having school 3-4 days a week and only working on phonics and math and have Bible daily. He is very set in his routine. This fall I plan on having school 5 days a week and adding science and history to our current subjects (will be using HOD). Any ideas on how to add this extra without upsetting the system to much? Or ideas on how to help him look forward to it all? TIA
Are you having a summer break? A couple of weeks of no school and a conversation letting him know about upcoming changes might help. Is there something cool or exciting about the upcoming science and history? Fun experiments? Cool soldiers to learn about? Really play up a part of it he might like? Maybe abig back-to-school party? Make a big deal of how big/old he is. Have cake for breakfast. Blow up some balloons, play games, etc Make sure he knows part of being bigger/older is new subjects, and a new routine.
Maybe if you start with 3, then add one more day and one more subject for a couple weeks, then add the 5th day and the last subject? Sort of work up to it gradually? only do science and history on alternating days at first, and working up to both every day... The "other" way would be like jerking off a bandaid - all at once, BAM five days five subjects, this is how it is, now you're a BIG kid, get over it, it'll only hurt for a little while. OR, build up the "now you're a BIG kid" part of it, THEN jerk the bandaid... Hope it all works out!!!
Thanks for the ideas. The only summer break we are taking is to go to church camp for a week and maybe a few days when we get home from there. I have found that if we even just take a week off, he really fall back on his phonics/reading.
:lol: I am a "jerking off the bandaid" kid of girl! I am not real worried about it but would like a nice transition because I don't want him to end up hating school like my 20 yo always did! (Let me just add that I didn't HS him until he was in the 9th grade. He hated school long before that.)
I am just blunt with my kids.... I tell them this is what we have to do. He is old enough to explain to him that more is expected now. As you mature more things are expected. Its a sign of growing up. Maybe that will help
I also recommend the blunt approach. Sometimes trying to break things gently comes off like they have a choice and they fight it more. So, yeah, jerk off the band aid! Lol. But only after talking to him and letting him know your expectations.
Okay Lindina you had my laughing!! Love the "jerk the bandaid" analogy. This is when the forum needs a like button! With my son we had a talk about him being in Grade one nowand having to do more work now. Then went for it full on in the fall. But I also did a visual schedule that I filled in each day so he would know how much he had to accomplish each day.
I get excited about changes and that gets mine excited. We are changing math this year and since I'm excited about it my son is too even though it was the subject he hated most this last year. :lol:
