Focus! Focus! Focus!

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by *Angie*, Sep 7, 2010.

  1. *Angie*

    *Angie* Member

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    I think this is quickly becoming the most used word in my house LOL

    Does anyone have any tips on making it easier to focus despite distractions, for my 8yo?

    He gets "distracted" by everything. I have a 5yo doing Kindergarten, and 8yo spends more time watching and commenting on what his brother is doing than his own work. If 5yo is finished for a while, 8yo is distracted by 5yo & 2yo playing. Basically, if I'm not right there directing him every second, he'll find something to distract him.

    The fact is, we live in a really small space, I have an active toddler and he's going to have to learn to work despite the inevitable distractions. I'm not really sure how to help him do that, though, so any suggestions would be much appreciated!
     
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  3. Birbitt

    Birbitt New Member

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    My oldest does the same thing. The only way I can keep him focused is to set a timer for him. Once the baby wakes up from nap and they begin their independent work I set a timer for 1 hour. Whatever time left on the timer after the work is done becomes his video game time for the day. He can now complete assignments in a few minutes instead of a few hours
     
  4. pecangrove

    pecangrove New Member

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    Excellent idea Birbitt!! I'm stealing this one!
     
  5. gizzy

    gizzy New Member

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    I agree with Birbitt. There is only but so much freetime in each day, stop letting him waste yours and let him spend of his own and he'll exercise some sort of time management for himself.

    Because 6yo doesn't have any really awesome toys for me to take away at this moment and I wind up sitting with him through all his work anyway I tell 6yo that if I give him 20min worth of work to do it and he takes 2hrs to do it, then its only fair if I give him 3hrs worth of work. After a certain amount of excess lolly gagging I just add another page of work, then another, then another and I push him to get it done--all of it, right now or I'll add another.

    That way we're not wasting any time, so I just up his workload until he realizes he's headed into a dreaded zone of "too much" work. Then suddenly he can do his pages in 5 minutes or less and be done quickly.

    Other than that, I realized I'd be sitting 4.5hrs on average for just a little work from him.
     

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