:iagree: Just keep moving on at your own pace.

We HAVE to do two sessions. When my little ones have afternoon nap is our most productive time, but there's no way I want to just save afternoon to get it all done. We do well with an 1 1/2 in the morning and then the rest later.;) I have had some serious stalling before, but never so much that it runs over to another day.

I think it's a combo of better readings. . .and the checklist. He's been able to get a big chunk done first thing in the morning before his younger siblings are even awake. I want to let him move toward being more independent BUT I want good narrations and to be able to move toward some written ones. He actually has his own kindle and has many of the Robinson books on there. It's kind of hard to keep up with him though. He reads them faster than I can find more. His current assigned literature (where I make him narrate) is Hans Brinker; he chose it and seems to like it. Next up is Swallowdale (He already did Swallows and Amazons and LOVED it, so he's looking forward to this one) His sister isn't slow by any means, but she sure like attention, so having MAKING more 1 on 1 time with her is good I think.;)

The past couple of days have been sooo much better. I had "the chat" with him about having to do what's required with a GOOD attitude. . .then I listened to him. He said he doesn't like when he has to wait for me and he doesn't like all the "easy books." Fair enough I HAD been doing a modified version of AO with him and his younger sister which had gone ok for him, but completely LOST her. So I'm sticking with FIAR for her, but bumped him back up to some more challenging readings. I put those on his checklist along with his written work. He has to do 2 written things before completing a reading. We're still doing an afternoon read aloud and the evening one, but I'm letting him do more on his own than I have before. Oh my word! His narrations are so much better. They are thorough and so well conveyed and his little eyes are so much happier. I've also been having him find the places he reads about on the map and then calling me over to show me instead of pointing everything out for him. I'm a little shocked at how much he has actually absorbed. Side note--I still really love looking at new things. Moving Beyond the Page is intriguing. What is WT2? VP is Veritas Press, yes? Anyway. . .I'm much less stressed today.:)

http://www.kinderkorner.com/starters.html I'm thinking of putting a bunch on slips of paper and having the kids pull one from a jar for a change of pace once a week or so.

I do think at the very least a checklist is in order. And I KNOW he's bored. I had this discussion with my father in law and husband this afternoon. I'm not challenging him. I've tried doing my 6 and 8 year old together many different ways, and I just don't think there's a way to make it work.:glare: And yes he is reading well, but I'm not particularly fond of the idea of making him be COMPLETELY independent(and I'm definitely not locking him in his room till he's done:lol:). I want him to be somewhat independent at this age, but I still think the "together time" is good for him. It feels a bit like a break for him. . .I just have to find something to CHALLENGE him. I can't do anything super duper teacher intensive, but we need to do more than just read.:confused: I'm at a loss. Tomorrow is another day. . .I'll have a checklist for him.;) I had re read my post and realized that I made him sound awful! He really is a great kid. He's very sweet and loving and HELPFUL in other areas. . .we're just struggling at schooltime. {insert big sigh here}

oh man. We ARE in similar situations! :bigear:

He's pretty darn passive. . .so by complaining I mean: big giant sigh, immediate drop in countenance when he's asked to do ANYTHING. This morning there were tears. No audible crying. Just tears. He has this victim mentality. "Oh woe is me. . .mom makes me work" and then, "oh woe is me, I have extra chores to do because I didn't work". These aren't things he says. . .just his demeanor. This morning his consequences were. . .by the time he was done having his pity party, all the other kids were playing with Grampa and he's was just starting. That seemed like enough at the time. I've thought about both the physical repercussions like uncomfortable excercise, and additional writing. . .like writing sentences. I've done this some but obviously not been consistent enough. As for him being too old for FIAR. . .yeah I'm getting that, but I just don't know what to do with him. :confused: When I read books aloud that interested HIM, my 6 year old was completely lost. With FIAR, my 6 year old is engaged but my son is bored. And I don't want to just READ to him anymore. This kid needs to learn to work. Ugh

My 8 year old complains and pouts when I ask him to do anything. He's very bright, and I think I've made the mistake of just reading to him and letting him read and learn yada yada. . .this has led to him resisting when I ask him to actually put forth an EFFORT. He complained for an hour before starting this morning(this is not abnormal), after which he completed his CLE 307 lesson, his CTGE, Italic handwriting, and Daily grams in less than 40 minutes. . with no mistakes. So it's not that he's incapable. He's just so lazy. Then we sat down to do FIAR this afternoon. This works so great with my 6 year old dd, but he just complained that he all ready knew everything, and he'd rather just read. I even let him dictate his "first person point of view" lesson from FIAR TO me, and he still complained . . .I got twice as much from his little sister than I did from him. I could just revert to letting him do "interest led" reading; it's really tempting. I'm pregnant with my 5th kiddo, and I don't have the energy for a daily test of wills. But I really feel like this is selling this kid short. I know he's capable of so much more. I don't want him to turn into one of those really smart. . .but proud and lazy people.:glare: Words of wisdom please.

Burn Notice is my fave:D

oy vey Pat Robertson gag me with a wooden spoon

:iagree:Big hugs:grouphug: I have no idea why but things always go wrong when they're gone. The last time my husband was gone it felt like everything went wrong. Car broke down No power for a week in freezing weather I have 4 kids: -one had his stomach pumped with liquid charcoal -one was diagnosed with trichotillomania (it's a compulsion to pull your hair out) -one daughter knocked two teeth out on the driveway and had stitches -and my youngest fractured her femur and was in a spica (full body cast) swine flu, regular flu, rotavirus yada yada Again biggest hugs:grouphug: And feel free to go outside and scream whenever necessary:tongue_smilie:

Of the new things we're trying? Biggest Flop: -Apologia astronomy oh my. notttt a good fit. Biggest (new) hit: -Daily Grams my English phobic sons actually really likes these.

the second one hook, line, and sinker the other looks so wrong. . .even if they're both ok;)

Two BIGGEST flops for us (there have been oh so very many) Abeka language Singapore math Both brought tears

I actually like it not being a layed out schedule. . .that way I can pick and choose without feeling awful and behind when I don't "finish everything".;);)

We didn't like it. Still have it as a reference.

:lol:that's adorable

I like this idea a lot. He really LOVES to read, and we need to work on writing this year.

I hadn't seen those reviews. The samples do look amazing. And I like that I can get something specific to focus on. I'm thinking the one on snow and ice might be nice to try for something different in a month or two when the snow starts falling. :001_smile:

Thanks all. I got an account at FIAR boards so I'll ask for some more tips later today.

Anybody?

:bigear:

Not a problem. I'm interested in that as well

Yeah! Congratulations:)