Like a whirlpool, it never ends.....

So this week has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for us. It started out strong and upbeat but by Wednesday, we pretty much ended with another melt-down. I was very frustrated with the little effort that Malachy seemed to be putting into it and his refusal to even try certain things. Yesterday (Thursday), I thought of a brilliant idea! I was going to have Steve come home from work, we would eat dinner and then he could teach Malachy one subject. Just for one day. Originally it was going to be science (Steve is an engineer and I thought that this might be not only cool for Malachy, but cool for him as well), however we were missing something we needed for our science project. So, he decided to give History a shot.

I struggled with not interrupting them and having to show Steve that this is how "I" do things, teach, relate to Malachy, etc. I made myself stay in the kitchen and keep out of it. That was really hard for me to do. I continued to clean up the kitchen and just "listen".

In history, Malachy is now beginning a chapter on the Renaissance. Up until now, he was learning directions, mapping, etc and has done very well but this new subject threw him for a loop. He refused to cooperate with Steve. He ran to the sofa, covered his head with the pillow and cried. Obviously, starting something late in the day was a bad idea. Having Steve start out teaching him something for the first time as deep and complicated as the Renaissance was a bad idea. First I consoled Steve and thanked him for his attempt and then I consoled Malachy. I made him read out loud to me the first two chapters of Flat Stanley and called it a night.

Steve got first hand experience of the frustration I've been feeling at times with our decision to home-school. He too wondered if we made the right choice.

But I'm stubborn (and Steve knows that). We are not going to fail at this. I won't let it happen.

In his old school, they use a disciplinary tool called "flipping cards" or "pulling cards". Basically, there are three colored cards; yellow, orange and red X. If the child does not listen, does not follow rules, talks out of turn, whatever it is, they start with the yellow card and go forward through the colors. A red X can mean a call home, a lost recess, extra work - it depended on the teacher.

Steve and I were discussing disciplinary actions in Malachy's home-school day and we decided that we would focus on the good things, NOT the bad things (well, we'd try to anyway). So I went to the store and picked up some colored reward stars. I told Malachy that if we have a school day with no yelling and he gives all his attention and effort to the school day, he would get to put a star on the calendar for that day. Ten stars equal lunch out. He asked if it could be Taco Bell (ugh) and I told him it would be his choice. He had a look of determination that only the lure of junk-food can bring.

Today was a gold star day. We breezed through every subject with no problems, including that first Renaissance lesson. He wrote full sentences in his literature notebook without complaining. He went through two french lessons (he's really enjoying learning french). He aced his spelling test. It's just been a really, good, easy, low-stress type of day.

The only problem now is that we are nine stars away from a lunch date with the Taco Bell Chihuahua. Arrrf-arrrrf!