Let’s talk about the weather or international disasters or politics. You know, something less painful.
Captain Science is…well, I’ll just call it “boundary testing.” I believe I mentioned that a little earlier this week. Of course, I made the huge mistake of commenting that he’d improved greatly by Wednesday, which of course means that by Wednesday afternoon, it had all gone to hell in a tightly-woven, decorative, but highly functional Longaberger hand basket*.
Sometimes, Captain Science is not the most forthright of children. He occasionally sneaks, cheats, and/or lies, especially if he’s trying to do something fun that requires polishing off a few chores or some work first. Along with being slow, slow, slow this week, he opted to do a little copying down the answers in Life of Fred and turning it in as his own work. Of course, because the answers to each section of Life of Fred are just right there, I can understand the temptation, but really, if you’re going to lie about having done the work, pick a problem where it’s not so obvious. Pal, I know you didn’t convert .875 to a fraction in your head that quickly.
Captain Science had been warned that lying would result in writing lines, so he got to start a page of lines that said, “I will not lie and I will not cheat.” That took him about fifteen times longer than it ought to have, pushing back even more work. Every task this week, with the exception of the first have of Wednesday and science on Thursday, has been like a long, slow tooth extraction. I’m pretty sure he’s accomplished a few chapters of Life of Fred, perhaps 11-14? He also managed to do a lesson of Editor in Chief and two Writing Strands sections. Before he goes to bed tonight, he’ll do a chapter of Vocabulary from Classical Roots. It’s not that the week has been educationally fruitless, it’s just been rather devoid of joy.
We’re trying some new things to get us back onto track, but it will take a couple of weeks to see how they pan out. Wish us luck and that week 21’s review is more positive than this week’s.
*The Nana collects these. She’s not really the collecting type, but she does love a basket, because “you can put things in baskets” and they are useful in the event of a disaster. The children all have Longaberger Easter baskets. I am not a Longaberger consultant or anything, but if you want to buy an expensive, but very nice, basket, Longaberger is the way to go.
Oooh, I like the baskets. Lydia would be drooling over those as well. She is such the container freak. She buys cute storage containers and then has to think what in the world she can put inside it.
Better to nip with the sneaky stuff now while you can catch it, then later when he has mastered the skill. Sounds like everyone needs a new week, clean slate, do-over, grace, spa treatment.
Hope next week is better.
Just wanted to wish you some luck.
Hope that the joy returns soon!
Thank you, Mandy!
LOL! Captain sounds like a character.
Oh, he’s a “character” all right. That’s a much nicer word than the one I’ve been using in my head the last two weeks.
Thanks for sharing even though it wasn’t a great week! Us homeschool moms need to keep it real!
I like the writing lines punishment….I am wondering how it would work around here?
The “writing lines” reminds me of Harry Potter and Professor Umbridge. “I will not tell lies…”
Thanks for posting your real struggles. It’s refreshing.
I’m starting to suspect that Fred isn’t as fun for Captain Science as it once was. I think the problem is with the curriculum, which is causing the lack of motivation in Captain Science. Just a hypothesis.
Also, as soon as you said he finished the last however-many problems in under 10 minutes, I was certain he must have cheated. I don’t think he’s purposely dawdling, I think the text missed helping him make some important connection, which is why he’s struggling so much now.
Why not ask him?
Captain Science actually loves Life of Fred, which is a wonderfully comprehensive and creative curriculum.