I Don't Want To

The thing that surprised me the most about homeschooling was the sheer number of tasks that the State suggested for my child that she was not interested in doing…even with colored markers and glitter glue. Spelling and multiplication tables fall squarely into this category.

I can’t blame her; I wouldn’t have a lot of patience for obeying someone else all day either—even if their ideas were fantastic. But, I also realized that adults are PAID to work all day and that payment is a great motivation that made every day much easier. Somehow, it also made room for them to take joy in the things they would have complained about before.

Here is my system if you are looking for one:

At the beginning of the day, I write out the jobs each small person needs to accomplish. I try to have no more than 10 things on the list including some very short jobs (practice the piano and write in your journal) and some longer ones.

For each job, you can earn 2 beads (or whatever small thing you have enough of). 1 bead is for completing the task well (Is there an answer for everything and can I tell you tried?). The other bead is for completing the job cheerfully (no matter how you actually felt about it, did you keep working cheerfully without complaining?). Very unemotionally, assess the job done without using warnings, guilt, or disappointment and just go to the next job. It feels great!

At the end of every day, they trade in their beads or save them up. Right now each bead is worth a peanut m&m or 10 beads gets you 30 minutes on the computer or a non-educational TV show. 20 beads can get you out of a chore.

It doesn’t sound like much, but after the 4th day of your sister having more m&ms and choosing more TV shows, it really sorts out.

Note: We talk a lot around here about the difference between “getting what you have earned” and grace. Schoolwork is the only place we use the bead system. Obedience and grace are terribly beautiful lessons.