Review and Building the Will
Often moms will say that their child doesn't like the review or refuses to do it and so they will let it go.
Let me back up... just which review am I talking about? In general, we tell a story or discuss theory (for older children) then we do something active or artistic and then allow it to sleep for a night, then reviewing this the next day and including some sort of writing element. While the whole process doesn't need to be story/draw/sleep/write/move on, there does need to be an element of review.
This review can come in many forms and the artistic portion can come in many forms. The early grades, 1st and second especially can seem repetitive if you don't change things up so maybe one week you really focus on drawing skills for your artistic development, another painting, another modeling or another baking - keeping these alive. Don't forget the review! I hear moms often say "It is like pulling teeth" or "once I start the review the tears come" - I am not sure how things are playing out in these homes, but something is missing there.
Probably a few somethings. Let us first think about will development - yours and theirs. In order for our teaching to be strong through the years, it must start out strong - from day one, you must stop being the friend and start being the authority. This isn't being mean, it doesn't have to involve you yelling or tears. It is simply a firmness that you bring forth. Working on this in grades one & two, will make your life easier in grade three and beyond.
During that nine year change, they need to know that you are not going to let things go, this is the biggest testimony to your own will. Will you allow a whining child to deter you? Will you give in because they simply "don't want to" or "they have grown tired of it" - remember you are the teacher. Homeschooling allows you to have a relationship with your children that isn't available in any other setting and while preserving the relationship and occasionally backing off for a day is a good thing, continually allowing the student to run the lesson isn't.
We must have some degree of discipline - children will always baulk - or at least some will, some are perfectly happy to do whatever you'd like, you will always have opposition to something, but as parents, our duty is to help them grow their will - if we don't NO ONE will! If we don't model self control even when times are hard then how will it ever be accomplished? The sign of a strong will is to do even the things that seem not fun.
Back to the review... if you are having trouble with the recall portion of the lesson, take a step back and see if you can find out why. This portion will in later years become more discussion of work done the day before so beginning to see it as that now may help you. Are you sitting down at the table and demanding a review? If so, maybe try other ways to bring the review together "Hey, let's talk about that story Mom told you yesterday." So when the child is recalling the story, maybe you are taking notes - just short ones for those that aren't writing on their own yet, maybe longer sentences for those that are and then together coming up with a summary. Once you have taken a few notes then together you can form your summary, it doesn't have to be like pulling teeth or tears of frustration, it can be very casual.
Remember that all children will show some degree of resistance at one point or another, we have to decide if we are willing to give in what they are resisting - giving in once will likely mean you will have to give in again and this sets up a pattern that they will look to capitalize on - they are children, this is how they work *wink* but in all seriousness, planning your lessons and keeping them lively will help you over come some of the resistance, but never all of it. Tomorrow the resistance may be to math... what will you do then? Be firm! You can do it. Teaching is only a fight if you allow it to be. Be strong. I believe in you.
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