The Not So Great Homeschool Day

On Day 13 of Weather All Around us by Mother Goose Time (MGT) we were supposed to learn all about Migration.  But this day didn't go very well.

We had a busy first part of the week, so by the time we got to this lesson my boys were done.  Specifically Lachlan. 

All seemed to be going well.  Then Lachlan started working on a color by numbers sheet in the More Math book.  He accidentally put the wrong color in the wrong place and he lost it.  His little perfectionist came out.  He likes to get it right and hates to "mess up".  I told him I thought it still looked great, that art is supposed to be unique and different.  Blah, blah, blah.  He was not open to hearing what I had to say.  I just felt so bad for him and wanted him to stop being so hard on himself.

Peter was still in a great mood and sat with me to keep working on some things.

 MGT had us ask the kids to take three sticks and turn them into the letter N.  Technically they were supposed to collect the sticks outside but it was a bit stormy, so I used the tongue depressors that came in the bag that were meant to be used for the story cards.  It was going great, until this happened . . .

 I guess that's just a risk we take doing school at breakfast.  After I cleaned up the milk and cereal on the floor, I took this picture of the N all put together.  I really liked this simple project.  As they process through how to make these three sticks into an N, it really cements in their mind what an N looks like.  They can refer back in their memory to this very hands on project and recall it a little easier. 

 Lachlan was still upset and just kept repeating, I can't do it, I can't do it.  I told him the story of the little train that could.  Told him to say I think I can, I think I can.  Not sure he was a fan of hearing that at the time.  But since then I have heard him say, I think I can, I think I can.  Here he is mad in the background as Peter works on tracing his alphabet on these cards from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  He loved working through the whole alphabet. 

 The last card is blank, so I had him write his name.

 Even "guinea pig" who is a hamster, joined us at the table for school.

 Lachlan, sadly was still very upset and getting angry about any little thing I tried or suggested. 

 Peter wanted to do a page in an old More Reading book.  But at this point I just said, forget it!  Let's just watch Mary Poppins.

So I set each boy up on a couch with comfy pillows and blankets and we spent the next hour+ watching Mary Poppins.  It was the best thing for us on this day. 

Anyone else out there have a little one that struggles like this? I have to say, these days have become by far less frequent.  For one, our routine has helped out tons.  Also, the badge chart has made a huge impact on Lachlan's willingness to work through frustration and to take instruction.  So I am pleased, as I reflect on this day, by the progress we have made.  I am so thankful that we can adapt as we need to.  I really appriciated the flexibility of homeschooling on this day.