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Have you been following my math saga? I must be getting old. I don’t think I had such drama teaching the older kids their math. Especially on Mondays. Especially on Mondays after having taken any time off for illness or any reason.
Do any of y’all have that problem too?
Grrr! I have started to abhor Math on Mondays!
Especially with Slim. I think he knows I’m a sucker for a cute Cowboy with a super smile. The boy plays me with the math. He really plays me on Mondays with the math. That boy. I am a sucker!
I think I told you about the feigning of a tummy ache to get out of the math. That was on a Monday.
Well, folks, there have just been too many Mondays!
Cute smile be hanged! That Cowboy needs to do his math. Even on Mondays!
Today I wrote out his assignment and had one of those Alka-Seltzer moments just before handing him the page.
So I didn’t.
Not right away.
First I made some little note cards for the boy. Four of ‘em. One to be read after completing each row of problems. I explained that the first note was boring and the notes got progressively more fun and note #4 was grand! But he was not to look at any note until the right time. That’s when he started grinning!
After completing row #1 he read note #1. Note #1 said, “Go use the bathroom, don’t forget to wash your hands! Then get a drink in the kitchen. Hurry! You have 3 minutes!
See? kinda boring. But his curiosity was piqued. What would the other notes say? Hmm? Well, only one way to find out! DO THE MATH!
{he he he}
Note #2 said, “Go stand in the middle of your bedroom and shout these words – I’M HALF WAY DONE WITH MY MATH!”
Yes, the grinning was rampant!
Note #3 said, “Go out front and hop up and down on the sidewalk 9 times. Do not laugh. Do smile!”
Ooops! Cowboy got carried away, jumped 11 times!
Note #4 said, “Go to the refrigerator. Open the door. Find the chocolate chips. Get 9 chocolate chips out of the bag (yes, he’s 9 years old). Seal the bag carefully. Close the door. Eat the chocolate. Wash your hands! Kiss your Mom! You’re done with MATH for the day and it didn’t hurt a bit!”
If grinning were a Rodeo event, Slim would be wearing a belt buckle bigger than his head!
Fastest, most pain-free Monday Math he and I have had in, um, forever!
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Well….Yeehaw!
I’m thinking you stayed on that bull 8 seconds! You WIN!
Great job, mom. That’s called creative/constructive help!
I like it! I like it real good!
oh, my, you are so smart!!! LOL Love that!!! I will have to try something like that with my ‘spirit’ child.
Hi Anita,
I hear ya on the Hubs helping with the homeschool thing. Hubs is super support, but he doesn’t have the time to teach the algebra for me. The book has to teach it. I wield the solution manual. But if stuff don’t jive I’m lost. Then Hubs has to pull time from nowhere and give a lesson. We limp along, muddle through. God knows who we are and what our strengths and our weaknesses are and he gave us kids anyway.
I’m taking your advice and writing a post about
demon possessionmenopause.And why do folks apologize for long comments? Am I supposed to apologize for long posts? I like long comments! Bring it on!
What a GREAT idea!!!! Awesomeness. =)
Well, Momma Bug, I already told Slim that he won’t get this treatment everyday, just occasionally (like maybe on Mondays). But, you’re a creative gal, just think like a
monkeyCowboyboy.Good for you!! My 10 and 13 yo children are doing Teaching Textbooks this year which means I rarely have to teach them math… Seems VERY strange, but right now I need a LITTLE less stress and that helps. The 17 yos, now that’s a different story! We struggled for 1 1.2 – 2 years of algebra one and finally got through with a low 90 average. Started algebra two….against my better judgement and are just now supposed to be finishing up week four! Definitely a MAJOR stressor for me. Dh doesn’t understand why that would be so stressful!!!??? He finally agreed to hold of on alg. 2 (by the way, he has never taught any of the kids any subjects other that our evening Bible and some music and reading aloud some evenings…real good by some standards, but not teaching a subject consistently if you know what I mean.) He agreed to switching to a stewardship course from Math U See, so I am looking forward to that. I will start math with the 5 year old after Christmas (he is writing his numbers and doing a good bit more counting of objects on his own right now, so I know he is ready)
Notice all the STRESS? I need you to post something on PMS as you get closer to menopause. I am 45, baby boy is 13 months and we are still nursing….he is up WAY too much at night, so I don’t sleep much and then can’t sleep when he does! At certain times of the month things that I can usually deal with just are insurmountable. My husband thinks I am demon-possessed (ok, maybe not really). Just one or two days! You have any tips on handling this time, if this is perimenopause or what ever!! Way too long!! Sorry!
I am positively inspired Jenny!
Question is, can you top that NEXT Monday?!
Thanks for the grand idea. You get my cogs turning…