Comments on: The song, the art, the dance, of homework: An epic work in many acts. http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/ A "good enough" mom muses about alpha moms, adoption, computers, the State Of The World, Internet quirkiness, and the Kosmik All Fri, 25 May 2012 00:54:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Kelley http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-51312 Kelley Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:29:56 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-51312 I found your blog looking for homework strategies for my 3rd grader - our experiences sound very similar (except that I was more forgiving of them in a 6-year-old; now I'm ready to tear my hair out!) In the course of my research I found one suggestion that might help you shave a few minutes off the ordeal. You put together a "Magic Homework Box" which contains all the supplies (erasers, sharpened pencils, etc.) needed for homework. You let your child decorate the box so it's special to them, but it can ONLY be used at homework time - no pilfering for arts & crafts. When they get older and have long term projects you can put a copy of the instructions and all the supplies needed in the box so everything's there for the duration. This sounded great to me and although it won't solve the majority of our homework difficulties, it will at least eliminate the "I can't find a pencil!" portion of the afternoon, so I thought I'd share. I found your blog looking for homework strategies for my 3rd grader - our experiences sound very similar (except that I was more forgiving of them in a 6-year-old; now I’m ready to tear my hair out!) In the course of my research I found one suggestion that might help you shave a few minutes off the ordeal.

You put together a “Magic Homework Box” which contains all the supplies (erasers, sharpened pencils, etc.) needed for homework. You let your child decorate the box so it’s special to them, but it can ONLY be used at homework time - no pilfering for arts & crafts. When they get older and have long term projects you can put a copy of the instructions and all the supplies needed in the box so everything’s there for the duration. This sounded great to me and although it won’t solve the majority of our homework difficulties, it will at least eliminate the “I can’t find a pencil!” portion of the afternoon, so I thought I’d share.

]]> By: Lisa http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43789 Lisa Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:03:29 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43789 Ha, sounds like me when I was a kid, and even now. I am always tapping my foot or moving around, and when I was a kid I liked to procrastinate and take forever to do my homework. I read some study awhile back that found that people who fidget burn more calories and generally have higher metabolisms. So that's one advantage to always bouncing around! Ha, sounds like me when I was a kid, and even now. I am always tapping my foot or moving around, and when I was a kid I liked to procrastinate and take forever to do my homework. I read some study awhile back that found that people who fidget burn more calories and generally have higher metabolisms. So that’s one advantage to always bouncing around!

]]> By: Blog Antagonist http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43654 Blog Antagonist Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:51:28 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43654 It DOES help her. It really does. You know both my boys have ADD, and not that I am in any way suggesting that she has ADD, because I think all six year olds have ants in their pants... BUT... Diminutive One's therapist tells me that the physical activity really DOES help very active children to focus and think better. Diminutive One does better if he can stand, bounce, wiggle, twirl, etc. But of course he can't because it disrupts other children. It's hard for him. So at home, I just let him give in to his natural instincts. And it IS hard. Very hard. And requires patience that I really have to dig deep to unearth. So you have my undying respect and admiration. The thing is, most kids eventually outgrow that trait, and she likely will too. But maybe not. Have you ever seen this clip? You may have, and you may have even been the one who gave me the link. But I think what this man has to say if very profound. Apologies if you've seen it already. The part about Jillian Linde gets me right in the gut. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY It DOES help her. It really does. You know both my boys have ADD, and not that I am in any way suggesting that she has ADD, because I think all six year olds have ants in their pants…

BUT…

Diminutive One’s therapist tells me that the physical activity really DOES help very active children to focus and think better.

Diminutive One does better if he can stand, bounce, wiggle, twirl, etc. But of course he can’t because it disrupts other children. It’s hard for him. So at home, I just let him give in to his natural instincts.

And it IS hard. Very hard. And requires patience that I really have to dig deep to unearth. So you have my undying respect and admiration.

The thing is, most kids eventually outgrow that trait, and she likely will too. But maybe not.

Have you ever seen this clip? You may have, and you may have even been the one who gave me the link. But I think what this man has to say if very profound. Apologies if you’ve seen it already.

The part about Jillian Linde gets me right in the gut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY

]]> By: youknowwhereyouarewith http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43602 youknowwhereyouarewith Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:01:42 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43602 I love to see what I'm in for. Happy Metcha Day! I love to see what I’m in for.
Happy Metcha Day!

]]> By: Renée http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43582 Renée Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:59:22 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43582 On guard ye noble night! Happy Metcha Day :) On guard ye noble night! Happy Metcha Day :)

]]> By: Sister Carrie http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43575 Sister Carrie Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:35:18 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43575 Oh! This is my life too. I'm cracking up reading your description. Except my homework-dragger-outer is in third grade. That sounds like an awful lot of homework for, what, first grade? Anyway. I also sit her down to do homework right after school, with a snack, because if I let her get out of my sight I will never get her to sit down again. And the "making it pretty" and coloring is a huge distraction. I like your approach. I don't think you can make her focus. All you can do is redirect her attention. Over and over. Oh! This is my life too. I’m cracking up reading your description. Except my homework-dragger-outer is in third grade. That sounds like an awful lot of homework for, what, first grade? Anyway. I also sit her down to do homework right after school, with a snack, because if I let her get out of my sight I will never get her to sit down again. And the “making it pretty” and coloring is a huge distraction.

I like your approach. I don’t think you can make her focus. All you can do is redirect her attention. Over and over.

]]> By: Elaine http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43556 Elaine Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:16:42 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43556 So it has been bugging me for awhile - apparently 6 years! - and I must ask. Were you part of the September 2001 DTC yahoo group and did we meet on the bridge from Shamian Island to GZ proper when we were both in China 6 years ago? You've looked so familiar to me forever, but the picture of the dotter 6 years ago was even more familiar. Maybe I'm making it up, but dang it, this year I'm remembering to ask. So it has been bugging me for awhile - apparently 6 years! - and I must ask. Were you part of the September 2001 DTC yahoo group and did we meet on the bridge from Shamian Island to GZ proper when we were both in China 6 years ago? You’ve looked so familiar to me forever, but the picture of the dotter 6 years ago was even more familiar. Maybe I’m making it up, but dang it, this year I’m remembering to ask.

]]> By: Friend of Granny J http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43445 Friend of Granny J Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:47:41 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43445 You're doing exactly the right things! Don't change a thing. Your dotter is a budding artist (I'm married to one), so it's great to see that you're allowing her to draw, doodle, and grow her visual skills at the same time she does math. When dotter is 25 y.o., you'll be so glad you did all you described in your post. Happy Metcha Day, Anon in AV. You’re doing exactly the right things! Don’t change a thing.

Your dotter is a budding artist (I’m married to one), so it’s great to see that you’re allowing her to draw, doodle, and grow her visual skills at the same time she does math.

When dotter is 25 y.o., you’ll be so glad you did all you described in your post.

Happy Metcha Day,

Anon in AV.

]]> By: carosgram http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43382 carosgram Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:25:55 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43382 Obviously your dotter loves doing her homework with her mom. Well done! Many happy returns of your Metcha day! Thinking of you and wishing you the best Obviously your dotter loves doing her homework with her mom. Well done! Many happy returns of your Metcha day! Thinking of you and wishing you the best

]]> By: kris http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43320 kris Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:23:57 +0000 http://omegamom.com/2008/12/09/the-song-the-art-the-dance-of-homework-an-epic-work-in-many-acts/#comment-43320 frankly it sounds like too much homework to me. even if she did it without all the messing around. i thought at the most kids were not to get more than 10 minutes of homework for every grade they were in (though i think any homework before 5th or 6th grade is so pointless it makes me crazy). how would anyone who is working like to come home from working all day and do an extra hour or 2 of work, for free? no, i think not. frankly it sounds like too much homework to me. even if she did it without all the messing around. i thought at the most kids were not to get more than 10 minutes of homework for every grade they were in (though i think any homework before 5th or 6th grade is so pointless it makes me crazy). how would anyone who is working like to come home from working all day and do an extra hour or 2 of work, for free? no, i think not.

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