Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

(Here my third grade daughter is helping her brother and sister with preschool/kindergarten reading) This summer, I searched for a fun  morning routine for homeschoolers, and I was surprised that I found none.  None at all.  Hmmm... So I began to think of what I wanted for our morning routine: 1. A "good morning" song 2. Praise and worship song (super fun) 3. Occasional devotions 4. Learning songs for my preschoolers 5. Pledge of Allegiance I discovered the JOY of Youtube, and I was off to the races. Here is an example of our morning routine.  We use more or less, depending on the time we have available on a particular day. Phil Joel - "It's A Good Good Good Good Good Good Morning!" By beginning with some fast-paced dance songs, the children dance around the room and get their blood pumping.  It's kind of like gym and music class at the same time.  I try to choose songs that scroll the lyrics so my new reader can practice readi...

Last week, while babysitting some children at church with a friend, I encountered an energetic 8-year-old boy whom his mother reported had been doing homework since 4:00.  His mother was still diligently helping him through his homework when we arrived at 6:30.  When she left to attend her Bible Study group, she handed over the worksheet and flashcards that represented the remainder of his homework to be done and asked us to help him finish it. My first thought was, “Good grief!  This poor kid has been in school all day, has been doing homework since he got home from school, and now his entire evening will be eaten up by it, too.”  I had helped this same boy knuckle down and endure his homework another evening a couple weeks ago, and I recall him digging his heels in like a mule – he hates homework!  I don't blame him.  I would dig my heels in, too, if I weren't allowed to enjoy a moment of downtime after a full day's work at school.  Children ar...