Homework

Homework has always been such a struggle at our house.  For the past six years the routine has always been the boys come home, get a snack, and then we do a mixture of chores and homework depending on what they want to do first.  Some days some chores were done and some weren't, other days some homework was done and some wasn't.  Usually there was a fight or tantrum about not having time to play with friends.  It was a battle to get their attention to sit and focus on homework after they had already been sitting all day.  Josh was still at work during that time and my brain felt like it was going to shatter with all the different needs of the kids.  There were times when they complained how unfair life was because one had more homework than another.  There were times when they weren't completely honest and said they didn't have homework because they were anxious to get out the door to play.  There were times when the routine was botched because I just couldn't muster the energy it took to manage it or I already had more than I could do on my plate.  Homework and chores felt like too big of a challenge for the kids to handle in one gulp.      

During this last month we decided to try something new.  We had study time for an hour each evening.  Now the routine is this- the boys get home from school, have a snack , do their chores and then they go play.   We usually try to eat around 5:00, get dinner cleaned up and have study hour from 6-7:00.  Each evening varies a little due to activities or sports. If the activity is early we do it later, if the activity is later we do it earlier.  If the activity only involves one of the kids and a parent we do it without them.   During study hour everyone is doing something educational whether they have homework or not.  They always have reading regardless.  Sometimes the older kids will read to the younger kids for their time.  Kinnli and Kennadi like to be read to or they play with their leapfrog learning toys to keep them occupied. Kinnli also likes to work on her homework or concepts she's learning in preschool.  We check the boys grades online and look for missing assignments.  They empty out their backpacks in front of us so we can go through their papers. 

This system has worked so much better!  They are more focused.  They don't feel picked on, if they have the most homework.  They love that they get more play time after school.  It is more thorough and consistent.  Everything gets noticed.  We are all spending time together in the living room learning.  And the part I like the best is Josh is home (most nights) to help with it all.  He is able to interact and see how the boys are doing with school. I feel like it has become a time that shows our kids- we value education.  Learning doesn't just stop after school.