Setting stones of remembrance in hot pursuit of the prize!

Monday, October 18, 2010

If I Only Had A Brain...


This is why I give advice. So someone can remind me how to do what I do when I forget.


Today my sister and I were discussing math for our K-1st graders. I told her since I had 2 kids in the same class I had one do one side of the worksheet and the other do the back. If you are familiar with Saxon math for the young grades you know the worksheet is made to do one side in a morning session and the back in the afternoon as a review/reinforcement. This, for me, is busy work if I follow the suggested course plan or guilt inducing when I don’t.


Not being a masochist, we only complete one side per child for mastery. Although in full disclosure, we once spent a full week on the number 6. Shifty little fellow, number 6. Hard to get a good hold. I had to call in some outside worksheet help in this instance. So, when my sister questioned my methods I listened to her with much attention. She described how she took the workbook apart and filled a 3 ring binder with the already hole punched sheets. For use she simply slit one side of a clear page cover sleeve and slipped it over the worksheet page and had her student use a dry erase marker to complete his work. When he was done he wiped it clean and it is ready for the next use. Kids love to use dry erase markers and you don’t have to keep buying replacement workbooks. This is especially important if your book goes into a new edition and available workbooks no longer match textbooks.


Funny thing is she prefaced her explanation with, “Why don’t you do it the way you told me to?!” Good question. Probably my subconscious had me tell you so you would remind me when I again needed the information. This is also another outstanding reason to have many children. I do the same thing with them. It’s like backing up your computer. If everyone remembers a few things we’ll be good.


My brain-back-up and I with Mom

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