What was I going to do?
Now, in the words of Baldrick from Black adder, I had cunning plan.
Jaffa cakes.
Now before anyone jumps on my teaching or parenting skill I would just like to point out that positive reinforcement is used in schools with star charts etc....mine is just more fun.
The plan was that every time William completed the lesson objectives he would earn a jaffa cake. Sound good right?
Now, here's my flaw in my plan.....Is he working because he wants jaffa cakes or because he's truly engaging in the subject and work?
I honestly don't know...but I also don't overly care.
What was planned as a complex interactive lesson that would normally take 45 minutes to an hour took him 30 minutes to complete!
Everything was perfect, he was even giving me a running commentary "Now capital letter to start...join my I and t's and leave a finger space" This boy was focused!!
We not only managed to get Literacy and Numeracy and our Music lesson all done in 2 hours (and 4 jaffa cakes later) but all achieved way above our expected learning objectives. Read a book, done our spellings and added to our word wall and practiced our handwriting. At the moment we are just having a break before we go on our free learning adventures....which we haven't stopped talking about.
Great start for us and I hope that Williams motivation continues.....worse case scenario though I'll grab some jaffa cakes whilst we're out later!
10 comments:
That sounds like a fantastic start!
I would quite happily work for Jaffa Cakes....hehehe x
It's been a good home schooling day!! The jaffa cakes are fantastic rewards obviously!! Maybe shouldn't be a staple reward but definitely did the trick today!
Whatever works to get your child learning then I say go for it! Good job Martyn
Sounds a fantastic start. A great insight into your home schooling. Well done William :)
I'd call that positive(er) reinforcement! Use whatever works best from a reward perspective. Glad you're having a positive start!
Thanks Gary. I'm very lucky that today we didn't need that positive reinforcement into learning although we were still rewarded. Do what you can to get him engaged!
Thanks Al! You do what you must in home schooling. I believe in a semi structured approach so if I can get a bum in a seat and teach then that's what I'll do. He was quite pleased with the whole thing!
Thanks Mathew! There isn't much difference in what they do in a lot of mainstream schools. Do your work you earn a star the child with the most stars at the end of the week get a treat/reward or present. On a one to one there lacks the competition so positive reinforcement where possible in whatever means is always good in my books!
This post is so lovely! You obviously love doing what you're doing. Clever little boy!
Thanks Kellie! We both do. It's such a lovely thing for both of us.
Post a Comment