Encouraging Right Behaviour

One of the ongoing challenges in our home and lives is how to encourage and reward right behaviour instead of just disciplining inappropriate behaviour. Ultimately we came up with a goal sheet as a way to refocus our home and help improve the general atmosphere.

We found the most important thing was to create a system that was easy to use and with a reward that the kids really wanted. For us that was computer time. Each day the kids have 6 checks they can earn, each worth 5 minutes of computer time. If they have a perfect day they earn a bonus checkmark. Also, bonus checkmarks can be earned sparingly for exceptional behaviour (and by sparingly I mean about 1 week). Any day a child earns less than 4 checkmarks they earn 0 minutes of computer time for the day as they have not met the minimal standard. The minutes earned one week become the free computer time (as opposed to computer time for school work) the next week. We have found it to be a simple and effective system that helps to encourage right living and reduces the begging for computer at the same time.

Over time the goals we use have changed, with a mixture of home and behaviour goals. The current chart represents our focus on attitude and respect, and that home and school completion are more expectations than goals.

A couple people have asked me for my chart lately so I thought I would share it with you here.

Having said that, I have found it has not been very helpful with my seven year old. It is too overwhelming for her, and she gets discouraged. Instead I have given her a blank chart and one goal - obedience the first time she is asked. When she obeys right away, including completing the task (she is highly distractible) she earns a checkmark or smiley face, depending what she feels like putting on. Once her chart is full, she will redeem it for a prize from my prize box... you know, the one I need to start by the time she finishes her chart! LOL

Nicolas Creates

Today we finish up our look at what the kids made for Hobby Share Day.

Last, but not least, Nicolas chose to do electrical circuits. Originally they were going to do their names, but realized how slow and finicky it is (the wires are TINY) so instead they made the Big Dipper.

Here is what it looks like in the dark:

 And here is a view of the back, although you can't see most of the little wires as it is sealed up to keep them from being bumped:

That's a wrap for this year's Hobby Share. My kids were so blessed by the parents who took time to share a bit of themselves.

Amanda Creates

Hobby Share Round 2

Amanda took the baking class. Her group was primary students and they learned to make biscuits. According to Amanda they were so easy to do as you mixed them up with your spoon, then your hand, then cut them into pieces and baked them. She was very proud as she was able to do everything by herself. Apparently most of the kids needed help measuring and stirring but she didn't, probably because she bakes a lot at home.

She actually made a lot more than are shown in the picture, but these are the only ones we were able to keep out of people's mouths long enough to take a photo of!

Tanner Creates

Every year our homeschool support group does a Hobby Share Day where various parents share a craft or hobby that interests them with a small group of children. This year's groups included cake decorating, electrical circuits, geocaching, crochet, pysanky, baking, origami and preschool.
For those of you that homeschool, this field trip is always the best attended of all the ones we offer in a year and one I highly recommend you try with your groups.

Anyways, back to our Hobby Share. Tanner decided to try his hand at cake decorating. The class lasted 90 minutes and they were practicing different techniques by decorating cupcakes. He learned how to write, outline a shape, make stars, leaves, and some type of flower. The highlight of the day was making a Westie. To quote Tanner, "My mum made me go through all the stress of making a dog. It was actually very interesting." He was feeling tired by the time they got to the dogs and was thinking about skipping it but I talked him into persevering. He was glad after! LOL

Here are a couple pictures of his creations:

Going on a Trip

We have a family reunion next month in Australia. I am so excited. I get to go!!!

Now for the not-so-exciting part: it is my flat self going, not the flesh and blood version.
When I heard about the reunion (which was planned in about 6 weeks; can you tell my sister helped?) I wanted to go, but of course that is not possible.

Then I got the brilliant idea of combining the reunion with my homeschool plans to study geography by making and mailing a flat stanley. So today I spent my afternoon making a Flat Elouise.

For those of you so inclined to make a similar project here is how I did it:
I cut a piece of newspaper the same size as my cardstock (I used letter sized cardstock), then folded it in half and cut out the outline of half a person. I opened and checked it and trimmed it until it looked about right.

Next I cut a newspaper section the size of half a shirt so I could make a top in two pieces so I would have a seam down the front.

I then traced the original piece onto different papers to make the skirt and shoes. After cutting them out, I attached the pieces from the bottom up -  shoes, then skirt, then top.
Next I found a picture of me and cropped my head. I then measured the size of my Flat El head and custom printed the photo to match.

After attaching the head, I used a 1" circle punch to cut pieces of circles, then layered them to create my curly hair. The above picture shows me with half my hair on.
After this I got to do the fun part - embellishing. I used ribbon to make a belt. Because it was a light coloured ribbon, I found the seam showed through, and so I doubled the ribbon over and used glue dots to attach it.
Then I used halfback pearls from my Stampin' Up pretties kit to make a necklace and for buttons down my skirt. I used the Stampin Up vintage roses to accent the waist and for a flower in my hair.


Now I am packed and ready for vacation! LOL

Creating a Functional Schoolroom

I haven't got to the creative pursuits I had in mind, but this week I have managed to create something much more necessary - a schoolroom we can work in! We have a large extra room that we have converted to a multipurpose room - it is our school/craft/gym/guest room. How's that for multipurpose?

I am loving how organized it is looking. All the supplies and materials have assigned spaces, and each child has their own desk. I have found it incredibly helpful to invest in baskets and plastic containers of miscellaneous sizes. I find that breaking things down into smaller groups makes it much easier to keep things neat.

We have a big table in the middle for group lessons and activities. And last night I splurged, or at least Michael did - he bought me a nice large, sturdy desktop carousel for my table to hold all my supplies I need handy on a regular basis.

Next up is making the room pretty. Wendy gave the kids a lava lamp, and Christina made me a sign for my wall with my word for the year, "Create". Now to figure out what else I want to do to add a nice touch to the room!