Making Some Changes
Although Eric’s in the gifted and talented program at school, and has been since kindergarten, I’ve noticed lately that his attention span is not what it used to be and neither are his grades. I mean his overall test scores are really good, but he has a hard time getting his math done because he isn’t learning the higher multiplication tables and division. He’s known some of it for a long time, but the higher numbers are giving him some trouble. I also notice that he doesn’t read as much as he used to. When he brought home his last scholastic book order form from school and wanted me to order him some new books I refused because he hadn’t even read the last group of books I bought nor has he even finished one of the three books purchased at his school’s book fair last month. Granted, they are rather big books but I’d still have expected him to at least finish one of them especially considering how much I paid for them.
We had a long talk a couple of days ago and I’ve decided to start being harder on him than I was. Back when I was up his ass about his school work and what not, he was doing better. I’d slacked off because he was doing well and I figured that he didn’t need me to be on him all the time about it. I guess I was wrong. I guess he does need me to be on him all the time about it. I already took away his computer until he cleans his room up, because I’m tired of cleaning it. I’ve changed the rules about getting his homework done back to having to do it before he can go outside and play. I had let him change it up cause it started getting dark so early and he would never have any time to go outside. That’s really not a concern to me anymore, though because it’s getting harder and harder to get him to do his homework. I’m also making multiplication and division flashcards tonight out of index cards and we are going to start working on his math facts for about half an hour each night. Then another half hour will be devoted to reading. We are actually both going to devote a half an hour each night to reading. I love to read though, so that will be no problem for me.
Since I’d taken his computer away the other day though, he’s already gotten back into reading a little more. Yesterday he read for over an hour and tonight before he went to sleep he read some of his book in bed. He said he really enjoys the book he’s reading (The Lightning Thief) and he was telling me all about the mythical creatures described in the book, so I know he’s at least paying attention to what he’s reading. When he does get his computer back, there is going to be a time limit on it. I’m thinking that unless he’s using his computer for a school project or research for something he has to do for school, then he’s limited to 1 hour per night. That should give him plenty of youtube time.
Filed under The Daily
