Need help keeping it short…

I’ve had more sucess watching my child instead of the clock. I know that lessons should be short in terms of time (ie. minutes) but honestly, sometimes it doesn’t work that way! Particularly with a concept (math or the “why” of something in science, and sometimes even the a letter sound in reading) if my son is paying attention and wants to know more or is really trying to understand something, we keep going until it “clicks”. Then I stop. I’ve had to train myself to be prepared and find ways to consendse or expand material as he needs. I try to do this with concepts and not to get into the habit of explaining everything (ie doing the metal work for him), sometimes easier said than done! We do better ending on understanding and a positive note. So I guess I watch for the moment of “I get it!” and then quit. Having said that we’ve had to stop before that moment if the lesson really is too long or his mind is beginning to wander. I would suggest teaching lessons with two goals: 1) complete attention FIRST and then 2) to the point of understanding. This means understanding might not happen the first day, it may take 3 days for a concept to sink in. You might have to back up and break things down into small bits. (It also seems to me that some subjects are easier to go by the clock then others.)

When you’re reading aloud, I would gradually lengthen the time you read until she is able to listen to longer passages with complete attention.This has been the easiest “subject” to develop the habit of attention for our family. A good living book hasn’t failed us yet. There’s a quite a bit about the habit of attention on Laying Down the Rails, which I have been re-reading the last few days that may help too.