{"id":555,"date":"2014-12-25T13:21:38","date_gmt":"2014-12-25T20:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/?page_id=555"},"modified":"2015-07-03T13:49:51","modified_gmt":"2015-07-03T19:49:51","slug":"lest-we-forget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/lest-we-forget\/","title":{"rendered":"Lest We Forget"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"ammonworking\"

My son Ammon<\/p><\/div>\n

No matter what our intentions are, no matter how lofty our goals, it is the disposition of all of us who live on this earth to forget. It seems it is our natural inclination. We know what we want. We are firm in our resolve. Our values are sure. Nothing can shake us from our goal. Nothing, that is, except time. As time passes, we forget.<\/strong> We can\u2019t seem to recall the fervor we began with. We\u00a0drift into complacency, once again! \u00a0<\/em>New Year’s Resolutions seem like a joke…because by February, most of us can’t remember what we resolved to do.<\/p>\n

Accountability is basic principle\u00a0in dealing with our\u00a0human nature.<\/strong> We are responsible for our choices! Without a way to report our efforts, our stewardship doesn\u2019t seem as pressing and the natural tendency to forget overtakes us. If we always remembered our good intentions, there would be no need for: speed limit signs, library due dates<\/strong>, exercise programs,<\/strong> college exams, scout badges, electricity bills, budgets, diets . . . and all the other tools we use in remembering our good intentions.<\/p>\n

I had a recent experience that reconfirmed the need for accountability reports. I accepted a new responsibility and worked hard, keeping the records as I had been instructed to when I had my orientation meeting. When the weekly report meeting came, I dutifully brought my records, along with my heartfelt commitment. My leader gave my records a cursory glance, and told me to keep at it.<\/em> Her casualness took away my resolve. It would be nice if I could feel motivated without an accounting, but that is not exactly our human nature. I found myself, the following week, slacking off, not working as hard nor caring as much. A thunderbolt struck my mind\u2014this is what our children feel when we give them work to do and then don\u2019t give them an opportunity to give a thorough accounting<\/strong> of their efforts and praise their work (or admonish \"hook-142656_1280\"them to do better)!<\/p>\n

In order to help him learn to manage his time, I asked one of my children to make up a schedule and then keep a record of how well he was keeping to it. He chose what to do and when on his schedule and he made up a nice planner sheet with the time slots allotted for his work that he could mark off when each activity was completed. The first week, he was full of vigor and vim, feeling the freedom that living your schedule can bring! When we had our weekly accountability meeting, he had some regrets that he hadn\u2019t had a perfect week, but in general, he had done very well. The next week, I was casual about our accountability meeting, letting it slip because we had company. The following week, when I asked for his marked up planner sheet, he confessed he hadn\u2019t kept it at all, and furthermore, why should he if I never ask for a report of it?<\/strong>\u00a0That was a revelation to me! Of course, we all need an opportunity to report our efforts, and without that accountability, the task gets dull and we forget so easily!<\/p>\n

\"11892\"<\/a>In\u00a0homeschooling, I have found that I have the very most success when I write up a weekly assignment sheet for each child, with boxes to check off when each subject is completed for the day. The children seem to want to see exactly what is expected<\/strong>, and to be able to give an accounting (by checking it off). As long as I am consistent in carefully checking that all assignments have been done each day and in expecting high standards of work, homeschool goes smoothly and the children do their assignments happily and generally steadily. If I miss a day or two of checking up, for whatever reason, I have learned that they inevitably slacken and feel less responsible.<\/p>\n

The same thing applies to chores. I keep a chart so that all my children know their jobs. We have a time of day (just before breakfast) when everyone is working and expected to be doing their chores. But, without exception, if I do not check their chores, they will not consistently be done well. We just need that accountability report so much to help us remember!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not checking up (or asking for an accountability report and then carefully listening) is a disservice we parents unknowingly do to our children. We are training them to be careless<\/strong> and not to believe the things that those in authority say. As sure as we pronounce the command, they will eventually push things to the limit, to see if what we say is what we mean<\/em>. Some children are eager and anxious to seek the firm boundary and waste no time doing so. Others are less aggressive and may operate without as much checking up. But all people feel more secure when they know exactly what is expected, and that the leaders mean what they say. And all people work a lot more diligently, and more happily, if they face a regular accounting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Make it work in your homeschool!
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

May I recommend:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

\"pen-162124_1280\"
\nA Way to Grade
\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\"3kidstreelarge\"
\nAsking Why
\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\"9323\"
\nHomeschool Student Planner
\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No matter what our intentions are, no matter how lofty our goals, it is the disposition of all of us who live on this earth to forget. It seems it is our natural inclination. We know what we want. We are firm in our resolve. Our values are sure. Nothing can shake us from our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[217,218],"class_list":["post-555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-homeschool","category-homeschooling-method","tag-accountability","tag-checking-up","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ammonworking.jpg?fit=259%2C266&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6IrRN-8X","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1102,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/begin-with-the-end-in-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":555,"position":0},"title":"Begin with the End in Mind","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Ever feel like you are bumbling around amidst a three-ring circus in your attempts to homeschool? There is nothing like a new baby to restore a teacher\/mother\u2019s humility in the face of her own inadequacies! For our homeschool, this chaos repeats itself every few years with the advent of a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Goals"","block_context":{"text":"Goals","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/homeschooling-goals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"lovetosave1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lovetosave1-e1430360640397.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":661,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/using-muscles-for-memory\/","url_meta":{"origin":555,"position":1},"title":"Using Muscles for Memory","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Wiggles! Kids seem to be full of them and they can make sitting still, learning, focusing, and concentrating extra hard! If you can't fight 'em, join 'em. Time to use those big muscles to help kids learn! I have a chin-up bar hanging over a doorway near where we do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How to Homeschool"","block_context":{"text":"How to Homeschool","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/were_gonna_get_you_daddy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1253,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/self-discipline-for-mother\/","url_meta":{"origin":555,"position":2},"title":"Self-Discipline for Mother: the Crux of Homeschool","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"When my first son, Daniel, moved out on his own, I found myself looking at homeschool and mothering with a new perspective. Although he was 19 years old, I was still getting around to the things I\u2019d put on hold while I had babies, moved, planted my garden, endured chicken\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Goals"","block_context":{"text":"Goals","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/homeschooling-goals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/homeschooling_0011_7kidsstanding.jpeg?fit=381%2C280&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1222,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/demanding-toddler\/","url_meta":{"origin":555,"position":3},"title":"Demanding Toddler","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I need help! My toddler is so demanding, and takes up much of my attention and time, that I am having trouble homeschooling my other children. Answer: It's tough\u2014I sympathize! Having a bin of interesting toys for your toddler to play with on the floor while you are reading\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How to Homeschool"","block_context":{"text":"How to Homeschool","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"baby_joseph","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/baby_joseph-226x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1025,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/locker-room-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":555,"position":4},"title":"Communal Comparison","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"It has been so long since I was in junior high and high school that I guess I forgot what P.E. was like. Our family attended an evening performance of the symphony in a local public high school auditorium. Afterwards, a trip to the restroom gave me some surprising insights.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Molding the Heart"","block_context":{"text":"Molding the Heart","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/why-homeschool\/molding-the-heart\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Emilyinaspens","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Emilyinaspens-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1108,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/a-college-degree-for-girls\/","url_meta":{"origin":555,"position":5},"title":"A College Degree for Girls? Not Necessarily. An Education? Why, of Course!","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"I have Brooke Reynolds to thank for causing me to write this article. She and I got into a discussion about what homeschool girls should be doing between the age of 16 and the time they enter marriage. Brooke is 18 years old and is currently pursuing a music education\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Academic"","block_context":{"text":"Academic","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/why-homeschool\/academic\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/4girlskitchen.jpg?fit=386%2C250&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=555"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7293,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555\/revisions\/7293"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}