Homeschooling–Captain’s Log Day 1

We did some language arts this morning. How I wish I could just be like “Read for an hour” while I go screw around on my laptop and maybe answer an email. That wouldn’t work. They need more structure than that.

It went well for Jackson. He read for a solid thirty minutes than did his writing prompt “Who is your least favorite character and why?” I told him to write seven sentences to which he responded “SEVEN!!!???” and I immediately backed down to “Five” because that’s what I learned in all those classroom management classes I took in grad school.

Sigh.

Anyway, his little paragraph came out okay. Decently developed and even a transition word or too. “I put the ‘also’ in for you,” he smiled. Then I pointed out that he had an unclear antecedent. I didn’t know who “he” was in a sentence about midway through.

Me: Who is “he” here?

Jackson: It’s Zachary who the whole paragraph is about.

Me: Yeah, but the last character you mention is Finn so I’m not sure. You have to make sure that your writing is clear the wh…

Jackson: *interrupts* It’s obvious that the “he” is referring to Zachary because the entire paragraph is about Zachary. You asked me to pick my least favorite character.

Me: <<tries to explain pronouns and clarity in written communication again>>

Jackson: <<reiterates the same point and low key calls me stupid for not understanding>>

Darcy’s day was mildly successful. We read some books. She blew through worksheets before the scheduled time and then I didn’t have much for her to do. She whined about being tired, bored, burdened by the “carones virus.” Overall, she basically exposed how ill-equipped I am to teach a kindergartener.