Homeschool Tactics: Student Accountability
One goal I have for our homeschooling is training the children to work independently. There will always be work we do together, of course, but I want to be able to entrust to them a task list and have them handle it responsibly.
This year both boys have an independent work checklist. On each day, the second-to-last item to check off is “Show mom your work and your checklist.” The last item is “Put all your books and papers away and tidy your desk.”
This has worked out swimmingly for us. Neither I nor my children are meticulous types, and it does appear my two oldest have inherited my ability for self-deception and self-justification: “I will check that off as done because, well, I am done with it — it’s all I’m going to do right now, so it’s good enough.” I still do that. And as soon as they got a checklist, my boys started doing that.
But having that item on their list has saved me innumerable times.
So, when I catch a boy playing, I can say, “Are you done with your work?” He says, “Yes.” I say, “No, because you haven’t shown me your checklist, and that’s on your list.”
So, when a boy brings me a checklist all crossed off and I say, “But where is your drawing?” He must admit, “Well, I didn’t want to do that.” And then we can have a discussion about various forms of lying. And, importantly, that discussion happens on the same day rather than days or weeks of such practice.
So, when a boy comes to me with his checklist all checked, but one line item having a line drawn through it (which is how I have marked a few times that they didn’t have to do it that day), I can say, “Um, why is your mapwork assignment crossed out?” and he has to admit, “Well, I didn’t have a map in my desk and I did it last week anyway, so I didn’t think I needed to do it today.” And then we have another discussion. And I print him a map and he does his mapwork.
So, when I send him on his way with a “Good job! You’re done!” I have that reminder there on that list I just looked at to add, “…after you put your books away and tidy your desk.”
So that when the school books, crayons, and such are still out on the floor hours later, there is no excuse, “I didn’t know!” “I didn’t remember!” And we add in a discussion of what our 18 month old would do with said books and crayons when he finds his way to them.
I commend to you the practice. It is my own little way of teaching us all Luke 8:17. :)
