It Had to Happen

    We seem to have come to the "Wednesday" of the school year.  The new and shiny has worn off.  We have our routines.  We are not doing anything wrong, or different, but the kids seem to be ready for a break.
     Yesterday and today have been filled with a lack of enthusiasm.  The next field trip is not until next Friday.  Both children have multiple due dates coming up with Literature and Composition assignments that are more challenging. 
     At this point, I am considering allowing them to take an entire day off to do something special.  They can make it up during Christmas break if they would like.  I am only hesitant because I am afraid that it will be the same next week.
     The composition assignments are getting more intense.  Several days of step by step instructions on how to write different types of essays.  These are necessary skills.  I know that next year, they will breeze through these same types of assignments, they will be more familiar.  Right now, they need a lot of coaching and help. 
     My oldest was working on a persuasive essay and I saw her with a stack of books .  She was actually hidden behind the stack.  She was working diligently and taking notes, so at first, I did not interrupt her. 
    Something caught my eye.  She had just closed a book about antelopes and was opening one on climate.
    ????
    I asked her.  "What is the topic for your paper?"
     When she answered, I got a little sick, she had already been working on this for 45 minutes.  "It is about climate, pollution and wildlife."
     "What specific point are you trying to make?"  I asked.
     I just wanted to talk about pollution and climate and how it affects wildlife.
     "And...." I was hoping she had more...
     Well, she didn't.  She just wanted to go over all of these facts and describe their importance. 
     I asked her to read the first page of her assignment again.  She needed to read the description of a persuasive essay.
      She read it and still did not understand why her topic was too broad.
      I explained that she needed a very narrow focus.  She could use all of those facts to support her reason, but she needed to have one very specific point.
     I explained to her that a persuasive essay was like giving her side of the argument.   Anyway, I gave her some tips on how to weed through her information and turn it into a persuasive paper.
     Phew... She worked on this one for a while longer before I told her to take a break and work on something different.
     The writing assignments are more challenging.  My younger child is learning to write a proper book review.  It is taking her step by step through the process of what she needs in her paper.
     I can see the methodology.  I can see that when she completes three more lessons, she will simply be able to combine her simple assigned paragraphs into a nice book review.  She does not see that right now.  She is annoyed.
     As I said, because it is teaching each step of writing, drafting, editing and checking for content, I know that next year will be much easier.  The assignments may be more challenging, but they will be more comfortable with checking themselves and their direction.  For now... UGH.. they are not enjoying it.
     Soooo, hump day or not... Tomorrow is Wednesday and I am probably going to make them do something outlandish during their lesson.
    Perhaps I will get them to read their first drafts aloud in a very theatrical fashion.  Maybe we will create a quick puppet show for them to act out their assignments.  Something.  We need something to break this up.