Homework

Montessori school doesn't actually believe in homework, which I think is fantastic. Well, I should say, they don't believe in homework in the traditional sense. (i.e. No reading assignments, no worksheets, etc.) Elementary students in Montessori school, I have recently learned, have actual homework, which includes chores and occasional outings.

Satchel brought home a sheet with a weekly calendar on it. Each day has five boxes for me to fill in with the chores he has done or the outings we have gone on as a family. On each Monday, Satchel is to bring his sheet back to school. If he hasn't done his homework, then he isn't allowed to participate in certain (read: fun) activities.

Satchel is ordinarily pretty helpful and willing to do things around the house, so while five things a day seems like a lot, it isn't. We're starting small and so far Satchel is very enthusiastic about doing his homework. Things he has done this week include: feeding the dogs, cat, and hermit crab; picking up toys in his room; straightening up after bath (i.e. toys, bathmat, rug); putting groceries away; putting laundry away; reading a book to his brother; sweeping under his (& Jiro's) seat after a meal, etc.

I've been watching him closely, trying to make sure he does a good job, because really, there's no point in him sweeping if it means I have to sweep behind him. And even if it is something easy that he knows how to do, like putting laundry away, sometimes I have to accompany him because he is still scared to be alone in a room 70% of the time. (75% if it is after dark.) I'm hoping that as the weeks pass, he will automatically do things and do them well so that I don't have to supervise and/or escort him.

On a positive note, I am already reaping benefits that I never dreamed of.

Yesterday morning while I was staring into my closet trying to figure out what I wanted to wear, Satchel asked me what I was doing. "I don't know what to wear," I said. He studied the contents of my closet and pointed to one of my favorite shirts. "Wear this," he said. Then he carefully selected some pants that actually matched. He made it seem so easy!

The shirt needed ironing and as I reached for the ironing board, Satchel said, "I can iron too if you want. We iron at school." He studied my every move, since he quickly discovered that ironing a thin, cotton button down is a bit different than ironing a napkin, and did a pretty good job of helping. (Strangely, I can remember helping my mom iron when I was about Satchel's age. I loved it. That and matching all of my dad's socks, which were all black, but of many different varieties.)

As for outings, Satchel and Jiro get to attend Kendo class with Warren tonight, which I'm pretty jealous of.

There is one hitch with this Montessori homework. Recently we discussed letting Satchel do chores to earn money so he could save up to buy his own toys. Thankfully the chores we talked about focused on the innumerable gumballs, pollen pellets, and leaves that are soon-to-be descending on our house, yard, sidewalk, and surrounding street. While earning money for chores makes sense, earning money for doing homework does not. So we'll have to be sure and keep these things straight.

Satchel cannot wait to earn some money. He looks out of the window every morning and says impatiently, "When are the leaves going to fall??"