Thade is busy at school all day, but he brings home a lot of homework. This month there is a lot of extra schoolwork going on, so the dining room has become an at home schoolroom.

All of the first graders are participating in the Ready Set Read program, and the goal is 30 books read by April. Thade finished up his first 30 last week, and is focusing on a goal of 50. I keep a big stack of books on the buffet to keep him reading during the week. He is hoping to finish another 10 this weekend, once he sets his sight on a goal, he is one determined kiddo.

Thade is also participating in a Spelling Bee, and he had over 250 words to study. I wrote them out on little cards so he could read through them at his leisure. We also go through them at random during the evenings, and a little during homework time after school. The box below the cards has become a permanent fixture on the dining room table. It is an old scrapbooking supply case, but it makes a great holder of all of the day-to-day schoolwork. I keep the weekly spelling lists, and calendars in it, so I can remember what’s going on for the week.

Thade would draw 24 hours a day if I would let him, so we set him up a big desk full of art supplies. Dylan sometimes hangs out too, and colors in his coloring books. Some nights Thade will have at least an hour of homework, I have him take drawing breaks to help keep him from getting burned out on all that homework.

It’s a few simple items, but it has really helped this big kid get all of his homework done.