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Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:10 pm
by my3sons
We now have 2 midpoint meeting times going on in our home each day - one for CTC, and one for MTMM. We are really enjoying them! Since we usually have a special drink and a snack mid-morning, we have decided to do this during the midpoint meeting times. I have 2 cups of coffee a day, so it works out perfectly on my end too! :lol:

Here are pics of our special fall/winter drinks for our meeting times...
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The little guy can't be left out :wink: , though he has his special drink during his independent playtime...
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If you've not heard of midpoint meeting times before, here is what Carrie had to say about them on HOD's Facebook page...

"With any of my students who are in the HOD guides from CTC on up, I have found it very helpful to schedule a mid-morning 30 min. checkpoint in my teaching day to meet individually with each student. During this mid-morning meeting, I go over any of the child's work that he has already completed, ask any questions noted in the 'I' boxes in the guide, have my student read aloud any written narrations, and I read aloud the key idea for each completed box after we go over it, etc. At the end of this time, I do one of my 'T' boxes (such as the Biblical worldview box, composer study box, art appreciation box, devotional Bible study box, poetry box, etc.) These 'T' box titles vary from guide to guide. I also have another checkpoint after lunch where I check any work completed since the mid-morning checkpoint. The mid-morning checkpoint helps keep me on top of my child's day so that he does not fall behind. My after lunch checkpoint shows me whether my child has completed all his needed work. If you don't have a mid-morning checkpoint in your day, you may want to consider adding in one!"

This midpoint meeting time has been a real lifesaver for me as my dc's teacher! I make sure to go through each completed box with each child individually, do any follow-ups, check any work and help them fix it with markerboard in hand to assist with spelling errors, read key ideas as a finale to the boxes, and then I usually teach a box or two assigned "T"'s. We really enjoy it, and it helps me do my part as a teacher for checking up and keeping tabs on those "I" boxes especially! Just thought I'd share how we are making meeting time extra special. :D

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:47 pm
by raindrops
Excellent idea. Love the idea of the special drinks! Don't get that at public school. Hah.

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 5:09 pm
by pjdobro
Love those special drinks! They look so yummy. I showed my dc, and I think they are going to be wanting a special drink during our meeting time too. :wink: :D

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 10:02 am
by mskogen
We do the meeting time too. However, there is no special drink. I think I may have to borrow this idea. Makes it more fun :wink:
Thanks for another great idea....

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 10:37 am
by mom23
Too yummy! I think I need a meeting with you, Julie!

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:46 pm
by momtofive
Okay, inquiring minds want to know. . . . .what kind of special drink is it? :D

Not to detract from the real point of this thread which is the midpoint meeting with our children, which we do too by the way :wink: , but just wondering what kind of special drink you are having the photos? I know I'm not the only one wondering this! :lol:

Thanks again, Julie for another great reminder that brings more fun into our day! :wink:

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 4:31 pm
by my3sons
Oh my, I didn't even say the special drink, did I?!? :oops: Hot cocoa. :D Nothing too fancy, but what makes it 'special' is I spray whipped cream on top with sprinkles - oh that and the cup it is in too. :D I get fall sprinkles for fall, Christmas sprinkles for Christmas, etc. Colored sugar shakers, chocolate sprinkles, or theme shaped candy sprinkles are fun. I've also done different shapes/kinds of mini-marshmallows (i.e. snowman shaped for winter, heart-shaped for Valentine's Day, mint chocolate, etc.). I sometimes throw some marshmallows on the plate too. :D I was thinking apple cider may be fun too! Wyatt will choose hot tea with lemon and honey, or with milk and sugar quite often too. But for the hot cocoa, I get to decide how to 'dress it up.' :D I didn't want this to turn into an, "I'll take a hot cocoa with 8 snowman marshmallows, 3 sprays of whipped cream, and the multi-colored sprinkles on top" kind of order for me! :wink: That way, I get to surprise them a little and kind of have fun with it too. :D I like to use special cups we don't usually use too that are a little more fancy or fun. Thanks for responding, ladies! Have a super night! :D Remember to vote! :D

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:20 pm
by TrueGRIT
I don't have an independent worker yet, but when I read this post, and saw the first picture . . .
I just had to make a hot drink and dress it up for the afternoon school hour I have with my oldest!

He really enjoyed it and I think it made the work go down easier for the first 20 minutes or so of school.
We will have to continue this practice, especially as the weather grows colder and we work in front of our wood stove :)

Thanks a million, Julie for sharing this with us :D

Mikki

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:48 pm
by mamanlait
You have encouraged me to do a better job of implementing a special Meeting Time each day.

Thank you! What fun memories you are making.

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:58 pm
by Heather4Him
What an awesome idea, Julie! Thanks for sharing. :)

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:31 pm
by John'smom
We already have a special meeting time, but I think I'm going to add hot chocolate to it tomorrow. :D Well, only for my dc as I'm on no sugar right now. :wink:

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:47 pm
by my3sons
Thanks, ladies! :D Here's the most recent hot cocoa concoction...
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Have a super weekend! :D
In Christ,
Julie

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:31 pm
by abrightmom
my3sons wrote:Oh my, I didn't even say the special drink, did I?!? :oops: Hot cocoa. :D Nothing too fancy, but what makes it 'special' is I spray whipped cream on top with sprinkles - oh that and the cup it is in too. :D I get fall sprinkles for fall, Christmas sprinkles for Christmas, etc. Colored sugar shakers, chocolate sprinkles, or theme shaped candy sprinkles are fun. I've also done different shapes/kinds of mini-marshmallows (i.e. snowman shaped for winter, heart-shaped for Valentine's Day, mint chocolate, etc.). I sometimes throw some marshmallows on the plate too. :D I was thinking apple cider may be fun too! Wyatt will choose hot tea with lemon and honey, or with milk and sugar quite often too. But for the hot cocoa, I get to decide how to 'dress it up.' :D I didn't want this to turn into an, "I'll take a hot cocoa with 8 snowman marshmallows, 3 sprays of whipped cream, and the multi-colored sprinkles on top" kind of order for me! :wink: That way, I get to surprise them a little and kind of have fun with it too. :D I like to use special cups we don't usually use too that are a little more fancy or fun. Thanks for responding, ladies! Have a super night! :D Remember to vote! :D

In Christ,
Julie
I'm a little responding to this thread but I have to say, "Julie, you are a sweet, fun Mom!" 8) The little things go a long way toward building a loving home and I'm so encouraged by your example in that. Thanks.

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:38 pm
by wonderfilled
Thanks for this encouraging post, Julie. I love how often their are such sweet posts on here, reminding me to focus on my children and make their school days special. We're traveling a lot right now, but I'd love to do this when we settle down.

Re: Midpoint Meeting Time Fun

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:50 pm
by 8arrows
Yes! This is a great reminder that everything does not have to be work, work, work all the time. Thank you, Julie! I am thinking, at my house, this might have to be an end of the school day special treat after each student has proven their diligence (maybe before rest time). Can you tell what we are working on right now?