timeline in Beyond and Bigger

[Gwenny]

When doing the timeline, my son sometimes asks if he could draw a different picture than the one the guide says to draw. The picture does relate to the topic. Would you let him do that, or just learn to follow directions? I see it both ways.

[mrsrandolph]

I would stick with what the guide asks him to draw, especially if what he wants to draw does not fit in with the history topic. But if he wanted to draw a tulip instead of a windmill for when they are in Holland, I don't see the harm there,

[Nealewill]

I also could go 50/50 here. Some kids are very creative and want to express it. Some kids don't care. I guess all I can say is you know your child. In Preparing and up, there weekly time line entries. For us, I prefer my kids follow the guide. We do not deviate. But that is us. So I guess what I am saying is that there is fine line we walk sometimes between following the rules and deviating. Your child may be happy just asking for this one change only and then picking a different picture. My issue is, once I give in for one area in my plans, hands down and no matter what, my kids will begging for more and different changes every day from here on out. So this change would then feed into them wanting to change the nature notebooking page. And then they would want to change the experiment that we are doing. Within one week, this event will have completely sabotaged me LOL. And even if my year isn't ruined by one change, the reality I would face is that, each level is more and more independent and it would get to a point that I wouldn't be able to tell if my kids chose to not follow directions or they just didn't pay attention. I regularly teach college level student who don't follow directions for their assignments and that (to me) is the most important part. You must follow directions and deliver what is expected - even professional. Your clients won't buy your product if you can't provide what they need . So listening to them and doing what they want, rather than what you want (AKA following directions and say no to your self but yes to the guide), you clients will look elsewhere with you losing the sale (AKA - in school you fail).

While my dramatic story overly accentuates adverse effects of not following directions, for us I am unwilling to cross the line (and now that I just put my foot down I will probably cross line by the end of the day ) But in general, I will make my kids will follow directions. It seems like it helps to set the stage for expectations. It keeps the day moving when they know their goal and have a means to complete it easily. However, if you feel like this particular child isn't one who is going to challenge you their whole life from this moment forward because you were nice to them (2 of my kids are VERY strong willed and the other is very mouthy), then I think letting them draw what they want here and there occasionally might be fine.

[Gwenny]

I totally get what you are saying Daneale! I sabotaged myself with my older children by saying "oh, just skip this or that". Usually it was because I didn't want to do it! I had people all day asking to just skip this or that.

I now definitely err on the side of doing it just like the book says. I didn't want to be stuck in the mode and squelch his creativity. He loves to draw and has plenty of opportunity to do different things outside of school. I think I'll just have him do what the guide says. Good point about the next guides where it's more independent. It's a good habit to have for them to follow instructions in the guide and not think they can just do whatever they want.

[Mumkins]

Draw both, just make them smaller?