It's going to be alright - that same resistance that makes you want to pull your hair out with your ds can turn into a wonderful character quality over time. People that have this quality can be less prone to peer pressure, are decisive in their decision making, and can be excellent leaders! So, that's the good news. The bad news is it can be a long haul to get there.
But, don't be discouraged - a solid month of honing a habit can make it stick for a lifetime. Look at this as a battle you are going to win over time because you are the parent, and you have 100% control over little bunny's environment.
Do you have a schedule with times typed up? If not, this really helps with my dc. It doesn't have to be detailed - it can just be Reading about History (15 minutes), Math (20 minutes), etc. He can have a copy in a clear protector sheet and check it off with a dry erase marker each day. I remember showing my ds Riley (who is very stubborn) his schedule and explaining how long things were supposed to take. I told him I did not desire for school to take all day for him, but he could end up making it take all day if he drew it out, dawdled, and didn't listen. Use the "I'm in your corner, on your side" tactic - tell him you know how he feels - you have other things you want to accomplish each day too.
Half-speed Bigger Hearts should ideally take around an hour and a half or so to do. Maybe print this link and show him how long it is taking other dc to do this:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=702
Or show him in the front of your guide in the Introduction under "Fun Ideas" where it says the total time for the program - and explain that he's only doing half of it. Then, I'd invest in a timer, and set it for the time increments it should take. I tell my dc this is training time - where they learn about how long they're supposed to be doing each box. They don't have to hit it exactly when the timer rings the first couple of weeks, but it's a measure so they know when they're supposed to be done. I remind them if they take longer their day will be longer, because we WILL finish. It has helped to tell my dc other kiddos are in school all day, and that it doesn't have to be that way homeschooling - but it can if they don't move along.
I've found I can make a big difference in how quickly we finish as well. I've learned (the hard way) not to do other things, answer the phone, check the board (ooooooo, that's a tough one for me
), but instead be all about the business of homeschooling while we are doing that. I've also learned (again the hard way
) to keep the pace brisk, not hop on bunny trails, and not draw out a lesson more myself. The plans do not need to be added to nor drawn out - they don't need one more question, one more art technique, one more extra book to read, etc. - they are enough and adding to them needlessly draws out the day which frustrates both me and my dc in the long run. Also, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist, so I sometimes struggle with having dc redo, fix, add to their work until it's "just right". This is not a good quality for me to have, especially at the beginning of the year. I've found it's good to accept their work as long as it was done to the best of their ability, rather than wanting their work to turn out a certain way. Sloppy work - no, that I can't accept, but careful work done to the ability of their age level, yes, that has to be good enough. So, if you have any of these habits that I tend to have, it may help to undo them, as I've had to do.
Finally, it does help to enlist dh - maybe hang ds's projects on the fridge and show dh at supper. Maybe share Bible verse with dh on the phone or at supper, etc. Any way you can make ds's work be IMPORTANT - that will help him begin to take pride in his "job". BTW - I loved what playschool said about this being their job and they'd have to go to school somewhere (and usually longer each day) as mandated by our government. We have told our dc this as well, and my dh will even talk about his job at supper and then ask about their "job" and how it went for the day sometimes.
Keep it up - stick with this - it is an important training period that is likely to get worse before it gets better, but your perseverance and persistence WILL win out in the end.
In Christ,
Julie
and while in school (I thought) I knew I would not be a teacher. Here I am though doing what I would consider to be the most important of teaching "jobs" yet I feel I am floundering. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to motivate a 7yo boy that says I don't like lesssons because it takes time away from playing, yet will argue and resist doing the work to the point that it takes a whole lot way more time than it ever would have taken just to do the work. We have similar issues with chores but that does not stretch out like lessons. We are starting half speed with Bigger;we started at 9am and finished around 4pm between disciplining, time outs and extra chores. Could it just be me? Family members say his attitude is just like one of his uncle's and I asked him what would have motivated him to go ahead and just do what he was supposed to when he was growing up. He said probably just knowing he wouldn't get a spanking, it is just stubbornness he will grow out of it 
and the "job" approach. DH says maybe it was just the summer break where things were more laid back. I must say if that was it, lesson learned 
on my part. Perhaps I have not been as consistent as need be with the discipline for arguing and complaining. I don't like conflict and perhaps that is coming to show. We recently ordered the book from Doorposts, "For Instruction in Righteousness" and an If...Then Chart and we are trying to help me implement this. On good note, today was better than yesterday, Thank the Lord. And I thank Him for you all. Thanks for your encouragement.