(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)
We have inadvertently taken a vacation from Narrow Path. Alexander is struggling with completing his TypingWeb and XtraMath. Part of it is sheer laziness. He says it is too hard. What I feel is "too hard" for him is to sit and maintain the attention span it takes to complete anything. We will be talking with the doctor next visit about changing his ADHD meds.
With my new set up of one page of activities for both children, I do not think it is fair to ask Victoria to do parts of her learning while he continues to slack off. To her credit, she has continued to work on her TypingWeb anyway and is almost done with the next level. Without being asked or told to do it!
The other unfortunate part is that I added in some physical activities, but the week I did so, our living room where the game systems are was filled with garage sale items so there was no room to use the Xbox Kinect and the Wii. To make matter worse, for some reason the Wii will not turn on and there is a game disc in it. This takes out the ability to use the Wii Fit Board.
I also started a more difficult course in college and it's taking a lot more of my time than I expected. I was hogging my computer which Alexander usually uses.
For my education, I needed to purchase Microsoft Office, and at this point, I was not going to purchase a version that would become obsolete in a few years. I wanted to go straight for the 2013 version which required Windows 7 or higher. I went for broke and purchased a laptop running 8.1 with a touchscreen using my tax refund when it finally showed up. I then purchased Office 2013 for around $60 through my university. I couldn't be happier with my purchases.
Further, I was able to download and install on my Windows XP desktop and my Windows 8.1 laptop a little program called TightVNC Viewer which allows me to be in my room working on my homework while letting Alexander be on my computer and I can monitor the websites he is actually going to. I see what is on his screen. Really cool. The true purpose of the software is to allow me access to my desktop computer's files. This way the only documents I need to worry about moving to my laptop is... Well, nothing.
I also installed a little network chat program called Simple Chat that allows me to have a little conversation with my son when we are on the computers. If I find I need a file, I can enter into the chat window that I need to access the computer and he lets go of the mouse long enough to allow me to do what I need to do. Alternately, if he has a question how to do something, he can chat me and I can look at exactly what he is doing. If there is a tech issue, I can remotely fix his problem.
I am considering putting these same two programs on my husband's computer in order to help Victoria if she has tech issues with her dad's computer. Some might call me lazy for using this method, but you have not met my kids! Every 5 minutes there is an issue with the computers that so desperately needs my attention, and I waste more time getting up from my homework to deal with simple user error than I do getting work done for school. This is about efficiently using my time.
I also believe that in this age of technology, my children may be comfortable using computers and gaming systems, but they do not know how to type well, nor do they understand the how or why of why it works. Just to put an example of how little the kids pay attention to the world around them: My employer changed our dress code policy almost a year ago to blue jeans, black jeans, or black pants with a black shirt. It has been this way for nearly a year, mind you. On my way out the door this morning, I was asked, "So you get to wear jeans to work now?" Really? Where have you been this past year child??
I think that by allowing them to sit at the computer and watch as I move the mouse around the screen they will get more familiar with how the computer works. Up until now, I would sit in the chair when they had an issue and their attention would wander to something else or they would leave the room entirely. This isn't a perfect solution, but it is a start.
Furthermore, I have the option of sending a tiny package with a one time use code for TightVNC Viewer to my friends and family when they need my assistance with a tech issue. As long as they have internet access working, I can tap into their computer and fix it without the computer having to come to my home or me go to their home. Whew!
