Eat the Frog First

Eat the frog first? I’d actually prefer coffee thanks. But, then what’s after the coffee? The menu says: Frog.

This is one of those life-skill lessons that’s especially good for us as homeschoolers. It’s about how you schedule your day. How you tackle the tendency to procrastinate? Take my word for it as a professional procrastinator:

Just eat the frog first.

What’s that thing you dread teaching? I know some people who dread teaching Math. Especially high school math.

For me, it was listening to an emergent reader struggling thru their lesson. If it didn’t happen in the morning, while I was fresh, it wasn’t happening at all that day. So I learned early on, that it was my frog…and I had to eat it first.

What’s the thing your students dread doing? Is it copywork or math drills or memory work?

Evaluate whether the student is actually ready. Developmentally capable to do the assignment. Be sure you’re not pushing too hard.

Then eat the frog, first thing. 

There are things in life that we don’t like or enjoy. That we’re not especially good at. Things that are hard, but necessary. Things that take practice, every day.

By doing that thing first, you get it out of the way. Otherwise the dread about it hangs around all day and can affect your mood. You may even find yourself arguing with your child about it.

It may get pushed farther and farther down the to-do list. Till it doesn’t get done today. You might even repeat the pattern again the next day and the day after that.

Please note: it is illegal in the state of South Carolina to lick, kiss or bite a toad. So don’t actually eat a frog here. But you know what I mean.

Adjust your to-do list…and eat the frog first.

What’s your frog task that you dread?
Tell me in the comments

Read more about rocking your homeschool like a pro: