Lessons and Rewards

My son and I have started a new tradition.  Each week, he chooses "lessons" from a chart which hangs on his bulletin board.  The list of lessons is as follows:

ART

VOCAL MUSIC

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

SCIENCE

MATH 

READING

WRITING

SPANISH

GARDENING

HOUSEHOLD PROJECTS

COOKING

He can do as many or as little lessons as he wishes.  And, there is really no set lesson time.  Just when he feels like doing a lesson.  So, we're are pretty loose!  One day he may say, "Let's do a cooking lesson."  And out come the pots and pans, and I create a learning experience for him.  

We tally our lessons for the week, and at the end of the week we add up our total.  Based on how many lessons we did, we determine how many points he has earned.  He earns a point per lesson.  At this point, we pull out an old top hat with little papers folded inside.  The papers are like coupons.  One may say, "Redeem for 4 quarters."  One may say, "Trip to the park with mom."  Or, "Ice cream!"  

3 lessons = 1 "draw" from the hat

5 lessons = 2 "draws" from the hat

7 lessons = 3 "draws" from the hat

10 lessons = 4 "draws" from the hat 

We love doing this.  Learning is fun, because he gets to pick what he wants to do.  And, the rewards are sweet!