Turning a Corner

As we're finally getting into gear for this school year, I'm noticing some differences already... a change.   My youngest in now 12 years old and doing mostly 7th grade work. His reading has been coming along slowly - rather typical for my kids - and up to now I have done the bulk of the reading for his school aloud.  Last year I started pushing him a little harder and giving him increasing amounts to read himself, to start building up his "tolerance".  His fluency and understanding are there, but he gets tired easily when he reads. This year, he is reading even more on his own ( and there is a LOT of reading with Tapestry of Grace ) .  In addition, I am using a variation of the work box system - with file folders instead of shoeboxes - to lay out his work for the day, and he is working through it pretty independently. I start off the day with reading aloud, and get him started on this or that, but in general, I am free to do .... other things, like fold laundry, work on the computer, clean the kitchen.   This is a totally new thing for me. I have been homeschooling 16 years, and the entire time there has always been a younger child that needed me to work with them for the bulk of their school day.   Now we are at the end of the line, and he is gaining independence, which is the goal... but its working me out of a job.

I keep going to check on him, to see if he needs me.