1-2-3 Magic: 3-Step Discipline for Calm, Effective, and Happy Parenting

stickers. Five is the highest mark and one is the lowest mark. A child
can earn one point for each of the following things:

Neat: 1 point

Correct: 1 point

Thorough: 1 point

No complaining: 1 point

Starting on your own at the right time without being

reminded: 1 point

TOTAL POSSIBLE SCORE: 5 points

Kids can get each of the first three points by doing better than
whatever approximate percentage of neatness, correctness, and
completeness you have required according to your Rough Checkout
rules. The no-complaining point is earned if the child doesn’t whine
or grouse about having to do his schoolwork.

Quik    Tip

When charting homework performance using our five-point system, the fifth point

is the Magic Point. A child earns the fifth point for starting his schoolwork at the

right time without being reminded. That’s half the battle!

The last point is the crucial one. We sometimes call the fifth point
the “Magic Point,” because if you can get a child to start his work on
his own, in a timely fashion and without being reminded, the battle is