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MarilynW
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| Posted: July 12 2008 at 8:57am | IP Logged
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I really like the idea of everyone from K to High School all working on the same thing together - but in reality in my house it cannot work. So I do have some family blocks - but as they get older they will do more independent work. All my children from Grade 1 get a weekly schedule that has to be checked or highlighted as items are done. They get some flexibility for arranging their time and making sure it gets done. In previous years I have had an Excel spreadsheet for each child - this year I am using the Good News planners, so I will pencil in their assignments for two weeks at a time. My 7th Grader will have more flexibility and responsibility for ensuring her work is done.
I also think that the K kids need a solid block of "mom time" as they learn to read - my 3 older kids have been in summer orchestra and so I have had an hour and a half each morning with my 4 year old when the baby naps - and his reading has moved ahead in leaps and bounds.
I do a MOTH type schedule - just so I can make sure that I share myself out between everyone - I have one for every day of the week as each day is different in our house.
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Erin
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| I'm trying to take Kim's dh's thoughts into account and ask myself, "What do I want my children to know" long term? Besides the basics, I want them to be comfortable talking about Shakespeare if that's what people are talking about. They don't have to know every Greek god, but if they hear a reference, I hope they will at least think, "Oh yeah, I kinda remember that story." |
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Books
Are your children eclectic readers? I have two who are  one who isn't  Anyhow the oldest sat down the other day with my Shakespeare collection (previously untouched  ) and found a section with famous quotes, interestingly she had come across many of them in her readings. I was very heartened and intrigued.
I was thinking of our discussion in the wee hours this morning (I couldn't sleep) and thought its all very well to say just do the basic 4Rs but it is hard to let go and truthfully we often enjoy introducing our children to the big wide world of knowledge. So a workable compromise which I have done in the past, here's how your day could look; the basic 4Rs and then one of the other subjects only. Block lesson approach, so you may say do science for 6 weeks and then swap and do history for 6 weeks (or whatever time frame you like) In fact you could also use this approach with the 4Rs. only do maths for 6 weeks and science, then the next block do language arts and history. You will cover the same amount in reality more as you can go more in depth and are not jumping around feeling frazzled.(that's very important for mum to not feel frazzled and the more students we have it is so easy to feel like that.)
Marilyn
It is so sad to let go, but it has to be done. Looking back I can now rationally see its part of children growing up and becoming independent, but oh how I fought it. and I still haven't found my balance because I feel dd is still receiving minimal attention. I haven't found the right time during the day's flow to touch base with her enough. She's happy but I feel she could be extended more if only I found the time to chat etc.
MarilynW wrote:
| I really like the idea of everyone from K to High School all working on the same thing together - but in reality in my house it cannot work. |
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I so agree and relate.
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Erin
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cornomama4
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I was just going to add about the one-room schoolhouses that the teachers didn't have to stop to nurse a baby or make lunch or clean house or drive so and so to the dentist, etc.... and there were so many fewer distractions like cell phones, and ipods and pokemon cards, etc. and of course at home the kids didn't have TV or computer or cars!! Lots more time to learn, lot's more brain room to focus.
Of course they had stuff like polio, fever and ague, women couldn't vote, etc...I guess it's all about perspective!
cm4
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: July 12 2008 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Books
Are your children eclectic readers? ... here's how your day could look; the basic 4Rs and then one of the other subjects only. Block lesson approach, so you may say do science for 6 weeks and then swap and do history for 6 weeks (or whatever time frame you like) |
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Erin, this is what I have been thinking about for history and science. I've never done this before, but it is one of the ideas that keeps surfacing, anyway. And yes, I do have relatively eclectic readers.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Bookswithtea
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cornomama4 wrote:
Of course they had stuff like polio, fever and ague, women couldn't vote, etc...I guess it's all about perspective!
cm4 |
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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helene
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| Posted: July 14 2008 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
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I start the schoolday with the youngest student (who typically needs my help the most with her work). During this time all the others work on their studies without me and do the best and most they can until I can get to them. I go up in age from youngest to oldest giving each child in his turn all my attention and help. I correct what they were able to do independently (with much praise) and then help them through the remainder of their work. There are plenty of interruptions, but I like to think of the day as a thread that I need to put down and pick up whenever necessary. The thread goes from child to child in order and never gets completely lost and it may take the whole day but I always get to the end of it by nightfall. Some days are far more efficient and successful than others, but at least I always get to that last and oldest child and help her as necessary with the few snags she hit in her high school courses through the day. This provides a way to ensure that each child gets those precious and needed individual moments with Mom even among the joyful noise and mess of a large homeschooled household.
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Happy Mom to five girls (20,17,13,11and 4) and five boys (19, 15, 10, 8 and 6)
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Tina P.
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| Posted: July 15 2008 at 5:38am | IP Logged
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Listening iwth both ears. I have six I "officially" home school this year, a soon-to-be 3 yog, and a new baby. Ouch. Lots of juggling.
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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mariB
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| Posted: July 15 2008 at 5:39am | IP Logged
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What a great topic. I, too, am entering the world this year with schooling 5 at once!
I find Kindergarten SO much fun. Our 9 year old helps teach the 5 year old.
While the 9 year old helps the 5 year old, I am able to discuss topics being studied by the older kids and help the teenagers with any of their needs.
And I am so much more laid back about it now. There is an outline I follow for the young ones but really not a strict schedule. Lots of drawing for science at history for the young ones We usually do "school" for the little ones first and everyone does math at the same time.
The little ones glean a lot off of the big kids.
Blessings,
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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Milehimama
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I am following this discussion with great interest. This year I'll have 5 in school - two 3rd graders (age 10 and 9, 10 yo has lots of issues), a second grader, a first grader, a kindergartner, plus a 2 yo and 1 yo.
I ATTENDED a one-room schoolhouse, and somehow I never made the connection, LOL! I went there for grades 4-8.
Here's what I remember: The teacher/owner only took in 6 children per grade, and there were generally between 50-60 children total. Each grade shared a 6 ft. banquet table (obviously, that doesn't really translate into homeschooling!).
The basics were done in the morning (English, phonics, math). Teacher spent about 10-15 minutes per grade going over new concepts, answering questions, etc. (That is, 15 min. on the BASICS, not 15 for math, etc.) This was basically touching base with each grade level, etc. While she was teaching the 1st graders the sound of /ch/, everyone else would be working in their math book, writing spelling words, or otherwise completing assignments as they were able. She took questions in between "classes".
For new concepts, she would spend a longer time but still I remember short, frequent classes. Recess was staggered so she might work extra with the 3rd graders on long division while the high schoolers had recess.
Afternoons were for lectured classes. One day was religion, each class got their assignment. One day was science (we had projects/assignments to be done each day, there was a lecture once a week.) She lectured in front of the whole class while the other students did their seatwork. I loved to listen to the High School Colorado History class, even though I was supposed to be writing my spelling words! LOL.
We could ask questions any time though - we weren't just left to flounder around on our own. I think having one day for History, one for Science, etc. helped our teacher keep in the frame of mind for answering questions, LOL.
I also remember the olders taking the kinders/1st graders for a while each day and presenting a lesson to them (Child development 101!) One student in High School would be assigned a day to have the littles for a half hour or so (I think) Our teacher said that no matter what profession anyone chose, they would almost certainly be around children at some point or probably be a parent and needed to know what to do, LOL. She gave them the lesson (perhaps it was colors one day, or how to use watercolors, or bead patterning, etc.) to present, they didn't have to make it up.
Anyway, now I'm going to think of how to use this model most efficiently in my day...
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Erin
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Milehimama
I found your childhood experience so fascinating. I like how your teacher did basics in the morning and one subject per day in the afternoon. Much to ponder here, thanks for sharing.
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Cay Gibson
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"I found that we accomplished most working around one large table. I was able to work with the child or children who needed my help, but still keep an eye on everyone else. If someone had trouble concentrating, I had a desk in another room he could move to, but we would all start out together. (As the children got older, my oldest child began to want more quiet time, and she would do school in her room, but even then, when it was her turn for one-on-one time with me, she'd come out to the dining room table. This way I was always at the heart of the activity in the house.) Now, other families may find that they do better with everyone at a desk in separate rooms. Each family is different and has different dynamics within the family, but for us, being together worked best."
~ Mother of Divine Grace School Teaching Tips and Techniques Across the Classical Curriculum by Laura M. Berquist
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helene
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Cay, what a wonderful and perfectly relevant quotation! I have to say my own experience is much the same. I work with my middles and youngers at the kitchen table. My teens like to work on couches in the nearby livingroom. They come to me when I am needed. We like to joke that we are a "blab school" like the one-room schoolhouse that young Abraham Lincoln attended in Kentucky! Being at the center of the activity helps me to put out fires very quickly. Having the fridge, sink, and potty within arms' reach minimizes the time that interruptions take up. We have been homeschooling now for eleven years and this is by far the most practical and comfortable way for us.
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Topic: homeschooling 5 and more...
