| Author | |
Alcat
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 142
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2005 at 11:39am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
 Boo hoo!! Hi ya'll,
My ds is 7yrs and then my dd is 5, ds3 and dd1yr(this Sunday whoo hoo!). We have been homeschooling lite all through the summer and now that we are in full schedule we have no time! All of my time and attention is going to ds7 and everyone and everything else gets neglected 
We begin school between 8:30am-9 and don't get done with the basics (religion, phonics, and math) until noon. If I'm really diligent I can squeeze in a phonics lesson for dd5. It's so sad because dd really wants to learn to read, she loves math but ds requires soooo much help.
Ds7 hates school work especially math. I've tried RS Math, MUS, Singapore, and now on to *gasp* ABeka. The Abeka is a little better for him because of the colorful and interesting wb pages but he still isn't getting his addition facts, place value is very frustrating, and then there is counting....
I am thrilled that his reading is now clicking, but I am sure that has more to do with his development than the phonics program we use (by the way we use Saxon- ducking for cover!)
I'm at the point where I am resenting how much time I have to spend with him on the basics and being robbed of time for reading stories to my younger ones and doing little projects with them... I know this is my fault not ds but it makes me want to stick him in school 
Have any of you all gone through this? What did you do to get control of your hs? How much time do you devote to your kids that are learning the basics? I love short lessons but there are none to be had in my house...
Help please.
God Bless,
Alison
__________________
mom to ds15, dd13 ,ds11, dd8, dd6, ds4, & dd18mos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mare
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 08 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 357
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2005 at 12:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Alison,
Last year, homeschooling was a trial basis for us. There were certain things that had to be done to prove that I could do this. I would spend all morning with my oldest and hardly any time with my younger children. Then in the afternoons, we'd finish up whatever we didn't get to in the mornings. I survived the year and proved that I could homeschool and take care of the house. However, I knew that I couldn't school the same way again this year. I had to change some things around.
This year, I have a first grade dd and 3 preschoolers. We start school at 8 am. By 9:30 am, I have finished math, phonics and grammar with my dd. We take a hour break for snack and recess. Then we all gather for religion, science/history and art/music. We use lots and lots of books for these subjects. Around 11:30, I start working one-on-one with my younger three doing phonics and math. We finish up by noon. We started this schedule the first week of August and it has really worked out for us.
Our math is no more than 30 minutes and that is including doing 2 workbook pages. I spend 10 minutes each day going over math facts either with flashcards or using an online game. Phonics is the same way for us. I go over the lesson and then dd does 2 workbook pages. Phonics is finished in 30 minutes. From there, we spend 5-10 minutes on handwriting and 10 minutes on grammar. I'm really curious as to how much time you are spending on each of the subjects.
Just based on the information I've read, could you just spend 10 minutes a day going over math facts until they are memorized? I know it isn't fun but I think it is helpful. Another thought for math is playing games like Yahtzee, Parcheesi, etc. We use dominoes and dice for math facts.
If you feel that you can't shorten the amount of time that you are spending with your ds, then could you start the school day with your younger ones? That way you get in the time you want with them. Maybe your son could work on LEGOs or whatever hobby he may have during that time? Then you have the rest of the day with your ds.
Peace,
Mare
__________________
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2005 at 1:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Alcat wrote:
| We begin school between 8:30am-9 and don't get done with the basics (religion, phonics, and math) until noon. If I'm really diligent I can squeeze in a phonics lesson for dd5. It's so sad because dd really wants to learn to read, ...I'm at the point where I am resenting how much time I have to spend with him on the basics and being robbed of time for reading stories to my younger ones and doing little projects with them... |
|
|
Alison,
Have your 7 yr old read Dr. Seuss books to the younger dc. There's no shame in that and, since it sounds like his reading is taking off, it covers all the phonics he needs.  My 7 yr old learned to read with Dr. Seuss. 
Alcat wrote:
| Ds7 hates school work especially math. I've tried RS Math, MUS, Singapore, and now on to *gasp* ABeka. |
|
|
Get him some good living math books (check out MacBeth's wonderful math page for this) at the library and break out the Monopoly, Chutes and Laddars, dominio, Uno games.  If you feel compelled to use a mathsheet, do three days with a math sheet for drill and do games twice weekly (or the other way around)  .
Alcat wrote:
What did you do to get control of your hs?
|
|
|
Control?
I gave my whole morning to these dc and arrived home to bickering and discontent. I sent them all into a room to watch The Phantom of the Opera for *school*. I've had to rise up to edit sections, stop the littlest monkey from jumping on the bed, and repeatedly tell them to quit talking. This is SCHOOL for heaven's sake!!!
Yeah! right! Mom just needs a break...or a little more control over her classroom. 
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Alcat
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 142
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2005 at 1:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Mare,
Thanks for your response to my fit I have been working really hard to find a balance in lessons. I have a dear friend who recommened some of the things we are curently using (abeka math and saxon phonic). Both can be very time consuming if you follow the publisher's curriculum guides- I try not to fall into this trap but the pressue to follow along
Lately I have been getting both lessons down to about 30min a piece as opposed to an hour. I think what has really been causing longer lessons is my ds resistance to school work, and the other dc's interuptions 
The other day I put our lessons into a term lesson plan so I could have some sense of where we are going; I think it was a mistake. To put those important subjects into a box (math and phonics) can be detrimental because sometimes we have to break up lessons when they are difficult- like spending time using base ten blocks for place value... once again the "school at home" mentality comes and muddies the water of Real Learning and I feel pressured to measure my child against what they are doing in school *sigh* 
When ds becomes more resistant to the foundational work I need to remember not to take it personaly, and to be sure to do the fun stuff- tea time, social studies crafts, science projects and nature study....
Any way I would love to hear how others do it all and make sure the basics are covered... I am having a hard time reconciling what and how much work I should be requiring at this point for my ds...
Thanks and God Bless,
Alison
__________________
mom to ds15, dd13 ,ds11, dd8, dd6, ds4, & dd18mos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Tina P.
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1638
|
| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 1:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
How about ditch the Saxon phonics and go for Explode the Code? All my kids who've been through that (and there are 4) love it! Explode the Code is QUICK! Beyond the Code is reading comprehension which is easy (the font is large and rather spread out), has minimal writing ~ which is something *my* young boys struggle with ~ you answer questions by putting a smile or frown on a pre-printed face, and is all contained.
My 7 yos is on his second book of the year and working diligently toward his third. He can sit and do 10 pages in one day. I usually limit him to three so that we don't go through *too* many books in one year. In the fourth book (I think being a writing major this is my favorite part), kids learn to diagram sentences. I didn't learn this until I was a sophomore in high school!
As for math, we use MCP, which Josh, my 7 yo, is sailing through (I guess he'll be the engineer in the family!). My older kids are struggling through Saxon 6/5 and Saxon 5/4. But I'm learning to find the patterns of things they don't seem to understand and throw in math game days using several resources, not the least of which is online games.
http://www.coolmath-games.com/
We also use Family Math, Catholic Math Activities from CHC, and I Hate Mathematics.
I have my 7 yo read aloud to me and the littler kids are magnetized to him by his reading. I think that's a huge boost to his confidence. I gave Josh Usborne Farmyard Tales books and he just took off. He's been reading longer and longer books with more and more words per page. When your little guy reads his Dr. Seuss confidently, bump him up a level. Start getting him to read science and history readers. This encourages an interest in those areas with virtually no work on your part!
Just by being in the same room, your littlies can benefit from your 7 yo's school. You'll be amazed what they retain. Also, you can keep them busy with playdough, shaving cream (writing letters in it on the table), simple board games, painting, drawing, blocks, doll play, whatever. You're then paying attention to all the kids in tidbits instead of focusing on one.
I hope this helps! God bless,
__________________
Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwise
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
|
| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 8:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I really took to heart the lesson of short class times when I first read about CCM. It's one of the things that really saved me from burnout and despair. My 9yo ds rarely works for more than 20 min. on math. He's learning the basics but if he gets stuck on something, we don't continue on with it; we come back to it later. I check out library videos and let him watch those for fractions and other new concepts. Then we read a living book on the topic or play a game. Once in a while (2xper week on average) he does worksheets or actual math lessons. He does his 15 min. drills, but these are at different times during the day, such as after dinner, in the car, etc. You might find Better Late than Early helpful, especially for teaching young boys.
__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Victoria in AZ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 672
|
| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 3:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Alcat wrote:
Boo hoo!! Hi ya'll,
My ds is 7yrs and then my dd is 5, ds3 and dd1yr(this Sunday whoo hoo!). Have any of you all gone through this? What did you do to get control of your hs? How much time do you devote to your kids that are learning the basics? I love short lessons but there are none to be had in my house...
Help please.
God Bless,
Alison
|
|
|
Thanks for sharing with us, Alison. Haven't read all the replies, so I may be repeating here.
Short lessons
Short lessons
Short lessons
Alison, at 7 yrs there is no excuse for not having fun!!!! Trust me, been there, done that. My oldest is in high school now and I've been told none of his school work mattered until now! I am determined with my 7 ydd not to sweat the schoolwork. Life is too short. This is the basics, not brain surgery. Do not focus on quantity. With short lessons (20 min) you will make forward progress and that is all that matters. Trust me, the joy will come back for all of you.
__________________
Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bookswithtea
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2621
|
| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 4:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Echoing the Short Lessons thing, too. :-)
But also, are you aware that Abeka is considered an advanced math program? The 2nd grade volume could easily be considered third grade work, and it is intended to be used in a classroom with daily drill sheets and quizzes and tests ad nauseum.
It sounds like you've used a lot of math programs by age 7. I'm only commenting about it, though, because I did *exactly* the same thing with my ds when he was younger, and I totally regret it now. I wish I would have believed all those folks who talked about "better late than early" and how boys develop differently than the traditional classroom model. I wish I had just played math games until he was ready for a formal program.
Sigh...poor first children...they are the guinea pigs for everything!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Alcat
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 142
|
| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Victoria wrote:
Short lessons
Short lessons
Short lessons
Yes! Yes! Yes!
I have really want short lessons and we did it today- I am axing the TM for Abeka and not doing any of the extra work (classroom stuff) I occasionly will take a peak for the teaching a new concept stuff... I'm now even going to do the tests so we don't have to keep a "school" five day a week schedule. Also I'm going to have Friday's as fun hands on math days 
As for the phonics ds actually likes it except when the lesson is too long (did someone mention short lessons  ) So once again I have cut out a most of the TM work and just focus on the new concept...
Today was much better because ds wanted to get done with his seatwork so he could play with his cousins we were done in 45min
Bookswithtea wrote:
Sigh...poor first children...they are the guinea pigs for everything!
Oh I couldn't agree more!!
God Bless,
Alison
__________________
mom to ds15, dd13 ,ds11, dd8, dd6, ds4, & dd18mos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Not having any fun
