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melanie
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| Posted: Sept 07 2009 at 12:11pm | IP Logged
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A picture is worth a thousand words, yes?
I am 8 weeks pregnant and we have done no school for 2 weeks. The house is trashed. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and second guessing everything we have planned for this school year. Cuz I wasn't pregnant when I planned it! We have been using MODG, with some tweaking, almost since we started homeschooling. I do love a lot of things about it, but I'm feeling really stretched and like we don't have much joy in our schooling. Since we've always used MODG, I am kind of scared to jump the boat and swim on our own. I'd like to bounce my ideas from anyone who'd like to be my bouncee....
I want to have some FUN and JOY in our school day. I feel like we spend all our time just trying to get everything done, kwim? But I don't want to plan out all of our lessons myself, because I don't want the pressure of sticking to my own schedule either. Does that make sense? If I sit down every summer and plan a school year out, that may not feel much different to me than following the MODG syllabi. So we need a balance between getting the core stuff done and still having some time for fun stuff during less crazy times of the school year. What I'm trying to avoid is feeling like, "I need to get through this chunk of material by May."
I have a 7th grader, and so I'm feeling like she does need some "real school". I would probably keep her on the MODG syllabi. She does a lot of work on her own anyway.
I have a 4th grader with significant learning delays and a preschooler who is likely autistic...we are waiting to have him evaluated. I'm thinking they are not going to fit the educational mold very well anyway.  The 4th grader gives me a really hard time when *he* feels overwhelmed, and so keeping seatwork to a minimum is important. What I was thinking of doing with them, and with the ones coming up the pipe is this...
....using some workbooks for core stuff...probably CHC's spelling and Language of God, and something for math of course. The idea would be to just keep working through the workbooks at whatever pace he sets, and they could be done somewhat independently and without prep work on my part.
...then working, at our own pace, through fun rabbit trails for history, science, religion, etc. These can be set aside during crazier (or more nauseous) times and picked up when things are more sane again, without pressure to feel "behind". We would use this time to work on writing skills too, copywork and narration and such.
...and then, maybe around 6th or 7th grade, to make a transition to MODG again. Or something else, if that doesn't fit him when we get there.
Any thoughts? Because right now, even before I had the first trimester issues, our school life wasn't what I wanted it to be. We had no peace or fun in our day, it was either, "push like mad to get through the list of assignments" or "push like mad to get some housework done while school falls further behind"....I need a change I think. Am I way off base? Anyone do anything like this?
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Sept 07 2009 at 12:27pm | IP Logged
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It sounds good to me.
One thing that I do that takes A LOT of pressure off (even though I only have a 1st grader officially homeschooling) is that I only plan one semester at time. This is partly because of my husband's job (he teaches college and our schedule reflects his). But it also keeps the planning simpler, more flexible based on academic needs/seasons of life.
I do keep a general overview of what resources I might want to use at certain grade levels, but I really only plan one semester at at time. I also keep things very flexible. Like I just make a general sequence for each subject of every assignment/activity and then we go through it as possible.
Prayers your way.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
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melanie
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| Posted: Sept 07 2009 at 5:19pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Barbara....
flexibility...something I am being forced to learn...
I tend to be really, uh, anal retentive and do things like, "But if he doesn't finish 4th grade grammar he won't be ready for 5th grade grammar or 6th grade grammar or 7th grade grammar and will he be able to write well on his SAT essay if he doesn't know a predicate nominative when he sees one?" 
It's a sickness, I tell you.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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ekbell
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| Posted: Sept 07 2009 at 5:49pm | IP Logged
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My rule of thumb is very simple
Core material that must be worked on- the four R's (Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic, Religion)
Everything else is non-core to be worked on when the four R's plus the household is doing OK (not great because then we'd never get to them but OK).
What I've used during crazy times
Reading-I've mostly used CHC but I supplement with various books at the child's reading level. The child reads a story, we discuss the story, I read from a book of the child's choice to the child.
wRiting-CHC spelling and Language of God
aRithmetic-we use the Canadian version of Spectrum math -the material is presented in a straight forward logical sequence with no confusing frills and it's cheap.
Religion:We go over the Sunday readings and I try to introduce at least one Saint a week. This site has material to help you go over the Sunday Readings plus a Saint story http://jeffcavins.com/base/family_night_1 (when you go to the relevant Sunday you will need to click on the printable version link to see the PDF for the week)
If your 4th grader has no trouble following read-alouds and you feel up to reading aloud then I'd suggest St. Patrick's Summer:A Children's Adventure Catechism by Marigold Hunt for Catechism. It's fun, requires no seat work, and will give a solid overview of Catholic doctine.
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Stephanie_Q
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| Posted: Sept 07 2009 at 5:56pm | IP Logged
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My first week of following the Seton curriculum was...similar. 2nd week went much better as I have been on the phone with Seton counselors and asked, what is the purpose of this...a few examples:
History questions in the lesson plans - are they supposed to memorize this stuff in first grade? NO.
English - learning homonymns (which I think are actually homophones...) does she need to know definitions of both words and how to spell them? NO.
I have since done something very similar to what you are planning and we are all enjoying school much more and the house is cleaner in spite of my 3rd trimester tiredness. I marked my CORE curriculum - the stuff I have to give quarter tests on rather than just giving her a grade, myself to get done in the morning; and we're having fun with the rest.
Science 1 - Food Pyramid. (BORING + I don't agree w/ all of it) We cut out pictures of fruits and vegetables from grocery ads and seed catalogs and made a poster rainbow of fruits and veggies; read books like "Growing Vegetable Soup" and "Eating the Alphabet" by Lois Ehlert.
History 1 - Brave Explorers. (too many inane details for 1st grade) We read a few books about people who did brave things that no one else had done like Louis Bleroit in "The Glorious Flight".
English 1 - Homonyms. (very difficult for a 1st grader) We listened to and sang along with Brian McNight and Cleo from "Between the Lions" singing "Homophones" and printed out some Homophone Jokes.
I realize your kids are older and perhaps have more "CORE" subjects, but wanted to share that we are doing something similar to what you're planning...and we're all happier.
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Stephanie dh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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Bethany
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| Posted: Sept 10 2009 at 5:55pm | IP Logged
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Melanie, when's your due date? Mine is 4/15/10. Maybe it's just pregnancy emotions. Just today I started to second guess everything, though this is common for me. I'm never happy with my decisions. We're also using MODG, though only for 2nd and K. I have a toddler who hates when I try to sit and read aloud and a precocious almost 4 yo. I'm praying and hoping for the day my toddler will sit quietly while I read! I think I'm just going to push ahead this year since we started early (thankfully) and should be done about the time the baby comes. I'll use that time to make some decisions. Though I'm not sure post-partum is my best time to make decision .
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Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
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melanie
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| Posted: Sept 11 2009 at 10:23am | IP Logged
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Mine is 4/14! That might change. I'm not too sure of my dates, and they may do an ultrasound here to date me better. :)
It may be pregnancy emotions. I'm already doubting my already made decisions. I feel like a crazy person! Well, I'm definitely making these changes for the nine year old. I need to change things up with him for a lot of reasons. And I guess I don't *have* to decide about next year right now, right? 
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: pregnant, and circling the drain...
