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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Jan 12 2010 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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I am floundering so much this year- fear is my fairly constant companion as I work through our days. I can't seem to pull it together to give a good education to my kids this year. Our days stretch on into oblivion and my older two seem to need so much remediation. School keeps looking tempting for the first time ever. It is like I need someone to say- do this today, do that tomorrow- the choices are flooring me. We have been very CM over the years but I am scared I am letting them down in the education department. The beautiful blog I was just on, shame on me for comparing, just made me feel more inadequate. My kids are in 9th,7th,4th, and 2nd. I believe my 7thdd is dyslexic so she is so resistant to having to read anything to herself except her novel, the Two Towers, which she works on for 45- 1hr each morning.
Drowning....
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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melanie
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I'm sorry Kristie...I have a 7th grade dyslexic too, and we also hit attitude with the reading. She is capable of reading now, she just doesn't like to do it, certainly not something that *I* pick out, haha! We use a lot of audiobooks...she will listen to almost anything that way. And I have even done some reading aloud still. We use MODG, and I am doing two of their harder history books as read alouds for her.
Ok, my toddler got into the wikki sticks, I gotta run for now. 
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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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teachingmyown
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Kristie, big hugs from one who seem to be perpetually lost! What I am doing to salvage this year is:
I bought a bundle of Critical Thinking Press software, especially for ds12 who doesn't want to do anything but play on the computer.For history he is listening to SOTW read by Jim Weiss.
I am going to stock up on a few key workbooks for daily drill.
I am going to focus my time on Catechism for everyone and phonics for dd6.
I am going to use Netflix for educational DVDs.
I am going to actually do workboxes, instead of read about them!
I *may* subscribe to one of those science experiment programs that come once a month, but not yet.
Ds12 has a dysgraphia and I am using Dianne Craft's manual for him. I just need to be more consistent.
Our day seem so disjointed, never the same although we are usually here. It is so much dependent on the mix of temperaments (and tempers!) around here.
Good luck!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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melanie
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We are having a "season of workbooks" with the 9yo right now. He is having an, erm, difficult year, and he is quite behind in several areas due to learning issues anyway. So, I got a few workbooks in basic subjects...math, grammar, spelling, handwriting...these get done every day and can be done mostly independently. And I know he is getting at least that much. And we do a read aloud, also. That's just going to have to be enough right now, we are working on other things with him.
We also subscribe to those science kits. I got them for my 7th grade daughter a couple of years ago because she *really* likes experiments and I wasn't making it happen enough for her.  I can't recommend it enough. It may be silly expense for some, but it's been very worth it for her. They come with pretty much everything you need, and she's been able to work through most of them alone. She really enjoys them. I plan on getting them for the 9yo in another year or so, whenever her subscription is done.
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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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Kristie 4
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Thanks ladies...it is evening now so it is more relaxed.
Tell me about these science kits- my kids would love that.
Thanks Molly for your honesty. I am such a horrible decision maker and transitioner that I flounder with so much choice at there right now and get like a deer in the headlights with 4 kids, different temperements, learning styles etc.
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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teachingmyown
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Kristie, year after year, about this time, I come back to the realization that I am who I am.  I *love* all the theory and great options out there. And really, at heart, I am an unschooler. I think that choosing practical, straightforward and not-too-boring workbooks and such is the best fit for me. I can't do Seton, but I can't do CM either. If I feel we are getting *something* done, than I am much more relaxed and the kids are able to spend the bulk of their time learning on their own through reading, playing, just being kids.
I love the idea of supplementing with DVDs and software. My kids enjoy learning that way, too.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Paula in MN
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teachingmyown wrote:
| I think that choosing practical, straightforward and not-too-boring workbooks and such is the best fit for me. |
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I love that someone has finally said this. I try to incorporate some workbooks in our learning, too, but I know there are members in my local co-op who frown at me for doing that. Glad I'm not alone!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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melanie
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Here's the link to the science kits...
http://www.theyoungscientistsclub.com/programs.html
It says ages 5-12...my daughter turned 13 this year and is having a good time with them still though. The older the child, the more they will be able to do on their own. A 5yo would really need to be walked through each step. But they are fun. But be thrown by the first couple...they are very simple, kind of learning to measure and things like that. They get pretty cool.
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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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teachingmyown
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Paula in MN wrote:
teachingmyown wrote:
| I think that choosing practical, straightforward and not-too-boring workbooks and such is the best fit for me. |
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I love that someone has finally said this. I try to incorporate some workbooks in our learning, too, but I know there are members in my local co-op who frown at me for doing that. Glad I'm not alone! |
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Paula, I have been thinking about what you said. I think the reason workbooks can work for families like ours is that we still have the underlying philosophy of Real Learning. We are not betraying that philosophy by using things like workbooks. If anything, these choices free us up to live a real learning lifestyle with our children! When mom isn't stressed, when the "basics" are covered simply, mom and kids have time for reading and nature and being together.
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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10 Bright Stars
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Kristie,
I usually feel this way every February, so don't feel bad. I think it is normal for us to doubt ourselves this time of year. The winter seems to drag on and on. The kids are cooped up inside and we start to wonder if anything we are doing is getting through. I AM SURE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FEEL THE SAME WAY!!!!  Seriously. I think it is just the winter blues.
Having said that, something that truly helped me was just to limit my options. Of course there are so many things we could do with our children from day to day. There are so many neat ideas on other peoples' blogs, even on this forum that we would LOVE to do, but we simply cannot. If we think we can chase every good idea....it's a recipe for discouragement. Really, it is sort of a form of avarice. And I don't say that to make you feel bad!! I do it all the time. But, you realize very well that if you look at a home and garden magazine that our houses cannot look like that!!! We usually don't have the time, money and frankly, we have too many kids!  So, why do we automatically feel pressured when we read some neat idea some other mom came up with????? See?? It is the same thing. We want to do the best for our kids, but the BEST thing we can do for our kids is to have a stable, loving environment. If you are losing your peace of mind, then that is the first thing I would get in check. Realize that you are doing a great job, the best job you can do, and ask for the graces to keep at it, day after day after day.
Then, for a practical suggestion, I would take an afternoon, maybe a teacher workday, and list down some concrete solutions. List all the areas that you know need improvement and try to think of a tangible solution for them. Some things that helped me with the stress were simple things such as coming up with a solution for never being able to find pencils!!! Sometimes the little things can discourage us. Write down what you have accomplished this year and be easy on yourself! Then, try to think of the things you have always wanted to do but backburner and make you feel guilty. For me, it was reading stories to little kids each day. I mean, that is why we all love homeschooling, right?? But, each day would go by and I hadn't read to them like I did the younger ones. So, now I make sure I try to do that each day and that guilt has gone away. I do my best to make it a priority. If something comes up, like a sick baby lately, then I tell myself I can't do it all.
Hope something helps. Don't doubt yourself. Go with your gut, but also, don't compare yourself to the mom next door.
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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Kristie 4
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Thank you for the encouraging words. Great advice aboutr the books Kim! I have felt before that my youngers have missed out on the books I read the older ones!
Yes, February can be blah, but this time it is more of an overwhelming year feeling. Basically, I think I haven't recovered from having 4 students this year, one being a highschooler. I truly am awful at transitions.
Today was good, I am just taking it one day at a time-hitting the basics and the books and trying to get outside. What really kills me is that we are so draggy this year and many days we are plugging away at the basics right on towards the dinner hour as we are sleepyheads in the mornings- we all miss our crafty afternoons!
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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Becky Parker
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teachingmyown wrote:
Paula in MN wrote:
teachingmyown wrote:
| I think that choosing practical, straightforward and not-too-boring workbooks and such is the best fit for me. |
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I love that someone has finally said this. I try to incorporate some workbooks in our learning, too, but I know there are members in my local co-op who frown at me for doing that. Glad I'm not alone! |
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Paula, I have been thinking about what you said. I think the reason workbooks can work for families like ours is that we still have the underlying philosophy of Real Learning. We are not betraying that philosophy by using things like workbooks. If anything, these choices free us up to live a real learning lifestyle with our children! When mom isn't stressed, when the "basics" are covered simply, mom and kids have time for reading and nature and being together.
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Beautifully said! Why do we homeschool moms do this to ourselves and each other? I felt like I was "sneaking a treat" when I let my child use a workbook. Then I realized, this child learns best with workbooks and that's okay! What a stress-relieving revelation!
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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Becky Parker
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Eight Wonders wrote:
Kristie,
Having said that, something that truly helped me was just to limit my options. Of course there are so many things we could do with our children from day to day. There are so many neat ideas on other peoples' blogs, even on this forum that we would LOVE to do, but we simply cannot. If we think we can chase every good idea....it's a recipe for discouragement. Really, it is sort of a form of avarice. And I don't say that to make you feel bad!! I do it all the time. But, you realize very well that if you look at a home and garden magazine that our houses cannot look like that!!! We usually don't have the time, money and frankly, we have too many kids! So, why do we automatically feel pressured when we read some neat idea some other mom came up with????? See?? It is the same thing. We want to do the best for our kids, but the BEST thing we can do for our kids is to have a stable, loving environment. If you are losing your peace of mind, then that is the first thing I would get in check. Realize that you are doing a great job, the best job you can do, and ask for the graces to keep at it, day after day after day.
Then, for a practical suggestion, I would take an afternoon, maybe a teacher workday, and list down some concrete solutions. List all the areas that you know need improvement and try to think of a tangible solution for them. Some things that helped me with the stress were simple things such as coming up with a solution for never being able to find pencils!!! Sometimes the little things can discourage us. Write down what you have accomplished this year and be easy on yourself! Then, try to think of the things you have always wanted to do but backburner and make you feel guilty. For me, it was reading stories to little kids each day. I mean, that is why we all love homeschooling, right?? But, each day would go by and I hadn't read to them like I did the younger ones. So, now I make sure I try to do that each day and that guilt has gone away. I do my best to make it a priority. If something comes up, like a sick baby lately, then I tell myself I can't do it all.
Hope something helps. Don't doubt yourself. Go with your gut, but also, don't compare yourself to the mom next door. |
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This is so wise. I was caught up in despair and only making it worse by searching on line for what other moms do. I actually had to force myself to do a computer fast and it was so fruitful. I realized that by wanting to apply so many ideas that I read about to my little homeschool, I was missing what my little homeschool needed, if that makes sense. Sort of a "forest for the trees" thing. After my fast and spending time in prayer I realized some very basic things that needed to be changed and it was no big deal. But the peace they brought was huge. It reminded me again that just like my children are all different from their friends, my homeschool is going to be different from MY friend's. I need to seek wisdom from God regarding his plan for us. And, it might look totally different from the one pictured in the gorgeous blog I just read, but that's okay!
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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donnalynn
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Kristie 4 wrote:
Thank you for the encouraging words. Great advice aboutr the books Kim! I have felt before that my youngers have missed out on the books I read the older ones!
Yes, February can be blah, but this time it is more of an overwhelming year feeling. Basically, I think I haven't recovered from having 4 students this year, one being a highschooler. I truly am awful at transitions.
Today was good, I am just taking it one day at a time-hitting the basics and the books and trying to get outside. What really kills me is that we are so draggy this year and many days we are plugging away at the basics right on towards the dinner hour as we are sleepyheads in the mornings- we all miss our crafty afternoons! |
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This has been my worst homeschool year - I think it is having a *high school* student - I feel like there is a lot of pressure all of a sudden.
Dd is putting a lot of pressure on herself - our homeschooling seems to have become exactly what I never wanted it to be. Doing things to get them done.
I hate Kolbe high school - there I said it.
So frustrated these days.
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SimplyMom
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This has been a horribly off year for us in a lot of ways. We got through about 1/3 of our first term work. I have decided that we will work on the other 2/3s this term and regroup for the third. I know a wonderful nun who, no matter how dreadfully chaotic the situation, will take a deep breath and say "We work with what God grants us" and things always turn out wonderful.
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Darcee
SimplyMom from Simply Catholic
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melanie
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""We work with what God grants us"
Oh! I love this! What a perfectly nun-like thing to say, I can almost hear the voice of my 5th grade teacher, Sister Mary Carmela....hehe. This may become my new prayer. I should write it now on my hand in sharpie so I don't forget it!
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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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Matilda
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melanie wrote:
""We work with what God grants us"
I should write it now on my hand in sharpie so I don't forget it! |
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I think I'll write it on my hand, wall, and forehead (backwards so I can read it in the mirror)... I need to drill this into my brain too! God bless that very wise sister!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10, 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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Kristie 4
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Darcee and Donna...
Yes Donna, I think it is the having a highschooler that has put the pressure on us this year too! It is like that fact is dribbling down to the younger children as I look at the things I want them to have when they get to that point (and at the same time I seem to have forgotten the more natural way we got there with our oldest!!). BTW, I have the Kolbe guides for the Greek year and I would be saying the same thing you were if we used them this year!!(My son is an avid reader so he is reading a bunch of the books, but all the study guide etc. questions would floor us! There just isn't enough hours in the day!!).
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Kristie in Canada
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A Walk in the Woods
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knowloveserve
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I'm a little late to the party here but I wanted to say something that's helped me.
I used to read a lot of homeschooling blogs, including some of the wonderful ones from women on here.
If you are not in the right state of mind however, they can be utterly depressing.
But I used to blog... and something very simple occurred to me. Bloggers don't normally post pictures of their messy houses and whining babies and grumpy husbands and frustrated students. I only posted the good, interesting things going on in our lives. Blogs are only a fraction of what's going on in someone's world... they are rarely living in homeschooling bliss 24/7.
So please don't be discouraged and don't compard too much! Everyone's feet get kicked out from under them from time to time...
Take heart!!! Holiness is found in the shadows of the cross.
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Lost
