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dinasiano
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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Ladies, I could really use some help and prayers! We are in the middle of our third year homeschooling. I have at home: ds(gr. 8), dd(gr.7), ds(gr.5), and dd(kindergarten). I also have a 13 month old, wreaking havoc! 
As I said we just started 3 years ago, so we have had a lot of adjusting to do, being home. We all needed to get out of the "school" mindset. We are still in transition in a lot of ways. We started with Kolbe, which was way too advanced for my children. (shows how much they were learning in school  ) We now do mostly CHC books with some Kolbe (Science) and "History of US" for history. I must say that I am very blessed to have my dad here teaching history and science to my 3 older ones! That is such a big help!!! He is super-organized and spends so much time on planning these subjects. I was hoping with this help, I would be able to do alot of other work with them, but I can't seem to pull it all together. I am really drawn to teaching with real, living books, but I haven't been able to create the kind of plans I want yet.
My question to all of you is: do you think I can plan out at least the 3rd quarter in the next week or so? We are at the end of the 2nd quarter and I feel like this would be a good time to do some extensive planning. I am looking to do some Lit. study based on what the kids are doing in history and doing some vocabulary and copywork from there as well. I also want to start a read aloud after lunch.
I have come to realize that a big part of the problem here is discipline  I really need to work on this and it is so hard to do when we are in the middle of trying to learn. I have come to realize that God has led us to homeschool not only for the educational aspect, but also because I need to work on disciplining my children!
I ask you to please pray for me as I try to sort this out and please, if you have any comments or advice, I would love to hear! I have read this forum on and off for a while but lately find myself here a lot. I have learned a lot from you!
Thanks!
Dina
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 2:18pm | IP Logged
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I have a general game plan outlined for years to come, but when it comes to detailed planning I work one semester at at time. (My husband teaches college so we follow his schedule, 3 semesters: fall, spring, and summer.)
I would try to keep it simple, though, and only add in one new element at a time. Too many big changes can be exhausting for everyone physically and mentally. And with a toddler in the mix you may have to iron out some kinks in your routine if you just integrate one element. (Then your toddler or kindergartner will have some developmental spurt and you'll have to adjust again.)
I would just start with read aloud time. That is the most simple and powerful thing you can do. Then that will give you some time to get some of the other things put together.
Discipline is always a problem and the hardest thing to accept is that discipline starts with us. If we don't discipline ourselves, then we can't expect to effectively discipline our children.
Prayers coming your way!!!
__________________
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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dinasiano
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 3:13pm | IP Logged
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Barbara C. wrote:
Discipline is always a problem and the hardest thing to accept is that discipline starts with us. If we don't discipline ourselves, then we can't expect to effectively discipline our children. |
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Yes, this is so true! Thank you for your insight.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 26 2011 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
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dinasiano wrote:
| My question to all of you is: do you think I can plan out at least the 3rd quarter in the next week or so? |
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Absolutely! This sounds like a great plan to me!!! Finish up your quarter, tidy up a bit, get out your planning tools, and get started!!
dinasiano wrote:
| I am looking to do some Lit. study based on what the kids are doing in history and doing some vocabulary and copywork from there as well. I also want to start a read aloud after lunch. |
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This sounds lovely! Just be careful not to do too much that's new right in the middle of the school year. If you're adding some literature from the period of history you're studying - FANTASTIC! This sounds wonderful, and very natural to integrate!! 
Once or twice a week, you might consider pulling a selection out of their literature/history to use as copywork. Alternatively, you could use a poetry book to pull copywork from.
They'll be getting plenty of vocabulary just in reading fantastic literature, so you might consider granting yourself a break on making that a separate subject. That's one of the wonderful things about educating in this way - just allowing those fantastic living books in does so much in conveying ideas and vocabulary for you!
dinasiano wrote:
| I have come to realize that a big part of the problem here is discipline I really need to work on this and it is so hard to do when we are in the middle of trying to learn. I have come to realize that God has led us to homeschool not only for the educational aspect, but also because I need to work on disciplining my children! |
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So true!! For all of us! But, half the battle is recognizing areas you really need to work on. Spend a little time brainstorming ways that you can counter that area you struggle with in ways that are INTUITIVE and make sense for you! Which is exactly what you're doing!!
** Try to consider areas you are most comfortable home ed-wise... the approaches that are working well for you and your kids. Don't mess too much with things that are working.
** When making changes, be careful not to overcomplicate additions so that they become more of a burden. Keep your additions simple, natural, intuitive for you.
** Get some kind of an outline/plan on paper. It won't be perfect. That's ok. Accept and know that you will have to make some changes as you live it!!! I spend just a little time with each of my older children in weekly meetings discussing and brainstorming ways to make our lesson plans work well for us as we live them. This includes occasionally pointing out areas that we EACH have to work on to build self-discipline...each of us...myself included. That regular *meeting together* time keeps us each communicating, and through that I see areas in which I really need to be more disciplined in order to better serve my family to assist smooth and easy days.
I enjoy plans, and I also really appreciate plans that live and breathe with our family. They act as a guide, and keep our ship on course!
dinasiano wrote:
| I ask you to please pray for me as I try to sort this out |
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You've got my prayers, Dina!!  Let us know if we can help you brainstorm particular areas as you do some blitzkrieg planning in the next week or so! HEY!! Some of my best planning times have come during serious BLITZKRIEG PLANNING spurts! Good luck!! And happy planning! 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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dinasiano
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| Posted: Jan 27 2011 at 5:38pm | IP Logged
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Jen,
Thanks for your thoughts and ideas! I will definitely be pondering all of this for the next couple of weeks. And thanks for the prayers.
Dina
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: mid year changes
