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Angel
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 4:39pm | IP Logged
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I'm beginning to think ahead to next year, and we have quite a bit on our plates. First, a new baby (#7) due in June. Then almost definitely a big move, which may end up being two moves, or us living with family for a while. Added to that a 13 to turn 14 yo who will be ready for at least some high school level work, schooling 2 elementary kids in addition, twins turning 5, and a 3 year old... and well, I may be just a tad overwhelmed.
Considering that I can at least see these things coming, I am wondering how to handle school for the next several months/year. I have a few options for times of change, when we may be spending lots of time at somebody else's house.
1)Unschool, completely. I know this is often what people recommend. The last time I was pregnant and moving, we essentially let school go for months. My older two were 6 and 8 then, and they basically forgot math and how to make letters.  While they've certainly recovered since then, the process of relearning/review was painful. I would rather avoid that if I could... AND I am concerned with a teenager. Plus, my kids can get really nuts when they don't have any guidance to engage their brains.
2)Write my own detailed plans ahead of time. The problem with this is that it requires so much work and time I'm not sure I have. Then I would have to enforce them and not lose my cool when kids say, "But I don't want to do that," even though I tried to incorporate various interests.
3)Sign up with a correspondence school, like Seton or MODG. The advantage here is detailed lesson plans, outside authority and help (mostly for my 13 yo ds), and in the state we are probably moving to, these schools mean I wouldn't have to interact with the state. (I'm not sure Kolbe's accreditation qualifies.) Disadvantages might be a lot of work, less flexibility, and after looking at Seton, I think I would have to skip my two older kids up a grade level, to 9th and 7th (for next year). Pretty much the same with MODG. I'm not sure I want to do that.
My dh is not adverse to signing up with a correspondence school, as he thinks it might be good for certain of our children to have to work hard and stick with something, but he's also not gung-ho about it either since he's pretty satisfied with the kids' progress thus far.
Anyway, thoughts, experience?
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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Angel
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Replying to my own post here, but it occurs to me that there is also the "In-Between" option: sort of fumble along with a mix of workbooks and unschooling. I guess why I left this option out was because this is how we usually do things and it often feels like fumbling. After so many years... I'm a little tired of fumbling.  I would at least like to be a *little* more prepared this time around for all the disruptions I KNOW will happen.
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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JodieLyn
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You know.. knowing that you're going to likely not have enough time for everything.. I would be leary of a boxed curriculum with everything. I think I would be more inclined to get a couple of things.. maybe Math and Language Arts of some sort.. as a set curriculum so that you do that all the time. And then have other things you can do that for other subjects without needing to do them every day.. like someone was talking about an art curriculum that you can just take one day and pull out the art supplies (that you can buy as a bundle I think) and follow the directions for that day.. but you don't have to do it every day.. once a week.. once every 2 weeks.. whatever. And if you could do that for serveal subjects in addition to your "we are not getting behind in these" subjects.. and then just fill in with good books.. you'd have set things to do even when busy or in less than ideal conditions. And you'd have things to fill in with when you're less busy that don't need the daily practise to keep up the skills. And a good list of historical books and classic literature could keep a teen (and other kids) busy in any other time.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Kathryn
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Hi Angela,
I'm a first year homeschooler so take my advice with a grain of salt. We signed up for Seton this year and it has been quite overwhelming for my 3rd and 5th grader. I don't plan on using it next year. HOWEVER, I could easily move back to Seton once my older one becomes high school age because I think she can handle the work and I do like the accountability and accreditation that's required but I don't think it's a fit for us right now in these lower grades. I'm not sure it will be a fit for my son who doesn't do so well (right now) with "traditional" school...workbooks, textbooks etc. So, again, from my limited perspective, I see it as depending on how well your teenager can work independently and how well he/she does with a traditional school model.
We're going thru a transition now and all they're getting are math worksheets and reading and I read religion and have them dictate spelling words. It's verrry low key but it's all I can do right now. That may be what you could scale back to for the younger ones.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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ekbell
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When I moved cross continent complete with a two month stay with family (my oldest was 8, my youngest 6mths) I used CHC's lesson plans with my kids. We didn't get through the entire years worth of lessons but it was a definite help - particularly when we were staying with relatives in fairly cramped quarters (something to do was worth a lot at times).
If I was to do it again I'd likely start by planning to concentrate on the 4-R's (Religion, Reading....) and let the other subjects slid or be unschooled according to interest rather then having everything slid at points.
[From a ease of planning point of view I would only recommend the grades kindergarten to four lesson plans; the middle school lesson plans are more do-it-yourself guides]
Another option particularly for your oldest would be to
take advantage of Seton's individual course enrollment option for the areas you are most worried about.
You might find this to be a more acceptable "In-between" option as you will have the detailed lesson plans, outside authority and help for those particular courses without your children having to deal with a complete course load during a stressful time. [You could say that your oldest is in grade eight taking a few grade nine courses rather then in grade nine]
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SallyT
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Hi Angela -- I'm following this conversation with interest, because although we're not moving or doing a fraction of the life-things you'll be doing this year, I'm having that "fumbling" feeling right now and wanting someone just to hand me some resource that's going to sort everything out! Maybe that's just because it's February . . . I think I always feel this way this time of year, but every year I forget that I felt exactly the same just 365 days ago.
In the past, in times of chaos (either a move or my big kids in a play which ate up time for months and months), we have done just basics formally and unschooled everything else. I too fear the Great Math Amnesia, and with my high-schooler, we're still making up for times of transition and difficulty when we did accomplish too little in math, so I think that really is a valid concern. Totally unschooling -- ie learning what everyone needs to learn through total-body immersion in a learning lifestyle -- may actually take more time and energy than doing the basics as sitdown/workbook work.
So I think the advice to settle on a core of essentials to work on formally and unschool everything else is right on, especially with the youngers. With your teenager -- this will be 8th grade next year, right? -- it's worth looking ahead to what he's going to need to be ready to do in 9th grade, when the credits start going on the transcript, and thinking about how to accomplish those objectives in, hopefully, as self-led a way as possible, and/or making use of something like Seton or Kolbe as suggested. One lesson I've learned with my first high-schooler is that I really should have been thinking at least one and probably two years ahead, starting about five years ago . . . At any rate, he's the one who will have the least "rebound" time, so if you've got to decide where to allocate the most resources of time, energy, and cash, I think I'd start there.
In the state you're moving to, remember that you can but don't necessarily have to go with Seton or MODG to avoid dealing with the state. You can go the church-related-school route and not have to be involved with the whole public-bureaucracy thing. That gives you some leeway in your decisionmaking, which may or may not be helpful! I often just wish circumstances would make my decisions for me -- that would be so much easier than having to think!
Good luck with everything. And I know we've already talked some, but as I've recently come from the state you're likely going to, feel free to pm me if there's anything I can help with.
Prayers for all your transitions.
Sally
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barrymissy
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Did I write your post?? i am due with #6 in august, and as soon as we find the right house (probably only a 20 mile move), we are moving in and selling our current house. this year we are doing MODG, seton, CHC.. a hodgepodge of stuff. we WERE doing well keeping up on everything, but lately we (I) have slacked. if i don't have a set plan (do A on monday, then checkmark gradebook to say it is done)it just doesn't get done. originally we were using MODG syllabus, but when i started swapping subjects around, i had to draw up my own lesson plans. which worked well, because i was still seeing do A on monday..
this is my first year homeschooling. however, like you, looking ahead to next year with all the life changes and stress, dh wants us to go with seton and enroll. when you enroll with seton, they do a placement test before sending the books, so that might be helpful to determine what grade to put your kids. my dh really wants the secondary opinion to make sure our kids are on track for their grade, and i really like the idea of having to be accountable to someone other than myself to make sure the kids are doing their work. my personality tends to say if this isn't necessary then we don't need to do it. and right now, not a lot of school is getting done because we don't *have to*. do i sound like a 2 year old yet?? LOL!
anyway, not sure that was a lot of help, i just kinda rambled. but you give me hope that i am not insane to be pregnant, moving, homeschooling PLUS have a large family!! :D
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Mackfam
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Hi Angela!
I'm excited and intimidated and overwhelmed for you!!! You do have a lot on your plate!!!!!  But, there are some great things coming!!! Not the least of which is that new baby! 
Ok...practically speaking...
I'd get set up like I was about to home school out of a covered wagon. Bare minimum. Tried and true. Severely limited access to ANYTHING!!
So...I'd probably get a bag (or a basket  ) out for each of the kids that will need something...
** high schooler
** 2 elementary
** twins in K-ish, right?
** one for myself
Then, I'd add in each bag a basic for:
** Reading/Literature - hard to narrow down to just one book for us living book folks - I'd probably work on a booklist for each bag rather than a book. You could go for something like Kolbe's Jr. High Lit. program which I could see working for your high schooler and your upper elem. student - though they may have read most of the books on that list already. Or, you could just come up with a basic booklist. Nothing frilly or pretty - handwritten if you need to. A booklist. For the younger K age boys, maybe just a few of the absolute most beloved picture books - one box or basket or whatever. Pack up the rest. You're going to become intimately acquainted with a few picture books for a while, but limiting = less ovewhelming right now. Just limit down to what's reasonable for you. My approach for my upper elem and above folks would probably be to read History through living books. This takes care of Literature, History, Narrations, (Written Narrations) Writing opportunities, Dictation for spelling -- all in one fell swoop.
** Math - Are you using a program that's "good enough"? Keep using it. Put it in the kid's bags that you set out. Nothing manipulative heavy - you can use beans from the pantry for a while!
** Religion - Different folks approach religion differently - living books only, combo of living book and text, text only. If you're using something like Faith and Life/Image of God - easy peasy - drop in the text. If you use some living books/saints books for the liturgical year, other titles for your high schooler...I'd probably sit down and spend just a few minutes deciding on a focus for the year and a really good book or two for him to dig into. Maybe a Fr. Laux for your high schooler...a handful of really great Vision books to either read aloud or let your elem students read. Something like that. You know best about appropriateness so I'm just throwing out a couple of ideas.
** Writing You don't need much for this - paper, pen, journal for each of the writing proficient kids (laptop maybe?). If you're using a writing program - stick with it or really focus on it the last half of this year so that you can spend some time coasting and just polishing the skills you introduce this year. Does that make sense? Writing can come from your History and other reading.
In my basket, I'd probably add...
** Science/Nature Study - ONE favorite nature study resource...ok....maybe 3. I'd keep our subscription to Nature Friend magazine up to date. ALL science during this time would be done through Nature Study. For my high schooler, I'd probably spend a little time just coming up with a basic scope and sequence for him to cover on a topic that fits nicely with Nature Study - either Botany or Zoology. ekbell recommended on here at one time a FANTASTIC book that I found used and it is a GODSEND for just this!! Streamlines much if you just need to get straight to the basics - Science Scope by Kathryn Stout.
** Poetry/Fine Arts - I'd add my favorite Poetry book. Art supplies would consist of my most basic sets of materials that everyone could work with - I'd add Prang brand watercolors, color pencils, and crayons (Prang is just my pref...use whatever you like...I like them because they're really good quality and very inexpensive.) We really like Dover coloring books, so I'd probably add several of those in my basket (I'd choose ones that pertain to our history topics and some general science-y/nature study ones as well as a few that were just for fun). Each child gets a blank journal or nature sketch book. A book of centuries or history timeline is another great place to add creative expressions.
** Religion - I'd add the Baltimore Catechism. A final addition would probably be a couple of my favorite books for following and living the liturgical year.
That's it. Now, I know you asked about 3 options, but I sorta know how you homeschool and it's similar to how we do, so I felt ok just throwing all that out there. My thoughts on your options:
1) Unschool totally. You could do this with the materials you brainstorm and gather into kid's bags - the stuff I listed above--the basics. If you do this, you have considered direction and focus (I'm assuming with the kids input) and have gathered basics.
2) Write detailed lesson plans ahead of time. Hmmmmm...it might make you really stretch outside your time availability and patience levels...which is possible and could be good under normal circumstances, but right now might be WAY overwhelming. Also, since your general default style really includes some unschooly aspects - you would likely find conflicts popping up everywhere. If it were me, I'd focus on general outlines and find a way to get the kids to journal their days - every day - this covers their writing, my friend!! 
3) Prepackaged curric. A good option if you're comfortable going that way. I could see myself doing this if I felt I was about to self-destruct with other things going on in my life. I'd prob feel most comfortable with MODG or Kolbe.
And now...totally off topic...but ARE YOU HEADIN' MY WAY??
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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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guitarnan
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We move every few years, and I've found that sticking to basics when we're living out of suitcases really helps. Field trips, DVDs and library books cover the non-basics (history, for example).
When we've spent weeks at a time with family or in temporary quarters, I've successfully used the unit study route. Everyone can do the same unit study at their grade levels, and the only other things that need to be added are math (if the unit study is light on math) and religion (same thing).
Read-alouds are a good way to cover certain subjects, too - and you can read while you're taking care of baby, or one of your older children can read.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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stacykay
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Hi Angela,
I had one of those years in 2001. It was a year of illness and death of my mum, 7 drives to and from FL with my kiddos, a miscarriage, another pregnancy, gestational diabetes with insulin, tons of doc visits, new babe...you get the idea!
I stuck with math and English. I didn't do lesson plans. We worked out a routine with doing a math lesson each day after breakfast before heading to the hospital. We fit in grammar, reading, phonics and spelling. And, for the most part, those were all in workbooks or books that just went lesson by lesson. I didn't try anything fancy or new. That was all I made sure we did.
For treats, we would go to the bookstore and pick up a few books that I read to them. Always packed along their favorite stand-bys.
I'm ashamed to say that I didn't pack their religion books, but we did pray rosaries in the car and their other prayers. Geography was US, as they looked over the atlas on those long road trips. Science occurred at the oceanographic center and beach that was only a few miles from the hospital (definitely one-maybe the only aadvantage to being in FL.) We would also take note of the lovely FL birds and reptiles we encountered at my parent's home and driving to and from hospital.
It worked. I didn't think they learned all that much that year, but they really did. Just the consistancy with the two basics and lots of reading material was all we did. BTW, I had kiddos in 8th, 5th, 1rst, and a 3yo that year.
We had to do a repeat of that at the end of 2008 for my dad. (And I had one in college, one in private high school who stayed home with dh, and 8th, 5th and 1rst, plus a 3yo with me!) That time we added a dvd player and educational videos. It helped break up the long drive times.
I really like Jennifer's idea of the bags. Yes, a bag for each kiddo with their specific needs.
Oh, and my oldest was 13 in 2001. He went on to Catholic high school the next year and did great. He had experienced a year of mostly self-education (I just graded and helped where needed,) and it was an advantage for him in high school. Ditto that for my #3 ds who was 8th grade in 2008. He is doing well now, too.
It can definitely be overwhelming! I will say a prayer for you and your family with the newest blessing and move to come this year!!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Heliodora
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It's been a while since I posted here, but this thread caught my eye since we have lived very nearly this same situation many times before as a military family. Even in years when we don't move, don't have a baby, or don't have a deployment (I don't really know if that's possible, lol) it seems like I'm still trying to recover from the last move; now that I'm thinking of it, it has been the norm rather than the exception. In 15 years, we've had eight children (I am also expecting #9 in June)and have moved about 11 times. Yes, it's very difficult to homeschool in this kind of situation.
My suggestion to you, after seeing what ages your children are from your blog, is to rely as much as you can on an easy, workbook basis for the six year old. Six is still quite young- don't sweat much at that age except the 3 R's for that one. Unschooling, IMO, doesn't really work with moving around. I think you have to have a good, solid, stable home in order for that to work.
That leaves two more, and if it were me, I'd try as much as I could to make up my own lesson plans ahead of time. Easy does it with these plans! Divide the book into daily, realistic chunks. If I couldn't make up my own lesson plans, then I'd go with ready made plans from Seton, MODG, or Kolbe. I think Seton is too workbook-y though, for older children, but if it's what works, then go ahead with it. It might be helpful to enroll the oldest, especially since he's a boy and getting near to "big fish in little pond" syndrome, or especially if you do Kolbe. Depending on his temperament, he might be more motivated with that outside incentive, it will take some pressure off of you, and will help prepare him for highschool.
I hope that helps- use the lesson plans as a guideline but don't expect that you will get everything done, and don't expect that you won't want to change a few things along the way. Part of their education is helping their family out during difficult times, and they will learn plenty from your patience and perseverance. ;)
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Prove all things, hold fast that which is good. -1 Thessalonians 5:21
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AndieF
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I've never had as much as you have/will have on your plate, but when I've had a time when things were overwhelming to me, I went with a very scaled back version of school, basically, the 3 Rs. We continued doing whatever math we were doing, spelling (with workbooks), reading and some writing/narration.
Andie
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Angel
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I've been mulling over this situation all week. (Being snowed in has helped.) Thank you for all the advice. I have to say that the general state of "February" did bring on all this thinking, as it became completely obvious (to me anyway) that I had to change my "fly by the seat of my pants" ways with my 6 yo and 4 year old twins because they just have not been getting enough to keep their minds (and hands and bodies) engaged without outside time. (We had a few brief days when they could go back out, but now the snow is deeper than my 2 yo is tall.) Anyway, realizing this made me think about all the changes coming up, and how I probably needed a plan to deal with them instead of just reacting as stuff came my way.
I really like your idea of separate bags, Jen. Generally when we take our long trips I end up shoving a few school books in one bag, taking way too many read alouds, and once I brought some Montessori manipulatives with us in a small plastic, lidded bin... which worked ok, but wasn't terribly flexible in terms of packing. Usually if we're just taking a trip to see family we may or may not get to school along the way, but I've been telling the kids (warning them) that we will really need to try to keep up this time because we have so much going on and we're still on the NY system (180 days/year). I am well-practiced at stocking the van with audio books, though, and I have been collecting DVDs related to our current period in history to watch at my inlaws when we visit soon... my fil likes documentaries/educational shows, so I figured it would be some good bonding time. 
Sally, I'm glad to hear that I'm not worrying too far ahead with my teenager... to be honest, the only reason I thought of Seton for him is that 9th grade seems not to require science and history? He needs some intensive writing experience somewhere along the line, and he tends to think that the weekly lists of work I write for him are sort of mostly optional. Intellectually I'm sure he could handle being bumped a year "ahead" into 9th grade instead of 8th, but socially I think he'd benefit from more time before he technically graduates. I think I would sign him up with Kolbe, just for the help in certain classes (counselors that could field a phone call from him when I can't help), but I'm not sure if I would have to sign up with Kolbe *and* a church-related school... ah, the joys of figuring out new homeschooling laws every few years. 
Anyway, I decided to pick up the Sonlight K instructor's guide for my younger kids to finish out this year (considering that I already own all the books in Core K), and I got a math workbook for my 6 yo. (Handwriting and phonics seem to be going pretty consistently right now). Hopefully we will survive at least until spring!!
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Homeschooling in times of change
