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mom2mpr
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| Posted: June 14 2010 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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After all this time I appear to be floundering...
I am struggling with my planning this summer, for next year.
Ds will be 7th grade.
Dd will be 2nd-and not reading yet, and not motivated to do FHC prep.
I am feeling beaten down. You know? When you compare to everyone else and the kids in school?
We loved our Real Learning the past few years. We aren't as disciplined as most homeschoolers. Ds and I did maybe one year of a LA program and the spiraling (doing the same thing again the next year) really turned ds off. His test scores the 2 times I gave him the Iowa's were way fine for the LA areas and he loves to read, and write--just what HE wants to write  . I have made him do Singapore math for the past few years. It hasn't been a blast but I see the fruits of my labor and sore ears from the whining.
I find I am using more curriculum with dd--and appear to be failing. She doesn't seem as open to learning as ds was--and really has no serious interests, except doing her hair and dressing up--and that did not come from me I have little time to plan and have found this helps me--but maybe not her?
I am finding I have a lot of pressure with ds who is getting close to high school and a dd who is not reading.
So,do you ever leave the lifestyle?
I am so leaning toward an accredited curriculum--maybe MODG because I have heard it is really relaxed. I am talking for ds, of course.
I just want some back up for academics, I am nervous. But, I know, or think, ds is going to hate being told to do all these busy work assignments.
I never, ever thought I would be this far along homeschooling my kid. I am just throwing this out there and hoping someone has been there and can reassure me and/or help me put a 7th grade year together that will inspire and help him if he does go to high school, and help me get dd reading.
Anyone??
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 15 2010 at 9:42am | IP Logged
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Anne, I hate to leave you hanging, so I'm just popping in to give hugs  and send prayers. I'm only in my 3rd year, and have DS in 2nd grade, so I don't have much experience.
Are you feeling like you need more structure in 2nd grade, also?
Do you feel that when you have turned to preplanned curriculum and workbooks that has taken the wind out of your sails? But you need that structure to get things done?
Is it accountability that you feel needs help?
Or is it solid planning to make the year go smoothly?
What exactly of "Real Learning" was the most appealing, endearing, attractive and worked with you?
Just trying to help brainstorm and hoping others will jump in.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: June 15 2010 at 11:41am | IP Logged
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Dd likes structure and I have done some , but wonder if more relaxed would work for her-and forgetting about reading for now. But people say kids should be reading 2nd grade and if not maybe she has a LD.
Preplanned curriculum has taken some of the joy away. I haven't had the time to plan though. But it is like insurance--they are getting what they should. It would be more fun to do what we want though.
I do need some accountability. I want someone to tell me what ds, going into 7th grade, needs. I want someone to tell him, too. Because I have "catered" to him, and his interests, and made it fun for a few years, the mundane schoolwork, have to do stuff, has been hard for him. I want to have fun and also be sure he will be prepared for high school and the busywork of school, if it comes to that.
I had planned my years and it always changed-so I found it a waste of time after doing it for 2 years. The kids didn't like it or the plan's fell off the "to do" list because they were not the 3 R's and we had been busy with house guests or travel. They were things like art studies and "electives."
So, while I claim to be a Real Learner, maybe we were more unschooly. But I don't feel that way.
I need to go, but hope that input helps
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: June 15 2010 at 2:05pm | IP Logged
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Anne, I really do sympathize...and let me know if I'm going off on a tangent. When my first was in 7th/8th grade, it was like a spotlight was on her...and me. Yuck. Up until that time I had been a confident home educator. But then my confidence began to shrink. Here's a link to some of my struggles of that time, for those of you who have graduated dc.
On another note, I have 2 "late" readers. It can be hard to wait out the process. Here's a link to one idea that works for us, modified choral reading.
I need to run but wanted to put share a few thoughts...
Jenn is right to ask you to figure out what works and what doesn't work for you *at this time.* That's what makes this all so interesting...and hard! This topic, principles of happy moms who home educate might help.
As for accountability, can your dh offer that? My dh helps me to be accountable to our family goals and priorities and...this is a BIG and...he holds my teens accountable. By the time our children are teens, they know our program so it comes down to doing the program. It's less about me "teaching" them how to do the family program (get up, tidy your room, get to your studies, etc.), it is more about them not wanting to go with the program  . Dad is in the peeeeeeerfect position to ensure that they do their work - to encourage growing responsibility and discipline. This frees me up to focus on my other duties, to include those related to them as well as to serve them. This helps with relationships for sure.
Sorry to bombard you with words and links! It's my way of saying, "You are not alone." And to be not afraid. Protect the choices of your family. Go with your strengths. Have dad help with accountability. Keep doing what works for you. Be patient as you fix what doesn't. Pray. Pray. Pray!
And I'm praying for you, too .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: June 15 2010 at 2:41pm | IP Logged
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Read some info on "better late than early".
I have 3 kids who weren't reading by 2nd grade.. and one of those is DEVOURING books almost as fast as I am these days. The second of those is doing ok with reading.. though probably not to grade level yet.. and the third is finally interested in working at it.
In that mix I also have 2 that were reading by 2nd grade.. one just finished 2nd grade and is reading American Girl books (as an example of level).
And my first grader.. totally out of left field for me (not expected) was caught reading Dr. Suess books to younger siblings!! I'm fairly sure that the only "teaching" he got was Leap Frog videos.
Sure a late reader *MAY* have a disability.. but it's definately a long way from "must" just because they reach a preconcieved age.
As far as putting a child into school for that.. what will the school do? inflict a label on the child that all the kids will be aware of.. expect them to somehow keep up in other subjects without being able to read at the same level as the other kids and generally make the child feel stupid and different and incapable.
Now if you want help because you think there may be an actual disability.. you can get help without having to enroll your child into school. At least here in OR I have one child that goes to speech therapy at the school and we have no problems at all.. actually one of the therapists told me how much better it is for her to be homeschooled because I can help her (and bend curriculum to fit) instead of her struggling in a regular classroom.
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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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mom2mpr
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| Posted: June 15 2010 at 3:41pm | IP Logged
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Yeah.
I am feeling better now. Some times you just need other nice ladies who have btdt to let you know it'll be OK.
No time to check the links, but I will tonight.
THANK YOU ALL!!!
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: How to homeschool?
