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SarahCD
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| Posted: May 01 2012 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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Hello!
As we near the end of our FIRST year of homeschooling, I am feeling a bit unsettled.
For one, our year did not go quite as I expected it to go.  As I have posted before, we had more discipline issues than I anticipated, and I think that negatively effected our [my] home-education experience. I do not feel like we are ending on a super-high note. I am not sure if my children are feeling it, but I am. They sort-of just plow through the day to finish ASAP, and the moments of lingering on a particular subject or getting caught up in the fun of it have been rare ... But I am not really sure I ever provided a good environment to do that, and when I tried, it never went very well, or it was interrupted by the littles ... We are planning on home-educating again next year, because I do not feel like I can really discern properly after such a rocky first year. I am not really sure what I should do differently next year. What would help things go more smoothly? I feel as if our "problems" are so intertwined, it's like trying to untangle a knot of yarn! Where do I even begin?!
But perhaps before I think about next year, I should ask, what can I do to end our first year on a positive note???
Secondly, summer always seems to create anxiety in me. I like the structure of the school year, and when summer approaches, I sort of dread it. Crazy, I know! But I am trying to rack my brain to come up with some fun ideas, and I am not getting very far. The only activity we are signed up for is VBS for one week in June. So many of the camps/programs are really pricey, and when you multiply it by 3-5 children, well, you get the idea ...
So, what do you all do during your summers, to keep your children from getting bored? Do you come up with a new routine that you stick to, or are your days just open-ended? In other words, do you structure your summer? And if so, how do you get your kids on board? I think, too, that my anxiety is creeping up, because of the issues above—the discipline, bickering, etc. It just doesn't make for a very pleasant atmosphere right now.  And I don't know what to do! I just want us to enjoy living, learning, celebrating and simply being together the way God has called us to be!
I know there is A LOT in this post. Perhaps I should have broken it up ... But I am open to any and every idea here!  Thank you!
In Jesus Through Mary,
Sarah
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Sarah
wife to G
mom to  dd 9, dd 8, dd 6, ds 4, dd 4 and ds 1
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seeker
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 12:34am | IP Logged
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I know this is not going to be helpful at all, but I'm going to leave the advising to the more experienced and knowledgeable ladies here (I'm just completing my first year of homeschooling as well).
I just wanted to give you some hugs  and say to just take a deep breath. Relax. Take another deep breath. Your year has gone better than you think it has - we are always harder on ourselves than we should be. And it's okay to take a day off in the middle of the week every now and then.
Okay, I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful. I'm going to be watching this thread.
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li'l macabbey lane: handpainted inspirational art
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 12:40am | IP Logged
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Last thing first. We do swim team. There's a max. per family for cost. And I plan way ahead to have the money for it. Usually even buy swimsuits and equipment stuff in February when I have money coming in and there's more selection in the clearance items than when you get closer to summer  But that's every day.. first thing in the morning. A couple early evenings during the week and then swim meets on the weekends.. we can pick and choose among the 5.. we usually do 3-4. BUT it's only 6 weeks long so we have a couple weeks of june free than swim team until the end of July and then August free. Wonderful exercise, keeps the kids busy, they get all kinds of swimming time in. But it's not so long that we can't plan other things to do.
BUT no reason at all that you can't plan things to do at home. Plan outside work to get done in the mornings so you can have afternoons free and you're not out working in the hotter part of the day. Then pick things you like to do.. go to the park? and pick a day to be park day, go to a pond to go fishing? kids don't have to have fishing licenses. A place for hiking? do that another day.. have something to pull out on super hot days just to help change it up when the everyday stuff gets to much.. a funky sprinkler to run through, a new movie to put on and crash in the a/c.
Why not do some astronomy.. the nights are at least nice to be outside after dark though it could mean late nights. (makes that movie during the hot part of the day condusive to napping too ) But you don't have to call it astronomy. Grab a blanket and lay out on the lawn.. take something with you to help you find the constellations.. a flashlight covered with red cellophane will help you look at it and not distrupt your nightvision. Don't call it a class, and don't test on it.. just do it yourself and share it.
Which leads me to. When you first start homeschooling, there's a definate transition from doing just what's required at school to learning to explore.. and that will expand as the kids get older too. The more you can help that happen one on one rather than sitting down with books and such the more the kids will enjoy doing it. I know enough to talk about worms while we're working in the garden and the boys are finding worms in the dirt. We talk about why worms are good for the garden and we might talk about why the early bird is the one that gets the worm.. we might even talk about why that's a saying we use etc. But it comes up because the boys are playing in dirt and I'm working there and we have a conversation. Not because we're learning about gardening and what worms do. Now if it's a really fun conversation and the kids have more questions than I have answers in my head.. then I might find something.. just one resource.. and being excited about finding it.. call the kids over to share with them what I found. It might last for a minute and the response is "that's neat mom" or we might have a longer conversation. Baby steps. And sometimes *I* just want to get the work done and get onto other things. Your kids are still young and play is a very good thing for them. Remember.. most people post those wonderful stories about sitting together and exploring some topic not because it happens every day but because it is special when it happens. And the more they learn to enjoy doing it, and as they get older and want to explore topics more, then you'll get the longer days of exploring together.
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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: May 02 2012 at 6:24am | IP Logged
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We "school" summers so take this for what it is worth.
We do math, most days, and are always reading something. Summer is when I do my own reading program and we go to the library. I come up with prizes and we work on reading goals. Ds is getting a little old for it but dd can't wait. I also work on weaknesses. In a fun way, we practice math facts, handwriting, and move on to the fun for the day. It only takes a few minutes.
I find, in a northern climate, we actually get more done during summer with breaks for camps, swimming, trips to zoo, travels and visitors. Winter is really hard. It just goes on and on and on........and my high energy kids go crazy.... 
Going year round helps me get through. I can do anything in 365 days it's 185 that I can't do,
Enjoy your kids every day. Work on the discipline problems. A wise lady once told me that even if your kids were in school it wouldn't solve them. You need to get that under control and then things will fall into place.
At other wise person also told me when she had a few years of school falling down on the priority list due to health and family issues, she found by just reading to her kids they were learning . When she tested them, they did make improvements and advance. Kids naturally learn.
Relax, one thing and one day at a time.
Probably not my most organized post but I hope you find something useful in there. Have a blessed and fun summer!
Oh, and not every day is the Sonlght catalog beautiful moment. In fact, those days, at least here, can be few and far between. Teaching kids to get along is a huge life lesson there are no standardized tests for.
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 7:32am | IP Logged
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I had one "enlightening" moment one day years ago - I was relatively new to home schooling and as we approached summer my kids were saying - YEA summer,schools out"! I at first thought - gee don't they like home schooling  . Well, homeschooling is awesome -but - it is still school so somethings WILL drag on, somethings won't be fun, and (like always with kids) there will be discipline problems! Those are there if you home school or not! Some moments are "fun", even "inspirational" in homeschooling but for every fun, inspirational moment we probably had hundreds of mundane,get the next thing done moment. It occurred to me - for us to experience some moment as fun or inspiring - we have to experience the opposite! To experience the mountain tops - you have to go through valleys. One has to have boring, plow through moments to compare the high, fun moments to in order to know they are fun and inspiring. I said that badly but hopefully you know what I mean!
I see you have 6 kids all under 9! Let me tell you - YOU ARE AWESOME! YOU DID IT GIR! you have 6 kids all under the age of 9 and you home schooled! Trust me - they learned! And they were in the best possible place to do it - at home with family!
When I had littles around - I had a box or shelf or someplace with things that were ONLY for when we were schooling - funny it really doesn't matter WHAT you have here - just that you say this is for school time only. Makes it seem special. That said - you could take the summer preparing some things for this special "littles school time stuff". I took one summer years ago to look up montessori type stuff that I made during the summer!
You will have interruptions - I found if it wasn't other kids it was the door bell, the phone (even if you decide to not pick up - it still is interrupting!) or maybe the dishwasher decides to break! So, work on teaching kids to be independent in their work when that happens. If you get called away from something you are doing with them together - work on the kids being able to finish on their own. I also in the summers like to look at each kids subject and see which is more "mommy - kid together intensive" and which is more "kid can do alone!". Some, like math are both - grade yesterdays lesson, do review. teach todays lessons and read through the directions - then the child can work the math page on their own. If they are not at that independent point yet - you just need to work on it - with my 9 yr ds - I need to tell him (as I walk away to work with dd) exactly what I expect him to finish and by what time and then I tell him he can have a little free time if he does finish by that time (usually - this isn't really "free time" - he has things in our school area to choose, so no video games. . . So, when you do have interruptions - they know they don't just do nothing - that they are expected to do work!
As far as summer - this may be a long shot but - maybe create a little preschool "camp" for you littles and have your 2 oldest (or three depending on your 6 yr old) help with it. I mean they could create activities, art projects. . . Have the usual art, crafts, indoor and out door games. . . google for ideas that are easy to make at home and then use your older ones. You could even name your preschool camp and have the older ones make a sign with the little ones - hey maybe the older ones could make fun little camp counselor name tags for themselves! I was thinking reading your post that I DO get it - summer can be intimidating! But think about what they must do at camps - they have summer fun but do have some structure or plan for the day. Brainstorm with the older kids on a schedule - do we want art daily or what. . . what water games could we do - what is a daily and weekly activity schedule. . . Not that you will be working the older ones to death - because I found when I try to get an older one to help with the youngest - it gives the older ones a perfect excuse to do something they normally may not do (thinking they are to old for it now) - only now they have a reason!
Oh - I hope I haven't babbled!
Don't worry about the plowing through, doing the next thing mode. It will happen again! Sometimes "life events" have happened to us that cause us to get in that mode! And trust me - the kids are still learning and in those times it is the best place for them to learn - at home!!
Barb
Mom to ds 19 (finishing 1st year college) dd 14 and ds 9 - homeshooling for 11 or 12 years (ok - I lost count!)
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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I plan to school through summer except for the weeks we have camp, family will be visiting, we'll be visiting family, etc... It will be lighter, just plugging away at math and phonics and reading worthy things at the set times, but if I let the routine I've only just managed to establish go, it'll be a mess.
I think that summer would be a great time to establish the habits to make your days go smoothly without having to stress about finishing anything. So, if you want to establish morning basket time, do that habit of coming together, but don't worry about content so much. Read Swallows and Amazons and check out picture books about sailing. For seat work, get some drawing books and have a habit of sitting all together to learn some drawing techniques together. Tag some sort of reading, maybe fun poetry like Jack Prelutsky, to snack time.
These habits will easily be modified to be more schooly in the Fall, you can feel more free to have those "lingering moments" you feel you missed somewhat this year, and you can maintain a structure that will keep you from feeling frazzled. You can make a tradition of FUN SUMMER within the structure of the school year.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 8:40am | IP Logged
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I just wanted to share what I do to help my kids from being "bored" during the summer. We use a points system. I don't know if your kids will perform for rewards, but mine will (usually). They earn points for extra chores, good behavior, doing school work (I usually just have worksheets or workbooks they can do on their own), reading, etc. They can turn their points in for extra screen time, trip to the pool, having a friend over for a sleepover, field trip, etc. I keep the rewards free or cheap. Ones that cost money or unhealthly (an item out of the $1 bin at Target, or a soda) have a 1 a month limit. My boys have a book were they keep track of their points using the honor system, but I do look sometimes and if I disagree or find any "cheating" they lose all points they have at that moment. This keeps them honest. Be sure to have a summer routine similiar to your school routine. This will help when starting school again and help with summer boredom.
Also some thoughts on not feeling that school was "fun" or went too good . . . . . . I usually feel this way after every year.  I think it is just a sign that a break is needed. I always get out the boys work from the first month of school and compare it to the last months work. If you see improvements then you know the school year was a success no matter what.
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Cassie
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SarahCD
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| Posted: May 03 2012 at 11:59am | IP Logged
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Thanks for all of the support and ideas! I really, really appreciate it!
I have thought about schooling year-round, especially because I *always* seem to get this anxiety about the lack of routine summer can have. I do not function well without a routine, because I can give in to my own laziness. But I fear the resistance I would face, if I tried schooling year-round, especially with a neighborhood full of children running around outside in a month or so. But I like the idea, so it is something to think about, even if it is "light" schooling ...
Anne, I am wondering if you could expand on your reading goals program. That sounds really good to me ...
And, Cassie, I love the points idea! I tried something like that with tickets, but my follow-through made it unsuccessful.  Perhaps it is worth another try ...
I guess I have to figure out what won't make me feel so overwhelmed! And right now, I am! Six young kids can do that to a person, I guess
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Sarah
wife to G
mom to dd 9, dd 8, dd 6, ds 4, dd 4 and ds 1
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: May 03 2012 at 1:27pm | IP Logged
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The Summer Reading Program at my house
I found the library program lacking a few years ago so kind of made up my own. And the kids get....books!
I sit with each kid, talk about some goals for the summer knowing their strengths and weaknesses. I try to steer them to one goal for me that I know will help them improve. Then they have their own 
My goals can be things such as:
Keep a spelling notebook for words you come across you want to remember--dd is an awful speller.
Dd, who isn't a big reader, last year for every 10 books she read alone, aloud, to me (easy readers mind you) she got $5 to spend at the bookstore.
Ds Is a reader and last year he read for time. It had to be an approved book, some good literature, and he was pretty motivated to go to bed and put in 20 minutes almost every night. Last year he wanted to read all the Redwall books. He did.
This year I am probably going to push him a little and find a good high school level literature book and have him read it and then the Cliff notes--get some analysis of literature done. And if there is a movie, maybe we'll watch it, too!
They love buying some of the favorite books they read over summer with their reward money.
I am sure you could use toys, field trips(we took some related to dd's reading), whatever motivates your kids.
We use the library almost exclusively, so for my kids, to have some favorite books all their own is a joy.
I hope you have a GREAT summer, Sarah.
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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JuliaT
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| Posted: May 05 2012 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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Even though I don't consider myself a year round schooler, we still do some light schooling during the summer so they don't forget things and it gives us some fun things to do.
Our school year is winding down. We will be finished at the end of May. What I am planning for the summer is to do math 3 times a week as well as nature study. Nature study is something that has been lacking here and I want to be able to focus on it during the summer so that maybe, just maybe, it will become second nature to us during the school year. Just maybe.
I also pick some fun, special books to read during the summer. My oldest and I are reading Pride and Prejudice together. I have an annotated version so we are just reading through it and then using the footnotes for any rabbit trails or discussions that we might find ourselves on. I will be reading fairy tales to my youngest as that where her area of delight is in right now. I haven't figured out what to read with my ds yet. He is my hardest one to figure out.
I would also like to create some centers around the house so the kids can just help themselves when the spirit strikes. I was thinking of creating an art center and that is about as far as I have gotten.
Maybe my plans will help you to brainstorm on how you want to handle your summer. You can both have some structured activities and still have oodles of time for freeplay and their own interests.
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Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3(14,13 & 11 yrs.old)
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elynnmom
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| Posted: May 05 2012 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| Remember.. most people post those wonderful stories about sitting together and exploring some topic not because it happens every day but because it is special when it happens. And the more they learn to enjoy doing it, and as they get older and want to explore topics more, then you'll get the longer days of exploring together. |
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Great reminder!
I'don't know that I am adding anything new, but I would like to share what helps our family in the summer and all "off of school" days. We stick with the same routine all the time,whether it is a school day or not... So our day looks something like this...
Up and prayer
Breakfast
Morning work
Snack
Recess
More Work
Lunch
Read-aloud
Rest time- an entire hour when everyone must do something quietly on their own, ( nobody can even be in the same room). I love this time . I try to set this time around any child who still naps so mom can get quiet time, too!
Afternoon is more free-form, but I find that after rest time, the kids are quieter, and more eager/willing to play calmly with each other because they're starvIng for interaction by that point .
In the summer, our "morning work" time might be going for a walk or bike ride before it gets too hot. Or getting out buckets of water and mopping the screened in porch. Also, more art projects, free time to build forts with couch cushions... Right now, my kids are really in to monopoly , so they are playing that every free moment...
Knowing what to expect and what comes next helpsprovide a sense of calm. Even though work time activities can change on a whim, the kids know the plan. And when things are not going well, we can move on to the next part of the routine and before you know it, it's rest time .
HTH. I'll keep your family in my prayers.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: May 07 2012 at 8:35am | IP Logged
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I love everyone's ideas.
Just to provide a couple of my own:
-reading programs are free - check local libraries
-having a daily routine is handy - even if you're not "doing school" - quiet reading or art time; family game time;
-weekly routine: park-day, library day, as others have mentioned
-summer-only treats
-plan a LIMITED number of projects that are fun, interesting and can be done without stress over the summer (perhaps it is a small sewing project or a wood-building kit or a larger project like getting that room painted) - don't plan too much here, but enough to always have something available if boredom sets in - there is always housework to do :)
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Summer Anxiety!
