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Rachel May
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| Posted: Nov 03 2005 at 11:03am | IP Logged
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I feel like I am losing my mind today!
I got the 2 first graders going on math which they do well and mostly independently, and then turned to sit down for one on one reading with the Kindergartener (100 Easy Lessons). She asks to do it even though she's not 5 yet, so sometimes I have the problem that she plays quite a bit while we work. I try to just refocus her gently, but it always seems like just as we get going, the first-graders come up with a thousand questions, interrupting over and over. The 3 y/o and the 1 y/o don't help matters much, either, but they can just sit on my lap and they repeat the sounds they hear their sister make.
This is our first year of dealing with multi-grades and math and phonics/reading are two subjects that I can't really do with everyone, or I haven't figured out how!
I'm wondering if anyone has a good system for dealing with the question/interruption issue??????
Also, anyone have a good suggestion for books, activities, etc to review good manners?
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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ALmom
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| Posted: Nov 03 2005 at 11:33am | IP Logged
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Im looking forward to seeing responses from others as we haven't gotten all the bugs worked out in our system yet either.
I don't know with the oldest only being in first grade, if our system will work for you. We stagger independent work with play/break time and pair older with younger so that I can work with someone while an older is playing/assisting with one of the younger.
I also rely on some workbook type activities(or other independent type work) so if dc gets stuck on Math, they can move on to something else temporarily until I am available again. (but this is with 2nd, 5th, 8th and high schooler). I also find that I emphasize a different dc each day (this is not planned but it just seems to happen and I am just aware of making sure I do not let too much time pass before I review work of a dc).
I tried to schedule different hours with each child and remained utterly frustrated - then I realized that just 1 hour per child meant 6 hours per day.
With younger than school age children, I try to have some story time but I can get the olders to do playdoh and painting, etc. with them. If they seem uninterested in books, we may go for a short walk around the neighborhood (olders stay home for the peace and quiet sometimes, youngers come with me) or explore the backyard. My youngers that want school really want my attention more than they want specific school activities. They will often say they want to "read" or do a workbook or whatever because they see how that gets my undivided attention. If they are antsy after starting an activity, we just change the activity and make sure they have some minutes of my attention.
In any case it may help to realize that in a few years, things will probably get easier for a while - until you have one in high school, then you find new juggling issues. There is no hurry to formally teach the littles, they just need mom attention and help with putting away toys, asking politely, etc.
We have found that some hands-on Montissori type activities for the younger school age activities are great for pulling everyone together on something and making the littles feel included and not just shoved off out of the way during school hours.
Hope something in here helps.
Janet
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Nov 03 2005 at 12:47pm | IP Logged
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edited to say: whoops, sorry. (opened mouth, inserted foot) just realized you don't have an older one so my suggestions probably won't work as well for you.... except maybe #4.
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we haven't perfected our system either, but what's worked for us (on the days that it's worked  ) --
1. spending quality time with each child -- even 15 minutes each -- and rotate. that may be doing lessons together, reading aloud, listening to music, playing a game, etc. questions are ALWAYS good, so if they really get into a spell of endless questioning, sometimes i take them aside and satisfy their need first before going to the lesson. BUT if they're interrupting for no good reason, i try to distract them and let them play elsewhere, or ignore them and sometimes they go away after performing some monologue, or hand them something "fun" from my "stash" -- keychain, stickers, paper clips, etc.
2. when someone has to stay with the littles we take turns depending on who has important work to do -- like early mornings i keep the little ones with me so my 14-yo can do the bulk of her lessons. when i need to get lunch ready i either let her take our 3-yo and the boys play by themselves, or as a last resort when they start fighting, i let them watch a short movie for that half hour when i'm preparing our meal.
3. group lessons. i do history, music and art with the kids as a group. if the little ones don't want to listen or participate (and it's getting better now to where even the 6-yo and 3-yo enjoy the history/geography lesson because they get to play with the globe and point at the map with a lightsaber), they can go off to their room and play together or listen to an audiobook or, last resort again, watch a short movie.
4. preplanned activities -- lots of them -- for the little ones. i must admit i'm not able to plan for this all day everyday so it gets to be a challenge sometimes ... but when it works DOES IT WORK! my list includes
colored homemade playdough -- the kids have their own set of rolling pins and cookie cutters, etc. -- good for 30 minutes to an hour,
wooden puzzles
pattern blocks
lately, paper dolls for the 3-yo
wooden blocks
and anything else that wouldn't lose its novelty quickly -- makes sense to rotate toys every now and then and keep some in storage.
hth,
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stef
mom to five
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Nov 06 2005 at 9:17pm | IP Logged
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Thanks a lot! I think there are some helpful ideas for me here, not the least of which is to invest in playdoh and paint. We had to get rid of that stuff when we moved and I haven't replaced it yet. I think it's important for me to have some kind of back up activity that will engage them while they wait for my attention. I usually make the mistake of thinking that it will be a quick question.
I have been chatting with God lately about why He didn't provide me with a teenager to help me with so many little ones. His response was, "When you most needed it, I did." (I borrowed a homeschooled neighbor a lot while my husband was gone last year.) He also said, "Teenagers are more painful for you to deliver than babies." Good point.
So I'm trying to be a little more organized, little more patient, and a little more flexible.
God Bless!
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Nov 10 2005 at 1:46am | IP Logged
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I *have* older ones and I still go a little nutty on several days a week. When we can handle it, my 11 and 9 yoc get up at 6:00 or 6:30 and get lots of school tackled between then and when the littlies wake up.
Even if my kids with questions don't interrupt another's lesson, they're sort of interrupting the flow of my trying to keep the house from completely falling apart.  And once I get interrupted, whatever it is I'm doing gets left behind. It could be that I washed 1/2 a floor and it sits like that and then Gus comes home and wonders, "Hmmm...what could she have been thinking?" More often, however, it's the laundry that suffers (since I do that more often  ). It is forgotten in the machine soaking, wet, or in the dryer (sometimes dry sometimes not) for days, or it trashes the couches (either folded or not). 
There are times I just count the days until my oldest is 13 and my second is 12 (almost only two years now) so that they can babysit my littler kids so I can have time to do little errands, partake in a Bible study, or exercise. I crave time alone with my thoughts.
But then I hear my kids' music boxes tinkling out "Winnie the Pooh" and "It's a Small World" and I watch them play at being knights or with little toys and I remember that they're only young once and that we have them for only so long. I get nostalgic and wistful and forget about the fact that just seconds before I wanted time alone. This is the best time of my life. I'll have enough quiet time to fill a stadium later in life.
With all that said, I am working on making interruptions as painless as possible. If my children feel they need to interrupt me, they must *quietly* (that's the key) put their hand on my arm and wait until I can direct my attention to them. As I said, we're *working* on this. Haven't perfected it yet.
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Nov 10 2005 at 1:58am | IP Logged
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Rachel May wrote:
| Also, anyone have a good suggestion for books, activities, etc to review good manners? |
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I missed this part. Yes, I have great book ideas for manners. A Little Book of Manners for Boys and A Little Book of Manners for Girls are great for reading alone or read-alouds. My 11 and 9 yo both pick these up and read them often just for pleasure. Another favorite is Every Day Graces. This one I read aloud when manners seem to run away from us! 
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Rachel May
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Tina P. wrote:
| With all that said, I am working on making interruptions as painless as possible. If my children feel they need to interrupt me, they must *quietly* (that's the key) put their hand on my arm and wait until I can direct my attention to them. As I said, we're *working* on this. Haven't perfected it yet. |
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Great idea  ! I've seen people do it, but I had totally forgotten it and it is a gem of an idea.
Also, I have started spending more mommy time with the 4 yo which has made her less eager to do school (fine by me) and her behavior is much better. 
Lastly, thank you for the manners book ideas. The one book we have is funny, but even with discussion the kids don't seem to think it applies to them. It's What Do You Say, Dear. I have seen Everyday Graces, but not the other two so I think I'll go book shopping tomorrow.  Now, so you think I can convice the state that teaching manners counts as Health?
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Dealing with questions/interruptions
