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monica
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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hi, my oldest is 6, at about a 1st grade level and we have had a school year full of transitions. we have moved and remodeled and still arent fully unpacked and settled. i am looking ahead, trying to get an idea of what our rhythm needs to be.
right now, i feel like our days are all chopped up. i try to line up my errands to be on one day, but usually every week, something comes up (dr appointment, visitors, etc) and i have several mornings where we dont do any "school" i know that kids are learning all the time and we have lots of discussions and outdoor time and reading at bedtime even when we havent had sit down, pull out the paper and pencil school time.
so, what i am wondering is how much sit down, read aloud, write, math, total time you do with your young kids?
for us right now, between getting ready for the day, cleaning the house, afternoon rest time and snacks, i am not getting more than 2 hours in the morning for concentrated school time. doesnt that sound like too little? but he is only 6. . .
can you tell i need some help? encouragement, chastising, whatever.
thanks
monica
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Caroline
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 2:23pm | IP Logged
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I think 1-1.5 hours is plenty for a first grader. you're doing good Mama. 
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stellamaris
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 2:29pm | IP Logged
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I agree completely with Caroline! Even top-flight curriculum providers such as Calvert School don't have more than 2 hours at this age. You can't compare your length of time to a regular school's schedule, as most of a school child's day is spent waiting, transitioning, or doing unnecessary (to the learning process) things. I read somewhere that the average school child receives 5 minutes of direct adult interaction for every 60 minutes they are in school. So that only amounts to 40 minutes a day! You're way ahead of that!!
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joann10
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 2:36pm | IP Logged
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If I get in 1 hour of "seatwork" a day with my first grader I call it a great day!
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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 2:41pm | IP Logged
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I agree with the times posted. I wouldn't feel guilty about feeling school time is "chopped up". My ds is 6 and wouldn't be able to take sitting for and doing seat work/writing type activities for more then a bit at a time. He does much better with it spaced out over the day with play and hands on fun in between!
Barb
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monica
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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thanks so much for the encouragement. i didnt think my guy could take much more seat time. his eyes get that glazed over look as lunch approaches. i guess i was being hard on myself. and the only solution i had come up with was to get up earlier, and i was not happy about that prospect. 
you all are a blessing to me
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Jody
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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Monica,
At our house with our big family school time is set for the morning hours (usually 4) and that is for a range of pre-school thru high school.
My 6 year old does some sit down work then some play dough/painting/etc.. then more sit down work, then some hands-on activity, then sit down work, then play time then sit down work. You get the idea... We stretch it out over the 4 hour school day.
I think two hours is plenty! Don't be hard on yourself, your doing a great job!!!
Jody
Jody
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Sarah M
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 4:03pm | IP Logged
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monica wrote:
| i feel like our days are all chopped up. |
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Don't worry too much about this- our sit-down-school-time is never all at once. I think we'd all go nuts if it was. Spread it around the day however it feels right.
monica wrote:
| so, what i am wondering is how much sit down, read aloud, write, math, total time you do with your young kids? |
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An hour, tops, with my 1st grader. And that counts read-alouds before bed.
Your lifestyle sounds very enriching and educational for a little person- don't feel like you have to make it look like "school" to qualify as learning. It sounds like you're doing a great job!
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 4:20pm | IP Logged
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That sounds about right. An hour or less!
Establish good habits at this point.....getting the routines down, helping him to help you, etc. More imp. than the seat work IS the outdoor time, read alouds, love of the Faith, working around the house, and discussions......and it it sounds like you're making all that your priority!!!!!  My oldest is 8, and I'd say that 2 years ago, there were MANY days where there were no pencils involved 
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 5:45pm | IP Logged
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Usually we only do about 30-45 minutes of formal work (math and reading vocabulary) three days a week. We unschool everything else. Right now we're doing five days a week of about 20-30 minutes because things got crazy around Holy Week and threw us off schedule.
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melanie
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| Posted: May 19 2009 at 6:31pm | IP Logged
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Oh darlin'...
I haven't read replies yet, but that's plenty. In fact, more than enough. An hour a day of sit down work would be plenty for first grade, imo. Oops, that's the dinner timer....anyway, a little time for math, phonics, maybe a bit of copywork...we use MODG and first grade even with a curriculum at least that curriculum is very light.
Said with love, of course...my first one was pushed to do too much, and I regret it now. Poor oldest children...
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Evette
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| Posted: May 20 2009 at 12:53pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for this thread! I find it very encouraging.
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time4tea
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| Posted: May 26 2009 at 8:59pm | IP Logged
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I cannot imagine doing more than about 1 to 1 and a half hours with a 1st grader. Anything beyond that is too much for most 6 year olds, in my experience. I try to keep the lessons short and intersperse concentrated work such as math or reading with something lighter like a small craft, music, or snack time. I find my dc concentrate better that way.
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Topic: how much "school time" for a first grader
