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mamalove
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| Posted: July 27 2010 at 1:15pm | IP Logged
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I will have a 7th, 5th, K, toddler and a new baby in Feb. We have used OLVS for the last 3 years, and it is wonderful in that all the lessons are planned out and done for me, but it stinks in that it is 5 days a week and 38 weeks long. We have never finished. Also, my children are tired of some of it, and honestly, so am I.
Next Week is August, and I have a Laundry basket of items, but no plan really in mind. I still need to purchase some things, but I feel so jumbled! I look at this basket full of stuff and get very overwhelmed.
I am thinking of a sort of "Robinson" based year, focusing on the basics and lots of reading. I would really like to chat about that, but I looked at the Catholic Robinson yahoo group, and it is totally dead. I am very intrested in persuing the living books method, but feel overwhelmed and dont know where to begin. I Would be intrested in good reading lists for the children to work through...
  help?
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: July 27 2010 at 3:44pm | IP Logged
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Do you have some time where you could spend reading Planning Posts at Wildflowers & Marbles???
Particularly this one: Planning: A Beginning
Are you ABLE to have some focused planning time during the month of August? I'd start with that......brainstorm some ways to actually GET your planning time...
:: Hire your 7th grader for extended babysitting?
:: Figure out a schedule w/your husband's involvement?
:: Lots of evening time after kids go to bed?
:: Morning?
:: A weekend away?
:: Helping Neighbors?
Once you are able to dedicate some time to this, then it may make you feel less overwhelmed.
And, you do not need to plan EVERYTHING....maybe make this your year to ease-into-this-new-way. Pick a couple subjects that you really want to "do living books" and leave the rest until next year. It may give you some breathing space to get your feet wet.
**********Here are some examples if it helps to see your ages************
Meredith shared her 3rd grade plans here. and her Kindergarten plans here. And....looks like the two of you could be TWINS....her 7th grade plans here.
I basically had two third graders last year, and these were our 2nd / 3rd grade plans and the Learning Update and Booklist from March.
Feel free to zero-in on any aspect of this!
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| I am very intrested in persuing the living books method, but feel overwhelmed and dont know where to begin.I Would be intrested in good reading lists for the children to work through... |
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Mater Amabilis, Ambleside, MacBeth's Opinion, Emmanuel Books, Sonlight, Tanglewood, Simply Charlotte Mason....are all good place for booklists.....no time to link now....but let us know if you need links for these!
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Erin
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| Posted: July 27 2010 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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mamalove wrote:
| Next Week is August, and I have a Laundry basket of items, but no plan really in mind. I still need to purchase some things, but I feel so jumbled! I look at this basket full of stuff and get very overwhelmed. |
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 Okay, how about you walk over to the basket right now and pull out 1 to 3 items that make youexcited. I'm a firm believer if Mama isn't excited the changes the dc will be are greatly reduced.
mamalove wrote:
| I am thinking of a sort of "Robinson" based year, focusing on the basics and lots of reading. ...... I am very interested in pursuing the living books method, but feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. I Would be interested in good reading lists for the children to work through... help? |
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I'm hearing that you want a back to basics year, I really understand that With the ages you have this is a great time. 
So where to start, before you look at lists, look at what you already have on your shelves, in your basket. Pick something that would suit for your 7th & 5th graders together, pick one literature book for the next month. Then chose something for your K, perhaps something rich like Beatrix Potter, that will keep K busy for a good while.
Then move onto the next subject, would you like to share what is in your basket?
If you are feeling overwhelmed perhaps you could just consider planning 5 weeks right now. Then you could plan more if you are going well, otherwise just the five weeks for now.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: July 27 2010 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Okay, how about you walk over to the basket right now and pull out 1 to 3 items that make youexcited. I'm a firm believer if Mama isn't excited the changes the dc will be are greatly reduced.
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Yes, I highly agree with this! It took me 6 years to figure it out but once I did, even if the kids weren't that thrilled about something, my enthusiasm eventually won them over. (And even if it didn't, their whining about it didn't wear me down!)
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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quiltmomof3
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| Posted: July 28 2010 at 9:01am | IP Logged
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I have so been there. I have my plans up for history/geography and science for my 8th, 7th and 5th on my blog.
Stitching Life
For geography/history they are doing a trip around the world and for science they are doing a year of science experiments.
Maybe something will inspire you. I would love to know what's in the basket to help further.
Here is where the 36 week plan for history/geography starts:
A Trip around the World
Here is where the year of science experiments starts:
A Year with science experiments
Susan
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mamalove
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| Posted: July 28 2010 at 12:51pm | IP Logged
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I am definately excited about continuing with Teaching Textbooks and Sequencial Spelling. Both are on disk, so they get done daily with no stress for Mama.
Kindergarden is also pretty much setteled. I have the full OLVS K that we did half of last year, so we will continue with the phonics, math and religion from that. I am keeping it very simple for little K. She will learn to read and keep counting...and mama will make time to read to her.
otherwise...I have a RACE for Heaven study guide for the Outlaws of Ravenhurst that I would like 7yh grader to do.
Drawing Textbook for 5th grader (she REALLY wants to do art)
The Holy Sacrafice of the Mass and Know Your Mass for 5th grader.
A big pile of novels that have absolutely no rhyme or reason, just stuff I picked up used at the HS fair that looked intresting for the children.
thats what I have that looks good to me.
what I am thinking about buying is either the 7th grade Bible history that OLVS uses for 7th grade, and maybe using the Friendly Defender cards with that?
I am also toying with the You Can Become a Saint book and workbook by Mary Ann Budnik for 7th insetad. But I dont know if its too mature for him. Hes a very smart child with a high reading level.
For science for the biggers I am looking at something in the Rainbow Resource catalouge called Home Science Experiments. Its a kit that comes with EVERYTHING.
I am also considering If Your Gonna Teach Your Child to Write, You Gotta Have This Book for the biggers.
History Im thinking Id like to do a good reading list that deals with Revolution to modern day America.
7th grader (who will be 13) wants to be a mechanic. So I am toying with the Christian Light Education Basic Mechanics course. It says for 9th grade level, but I wonder if DS would be able to do it, espically if it is something he is intrested in.
so thats what Im dealing with right now. I really want to keep it simple, and add in one thign that really intrests the chidren (auto, art) But I need to get on the ball, because we are a family that NEEDS a lesson plan.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 28 2010 at 7:29pm | IP Logged
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quiltmomof3 wrote:
I have so been there. I have my plans up for history/geography and science for my 8th, 7th and 5th on my blog.
Stitching Life
For geography/history they are doing a trip around the world and for science they are doing a year of science experiments.
Maybe something will inspire you. I would love to know what's in the basket to help further.
Here is where the 36 week plan for history/geography starts:
A Trip around the World
Here is where the year of science experiments starts:
A Year with science experiments
Susan |
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Hi Susan! Welcome!!!!!! Just wanted to say that I fixed your links for you! On the boards, you can't just copy and paste a link, it won't remain hot and active as the code will automatically place a space somewhere in the link. You have a lovely blog though, and I enjoyed looking around while I was setting up your links! 
So that you can link your lovely blog in the future -- FAQ's - how do I add links to a post?
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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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Mackfam
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mamalove wrote:
| so thats what Im dealing with right now. I really want to keep it simple, and add in one thign that really intrests the chidren (auto, art) But I need to get on the ball, because we are a family that NEEDS a lesson plan. |
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Can I ask you some questions, mamalove, so we can help brainstorm with you?
** Are you open to writing your own plans and following them? We could brainstorm some ways to pull together your lists. You've really got a lot here...
** Kindergarten appears to be covered
** You're happy with math and your spelling approach
** You have some good input from the kids with regard to subjects they're interested in covering.
** It sounds like you have many of the peripheral subjects covered!
If you're open to this, it doesn't have to be too hard. List your students/grades down one side of a piece of paper, and list subjects you want to cover across the top of the paper, making columns each time you create a new subject. Now you can just start filling in some of the things you've listed here for us -- teaching textbooks in math for all students, drawing textbook for your 5th grader, and so on. After you do that, I think you'll see what you're missing and you might find that you can pull together a few booklists to round out a simple, straightforward year. When I plan it all out in a grid like this, I can easily see what subjects need coverage and it allows me to focus my efforts more efficiently.
** Do you feel you need to make use of pre-packaged/pre-written lesson plans? If so, can you just determine to tweak the plans so you don't feel so pressured by them - take the OLV plans as an example. While it sounds like you're not entirely satisfied with the OLV curriculum/plans (??), why not just purchase the lesson plans and not enroll. Then, you determine your pace and when you'll finish for the year. Or, is there a way to work with this curriculum provider to better meet your family needs?
How can we help you narrow this and brainstorm? You've got a really good start here!
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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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mamalove
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| Posted: July 28 2010 at 9:53pm | IP Logged
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i do like things planned out for me, but I am also willing to do some of the planning myself. Thank you Jen for the ideas, and the Wildflowers and Marbles post it note idea is a good one as well.
The OLVS lesson plans are $80 to buy alone, so I dont think its worth it for just religion lesson plans (thats really all I would be using from them this year)
I guess its the nuts and bolts of planning that really has me thrown for a loop. In the past when I have done my own curriculum, its been a slap happy "just fill in what youve done that day, or write it in the morning" approach. I know that wont work for 2 reasons. One is that toddler and baby wont let me have that morning time anymore, and two is that I know my children and myeslf thrive if we have a paper in front of us that says "DO THIS" and check it off when you are done.
So I guess I really need to decide what we are going to use for sure, get some good book lists, and research on how to plan effectively.
I also have a bit of the "they are gonna miss something important!" if I put together my own plans. Its been nice leaning on OLVS for that reason. I know that the Holy Spirit will guide me in the choices for each of my children, I just have to get some quiet time to sit down and hear Him!
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quiltmomof3
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| Posted: July 29 2010 at 8:46am | IP Logged
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Thanks Jen, I have your blog in my google reader and have read it for years ! Love it. I will try to link next time I want to link. LOL. I just did on another post in organization, the wrong way again. lOl. Before I read this.
I loved the sticky note idea for planning. I use a spiral notebook and just list the subject on the top of a page. Then I made lists. I don't put all the lists together until I use my real Seton Planner. This helps me focus on one subject at a time.
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JennyMaine
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| Posted: July 29 2010 at 11:24am | IP Logged
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I found the planning e-book from Simply Charlotte Mason to be absolutely wonderful. It really holds your hand through planning out how to use what you already have.
Jen
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--JennyMaine, Mom to Catherine (17) and Sam (15) "The countenance is a reflection of the soul. You should always have a calm and serene countenance." -- Therese of Lisieux
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: really struggling with this upcoming year
