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knowloveserve
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 1:34pm | IP Logged
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If we start our school year in early August, we will have one solid 12 week term done by the end of October.
Take a week off for a road trip to see friends a few states away...
Do 3 weeks in November (taking Thanksgiving week off).
And 3 weeks in December. (taking 2 weeks off for Christmastime)
Then a solid 11-12 weeks until Holy Week or Easter...
This will give me 29-30 weeks or so of schooling. I am due to have our 6th baby right around then... and with the birth and the springtime making us all restless, I just don't see much schooling able to happen after that. This is why I am starting in next week and keeping the Christmas break really tight (normally we'd be lax all of December).
What can I do to assuage my guilt at finishing the school year in late March???
We will read lots of books as always... but projects and schedules and anything mom-intensive will be a no-go. I'm going to need my older boys to help me a lot with this baby as it's the closest spacing I've ever had (My youngest now will be 18 months or so when the next one is born.) and I learned with the last child that the single month of break I allotted myself from formal studies wasn't sufficient for me to pull it back together again.
So by the time, I get back on my feet with the next baby, it'll be June or so. We could in theory do a 6 week late spring/early summer session just to tie up loose ends... but it would feel very fragmented with having a term split up with a full 6-8 week gap I think...
What say you?
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 3:57pm | IP Logged
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Congratulations!!! I think your plan sounds wise and you should not feel guilty at all!
If you really feel like you should fill in with more school maybe that would be a good time to assign some independent projects and just let them go with it.
If you have specific educational goals you want the kids to accomplish in the year I would work hard during those weeks you plan to be schooling to get those goals accomlished. Save any extra stuff that they can do on their own for the end.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 5:16pm | IP Logged
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How old are your kids, Ellie?
First, your plan sounds totally fantastic to me!!! It's considered and I like it. If you are feeling any guilt at all about any part of your plan I give you permission to eschew it in its entirety the moment you read this. Ok? Have you done it? Did you let it go? Great!!!
So, let's brainstorm a little about the spring.
There's nothing wrong with making a significant shift in how you approach lessons in the spring, knowing the baby is coming! But I want to propose to you that within 2 - 3 weeks, your older kids are going to start to get a little stir crazy without the routine and structure they're used to. You might just need to consider some very relaxed plans that don't require your involvement, that set the kids up for successful independence, and ensure gentle routines so the biggers don't go crazy and start acting out!
You might consider a simple list of themes you could study via picture books! Check the calendar and see what kinds of historical anniversaries are going on during the spring. Think of seasonal topics, liturgical topics, favorite family topics. Think of these topic/themes and come up with a neat library list that your dh can just pick up for you every couple of weeks. Build book baskets. If you have older children (4th grade +), have them read independently.
You might also look into some DVDs that could support some of your studies: documentaries, natural history programs, history shows, Mr. Rogers time each afternoon as part of quiet time.
Brainstorm some independent activities that can serve as *choice time*. Set aside a shelf or two with educational games, logic games, educational magazines, arts and crafts supplies, knot tying books, clay and sculpey, building toys. You direct nothing! But from 1 - 2 every day, you might invite the children to *choose* something from the shelf to work with. Their choice!
Spring scavenger hunts are always fun. Brainstorm a list of "firsts" that the kids can go hunt for as they search signs of spring out of doors. This would function as a very simple nature walk.
As far as a 6 - 8 week gap, I don't think it will feel that fragmented, especially if you bridge it with simple reading and consider some very simple routines that keep days moving smoothly. Your time invested on the front end, considering a few choice time activities (keeping these in a closet or put away til spring ensures they'll be fresh!), considering a few themes and library lists, considering a relaxed routine that keeps the kids from going crazy....all of this time investment on the front end will allow you more time to relax and ease into mommying this new one in the spring. It's time invested in setting the bigger kids up for more independence! And that's always a good thing!
Those are just my thoughts! No letting that guilt back in, ok? 
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Jen Mackintosh
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 6:03pm | IP Logged
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I like those thoughts Jen.
My children will all be 10, 8, 6, 3 and 1 by then.
But this may be a moot post anyway. I went in for an early ultrasound today and there was nothing visible. The tech sounded like she was trying to be positive saying "it was still early" and we'll see what the doctor says. I took another test just now though and it came back negative. I've miscarried thrice before but have had no spotting at all with this one.
I would chalk this up to being one of those strange false positive readings a few weeks ago. But I tested positive TWICE on two separate days...
So I'm rather in limbo and don't know what to think. 
Thank you all for your thoughts regardless...
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Ellie
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 6:12pm | IP Logged
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Oh, Ellie....I'm sorry!  I'm praying for you!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Betsy
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 6:22pm | IP Logged
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Praying!!!!
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AmandaV
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| Posted: July 31 2012 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
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Oh, Ellie, praying here too!
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Amanda
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Becky Parker
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Praying for you Ellie!
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Becky
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: Aug 02 2012 at 1:19am | IP Logged
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Thank you all. Bloodwork came back negative for pregnancy. Two false positives are really out of this world... what are the chances? Maybe I'll go buy a lottery ticket.
In all things, praise Him.
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Ellie
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asplendidtime
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Ellie, I am so sorry.  Saying a prayer for you today.
((((((((((((( hugs ))))))))))))
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JennGM
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I'm so sorry, Ellie.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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AmandaV
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So sorry, Ellie. Will pray for you.
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Amanda
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: soliciting opinions: year setup/new baby
