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Angel
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| Posted: June 28 2010 at 8:28am | IP Logged
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Technically, my twins will not be "official" kindergarteners this year, but they are ready for some reading and math. So... in reality I think we are going to make the jump from 3-5 students (in a small way) this year. Of course, I've always tried to include the little ones and have things for them to do... so it's not as if I've only been concentrating on 3 to this point.
On the other hand, things can be a little more flexible (at least in my mind) before the kids are "official".
Anyway, I'm looking ahead to how I'm going to manage 5 "official" students (including an 8th/9th grader) plus a 3 yo and a baby. How do you keep everybody straight? How do you give everyone enough time?
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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*Lindsey*
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| Posted: June 28 2010 at 11:25am | IP Logged
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*lurking*
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Lindsey
Mama to DS (11), DD(9), twin dds(7), DD (5), DS (4), DS (3), and 5 angels in heaven.
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Sarah
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| Posted: June 28 2010 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
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Angela,
I repeatedly feel I lead a parallel reality with you. Then I found out you had a baby the exact same day as I did and it was also your 6th boy, etc etc. . . Too funny! I am also facing the same thing and I am thinking and planning. I am going to double up on kids and subjects. I'm going to try some unit studies. I'm also not going to try to to lots every day. I'm going to make a calendar and just start putting plans on it and I am thinking it should all come together. Through the semester I should be able to get to everyone with what they need, maybe not every day, but with a calendar and some thought everyone should get at least something. I realize this post is probably so scatter brained. I'm fighting mastitis I think. I will pop back in later when I actually make sense and talk more about my plans.
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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Elena
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| Posted: June 28 2010 at 3:51pm | IP Logged
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Angela, I think I would do homeschooling in shifts and require that the "school aged" kids spend some time with the pre-schooler and the baby. Whoever isn't with the little ones can do some of their school work with you and then after 30 minutes (maybe more, maybe less) switch. Of course use naps and mandatory quiet time for the harder subjects with the older students.
In our house older students need to learn to work more independently, and I also use lots of educational movies and computer games too. In fact, we have "movie day" which is always educational but it is really "mom mental health day!"
I hope these suggestions might help. They certainly have worked for us over the yearas.
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Elena
Wife to Peter, mom of many!
My Domestic Church
One Day at a Time
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Angel
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| Posted: July 02 2010 at 5:15pm | IP Logged
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Sarah wrote:
Angela,
I repeatedly feel I lead a parallel reality with you. Then I found out you had a baby the exact same day as I did and it was also your 6th boy, etc etc. . . Too funny! |
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Sarah, I think must be living a parallel reality, right down to the mastitis! (I hope you are feeling better... mine seems to be gone now.  ) I had been thinking that I would divide my day into two sections: Morning = focus on the little people; Afternoon = focus on the big people. Then a kink in my plans appeared: my 4 yo twins are in the process of giving up naps. This wouldn't be so much of a problem except that they can be very hyperactive.  We had originally shifted academics to the afternoon because that's when they napped. My oldest ds really needs quiet to do subjects like math, and with them around... there is no quiet.
So I was thinking I would use resources like Explode the Code Online and My Audio School for my 7 and 4 yos in the afternoon... and that I would try hard not to feel guilty about using so many electronic substitutions for my attention...
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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MarilynW
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| Posted: July 02 2010 at 9:04pm | IP Logged
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Angela - I am trying to figure this out too. I will have a Grade 10, two Grade 6, a Grade 2 and a precocious 3 year old who wants his 'work' as well as a very active one year old. I am still brainstorming. I really think having a written plan is key. Some of the ideas I have are:
1. The older three children will definitely have a lot of independent work. I will have to make sure I have good plans for them to follow - and set up a review and monitoring. Also for each I will have one subject I do in detail with them individually. eg writing. This may vary by month.
2. Key for me is having the one year and three year old well occupied. The one year old still naps twice a day and is a good sleeper. The three year old takes a really good afternoon nap. At the moment I can have a good 2-2.5 hours quiet for rest or work in the afternoon. I am going to put a lot of thought into plans for the littles - I am writing a plan using Catholic Mosaic, Making Music Praying Twice and simple Liturgical Year crafts. I am also writing down my read alouds - so that I actually do them. I am drawing up a plan of activities for the three year old - using educational wooden toys, some Montessori materials, art supplies - for a mix of mom time and individual time. I am also writing down a rotating schedule of independent activities - including some dvds, audio etc. Again key for me is to write it down so that he and I know what to expect. One of the things we have is a "reading tent" in our living room with books and quiet activities - he loves to have "reading tent" time. Another thing is to have Jim Weiss cds, Classical Kids, Classical Cats etc - and have him listen in his room. I usually work with him first thing in the morning.
3. The second grader will get the most mom time - for reading, Math and First Communion Prep. I usually have him read aloud, explain his Math lesson, and do some language work with him - and then he works independently.
4. We have everyone but the high schooler (though she is there too sometimes) for faith/theology, sciene and for history read alouds. Nature study we all do together.
Things that I am really want to do that I think will make a huge difference:
1. Regular prayer times together in the day
2. Lots of outdoor time at regular intervals
3. Rest and quiet time (especially for me)
4. Daily work review for everyone
5. No outside the home activities during a daily core time - for us mornings are never disturbed and we prefer no outside activities until 3 pm (except for nature study outings)
6. A regular scheduled planning time break for me eg a day off every few weeks or a week off every few weeks
7. Regular bedtimes - sigh this is very difficult during soccer and baseball seasons
8 Regular mealtimes and frequent snack times
9 Eliminating mama distractions during the learning day eg telephone and internet
10 Planning meals and shopping in advance - so I do not feel overwhelmed during the school day
I look forward to seeing your ideas. I agree with Sarah about not scheduling lots during the day. One of my mottoes is "a few things well done." In fact I am not purchasing a single thing for next year until I have some idea of how to schedule everyone - I do not want to buy too much - when the reality is that I have a very short number of hours in the day!
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Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: July 03 2010 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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Angel,
Have you looked at all the sample schedules (both daily and weekly) laid out at Simply Charlotte Mason. They have a couple of different approaches for family schedules both with and without "preschoolers." It is pretty clear to look at the way they have it laid out on a chart and might help you begin thinking in those terms.
I would give you a link, but there are separate links for daily and weekly and then for the different options, but if you look down the left sidebar, you will see "Weekly Schedules" and "Daily Schedules"
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Homeschooling 5 or more
