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Barb.b
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 7:23am | IP Logged
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I am not too sure thats the right subject for my question! I plan well (what to read, activities, assignments,tests. . . ) - its the day to day getting to what I planned that is getting my this year. My youngest is in 2nd grade (being the youngest he gets the most attention and is also doing well with a checklist of things for him to do when I want him to be independent); my other 2 are 7th and 12th. The thing is I am not meeting with the oldest 2 as much as I would like. How do you all manages to get to each child to intereact as you would like. I feel like I get into a mode where all I do is grading with thema and not actually doing things I want with them. So, I am thinking of scheduling "classes" or subjects with the older 2 like I would if this were a "brick and mortor school". For example, at 9:00 every morning could be calculus with my oldest. I want time scheduled for math, english, history and especially literature with my middle child; and calculus and literature with my oldest. And my youngest - well I feel I need to at least go over directions for each subject with him.
So, sorry for the long post! Any suggestions!?
Thanks!
Barb
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
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Barb.b wrote:
| The thing is I am not meeting with the oldest 2 as much as I would like. How do you all manages to get to each child to intereact as you would like. I feel like I get into a mode where all I do is grading with thema and not actually doing things I want with them. Barb |
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Hi Barb,
This is sort of what I was trying to deal with when I asked about meetings with the kids. I'm thinking that if I could schedule a "meeting" with my dd it would ensure the time with her that she needs (even though she is very independent for a 6th grader). My tendency, even when I schedule these meetings is to just do the checking of her work with her though, and then I need to move on to help one of the other kids. Not exactly the "quality time" I had in mind.
So, I'm interested to read what sort of answers you get.
The one thing that I have found that does work, particularly when I'm trying to include something in the schedule that we just aren't getting to, is to do it first thing in the morning, or even during breakfast.
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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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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 12:34pm | IP Logged
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I have a 3rd grader and a 10th grader and so I know a bit about your dilemma. The 3rd grader needs a lot of individual attention, so it's easy to let the older child just go off and read on his own. And for the most part that's what he does.
However,I do make sure to make time to have him narrate to me from each subject every day. That way I keep up with what he is reading and can assess his understanding. It allows opportunity for discussion and for me to address anything he does not quite "get."
Plus we have one subject that we do together.I read aloud to him from either his religion or his history selection and we discuss.
I think the trick to pulling this off is twofold.
One, make it clear to the older child that you will be expecting a narration from each subject each day and it is his responsibility to come to you at an appropriate time to give it.
Two, make use of the little pauses in the younger child's day to go to the older child and ask for narrations or discussion. For instance, once you give direction for a math assignment, and the little one is working the problems well on his own,(Or if the little one is finishing up a coloring page, etc.) take that time to go to your older child and ask for a narration or to explain to you his math work.
Lunch is also a good time for touching base with older kids, asking them to tell you about the latest book they are reading, etc.
It really is just a matter of finding the little times, you know?
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I forgot to add, I have my own little weekly schedule chart that I check off each day to make sure I keep up with ds's narrations. I can see a week at a glance, so if I have missed a narration in one subject one day I can be extra sure to get that one the next day. It has been a great tool for me.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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allegiance_mom
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
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I do have an outline of a "typical" school day with time slots for what each one should be doing. I try to schedule stuff ds#1 can work on independently when I am working with ds#2. Then I schedule something like a break or art for times when ds#1 needs more of my attention.
It sort of works if we stick to the schedule. Life always seems to happen. 
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Mom to two boys, 14 and 8, and one pre-born babe in Heaven (Jan 2010)
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Sept 28 2010 at 6:20pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the replies, I have had a weekly planner for me. Each child is a different color (so at a glance I can tell what needs to be done with each). I have had the youngest figured out pretty well - he has a weekly calandar at his desk with each days subject. I work with him first, then go over directions for several things he can do independently. I give him a check list of these indendent things. Then I go to one of the other 2. My middle child is the one I feel I haven't gotten to work with enough. So she and I went through each subject deciding which needs to be done daily together (like grading math), which several times per week . . . Then we planned which day to do these. I put this on my calandar. Each day though I put her list on the board of what is scheduled for us to do together. That way at youner ds's independent work time we can do that. Fortunately my oldest is a senior and most of his stuff is independent. We grade calculus each day and several times per week meet for literature. My biggest success this week has been that meeting with my middle daughter, deciding on our weekly schedule of what we do together. Writing this on the board each day reminds us both of what we need to make time for. I think the biggest challange this year was having my youngest in 2nd grade. That means 3 kids actively in school and mom yo-yoing between each! My weekly calandar has saved my sanity!
Barb
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: ordering my days
