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LMD

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    Opinions-schedule-is this enough?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Wow! Thanks for the feedback guys, I so appreciate it!

     

    I will come back for a more detailed read and reply, but just on independent work - my older two are very good at working independently and I expect them to spend time each block working independently on that subject. My daughter gets a weekly checklist and my son gets a daily checklist so they know what to go on with.

    Part of my issue has been that DD looooves the checklist and loves to choose what to do when - she actually does a very good job of rationing out her work over the week - but the teaching time is quite chaotic because I don't know what she'll want to do in our meeting time. With the subject blocking I can control for that a bit better.

    • Like 1

    Opinions-schedule-is this enough?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Thanks everyone! Just writing it all out helps.

     

    Critterfixer, I have similar concerns about the LA block but I'm trying to incorporate the writing more with history/lit.

    My oldest son works at a snail's pace and I am working with him on neatness/carefulness, so he won't have too much downtime! He's also my most diligent child with his chores in the morning.

     

    My 5 year old loves downtime and plays very happily in between. He likes to be left alone to do his own thing. He also loves Fiar so drawing him back shouldn't be too hard.

    • Like 2

    Opinions-schedule-is this enough?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by LMD

    So, following some previous threads and 2 weeks of total burnout (outside stresses!) I've put together a new schedule for us.

    We have been missing things like memory work, reading together and just a nice family atmosphere; instead being stuck in getting through the list mode with no joy or spare time - we also desperately need to work on habits/chores.

     

    These last two weeks I have let them mostly run free. They have pleasantly surprised me in many ways - lots of craft, reading, playing together, being outside. I've enjoyed the opportunity to read, listen to podcasts and refresh my homeschooling batteries.

     

    So with all of this whirling through my mind - distraction from stress!- I've decided that we need a change.

     

    Compounding the difficulty in sticking to a schedule, my husband works a rotating roster and I have a 2 year old. My kids are nearly 11, 8.5, 5.5 and 2. The 5.5 year old is just reading but not yet fluent/confident.

     

    I'm just not sure if it is enough, especially for my oldest (nearly 11, 5th/6th ish).

    Organisation is not my strong suit, I tend to cram in too much and freeze when we fall behind. I cannot keep a strict, detailed schedule, I've tried... I've done subject blocks before and it works well for us. Each block is an hour, each kid gets at least 15mins direct teaching time per hour and I'm still there if they need help. I'd love some opinions!

     

    3 days a week our schedule will be as follows- ideally we'd be done by 2-3pm and they have the afternoon for free time/music practice/reading/chores. They will have the opportunity to get their practice/chores done before school if they are diligent ;)

     

    Block 1: basket time - Bible/copy work/memory work, reading aloud our novel, reading from various science/history/picture books/biography and narrations*

     

    Block 2: math block - rotating through the kids.

     

    Block 3: la - start with DD- dictation/writing from main point* from basket readings*, our Shakespeare study, then she goes on with spelling & MCT mostly independently. Ds8 starts with spelling & handwriting (independent), then I do dictation* and fll/MCT with him. Then I work with ds5 with phonics, handwriting and reading.

     

    Block 4: languages. Older 2 alternate Russian (Rosetta stone) and Latin while I do Fiar with the little ones.

     

    Block 5: history (2x) or science (1x). Reading together then assignment/project/experiment.

     

    Wednesday will be lighter as we either have homeschool group or library. They'll have spelling, maths, languages review and DD will also have logic. Less than 2hrs all up.

     

    Friday is our music lessons day (they all take violin lessons) and with another family we cover Bible study and Art and a field trip about once a month/bimonthly.

     

    I don't know, it seems like a lot and not enough at the same time... Am I doomed to being too busy?

    We have a lot of land and they spend plenty of time bike riding/climbing trees etc. The toddler has plenty of craft, toy drawers, outside equipment, books. He likes to cause trouble lol.

     

    Clear as mud? Yep, that's how I feel...

    tell me about prolapses

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Holy cow. I don't have these issues, but I read this whole thread anyway.

     

    I can't stop crossing my legs and squirming in sympathy for you all, lol.

     

    Man, being a woman is rough!

    Yes! Me too! I've been pelvic floor exercising through the whole thread...

    Hope you get some relief sparkly et al!

    • Like 1

    Paying for Young Adult Children (college graduates)

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I answered based on our family culture and what my parents/in-laws did for us.

     

    I would probably be garantuer for a home loan, I would probably let them live at home paying minimum rent to allow savings for a loan. I would possibly buy a home and later sell it to the child for a good price. All of these have happened within our immediate family.

     

    I would likely not be responsible for ongoing support/bills for a child living out of home. I would want to hold strong boundaries. I would likely gift money or groceries regularly, just as a kindness (we couldn't get away with visiting dh's grandparents without them stuffing notes in our pockets...)

     

    We have a decent amount of land and our kids are always welcome to come back. Being able to offer them a safe place to fall was very important to us.

    • Like 4

    What subjects/curriculum do your kids do indep. at 3/4th grade? (John Rosemond article today)

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My son is 8 and in 3rd. He does spelling, handwriting, some of maths and history mostly independently.

    I say mostly, because he's 8 and easily distracted or will do a rushed job.

    If you have listened to swb's lecture on teaching students to work independently, he's a 'beginning and end of lesson' kid. Often I'll get him started (teach whatever concept) and go through expectations and leave him to it.

     

    With 4 kids, independence is necessary!

    Please help motivate me to go low carb and give up sugar

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Dh and I started Atkins about 6 weeks ago. I'm down 10kg (about 22lbs).

    We also tend to eat our main meal at lunch, or have a mid afternoon lunch. I'm never hungry on this diet and my portion sizes are about halved. And without the sugar addiction, vegetables taste amazing again.

    The first week does suck but it is helpful, it makes you realise what sugar was doing to you!

     

    This isn't my first time on Atkins, I maintained for years until I had another baby and a stressful time.

    Insight or advice on how to deal with this parenting situation

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Oooh, my 8 year old son loves to do this. It actually annoys me more lately as he does it to other adults and comes off as really disrespectful and arrogant.

     

    I think that it is just him playing at being a clown and trying to figure out grown up joking around. We're a fairly jokey/sarcastic family, but he's not yet able to pick his moments well. When your stressed out mother asks you to do something, do NOT pretend to do the opposite and laugh!

     

    Anyway,my sympathies, thanks for this thread. I'm reading the replies too.

    • Like 1

    Do you work hard to avoid being overweight or obese?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Yep. I'm busting my butt at the moment to lose. 5 years of not being careful and stress eating added waaaaaay too much weight. I'm about a third of the way to my goal and just had a break day for mother's day - a reward for hitting 10kg lost.

    I have also come to the realisation that I cannot just relax with food everyday. I am just not strong enough to stop when it's sensible. So it's off the menu completely unless I make a special occasion exception.

     

    I actually didn't even really enjoy the sweets I ate on mother's day, the sugar cravings are gone. The salad I made was much more appetising. Maybe I can eat like that...

     

    But dh and I do get sick of watching everything and it begins to feel like you're not living. Especially for him, he works at a chocolate factory!

    • Like 3
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