We actually use the curriculum, but these 2 quotes are confusing to me. Some think that it is not enough as a curriculum for the secondary subjects? but others think just reading aloud is better? :confused: i don't disagree with either - just trying to understand (because I am still new) why FIAR might not be enough as written...if read alouds CAN be enough..? VS. Just wondering!! :001_smile: BTW: We only read the book once - more if my kids request it - leaves more time for the activities. It is perfect if you want to do unit studies - which is why that is how it is classified. We use it interchangeably with http://www.homeschoolshare.com, too. I love that it gives me all the ideas I might not think of but I can add to it if we want.

We have Math Mammoth. It really skips around and I am confused by some of the "tricks" they use to teach kids. DS is confused by it, it is just not our learning style. For example instead of memorizing facts they teach that 13-5 is really 13-3-2 so they can practice getting down to 10 first then 8. this is not the way I learned. is there a benefit to this? For me to teach this I have to change my learning as well. I don't really have time or patience to do this! what Math curric would be better for us? And what supplies do we need? Someone mentioned Miquon but I went to purchase it on the swap board and found out I need cuisinare rods. I don't have these yet but I have more children who might need them so maybe worth the purchase? 2nd question: How do I get DS to the next level? He isn't really to move on to level 3's in math but is still 1/2-way thru level 2's. He is just about to master basic math facts up to 20. I know there is no rush but it is very hard for us to be in the middle of a curriculum starting the year out. I'm sure you understand! I'd love to school through the summer to keep his practice up but not sure that even math alone will be possible with the new baby. thanks for any advice!:001_smile:

I know there are lots of threads on keeping toddlers busy. i am getting some ideas - but where do you keep everything? We school in the kitchen which already feels tight. I have a large great room attached to the kitchen, but with one couch, a piano, toys, changing table and playpen it is already crowded. There is one closet near the front door, down the stairs from the kitchen that i can store some stuff in. it is a coat closet so not overly efficient for storage. I really want to do more montessori activities but see no way to keep these separate from the usual living time vs. schooling time. And keeping everything together, intact and ready to use quickly. Also when do you plan these out, get supplies from the store AND have it ready to go for the school time alone? AND everyone is always jealous of the other person that gets to do "X". but there aren't enough hours in the day for everyone to do every kind of activity because most things are being used to keep the LO's attention during the learning time! I need to adjust my expectations here. i am trying to do so many things at once. Incorporate a schedule, plan activities AND plan schooling for my kids while maintaining normal living. after 1-2 days of school my house looks like a war zone. I can't seem to catch up because the baby is always awake, into things or I am just zonked-out tired! any suggestions? is anyone really pulling this off? :confused:

How can you tell when a child needs more drills in math or if the program is just not working for them. We have done more traditional math up until lately. have used Math Mammoth and online ps curriculum math for a portion of the year. Both seem to "bottom out" for him. He sort of dries up after going over the same stuff like drills, but We aren't ready to move on - or so I think... wondering if something like MUS would benefit where there is a video, colorful manipulatives, etc.

I am maybe looking for a new math program for my boys who will be in 1st & 3rd levels next year... We have Math Mammoth and I love that I can print it at home, sheet by sheet. but I am not crazy about the layout of the work. Many times they have running problems that are all related. It is supposed to teach the child the relationship between the numbers, but DS is smart. He figures out the pattern and writes it in quickly, sometimes going down the columns, not even writing the whole numbers at a time. I'm not sure if this is helping him learn or not. he got through the worksheets in level 1 to move on to level 2 but is still learning math facts and we have not been able to progress through to learn double-digit addition because he was still stuck on the facts. So we will either be doing LOTS of math this summer or starting over again at level 2 next year... :confused: We tried Ray's Arithmetic but I think he is more visual or kinesthetic... any ideas? THANKS!

Thanks! I am getting lots of ideas here. So I will try more of the block scheduling and do more FIAR type stuff in the afternoon. I always feel like i should do SOMETHING with the kids but can never decide what. Just needed some direction. Also FIAR reminds me of homeschoolshare.com. great ideas there and printable stuff. it will help us get through the year which we are only going thru the 2nd week of April. My kids are all still getting used to the "schedule" and "chores" and having to wake up/eat by a certain time, LOL. they are REALLY independent thinkers! So this will give us some constructive things to do while I instill the routines and habits! :001_smile:

So I posted also on the general board - not sure where this should go. :001_smile: Does anyone do a rigid structured day because your child needed/benefitted from it? Do you have lots of little ones, too? Did you get your school done all in the am? How did your morning look? i can see from my kids personalities that they tend to really slack if I am not right there beside them the entire day. I mean, in EVERYTHING they do. I'm talking about basic clearing the table - which we have been doing for a LONG time. DS (8) will take one spoon at a time to the sink, etc. it is nerve wracking. i have tried hovering, also ignoring. neither works. they don't have deadlines so no motivation. These kids are incredibly bright so they are also getting bored doing this and learning really poor habits being home. I'd love to keep them home again next year. I feel like school would give them the structure needed but wondering if I can create this at home. We have a MOTH schedule but I tend to be looser with it than I should. I'd like to try block scheduling. just not sure how to motivate them the rest of the day...? Any advice? THANKS!! :D

So I wasn't sure how to do a search for this but if there are past threads on this, please clue me in. :001_smile: Does anyone do a rigid structured day because your child needed/benefitted from it? Do you have lots of little ones, too? Did you get your school done all in the am? How did your morning look? i can see from my kids personalities that they tend to really slack if I am not there egging them on the entire day. I mean, in EVERYTHING they do. they don't have deadlines so no motivation. These kids are incredibly bright so they are also getting bored doing this and learning really poor habits being home. i'd love to keep them home again next year. I feel like school would give them the structure needed but wondering if I can create this at home. We are instilling a MOTH schedule but I tend to be looser with it than I should. Any advice? THANKS!! :D

thank you! the feedback is helping. I think I am just worried that I am limiting them too much with so much free time at home. they do NOT want to do structured activities very often. i do have times that work must be done, etc. but it leaves for a lot of open time. we have chore time, rest time, snack, outside time in the afternoon. if these days are the same over and over again is that OK for right now? please reassure me.. I'm sure it is just the pregnancy and nesting kicking in.. :)

We do have a schedule. It works to a point. No one wants to do quiet time, etc. I still have them do it but the entire day can be a fight. Lunch? no way, i just started playing! Maybe it is because my kids are young and I am new to all this. I still make them follow the schedule. they still have to come eat lunch. Giving a list of activities to do? Tried that. they didn't want to do anything. they will "find something" eventually like a toy, etc. but i worry the whole time they are figuring this out. Making a week of fun is too exhausting for me right now. I think our last outing all together was today. I can do stuff with DH's help - but I am way too big now really to even do library trips, etc. I am ALL belly with my babies usually - have gained 35 lbs. i am about 30 weeks. I stick straight out. most people think i am due next week. then I tell them May - they about fall over. JUST keeping up with daily tasks is about all I can do. Of course each day is different so some days I do get the energy spurts. Try to use those for decluttering and getting the kids outside to burn energy/get fresh air. I know its just the long stretch right now...

Ok found it thank you!!

I get the logic behind minimal formal schooling for a 5yo and even an 8yo. My kids just seem bored - with eachother, around the house, etc. just having them play with the same toys every day - is that OK? Am i doing enough since I am pregnant? If I ease up even more now, then have summer off, too, it seems like SUCH a long time for them to go with no instructions. THey don't WANT instruction, but they get bored quickly. And fight, or get really creative about things they can't do - and they get frustrated... so do I need to worry much yet? :confused:

They had a zoo day at our church for kids off school so we went to that. Breakfast included - was nice! About 35 degrees here & sunny this afternoon - warm for Feb. so we played outside most of the day!

So I can't tell if it is just the time of year or what. i am really having 2nd thoughts about HS next year. Petrified of the thought of sending DD to preschool (actually having to TAKE her) and also getting the boys on the bus, and/or picking them up in the afternoon. DH and I are taking it year by year. Baby is due in 2 1/2 months so trying to keep a good schedule going to "see" if it will still work in the fall at all... My kids say they don't want to go to school. Yet they reject most school stuff we do at home. Usually at least 2 kids are complaining they don't want to do something. Is it supposed to be a constant fight like this? a constant battle in your own home? I know some of it is discipline problems (no talking back, etc.) but wondering if it is worse because they ARE home. I have really eased up on a lot of the curriculum. Switched to AO which the kids like - but not sure it is enough for them alone. We are doing oral math for DS (8) (Ray's) and basically reading/writing with the boys. DS (5) does some light worksheets like a math page and handwritng then he reads and i do read alouds with all the kids. (sometimes individual) DD(3) has one worksheet a day - it is usually something cutting & pasting, fun, etc. then we've been hitting park programs or anything else to supplement. I really do try to do some fun things - as much as we can but with being so pregnant and a toddler it is limiting. What's happening is because I do have lots of littles the schooling for the olders is going to get broken up throughout the day. but the olders complain so much about school, it would be nice to just get it done in the morning and be done. but I can't fit it all in. It's kind of been a fight for 2 years now at least. I almost "dropped" my 8yo off at school this winter - and he relented and finally did his work. My kids are extremely smart - they pick stuff up quickly but none seem to be very independent - until I want them to do something. Not sure I am homeschooling for the right reasons, but basically keeping them home as much as I can to keep the family tight and keep the innocence for a while... Not sure what to do - did anyone have these problems during the first years but stick it out and your kids changed?

So you are looking for a swim top with long sleeves? Can she wear a bathing suit with another layer over top? Soon she will need more bust support I assume so is that what You are asking about? This site has short sleeved modest suits, http://www.modestswimwearsolutions.com/ but since you are asking about long sleeves why not a swim suit with a swim shirt over top? I have seen long sleeved ones made by BodyGlove, etc. on ebay and things. Or this might be what you are looking for... good luck! Hope that helps!!

Well we took a day to just do the library today which was nice. we had a break in the cold weather and it was sunny - just nice to get out. I have forgotten to do more days like this. i did a lot of them when my oldest was K/1st. We rarely did more than 2 days of school a week. I had a lot of troubles with him, but he is really maturing. Anyway I forgot about these kinds of days which we need more as we get into spring anyway. thanks so much for the supporting words!! :)

So I know the last 2 stages are temporary... the 3rd being the fastest. I am due in May. Just wondering how you cope day to day during this period. i am starting to get BIG. i stick straight out so starting to be harder to accomplish basic tasks even. My belly is HEAVY and is really slowing me down, wearing me out! With schooling I do have a MOTH type schedule for the morning, more like a list - but how to spend equal time with each kid each day? AND get the schooling done? It seems like doing school when the littles are around is VERY challening. there is screaming, there are toys flying, etc. But I can't fit it all in during the toddler nap... plus we are all tired by then. So i have been scheduling different playtimes between my kiddos - then maybe make one day a week each kid's "game day" with mom? I worry that I am not getting enough in even with a pared-down schedule. 1/2 hour a day for my K student enough? 45 min. with my 2nd grader then family read alouds for another 1/2-1 hour? We might start about 9:30 with preschool calendar/weather stuff, then bible/snack, then some basics with the olders at this point. It is rushed for me, slow for them. But after lunch I am really done. I either want to get them outside or just crash on the couch. I am not doing 1/2 of what AO says for year 2 - we are only on Year 1 anyway. how am I going to fit this stuff in like foreign language, etc.?? EVEYRTHING around the house is getting challenging at this point. thoughts? helps? What did you focus on to get thru this part? i worry that my 2nd grader is behind. We are still learning math facts... (higher digits like 7,8, 9, etc.) He's excelled in reading though... Do they start to be more independent around age 10 or so and accomplish more? Sometimes I am forgetting stuff day to day and also procrastinating on the tougher days... :confused:

bumping again hoping for answers. :)

bump for help

Wondering from anyone who uses this curriculum... 1. DS is stuck on learning his math facts with single digits (7+8, etc.) We are 1/2 the way thru. he's almost got them. However Ray's says to use objects. We are sort of in between using the abacus and him memorizing because he wants to and I am encouraging this. Is this right? It is eventually about memorization, right? 2. The lessons list the sums like this "7 and 9 are 16", etc. all the way down. How do you teach this? Is it just showing them each one with objects (like a pile of and a pile of 9) and saying what is written in the book? The teachers guide does not really explain... He gets the concept, like I said he is just stuck on the facts so we need lots of practice. So I run thru the addition then we go thru the problems. But it seems kind of monotonous... 3. Since it is kind of review for him and just drilling the higher numbers is it fine to do 2-3 lessons a day to get thru it? Or better to stick with one. He gets the first problems: 2 + 9, etc. its the higher numbers he gets stuck on. So maybe I need to slow it down and do just one page per week or until it is memorized? Thanks for the help mamas!!

Well he is not diagnosed bi-polar. they are calling it OCD but that is just the initial diagnosis and the psychologist has only seen him once. So no meds yet. I'm thinking they may be necessary. He has mostly anxiety but seems depressed also to me.

Is it completely draining all your mental energy trying to relate to this child? What do you do? Anyone just not give up and really give it everything to try and help this child be educated? Was it successful? What really clicked? I'm about to send DS (nearly 8) to school. I know it's not the end of the world. I just had so many wonderful HS plans... The other children might be able to stay home with me. DD shows tendencies though. thanks! :)

Yes, for the sake of keeping this post short, my DS has issues ( you posted on my thread) and i see similarities in my other children but MANY more in my DD who is the 3rd child and 3. I don't know what I'll do if she is just like him. More testing I guess! it's hard when they are so young to do testing. unless it is something like autism things are hard to diagnose at young ages. now that DS is almost 8 we got better feedback from the testing than we did at 5. I still don't think we are there. I think there will be more issues when DS is older. he's getting worse. :(

OK mama this is still good to know. We have an appt. with the school tomorrow afternoon. it was the only time i could get him in. I used break to try and research other options. don't know yet...

Ok, mamas, I am so confused at this point! I have tried nearly every method of homeschooling for DS and nothing seems to work/click with him. He has behavioral issues that stem from anxiety and other things. He's been tested but so far only anxiety/mild OCD/anger is what is coming up. My mom was bi-polar. I've had my issues but nothing serious. So because of all this stuff going on, my family really wants me to send DS to school just to get a break for myself. I spend a lot of time on his issues, or DID, but am trying to back off of it. My other kids need my time. background: DS is almost 8. he's just been tested for the 2nd time in his life. they test for everything. Full evlauation. NO learning problems, just slow process speed which is common in perfectionists, they tell me. boy is he ever one. everything else WAY above normal but not at the state/county gifted level where he would even get to excel in school. Problem? He's constantly causing problems at home. he can be the sweetest kid but also very mean. he will instigate problems when he feels like it. We were thinking he did them to get to me! now we don't know. Basically he does not want to do ANY school. NOTHING. How did we get this far? by changing often because things wouldn't work any more. we are using a reward system now but that is slow moving. (Do I reward doing each & every subject?? ) He can sit down and compose/write an entire thank you note, but can't get through one worksheet of handwriting. We KNOW it is not a learning problem, writing, etc. he proves all that wrong other times, on his terms. He does not want to GO to school at all. Most school days I have to "drag" him out of bed at 8:30. no reason for it. Christmas break he would get up earlier. He slept til 9:30 this morning The other part of this is his "mind" i guess! He told us today he does not want to celebrate his b-day. When we ask why he will give reasons but if you overcome those reasons there are always others or he just says "I don't know.". says he now does not like birthdays. he does not want to get any older because 7 is his favorite number. So I am not planning a party. It goes on and on. this is just ONE thing I deal with with him. I am really letting it go - he's seeing a psych soon but it's just in the beginning stages and I feel it is moving WAY too slow. like he almost needs medication. If he is left to himself all day he won't do much of ANYTHING. My Dad says to just put him in school. he says he needs the competition. he's just not competitive though. If he thinks he is losing a board game he will quit. (we don't always let him) he'll just do literally NOTHING. We were using an online school but I think i am going to have to quit that because I can't even get him to do the basic stuf that they hand in just to get thru the rest of the year! I was going to try some Ray's Arithmetic and maybe AO readings to get them interested in "stuff". ANYTHING! The problem is it really does wear me down. By the end of the day, even if we have distractions like a field trip, etc. I am just worn out mentally. I can't think to make dinner or get the house even tidy. I just CAN't THINK! I really wonder if it is him that is draining my mental energy. Wondering if this is what dealing with bi-polar is like and not meant for someone to deal with on their own. I don't know that he is bi-polar but we got a half-diagnosis for OCD and not thinking it is really that. Any ideas what to do? I am considering trying to get in touch with a psychiatrist. because of the testing results we were referred to a psychologist. only had 2 meetings so far, not getting anywhere with her. we do a GF diet but it only seems to work SOME of the time. My 2nd DS doesn't have nearly as many issues but DD seems to be following in his footsteps. DS #3 is very focused. So maybe it is every other child? If I have 2 of these kids I don't know what I will do!! thanks for reading!