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Sally Day

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Posts posted by Sally Day

    Grammar for the Well Trained Mind

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We are using this for 5th Grade. We’re on week 9, having also previously completed FLL 1-4. We’ve managed on four thirty-minute slots a week, but now that it’s getting heftier I’m only asking him to complete some of the exercises (“get this one perfect and you don’t need to do the rest.”) I understand all four years cover the same teaching, but with different examples, yes. I also understand that SWB says it’s ok not to complete year 1, as it’ll all come round again! 

    Latin for Children

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We did the same progression from SSL into LfC and found it a big jump. We spread each chapter over a whole week. Day 1: DVD, Days 2-5: the written work interspersed with much, much listening to the CD in the car. We found the activity book unnecessary. I definitely need the answer book!

    • Like 1

    CAP for 3rd Grade?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Another CAP fan here! I’ve found it’s great at giving kids the tools and the confidence to structure their writing. My eldest switched from WWE4 straight into Narrative 2 in fourth grade but I regret missing out on Fable. My younger will switch into Fable for third.

    • Like 2

    Late night school. Help!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    [quote name="Pen" post="7861085" timestamp="1509892755

     

    Possibly you are trying to get him to do too much, or expecting too much independently. Most 10yos are not ready to do schoolwork independently.

     

    ?

     

    What is his/your actual daily/weekly schedule of schoolwork/downtime/social/meals/sleep?

     

    Yes, I think I am perhaps expecting too much independent of him. He is very keen to work on his own in theory, but perhaps isn't able to do so without at least some surreptitious mummy-monitoring! I'll try hovering more starting tomorrow. We had a lovely restful Sunday today, which will have helped.

     

    Our usual schedule is three hours of school in the morning. After lunch we go out to socials or have play-dates at home. Late afternoon they have music lessons/chess club/gym class and so on depending on the day, then home for dinner and bed by 8:30/9.

    • Like 2

    Late night school. Help!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Though you don't mention if he uses electronic devices at all, to me the behavior you describe sounds much like Electronic Screen Syndrome as well as 10yo prepuberty. If that is a possible thing going on, I'd suggest you read up on ESS and put him on an electronic fast. As with most addictions, in that case things may get worse before they get better.

     

     

    I'd make bedtime be 9pm regardless of schoolwork being done, with the idea that it can be moved to 9:30 if he seems like he can handle that – and with the last half hour or hour to be for things like free reading, or family game time, not trying to do school work that should have been done during the day. And also wtith the idea that bedtime will be made 8pm if he throws tantrums--which sounds like behavior from someone younger than 10 and suggests to me he needs much, much more sleep.

     

    If neither ESS nor sleep insufficiency (or both) apply, I'd look at what else might be going on with regard to the tantrums. ADHD, gluten intolerance, sugar reactivity... something. More than one thing perhaps.

     

    I'd consider doing all or many of the things people above, Lori D, MerryatHope, and all have said, including, in particular vigourous physical exercise and very healthy foods, without additives, artificial anything, or added sugars.

     

     

     

    We mainly dealt with homeschool at that stage by doing all subjects for a certain length of time per day with breaks for physical exercise in between. Official school subjects did not take a lot of time each day, but focus was expected for the time it did take. When a subject was done it was done and more fun activities could then be pursued. It also helped that my ds had a best friend who also homeschooled right across the street, so when both were done, they could go bike or do other such things. It made a built in reward for getting done. We also had things like ice skating in winter, swimming in summer, or a chance to go to library and play computer games for an hour (once per week) as incentives for chores and school work well done.

     

    There was also some learning that happened at other times, like via audio books and documentary films, but the basics of the 3Rs were kept to a limited number of hours daily. And at age 10, I think bedtime was 9PM--though I ignored reading that happened later than that.

    He doesn’t use screens other than for a chess app in the morning and Rosetta Stone. I hear you about the lack of sleep, though. I think we’re in a spirally circle of working late/sleep deprivation so will try another tack. He’ll have to do work Instead of his time off in the day. I guess I’m scared of him missing socials to make up work. Hopefully it’ll be short-term.

    Late night school. Help!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by Sally Day

     

    One of the best helps we found at this age and into the teens was daily, hard, physical activity that gets the heart rate up and staying up for at least 30-45 minutes is an absolute must -- running, biking, jump-roping, swimming laps, etc. And it's esp. helpful if done before school work even starts. Even hard physical labor of chores of lifting, carrying, doing farm-like chores works well.

     

    Thanks. He’s an unusually unsporty/physical boy. His interests are playing the recorder/piano/oboe and playing chess. He’s very bookish, too. I still think you’re advice stands, though. His version might be to walk the dog on his own (we live on a farm) before school. Lighter physically, but it’ll give him some exercise, fresh air and peace and quiet!

     

     

     

     

    A mid-morning snack that includes protein of some sort was also a "must" to keep people focused here. Nuts or a trail mix; cheese stick, or cheese and crackers; yogurt dip and veggies; lunchmeat roll-up; etc. -- I found that if I provided a quality protein snack an hour or so after breakfast, and again an hour or so after lunch, that it helped to keep up the blood sugar level and prevented blood sugar slumps (which led to melt-downs), and fed their growing bodies and brains a constant source of energy.[/

     

     

    Again, I’ll definitely give this a go.

     

     

     

    Also, is there one subject in particular that is the troublesome one?

     

     

    I don’t think he’s particularly struggling with anything academically. His struggle is only to concentrate and to present his best work legibly! Once he does decide to do work he completes it quickly and is capable of really high standards.

     

    Finally, just a very different experience here, but neither DS here was ready for mostly independent work at age 10. "Tomato staking" was what worked here. available for questions and redirecting attention back onto the work as needed (which frequently was every other math problem).

     

    That’s interesting. He says he loves doing more independent work, but maybe that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready for it. I will hover more!

     

     

     

    Wishing you ALL THE BEST, as you're entering a tough stay developmentally, that usually lasts (for boys from about age 10-14 or 12-16), and having to wrestle the academics in there as well... oy! But it is a stage, and it does eventually pass!

     

    Thanks!

     

    Warmest regards, Lori D.

    Late night school. Help!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    and for boys esp. that is often a move towards breaking away from mom and more identifying with dad or men.

     

    Lori, this is really interesting. The dip in his behaviour has co-incided with a big work project for my husband. He works from home and does Math and Science with the boys, but he hasn’t had anything like as much time with them for sure. I’ve mentioned this to my husband and he also thinks this may be a big factor so he’s going to try and connect with ds more whenever he can. Thanks.

    • Like 2

    Late night school. Help!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thanks so much. I feel less alone in this, now. I’d been feeling that a shift of responsibility onto him was needed, so it’s nice to hear that worked for you and will try it out. Another issue for me is that he submits work that is obviously not at the expected standard. I am then caught in constantly sending it back to be re-done, which fuels the drama and saps my energy. Can I ask if this was an issue for you, too? Thanks.

    Late night school. Help!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My eldest has just turned 10 and his behaviour/motivation has become really challenging. He's never been perfect (of course!), but this is new. Our rule is that work not completed in school time must be finished off later that day. The last few nights he has been up, dawdling and having tantrums before finally completing his work at 11pmish. As a result we are both shattered! Has anyone else been through this? Should I stick to my guns or change tack? Inbetween these episodes we have had proper, calm, reasonable one-to-one discussions where I've asked if he still wants to be homeschooled, if he likes our curricula and so on, and he's emphatic that all is well. Ugh.

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