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MASHomeschooler

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Everything posted by MASHomeschooler

  1. Sorry; 3yo helping! :-) I am worried about about burning out (me, not them) down the road. I am also finding it very hard to keep up the house, paperwork, personal reading, personal goals, etc. in addition to this schedule plus planning and preparing, learning more about teaching, and other teacher/school-related activities outside of school time.
  2. My list of things I want to do more of, including free time, is what's mainly bothering me. And seeing people, even on this board, saying they do these ages in 1-2 hours, when I feel like I'm not able to fit everything I want in a full day, is confusing me. The kids are completely happy with the current schedule. I would like to add more, but at the same am aleady feeling like it's a fuller day than I was expecting, and I am worried about burning1
  3. Sorry this is so long. I wanted to make sure to not leave anything out. I always see that people are spending 1-2 hours on school with lower elementary kids. I am not interested in going that low, but I currently have a full schedule and still feel like I'm not doing enough of some things. But I do think they need more free time, too. I am posting this here because the main reason it is so full is that they are ready for and interested in learning much more than most kids their ages. My dd is 7 and doing 5th-6th grade level work. My ds is 5 and doing mostly 2nd grade level work. I also have a 3yo dd. They both LOVE learning, and have not complained about the schedule for the one quarter we've been homeschooling. They are also kids who love structure and created a schedule for themselves for summer break. This is what we have (I've been adjusting for next quarter, but last quarter was similar): 7:30 Physical activity 7:50 Gathering 8:15 Math w/ one, independent work for other, then switch 9:45 Snack/recess 10:10 Spelling and reading comprehension w/ one, independent work for other, then switch 11:10 Spanish 11:30 Recess 11:50 Lunch 12:10 Assigned reading 12:50 Science 1:20 Recess 1:40 Violin w/ one, Daily 5* for other, then switch 2:40 Social Studies 3:10 Done/Snack/Small break then get ready for violin lessons (Wed) or Karate (other days) * Daily 5 is a hot thing in the schools; both their teachers implemented a form of it this year, and they both asked to continue it at home. It is supposed to relate to daily literacy habits of adults. They pick 2 daily for 15 minutes each, doing each twice in a week: 1. Read to Self; 2. Read to Someone; 3. Listen to Reading; 4. Work on Writing; 5. Word Work Tuesdays we replace mid-day with the following: 10:10 Art 10:30 Library (bilingual story time and checking out books) 11:50 Lunch 12:10 Assigned Reading 12:50 Spelling w/ one, independent work for other, then switch Thursdays we replace 10:10 time w/ speech at their old school, do violin/daily 5 at 12:10 and then go back to their old school for PE and music, which replace the rest of the afternoon. Independent Work includes: Writing/Handwriting; Grammar; Evan Moor and Kumon-type workbooks; Typing (M+W); For Fun (picked by me, for when they finish assigned work); Free Choice (F) I am planning to start doing a little Sunday morning, too - bigger science experiments/projects, and some writing with me - I'm thinking of focusing on one type per quarter or so. At bedtime, I read to all, then read to 3yo, then read alternate pages with 5yo, then 7yo reads to me, only about 10 minutes each. They read to themselves while I read to others and for 10-20 minutes after we read together. They are voracious readers and also read independently on weekends, in the car, anywhere we're waiting, etc., and I read to the 3yo those times (except car) as well. About 2 days every 3 weeks, we do something with our homeschool group, or take a field trip. I feel like I could/want to do MORE: "Work" with 3yo Reading to/with them Teaching of language arts "Snuggle on the couch" learning Discussions Following tangents/interests Time to develop interests (dd art, ds singing currently) FREE TIME So, if you've made it through all that, first - thanks and sorry; second - where am I going wrong? How can I improve our schedule and still feel like I'm doing "enough" (for them and their desire/need to learn; I don't feel the need to meet any outside expectations at this point). Thanks in advance!
  4. Thanks for coming back to answer that part. I did end up ordering a couple other things that look to increase fun and depth (LoF and Challenge) and am finalizing our schedule changes before we start back on Tuesday, so this is good timing. So far I've been lucky that they haven't disliked anything, but I do hope to continue to fuel their enjoyment, and to add appropriate levels of challenge. Thanks again!
  5. Thanks! Those are very helpful, and what I was looking for (as much as I was looking for anything specific). And, YES! To the light shining in their eyes. This is the best way to describe the main reason we took them out of school - their lights were dimming - most dramatically my son's, whose used to be SO bright, and within the first quarter of K was almost gone. :( It is coming back, but I want them to regain and keep full brightness. Thanks again!
  6. I have read many places, and completely agree, that gifted students can and should do more than just accelerate - they should go deeper, use higher-order thinking skills earlier and more, etc. My oldest was in one self-contained gifted program for K and another for 1st and the first quarter of 2nd, after which we started homeschooling (one quarter ago). They both touted this idea, but I didn't feel they actually did it. Now I feel like I've not been doing it either, at least not "enough." So, I'm looking for input from others. How do you do it? Is there a curriculum that you find does this well (any subject)? Is there a book you read that helped you see how to do it? Is there something you just do that you can explain? Any other resources you recommend? Thanks in advance.
  7. Aargh, meant to post this in main K-8! Can it be moved? Sorry.
  8. If you were likely homeschooling for 3rd and 4th only, and tend toward classical, how would you do history? 1) Try to go at double speed for light exposure to all (child is bright so could probably handle it, but obviously there would be no depth)? 2) Start at the beginning and get how far you get proceeding at a comfortable speed? 3) Start halfway through to be "on level" and get through modern before returning to ps? 4) ??? FWIW, the only history that's been covered through 2nd seems to be basic US. School of likely attendance 5th-12th will have US, then world, then Euro in their sequence. TIA!
  9. I love this board! I can relate to so many things in the replies. And doing more programs while accelerating the main one seems much more doable now. Thanks, everyone! Reya, I was also surprised to realize my daughter likes and son loves worksheets. Who would have thought? :( I think I'll add some MM for my son. Boscopup, mine also don't need much review so that was also a concern of mine. I think doing fewer problems in the standard format and adding Challenge Math and LoF will help achieve the balance of adding depth and not being repetitious. Dmmetler, mine also love math, especially my son. I initially scheduled 30 minutes, knowing they'd still be keeping an accelerated pace, but recently increased based on their desire. My son in particular could do math all day but this 45 seems good for now. Maybe we'll bump it to an hour as we add more. Melie, songsparrow, and ritsumei, thanks, that gives me the pictures I was looking for and some ideas for how it might look for us. One mom, thanks for the link. I'll watch it this weekend when I have more time. Khan is another thing I keep thinking about adding in; so many great possibilities! I realized that, while I have found where they are learning new things, they learn it so easily they're still not being challenged. So that was what got me thinking about adding on. So thank you all for giving me some ideas on how to do that.
  10. Sorry; I'm not sure how to quote or edit. My previous comment replied to one mom, this one is to serendipitous. I'm honestly not sure whether I want to slow them down, as in push the date for completing Calculus, for example, back from where it will be on their current paths. This is what I mentioned arguing myself in circles about. But whether that happens or not, I do want to take advantage of their abilities and mid-high interest to give them more depth and appreciation, explore offshoots and specific interests. I just have no idea how to do that. And, as a former math geek who is getting excited looking at all the supplements I see mentioned, I am having trouble figuring out which to bring in and how to use the combination of them. I hope that makes sense. So, for your ds, about how much time do spend on each of the curricula you mentioned? And how is it going? Thanks!
  11. Interesting; thanks. So on your one day, it sounds like you are basically on one topic, with you pulling different approaches and applications from your various sources? That does seem more coherent than I was imagining - and also like more work for you. :) We are currently doing about 45 minutes a day each dedicated math most weekdays (scheduled for 5, but usually ends up being 4). My main initial goal was just to keep them from being bored, as that was one of the main reasons we left their old school. Now, having found that, my goals are expanding - real, mind-stretching challenge (in appropriate doses), deeper understanding of math concepts (including the when/where/why/how they're used), and a fluffier goal of appreciation/enjoyment/excitement about math. They have some of this last goal, although my ds has notably less after one quarter in ps, but I feel like with the right exposure they would both have much more. I have noticed math cropping up everywhere, and sometimes they have too, but haven't considered taking that beyond the moment. Great idea. Thanks!
  12. Sorry; I forgot add - in what proportion do you use standard vs deep/offshoot curricula? I mostly feel like the main one should be standard, but then of course they'd still be going through the sequence quite quickly - possibly completing Calculus by 9th. Of course, I can argue myself in circles about whether that's desirable for kids who can and want to do so.
  13. I'm reading through current and old threads here in all my spare time and finding it so helpful! I've noticed many people mention using multiple math programs, up to 5!, and am wondering how this works. We started hs'ing in October. Dd7 is doing Mammoth Math (2 subject books from level 5 based on the final test, then planning to continue with complete level 6 atm - thanks to someone here suggesting MM when I realized I had mis-placed her in RS E) and ds5 is doing Right Start C. Also still doing occassional RS games with dd at her request. I also just got LoF for them (introduced today) and they love it so far - starting dd at Fractions and ds at Apples, planning to do that once a week. I keep reading about other things, and thinking about wanting to add depth/challenge/fun/etc rather than just speeding through the standard classes because they can. I've read this suggestion a number of times here and I agree with the idea of it. However, how does that really look? I assume you'd keep one as the main, and relegate the rest to supplementary? But with 4 supplements, how much are they really getting from any one? Or how much does it impact the main one? And does it make math seem less coherent? Or maybe more, as they see the same concepts from different angles?! But back to my main question - if you use 3-5 math programs concurrently, how does it work? How many hours per week do you spend on each program, and how well is that working for your dc? Thanks!
  14. :) Thanks! My kids are in K and 2nd and we just started homeschooling this quarter (October) and I realized I haven't been doing explicit grammar. I will check those out. Thanks again!
  15. Thank you. What did you use before KISS to get Jim to that level?
  16. About what grade level would be good for starting KISS?
  17. Also, if I can add another question: I've been looking at more threads on these 2 curricula, and it seems that many people go through 5 with MM or SM and then to pre-algebra, or through 6 and then straight to algebra. So is 6 basically pre- algebra? What would be reasons to choose one vs another? I'm thinking if it is true it might make more sense (if she passes the level 5 exit tests) for us to go straight to pre-algebra with the curriculum we expect to use long-term, so there are fewer transitions. And maybe supplement with MM topic books at first for any weaker areas, then Hands on Equations or Life of Fred for variety. Or something like that. This is tougher than I expected! Any thoughts? Thanks!
  18. Thanks! So are Singapore and Mammoth fairly equivalent, in terms of level of challenge and in terms of the 6th grade level preparing well for pre-algebra?
  19. Hi. I am new to the boards, and to homeschooling (just started this quarter). I have read a number of posts and they have been helpful, but I don't see anything for my particular situation. My daughter is in second grade and is highly gifted. She was doing Envision Math 5th grade at her old school. They are allowing her continued access to the online portion, and she is following along with their pace easily just be doing the online summary/review, and usually gets 5/5 on the quiz the first time, without any help from me. Right Start really appeals to me [i have 2 younger kids, and all 3 went to Montessori preschools], and I had gone through the Right Start "transition lessons" to Level E based on the online assessment, but looking ahead it looks like E will be easy/mostly review for her. We re-did the placement test, and now it says "G" (she can do everything asked; I'm pretty sure last time the hang-up was prime factorization, which she just showed me she can do, but didn't know what it was called). So I need to know what to do with her. :-) 1. I can do RS G, but it's Geometry, which is not what typically follows elementary math, right? And I read somewhere that it doesn't cover Geometry completely, so you still need to do Geometry in the regular sequence later. Is there a reason to do RS G? 2. Is 5th the end of "elementary math"? Is there a comprehensive checklist or something of what she should know before starting Pre-Algebra? If something is missing, does anything come to mind as a "bridge" before getting into Pre-Algebra? 3. If Pre-Algebra is the next logical step, what curriculum would you recommend? I was looking at AoPS based on a number of posts. Does that sound like a good fit? I was also thinking about LoF as a supplement. Do they "go well" together? Any other thoughts? Thanks for getting through all that, and thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
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