Coffeetime
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Posts posted by Coffeetime
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... and I am so nervous. :001_unsure:
Anyone want to talk me down?
I've been homeschooling for 4 years now, and I just need a break this year. Older DS is entering 5th this year and there is an amazing private, classical school literally 5 minutes from my house. So DH and I have enrolled him this year and I will continue to homeschool my 2nd and K-er. I can't believe how stressed I am about this and how hard it has been to let go!! Any BTDT?
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I realize I'm old fashioned and totally in the minority, and I'm not criticizing anyone- but I personally think that registries for baby showers in and of themselves are tacky. :tongue_smilie: I personally would have never been comfortable asking for specific gifts to be given to me- *anything* I received for my babies was appreciated, even if it wasn't exactly what I would have picked myself. So, to the OP, yes, I would have found the tag a little tacky, but then again, I wince at the "I'm registered at..." cards, too.
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Yep! 1st-12th! Loved it.
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Good job!
I still think it's darn weird that the parents leave the kid with a loaded gun and tell him it's there for him in case robbers come. Stupid, frankly
Just wanted to point out- I know people in law enforcement. They constantly receive threats on their life and their family's lives from people they arrest. Mostly, it's just written off as dumb people who are angry about being put away- but there's always the chance that someone's going to get out of jail and make good on those threats. I'm positive that this is why the parents are perhaps more proactive when it comes to home defense- especially if they are gone.
Although I agree in this case it was poor judgement on their part, because this kid obviously has serious issues and is NOT mature enough to handle such a resposibility. So glad this has all turned out well! What a scary situation.
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I don't think I would ever even use the phrase "How come" in daily speach, and it certainly would bother me to see it written in a curriculum.
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Just as an aside.. have you ladies seen this? http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/AP/Composers.htm
And this?
http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/AP/Artists.htm
I can't squeeze them in this year but am planning on Composers next year and Artists the year after. I will just plan on working on them slowly all year so we can really get the most out of them. I love the Pak's lapbooks! They're so beautiful.
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You said you found WTM a year ago? This is my 3rd year HSing and I'm just now feeling that I almost, not quite there yet, have this whole Classical education thing rolling. I think it would be hard to go from unschooling to 100% classical in a year. I would look at the parts of WTM that really hit home for you and just do those parts for now. Once those are cemented and part of the routine, ie not causing any stress to get done, add something else.
:iagree:
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In reading a few various threads I'm starting to wonder if we are taking the right approach. I'd be interested in hearing from both sides no matter where you fall on the issue. I just reserved the book "Better Late Than Early" by Raymond S. Moore but haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Here is my question. My daughter has a always been a quick and easy learner. She picks things up very quickly and has been advanced in most academic considered areas for pretty much her entire life. She's always done things sooner than kids her age. She is however, emotionally and socially just like any other kid, just a quick learner.
Because she's perfectly capable of doing it we started first grade this year. It hasn't been an issue. She is learning the material and doing fine. We had to tweak the way we were approaching Story of the World and switch it to a read-a-loud for "fun" rather than doing any review questions or narrations with it and we are also using the activity guide and further reading on our own, etc. But other than stopping with the review questions we haven't had any issues.
She sometimes dislikes giving some of her time to school (meaning she'd rather run off and go play Barbies sometimes) but once we start she's fine and we don't have any big battles or anything like that.
With that being said, just because she is capable of doing all of this first grade work should we be? Would our time be better spent waiting until next year and focusing on other things now?
My daughter turns 6 on Christmas Eve and would have started Kindergarten this year if she were in Public School. We decided on 1st grade because she's met every end of year item that would be expected from a Kindergartner simply by living our regular life. Up until this year we've never done any type of curriculum.
So, from those who have been down this road or for those that just have an opinion I am all ears. :bigear:
ETA: Haven't had a chance to read all the responses yet, working on it, but wanted to add that my daughter is only told that she is in Kindergarten. She has no idea she is doing first grade work. I didn't want that kind of pressure on her and I also don't want her to feel bad if her learning curve slows and she eventually is doing work that is grade level. Anyway, as far as she knows she in Kindergarten and that is what she tells people (family, friends, strangers) that ask.
My daughter was/is exactly like this. I ended up letting her work on a 1st grade level, but we called it K and kept it as informal as possible. If she didn't want to do school I didn't force her. That meant that some days she'd finish 3 lessons and some days she did none at all. Currently we're in her 1st grade year and we're doing 2nd grade work for the most part. I'm assuming that, while she may be a quick starter, eventually she'll slow down and work more on grade level. My plan is to continue to let her work on her own academic level but not let her "skip" grades. I think it's wise to avoid the possibility of her feeling like she always needs to be a grade ahead.
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This is our first year of doing 3 wks on 1 wk off. So far it's been the BEST school year we've ever had! Usually by now I've had at least one total burn-out episode (complete with sobbing "why am I doing this, again?") :tongue_smilie:but having that week off each month has been so great. I get a week to recover, catch up on housework, make dr. appointments, do major monthly grocery shopping etc.
The kids love it, too. My oldest does especially well with short term goals. Thus far they haven't had any problems with retention. It's probably the best homeschooling decision I've ever made!
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There have been many who said they're not anti-spanking but believe the OP needs some help with the disciplining. I was spanked as a child and have spanked my dds -BUT never 10x in one day and definitely not every day. I can count on one hand how many times I've spanked both dds. I think what is so disturbing is that the OP has spanked a 3 yr. old 10x in one day. One can "believe" in spanking and still think its being used incorrectly.
:iagree:And I wrote a post earlier stating so. However the posts that are accusing her of child abuse and talking about calling CPS are IMO unreasonable and that was what I was responding to. Probably foolishly, because I really don't want to get involved in a contraversy. :tongue_smilie:
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If I knew you personally I would call child protective services, that's how bad it looks on the outside.
The OP addressed her post specifically to people who believed in spanking- probably to avoid posts like yours that are honestly just presumptive and hurtful. While I believe she needs to try another method, to me her posts sound like she's a great mom, just at a loss for what to try next and looking for some advice. :)
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Um, yeah. You need to save the spankings for major issues, not every infraction or you'll be slapping her all day. That won't teach her to obey, that will teach her to flinch every time you move suddenly.
She's 3. This is just how 3 year olds are.
You're pregnant, and that's how pregnant women are.
While I'm all for obedience, I'm thinking the real problem is not your very normal 3 year old, I'm thinking it is your (entirely normal) lack of patience. Perhaps, for now, the best thing will be to avoid some of the issues by not seeing what she's doing.
I also think it's fine for your hubby to tell you to keep at it, but it isn't his heart hurting as he slaps his kid what feels like all day.
For what it's worth, when my 3 yo is being like this, I pick her up and say "Oh dear, dd is feeling naughty. Oh dear, she will have to go and be naughty in bed." And I plonk her down there. If there was some unresolved action like picking something up, or apologising, she has to do that when she gets back up. If she won't, I repeat.
:grouphug:
Rosie
I didn't read all the responses but I just wanted to say that I agree with Rosie.
If we learned anything with our first child, who was very strong-willed, it was PICK YOUR BATTLES. Every infraction does not a spanking deserve. It's simply not effective if it's done that often. You'll just end up closing out every day feeling like a failure and feeling defeated. Believe me. I know.
And yes, you're tired and pregnant- I so understand. :grouphug: But I am conviced that some kids simply LOVE the battle. If you draw a line in the sand, they can't help but step over. Not that you should never draw a line, obviously- but if you can, try not to have a "battle" over every little thing.
You might try using a timer and keeping things light-hearted. Like "Hey! I'm going to set the timer and let's see if we can get ALL these toys cleaned up in 2 minutes!". Chances are she'll be more compliant if you just approach her differently. I find that I can preempt a lot of potential conflicts that way.
Also, I know you said you don't use rewards- but honestly, at her age, a reward chart is a great tool. Little ones need encouragement as much as they need discipline. And using a reward system doesn't mean that you don't discipline or spank as needed.
:grouphug:'s to you. We all feel at a loss as parents sometimes. Just the fact that you are trying to figure it out shows that you're a great parent!
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Wonderfully!!
I love seeing exactly where we are just at a glance- I love *knowing* we're on track for the year- I love that the kids really take initiative with their own work now. Those amazing file folders have so far given us the smoothest school year ever! It's great for my very compartmentalized brain! :hurray:
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If you gave him a very short sentence such as, 'The boy hit the ball' and told him to use his best handwriting, would it look any better?
Maybe he could spell some of his spelling words out loud for you instead of writing them all down?
:iagree:
This exactly. I would cut down on his writing and focus on quality. You might try giving him short copywork sentences and talking him through his letter formations. (eg. "Capitol L- straight line down from the top line to the bottom line, short line across the bottom." When you see his letters hovering above the bottom line, remind him that they need to rest on the bottom line etc.) Doing this helped my kids learn to pay attention to how they write.
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Honestly, I get really nice clothes at Goodwill and other thrift stores. Clothes are usually $5 or less so you can get a lot of clothes. For younger children I can find pretty much anything I need in their sizes. Older ones are harder so often I supplement my thrift store run with a visit to Target etc. for them.
:iagree:
I have 5 kids- I can't imagine clothing them all with brand new clothes!! I usually make my list of everything each child is in need of, then we hit the thrift stores first, consignment stores for whatever we couldn't get at the thrift store, and then we'll visit Walmart or Target and fill in whatever is remaining (and get shoes, socks and undies). I also try to hit the season ending sales in summer and winter and get whatever I can for the next year. For example, at the end of last winter's season I got AMAZING winter coats for the kids for $4.50 brand new!
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I haven't read all the responses, but I do definitely get that there are many forms of cancer that need attention as well. I do have a very sincere question though. If "raising awareness" by wearing a pink ribbon or a pink shirt causes even ONE woman to "feel her boobies" or go get a mammogram, and that woman is found to have breast cancer, isn't it worth it? I get that some people are not actively doing anything in the fight against any kind of cancer. But I don't think that all the measures to raise awareness (not talking about the FB meme here) can be grouped as bad, unnecessary or insincere.
I get that many people's hearts are in the right place. Maybe I'm just cynical, but I don't like the "I heart boobies" campaign either. It annoys me.There are many other, more appropriate, ways to talk about breast cancer and encourage women to be proactive about their health.
I have yet to see anyone's status begin a dialogue on breast cancer. They have, almost invariably, elicited crass comments.
I just think that, in general, many people replace an actual act of charity with wearing a pink shirt or ribbon.
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I couldn't agree more. And with teenage boys going around with the I heart boobies slogans on, I feel like it sends the message that breast cancer is important because boys enjoy "boobies", so we should save them for that reason. Nevermind the person they're attached to. It really bothers me actually, and I've been surprised that the campaign has been so widely accepted. That's just me, though.
:iagree: I may get blasted for this, but IMHO "Raising Awareness" is false charity. Give yourself the feeling of having done something useful- which gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling and prevents you from doing something that is ACTUALLY useful.
This? Disgusting. Tactless. Childish. The few people I saw who did this- the conversation in comments went totally sexual- and nothing was ever said about breast cancer. Raising awareness??? Of what???
There's nothing sexy about breast cancer.
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I'm sorry, this post doesn't really have a clear path....just wondering if anyone else wants to talk about these particular aspects of her article, as it relates to your own life? If you have a hard time shaking that feeling, what do you think you'll do about it? If you have no problem ditching the "little things" for the deeper reading, how do you do that?? How do you rearrange your thoughts? How do you deal with the practicalities of rearranging your priorities, without sacrificing something else you need (like sleep or grocery money)?
I will first admit that I didn't read all 12 pages of responses... :p
but I just wanted to tell you what *I* do in order to fit it all in, rearranging priorities etc.
As a young girl I DEVOURED classic lit like there was no tomorrow. When other girls were reading "Sweet Valley High" or some such drivel, I was reading "War and Peace" and "Crime and Punishment". When I was in trouble, my parents took away my books as punishment. My whole family was like that. It was just our dynamic. My mom had no problem at all with letting the dishes go or leaving the housework while she was finishing a book.
However, as a wife and mother- I simply CAN'T let things go. I can't relax and read unless the housework is done and the laundry is folded. I have 4 small children and it just doesn't work for me.
So for the last several years, my reading suffered immensely. I have felt like an unchallenged, brain melting mess.
Don't get me wrong- I LOVE being wife and mother. I LOVE baking with the kids, making yummy dinners for my husband and creating a loving, homey environment for my family. But I desperately need a mental challenge.
Finally I decided that I HAD to find a way to challenge my brain and my soul again.
I made myself a reading list that will probably last until I die. I've joked that I'll be finishing the last book on my deathbed. It's a very challenging list, no "chic lit" because I just can't get into the stuff, but I'm sure I'll take breaks here and there to read books that I just WANT to read, and reread some of my favorites.
I have committed to reading for at LEAST 30 minutes (usually an hour) every afternoon during the kids' rest time. Instead of folding laundry, instead of doing dishes. And so far I've followed through- and so far it's been wonderful. I decide how quickly I want to finish whichever book I'm reading, and decided how many chapters I need to complete each day in order to do so. But I had to make the commitment to myself and get myself organized in order to follow through.
Anyway, I apologize if this doesn't make sense... my 4 littles are making a lot of noise... but I hope this helps a little! :)
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You'll probably be able to copy them at Kinko's for less than the cost of the new student pages plus shipping.. just a thought.
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at the ages my kids are? What does it take to make it work, if so? Is there a magic curriculum?
Everything I read is based on all of them being younger or some of them being much older. But none can cook supper unsupervised, & they're not all young enough to shrug & figure they're not learning anything vital this yr anyway.
I mean, sometimes I *feel* like they're not learning anything vital, lol, but that's the problem. I spent the weekend looking at SL, but deep down...I think that would only help a tiny bit, kwim? After beating my catalogue to death, I went to look at a bookshelf & had to step over so much mess--after cleaning house for company over the weekend!--that I thought, gee, even if I had a plan for Monday morning's school...I wouldn't be able to get to it until I'd unearthed my house.
Then one baby started screaming & pulling on me while the other snuck into the bathroom & started drinking from the toilet, & I though, huh. It may not be the lesson plans that are my biggest problem. :lol:
And then I realized we had nothing planned for dinner, & it was time to go to the grocery store. :001_huh:
So what do you think? Don't tell me to have a plan, please--I do. And I spend all of my time either planning or making the plan work, & we're surviving fine, but hs'ing? Ahh. I'm not sure it will get done well. (Or maybe I'm sure it won't!)
I have an 8, 5, 3, and 1 year old.
I, too, am incapable of just "letting the housework go". It may work for some- but for me it makes things so chaotic that it's simply not worth it.
So here's what I do.
I meal plan at the beginning of every week. I shop on the weekend when DH is home to keep the kids.
I get up early and get the house work done before school starts at 9:00.
I place the two toddlers in a room that is completely baby-proofed and put up a baby gate to confine them during school. I allow them to watch videos during this time. It doesn't work for the whole time- but it gives me at least an hour of peace and quiet to teach.
And.....I spend many days feeling as defeated as you sound. :grouphug:
I try to remind myself that in spite of all the noise, interruption and things not going as planned... I'm giving them a better education in both school and life then they would get otherwise. When I read the words "we're surviving" in your post I laughed because that's exactly how I feel most days. "Yay, I survived!" :tongue_smilie:
You can do it. Just a few more years and things will calm down. I promise. ;)
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OH, I'm sorry... were you just describing MY 8 year old boy or yours?? :tongue_smilie:
No great advice... just letting you know that we are dealing with the EXACT same behavior from our oldest boy, who also happens to be 8. We seem to discipline in the same way as well, except that I usually go to a spanking after the first chance to rephrase. ;) We also don't let him come back to be with the family until he's ready to apologize for his behavior and ask for forgiveness. He always does that very well.
And it's not tv... because we don't watch any tv! :confused:
Quite honestly.. I think it's a phase that he WILL grow out of as long as I am consistent. I know for a fact that my son DOES understand the need for respect of authority, because not only have I talked myself blue in the face about the importance of respect, but also he does not talk to his dad the same way or show his attitude to him. Nor does he behave disrespectfully to any other adult. Just me.
:grouphug: Here's hoping it gets better for both of us! I always tell myself that God has a amazing plan for that child- he's strong and persistent and someday- if I can do my part in training him- he will use that aspect of his personality for good! :)
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Guns weren't mysterious then. They were a tool (and still are for many of us) that parents taught their children to use carefully just like my dh gives careful instruction and supervision with power tools and yard tools.
Your friends growing up didn't give your family's guns a second thought because they probably had a similar gun rack and instruction. As our country gets more urbanized and hunting becomes more difficult and expensive there are less guns used on a regular basis and the children are not exposed to them as a tool, only as something "forbidden".
As guns move from keeping company with things like a hot stove or a combine they move into the realm of off-limits things like drugs and beer. Going from "tool" to "temptation" has its bad points.
:iagree:
This is exactly what I think. Also, since my dad was a hunter, we saw first-hand what a gun could do- every time he brought home his game.
My thought, after hosting playdates, is that it's not the gun, it's the family's failure to teach respect. I suspect their parents left that training to the sitter, or just wearied and gave up if it wasn't their upbringing in the first place. It really doesn't matter that it's a gun hidden in the master bedroom - these older children have never been taught to keep their hands to themselves or their persons in the public areas of a home. They have to see and touch everything. The concept of privacy or out-of-bounds doesn't exist for them. I know if I was in another home, I as a child would stop at the bedroom door - I had been trained to know a bedroom was private and not for me to be in without my parent's explicit permission. Continuing on in would mean that I lost my parents' respect. I've had child visitors who will open the garage door while my child is hollering for me because they just can't leave it alone (these aren't invited back and it is discussed with the parent at pickup)...they wanna expore and think they have a right to do so...obviously have never been clued in to the meaning of a closed door. Same with property..you can't take it just because you want it. It's not yours. You don't have permission from the owner.:iagree:
Also exactly correct. We keep our gun locked in a gun safe for this very reason. I've actually had people over who's children not only entered my bedroom but promptly proceeded to dig through my closet and play with what they found. :confused: And the parents thought nothing of it. I would have DIED before I entered one of my friend's parents bedroom. Children aren't taught simple respect anymore.
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After much musing over this very subject myself... I ended up going with the Story of the Ancients. http://www.nothingnewpress.com/guerber/ancient.html recommended to me by someone on this board! :) I'm very excited- it looks like it will go perfectly with SOTW 1! I will just add in chapters chronologically.
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Just curious after reading a few other threads if any else is planning on delaying teaching modern history to their young ones.
This has been my plan from the beginning, but I kind of figured I was the only one. (I tend to be the rebel) :tongue_smilie:
We're taking 6 years to get through our first history cycle, spending extra time on Ancient, Middle Ages and Early Modern with the duel purpose of covering them more thoroughly and delaying modern history.
If others are doing this, what's your plan? My plan is to add in plenty of Biblical history to Ancients, Reformation and Church History to Middle Ages, and lots of American History to Early Modern.
And if you are teaching Modern- how do you plan to approach it in an age appropriate way?
Thanks! :)
Sending DS to a Private Classical School this year...
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
Thanks. I know we're doing the right thing for right now- I'm just having a really hard time letting go of having complete control over curriculum, schedule etc. It's going to be a hard adjustment, I think. For me AND for him!