Tabrett Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Which would you prefer? 1. Start the school year a little too academically heavy then ease up? 2. Gradually start the school year and progress up to the desired academic level? I would rather start my year very heavy academically to "shock" the child back into school then light up. I feel like at the beginning they are ready to fly and most curricululms try to ease into the routine. Then the child gets used to a lighter load and starts to rebel when the load reaches the proper level. Kind of like pulling out onto an interstate. You punch the gas to really get going - then you set the speed to cruise. What say the hive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I like to gradually increase the work load by subject. So we'd start full steam with math, then add writing a few days later, then science, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I start easy but only for 1-2 weeks, then it's full steam ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patchfire Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 What I find is that when we start the year academically heavy, dd quickly rises to the challenge. By this time of the year, I'm feeling like I'm not requiring enough, even though it's the same load that she's had since the beginning (or even more, in a few subjects, as she's moved to the next level of the curriculum). That's her personality, though, and I fully expect that one or more of my others will require a different approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I hit the books hard from the get-go. We tend to naturally slow down a bit as the illnesses start creeping in during the Fall :glare: and get slow again at Christmas. After the Christmas break, we start hard again so as to get in some good amount of work before the blahness of mid February/March hits and Spring Fever begins. We typically get our best work done in Sept/Oct and again in January/beginning of Feb. If *we* attempted to start slow and ramp up, I don't think we'd ever get to the "ramp-up" part. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I hit the books hard from the get-go. We tend to naturally slow down a bit as the illnesses start creeping in during the Fall :glare: and get slow again at Christmas. After the Christmas break, we start hard again so as to get in some good amount of work before the blahness of mid February/March hits and Spring Fever begins. We typically get our best work done in Sept/Oct and again in January/beginning of Feb. If *we* attempted to start slow and ramp up, I don't think we'd ever get to the "ramp-up" part. :001_huh: :iagree: This is exactly how we are. Although I have a yearly plan so when those blahs hit, I can only get so far behind before I am snapped like a rubber band back into reality. LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I start easy but only for 1-2 weeks, then it's full steam ahead! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 If we don't start full speed, we all tend to think it's optional. eta: plus it's nice to lighten the load when we get tired of stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Which would you prefer?1. Start the school year a little too academically heavy then ease up? 2. Gradually start the school year and progress up to the desired academic level? I would rather start my year very heavy academically to "shock" the child back into school then light up. I feel like at the beginning they are ready to fly and most curricululms try to ease into the routine. Then the child gets used to a lighter load and starts to rebel when the load reaches the proper level. Kind of like pulling out onto an interstate. You punch the gas to really get going - then you set the speed to cruise. What say the hive? It might depend on the child. There is no way my kids would do well with starting heavy, it would overwhelm them and they would shut down. If you build them up a little at a time they can adjust to a lot. But I actually hs year around. I do add new work at the beginning of a traditional school year, and I usually do one new topic/change a week. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 What I find is that when we start the year academically heavy, dd quickly rises to the challenge. By this time of the year, I'm feeling like I'm not requiring enough, even though it's the same load that she's had since the beginning (or even more, in a few subjects, as she's moved to the next level of the curriculum). That's her personality, though, and I fully expect that one or more of my others will require a different approach. :iagree: Nine-and-a-half is so different from just-turned-nine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I like to start heavier and level off. However this year we had so many distractions that we've only completed 4 days a week for most of the year. So we late getting up to speed and I feel like I'm going to have to crack the whip come January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 We started heavily, then have lightened up. That said, when I hs'd our oldest, and now with the littles, we won't be taking full summers off. That is when we will go light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I didn't vote. With the exception that we go lighter in the summer so we have more time for outdoor activities, I start the school year exactly how I plan to finish it (unless we finish one program and move into another). Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Other. We start out heavy in January, work hard through April, take a break in May. Work hard June to September and do a more relaxed schedule for the rest of the year. I've found that kids have a hard time focusing starting toward the end of October until after the holidays.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauracolumbus Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 We start out light and the kids don't seem to notice that their workload is gradually increasing. They think they're getting away with something at the beginning of the year and feel lucky to be homeschooled. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 We pretty much just keep a steady pace, so I didn't vote either! :) I know what I want to accomplish each quarter (every 3 months), which is 25% of our annual goals. So if we've surpassed 25% of the annual goal before the end of the quarter, then we branch out into some elective subjects, or do a few more science projects, or linger a little longer with history, or take a couple of days off, etc. Right now we're about 50% through our "school year" and about 60-65% of the way through our goals. Perfect, since we're hoping to take a month off for a cross-country move (please, God, soon!). :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubermomto5 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 every year is so different with 5 children (and we have often had a new baby around) that i start strict on the routine but a little under the schooling i expect us to settle into. i find that it is not the work that is hard but getting used to the new structure. we have a summer structure which is not school oriented. once they get the hang of the routine, when we take breaks, when to settle down, it is easier to get things done. and of course we have the same conflicts as the winter approaches, so we lighten up, and then they're ready to focus again after the holidays. we really end up on a 6-7 week cycle without meaning to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 We don't start harder or softer. We just start up exactly as we left off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 For me, I would prefer to start light then ramp it up and then lighten again towards the end. For the dc though, I think it would be easier if I started full tilt hard and then gradually lightened up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Gifts Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I hit the books hard from the get-go. We tend to naturally slow down a bit as the illnesses start creeping in during the Fall :glare: and get slow again at Christmas. After the Christmas break, we start hard again so as to get in some good amount of work before the blahness of mid February/March hits and Spring Fever begins. We typically get our best work done in Sept/Oct and again in January/beginning of Feb. If *we* attempted to start slow and ramp up, I don't think we'd ever get to the "ramp-up" part. :001_huh: :iagree::iagree::iagree: I don't know how to highlight the above text, so I just copied and pasted it! That's us!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 We don't start harder or softer. We just start up exactly as we left off. :iagree:We begin as we mean to go on--that's the only way I can stay on task. I am too ready to take things easy, and then get mad at myself when dc aren't accomplishing what I wish they were and I know they're capable of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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