UmMusa Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 We moved across the country 2 months ago, and I hs'd during a brief corporate housing stay. We're now settling into a rental house (still looking to buy), and I need to pick our stuff for next year. I need a fellow homeschooler to talk to! My thoughts are on many pressing issues in addition to homeschool, and I want to pick a good path for my girls. This year my 9 yr old has given me attitude and tears. Last time we had a school day I told her I was done. She wants to stay home and theoretically I want her home, too. That's why I'm leaning towards Oak Meadow. She is artsy, sweet, and doesn't seem to do well with the classical approach we've been using the past two years. My to-be 2nd grader is different than her sister. She can take on more work and is already in FLL2, WWE 2, and finished Spelling Workout B. I can probably continue with her as we are plus a science like Elemental Science maybe. I just want some chit chat and ideas. I'm tempted to try MCT for the 2nd grader, but I have all of SWB's materials that I'd hate to ditch them. Anyone up for talking me through this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalynnrmc Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 **hugs** I'm not sure that I have any advice for you at all, but wanted to extend some encouragement. It takes a while to find your groove, a good 2 years at least, and some of us are still looking for ours. ;) If what you've been doing isn't working, then change it! That's the glory of homeschooling. :) And if you have to change it again, so what? It's about meeting your student(s) where she is, coming beside her, holding her hand if she needs you to, and walking along with her. Is it possible that she might be dealing with a hidden learning or physical issue, such as needing glasses or something like dyslexia (just pulled one out of the air there)? Or is it mostly an attitude issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 Thank you, that's so kind of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 When ds was 10 every day was a struggle. I forgot what it was like for him to do his work without a battle. We switched to Ambleside for a few months and now we are back to classical. I don't know if it was the break or the birthday, but he has calmed down and gotten back to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 I've never read about Ambleside. Can I google it or do I need a link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 My ds (9 years old) has been giving me a constant battle this year. I'm going to try a lot of different arts focused stuff next year. A lot of hands on projects. I really like Ambleside and I have OM 4th grade in the wings for him as well as Bravewriter and I'm going to put more focus on arts and music through Harmony Fine Arts. I'm doing a FIAR type method with my youngest ds with Peak With Books and Caldecott and a lot of Waldorf inspired stuff with my 2 year old. I honestly really like WTM and the classical stuff and we'll still use some of those resources and ideas (SOTW and WWE) but I had a huge realization that my kids and my family are more arts-centric and not so much into pedantic intellectualism. If you're up for it you could tweak SWBs materials a bit to fit your needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Wizards Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 How about something like Moving Beyond the Page for your 9 year old? I haven't used or seen the whole curriculum in person, but my 10 year old did one of their literature units and really enjoyed it this year. We'll probably do more of their lit. units in the future based upon this experience. Just a thought for you. If your 2nd grader is doing well with what you're currently using, I'd continue on with it since you already have it. Since you have a lot on your mind right now and you are trying to find something to work with the older one, I'd stick with what's working for the other just to make things easier on you. MCT will still be there the following year if you decide that you want to switch things up for her (and it is suggested for gifted 3rd graders, so waiting another year probably isn't a bad idea anyway). So there are my thoughts. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohmomjacquie Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 My 8yo gives me a hassle. Our 1st year was rough! This year has been much better. Like previous people said it taken a few years to get used to.we did a work/text book approach the past two years. I found mfw this spring. It's so different from what we've done so far but I'm so excited for the change! No curriculum is perfect. One thing I found very helpful with my stubborn/defiance is setting a strict schedule for our school day.. set a time limit for each lesson and unfinished work is 'homework '. It cut out a lot of the complaints and and stubbornness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 AmblesideOnline. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Sometimes instead of switching we need to slow down. Not only do things get "harder" but they get more abstract, and less applicable to daily life. The default to being a "good" homeschool mom of "on grade level" students is to top down plan a schedule that will prepare a student to COMPETE for a very limited number of expensive openings at just a few selective colleges. To be "on grade level" we are expecting ALL our "normal" children to compete with the brightest and richest children in the nation, and beat them at THEIR own game. Most of the time the default plan is going to fail. It just is. People can point to falling standards quoting vintage books. Yes, there WERE children who used the books with the grade levels listed, but the average child did NOT. The average student dropped out, or took extra years to cover the grade 8 curriculum. My biggest gripe with the default curriculum is how disconnected it is from the life of most students. I've discovered that I like using rigorous materials years later than they were written for. I like the TOPICS better than the more abstract ones. Really take a look at the topics you are teaching. Do you think they are truly worthy of your time at any age? Are you just presenting them too early? Have you written a family and homeschool mission statement. I am very sorry that the only good one I know of is Christian, but maybe reading it will give you ideas to adapt it. Start with YOUR mission statement. Find materials that will guide you on YOUR path. Use them at developmentally correct times. Be careful to pick materials you like. It is possible to be TAUGHT with materials we don't like, but almost impossible to TEACH with them. I know it sounds selfish and mean, but what you think of the materials counts more than what she does. This is a marathon not a sprint. You are the Captain and you have a long journey ahead of you. If you burn out, it's going to be bad for them. Be selfish! It's the least selfish thing you can do in the LONG run. Trust me I got burnt out and sick and the consequences to my family were catastrophic. Till you get back on your feet, I'd suggest just math and reading for awhile as priorities. And have her write and draw about what she read about. Have here listen to audio books as she reads along, when the books are challenging. Start your day off in prayer and worship and study of your holy book. Make sure you get outside if you can. I'm not sure of your restrictions and how difficult that might be. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 AmblesideOnline. :) Thank you for posting the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 Wow, thanks to all of you and especially to Hunter. That gives me a lot to think about and i appreciate it. Part of me doesn't want to homeschool the kids anymore, but another part feels it is the right thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Any news? How are things going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thanks for asking about me. I've dropped all "school" for the time being. Even though we technically had 4 or5 weeks left I feel like they've accomplished a lot and have certainly read a whole lot. I"m mulling over what I want from my kids, from homeschool. We're still not very settled. Furniture is not yet situated... so I need to chill for a while. I saved that link on making your mission statement... having a Godly perspective is what we're all about, and the language of that little text isn't too far off of what we believe. I need to renew my intention of why I'm homeschooling, and I need to pray and know that God will provide a way. Thanks for your support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 We moved across the country 2 months ago, and I hs'd during a brief corporate housing stay. We're now settling into a rental house (still looking to buy), and I need to pick our stuff for next year. I need a fellow homeschooler to talk to! My thoughts are on many pressing issues in addition to homeschool, and I want to pick a good path for my girls. This year my 9 yr old has given me attitude and tears. Last time we had a school day I told her I was done. She wants to stay home and theoretically I want her home, too. That's why I'm leaning towards Oak Meadow. She is artsy, sweet, and doesn't seem to do well with the classical approach we've been using the past two years. My to-be 2nd grader is different than her sister. She can take on more work and is already in FLL2, WWE 2, and finished Spelling Workout B. I can probably continue with her as we are plus a science like Elemental Science maybe. I just want some chit chat and ideas. I'm tempted to try MCT for the 2nd grader, but I have all of SWB's materials that I'd hate to ditch them. Anyone up for talking me through this? You could do MCT with both your DD7 and DD9. My two oldest do it together and it works beautifully. MCT is perfect for an artsy kid like your DD9. You don't have to ditch WWE and FLL either. They're apples and oranges and we like all kinds of fruit here. :D I will also add that the times I get the most attitude and tears out of my kids are the times when I am least consistent. It sounds like you have had a lot of change the last few months. Give yourself some grace. :grouphug: We also moved (around the beginning of May) and we're just now settling into a groove with life. School schmool. :tongue_smilie: I tried to start up again last week and realized I didn't have my ducks perfectly in a row like they need to be for me to focus. Fine. You know what, kids? Play in the pool until July and I'll get back to you. Lining up my ducks now, setting up my school room, etc. and all will be well. Today I'm a little side-tracked in the duck rearranging department by the fact that I've been babysitting a Mastiff since 7 am, but that is beside the point... He just went home, so back to the ducks! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I've been thinking about you. I'm glad I didn't offend you with the link. I thought it might help. Today I sent another person to this link. American School is a correspondance course based off of a TYPICAL public school curriculum. They offer both GENERAL and college prep curricula. The GENERAL diploma is what most PS students are ACTUALLY doing. I think it's important to see what is typical before making a decision to send a child back to PS thinking it will be "better" than what can be provided at home. And for people of certain faiths and beliefs, academics is NOT the primary decision maker of what is best, anyway. BUT...it's nice to just look, sometimes :-) Another link you might find interesting is an African Waldorf version of child development and what they believe should be taught at certain ages. Waldorf usually has a bit of a kind of a pagan and Christian flavor, that can vary from person to person and country to country in how they choose to teach, but...I think you might find something of value here, again. I truly wish I had an African Muslim version to send you to, but...I don't :-( The African version is more Christian and less pagan and conservative and simple than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Are you familiar with the Waldorf 9 year change theories? If so, sounds like OM might be a good fit. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Are you familiar with the Waldorf 9 year change theories? If so, sounds like OM might be a good fit. :) Never heard of it. Is it a philosophy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Never heard of it. Is it a philosophy? It's a big deal in Waldorf education circles regarding child development. From what I can tell, sounds almost like a mini-puberty. ;) Anyway, becaue of it, 9 year olds have lots of practical work...and focus on shelters, gardening, building, etc. Stories are ofter Native American/Aboriginal and Old Testament stores. These articles are pretty good on it: http://www.waldorfinthehome.org/2012/02/parenting_the_nine_year_old_1.html http://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/02/01/the-nine-year-old-an-anthroposophic-perspective/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 It sounds like slowing down is working well for you. I hope you get things situated with your move soon. That is always hard. I agree with the recommendation to try MCT. We love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 It's a big deal in Waldorf education circles regarding child development. From what I can tell, sounds almost like a mini-puberty. ;) Anyway, becaue of it, 9 year olds have lots of practical work...and focus on shelters, gardening, building, etc. Stories are ofter Native American/Aboriginal and Old Testament stores. These articles are pretty good on it: http://www.waldorfinthehome.org/2012/02/parenting_the_nine_year_old_1.html http://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/02/01/the-nine-year-old-an-anthroposophic-perspective/ Ohhh, those articles made me feel a little sad for my girl. They describe her to a T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Ohhh, those articles made me feel a little sad for my girl. They describe her to a T. If so, then the 3rd grade Waldorf stories and handiwork might really resonate with her. :) The Earthschooling lady also has an ISlamic Waldorf option. SHe'll send it to you with any curriculum you buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 If so, then the 3rd grade Waldorf stories and handiwork might really resonate with her. :) The Earthschooling lady also has an ISlamic Waldorf option. SHe'll send it to you with any curriculum you buy. Assalamu alaikom, do you mean from the first link you put from waldorf? I've never read anything Waldorf so I'm not sure what you're talking about by the Waldorf stories. (by the way, my DD will be 5th grade in fall, although she is a very young 5th grader. she turns 10 Aug 31) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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