Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I hate that. You are going along with your life, happy and content, then someone questions you and adds doubt.:glare: So either reassure me we are fine or tell me what to do. Dd is 7 and in 2nd. Her schedule is: Bible (our own thing) 5-15 mins Spelling (old 4th grade speller done every other week) 15 mins Vocabulary (Wordly Wise book 2 done every other week) 15-20 mins Language (FLL 3) About 15 mins Oral Math (using a vintage math book) 20 mins Assigned reading time varies but average 20 mins break ideally this is a 20 minute break unless I need to help my ds on something Math (BJU 3rd) 45mins Science (Apologia Astronomy and ES Astronomy) 20 mins World Geography (my own curriculum) 20-30 mins Book Basket time which consists of books on the subjects being studied in Geography and Science...30 mins Art and some Latin are thrown in during the week but will-nilly like, no scheduled days. Times do vary but we are done by lunch. This was what was questioned, her being done by lunch. The person felt she was doing too little and I need to add in more work. What is your opinion? Should I add more or spend more time in a subject? Keep it the way it is? Grrrr, I hate when this happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Sounds very balanced to me and I don't see what you could be missing. Considering past threads about times in elementary it seems often people average to about # of hrs= grade of school. We can be done by lunch here or we can take multiple breaks and go all day, depending on my mood, their mood and our schedule for the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Woods Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 What are they comparing times too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiegers Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 That seems fine to me. We're doing Gr 3 this year and we're finished by lunch time. I don't want to spend all day doing school work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 My 3rd grader has a similar amount of subjects, but her times are much longer. She cannot finish that much before lunch. So it just sounds to me like your child is extremely focused. If you took my 8 yr old and did the same program with her, you would have a hard time getting her to focus and transition that many times before lunch. So it would be the same amount of work, but it would take a couple of hours after lunch for her to finish (plus a little math homework at night..) So it sounds fine to me. I am jealous over your dd's ability to stay focused and get it done that quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 What are they comparing times too? I can only think PS. Her children are all grown, but she did homeschool for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 you are fine. we were done by lunch even last year with grades 3 and 4! And this year we are well beyond lunch and we miss those days of lunch being our bell. It's more than enough for 2nd grade time wise and subject wise. let it roll right off your shoulders... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 My 3rd grader has a similar amount of subjects, but her times are much longer. She cannot finish that much before lunch. So it just sounds to me like your child is extremely focused. If you took my 8 yr old and did the same program with her, you would have a hard time getting her to focus and transition that many times before lunch. So it would be the same amount of work, but it would take a couple of hours after lunch for her to finish (plus a little math homework at night..) So it sounds fine to me. I am jealous over your dd's ability to stay focused and get it done that quickly. I was blessed with 2 like this, my oldest son and dd...both think school is/was a bother so lets get it done and life can begin. The other two sons would stare out the window and only come back to earth with prodding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks all. Just needed reassurance. At the time she said it I just let it slide but as one gets comfy in bed and is going over the days events I started to dwell on her words. Left me sleepless and second guessing. I will proceed as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disney Dreaming Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) Your schedule is fine. Ignore these kind of comments. Edited September 6, 2012 by ugamom11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I had a similar conversation with a co-worker...we were discussing kindergarten (I HS, her kids are in PS.) She asked how long our work takes. I told her that seatwork took about an hour a day. Her response? "How can that one hour possibly compare to the 6 hours my daughter spends in school?" I then mentioned how one-on-one instruction is very productive, and I wasn't factoring in reading time, arts & crafts, piano lessons, horseback riding, etc. etc. etc. I think she "got it" after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Your schedule looks fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 You're totally fine. That looks like a balanced, challenging mixture. Some people don't have a clue how efficient homeschooling can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 A second grader done by lunch is fine. I am schooling a second grader and a Ker and most days we are finished by lunch except science/history. And I cannot imagine doing MORE. You are fine. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I had a similar conversation with a co-worker...we were discussing kindergarten (I HS, her kids are in PS.) She asked how long our work takes. I told her that seatwork took about an hour a day. Her response? "How can that one hour possibly compare to the 6 hours my daughter spends in school?" I then mentioned how one-on-one instruction is very productive, and I wasn't factoring in reading time, arts & crafts, piano lessons, horseback riding, etc. etc. etc. I think she "got it" after that. Isn't that funny. And just think that back in the day, K wasn't mandatory in our state, so dh never went at all. He just went straight to 1st grade at age 6 w/no prior preschool or anything. I only went to K for 2 hrs a day. That 2 hrs included story time and craft time or playing with clay daily and a little seat work with a full class of kids. How did we ever pass the rest of elementary school ? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I have learned not to compare our schedule to other people's schedules. My 7th graders get finished very quickly. But they still do more work than most ps kids. They just work fast (they want to get it over with!). Your friend would be shocked to hear that they are often done by lunch as well. They do start fairly early...but it just doesn't take them long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Woods Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I can only think PS. Her children are all grown, but she did homeschool for a while. I think your schedule looks fine. :) Granted I am only starting.... first grade..... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I can only think PS. Her children are all grown, but she did homeschool for a while. She probably did "school at home" style of HSing. Here's the thing; as a HSer you spend every waking moment learning. When yu have a coversation about "why the sky is blue", to her helping you bake a cake, she is learning. Next time someone asks about your schedule tell them "we're HSers, we never stop learning". For this woman in particular.... well, she's wrong. It's not about the amount of time or even the amount of work. It's about the quality and retention of the material (from a book or your brain makes no Diff.) that should count. More importantly it's about the joy you and your child feel each and every day you spend together. Now I have to go nag my children to hurry up... Lollygaggers!;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I was honestly expecting the opposite comment (not to make you concerned in the opposite direction). I probably sound like a complete slacker when answering such questions. Ultimately, a general description of what we do and how long it takes doesn't remotely communicate my child's education. Especially since I don't actually schedule or time history and science related stuff or count our modern foreign language studies at all. Or piano. So, when asked about how long we "do school", I refer only to table work which can take as little as 45 minutes. On the one hand I'm wondering if I should blush because it sounds like I don't have high educational standards and on the other hand I'm usually hiding the fact that my child spends a third of that seat time on Latin (and then two/three more languages which I'm typically leaving entirely off the radar). Can I also mention, for anyone that would be offended in similar situations, it's during conversations like these that I might mention DS being advanced in various key areas just to make up for the fact that it looks like he does next to nothing and it sounds less pretentious than mentioning that he's learning 3-4 languages, including, and primarily, Latin. Basically, I don't really want to talk about it at all and am hoping the circling sharks will move on, not examine me closer. I really don't feel like I can come out on top of any encounter. I know, I'm a wimp. :closedeyes: It's a character flaw that I'm working on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Looks just fine to me. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 :D Thanks all. We will happily continue with our short days. Maybe I need a multi sided sign to put out on the front lawn when dd is out there:Nature Study in Progress, or role playing, cooking simulation(for mud pie and nature soup making), animal husbandry(when playing with the dog), botany class, PE...things like that. Might make her happy knowing school is still in session even though dd is out having fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 That's completely fine for that age, especially if she stays on task. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I think she's fine. My ds was done before lunch when he was in second grade and we did similar subjects. If he's on the ball and starts early, he can get done before lunch now (fourth grade). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 :D Thanks all. We will happily continue with our short days. Maybe I need a multi sided sign to put out on the front lawn when dd is out there:Nature Study in Progress, or role playing, cooking simulation(for mud pie and nature soup making), animal husbandry(when playing with the dog), botany class, PE...things like that. Might make her happy knowing school is still in session even though dd is out having fun. Is this person a neighbor? Now I'm wondering what kind of sign I could put up for a nosy neighbor-friend when DS it outside prowling the property and practicing his bird calls .. or when the whole herd it outside role-playing various animals (some fictional) while the neighbor's children are at school. I could have DS make the signs and file it under "art". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsanniep Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 My 2nd grader would be done by lunch, too, if we started an hour earlier and I didn't combine some subjects (like history) with older brother. I think you're fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Looks fine to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happycc Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 you are in the wrong rabbit hole. Everyone's rabbit hole is different. I have four kids in the house right now. Three kids are being homeschooled. I farm out one child every half hour to keep the three years old in check. Another child is farmed out for lunch prep. We start at 9am and not truly finished til about 6:30pm. Our days seem long but there are tons of breaks for each child due to playing/watching three yrs old. Now that I have been on preterm contractions and need acupuncture everyday (just this week)---the days are longer because I am not there to do direct teaching. This schedule should decrease by next week to three times a week, then two times and then one time a week. But this is what works for our family. Everyone is different. Some kids whizz throught their work and others don't and need lots of breaks. Heck I need the break so sometimes I let the kids play while I take a bathroom break or just a break in general. Every family determines their subjects and how long they should take. We have lots of subjects because it makes the day go by faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 We were done by lunch for grades K-5 (and way earlier in grades K-2). And it was rigorous even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaddon Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 These are my thoughts, my 7 year old son wouldn't get that much done on a good day. However, it is because he drags a 10 minute lesson into an hour :( If he worked like he was supposed to then we could finish by lunch. Never would I say someone is doing too little after hearing that!! My 5 year old will come closer to doing so than my oldest ever will. Some kids are better managers of their time, as are some adults. Don't let it get you down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I agree with the # of hours per grade in school. My 2nd grader works quickly. If I just had her and did all of her seatwork in one go, she would get the basics done in 1-2hours. I am constantly getting to the end of the day feeling like she's missing something...and realizing, no - she just works efficiently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I remember asking my father when I was about ten why on earth I had to spend 6 hours at school to do less than 3 hours work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Somewhere there is a bit of research indicating that elementary school kids only spend a fraction of their school time doing actual productive schoolwork. Can't reference it off the top of my head but somebody on here probably knows what I'm talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Friends of mine have "The Nancy Rule" (named after Nancy Wilson): No deep introspection after 10 pm. That's what gets us into trouble :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 If you'd add more time just for the sake of time, then that's silly. If she's getting it all done by noon and you feel comfortable with her work load, then it's all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 (edited) Our 2nd grade only took 2.5 hours total. This year, 3rd is a bit longer, and when adding in the K'er I usually can't get done by lunch, but sometimes we can. ETA: Forgot to mention that I see absolutely nothing wrong with your schedule. :) Edited September 7, 2012 by boscopup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JESSICAinMD Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Your schedule looks complete to me. Home schooling is more efficient than public school. That is just one of the many benefits. One of the drawbacks are comments that make you doubt yourself. Hold your head high; you are doing great! :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids13971 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 you seem to have a well rounded schedule with a very focused child. congrats on that! My son is 4th grade and is finished by lunch. he can't handle too much on his plate or he crumbles so I keep it light. I have been questioned also about him, so I test him once a month to see if he is retaining the work. and he does retain and I can tell he is learning when he reads and talks. You have to ignore the comments and do what works for you and your family. its hard, but in the end, you will be the one to deal with the results, either way. It's easy for others to have an opinion about your life, when they don't live it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janainaz Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 I agree, it looks fine. I believe in shorter, meaningful lessons in the younger years. I have never wanted my kids to dread learning - and long, tiresome lessons are sure to create anxiety. All of my friends have their kids in public school, and a couple of them have kids who are there ALL day and come home with loads of homework. These kids are in 1st and 2nd grade! Wow, what a way to burn a kid out on school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie131 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 That looks pretty similar to what we do. I'm doing K and 2 and we're done by lunch most days :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 It looks just fine to me. Sylvia is done with most of her work before we break for lunch; she just does "together stuff" afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliegmom Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I agree that your schedule looks just fine. Go with what works for you and your child. My 2nd grader is usually done by lunch too! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.