Need a little help getting thru the day!

[cseitter]

I have twin (Boy/Girl) 6 year olds and a 4.5 year old DD doing K this year together and to add to the chaos I have a 16 year old ADD son at home as well.

 

I am very happy with my curriculum choices but I am having a hard time getting anything done other than phonics and math. It is taking me almost 2 hrs for phonics and about 1.5 for Math. My son is about 15 mins with each but my 2 girls just want to go and go. I use HOP for phonics and Singapore Essenitals K for Math.

 

I have a great history and science program I would really like to try but by the time I get through those 2 subjects my brain is exhausted!! Never mind the read alouds, bible study or anything else we could be doing. I need a nap!

 

Also I am trying to throw in HWOT K. Should that be individual as well? How in the world do K teachers do this with upwards of 30 kids in a classroom and keep their sanity? My kids want me RIGHT NOW.

 

So how can I get it done in a day without losing my mind or my head actually spin right off my shoulders from looking in so many different directions??

 

Thanks

Cindy

[MerryAtHope]

I am very happy with my curriculum choices but I am having a hard time getting anything done other than phonics and math. It is taking me almost 2 hrs for phonics and about 1.5 for Math. My son is about 15 mins with each but my 2 girls just want to go and go. I use HOP for phonics and Singapore Essenitals K for Math.

 

Set time limits for their subjects. If they want to "play school" during their free time and do more pages, play with manipulatives, pretend to teach each other or really do some school, that's their choice. But it's fine for you to say that's all for now, and move on to another subject (like the history and science programs!)

 

I have a great history and science program I would really like to try but by the time I get through those 2 subjects my brain is exhausted!! Never mind the read alouds, bible study or anything else we could be doing. I need a nap!

 

Try starting with these subjects instead of saving them for last. When my kids were little, I used to read Bible during breakfast (now we do it after), and then read history and science.

 

You can also try a loop schedule. Let's say you have 8 subjects you would like to do, but you only get through 5 of them. The next day you would start with subjects 6-8, then start over with 1 again. You can also do a partial loop where you work on some things like math & phonics daily, but loop the others.

 

Remember, you don't have to do everything in one day, it's fine to rotate some subjects!

 

Also I am trying to throw in HWOT K. Should that be individual as well? How in the world do K teachers do this with upwards of 30 kids in a classroom and keep their sanity? My kids want me RIGHT NOW.

 

K teachers aren't able to do a lot of 1 on 1 as you are--they teach a topic and walk around the room while kids practice. I actually think it's better to be able to give a lot of one on one with handwriting though. If they get wrong habits ingrained now, it's very difficult to undo those habits later. Try sitting at the table while your kids practice, and you can write as well--notes to people, copying recipes, lists of things to do--any writing that you want or need to accomplish. This way you model good habits and the importance of writing, how practical it is--plus you can keep an eye on their formation and praise them for holding the pencil correctly or for a well-formed letter. Encourage them to look for well-formed letters too, and put a smiley face or small sticker above their best one.

 

As for your kids wanting you "right now," this is normal at this age. But it is good to teach them to wait and take turns. Everywhere in society we have to wait at times--at the bank, post office, store check-out lines etc... I established with my kids early on that if I am working with one child, the other was not to interrupt for anything except extreme emergencies (broken bones, lots of blood, fire, etc...). If you are all working at a table together, then you could make a little "I need help" stand for them to put up when they want help, and then you'll get to them when you are done with the last one. Or they can wait to ask and move on to something else while they wait. You can set up centers with manipulatives, puzzles, lacing beads, and other various learning activities for them to do while they wait for help.

 

HTH some! Merry :-)

[Esse Quam Videri]

Merry has some great advice! I would also add that we enjoyed A Reason For Handwriting K at that age, which is really indepedent. Also, once they are reading well enough, you could use a very early reader bible (we used this one) to get some bible stories in. We also love the Seeds Family Worship CDs for Bible memory. Pick one song to play ever day, and by the end of the week you'll be surprised by how well they know it. They could even have free dancing time while you have the song on repeat, which would burn off some of that energy!