History/Science planning

[Walking-Iris]

I have my plans for materials for all three kiddos set for next year. The only thing I'm trying to figure out now is a workable plan/schedule. I've decided that the WTM plan of science 2 days and history 3 days a week is not working. My kids lose interest in that time frame. Doing it every afternoon seems to work better for my kids as far as retention and keeping up interest. But I can't realistically get to both of those content subjects and keep up with the basics daily (and I have to run a home too you know!)

 

I've been reading a lot about loop and block schedules. So my new idea is to immerse them in one topic for a short time. They really seem to respond to that approach. So I'm thinking 2 weeks of history daily coming to a conclusion on a "unit/topic" at the end of those 2 weeks and then rotating to science for 2 weeks.

 

Thoughts?

 

I don't think this will put them "behind" in any of our programs. Most are set up to be used once or twice weekly. So the only concern would be blowing through our books. But I can offset that with extra reading and projects.

 

The only thing I would have to do is to go through and to divide our books into workable 2 week units. I don't want anything dangling at the end.

 

I am sort of worried that my kids may not retain the history if 2 weeks go by without any history.

I only know that it's not working the WTM way and it's not working doing both (or trying to do both) daily.

 

I need some plan for getting these two things done well and also keeping up interest and some retention learning. And keeping it stress free for me!

[PeterPan]

Well do your kids LIKE either of those subjects? My dd would mutiny if I turned off history and told her only science for two weeks, lol. Right now we do history daily and science once a week for a long block. You could flip that for another type of student.

[Walking-Iris]

Well do your kids LIKE either of those subjects? My dd would mutiny if I turned off history and told her only science for two weeks, lol. Right now we do history daily and science once a week for a long block. You could flip that for another type of student.

 

Yes both of my kids are good with either subject. My oldest does not like history topics unless he's interested in them. Ancients was a slog until we started doing Greeks/Romans. he likes anything American History related and geography/civics right now and that's what I will be focusing on next year with him.

 

My 5 year old will be doing Ancients at his interest level. So far he is pretty obsessed with all things prehistory so i'm hopeful he'll like Ancients. I got a few different resources and ideas that could make these topics interesting to them. I'm not forcing them to do one particular thing.

 

Science is always a hit here.

 

It's my own scheduling sanity that needs to be tweaked, not their interest to much.

[PeterPan]

Well it will be interesting to try and see how it goes. New is good. :)

[Chrysalis Academy]

I tried that at the beginning of this year, for the reasons you described. We decided we really didn't like it, and we wanted to do history and science every day. So that's what we went to - short sessions, but both subjects 4-5 days per week. I can't put my finger on exactly what we didn't like about it - maybe the loss of continuity in both subjects? And I think my dd is one who likes a lot of variety in her studies.

 

We did end up dropping Latin to make the schedule work . . . :leaving: we decided daily history and science were more important to us than Latin.

 

I'm grappling with next year's schedule right now, because I want to add logic/critical thinking/problem solving in explicitly, with time for discussion, and I don't want to drop anything . . . maybe it's time to ramp it up to longer days. :huh:

[athena1277]

We have always alternated days with science and history. We usually end up doubling up a couple lessons at the end of the year to finish the book (yes, I know we don't *have* to, but that's just how we roll). If you alternated it every 2 weeks instead, that should be just about right for most history and science curriculum.

[thowell]

I am looking at this now. I am actually thinking 4 week units on each. I have my basic schedule and plan down and now I am looking for natural breaking points. Luckily the history we are using is broken into 4 week units so that part is easy.

[Deee]

This approach is very common amongst Steiner/Waldorf homeschoolers (and schools). We call them main lesson blocks. Usually 3-4 weeks on history, science, big new maths topic eg fractions, language arts poetry or creative writing block. The main lesson lasts for 1.5-2 hours each morning, followed by two middle lessons and an afternoon block lesson (usually hands on). I much prefer to teach this way. DS doesn't like it. Last year (middle of year 6) we dropped this method in favour of a more normal set-up. I HATE IT!!!!!!! I want to go back to blocks. DS likes it as much as he's ever going to like something related to schoolwork. I find it sooooo hard to program, there's heaps more prep, I don't feel like we are going into anything in any depth, and I don't think he retains info as well as he did with main lesson blocks. So, I'd say, go for it! I wish I was back there.......

D

[Walking-Iris]

This approach is very common amongst Steiner/Waldorf homeschoolers (and schools). We call them main lesson blocks. Usually 3-4 weeks on history, science, big new maths topic eg fractions, language arts poetry or creative writing block. The main lesson lasts for 1.5-2 hours each morning, followed by two middle lessons and an afternoon block lesson (usually hands on). I much prefer to teach this way. DS doesn't like it. Last year (middle of year 6) we dropped this method in favour of a more normal set-up. I HATE IT!!!!!!! I want to go back to blocks. DS likes it as much as he's ever going to like something related to schoolwork. I find it sooooo hard to program, there's heaps more prep, I don't feel like we are going into anything in any depth, and I don't think he retains info as well as he did with main lesson blocks. So, I'd say, go for it! I wish I was back there.......

D

 

Thanks for all the replies. This ^ is sort of what I had in mind. Except I like our current lang arts and math plan. It works well.

 

I think scheduling it this way will let me do some science and history reading in the morning when we're all more willing to do book work and save afternoons for hands-on activities. Sitting down with a book in the afternoon just kills all of us. We get the book /cerebral stuff done better in the mornings.

 

Can I ask you...how did you review or make sure that what was learned in that weekly block didn't just leak out of their brains? This is why I thought shorter 2 weeks may be better.

[Deee]

The Steiner theory is that the work goes deeper and is better understood if you leave it for a while, rather than constantly rehashing it. I did find this to be the case.

D

[Walking-Iris]

The Steiner theory is that the work goes deeper and is better understood if you leave it for a while, rather than constantly rehashing it. I did find this to be the case.

D

 

Ah I don't see that to be the case with my oldest at all. Thanks for the idea though.

[happyhomemaker]

I have been toying with the idea of assigning independent science reading on the days we formally do history and vice versa. So I would still only do one of the subjects per day, but the kids would still have exposure to each every day.

[Jayne J]

I have been toying with the idea of assigning independent science reading on the days we formally do history and vice versa. So I would still only do one of the subjects per day, but the kids would still have exposure to each every day.

 

I am considering doing this as well. Daily science and then assigned reading from history without any other requirements, then switch. I am not sure how long to do each though. I was leaning toward a month each, which would give each subject about 4 months, after vacations are subtracted. I currently have a system of doing just science, history and geography on Fridays, and all other subjects M-Th. I really like this, but I am afraid that next year ds is going to need more than one day a week to do the work, so this is my next plan.

[Chrysalis Academy]

I have been toying with the idea of assigning independent science reading on the days we formally do history and vice versa. So I would still only do one of the subjects per day, but the kids would still have exposure to each every day.

 

 

Yes, good idea, I've been thinking about this too. Either science with me then history independently (then vice versa), or maybe even science/history/lit assignments daily, but a 1-hour "recitation" with me each afternoon where we focus on one of the topics. Hmmm.

 

I'm trying to figure out how to take advantage of dd's increasing ability to be independent in the content areas, without losing touch with any subject, or having it fall through the cracks.

[Aspasia]

The Steiner theory is that the work goes deeper and is better understood if you leave it for a while, rather than constantly rehashing it. I did find this to be the case.

D

 

 

I've actually noticed this with my dd even in subjects like math and reading. We'll be plugging along, doing just fine, and then it's like we hit a wall where everything is suddenly really hard and she can't do things that she has been doing with ease. When I lay off for a week or two, we come back and even the newer material, that was never easy and that caused us to take a break, just flows. I've talked about it with dh a lot--I just find it very fascinating.

 

Incidentally, I am planning lesson blocks for next year. I hope it works, because it's definitely the way I learn best, and probably the way I plan and teach best, too.