Kidlit Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 If your logic-stage homeschool is thriving right now, can you share ONE thing that you think is the reason? If things are going well in your homeschool, WHY? :bigear: :bigear: :bigear: :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Dd is able to proceed at her own speed and follow her own interests------specifically, she studies multiple maths during a typical school year, something that would have been impossible had she remained at her former school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 ONE thing? I don't know if I can pick just one thing. But yes, I guess that I have to agree that the best thing is that homeschooling gives my dd space, and it lets her go at her own pace. Academically, sure, and it lets her follow her interests to a large degree, but really I guess I think that giving her the space to just be herself, and to grow all the different parts of herself at her own pace, without the pressure to conform to some outside standard, whether it's grade-based or peer-based or whatever. This has been a tremendous year of growth for her - literally, she's grown more than 7 inches - and also emotional growth and maturing, and I think homeschooling has let that happen in a relatively stress-free and pressure-free environment. Also - ok, this is two things - but it's helped us stay close. It's helped us maintain our relationship and connection at a time when I see a lot of her friends growing away from their moms/families. I'm so grateful for that. We're very in tune and connected, and she knows that I'm on her side. I'm treasuring that more and more these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I think things are going pretty well with my 12 year old... 1. He and I have learned how to communicate and taken Myers Briggs tests which helped a lot. 2. Calvert- the predictable yet challenge material and ATS test makes us more of a team to win it together, rather than me being so much the enemy responsible for his course load. The objective grading is a huge huge help. It is very hard to be objective without grading. 3. Good sleep, high protein breakfast, plenty of snacks, just making school nice by sitting with him now and then and also enjoying some things together when he is doing a subject I enjoy such as history or art. No 100% I dependent and depressed homeschool kids here. My kids need people. 4. A good relationship with his father. I know this is not possible to create but it is a huge factor without which I know things would be harder for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 We both see each other as people, with good days and bad days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonwood Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 First year back to homeschooling for us (last time she HS'd, she was 8) and the ONE thing that has mattered most is the absence of the crappy mean girl attitudes and pressure. She is relaxed enough to excel and allow her true personality show through. She wants to work very hard now and is motivated again. It's a beautiful thing. The other thing that is working is having structure. She is not good when it's too relaxed and actually asked for 'school at home'. So..reluctantly I set up a desk, a school space, etc. She wants a spreadsheet w/ grades and all that, and for now, she LOVES it and works to fill in the grade spaces, at her desk (when she chooses, she can go elsewhere, of course), during structure 'school time', etc. Maybe I should say the best thing working for us, is listening to her. By giving her these things she has asked for, I can see she knows she'll thrive this way. This year has been amazing, so I guess she was right about herself lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 First year back to homeschooling for us (last time she HS'd, she was 8) and the ONE thing that has mattered most is the absence of the crappy mean girl attitudes and pressure. She is relaxed enough to excel and allow her true personality show through. She wants to work very hard now and is motivated again. It's a beautiful thing. The other thing that is working is having structure. She is not good when it's too relaxed and actually asked for 'school at home'. So..reluctantly I set up a desk, a school space, etc. She wants a spreadsheet w/ grades and all that, and for now, she LOVES it and works to fill in the grade spaces, at her desk (when she chooses, she can go elsewhere, of course), during structure 'school time', etc. Maybe I should say the best thing working for us, is listening to her. By giving her these things she has asked for, I can see she knows she'll thrive this way. This year has been amazing, so I guess she was right about herself lol That's wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonwood Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 That's wonderful! Aww, thanks. :) I had been so worried about things and am really relieved to see her doing so well. It came just in time I think. Loving reading about how everyone else is thriving too! Very encouraging thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3girls Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Stress free academically and socially. She has changed physically so much in the past 1.5 years that it's just ridiculous, and I think being home has made that transition from little girl to young lady so much easier. Also, she went from project overload at ps to projects of her choosing at home. That has helped a lot. Now, she reads a ton, and she narrates. If she wants to do a project she can, but I do not require them. That was a huge transition for her, but it seems to have been for the better as she hasn't had breakdowns over homework like she did while in 5th grade ps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 One thing that I think have helped us is that we are constantly evaluating what we are doing. So every so often, I will check our schedules, make sure we are not over stretched by what I had planned and then proceed from there. I make sure we have enough field trips, outside activities etc to balance out academics. We have had to drop some semester long classes and have also done some short classes that I did not plan out when we started in the summer. It has worked well, that I am constantly evaluating and asking my dd's opinions on what I am planning so her input is also considered. We are having a great year so far despite the feb/ march dreariness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 We have fun and we learn together. And...this is my 20th year of homeschooling. I've learned a thing or two along the way. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 Thank you all for sharing. My eldest is 9 and will be a 5th grader next year. I love reading all your great ideas. Keep 'em coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I ask him openly what he wants to do, and I clearly explain the constraints we are under for things we have to do (portfolio, simple testing of material, some kind of forward progress, getting dressed by the time his father gets home from work). It means that I can try to understand him as well as possible and he can understand me. It seems to provide a realistic life picture as well. Even in his perfect job, there are going to be some things you have to do. I have them as a mom, he has them as a kid, but let's try to make the rest of our time as ideal as we can get. It makes dreams feel possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I wanted to put some thought into this. It's hard to come up with one thing. If it needs to be one then I think it is Trust. Me trusting kiddo's feelings about what to learn and why. Kiddo trusting that I will remain flexible and closely tuned to his needs. Me trusting my gut. Me trusting that DH has more wisdom in certain matters than I do and vice versa. Kiddo trusting himself that he can do it however hard it seems as long as he wants to do his best. We've come a long way from our miserable, clueless first year and a half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierramv1 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I started getting up early in the morning with my distractable DS (11). This has completely revamped our entire homeschool dynamic! We do our together work from 6:30am - 7:30am, I review what is on the agenda for the day (as well as put it on the whiteborad for him) then he continues working all morning until he is done, usually finishing up by 11am. We do Science and History in the afternoon. He knows that I work with his little brother from 9am - 11am and if he needs me for something else, it needs to be before or after that. Before implementing this he would get up start playing and then want to continue playing after breakfast, it was a nightmare to get him focused on school work, and every time there was a lull or I was helping one of his siblings, he would run back to the bedroom and start playing again. It started to get pretty ugly...like I was contemplating sending him back to public school. This has also freed up our afternoon's for anything we might want to do as a family, we do lunch and science/history and then we are off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie4 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I started getting up early in the morning with my distractable DS (11). This has completely revamped our entire homeschool dynamic! We do our together work from 6:30am - 7:30am, I review what is on the agenda for the day (as well as put it on the whiteborad for him) then he continues working all morning until he is done, usually finishing up by 11am. We do Science and History in the afternoon. He knows that I work with his little brother from 9am - 11am and if he needs me for something else, it needs to be before or after that. Before implementing this he would get up start playing and then want to continue playing after breakfast, it was a nightmare to get him focused on school work, and every time there was a lull or I was helping one of his siblings, he would run back to the bedroom and start playing again. It started to get pretty ugly...like I was contemplating sending him back to public school. This has also freed up our afternoon's for anything we might want to do as a family, we do lunch and science/history and then we are off! Wow, that is a great plan. My son & I are both up early, why wouldn't I take advantage of this alone time for "together" work. I'm literally hitting myself in the head, why didn't I think of this earlier? Thanks this is a great thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffybunny Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Being prepared in advance. Pre-reading, writing up annual and weekly goals, making a daily schedule and just tons of planning in every direction. Giving the plan to ds before the beginning of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 My kids work very hard every school day and complete all of the assignments. In that way, we have been able to finish our curricula by the end of the school year, and the kids have worked sufficient amounts time in order to build content knowledge and develop skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 It's because somehow I was granted a couple of awesome kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 We have fun. We have long intense days, but they are full of good books, interesting conversation, fascinating people, and laughter (which helps soothe the occasional tears). We also often have a storyline going--school is never just school. Fun has changed over the years, but it is still there. It's fortunate that resources like AoPS, MCT, and The Economist exist. It's also good that our local science community is a funny bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Online classes and being mostly independent to accomplish a certain workload. He likes doing things his own way without my interference. He's 13, so it's working for us this way so far. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I'm going to cheat and post two things. 1) I've stopped researching curricula so much. I've always been happy with what i use, but there was always a niggle that maybe this was better or this plan was more put together or this is free or blah blah. I'm not buying anything, literally NOT a single thing, for next year. I have finally realized that I have all I need and then some available to me to educate my children well. Finally settling down and being content with what I had and realizing that ...yes that thing may take planning, that thing may not be easy to implement, or that thing may not be totally 'perfect" and just doing IT every day/week really has lightened my mood. I finally realized that reading about different methods, books, blogs, and so on and so on was stressing me out. 2) Planning my oldest ds's history around his interests rather than the rotation. I love the rotation but this is the first year...ever...that he has shown a real enthusiasm for history studies. The child is enamored with all things civics/government/physical geography...go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I'm down to one child. Seriously, that has been the best thing for my youngest. Until this year I was homeschooling three and doing a lot of chauffeuring. We probably only had three productive days a week. Now the 18yo and 15yo are at school most of the day and 11yo and I have all day at home. Amazing what you can get accomplished when you HOMEschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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