nitascool Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 They are working ahead of grade level but have a real hard time with our current schedule which is very lax. Their Psychologist told us that they really need to have a strict schedule with each subject lasting only 15 minutes and giving lots of brakes, but that they should be spending most of their day doing school. Every other week we have a GI, PT or OT appointment on those days we won't do any school. It averages to 4 1/2 hours of school work a day including: seat work, dvd's, cd's, cdrom's, art, and music. It doesn't leave a lot of time during normal school hours for the kids to have creative play, but it seems that they have a hard time when given time to play unstructured. Here's what I have for them: Things I want to teach them Things they asked for 8:00am Bible Study 1/2 Hour 15 Min. Devotional or study 15 Min. Bible Quiz (they are on a team) 8:30am Sensory Diet 8:45am Memory Work 5 Min. 5 Min. Poetry (Mon.-Fri.) 8:50am Morning Math 1/2 Hour 5 Min. Skip Counting Songs (Mon. - Fri. 9 songs) 10 Min. Alpha DVD (Mon.- Thur.) 15 Min. Alpha Student Text (2 each Mon.-Wed.) *15 Min. Alpha Worksheet Generator Pages (2 on Thur.) *15 Min. Alpha Tests 1 per Unit (Friday Only) When 7yo is finished with Alpha and Beta we'll do SM 3a When 6yo is finished with Alpha we'll do SM 2a 9:20am Morning Movement Session For gross motor skills (Structured Play) 9:35am US/ Ohio History 15 Min. 15 Min. Memory Work (Mon.) 15 Min. Reading US History (Tue.) 15 Min. Reading Ohio History (Wed.) 15 Min. Ohio Plants and Animals (Thur.) 15 Min. Birds of Ohio Field Guide and CD (Fri.) 9:50am Spanish 15 Min. 15 Min. Risas y Sonrisas (Mon. - Thur.) *15 Min. Spanish Reader (Friday Only) 10:15am Sensory Diet 10:30am Sign 20 Min. 10 Min. Sign CD (Mon.-Thur.) 10 Min. Faith Speaks! (Mon.-Thur.) My First Sign (Friday Only) 10:50am Health/Safety/First Aid/Fire Prevention 10 Min. 10 Min. Health Books 1st 9 weeks (Friday Only) 10 Min. Health & Safety 10-34 weeks (Friday Only) 10 Min. First Aid 35th week (Friday Only) 10 Min. Fire Prevention 36th week (Friday Only) 11:00am Morning Movement Session For Fine Motor Skills (Structured Play) 11:15am Fine Arts 1/2 Hour 15 Min. Child-Size Masterpiece (Mon.- Thur.) 15 Min. Themes to Remember (Mon.- Thur.) *15 Min. Drawing (Friday Only) *15 Min. Can You Name that Classical Tune (Friday Only)11:45am Spelling 15 Min. 10 Min. Sequential Spelling Level 1 (Mon.-Fri.) For 7yo 10 Min. Words from Phonics Pathways (Mon.-Fri.) For 6yo 12:00pm Lunch 30 Min. 12:30am Afternoon Movement Session For Gross Motor Skills (Structured Play) 1:00pm Geography 15 Min. (or the length of the video) 15 Min. Were in the World is Carman Sandiego (Monday) 15 Min. Were in the USA is Carman Sandiego (Tuesday) 15 Min. Where in Time is Carman Sandiego (Wednesday) 15 Min. SOTW Map, Globe, Atlas Study (Thursday) 30 Min. Were on Earth Is Carman Sandiego (Friday) 1:15pm Grammar 15 Min. 15 Min. Step-by-Step Grammar (Mon.-Thur.) For 7yo 15 MIn. First Language Lessons Yr. 2 (Mo.-Thur.) For 6yo. 1:30pm Sensory Diet 1:45pm Grammar 15 Min. 15 Min. Penmanship (Mon.-Thur.) 2:00pm Grammar 15 Min. 15 Min. Creative, Journal or other Writing (Mon.-Thur.) 2:15pm Afternoon Movement Session For Fine Motor Skills (Structured Play) 2:30am Science 15 Min. 15 Min. Read (Mon.) 15 Min. Make Narration Outline for each section (Tue.) 15 Min. Write Narration Drafts (Wed.) 15 Min. Finish Narration/ Illustrate (Thur.) 30 Min. Experiment (Fri.) 2:45am World History 30 Min. 15 Min. Listen to SOTW CD (Mon. - Wed) 15 Min. Do Student Pages (Mon.-Thur.) *15 Min. Make Narration Outline for each section (Mon.) *15 Min. Write Narration Drafts (Tue.) *15 Min. Finish Narration/ Illustrate (Wed.) *0 Min. Do Map (Thur.) 30 Min. Do One Activity (Friday Only) *15 Min. Do Review Questions (Friday Only) 3:15pm Physical Education3:30pm Afternoon Math 15 Min. 15 Min. Alpha Online Addition/Subtraction Drill (1 each Mon.-Thur.) 3:30pm - 5:45pm Unstructured Play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I don't think we could keep up with that schedule. One phone call that I would have to take and we would be down for the count. My girls have learning delays and ADHD. We generally school from 9-12 with one 20 minute break in there. I use ACE Paces for them. 12dd is more limited with her abilities. 11dd does Science, Social studies, Bible, Word Building, Math, English, and Spelling in this time frame. Honestly, for 6 and 7 year olds I would NOT carry academics over to the afternoon. I would get them done in the morning with 1 or 2 sensory breaks and leave the afternoons for therapy, free play, outings with friends, errands, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godpoetry Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Looks like a very well thought out plan to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I agree. I would get core academics done in the morning, and spend afternoons on "school," but on the child-directed "school." Think crocheting, music, art, science kits, projects, playdates, outdoor fun, etc. There are some wonderful ideas here: http://christianadhd.com/learningathome.php This works very wll for my adher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitascool Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 SO... You would move the "Fun" activities to the afternoon? We have 2 hours of activities that could be moved to the afternoon. Or wait on the "fun" activities until we have finished the not so fun school? We generally finish a year curri. in about 5 months when working at their pace. As in me not limiting their momentum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Bear Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 It sounds as though your boys are working ahead of grade level and part of the problem may be that you need to keep them busy. I have one of those, she's 5, and I have one who would benefit from a very strict schedule, he's 12. How on earth do you pull something like this off with your age ranges/needs? I'm trying to imagine how I'd do something like this because I lose one or more if my youngest needs something (he's rather a lot of work). If I'm doing one on one work with any one of them, the rest take brain vacations. I've wondered about a mass ADHD diagnosis (for me, too) and then about how I could clone myself..... :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in MD Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 schedule. Because he was taught to do it, it works. It may not be as efficient as a strict schedule, but it's a needed life skill is to work independently. (That's not to say if I'm gone (he's 13) he won't play a game or watch TV instead.:rolleyes: Here's how you might start teaching your dc to work somewhat independently, combined with the psych. recomendation. At the beginning of the day, tell your dc the day's schedule. This may need to be written with pages to be covered. (This is important for the SPD part, to let the child know what will happen and give him some control). Break your day into 30 min blocks with 2 assignments for each block. You can build your sensory sessions into this schedule. Gradually work it up to where you hand out assignments for the morning and even day. Anything not completed is homework. This may take years, so don't rush it. But by giving your dc their assignments ahead of time, they will know what to do if you are busy with another child or interupted by life. They may need a reminder to go to the next item, but they are still kept on a schedule. Also by giving out the morning's assignments, they may chose what to do when, so if they feel they need a break from heavy concentration, they may follow math with music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I completely agree with Kathy in MD. I think that in the long run we do a disservice to our kids with issues by making the homeschool environment fit their every need. Over the past 5 years of homeschooling I have tried many things to get my son (who has dyslexia, APD, SPD, and has been diagnosed then undiagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's) to work more effectively. I have spent huge amounts of energy to get things to "work" and whatever I come up with tends to work for a while (a few days to a few weeks) but then we're back to the same old thing. About three weeks ago I finally realized that whatever I do, it will still have the same result. The problem is that my son seems to think that it is my responsibility to make things work and that he'll just do whatever. Well, NOTHING will work if he doesn't meet me halfway. So we are now doing things in a way that works for ME and the family as a whole (I have a younger boy whom I school too). My 11 yo is just going to have to adapt. He is going to have to meet me halfway. If he has some issue that is making it difficult to get his work done, HE is going to have to figure out what the problem is. I have, frankly, had it. In the real world, in a job situation, the boss is not going to say, "Oh you need to have a break every five minutes? Oh, you don't like that I presented your tasks orally, you'd rather I wrote them down for you in different colors so you could tell one from another at a glance? That's ok!" I know, I was a boss once; people with too many issues get fired. What's funny, is that in going over to doing it MY way, he is doing as well as he ever did when I tried to discover HIS way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitascool Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 The Psychologist did say that the biggest thing that will help our boys to stay focused throughout the day is to keep their minds and bodies balanced. Some challenging academics and then challenging physical calisthenics. So that is the biggest aspect of having a lot of activities. Those things which are less important to me are more likely to be dropped when their is a meltdown of one of the boys or a fussy baby day. We have a timer that we use for school work. At this point I need to get the children into a more strict routine. Most things in life are geared around a schedule of some kind. I am not much of a schedule person and would probably unschool if it worked for my children, but it doesn't. So we are going back to the drawing board. While I know that most life situations aren't run on 15 min. incraments... that is the real amount of time that they can focus at this time. I don't intend on letting them stay at a 15 min. attention span. But at this point we need to get them to pay attention for 5 min. So 15 minutes is a real stretch for my younger and just a little stretch for the older. As I said before we have PT twice a month and OT twice a month and there are the real needs of my younger two children, field trips and errands that must be made. The schedule will be a guide for me and a predictable routine for them. (Something my oldest has been asking for for quite a while). I'm hoping that through all this the boys are going to learn how to work more independently. The psychologist is walking us through the steps to help them gain more Independence. We have been giving our younger son more responsibilities with consequences for not following through. For our older son we have reevaluated his work and are trying to make adjustments in what is expected. We've begun to compile a "cookbook" for both of them so that they can do things more independently. I'm hoping these things will help them to eventually develop their own executive function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Not exactly. :D I would alternate types of activities: difficult then easy, right-brained then left-brained. However, I would not assign specific assignments in the afternoon, but would offer "choice time." If "choice time" is not used appropriately, it becomes "chore time." :) You prolly already do this, but do you limit media, video games, DS and the like during the week to promote more academic choices? Setting up the environment to learn is HUGE here. Although I would alternate "types" of subjects in the morning, I would ALWAYS leave a dessert for afternoon if behavior goals are met. This may be a trip to the gym, a trip to the pet store, a trip to the book store, a trip to the coffee shop or library. Our other Favorite Afternoon is "choice time." This is a reward earned for diligence. Freedom is possible when responsibility is shown. Joy to you! Tami Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I just wanted to quickly post that a timer has worked very well for us. It really encourages attentiveness. We have used a timer for 6 years! If she finishes early, the remainder of the time is free play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in MD Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 That's always been a concern for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I do not accept sloppy work. It must be done to the best of dd's ability, or she does it again. They don't try that very many times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeanettee Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 The way we did school was instead of having a schedule, we did History, reading, English, lunch, math, science (as much hands on lab as possible that was why it was last). We didn't put times to it, but as soon as he lost focus he would run 1-10 laps around the house (outside), push-ups, sit-ups, or jump rope for 5 minutes. Then start again. Standing at an easel or a board is better than sitting. Standing is active learning sitting is passive, I don't know why. If you need them to sit, try an exercise ball. By having the subjects in the same order every day it solved the need for a routine, but by letting their bodies tell him when he had to move he eventually could sit for longer and longer periods of time 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.