No, we got a puppy back in July, because we knew Poco wouldn't be around much longer. Only I've been really suprised that two dogs really isn't any more trouble than one, and I've kind of gotten use to having two around! So we may get a second one come spring. I know the puppy will be lost without Poco around. This is the third one I've had put down. Only Carl is doing it this time, not me. We were told that bowel and bladder control would be the last thing to go. Well, she's had three accidents in as many days, something that NEVER happens. So we know it IS time. And the kids know it, too. Having the puppy will help, I think!
I've seen you post over a few years Becky, and I always thought you did too much, especialy too much book type work, and that you should relax. I also thought the type of work you were doing was way beyond what you actualy needed. I've never said anything before because I always thought you liked doing ps at home and that you felt you needed the ridged structure. And that that is what you feel comfortable with. When you say only 30-45 minutes for each subject I actualy think yikes she does so much! :lol: I just have a totaly different perspective on learning and what kids need, particuly at ages under about 8-10 years of age.
We were told that bowel and bladder control would be the last thing to go. Well, she's had three accidents in as many days, something that NEVER happens. Sparky did this, too, toward the end. Poor, poor dogs. I realized this weekend I'll never have another dog. We were at my MIL's house and I was petting her dog, a rottweiler mix. Sparky will be gone 5 months on the 29th, and I thoght I missed having 'A' dog. Really, I miss 'MY' dog. Jeannie's cats are all the pets I want to deal with. Lol- and most days they're too much.
Well, 30-45 minutes is how long it takes from me explaining it to her finishing. Believe me, I cut every corner I can. If I believe she truly understands something, we'll skip that part of a page. I see no other way to cut it down.I even stopped using my TE's for the most part. Gee, though- you would be happy to know our science yesterday was a 16 minute video on ocean habitats! I said 'phooey' and skipped the regular lesson, and just went over the questions in the TG for the video, lol. The video's content was just as good as the lesson.
ah ha!!! I think she just said what I was thinking. I guess those tomatoes will reach Arizona before they will reach Aulstralia
I don't see anything wrong with a video. My kids learn so much from educational shows. And i can prove it because they were retelling about somethings in the car.
I am right here with you Becky! At least that much time and I agree also with you that math has to be 1 hour long.. back in the day when we started it was a requirement for us to do so many hours and so many minutes per class... I stick to that for the most part, and when I don't dh gets me for it! lol.. like dd has slacked to less than half her work on some days if I am not right there on her....So now I have added work to her already heavy schedule because she finishes too fast! It is normal stuff like making her take notes and adding questions and answers to the history book.. the writing assignments are very vague in the History program I am using so I am having to add to that.. its claim is 3 hours a day for the one class but it sure is not taking that long every day!
THERE'S HOPE FOR YOU YET!!! I still combine stuff for Faythe's math. Today we did two lessons, since they were so similar, and the second was really a continuation of the first.
I am having the hardest time the second book of EWH is short lessons where the first half was a practically a book of reading each day! lol... So we are trying to stretch into more work, dd hates it, "drama dramma draaaaaaaama' is what we get! Oh for the days of wanting more work hahah
Yeah, but your kids are older. Jeannie's in 1st or 2nd grade---when I was in school at those grades, we spent 30 minutes on math. Starting in 4th or 5th grades things got more intense, with longer class times, then again in 7th through highschool they're longer. But in the lower grades more hands on, less "by the book" seems to work just as well. You want them to learn to love learning! Abraham Lincoln and George Washington didn't have 8 subjects per day at that age, and they turned out okay! I think in the lower grades you can lighten up a little and go with the flow more, because it all comes around again anyway, and that's when they REALLY learn it! Just a thought. I don't have a type A personality though, so it's easier for me. Besides, everyone does what they feel is best for them!
when we were in the early grades we were told to do it for so many minutes, so I had to do it a certain amount, math was always 1 hour, we took longer explaining and did work sheets for busy work but I was a stickler for the time thing.
I think one hour at a subject at one time is too hard on little ones! Especially one that can tax the brain! I would've hated math if I'd been forced to do it for a whole hour! (I DID learn to hate math later, only because we moved so much and I got sick and was out for two weeks and got behind, and nooone ever helped me catch up.... But through 4th grade, I LOVED math!)
Now wait. Jeannie's work isn't all books or worksheets. Math is a combination of book pages, hands on practice, and short practice of concepts we've moved on from. And I'm not FORCING. As for her other subjects- a minimum of 30 minutes is needed. There is no possible way to shorten it. We are doing the exact work called for in her books- no more, no less. Someone mentioned Lifepacs. Her art is from A/O, and each lesson takes 45 minutes. She just finished the first book a few weeks ago.
ya, ours wasnt alL books either, it was playing games, flash cards and stuff, not just sit ad work in a book sorry
Becky, Well I guess it depends if you really want saving from your way of doing things or not. I am thinking not. I agree type A personality, you would probably have a melt down doing things the way I do them. :lol: If that was what my book called for I think I'd be chucking it. :lol: For a start I don't think, k, grade 1, grade 2 need a lot of school. Sarah is grade 1. Our grade 1 is less academic then yours (yours being the USA) I would not look at what the ps's are doing. They have NCLB hanging over them which is all connected to money not what children really need. Also they have a lot of time to fill in. Read John Taylors Gatos "Dumbing Us Down" Early academic push does not translate to better educated young people coming out the other end. Ouch getting on my hobby horse here! :lol: Back on track- I do Bible 10 minutes, maths about 15-20 minutes, LA which covers writing and reading 20-30 minutes. If we play a game of Junior Monopoly for maths it can take longer. I never ask for more a page of each. Actually her writing sheet is only a few lines of copy work (We loosely follow some CM ideals) and her Math-U-See has 5 questions on the page. If we do history/science that is either a readaloud or something hands on. Art when we do it is looking at a 'Come Look With Me' book where you look at the art and they have a few questions to make you think, or a project connected to history or just plain ol fun craft. Art/History/science could take any where from 10 minutes right up till lunch time so about 1 hour for some craft. It only extends that long because she wants it to. I would only do one of these subjects per day. Often we don't do any. Ducking the tomatoes!
Jo I am agreeing with you here girl. And "Dumbing Us Down" is a fabulous book! I am very relaxed. Heck Becky I think you do more than we do and my dd is in 6th grade!! We do math 4 times a week, history 3, science 2, english 2 or 3, typing 3, Bible and copywork everyday. Art, music, poetry and Shakespeare on Friday. Our whole day never takes more than 4 hours of total work time and like I said she is in 6th grade. If she gets her math done in 20 mins we move on. I'm not a stickler on time at all. Next year she will have stricter schedule because it'll be offically junior high work.
hey maybe it takes us so long most days because my kids try to scam me? I have to go back and re teach stuff, and walk them back to thier spot a few times.... Dd skips through her work most days now it takes her to fast, dh made me give her more work, but she is older so should be longer I guess... I think in the early days having to follow the time scheduled amounts made me nervous... but coloring pictures of numbers coun ted as math work actually... I just kept it related to the subject at hand.
I hope we don't even reach 4 hours till highschool (That is grades 8-12 here, we don't have 'middle schools') By then I also hope she will be able to do most of it by herself. Lol mine trys to scam me too. :lol: phone rings and she is off, finish phone call and extract from cubby house. Brother cries about something-she is off, extract from playing with horses in her room. A couple more books on the table = Complats "Why so lo-ong?" See to brothers activity leaving her with her maths book, come back to find some flowers drawn on the page. :lol: That was school today as we did run till 11.30 so 1 1/2 hours as we did art appresiation and craft.
