Does this EVER end???? I felt confident at the end of last year that we had all the "right" curriculum for the kids. We have been through numerous curriculums with the same results. Lots of wasted money. As the year has gone on the only thing that seems to fit is our math program. A couple of months ago I thought that we were doing good with our schooling choices but now that it's close to the end of the year, I am seeing that we have accomplished VERY little... Mostly because the curriculum is not a good fit for the kids. And I'm fighting to get them to do it. I know that there is most likely going to be a conflict at times. And I think that the method that I am using has a lot to do with the rest of why I'm feeling this way.. The book work is NOT what I wanted for my homeschool. I wanted hands on mostly fun stuff that would make my kids WANT to learn.And the things that they did learn would stick. Maybe I'm dreaming, I don't know. But I believe that there is a way to homeschool that's enjoyable to both myself and my kids.???? Last year was our 1st year and we took a while to get used to HS vs public. I thought that I would've gotten into a routine by now but we just haven't been able to stay consistant. And to be quite honest, I am so mentally drained by lunch time that I don't want to do any more school during the day. And that's only after ONE subject. I HAVE TO find a way to do a schedule to get things organized. My kids aren't even motivated at this point and I admit that it's completely my fault. Why would they be when their teacher isn't? I'm feeling so overwhelmed right now. It seems like everyday is the same. I fight the kids to even get out of bed. And then I fight them to get dressed. And THEN I have to fight them to get their schooling done. My son took 2 hours yesterday to do his math!! This is not normal for my household. Well the 2 hours for math has happened before. But I stopped it then (again not being consistant). I just don't know how to do this. I envisioned reading aloud and spending a lot of time outside playing and learning at the same time. Few text books and very little seat work. guiding my kids to learn through everyday living. promoting them to be their own person by cultivating their interests.. Wow, this still sounds so good but is it reality? How do you all do it?? I'm so envious right now. I'm not thinking of sending the kids back to school. I'm going to make this work, I need to get myself back together and get my family organized like they should be. I'm praying for guidance right now. School will be on hold for a bit (except for math and read alouds) until I can get a hold of things. Sorry for the long post. I just needed to vent.....
mom, take a breath and realise that it does get better. (13 yrs here) I have been thrugh years of "What am I doing this for" and years of "This is great! YEAH!" and even have my days now! I have weeks that go by annd I wonder what I taught my kids nd then listen to them talking to ther kids and find out that wow they really are getting it! My ds has just recently gotten into reading a book straight through if I let him, these are chapter sized books. It took years to get to the point where I can now say grab the bible lets doour reading for today and know that we can stop and do that. But When things gohaywhire it really helps! I read your end note and thats why I suggest this when you start to get off kilter, take a day of prayer. Or at least an hour of prayer and quiet time. ps teachers and private school teachers take "teacher service day' because they are supposed to be getting regenerated and learn how to get done wha tnneeds to be done... well so do we butwe dont get those days off. So, take a day or two maybe next week, Plan out a few fun activities for the kids to do like watching edcational videos and eating snacks while you remember what you liked about your curriculum. Read through a few lessons ahead, write out lesson lists for your kids and notes for yourself. I have found when I am "floundering" that its best to regroup even if that means regrouping mythoughts on paper. I don't remember what ages yu have but my 11yr old still has some of those 2 hour math days. He fusss and forgets , just like we all can dofrom time to time and gets Flustered. Then it takes longer. Now when I remember on those days to not fight it, things go faster. But who cares how long ittakes, IF you re interested in timing things, If he takes 2 hours for math, cut it off at one hour and make him dothe rest tomorrow. If you have one hour for math, one hour for English ( reading writing and grammar whatever) then half for anything else, make sure school is OUT at a certain time of day, see if that helps you to organise and regroup yoru thoughts. My daily looks somewhat like this-- I have been slacking lately so I write this for myself as well! 8:30-9 Bible Time ( study or read) 9-10 English or Math 10:00 recess 10:30 Science or History 11:00 Math or English Noon break lunch! Free play for an hour! 1pm, Extra curriculars, PE, Art, Extra work time if having trouble, Videos, etc, it rotates and Sciene or History is often during this time too! We are DONE by 3, if we are interested or watch a movie, but usually by 2 I say clean up your school stuff! I need the break! hoep I helped!
That is an excellent idea. Much of what you are having issues with is probably an off-shoot of spring fever. It has taken me 4 yrs to recognize the signs, but by this point I just call it spring break. We generally get very little school done in late Apr - mid June. Why fight it? I school through the summer so it all evens out. You are doing great by asking for help. There are plenty of us out here who want you to succeed and are very willing to offer advice and support. You just need to reach out. And that brings me to the final point. I sure hope you belong to your local homeschool support groups. They have saved me and my kids many times.
thanks thats good advice too! I was just going with the suggestion she made about the schedule, cause mine is flexible but gives your brain an outline and I always figure if its gonna take that long to do its not getting thrugh, we generally go to the next class if we finish early but on the days we need them we use the sched I wwas re reading the part botu going out and having fun! Go do it! Take the bookwork youthink you MUST do, and go to the park! work and play and play and work, we did that when mine were smaller
I'm thinking more along the lines of the Charlotte Mason method. I was drawn to it when I began considering homeschooling the kids. For a whole 9 months I did research and decided that it would be GREAT but then I got overwhelmed. I threw the idea aside until I had more years under my belt. I was afraid my kids wouldn't get everything they need if I went that route. Being new to hs and all. And opted for more of a "school" type curriculum. But now I'm looking at it again and I feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing.. I'll pray about it and see where it leads me. But I really like Charlotte Masons theories. I have been reading her books and she makes a LOT of sense..
hmm, maybe you could do the work you have but not just by booking it? kwim? Read over it and get the idea and teach them that way?
RX: Cabin Fever I think you have cabin fever. Mix it up a little, take the school books outside and do school at the picnic table or on your lawn. Have a day where the answers are oral answers rather than written. Get dry erace boards and have a day that the answers are written on the dry erace board. Go to the grocery store and have your kids figure out in their heads how much the groceries are going to cost....... and the closest gets to put away the groceries (kidding) they get a candy bar for being the closest. Write on the subjects on small pieces of paper, put the papers in a bag your kids decorated and let them draw a piece of paper and that will be the next subject. Let them give you an assignment.
The hands on stuff is definately do-able. We have had whole units of work that produced only a couple of pages of written work, but we made models, and did experiments, and cooked, and read... try looking at unit studies try looking at Diana Waring's history ask your kids what they want to learn about and go from there. And if you're a little stuck on the bookwork thing like I was, take photos of the projects and put them in the books! Maybe take regualr breaks too. we work for 15-50 mins, depending of the type of work, then 10 min break. keeps us all sane. hth k
I love working from Ambleside Online! Some people put together some great "schedules" which were like check lists for us and it made life a lot easier to deal with. It made it easier for me to get started with it as well as I felt we had to be "DOING" more all the time. Turns out we didn't need to do more at all. I wish in a way the kids were more into it but they didn't get into the reading as much and they want to do computer stuff <sigh>
