I've been feeling this way as well with my 15 yo dd, especially concerning math. She's been HSed for four years and her multiplication skills are bad. I've been lazy about doing much; I've tried to just move on to pre-algebra, etc. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sfmtlmnm try computer games, there are some out there that are just plane fun but have you working with mulitplication skills and other things as you advance. I think Master Blaster is a good one.
So why not just pare down school to an hour? You know you've got that one good hour so fit what's essential into that and them start adapting and pruning. With my 7 year old we use that one good hour for Miquon math, Progressive Phonics and some handwriting practice. That's the core and that's the non-negotiable work. Often it doesn't even run as long as an hour. What else does a 7 year old need? Grammar? A lot of people maintain that should be delayed until 10 or 11 because of the abstract concepts involved and there are excellent programs (Winston Grammar) that aren't dribbled out in bits over the elementry years. Science? That's play for a 7 year old. Take walks, collects rocks, observe insects, read books (Magic Schoolbus), watch Eyewitness videos, do experiments. Keep the worksheets and textbooks away. Social studies? Again, easy and much more engaging when done informally. Read books, watch shows (Liberty Kids cartoons are supposed to be great), walk around your community, visits local museums, talk to local characters. Homeschooling isn't the problem. It's just that you need to learn how to use the fact that you're homeschooling to your advantage and shape it so it fits your son.
why nto do the one hour and then add in something like a Video for science, and History and geo, type things. Even English can be doen that way for a 7 yr old! and make sure he helps pick out the science videos, we did that with youngest ds, he picked the science video from the library. Then if we felt like exploring the subject further we went to library and computers. yes at young ages too. I like to teach my kids computer skills right from the bat.
