How long should School last for first grade?

Everyday we do Spanish review and 1 pg, math 4pgs, phonics 4pgs and 2omins. on the comp and sight word review 1 pg. We also either do a unit of Science, a unit of Geography or a unit of Social Studies. They tend to be anywhere from 2-4pgs long. In total though he is finished within 2-3hrs.

Should we be doing more work in each subject since he seems to be breezing through it so quickly?

 

We are doing Sonlight for 1st grade this year. We do math, phonics, history, writing, handwriting,reading,Bible and science every day. That usually takes us around 2 1/2 -3hours in the morning. Any art or music we do in the afternoon and that is about 1/2-1hr depending. So what you are doing seems to be about the same as we are and taking the same amount of time. I think you are right on track.

 

Maybe an hour?

Kids in 1st grade spend a lot of time on specials, standing in line for the bathroom, recess, free reading, library, etc etc. So when you are talking strictly seat work type stuff, I would say no more than an hour.

 

Ems worked for about 2 hours when she was in first grade. We covered all the subjects.

I wouldn't add more work to his day unless he wants to do it. In time, the work will become more complicated and he will be working 4 or more hours a day. Let him enjoy this time playing. He is still young. He has many years ahead of him to cover more work.

 

Thank you both for your replies.

Yes it is all seat work in a sense. He is allowed to stand and he frequently bounces around like a crazy man in between subject but for the most part he is sitting.

I ask bc DH thinks if he is getting everything done so quickly then maybe he needs more things to do. He is afraid DS will fall behind. I think its the PS up bringing in him that makes him feel that way. IDK.

Thank you again.

 

You've tagged that exactly right! He's got a school mindset, and will need to break out of it. My DH wanted to know WHEN EXACTLY I would be teaching each subject. I told him I had trouble following a strict schedule when I was in a classroom, and there was NO WAY I could do it at home!

Remind him that, in the ps, the teacher spends so much time doing administrative stuff (like attendance and lunch count), disciplining students, bathroom breaks for 30+ kids, etc. Those are things that you don't have to contend with. 2-3 hours is about right I would say!

 

Some of the stuff that I did for my daughter and son (my son just now hitting 1st grade) included checking out a bunch of books from the library on various "school" subjects. I actually unschooled for 1st grade, but it works just as well if you have a curric. I am in love with the fact that you can reserve library books online and have them waiting for you at the front desk at our library; actually, I drive to the library that is 30 mts away rather than the one that is 5 mts away because of this. So for instance, if you are working on matter, Africa, and fractions, you can put a couple of books on hold at the library for them. Since each of my 4 kids have cards, plus my husband and I are labeled as 'educators' at the library (and thus can put more books on hold & check out more books), we pick up something like 50+ books on each library run. And although they are all under the 'kids/educational' heading, they are of varying degrees of difficulty. Some of them they don't even look at, but I've been amazed at how much my 6 yo will pick up books beyond his level and read the captions for the pictures (those DK books are excellent for that) and bits and pieces. I don't count that as school time, but they are learning still, and usually don't even realize it.

 

We have about an 1 and a half of seat work and an additional hour of reading (free choice and assigned). I don't think it matters how long it takes as long as you're covering all the important stuff.

 

We spend an hour to an hour and a half each day and we do phonics, math, handwriting, poetry, Bible, literature and free reading.

 

I am teaching my son a mix of kinder and 1st grade this year and we spend about 11/2-2 hours a day on seat work (worksheets, and white board teaching, some of me reading to him) and then maybe an additional 1/2 - 2 hours of other stuff like him reading a book, or a project that isn't on a pre-printed sheet, or nature walks and the like. But that's mostly because I try to keep him busy the whole time his big brother is in Christian School. We take take a break for morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, recess, and mini breaks through the day just to get a seat break or for me to feed the baby.

 

about same time here

my dd is 1st grade. we do about 1 1/2 hours of seat work, but she can break it with fun stuff whenever she gets ready...as long as she finishes the work sometime during the day. Then 2 days a week we do "Meet the Masters" art program. I just purchased it through the homeschool co-op and have been VERY pleased with it. the we practice reading, go to library etc. when hubby gets home he reads her a classic fairytale (or something like that) and she does a very simple book report, mostly has dad write out her favorite part. she writes title and author and draws a pic of her favorite part. she is also allowed to play educational computer games/watch educ. movies!
sounds like you are right on track, in my opinion!
keep up the good work!
amy

 

We did 1st grade alst year and most days took around 2 hours for the organized work. Some theme reading and educational games and shows was outside of that.

 

He's still little, so make sure he gets enough moving time. Little brains often need rests between subjects!

Um, actually, I was going to say that's on the LONG end of hours to spend per day for a 1st grader! Many, many homeschoolers go by a general rule of 1 hour per grade up through about 5th grade, then it tends to level out some.

It's NOT too quckly! Be careful how you treat this! If you have planned out what to do in a day, and he gets it done, it should be done! I feel bad for kids who work hard and do well, accomplish what they're supposed to..............then end up being "rewarded" for that good work by having MORE work added to them! That's not right and it's not fair! Also, after awhile they'll decide it's not worth working hard to learn, cuz they'll always get more piled on, so they "rebel"!

As others have said, homeschooling is soooo different than being in a classroom. If you want him to have the same amount of hours of "school" as ps does, then you need to make him stand in line to go to the bathroom, wait for many minutes until every child in the classroom is done, stand in line to get pencils sharpened, stand in line to go to recess, stand in line to go to lunch, etc., etc. throughout the whole day!!! You will see where the time goes, and that your ds is already doing as much or more than the kids in ps are doing each day!

Instead of doing that, though, you can appreciate the fact that you get to homeschool, your ds sounds like he's working very well ono his hschoolwork and with you, and he is getting his work done each day! Be thankful he doesn't have to be in school spending so much wasted time just standing in line and waiting! Instead you and he can used that time wisely--read aloud to him a lot, take him grocery shopping and let him help you pick the best prices and sizes, go to a park, go on nature walks, play tag and hide-and-go-seek, laugh, listen to classical music, and music from different eras and composers! In other words, expose him to many things, fun things!

PLEASE don't add on more work!!!

Best wishes on your adventure!

 

Thank you all so much. Its nice to have others who are in the same boat or have done it before to talk to.

I want ds to get the most out of school, as we all do for our children, but when the other parent starts questioning my methods it makes me wonder if he is getting enough. After reading all of your replies I know he is.

Thank you again.

 

We spend a total of 3 hours, counting a 15 minute break each hour. (So... 45 minutes times 3 is....) That includes the time that I read a Bible story to the kids while they color a page to match it, and time spent reading the novel for the week.

Monday they get "extra" at co-op, and Thursday they get "extra" when Dad teaches science.

That is all.

 

I still am at a loss as of what to do for science for 1st grade. We are doing nature study and that was going to be our main focus but really I think we need more. We are so much in nature anyway - I mean we camp, hike, bird watch, etc all the time, it is just natural for us. I am trying to find something on a first grade level for Grace and as of yet I have not come up with anything.

 

when I did first grade... it took about 2 hours a day or like I always told the girls whenever you get the work done we are done...

 

We use Evan-Moor Grades 1-2 Read and Understand Science. We also study a new animal each week using pages I print up from

http://www.learningpage.com/pages/menu_wkshts/fact_zoo.html

I hope that helps

 

My son was in first grade last year and my other son is in Kindergarten this year. We plan on 5 hours a day this year, but we do LOTS of hands-on activities. My kids can do up to 7-8 hours a day. So if you want to add on I would add on related arts/crafts, videos, games, music, stories that are read to him, science experiments, etc. Seatwork and time in school do not have to equal. And kids learn a lot through non-seatwork activities. For instance for Spanish you can do a game like I wrote about here http://eclectic-homeschool.blogspot.com/2008/09/spanish-red-light-green-light.html

 

Gonna go check out Even Moore now! Thanks!