My friend teaches her daughter one subject per day. Like Monday, they will do the entire week's worth of math homework. Then on Tuesday, they will do all of that week's language arts, and so on. She says it is working well for her daughter. My kids have 7 subjects (plus 30 min silent reading per day), so that wouldn't exactly work for us, but my kids want to try something like this. Do kids retain what they have learned when they only see that material once a week?
I'd be interested in knowing how old her child is. It seems like it could work at a younger age, but would get harder as they get older. Interesting idea. I've never tried it though
If it works for her, then I'm not going to say she's "wrong"! But there's no way it would work for my kids. And personally, for things like math, I'm not sure it would be a wise idea. Science and history, I could see it working. Possibly with English.
I don’t think I’d be too keen on doing this with my kids. Doing a whole week’s worth of a subject in one day has got to be a bit rough, and probably boring? I think it would be beneficial to the kids if it was reinforced throughout the week. I group subjects together in 3s, then alternate between the two school day schedules.
It wouldn't work for my sons at all. They like variety in their day. Plus with math they would struggle with mastering concepts if they were only covered once a week. They need time to think and let ideas sink in.
I have toyed with the idea of doing it similar to that but I am sure my kids would complain and nothing would get done.
I would like to do science/history/music/art once a week. I think it would be a nightmare for math/LA though.
It would not work for us for that reason, especially with math. We are in a co-op one day a week so the other 4 days we work on each subject each day so it stays fresh in their minds. Mine are high school age now and I don't think they would do well on tests it they studied only once a week.
I know someone who did this with her son (diagnosed w/ Aspergers). Once he got concentrated on one topic, he needed to stay with it. In high school he would do one subject at a time. He would completely finish a math text book, then start an English course, etc. But he finished school on time and got good grades. Whatever works right?!
Exactly! Whatever works. I don't think I could get used to teaching every subject that way, and I'm sure my kids would get bored with it. We like variety in our day. If it works for her and her kids, though, that's all that matters.
