TeacherMom, I've only got DD at home; she's technically in 7th, but in reality a bit behind (which she was when we left school.) We're working on The Diary of Anne Frank right now, which combines history and english for us.
Sami does Math, Bible, Writing, Reading, and Geography every day. In that order. Challenge box is supposed to be before Math but I am behind in coming up with new challenges. I plan to add Science and History as a regular daily thing beginning next year or perhaps the year after. It depends on how well she is reading -- At that point she will read to learn rather than learn to read (as I once saw someone else here put it ) So we can drop reading as a seperate subject then. Music, art, swimming, gymnastics, etc. are classes I put her in here and there to be done with someone who is not me teaching. She also goes weekly to Homeschool group (they have field trips (the zoo tomorrow!) and/or art), 4 hours of Sunday School, and Missionettes. She also has what she calls "Learning Videos" and "Learning Tapes." One is a math lecture on adding/subtracting/patterns, one on nouns and verbs, a few phonics, conversational Spanish, etc. She chooses them to watch for fun over other things alot. Sometimes if I'm really sick, or something like that, I'll tell her to watch learning videos instead of school. I don't keep track of time, We do one lesson per subject per day. Sometimes she finishes in an hour and a half. Sometimes she takes all day long. It is almost neaver a long day since I made Geography last. Funny how the right motivation makes all the difference. Oh yeah, and she reads for 20 minutes before bed every night... Whatever she chooses to read.
I remember charts and stuff, that owrked great with my younger ones, but now I have a gal who makes a scheduel and then works faster than the time she gave, I gave her an extra days work yesterday and she was still done by lunch. I need to add to her class load or something I think.... but reallywe have the staples plus already, she is diong two bibles cause one is the left over subjects we have a book in this grade and a book in the other just for fun... And she is doing two history books.. they are basiclly World History with American Political HIstory as well, She is doing great in both of them too! I am trying to get her to do more writting projects because I know she will take time to think first then write... at least thats how the assignment is set up each week.
I don't see how the basics cannot be done every day. I'm talking reading, math, etc. Isn't there a risk of the child falling behind?
Falling behind WHO? All the public school kids her age? She's probably so far ahead of them that she'd have to be isolated into a room with no stimulation in it for a year to do that! There's been too many kids that aren't ready until they're eight or nine. So maybe they seem "behind" at 6 and 7, but then it clicks and they catch right up, where as if they'd been pushed, they would just have become frustrated and feel stupid. Yes, I agree that you shouldn't neglect the "basics". But if they miss math once a week, does it really matter? Again, I wouldn't want them missing their math consistently.
Even though we've had a million things going on, and I've started getting frustrated with getting back to our schedule (tomorrow, the 23rd, is ds's 13th b-day and party tomorrow night. THEN we'll get back to a good school schedule!!!), i noticed that they are STILL ahead of the ps kids and the local Christian school's kids! I was so surprised, but it seems to be so! Homeschoolers can get so much more accomplished in a much shorter time than kids that go to a school, that if they miss something one day, it doesn't have to be a big deal, because they're where they should be or ahead. Even if they're behind some schedule somehow, they can still easily make up one day of stuff. I like math done as much as possible, but the other stuff we get in easily!
Oh no Deena I did nto send those photos off yet! With mom and the retreat I just lost track of time, forgive me? We are still running one day behind, but Johnny has two reports to work on next week so I am using the time he would have done that for catch up time, and let him do after school time to work on the report so its like Home work . I think that will work out... The reports seem so simple for him up to thepoint whre he has to write out the information, I told him either on comutor or by hand is okay.
Deena, Can I come to the party tomorrow I love a good party! Tell your ds that some weird people from Texas wish him a Happy Birthday, hope he has a good day.
Although unschooling is not the style of homeschooling I have at the moment, I'm sure those who take this approach would disagree with the above, especially since math & reading lessons can be found in all sorts of spontaneous and unstructured activities. As for me, right now I'm homeschooling through an electronic school since the structure and accountability help big 'ole unorganized me stay on track. And boy, am I flying by the seat of my pants! We do what we can do in a day and they take quizzes and tests (every 10 and 20 lessons) to see how they're doing. So far so good but even if they someday don't do so well on a quiz or test, if I'm satisfied with what they know, I'm not going to sweat it. I refuse to fall into the trap of teaching to the test (or conforming to any other educrats' standards for that matter). If I ever feel confined or restricted by the electronic school, we'll be done with it. I've found that a relaxed approach to Science and Social studies this year has actually already led us into much cooler things than last year. I guess my point is, if they seem to be doing o.k. to you, do what feels right and what makes you and your kids enjoy the learning process.
