As far as the hours go, only 600 of those hours have to be in core subs. So just do 400 hours in whatever else that interests him. If you need more time in CC hours, just go to the library and check out nature videos (science) or books ect to add hours. It doesn't necessarily have to be bookwork. Also you can have him write stories or letters and count that as Language, or set up a spelling bee game for him, use flash cards to learn vocabulary words ect.
Yeah, that's the problem. He doesn't want to do anything other than bookwork. We do include Spanish and Bible, which of course are not core. But that still doesn't solve the problem that he finished 1/10 of the year in 6 days. Ok, so it's not a problem yet, like I said, since he is only 6, but still....
If I thought that was going to happen, I wouldn't even consider letting him go on. But he has an amazing memory and incredible understanding of written materials. He can still tell me every detail of books he read last year. So I don't think he'd bomb the alternate test at all.
I count Bible as core, It counts as Reading. and reading is a core. I use the LP bible workbooks. I'm not sure if Spanish is a core or not, but I would think so maybe? Language is listed as a core, but it doesn't specify that is has to be English. I think basketball, swimming, painting, guitar lessons, or weaving baskets, pottery, piano lessons, gardening, house cleaning, changing the oil in a car, ect would be electives?
well as long as he really is learing it, and can use it, I would just move on. Keep track of hours and then at the end you would need to pick up whatever is left either w more books, or something else. Does he like computer?
I've never heard of anyone using Bible as core. Sounds.. um.. well, let's just say I'd rather not risk it. Especially since we count Awanas and Sunday School in our Bible hours in addition to our LPs. Dh wondered about Spanish counting as LA. Since the law doesn't specify English anywhere. I'm still torn. I think that's one of those that I won't worry about unless it comes to where I'm short on hours with no way to make them up.
What about extra worksheets from the internet? If he flies through the first section of his LP, you could always find free worksheets online (or make them yourself) to reinforce what he just learned. Maybe that way you can stretch how long he remains on a section? Plus, that would help for you hours requirements.
Dont worry about running out of hours or whatever. Just check off your boxes as you paced them and keep moving. Worst case scenario is that he'll be WAAAYY ahead if the state ever decides to check in on you guys. Redo your schedule. Let the top line read: Minimum of 30min OR y-pages required daily. Then down in a line have a checkbox for each subject/category: Reading, Writing, Langauge, Math, Science, Whatever Check a box each day and keep a portfolio. Honestly, I think you're making a much bigger deal out of this than need be. Lol, its funny to see how much we all worry over stuff that is really quite simple. Like I said, find free resources. BROADEN the scope if he's moving so fast. Why not go for quality and quantity while he's interested and begging for more. Require he write reports on non-fiction books and videos he's read. Use KhanAcademy and let him do as much math as he wants, I'm telling you, its a GREAT resource for Math. Require he write a story using good grammar, and all those writing conventions they teach students (brainmap and all that stuff) Get him a Spanish book and let him work through it. Teach him to read Spanish and get him Spanish childrens books from the library. Have him master fact families up to 15 for all 4 operations. Have him make Non-fiction books for others to read. Teach him about budgeting and expenses I assure you, Reading is reading. If you're reading and understanding your history textbook, you're reading. If you're writing about science, then its writing. Dont get bent out of shape, or uneasy about being creative and or freeminded. Dont micromanage yourself.
That's what public schools do, and it's the reason I hated school. Kids who did a good job were punished by getting "extra" work rather than "better" work. Sometimes I'd pretend not to know something just so I could pass notes to my friends and do the work only once like the slackers in the class had already figured out to do. I wanted a challenge, but I was given a worksheet that looked just like the last 5 I turned in. I wanted to go to the library and check out an off-topic book, but I wasn't allowed to do that. It's like pushing the rock up the hill over and over. I wouldn't recommend that at all! There's no reason to reinforce something he's clearly mastered.
Thank you! I feel exactly the same way, but didn't want to say anything since I felt in the clear minority. (btw, I <3 the Sisyphus mention. One of my faves, by far.)
but the life pac bible IS reading. It has reading comprehension with a workbook to fill out, and also memory verses, and works on vocabulary and language skills. We did a section yesterday that had words to break down into syllables and such. It is very much like the Language set. I guess you could call them or call HSLD and see if the LP Bible could count for reading. I keep the workbooks, so I can prove it is a real reading program. Just the material is the Bible instead of secular books. We also check out all kinds of books at the library and they read 30 mins a day and I count that. I keep all my library receipts.
I am of the group that says if they finish early let them, if they want to go on to do more let them. not sure if thats a minority or majority but hey, it works for me!
Amie, I would definitely list Bible LP time as reading because it involves reading and the new vocabulary and the comprehension of what was read, and writing answers to comprehension questions, and those silly LA sections within it that I always felt were so intrusive, but reading is reading, regardless the subject matter. You can report it to MO as "character/values" or "historical" if you choose. And the Spanish lessons should definitely count as language arts. I wouldn't necessarily differentiate on my report as to subject matter read (reading-reading vs Bible-reading/character&values-reading), nor which language was being studied. After all, do you have to list all the library books he's reading during the year as to genre?
Ok, you got me there. Now I'm thinking about my oldest, for whom I DO have to track since he's 8... So, Peanut, if I do that, then I'll be listing reading and Bible under reading, and Spanish and English under LA. So I'll have a disproportionately larger number of hours in those two than in math, h & g, and science. (Especially since LA is his most difficult subject and usually ends up taking him twice as long as anything else already.) Do you worry about that at all? I mean, I don't try to keep an even number in each subject or anything, since it doesn't say we have to break down those 600 hours any which way, but a HUGE difference might be a red flag??? Or maybe not. IDK. Any thoughts on that. I'm trying to change my mindset here.
Not a prob, Amie - public schools have a huge block of time for reading/language arts, like 2 to 3 hours, but smaller blocks for math, science, and social studies. If anything, they'll think you're being MORE like them in that aspect! And if they choose to think that, who cares?
I'm sure it doesn't say "600 hours in one grade" - so if he continues working at his pace and completes workbooks - then you get the next ones.... wouldn't that work? Maybe supplement with CLE workbooks as well - they are so like the LPs but more challenging I think in their own way. Do a LifePac - then a CLE.... I think CLE is better in LA anyways.
Oh, absolutely. It's actually 1,000 hours per year. 600 have to be in the five core classes. And that's per calendar year, too. So Summer stuff counts. I never looked into CLE. I guess I should. Once I find something that's 'good enough', I don't bother to look for 'better.'
That's true, too. You know, it's funny. We're four years in and I thought I was kind of an 'old pro' at this homeschooling stuff. Then we add another child into the mix and everything I thought I knew goes right out the window. lol!
I list Bible as Reading, I do not write 'Bible'. If I go to the library and they read a book, I just write down, 30 min Reading. I don't write the whole title out. So ANY reading they do, Bible, books magazines ect counts as reading. The Language arts, Grammar, Spelling, Hand writing, foreign language, writing a letter or story, book report, looking stuff up on the internet, doing reports ect, all go under "language' in my journal. I keep samples of their work and date them so that if a problem comes up I can show their work, variety in subjects, art work, ect. Don't forget that you can also video your kids singing, reciting their X's factors, or reading something ect. So my journal might look like this. Aug 3 Monday 30 min Reading 1 hr Language Nora, 45 min Science Jasmine 30 min Science, test, 85% Nora spelling test 100% Geography 45 mins Science video 45 mins Nora 30 min audio book Jasmine 1 hour guitar lesson 30 min swimming-PE Played computer games with Anthony after dinner, went with Dad to Burger King for ice cream and played Monopoly before bed. Ok, so that is a sample entry of a typical day. I record any school work, any play time with other kids, trips out of the house, church attendance or other group or club sport activities shopping, or errands that we do. (now not all that counts as hours, I just record it to show how they spend their time and what they are involved in) I also count a couple hours a week of house cleaning, chores, and cleaning the church. Of course only core subjects would go toward the 600 hours everything else is extra. To be honest we have way more hours than we need. All I NEED is 600 hours of CORE. The extra is EASILY attained. You can count swimming, biking, any sport as extra. You can count cooking, sewing, cleaning, ect as home ec. You can easily throw in videos from the library for just about anything under the sun. Spanish, animals, our library has a video set to teach yourself to play guitar, and J has a guitar so we count that. ect. I like to record when they go out or play w others or have dr apts. It is a great way to journal that you take care of them, they have friends, and are not recluses. Photos are great for that. You can't really PROVE that your kids do anything without a receipt, journal, video, or photo ect.
I don't worry one single bit about the other 400 hours. I could do twice that without worry. lol. Actually, with Eli (my oldest) he's so 'slow' doing his core stuff that I also don't worry about the 600.
