I temporarily have two extra students (just this week), a K and a 1st. Not real homeschool- I have no long term commitment to their education. Mostly, I'm including them because I don't want to take this week off for my own kids, and giving the two extras 'school work' keeps them occupied and entertained. I miss my one-on-one with dd :cry:. I hate that she has to wait for an answer, hate that she has to sit twiddling her thumbs or coloring pictures while we wait for the other two kids to speed up or finish up. We end up with 'busywork' just so I can keep all 3 somewhat on the same subject. Yesterday, it was just the girls (dd and 1st grade neice) but today the k'er wanted to do school at the same time. Thankfully, we are managing to get our reading, phonics review, and math done, so it's not all lost. But everything else is kind of a mess... I don't know what we'll take out of this week, other than a fervent appreciation for our alone time together. (which started because my kids wouldn't stop bickering, but has clearly morphed into something we love and appreciate for it's own sake).
This week I feel like I'm floundering with my two...and we've been at this for years. It's not them, though. It's me. Working part-time sucks. I think when we have children, regardless of the number, it is always manageable. It seems to be when others things get added in that we struggle. But even then, women tend to persevere. ♪♫I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it...♪♫
I think if those kiddos were your own, you'd feel less like you do. When my DS9 has to sit and wait for me to answer another kiddo, that other kiddo is likely DS7. Or I'm changing my baby's diaper. Or I'm helping my DS5 learn to read. They all learn to be patient, or figure out the answer while they wait for me. Yes, busy work occurs, but I don't consider my "distractions" irritations because they are all my children and deserve my attention equally.
Ditto to Amie. (I agree with her often! LOL) I have school work divided into what gets done together, and what is done on an individual basis. I do the "together" stuff with the littles while my oldest does his independent work, and then swap to let the two littles do their independent while I work with my oldest. There's a short time of transition in there while I give the littles their instructions, and sometimes we have to stop and deal with babies, but for the most part it flows pretty well. That said, we haven't done much these past couple of weeks. It's the time of year - we often slow down this time of year because we school through the summer and fall is so full of extra stuff that we just take it easy. Trying not to this year, but I needed a break when the babies were sick and am still trying to get our routine back! I think it's about back though and we'll do our testing this week and move on to new things next week.
You guys are completely right. I recently got a phone call from a friend about her dd and whether we would take her if something happens. After I got off the phone I was thinking.. wow, we are completely different parents from my friend (friend works two jobs and is a single parent doing the best she can to make ends meet, I'm a sahm and know what my kids are up to 24/7). AND I have no idea how to raise a 15yo. But like having babies, you learn as you go until it becomes 'normal'. And valid point about mine vs. others. I think it also matters that I DO care about dd's education, that it is important to me that she learn SOMETHING and be at least marginally challenged every day. Since these aren't my kids, I just started them somewhere near where they are already, with no actual idea of what they can do. It doesn't matter if they learn anything this week LOL. Wow, that sounds awful. but it is true. I also think dd and ds know what homeschooling means. They know some things are fun, some are not. They treat 'school' as academic learning, and their mindset is in line with that. They'll muddle through the boring bits (usually) because they know the days are short and that I feel they need to know it. It took training though. The other kids don't know anything except that I can print off coloring pages on the printer, and hey can we learn about xyz instead today?? They don't have the same concept of what we do, the sequence, or that things are planned out. dd was like that at first, as well. It doesn't FEEL like school, so they don't treat it like it is, either. Love the idea of separating littles from bigs- I can definitely see how that could work. Not sure why I thought k, 1st, and 2nd could be on the same page, taking the same amount of time. YIKES. Food for thought for me .
You did a great job summing up, Meghan!!! Yes, it's LOTS of training, but (I can say as I'm coming into the "home stretch") it pays off! BTW, when mine were K, 3rd, and 5th, they really were on the same page with some stuff. Other stuff.... Well, let's just say there's three years between my younger two, and Faythe is only one year ahead of Phillip in science, and maybe a year and a half ahead in math! But my girls are only two years apart age wise, and they're four years apart in math and science.
Right now, I'm finding it extremely difficult to balance the three of them. They're 4, 22 months and 5 months though. My oldest doesn't do much independent work and my son wants to do everything that big sister is doing (I've given him his own activities...but he wants her...naturally! lol). And the baby...well, she's the easiest! I just strap her on and go! Hopefully things will get better as I get more organized. It is only our second week!
whenwereathome, that's to be expected. My girls are 23 months apart. Everything Rachael did, Faythe wanted to try. I figured potty training would be so easy, but of course that was the one thing Faythe dug her heals in at, lol! Whatever I did with Rachael, I kept extra copies on hand for Faythe. Anytime she wanted to "do school" like her big sister, she got a paper, too. And if she just scribbled all over it, that was OK. At age four, so much of what you do is just learning through play anyway. So let the middle one play along. And a lot of it is just reading books together; again, the middle one can be included with that. As far as working independently, they'll learn. Expect her to work/play on her own for a small amount of time, say ten minutes. Maybe at the table while you're doing dishes. Or while you're feeding the baby. "Mommy needs to feed the baby right now, and I need you to (XXXXXX) all by yourself like a big girl. When Mommy is done with Baby, I will see what a good job you did, and then I'll read you a story." Believe me, training them to be independent with their work IS ESSENTIAL. Like all training, it will take time, but is SO worth it!!! (BTW, my kids are 17, 15, and almost 12 now!). Also, do a search on this site for "Mommy Time". It's something I strongly push. If you can't find it, send me a PM and I will explain, but I don't want to take the time now.
It's a constantly changing thing as the kids age. Right now my daughter (9) "does preschool" with the four year old while I teach the 6 year old to read. He loves it and thinks she is much more interesting than me. They all have certain things they can do independently while I work with the others. I think it takes longer to do the same amount of work than it does for smaller families but half of that is because the older kids get sidetracked wanting to do the stuff the younger ones are doing. :roll:
What awesome training for the oldest! When Rachael started Apologia General Science, her little brother was her "Lab Assistant" for all her experiments.
I had 3 students this year, near in age -- 14, 14, and 12, and in some things they're at about the same levels. THEN dgs joined us, at first grade level! I had no idea that 3 + 1 = 6!!! LOL! Since he's only first grade, he needs nearly-constant attention from either dh or me (dh does Bible and math - and probably art, when we get a chance, I do reading, LA, and sci/ss). And I just heard today that I MIGHT (it's somewhere within the realm of possibility, but I have no clue about how probable or IMprobable it might be) get a former student back, who is 16 and at a totally different level than everybody else in every subject! And just when you think you're getting into a groove...
I have had 3 at a time since 2004 and it is hard. I struggled with the same problem of one waiting while I helped the other. I did notice that it started to make them a little more independent. Where they would wait for me to get past a problem, they started to read the instructions better and figure it out themselves. Turned out good.
Meghan didn't you know that we grow extra arms and heads when we Homeschool more than one. Hahahaha just kidding. While at times it can be challenging we all manage to get it done. And it is easier when it's our own kids.
Well, she actually has an older brother but I'm requiring more work out of him so he is busy doing independent work but, yeah, they sure love their younger siblings and love to teach them.
I think it's different when it's your own multiple children vs. adding in outside children. With our own you can ask for a certain amount of respect and help. With outside children you should get the same respect and help, but sometimes it takes some time to "teach" them what it is you are talking about. Also, if we add a friend in for the day, it tends to be an off day, simply because we are taking longer to explain procedures, subject matter, etc. MT3
Oh, too true!! Although then the kids might learn about changing the oil in the car, or "landscaping" (yard work), or geo-caching, or target practice out on the range... good things to learn, but NOT what I have down on the planner for the day! lol MT3
