How do you all handle schooling during family events or emergencies? 3 months ago we moved from Arizona to Utah, then we had an unexpected pregnancy and I was so sick I couldn't really do anything. Then an emergency root canal followed by a very traumatic late term miscarriage. As a result my kids have had infrequent and inconsistent schooling for 4 months. And now I'm struggling with depression and struggling to get them through the basics each day. I'm wondering when not enough school turns into not enough school? You know? I'm wondering if maybe my kids would do better in an online charter school or something? Something that didn't rely 100% on me to generate everything? I'm tired and frustrated with life right now and don't want that to rub off on my kids anymore than it has to. Suggestions? Amy
I'm so sorry you are going through all of this. Although we have not experienced anything of the magnitude you have, when we were moving we used ACE paces (workbooks). I'm not sure how old your kids are, but mine were in 3rd and 6th at the time. They knew how many pages needed to be completed in a day and they just got them out and did it. They had instruction built into the lessons, so no prep on my part. Grading was super simple with the answer keys. Praying for you and yours as you figure out what will work best for your family.
Sorry for what you have been going through Amy. Praying for you. I was going to suggest the same as Brooke. There is also stuff they could do online to help supplement their work till you can feel like your on your feet again. You can always homeschool during the summer to finish up the year. Taking one day at time will get you where you need to be mentally and physically. We are here if you need us. Praying you have an awesome day today.
I would also like to add that my experience with computer based programs required a lot of my time as an administrator. It was much simpler for my kids and I to flip through a workbook than to hunt through every page of a program. Just something else to consider.
I was also going suggest using a more set curriculum instead of a made by mom one. Just until you get on your feet. I use CLE and it is very instructor friendly. My 2nd grader does his math with only maybe 10 minutes of my time to instruct him. I do not do any other prep either. One thing that helped me was a dead line. I took two weeks off and told myself. I will not do school I will make sure I am in order. No kind of school, no sneaky learning while playing school. Nothing. The kids get free time for two weeks. I took the first week off and did what I needed to get me in order. I cleaned, organized and read books. The second week I got ready for school. I planned for the next 6 weeks, printed off everything, hole punched etc. Everything was in the kids notebooks and organized, so for the next 6 weeks I didn't have to do anything but open my planner and read what was next on the list. I only scheduled 4 days a week and planned on having the 5th day to work on my things. I know that isn't perfect, but it helps when you are dealing with depression and kids for me anyways to have a schedule. Then when I don't feel like I have the energy I can at least try to do something. Not everything but something. Which usually leads to most of the things getting done. I also have a chart for each kid to check off, and one for me. Where I have listed what we do each day. Then the kids can keep track of where they are, and what they need to do if I need to take some time off. I am not an organized person, but sometimes I have to have that to force myself to do something instead of being depressed and falling behind all the time.
I agree with the others and would like to add that going with an online K-12 or charter school would really tie your hands. The workload is much more and if you don't keep up then it causes more trouble. Working independently gives you much more freedom to take time off as needed. And again, you can do school through the summer if you need to.
So sorry you've been going through all of that! Prayers for you and your family! We had a rough year... couple of years, also. From January 2010 through... well, this past spring at least, we really didn't get much done. My oldest son is now a book behind where I'd hoped him to be in both English and math. He doesn't have much science to speak of, and we took almost 4 years to get through ancient history. I considered ps for the middle two kids (never for my oldest - he just wouldn't do well in that environment) this year. I didn't do it, because we are back on our feet now and getting some things done, but I was also worried about when does a break turn into just not doing school at all ever. Know what? Evaluating where they are as we get restarted, I am realizing that they are NOT really "behind" when comparing to the ps. Not at all. In fact, my 7th grader is still pretty far ahead. My 3rd grader would be considered ahead in math, and still behind in language... but he was a slower language learner and we got started later with him. That's not the fault of this big break - that's just him learning at his own speed. And probably the one most "behind" is my 2nd grader, but really, he's young enough and smart enough that I am completely not worried about getting him up to par. (Besides, he's at that stage where we just park it and wait for them to "get" reading and "get" adding, and do fun unit learning in the meantime. So, he's good. :lol: ) All that to say - take the time you need. If it would be MUCH easier on you, even considering the more rigid schedule and dealing with the ps's rules, homework, etc, to put them there, then do it. For me and my family, we decided that the few benefits we'd reap from sending them to the ps didn't outweigh all the negatives we'd have to endure and it was much more worth them "getting behind" than all of that. We're playing some catch-up, yes, but maybe we needed this time for ME to see that really we are doing quite well with our education and I need to quit worrying about it so much and just do what we do. Homeschooling is a lifestyle... and that's not just a cute board blinkie.
About 12 yrs ago, we had a bad year....my father's cancer then death, depression, new house and construction headaches....etc. etc. I saw the effect on their yearly test scores. The school lessons lost or not learned were worked on the following year(s) and it ended up being a small blip on the radar. My point? My children learned more LIFE lessons that year than school. We made up what they missed and got back on track. And realizing how I was affecting them was my motivation/push.... (((((((hugs)))))))) and prayers dear!
I am so sorry you have been going through so much. I know many don't like online programs, but we use Time4learning, and it is a very independent program. Your child can go as fast or as slow as they like. My child was able to go through the kindergarten lessons last year with no problem and at his own pace. The program works great to make sure that your child is learning something, even on days, when you don't have the energy. There were days when I was not feeling well, and had to lay down. I was able to sit and just watch them work on their lessons on the computer. The program saves all of their test scores, and shows all of the work they have completed. This way when you are feeling up to it you can review the sections they struggled with. The best part is that they can repeat the lessons over and over again if you want. They recently adding something new where real teachers come on the screen to teach the lesson. Obviously it is prerecorded, but my kids love the fact that they are interacting with a real person on some of their lessons. You can also skip around in the lessons, if that is what your child prefers. Obviously I like the program, we have been using it for several years now, and each year they add something new. It is a paid program but I have to say that they are reasonable. When you are feeling up to it, if you want them to do more workbook type work, you can print off an entire booklet for certain lessons from the parents section. Anywhoo, it's just something to think about, since not all online programs are the same. I hope this helps.
Amy, I'm not experienced with homeschooling at all, but I wanted to say that I'm sorry you are going through so much. Get the help you need, whether it's counseling, meds, or a hug from a friend-- don't be afraid to ask others to help you too, maybe they can take some of your load off by doing laundry or babysitting so you can have some time to yourself each week. Hugs
