My children are entering the 7th grade. They are 11 and 12 years old. How much time do you expect your child to work independently on school work? I am going to be buying the DVD's to go along with the curriculium I am purchasing. Meaning it will teach the lesson then go over the practice set with them. Then they are left to do it on their own. Am I wrong? Expecting them to do the majority of the work with out me?? I will do the disections with them and if they are struggling in an area I will be there to help them, of course. I am feeling guilty having them learn that way..... I guess because I am use to being at their beckon call. But, I am finding I can't do it all. I work and keep a house and school the kids. I am looking forward to having the help of the DVD's and I know that they aren't going to replace me. But the guilty thing is hanging over my head.
mine worked a lot more independently with the older two, the younger one now in high school but really asks for me to get more involve. With a dvd program at their ages, just by their attention span length I would not expect more than half an hour to 45 mins alone work, I would view the dvd prorams with them and let them ask any questions then let them go at doing the written work that coincides with them. Of course it will take trial and error but I would expect to spend about 15 mins an hour with them to be sure they know what they are learning via dvd, and then let them try it out. IF they need more teacher mom attention you will know. But plan for the 15 per hour to start. What program of DVDs didyou get?
I will be purchasing the Bob Jones full grade level along with the DVD's. I know we won't. Be watching every single class. For example in math it will be easy for them. But I feel that it takes the weight off of me if I don't know how to teach it or just ran out of time. But you know as a mom and something new you doubt yourself at first.
I wouldn't feel guilty at all for having them work more independently. Having said that, I really wouldn't try to expect them to go through a huge adjustment all at once. DS is about the same age and last year was our 1st year hs. When we made the change, we explained to him that there was no way I could "teach" to him the whole time he was expected to be learning. We started off with me being more hands on. Then life got in the way, gradually taking my hands on time with him away a little at a time. He is becoming more and more independent. I'm still available if he has questions and do have times when we sit together to learn something he finds difficult but he mostly does his checklist I give him. I agree with Teachermom - 15 min. per hour of learning. I think it depends on the kid too. I found myself last year with several days where I would go through the lessons 1st thing in the am (taking about an hour to hour and half), he would go on to do his written work and take the reading portions with us. Some days I had zero hands on time with him. He did a great job! Think about it this way, I think my most important task as a parent is to teach my kids to be responsible, independent citizens who can take care of themselves after I'm gone. Studying independently teaches responsibility, accountability, self-reliance, and a lifelong ability to learn what they need to know. Why would you feel guilty about that? Debbie
They are at an age where you want them to start working more independently. It does not mean at times you won't sit in while they are watching a video and you will have time to go over their assignments. Having them watch a video is no different than having them read a textbook, niether one of them can make sure the kids know the material that is your job, they are there to help impart the information.
I definitely think now is the time to expect more independence. Ask yourself... if the were in ANY other schooling situation (public, private, good, bad), they'd be with another teacher for the lesson, expected to do their own work, and you'd be around to supervise or help with homework. Why should this be any different if you're using a DVD teacher rather than yourself as the teacher? Yes, I'd certainly expect more independence. Think of a large letter X on a graph. The upper left is the amount of time you spend in helping your child with kindergarten, the bottom left is the amount of independent work done in kindergarten, the upper right is the amount of time the child does independent study in 12th grade, and the bottom right is the amount of time you spend on instruction/supervision in 12th grade. If your own graph looks like an X, and your kids are getting good "grades" (however you grade them, of course), then you're doing your job, and they'll be prepared for college or work when they leave you.
7th grade is the perfect time to begin to demand independent learning. Another poster said "trial and error".... great idea! We always run through a week or two of trial and error to see how each subject will realistically work, how much time is realistic. You might pick one subject (or two depending on your work schedule) to do together. You should be keeping track of assignments somewhat , so you will be involved. When the materials come in find time to work through the first lesson of everything with the kids. It might take a week or more to do this, but you all will have a good feel of the subjects that can be completely independent, the ones that will need some guidance, and the ones that will need to be 'taught'. But without doing a lesson or two first it is probably impossible to figure all that out now. Pam
Christine, my situation is quite a bit different, since my students and I are at school together from about 830 to about 3. But since they outnumber me, there's only so much of me to go around. I put their work on a chart, and other than some few certain things we need to do together (discuss reading, for example), I expect them (from about 3rd grade on up) to look at the chart, choose a subject, and get started with it on their own. I'm there if they have a question, but sometimes (like in math) if I'm busy with another student, I'll tell them to skip that one and come back to it when I'm free. Then I check work that's left in my inbox in between helping students, and return work for corrections. If they miss a question twice, we have to discuss it. But from about 3rd grade I expect them to be able to read and answer questions independently a goodly portion of the day. I've never used any courses on dvd, but it seems to me that it would be much like them attending a class while you're at work, and then doing their homework. At their age, they should be able to do that, and you're there to help with the "homework".
Christine, don't feel guilty AT ALL!!!!!!!! I started about that time with my older two. I didn't look at it so much as getting them on their own so I would have more time, which it certainly helped with, but I looked at is as preparing them for their futures. Back then we didn't have many DVD options, so they were doing their independent work from books. At that age I would do the schedule but they were responsible to complete the work. I was available if needed. In "10th" grade they started writing their own schedules. I told them what needed to be done by when and they had to figure out how to get the work done in the appropriate amount of time. I wanted them to be prepared for college (if they chose to go) or just life. As adults your life isn't detailed schedule to the minute by someone else. At least not in my world. Teaching children how to schedule their time and be responsible for getting things done over a certain length of time is a valuable life lesson. So let go of the guilt and see it as simply the next step in adventure. Btw, my two oldest are 22 and 20. And thankful for this simple lesson. My 20yo dd already has a successful wedding photography business. Had she never learned to manage her own time I doubt she would be doing as well as she is. Just a thought.
This helps a lot. I hate when you have that thought and it continues to haunt you. I feel so much better.
