Please Help Me.... I am losing my mind! - Page 2

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by campbellsoup

We were doing his reading together. I had him read me the questions and then he read the story aloud. He started answering questions.... I was there to prod him along and I could stop him pretty quickly as he left out words (a lot easier to correct that as it is happening).

my dd would have shut down too if i stopped her and kept correcting her. maybe your ds dislikes it too? just a thought. hugs.

[campbellsoup]

I am listening...

The ironic thing is that when first introduced to homeschooling, I was really drawn to unschooling. Read many Holt books. Loved his philosophy. And in terms of learning, it was working so beautifully. No fighting to do schoolwork and he was absorbing knowledge like a sponge. So why did I change? Good question.

My household was getting chaotic. I felt I didn't have the time I once had to properly facilitate his child led learning. I wanted to be able to calm things down by saying, "OK, go do your math now." Before the classical curriculum, he would zip through a project/reading/whatever and be wrestling around with his brothers... which is fine in smaller doses. He is very physical/athletic. I admit it, I was looking for some way to make homeschooling easier for me. Simeon is so bright, I needed something to keep him busy. It seems that has backfired on me. He is battling the "busywork."

Maybe Charlotte Mason is the compromise. I loved her philosophy as well. We already have a century book we don't use nearly enough. Her focus on outdoor time would be great for him to drain that abounding energy. Shorter lessons seem to be a must. He loves to read so we could go far with living books.

I need to do a major overhaul.

[fourbeautifulgirls]

he he he...love the pencil dropping comment!

There are so many awesome replies and ideas, that I don't have much to add except that it will get better. I have four children and went through the same thing with my oldest. Mine are 9,7,4,and 2 1/2. I became very upset and frustrated sooooo many times during that time--what am I saying, it still happens!!! But, my oldest has really improved. She is very easily distracted and I still have to work with her on focusing. Some days she does awesome and gets her work done super quick. Other days it takes her an hour just to finish one tiny page!!! Talk about frustrating!

I just wanted to drop a line of encouragement for you. What you are doing is so fantastic and wonderful. Home schooling, like so many other things, just keeps changing. I am slowly learning how to not get upset when we run into a rough patch. My husband always tells me "when I get frustrated to not blame myself or feel bad, that my frustration/desire to fix the problem is because I care and am trying to do the right thing."! You will find a solution to your problems and you will both learn how to work with each other. AND what works with your oldest might not be what works with the next child!! All in all, give yourself a big hug, read as much as you can about all of the different ways to teach/interact with your children, and try a little of this and a little of that. Every thing will work out in the end!

Hugs and well wishes!

Leia