[robin4kids]

Is there such a book, because if there is I think I need it. I really am having a hard time understanding how to get it all done in one year.<br><br>
Fist off I don't know if we will be hsing next year, so I don't want my ds to fall behind. Second I just can't seem to accomplish much in one day. My ds is so SLOW at all activities. It does not help to set a timer because he still will goof off and move as slow as a snail.<br><br>
I care for 2 other kids on top of my own two youngsters that are home with me, so we are not talking about much time for me to sit next to him one on one. I have to assign and leave him to do each subject. I teach him for short periods then assign more work.<br><br>
I just don't get how to fit spelling, vocab, reading, writing, Typing, Spanish, Math, math facts, geography, history, science, gym, and the list goes on.<br><br>
Honestly I can't seem to come up with a schedule that works. I have looked for examples, but no one seems to have the outside interferences that I seem to have.<br><br>
I know that the die hard hsers will say that you don't need all of that stuff, but I have two other kids in school. I can't help but hear other parents and kids mention things that they have done in school. It makes hsing very hard. I keep thinking, darn we are not doing vocab words. I guess i will need to add that.<br><br>
Oh and I am sorry, but my ds IS MISSING out on the socialization! I can't bring him to plays, or any activities, because of my younger kids. He sees no one except for me all day. I feel terrible. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br>
I hate looking at my local hs group, because they go to 1-3 plays a month. I could not even afford it if we could go.<br><br>
So how do i fit it all in and make it more fun with a house full of screaming toddlers? Tell me what your typical day looks like. My ds is in 4th grade.<br>
Robin

 

[phathui5]

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I have four kids of my own and do part-time childcare for 4-5 different families. There are always little kids over.<br><br>
Why are you homeschooling your ds? What do you want him to get out of it? What does he want to learn? I would recommend shaping your schedule around the answers to those questions.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">I can't bring him to plays, or any activities, because of my younger kids. He sees no one except for me all day.</td>
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Couldn't you go and take them all with you? We've been to the science center, library, zoo, etc with our babysitting kids.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">I just don't get how to fit spelling, vocab, reading, writing, Typing, Spanish, Math, math facts, geography, history, science, gym, and the list goes on.</td>
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Spelling, vocab, reading and writing generally all happen together. My fourth grade, he probably wouldn't be doing spelling as a separate subject in school. At this point, he learns spelling and vocab by reading books. For writing, he can write a summary of something he's read, write a letter to someone, write a poem about something, etc.<br><br>
There are software programs for typing if you want to cover that, but it wouldn't need to be more than once or twice a week.<br><br>
History and science we do on alternate days here. That makes it possible to fit them both in and actually have time to spend on them. History is M, W, F and science is on Tues and Thurs.<br><br>
For Spanish and Gym, could you look for classes at your local community college. My ds took Spanish for 6-10 year olds at our cc last year and is taking karate there this year.<br><br>
I use Singapore Math curriculum for math. You can find their placement tests online.

 

[elizawill]

robin, what are you currently using to teach him? i know you said he needs to work independently, so i'm just wondering what you use. do you feel any aspects of it are working well? maybe if you post more specifically, the mamas here can help you evaluate what is a real bust, and we can try to come up with a better suited approach to meet your son's needs and learning style. my kids are much younger....but i know many moms her have children in your son's age group who can offer wonderful support, advice, and resources.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2">hugs to you. i can sense that you are feeling overwhelmed and i 'm so sorry for that. hang in there though! maybe we can all put our heads together & come up with a better plan for you <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[robin4kids]

I actually am not interested in it. I am just interested in how others fill their day. My ds needs a loose schedule. I have to hold him accountable, otherwise he would not do anything I asked. I have to study his math facts with him, because he would never do it. I have to listen to him read, or he would not do more than a page or two.<br><br>
I have saxon math. I have many curriculum for the other subjects, but how to fit it in is a problem. Everything falls a part when my other 2 kids get home from school. I have one after schooler and kids are getting picked up. I unfortunately have kids till after 5. Then it is dinner time and bath and bed.<br><br>
How much do other do in a day and for how long to you do it?

 

[mommy68]

What is the reason you homeschool him but not the others? I'm just curious as I'm doing the same thing right now. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[mommy68]

Also, how long is he working on each individual subject? When H/S'ing I always let my child do quite a bit less than he would in a school environment. It doesn't take as long each day when it's just one child doing it. I will only expect my child to work on 30-45 minutes of each subject each day of the week, several subjects per day, and he may get done faster some days more than others. He is also very slow though. That was one reason he was not doing as well in school and I pulled him (one of many other reasons to pull him). He was making good grades but was getting stuff done slow and forgetting a lot of stuff. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> So I can symphathize with you.

 

[LilyGrace]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>robin4kids</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10312007"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
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How much do other do in a day and for how long to you do it?</div>
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We work anywhere from 2h a day to 4, it all depends on what is going on. To look at your list and compare it with ours (for an 8yo), it would go like this:<br><br><b>spelling, vocab, reading, writing,</b><br>
This is currently done with a 15 minute Writing Strands exercise, a page in Punctuation Puzzlers (3 problems), a handwriting page (alternating with Writing Strands now that it's the same thing), reading a book together (Pippi Longstocking, atm)<br><br><br><b>Typing, Spanish,</b><br><br>
Sometimes, not usually, but Dance Mat Typing online is fun. He'll be doing Portuguese immersion in two months so we're going light on language instruction, staying with Russian conversation skills.<br><br><b>Math, math facts,</b><br>
Working together after dinner on my days off work, and working independently on a MUS page in the morning.<br><br><b>geography, history, science</b><br><br>
One and the same. Map work comes with the SOTW, and his penpal provides plenty of opportunity to discuss cultures and area. Science is rolled into history.<br><br><b>gym,</b><br><br>
12-4:30 pm, playing, playing, playing!

 

[elizawill]

robin, it sounds like your son is a visual learner. what about a notebooking approach combining subjects as a unit study when possible?

 

[robin4kids]

i guess you can say i hs my 4 1/2 y/o as well. I chose not to send him to any preschool. I hs my 10 y/o and not the other 2 that are school aged for many reasons. My 10 y/o was not doing very well in school and the class he was in had 32 students in it. The teacher was awful. I pulled him after 3 weeks of school.<br>
I was all set to pull the other two, but they were not happy about loosing their friends. I decided to keep them in this year and then see over the summer what our situation is. The school is a small Catholic school. It is not very expensive, but next year we will have 4 kids that could go to school. We already know that we can not afford to send everyone.<br><br>
It is not easy to pull a kid from school, who is happy there. The stress of pulling ds this year was a lot. He has been with the same kids for 3 years now. He no longer says he misses his friends.He now says that he is not going back next year. We will see though.