Fitting It All In., Getting school all accomplished Options

[Sammi]

I find this happens every year, but particularly more this year. My ds, is just finishing 5th grade, there is so much to do in a school day. I find that we never get it all finished and we need to leave things out.

For example, we only did Latin 1/2 of the year, b'c we just didn't have the time. I always put it on the back burner, b'c I didn't feel as if it was the most important thing to do.

Would you assign homework? I do on occassion, but I don't care for it as a general rule.

What about next year! Ugh, there will be even more to do in 6th grade!

I would love some insight.

Sammi (I just think this jumping banana is too cute!)

[AKHomemom]

Sammi,
We don't assign homework per say. I do however know that there are times when my kids are just goofing off about getting work done. If they don't get the work done in the time allowed for it, I'm not counting when they are struggling w/a concept and need additional help, then they get to finish up their work during non school time - their free time. So I guess that would be homework.

Hope that helps you some.



And I think that is cute too.

[Melanie]

[Sammi]

How do you approach your day? With a schedule that they need to follow, or do you let them do which topic they want, in the order they want?


Thanks for all of your answers so far!

Sammi

[Melanie]

We do the longest stuff first - first math, then Latin. Then it's on to the really fun stuff!

Melanie

[ahdarakjy]

Well, it helps if you don't think that you have to do every subject every day, even if the program recommends it. It just isn't practical. And many things in a book can be skipped or at least you don't have to spend so much time on them.

Math and LA are most important and should be done every day. But I would only have one to three other subjects for the rest of the day. And yes, it is good to set a time limit on independant work. My kids respond well to that, and usually get their work done in time. If not, then they do it in their free time until it is done.

And don't worry about next year before you've even finished this year! I don't know what kind of books you are using, but most use the first quarter for reviewing anyway, and most teachers don't get through all the material they wanted to cover each year.

I also think it is important to keep lessons short. Forty-five minutes for Math is a bit hefty if all they are doing is computation. Instead of making them sit for that amount of time, have them work for 20-30 min. and then come back to it after all the other work is done. And if they never get back to it- so what? They still got a giid 20-30 min. in. That's better than nothing.

And also, someone said too, do the subjects that you dislike the most, FIRST.

[Melanie]

[mom23]

You might consider that if your DS is dawdling, he may have a dip in blood sugar and need some protein. I've been saving the more difficult subjects until right after lunch, and between having just had a good lunch and knowing her favorite TV show will be coming on in three hours, DD really works to get things done!

DD is in 6th grade and I used to let her do her subjects in whatever order. I finally realized that was chaos! I never was sure what had been done, or sometimes small task would take soooo long! I finally laid out a schedule, giving her 30 minutes to finish vocab, spelling, etc. Everything is back-to-back, so if she finishes early, she'll have ten or 15 minutes of free time. I also think she likes knowing there's an "end" to certain subjects. Some subjects are MWF, or TH, while math, Latin, reading and writing are every day. I also made a little chart she has tucked in her folder where she records the date, which lessons (and how many) she's done, and any extra curricular activites she's worked on. She likes to look back and see what all she's accomplished and it makes her more accountable for her own education.

-Lisa

[Sammi]

First of all, thank you for all of your responses. I enjoy hearing how everyone does hs'g. I find everyone is so different!

I am a bit Type A, about Hs'g.

I have 2 kids, ds 10, dd 7.

We follow TWTM, to a certain extent, but a bit looser.

Our day consists of the following:

Math/Abeka
Handwriting/copy work
History
Science
Logic exercises
Language Arts and Vocabulary
Creative writing and Math co-op
Reading
Latin
then of course all of the extra curricular

I try to do everything, everday, except Latin and we don't always do science and history on the same day.

I believe that Math, Reading and Writing are the most important subjects and are done everyday...no matter.

It seems we are busy everyday...it is hard to fit it all in. My kids seem to enjoy school and their assignments. I am just always saying, "okay, back to work!"

But I figure everyone says that!

Have a blessed day!
Sammi

[Sammi]

Lisa,

I do also agree w/ dwaddling, it drives me insane!!!!!!!!!!!

I am giving him limits now and what is not done, is homework. He doesn't like it, but it's the rule and is following it.

My son is in 5th grade. I remind him that next year, he will need to be more independent. My dd in 1st, will get out all of her books and just get to work.

Is it a boy/girl thing....a personality thing? Probably a bit of both! LOL

Well, I'd much rather chat, but I am needed.

Blessings,
Sammi

[mtbriere]

I'm a Type A in everything except hs this year. We will have a schedule next year and we tried this year, but with impromptu house showings and back & forth from IN to MI, we are just going with the flow. My DD1 is 8th & DD2 is 6th and they pretty much work independently. They come to me when they need help, or a test, or some type of reproducible copied. DS is an entirely different story. Yes, I have to say, "get back to work!".