We are just beginning to use this system. So far we've done the achievement testing and are awaiting results. Has anyone used the Christian Liberty Homeschool System - CLASS or family plan? If so, what are your opinions?

I have heard of it and looked into it once. Mine are still to young to be going that route. I hope that you enjoy it though. Good luck on the results.
I am sure some of these wonderful ladies will have better information for you.

We started using CLASS this year with my 9th grader. We love it! The plan was to use it for high school only, but now my 7th grader is thinking about using it next year. It is a challenge, though. And I have added some things for my daughter. I like how flexible they are as well, both in curriculum choices and in timing. You are also very hands on.

I've never heard of this before. Can you tell me more about it?

I think I've talked about it before in another thread. I'll see if I can find it.

Never heard of this

I talk about some of my planning on this thread. I hope I posted that correctly. I like how flexible they are. I like the different curriculums they use. And my daughter likes the different colleges they list of where some of their graduates attend. Here is their web site. Let me know if you'd like more info.

Thanks Trish

I'm glad to hear that you've had a positive experience. I'm looking forward to it as well. My situation is a little different from yours: I have a child who has special needs and is academically behind. I like the fact that they will customize the curriculum for your child's needs.

You may want to give them a call. They should be very helpful. I've only dealt with them via email, but again, always helpful.

I have talked to them on the phone prior to enrolling. They don't have a special needs needs program per se, but if your child is a certain distance behind he/she can be enrolled as a "special status student". If the child can be remediated through homeschooling he/she will be switched to a "regular status" student and earn a regular diploma. If this is not possible due to disabilities he/she can earn a "certificate of completion" if they can work through an 8th grade level.

I have never kept attendance, but want to start next year. On the 180 Days Attendance Form, I can't figure out how to date it. Do you just add the actual school days (Monday through Friday) or do you add weekends and block them out? Are you suppose to X out the days the student did not attend school?

Thanks for helping me figure this out.

I just enter the actual dates we do school. That way it doesn't matter if it's a weekend or not, or if it is an odd week. So today I'll just stick 02/22/06 in a block. When 180 blocks are filled, we're done keeping attendance for the year.

I use this form, and I use the same procedure as Melanie does.

Michele,

I have a homemade form that I have used for years. What I do is put a check mark on days school has been done and an X on days that we do not have school.

I also put an F for field trip day.

On my lines I total each month and also keep a running total for the year...so it is at a glance.

I would send it to you, if you would like a copy. PM me with your email. Unless there is another way to post it.

Do it like Melanie does it, just write the date in the box. None of the boxes represent weekends; they are all attendance days.

Thanks everyone! That helped.

Thanks for starting this thread Applie. I was thinking about doing this for next year. I need to keep better records.

When I used to keep an attendance record I would make a legend at the bottom to help me remember how to mark the days. I would color code half days, full days, & field trip/life experience days. Days we had no school I would X out.

I know I'm new at this, but I found some chart/ledger paper with 31 rows and 13 columns at the local office store. Across the top I put the subjects to make sure we do art once a week, computer keyboarding, music and some of the other *electives.* A check for if we did it or his actual score. This is my monthly record.

I just use the same kind of sheet for the year. The columns across the top are for the month and the days down the side - X for non-attendance, check if we attended. There's space at the very bottom to add up the total number of days attended each month.

I looked at a lot of different things, but this pre-printed/pre-numbered sheet works for me since I'm not the best record-keeper. I know pretty much when we school so even if I forget, I can go back and mark it off.

How about the Lifepacs? Anyone use them? My 15 yo gets SOOO overwhelmed at the site of books, I thought this may be easier? We are going to have to re-do the 9th grade, she is just so behind in math, science and Grammar. Right now, we are doing Saxon math 8/7, history Abeka 7th grade, Science Abeka 7th . Grammar, Abeka 8th(?) Anyway, I do like Abeka and Saxon, I Love Saxon math. Just wondering what you all thought.

We are using some of the lifepacs.

I have the Language Arts Lifepacs for 2nd, 4th & 8th. My daughter really likes the 8th grade language arts so I will probably be looking at 9th for next year. I don't know anything about the other subjects.

We used a few sets for highschool.

I looking for advice as to how important organization is for homeschooling? I have considered it for the last 2 yrs, but have given in to sending her back to her private christian school. My 8 yr old daughter and I have clashing personalities. Also, I am trying to have her tested through my county school district for a Math disability. I also think she may have ADD. This year (2nd grade) she is literally failing math. The teacher did not bring it to my attention earlier in the year and I was always the one trying to get in contact with her. Here it is the end of the year and she has a D on her 3rd quarter. Finally now the teacher is willing to try different techniques with her for her to understand the math more ... Kind of late, huh. Anyway, I guess this has been what is keeping me back from making that commitment. I am not very organized and structured. Help!, any advice?

Thanks Giselle

Well I know it takes all types to make the world go around. I get daily opposition on homeschooing from my son, mother, etc. We fight and fight me and my oldest. I keep kidding with my husband saying when the 5 yo gets like this I am ready to send him to ps. HAHA Anyway, I said all that to say---there is no perfect way to HS. You have to find what is right for you--right for your kids, disabilities or not. I have my oldest has Autism. So he fights with me for no reason.

Anyway, you could always try for a year and see how it goes and then at worst case you only spent a year. I think you would be great at it. If I can do it anyone can do it. Just keep records records records. Of course I am saying all this and my oldest is 5 and I have only done this one year and I did not do everything right I know.

I bet there are some others out there who know more about this than me

Oh yeah and check out your states laws for Homeschooing

Don't just take my word for it. . .Ladies??????

Thanks Carmen, I am still researching and I have checked out the Laws for my state. I have a few friends who homeschool but I sometimes feel that I am inadequate. Thanks for the encouraging words and advice.

Giselle

I can't give you any advice because I am the queen of disorganisation. I have days when I feel like an utter failure as a homeschooler, because of my lack of structure and organisation. Despite this, I still feel that my kids are better off being homeschooled...on so many more levels than only academics.

Hmmmm, I am going to offer some advice after all...and I'm reminding myself here...your homeschool will work out if you can set yourself some loose goals about what you want to accomplish with your daughter. I'm talking about only a few really loose goals that involve the most important skills you want her to learn. Knowing a bunch of facts is really not all that important. Knowing how to learn and apply what is learned is invaluable. A goal I have right now is to get my middle son fluent in his reading, for instance. I am letting that guide a lot of our activities and my teaching.

Once you have some goals, write them down, keep them in a prominent place. For my son's kindergarten year I had a list of goals on the wall and it served as a constant reminder of what we were working towards. When your lack of organisation gets the better of you, and you lose track for a day or two, (or more, like me ) just pick yourself up, take a look at that list and get going again. The awesome thing about homeschooling is that learning never stops. I often think I have missed it because I got sidetracked, yet looking back I realise that is not the case. The kids were just learning different things. And as long as I have a general idea where I'm going, and stick to that to the best of my (distractible, easy going, haphazard perfectionistic-procrastinator) ability, we're OK.

If the only structure we have is some good goals, and we are working towards that in our relaxed homeschool style, I'm happy.

I have no organizational advice except to use notebooks for different subjects. That's been a lifesaver for me! I'm not organized by nature - I'm one of those people who make wonderful lists and then forget to refer to them.

You have nothing to lose - your daughter is not doing well in her current situation. Why don't you try homeschooling for a year and see how it works? Missing the third grade certainly won't ruin her life (or yours), even if she doesn't learn ANYTHING at home. And that isn't likely!

Melanie

If you want to see disorganized, look in my closets. That's where I hide everything so the rest of the house doesn't look too shabby. That's my housekeeping method and I'm sticking to it!

Sumi and the their ladies had some wonderful words of wisdom. We have a daily routine for school work and as long as we cover that, I am satisfied. Everything else is like extra credit! I have one pantry dedicated to the homeschooling supplies and keep all the books we use everyday together ... so I can find them!

I also wanted to say that I got overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I read on homeschooling. It seemed like a monumental task with a million decisions to be made. I think if you jump in and get your feet wet, you will find it is easier to do than to plan. Allow yourself to make some mistakes (with scheduling or expectations or curriculum choices) and you will do fine.

And one more word of advice: do NOT compare yourself to other homeschoolers. What works for one family may not work for yours.

I understand completely what Mom of BunBun said about having one closet/pantry to keep stuff in. . .mine is a coat closet. . .pretty small but gets the job done. But otherwise I would loose everything. I am going through mountains of paperwork on each child from birth all the papers they have needed for this therapist or that dr to see them. I finally got each child a notebook (see FlyLady section Zone 5) I asked how some handled all the paperwork between bills and therapy plans for home and dr information. . .3 kids and lots of therapy and dr's and orthopedic devices. . .not to mention bills and church information about my husband being pastor so we have addresses on all members/I am involved in two groups one for Multiples since I have twins and one for homeschooling So have lots of papers to keep up with. So her idea in flylady section was to have one notebook per child for their therapy/dr's and all.

Then I have HS notebooks on (right now the oldest has ONE for Lesson plans and art we keep and pictures of field trips, then I have 4 folders. . .we are working on Lifepac-Alpha Omega K Math and Language Arts and they are divided into Book 1 Math/Language Arts and Book 2 Math Language Arts. . .so I have 2 Folders for Math--Book 1 in one folder and book 2 in another folder and LA Book 1 in one folder and Book 2 in another folder) and that is not including our reading books I have and Science for later and I can not even imagine what I will do when I have 12 folders for all children. . .really more because then the oldest will have 5 "academics" so I guess there will be 10 folders for oldest and in beg 8 folders for twins. . .till later when there will be 30 folders. . .wow!!!!!!!!!!!!

I barely can find my purse when it is time to leave the house!!! HAHA

Oh well. . .I know I am growing each day. . .and maybe by the time they are in College I will be organized and look back on all this and smile. Saying been there done that!!!

Car

Wow Ladies, you all have provided me with a wealth of encouragement. I am soooo happy to hear that I am not the only one who is disorganized and that I can still accomplish this task if I choose to. Of course, with all of you help and encouragement it may not be as difficult as I am thinking it is going to be. I continue to pray and ask for guidance as I make my decisions. Thanks you all!

I think we discussed this before, but I can't find it and I am at the end of my rope!

My youngest daughter is a dawdler. She can turn a 15 minute assignment into an hour long event. I've tried incentives, I've tried punishment, I've tried talking to her patiently about why she needs to work, and I have tried absolutely everything I can think of. I had decided to try and break up larger assignments into segments to make it easier for her ... but she couldn't even get past the 2nd problem before I had to send her from the room as I was loosing my temper and was ready to discipline in anger.
I've had her dad speak to her.

I can bring her to school, but I can't make her work. Nothing I do is working with her ... I am SO ready to return her to school, but I know in my heart that it's not the best things for her ... and probably not even for me ... I know it won't solve the problem.

School is not her only problem... her nature is a dawdler. She does the same thing with chores and every other task or activity she's asked to do. Consistency is exhausting and I honestly do not follow through as well as I should.

She will not be playing soccer today, nor will she be going to Prims. She will have to stay with her daddy to finish her work.

Suggestions ... please...help ...

PS. I should say that she just came down and has decided to work. I'm thinking sitting on her bed with no privileges may be my only answer ... I really don't know. I hate her missing church, I don't like to punish my children with missing church, but something has to be done ... there has to be consequences for not obeying.

Consequences is my answer. I don't punish my children with missing church, but ... if they aren't finished with school, they don't get to go to church in their class, they have to go to adult church.

If she misses out on all sorts of opportunities ... she might get a clue ... if she gets so backed up that she can't play in the evening, because she is sitting at her school desk...or play on Saturdays or Sundays ... because she is still doing school work ...

That is what it took for my dawdler...

I do make her stay late to work, her brother and sister are often done before her and she has less work than they do ... my problem is when it comes to all the other things we do. Co-op, soccer, tkd, church. As of now I have not made her sit out of any of those, but I think I need to.

The thing I hate ... is I get punished too.

Yes ... the daughter missed out on quite a bit of things ... and yes, the parent gets punished as well, but when the daughter finally saw that I wasn't going to back down, and she wasn't getting to do what everyone else was doing, she decided that time was more important. Also, every time she missed out on something, I would remind her that, had she been a better steward of her time, she would be participating too. I would also direct her to scripture on being a good steward as well. I also made sure that she was bored out of her skull when it came to "consequence" time ... if she had to stay home and miss something ... she didn't get to play, or watch a movie, or anything like that ... .she got to do nothing!!!

I make it their problem and use their example as reasons to not give them requests.

Example 45 min for a 15 minute class. Mom can I watch a movie? No dear you will probably take too much time on your room and that will take away your movie time, Sorry. Too bad you haven't learned to do your things faster.

I also use timers and set good things before them to encourage speedy work. As soon as you finish math and english you may have lunch. Lunch is being served between 12 and 12:30 only. So you need to hurry. A few treats and meals may be missed. Isn't that what PS did???

Watch out for the speed racer pendulum swing, this will happen and you need to be prepared to explain the balanced. Take the time you need but not too much.

Thanks all ... timers didn't work. Tried that too. She wouldn't finish... we'd go to something else and have to come back to it later ...

My daughter takes a long time to do things too. I have never really been able to come up with a permanent solution. Once in a while I have successfully inspired her to speed up, but that is always temporary. Discipline, punishment, consequences have had no effect on my daughter other than making her -- mad, resentful, frustrated, sad, etc.. -- These qualities are just not the right responses.

I can only surmise that this is her state of being. She is a good girl, her slowness is not disobedience. She is smart, she does her work and she remembers what she reads and studies, it just takes too long. That is a problem for me because that goes against my goal for her. It is a problem for her because she is writing a book and because she takes so long doing her work, she has little time for her book. She does manage to mesh school and her book at times and on those days, school takes even longer, but at least she is happier.

In the past I used to place a 3-sided box around her and that seemed to help. We've done things in the past.. can't remember them all. She is very creative minded ... I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

I have a question ... do you sit WITH her at the table while she works? I have a dawdler also AND he's a "quality time" child. If I go do something, even though he can work independently, he can stretch 30min into several hours. If I'm RIGHT THERE, he can finish in no time flat. (enough to make one crazy) He's slowly doing better, because I just CANNOT be on top of him all the time.

My daughter prefers that I not be in the same room with her because she finds me distracting. At the same time though, even now, at the age of 16, she has to get up and come hug me every hour or so.

Well we have same problem here... so when you all come up with something NEW let me know I have tried all the things you mentioned.

My DS is a dawdler too! Next week we are going to try the timer thing and also no fun stuff until all work is finished for for the day.

Yes I sit with her. I do think it's her nature to be more of a relaxed girl, but regardless we all have to learn to work within time frames and be responsible.

UGHHHHH! Sorry ... I feel like screaming ... it's better to scream at you all!

This is one of my BIG concerns. My daughter will have to take a timed college entrance exam at some point within the next 14 months. She is going to have to practice to get used to working fast. It's a flaming hoop that she must go through whether she likes it or not.



I completely understand... Scream away!!!


update.. I just got another hug.

(I DO appreciate the hugs and affection though)

I had a couple of these, and for a while, my youngest was one too. SHe isn't anymore though ... thankfully!

I think it is true ... a personality thing. And it is also true, they DO have to live within time frames, etc.

Can I mention one other thing? This is the way of things. My now 27 year old was a dawdler and did all the things mentioned. She took foreeeeeeeeeeever with chores, dressing, even eating would take her hours.

Now she is a very fast paced, time conscious, driven young women and manages a whole group of teen dawdlers. I tried all that I mentioned and just stuck to my guns and none of it ever really 'seemed' to make a difference.

Oooooooh, but it did. She blames me for being so particular and punctual!!! When I asked her once if there was anything I could have done to convince her to put the move on, anything I missed, that would have won her speedy cooperation. Her answer was a blunt, "No, not a thing."

So when you are struggling with this remember it is getting in the brain somehow, they will hear you words, if not today, tomorrow when they get a job or are the boss.

So when I say I 'do' something, I do. It works mostly but even when it doesn't I have set a standard before them to meet. So all is not lost go have a cup of tea and remember you signed on for the long haul not the short fix.

Oh, and she still takes foreeeeeever to eat a meal. When we go to dinner I can bank on 2+ hours min eat time. She does tip very well thought.

Hugs to all us perturbed Moms,

I think we just had consequences... still do. Because some days are dawdling days and some are not... some days we are done with everything before lunch, and some days one is and one isn't, or you know what I mean, but on the days that we do not get everything done there are consequences for the things we missed.

I do have kids that prefer to work with me, but I can't always do that with a 3 year old, 1 year old, pregnant, and a house to work on LOL, but I try to work with them. Actually as they see what I do with the time away from them they seem to be more committed to getting some work done on their own, so they can show me the progress they've made when my full attention is on them again.

We also do the "this needs to be done before lunch" or dinner and "lunch is served between this and this time". Our dawdling also occurs with chores and clean up, and meals have occasionally been missed, or nearly so.

I do try to warn them ahead of time if we have a time issue that they need to be aware of, and most of the time they try to meet that, but if not, the consequences happen. So we do get tears and upset kiddos, but I can't back down because time is at times, important, if not all the time.

If I know they are just goofing around and not even trying to get something done, then I'm ever firmer on the consequences thing, if that's possible... where if it's that it's a rough day, something is bothering them, not feeling 100%, then that is taken into account and we make exceptions, if that makes sense.

Does everyone have days like that? With dawdling kids? And does everyone have a child like this? Around here it seems to be both, sometimes it's always one child that dawdles, and others, it's everyone... LOL

I've had similar issues. 2 out of the 3 aren't so bad. They actually enjoy getting their work done to move onto things THEY want to do. My oldest though, nothing seems to work. I finally came to terms with it and if he wants to sit there all day till dinner time - fine. But he knows if he has any questions, concerns, needs help, etc... he'd best ask my by 2:00 PM because my school day is over by then. It's gotten a little better since he's learned that but if I have to be out of the house for some reason I know that's its almost a wasted day with him and I just deal with it when I'm ready so that it's not all anger coming out at him and then I say or do things I dislike. There are days though that he seems to do fine. What's the difference? I have no clue. Sure wish I could figure it out. Not a clue what motivates that child. All the punishments in the world didn't help. He could care less.

I can't speak for everyone, but you can add me to the list. My daughter d-r-a-g-s through the day (doing schoolwork interrupts her fidgeting, you see) and my son would rather stare at a single math problem for an hour than actually pick up a pencil and work it.

I used to get all bent out of shape about it, but I don't anymore. They just don't get up from the table until the work is done. And since we only eat at the table, we don't have lunch until the books are put away. Food is very important to them, and they will hurry so they can eat.

My 14yo son is a dawdler with everything, unless it's something he really wants to do. Math can take forever. Chores even longer. But pull out a skateboard & he's gone in a flash!!!

As I read all the posts, I feel as if I am reading about my children. We have 3 boys that dawdle and muddle through at times... My oldest is the greatest and much of his time is spent drawing wonderful artwork around his assignments. He is very artistic and creative, all 3 are.
Not sure if this is of any help but one thing I started to do was to look intently for where their interest was and began to customize their assignments to that desire. For instance when I could no longer stand that they were not writing much when given an assignment, but drawing elaborately, I told them the requirements to meet and they were then allowed to do a comic strip. Wow the effort that came forth. Or for my oldest who loves the computer, he can do his assignment in a power point presentation. Granted this does not always apply, like in math, but in many areas if I am willing to concede to their interests, I am finding that they do come my way in many areas. Other factors are how I am handling lessons...do I make the lessons my responsibility or theirs? When I leave it up to them to own, and they know the consequences, it usually gets done and sometimes it is a day or 2 late ... I have to trust that God will place within their hearts a desire to use their time well. Also remind myself that I dawdle with God when I know there is something He wants me to do or I make today mine instead of His.
Great to know that we are all among great company with our slow movers...but what a blessing they are

I love this statement ... I think I'm going to put it in my blog ... so I can reread it when necessary. Thanks!


UPDATE: Missing church last night was a hurtful consequence for my daughter. My husband had to peel her off of me so I could leave. This morning she woke up with a good attitude. She's dawdling at the moment, but I do feel this left an impact. I hope I don't have to repeat the consequence today.

Many times, those hurtful consequences do the most good. I pray that you don't have to repeat it again, but should you have to, a time or 2 more, it, hopefully, will reinforce your stand.

My son was a dawdler (probably still is for the most part). But in the last few months he has turned the corner. After months of harping on him to get his room done he has turned into a neat freak. Most days (not all) he will get his school work done without being told and he has become a conscientious helper. What happened to bring about this change? Beats me. Maybe the consequences thing finally worked. Maybe he just matured. Who knows??? I'm just grateful.

Now, I have to work on my 11 year old daughter dawdler. Sigh ...

I think this was the first consequence that she really cared about ... I got some flack about it from others at church ... about punishing her with church. It's not my favorite either ... but I needed to take a stand.

Sorry that you caught flack, but YOU are the parent ... not them ...

How true, Tanya!! Each child is different and the consequences need to be adjusted accordingly. What works for one does not always work for the other. The good thing is to find the one that works today!

I am thankful that I do not have a dawdling child and hope that I don't regret typing this statement. I am knocking on wood.

It seemed that in the middle years of school both of my kids poked much of the time. Here are two things I did that actually helped, it even helped my pokey little girl. The kids found these two things exciting and she must've got caught up in the excitement: (These things gave them a short-term object to work for.)

1. Had a list of things they were to do each day and they checked them off as they did them.

2. Math was their pokiest subject and for a while.. actually for as long as I enforced it, I had them on a routine (I'll dig it up if I have it ... I can't find it) Part of the routine was a 45 minute time segment for math followed by a 15 minute break. They worked hard to get that 15 minute break.. in fact, sometimes they did math in 30 minutes and earned a 30 minute break. It helped that they knew it was possible to do Saxon math in 45 minutes because for a time, I tutored a neighbor's girl and she did it in 45 minutes or less. (this was from either the 6/5 book or the 7/8 book.)