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[Homeschool_Newbie]

I was just looking at the thread about " switched on schoolhouse" because this is what I have been seriously considering for my oldest son... Though I  would only use it for Math, Spelling, and possibly language arts. My ( almost) 7 year old must have me ( or my husband if he is home) sitting next to him the entire time he is working on school. My oldest is very independant. He's the type of kid who will often read 100-150 pages a day in the afternoons. However, he is only in the 3rd grade. I need a way to either assign more to my oldest, or something. He is doing a lot of sitting around waiting for me to finish up with the younger one.
Things are just not very balanced right now, and I feel like he could really fly if he had more to do... He starts his schoolwork before I wake up in the mornings, but then it does not take him long to correct his mistakes after we go over it together. Sometimes he does chores, or something with our 4 year old, but I feel like a lot of his time is being wasted..and I am not getting very far past the 3R's...

[ladyhen]

Time spent in independent play isn't necessarily wasted time.  Much can be learned and children can be greatly inspired from imaginative play. 

I had a nice sized table that we kept set up in the play room or family room when mine were younger.  On it were the Legos, Lincoln logs, puzzles, a few games, K'nex, marble track, or whatever else captured their imaginations at the time.  Not all of these things at once, of course, or there is a mess and the children become bored.  I rotated and kept a few things out at a time.   There were a few Lego towns I remember that lasted for over a month with many remodels, additions, and expansions! 

I keep our household on a schedule, of sorts, with assigned times for meals, chores, school, piano practice, and free time.  Once school or chores were done to my approval the children were then free to go to the play table.   We view play time as time well spent and just as necessary as math problems and reading.

I had two that were unable to do anything without Dad or I sitting next to them.  With one of our daughters, we would answer those who inquired that "Yes, she can read," and leave out the information that she read only if I were touching her!      It's not too unusual.  You may want to just work in short sessions with that one.  Don't worry, learning will be happening. 

I kind of regret letting some of my children work too far ahead.  My youngest daughter is now in her senior yr of high school and will graduate at the age of 16.     There just aren't a whole lot of options for her following graduation, but we are researching a few ideas for her.   

Have you read any of Raymond Moore's books about education?   They are so helpful and lots of good common sense information in them.   You are such a good and conscientious mom and I think you might enjoy reading them.   I understand you saying that things aren't very balanced; I felt the same way when I had 2 or more at a time in school.  It's quite a job!

[denim&lace]

It is my opinion, and that of my husband, that the 3 R's are our responsibility... beyond that is theirs. 

What I mean is... Once they can read, what is holding them back from learning anything else?  Once they understand basic math, what would keep them from learning algebra? geometry? calculus? with the help of a text book or computer based math program?  Once they can write and spell well enough to fill out an application for work, couldn't they conceivably learn to write poetry, stories, articles, novels or

School has been so much more fun for my kids since they have been able to follow their own interests.  All I have to do is give a bit of direction and a bit of constructive criticism.  The 3 R's are the necessary part of the meal, everything else is dessert! 

[Homeschool_Newbie]

Ladyhen, thank you so much for your very sweet reply I was actually thinking of deleting my post because I feel like the Lord gave me a solution right after I posted.  This is such a no-brainer. I feel like I've been missing a few brain cells lately... All I need is 2nd "list" for my older son to accomplish during school time.
He does school work in the early mornings, and he needs a school time "list" as well for all that time I am spending with his younger brother. I can fill it up with chores, and other school stuff like creative writing. I need to check out some of the book threads and see if I can find some good historical reading for him... like G.A. Henty...

Thank you, Ladyhen, for sharing your experiences with children who need mom and dad to sit with them the entire time they do school. ( That does not last forever, I hope? )

In regards to Dr Raymond Moore, I have heard some of his old radio broadcasts, but never read his books. He was a mover and a shaker, wasn't he??

I kind of regret letting some of my children work too far ahead.  My youngest daughter is now in her senior yr of high school and will graduate at the age of 16.     There just aren't a whole lot of options for her following graduation, but we are researching a few ideas for her.

Have you heard of College Plus? It is a college program that can be completed almost entirely at home and costs around 15K I have read quite a few positive reviews about it. In regards to getting a job, though... SIGH... there are so many rules that limit 16 year olds nowdays... I am told , however that here in California you can get around the rules if you have graduated from high school... That may or may not require the GED?

[Homeschool_Newbie]

is my opinion, and that of my husband, that the 3 R's are our responsibility... beyond that is theirs. 

What I mean is... Once they can read, what is holding them back from learning anything else?  Once they understand basic math, what would keep them from learning algebra? geometry? calculus? with the help of a text book or computer based math program?  Once they can write and spell well enough to fill out an application for work, couldn't they conceivably learn to write poetry, stories, articles, novels or 

School has been so much more fun for my kids since they have been able to follow their own interests.  All I have to do is give a bit of direction and a bit of constructive criticism.  The 3 R's are the necessary part of the meal, everything else is dessert!

D and L- So.. you are saying: Create a love for learning?

[herbalmom]

Teaching Textbooks would be great for math for him b/c it talks through & explains each step on the computer & then there's bookwork. Let him work through at his own pace- if he does extra work, let him. No one says that he can't cover 3 (or 4) years of math in 2 school years.

Also, print out a bunch of worksheets that are for free use- if he wants, he can do them but he doesn't have to. My oldest really liked having things like that.  Saduko, puzzles, mazes, word searches, etc can all be part of the worksheets. You can even customize word searches, crossword puzzles, etc with family names, vocabulary word, terms from subjects he's studying, etc.

Include flash cards, Cuisenaire rods, & other math & logic manipulatives.  http://www.criticalthinking.com/index.jsp has lots of good thinking skills stuff. Also check out http://www.timberdoodle.com/.

Include paper, colored pencils, etc- with extra time he may decide to draw quite a bit as well. My DD is like that.

Then of course there's also the Legos, Knex, etc.

This thread has good ideas for combining Legos, etc with audio books- 2 for 1 learning.  It might help with your younger DS as well- it could be that your younger DS has that learning style but even if he doesn't there's lots of good ideas for boys in general. 

Need you guys to help me calm down!

HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

[denim&lace]

D and L- So.. you are saying: Create a love for learning?

Yeah, I suppose I am.    

[sohnnenstrahl]

Like what D&L said. Example: We're preparing for a move out of state, and so a lot of the kids' studies are all about life there, the histories of people groups there, a couple of different languages there (one indigenous and one of the immigrants), what grows wild there that we can eat or use for medicine or tonics, all about the animals, the rivers, the weather, and on and on and on. After a mere suggestion from us about how much more fun it would be to arrive knowing something about the place, we let each kid pick the aspects they liked best and hunt down whatever they could find. Each has a 3-ring notebook and adds to it. One wants to know all about the berries you can make into jelly and candy. One wants to know all about the animals, hunting them, preserving the meat, tanning the hides and making a smokehouse. One wants to know all about gardening there and herbs. One is focused totally on dolls that come from the local culture there. It's awesome! They drive the whole thing, and ask for help when they need it, even the one who is still learning her abc's, and she is five. She's the doll-researcher. You should see her binder! We don't restrict them to this "new state" theme, but they like it so much that they spend a lot of time on it.

One kid who knows well how to read and write loves to write letters. She even is the scribe sometimes for the others' letters, but we make them write their own once in a while. But there they are, dictating and scripting sometimes, fulfilling a real life purpose (communicating to someone via personal letter), and growing in their language skills: the scribe in written language, and the composer in imagination, organization of thought, word choice, with easy flow of thought due to the luxury of a scribe ... I go over the document later for editing sometimes just with the scribe, sometimes with both. While they were engaged in this learning enterprise, I was directly helping another with math drills or a clapping game or a craft skill, OR I was switching out the laundry.

So. If you find out what they love and let them get involved in it, they will take off like nothing you've seen. Who are they? Let what you have them doing speak to that.

[Homeschool_Newbie]

Oh my! You ladies have given me lots to think about Thank you so much...Lots of good ideas here!

Ladyhen- I am seriously thinking of getting one of Dr. Raymond Moore's books I mentioned " homeschool burnout" to my Dh and he was very enthusiastic and said he might want to read that.

[ladyhen]

It was one of the books that changed my thinking on teaching my large brood. 

 I was far too focused on (my misguided goal) academic excellence and achievement.       I still get lost in that particular quicksand of thought from time to time and have to re-evaluate how I'm working with the children.

[Homeschool_Newbie]

Ladyhen, I just wanted to update and tellyou that I got the Moore's book and have been able to read a bit of it.

I also wanted to update with an idea I got from Teri Maxwell of www.titus2.com  ( I got to see her speak in person!)  She actually suggests having older children work with younger children, as well as younger children working with older children. A small child can drill an older one on flashcards. I thought this was interesting! I had my 6 year old reading to my 4 year old today while I worked with my 8 year old on school. I overheard him reading words that I thought were hard for him....I think he was trying harder because he really wanted to read to the 4 year old. I was impressed.   We are going to try this concept of having the children work together and see how it goes.... I think I've got a 4 year old who may want to read soon.

[ladyhen]

Mine all loved reading aloud to each other!  They also would dictate their stories to an older child when they were too young to write and the older would write or type the story.   Our older children have given their younger siblings timed math tests, spelling words, proofread reports, filing and record keeping for me, and many other parts of the running of a home/school. 

One of our family's favorite winter activities is evening read aloud.  We have favorite books, some of which have been read over and over.  We pass the book around to different people for reading, giving everyone practice. 

 Lots of fun things that children of different ages can do together.  Our society is very focused on separating us into groups by age or ability, and that isn't the way God planned things.  We have even done team sports with other homeschooling families.  It's a lot of fun to watch a group of children from the age of 4 up to 17 or 18 yrs old  playing basketball together!  Often an older boy would swoop up a little and continue the game with a toddler tucked under his arm!      From what I have seen, homeschooled children are very conscientious with their siblings and other children. 

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