Hey homeschoolers - We just started two weeks ago and I wanted to see how others are doing. Especially those of you that have just recently started homeschooling.
We have made it through all our scheduled curriculum, which Iām very happy about. But Iāve yet to settle into a solid routine. Each day has been a little different! Which is good and bad I suppose. I feel like Iām settling into the reality of having ALL of my kids with me ALL day. Which is obvious, yes, but is definitely an adjustment. And the kids are settling into the reality of what school at home is really about. Basically itās a huge time of change for us and Iām feeling unsure about so many things. I would love to hear from others who are in a similar point in their journey.
@mamalisa - we just finished our first week of school (second year). This year is far different than last year. Last year I just had my daughter (first grader)ā¦ my son was going to Pre-K and hanging around with us at home while I taught. This year is so different having him doing Kindergarten at the same time as my daughter doing second grade. I know itās nothing like those of you who teacher 3, 4, 5 and even more children each day, but itās still going to take time to adjust to. Iād say we had a very successful weekā¦ Iām hoping the rest go as smoothly Happy Homeschooling!
@triton17, that is great to hear! Yes it is a bit of a juggling, especially when they are young. Good luck to you! It sounds like you have a good grasp on things.
I was in an online school for 5 years and this is the first year where I am doing it on my own! So I feel like this is all new to me in some ways. What a difference!
Positives:
They are actually enjoying their own curriculum. Several time times they have asked me to continue their studies! That is like a miracle to me.
2.) Less stress on me and the kids for sure.
3.) Less time spent on things that are time wasters - giving us more time to actually get things done that matter - which is great because I am not doing school work at 8:00 at night anymore! Phew!
4.) Iām actually doing pretty good about putting kids where they can work on their own and I can work one on one with another one.
Negatives:
1.) Kids still need to figure out not to come in a try and get help when I am working one on one. Any suggestion? lol
2.) My curriculum I have picked isnāt working in some areas. Which is such a big disappointment, because now I have wasted money on something we are not enjoying and also I need to try and find something new. But I think that just goes with the territory as a new homeschooler - figuring out what everyone likes.
GOOD: Science, Lit, Phonics, and Reading.
BAD: Math, History, and Spelling.
I think (for me anyway) we never really have a āscheduleā in the fact that history will be at this time, math at this time, etcā¦ As long as we get everything done on the to-do list for the day - in whatever order we do it, Iām good with it.
I hope your days continue to go so great! Keep up the good job!
A suggestion to help with the interrupting of one-on-one instruction time:
I would make a list (words or pictures depending on reading level) of strategies they can do to help them when they get stuck, such as the following:
Re-read the question.
Reference the text.
Skip the question, and go to the next one.
Give Mom āI need helpā card and work on homework/independent work
If they go through 1-3 and still need help, they can work on homework/independent work ( I have a bucket of work that they can complete independently that they do at the end of the day when I need to prepare supper, blog, etc. ). This way they are still doing productive work while they wait for you. I would make a āI need helpā card they can hand you while you are teaching their sibling. This lets you know they need help, but also is not disruptive.
We have completed 4 weeks of 3rd grade/1st grade/ Pre3 Letter of the Week. It has gone pretty well with the occasional behavior and interruption frustrations you would expect.
Just wrapped up our second week and itās been a struggle but good! My son has sensory processing disorder and so getting through the school day is a challenge. Iām learning every day better ways to help him and itās been so rewarding!
Also my preschooler is LOVING school! Sheās so proud of all her work! Keeping her busy while I work with my son is interesting but so far Iām loving homeschooling! Best to everyone!!
We are starting week 4 this week. While it is good, it seems to be taking us a bit to catch our stride. It seems like every week there is something, the first week, my 6th grader was frustrated as she did not have enough to do, the second week, our dog was sick and I was taking him out like every 15 minutes, so that severely interrupted teaching. The 3rd week, husband decides to rearrange his office and kept pulling me away. So this week, we are not letting anything stop our success. I am also having a hard time with the sixth grader understanding this is not like her prior school days. We control our own destiny and our success.
This is a great post! Trying to get back in the swing of things here. We started mid-year last year, so we are still very new to homeschooling. We are 1 week into this school year, and itās been rough. I have 1 child basically refusing to do anything. Math was his passion last year and he flew through it. Now he wonāt touch it. My other kiddos are back on track and just experiencing the normal get back in the routine bumps in the road stuff.
My Dad passed away in May, and that was when he started struggling. Would love any suggestions. We use Math U See. Thanks guys.
@Coloradoinni, I feel you. There seems to always be something popping up for us. I think this is our ānew normalā?
And Iām also struggling with the kidsā attitudes: my 2nd grader just has a bad attitude. Heās either really ātiredā or bored. He doesnāt specifically say he wants to go to traditional school but Iām sure heās comparing homeschool to his previous experience of school. Of course academically heās doing great. In fact Iām wondering if itās too easy for him, especially his math which is getting up to speed slowly. My kindergartener has now started saying he wants to go to āreal kindergartenā.
@Kelly, Iām so sorry for your loss. I lost my mother last September and the anniversary is approaching in a couple weeks. So hard on the whole family, in different ways. I donāt have any real advice for your son but have wondered if my motherās loss is impacting my older son also. He holds a lot in so itās hard to tell.
Happy Homeschooling!