This year. If he doesn’t like to eat breakfast, let him skip it and get his Bible/History and Science from ADV done before doing your medical procedures in physical therapy.
You already answered your own question to drop the phonics program.
Go with MFW’s recommendations for spelling and language arts and MATH.
Another person saying go back and look at the section called Help How Do I Fit it all In? and look at those time boxes. That might answer your question about how long to spend in a subject at these young ages of your children. Do work orally. less twaddle. I'm happy that you realize that you don't have to do all of the seatwork.
For your older daughter who needs your time to check work and all of that, may I suggest that you set “office hours” to get that done. It can be in the evening, or first thing in the morning to check previous day’s work. It might be before son wakes up or while he takes his time with breakfast. She also needs to be involved in helping with little ones while you can work one on one with son on his school time. (it's just an opinion)
Consider getting David Hazell’s workshop called Occupying Toddler and Preschoolers while teaching older children.
http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php?t=3234
you might find some tips in there for those little ones. It is a juggling act at times. (((hugs))
Also, may I recommend "Help My Homeschool is Chaos" and "Working Dads can Homeschool too"
I would look for ways to get dad involved in helping with school. and I get out the Chaos CD from time to time when I let Chaos take over. It's a favorite talk for me to hear. too often I create the chaos and need the reminders. Don't worry, David's talk is gentle. ((((hugs)))
Can your son listen to books on CD while getting his physical therapy treatments? I don’t know. It might be a dumb idea, but if he is having a procedure done to him instead of an active therapy where he does the work, it might be something to think about?
Consider having him go to bed earlier so that he can wake up sooner and get done with school first.
The programs you are using (for language arts and math) do not take into account that homeschoolers need to homeschool in the real world. They are first and foremost designed for classroom use. They don’t seem to be working very well for your real world needs.
My Father’s World curriculum takes into account that you have a real world with real children at different ages and stages, and that some of them have special needs therapies and all of that. (My youngest is autistic.) MFW is designed for homeschooling in the real world. I have found that when I use MFW I can get a lot done in a day in my real world.
-crystal
4littlehearts wrote: I have decided that I really need to shorten lesson times with my ds and maybe that is the reason he is having trouble focusing. That alone should help alot, as well as sticking to the schedule and time limits in MFW recommendations.
My older dd does try to help me with my toddler during her breaks but her program is so intense that it leaves her with little spare time to do this. I am hoping for a change for her next year as well. I know schooling is important especially at her age, but because she is so meticulous it takes so long. She starts at 7:30 and with homework is not done until around 2:30-3:00. That is another story in and of itself (Abeka DVD). Thanks again for your guidance. Jan
Postby cbollin » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:54 pm
even if you can't change everything this year, maybe next year?? Using 2 full programs from different companies with 2 kids is a lot to manage for anyone. So, maybe next year you'll be able to use something like ECC to be the base program for everyone so that you aren't running 2 different programs from different places. That's hard!!!!
I know last year when my youngest (who is autistic and gets speech and occupational therapies) was in 2 different outside schools 5 days a week plus getting individual therapies and whatever I managed to get done at home with her, it seemed that the end was never in sight. It was never easy, but it was doable. So, I understand the wear and tear on mom and family with the Monday/Wed./Fri at one place and T/TH at another place to meet special situations and such. I don't have the same situation as you. But I had that routine for 3 years and used MFW and got in a lot of subjects. I didn't do a good job with art history. I got Bible, history, science, 3 R's done with 2 kids and dealt with the realities of different out of the house schedules on different days. T/TH was morning. MWF was afternoons on some years and mornings in others.
never easy, but it is doable. and of course, I had bad days and weeks :)
My oldest is 7th grade and does well in school. so many many many ((((Hugs)))) to you for keeping on keeping on. ((and hugs to your oldest)). That's a long school day.
-crystal