Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Homeschooler for the day

We bake for the sake of math. Whole units on measurement can be taken care of while making cookies. For more advanced learning, print a recipe on-line that is metric and have your kids do the calculations to change them to standard. If the cookies are edible, they get an A!!!

And for statistics you can do a scatterplot of diameter vs. mass and calculate a regression line.....

Mmmmmmmmm.... regressing........

Funny thread to all. I HIGHLY recommend the book, Pretend Soup, for folks with little chefs. My DS5 loves to make things in the kitchen, and this book accommodates little ones with a 4 page spread per recipe (with no junk food!) - 2 pages for grown-ups and 2 pages for the kid. http://www.amazon.com/Pretend-Soup-Other-Real-Recipes/dp/1883672066

Anyways, my post here is because we were homeschoolers for the day - for DS6 anyways. DS6 had a low grade fever today..but skipping school shouldn't be too much fun. I gave DS some written instructions to do spanish during a teleconference I had this morning; despite objecting, "we don't even have Spanish in school," DS6 seemed to enjoy the project. Then, I came up with my own reading comprehension test for a great book he just checked out from the library (I read the book last night since it is a new series for us). He plowed through it. Then, he got to do the "Cover your tracks" game. He is napping again now, but we have some poetry and math this afternoon.

I guess homeschooling might not be as complicated as I thought. Of course, I guess this would just be a glimpse of the honeymoon; once we got used to the idea, it might be less fun.

I can't wait to send in our packet o'work to school and give DT100 some food for thought. *sigh*

Or more!

Today, DS7 announced that the math we were doing was "really fun!" and he did 2 extra pages just because he enjoyed it. We read about the Erie Canal, read a chapter of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm, and wrote about Transformers.

Good stuff!

I do think that working with 2 kids is more than twice as hard as working with one. It's one of the reasons I'm not planning to homeschool DS4 if I don't have to...

kcab - how old are you kids?

I too find HSing difficult. I have a 8.5yr old and a 2yr old and a 5.5yr old who goes to public school K. The 8.5yr old is rather difficult to begin with. Our major problem has been a HUGE blow to his self-esteem since this is the FIRST time he didn't already know something and I actually had to teach it to him. He really shut down. So for those wondering about not being challenged in school - the detrimental effects can occur as early as 2nd-3rd grade depending on the child's personality.

I should add that the 1st quarter was quite an adjustment but our 2nd quarter was great! It's just this self-esteem blow at the start of the 3rd quarter coupled w/ lack of sunshine/outdoor play (and loss of computer privs for 2weeks) which has made for a VERY, VERY, did I mention VERY whiny boy. I don't have much patience for whiny.

Oh, I hear that!

February is my least favorite month of the year. We all need more outdoor play and sunshine/vitamin D by this time of the year. Ugh!

Here's hoping it gets better for both of you! If it's any consolation, we had several bad weeks--partly due to illness, snow days, and the Jan./Feb. "blahs"--and then today was lovely. Hang in there!

Maybe it's time for a museum day or a "let's make tents out of blankets and pretend we're camping" day. There's nothing wrong with taking a mental health day when you need it.

Actually, a lot of stealth learning can take place on those days off...

I've always found February the hardest homeschooling month. January is frenetic, with catching up after the holidays, and then February is a great big let-down when I alternate between wishing we had less on our plate and wishing we had something new to do. So it tends to be my curriculum-shopping month, too.

The good news is whether I change something or not, March always seems better. It might just be a matter of surviving the momentary "rut". Which brings us back to the cookie theme...

KCab, give yourself some time to adjust tot he new environment. Changes can be scary for young children, even if they know they are temporary.

I find that group work is useful when my kids are both or all demanding my attention. We've had great fun cooking together, doing science experiments, art, etc. Even history lessons can work for kids at different levels. I used to read a chapter of history aloud, ask oral questions of my younger child, and give written questions to my older child. Both enjoyed coloring maps, and doing related crafts. I realize that your options may be somewhat limited where you are, but maybe this will get you thinking of possibilities.

Yes, I think surviving Feb. is the key. Completely!

In March, the days get longer, the sun comes back, outdoor play becomes more reasonable, and everyone feels better.

kcab, I think you have more challenges than the average bear, so whine away if it helps!

May I ask: what's wrong with following your DS's ideas about how school should be? If that is what he wants, why not go with it? Is it too time-consuming for you?

FWIW, I have found that letting my DS make those sorts of choices about what to do and how to do it (when it's practical and workable for me) can go a long way toward getting his cooperation and making our days more pleasant, especially in the dark winter months. I really think it's good when they have an idea about what will work for them. Just make him responsible for his own schedule.

That's that "benign neglect" that I love to practice in my parenting.