| Author |
Message |
    
Jo Dee (jodee)
Board Administrator
Username: jodee
Post Number: 203
Registered: 06-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 04:12 pm: |     |
My oldest is "Junior High" level (here in Texas it's Middle School.) She has been doing most of her things on her own for quite some time. She is a self-starter, so I don't have a problem with that. She knows that if she wants to do something in the morning instead of her studies, she will have to do it in the afternoon. She is aware of that and makes the decision on her own priorities. She has never failed to finish her work, so I give her quite a bit of room to decide on her own. She normally does all in the morning to have her afternoons free, but sometimes she decides to switch things around.
She also does household chores on her own. She actually likes cleaning (as do my other children) which is good, because I hate it!
Skyla decided on her own science this year. I gave her a few choices and she decided on Exploring Creation with General Science (Apologia) this year. She does enjoy it, but she has never been big in science. I'm glad we started it this year, because it gives her an extra year to complete all her science. She won't finish the book this "school year" but she has learned a lot (and really enjoys the experiments.)
Skyla has added some of her own "subjects" to those I require. That's fine.
In regard to a business, nothing. She has tried going in various directions only to find out she doesn't care for it much or there isn't any profit. She can't have a business that loses money! She does however, do volunteer work at church and watching children. Since she's not old enough to watch children on her own, she will be a "mother's helper" and play with the children so their mom can get some things done. This has really helped out some single mothers who can't afford to hire someone, but really need the uninterrupted time.
Jo Dee
Nothing takes God by surprise! |
Cheryl Z (cherylz)
Advanced Member
Username: cherylz
Post Number: 15
Registered: 06-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:35 pm: | |
My older two boys, 12 and 14, didn't make up their own schedule, but kind of do it. They do some of their home service without reminders, but not all of it. I'm still a mother duck... As long as I have the school plan for the day written out, they just do their school work on their own. My 12yo is very good about making sure I do the things with him that I'm supposed to so he can be done with school for the day.
They aren't doing well at their own business. Brandon (12) was really getting into oil painting, hoping to sell them. He put a few in a craft store in town and nothing has sold yet, so he's lost the drive to do it. But, we've already paid for a spot at a summer craft fair for him, so he has to paint a few more to justify the space. I hope that something sells so he'll be encouraged. Although, we know that selling oil paintings isn't necessarily a big money-maker. We are going to do bake sales again this summer as well as selling flowers and herbs that we grow. Also so veggies if we have an over-abundance of anything that can't be preserved - like eggplant - or that we don't need to preserve because it's just too much - like peppers. I do wish that they would come up with a plan to make money, but they just aren't. They don't seem to be self-motivated. When they were small we didn't know better and didn't encourage they types of behavior we now wish they had. Oh, well, live and learn. We're doing our best to try to help change them while raising the younger ones the "right" way. They rarely do anything voluntarily or take the initiative to do any work they see that needs to be done. They don't see it at all. Brandon has been known to shovel our short sidewalk a few times when needed or empty the ash bucket without being asked. We were stunned and thanked him thoroughly. He liked that! But, when it comes to the socks on the floor that they just stepped on.... We keep trying!
Cheryl Z. |
Susan (susan)
Moderator
Username: susan
Post Number: 163
Registered: 05-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 01:51 pm: | |
Junior High is much more independent than the previous grades. The child is to be in more control of his education at this point.
The Moores expect the child to make his own schedule, with input from the parents. They call it a "Personal Teen Schedule with Anchors", and "directions for making your daily plan (grades 7 and 8)".
The outline for making a daily schedule is similar to the previous ones, but the child is doing it for himself, not the parents doing it. Obviously the child must consider the family's schedule and activities, and incorporate them into his own schedule.
Step 1 is our ever present friends, the Anchors (bed time, meal times, personal devotions, wake times). The Moores suggest beginning with bed time, and making it early. If the family's schedule or activities make this impossible, the anchors need to be adjusted accordingly, moving them to times that will work.
Step 2 is the subjects that fit with the anchors. Write in the subjects that can be studied with another family member, for example history or science may be studied with an older sibling.
Step 3 is Home Service and the Subjects that are a part of them. The Moores stress that children should be an important member of the family, working and helping to maintain the home. Mom should not have to do it all. The student is told to discuss with mom what new household duties can become his responsibility now, such as laundry, larger cleaning projects, meal preparation. Put these into the daily schedule next.
Step 4 is the Student Work Projects or Home Business. The student is urged to read Minding Your Own Business for himself, and view Home Grown Kids Video, then discuss with the parents his work options. At this point the student is referred to page G-26, in the high school section, for using the "Personal Work Application Worksheet", and told to write in the amount of time each day he will devote to developing his own business.
Step 5 is Book Work. AFTER establishing the anchors, work, and service (the foundational blocks of our educational program), the rest of the subjects should be incorporated into the daily schedule.
After a couple weeks, adjust the schedule to reflect reality, if needed.
SUGGESTED TIME FRAMES FOR SUBJECT AREAS:
Because children progress at different rates, and each child is unique, the Moores provide time allotments for grades 5 and 6 (ages 10-12), then for Grades 7 and 8 (ages 11-13). The age spans overlap significantly.
The time allotments are the same, 30 minutes per subject, except penmanship is still 10 minutes, and English increases to 40 minutes at the junior high school level.
Another difference between the two levels is that in junior high, history is a separate category from science/health; in the lower grades the subjects were studied alternatively, first one then the other.
Reading is not included as a separate subject in grades 5 through 8, but is included into the content subjects (Bible, history, geography, science, and health). Don't confine the student to just these areas though, as good character building stories are always in order.
English is introduced in grades 7 and 8 to prepare the student for high school thinking.
Discussion/Confession/Questions:
I was a little surprised as I read through the junior high material, and I am glad that I did re-read it. It gave me a fresh perspective of what I should be trying to achieve with Andrew this coming year; Sarah will be high school (EEP!)!
Many things we do are already junior high because Sarah is Jr. high, which means I should definitely RELAX a bit more with Andrew!
I like the idea of the kids being more responsible for their daily schedules. It would be nice not to have to remind them to do this or that, and feel like I am herding a flock of ducklings all over the community all the time.
Are your children taking more responsibility for their own schedules?
Are they doing more around the home? Sarah does, but Andrew has to be asked still, if it isn’t something on his chore list.
Are they starting their own businesses? Sarah has begun an interesting one. She is buying old furniture at yard sales and thrift stores and repainting them in fun and whimsical ways. When she has enough, she is going to have her own yard sale!
Susan McGlohn
Homeschooling 9 years and counting 
|
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page