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Jo Dee (Jodee)
| | Posted on Friday, August 30, 2002 - 07:15 pm: |     |
Discussion (Confession) Time:
1: Grouping:
Yes, I'm very slow of late, but here goes.
We group. If I didn't, I'd never get through the day! It would take too much time. I have a friend who has her children in BJU books. She teaches each child (she has 4, two have graduated in the past two years, so now she only has 2) every subject specifically for their grade, even though her first three were each a year apart! She was always running out of time. Not for me!
We start our day (after breakfast and stuff) at 9:00. My husband takes them out (when he's in town) for bike riding and running around. I take some one-on-one time with the baby (almost 11 months old! Where has the time gone?) At 10:00 they are back in the house and after they have had their water, we start "school".
We start with Bible reading, then Bible memory. We then go on to a short devotional (right now we are using Volume 2 of The Wonders of God's Creation. I highly recommend these books, there are three, especially for a short devotional time. Then we move on to our current unit study.
After this, my oldest (11) starts on her independent work. I will work on some subjects together with my next two (9 and soon to be 8). At times we can do some math review or some writing lessons (games and the like) and sometimes reading. They are very close to the same level in many subjects. It just goes to prove that it is true that boys are usually behind girls 1-2 years.
Each child has some independent work and each child has some time with me alone. If the baby is up, they take turns playing with her while I'm with one and the other works on their own.
My oldest sometimes has responsibility to teach one of the younger children something. She likes doing this, and her siblings enjoy it as well. Many times she just likes to sit down and read to them.
I will be starting a new Bible Study with my oldest on feminine character.
2 Starting the Day with System and Order:
To me, this is all relative. I have a baby pulling toys out as we are in "school", so we almost never have order anymore. However, breakfast dishes are done, and laundry is started!
3 Begin School Time with Bible Study/Worship:
Mentioned in #1 above. My husband takes responsibility for other Bible instruction other than what I mentioned. We are, however, currently in a history unit studies that includes Bible. So we get extra  . And it doesn't hurt a bit, we can use it!
4 Bonding of Hearts and Minds:
We do most everything together as a family, especially now that my husband is home most of the time. We all enjoy each other's company. Yes, we have outside friends, but when it comes right down to it, home is where the heart is (notice, I didn't say, house is where the heart is.)
A major goal in our home is that our children will come to know the Savior and then learn to depend on Him. This takes lots of being an example.
5: Challenge Students Towards Excellence: All that comes to mind is "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it"...
Agreed.
Jo Dee |
Cheryl Z (Cherylz)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 09:48 am: | |
Discussion (Confession) Time:
1: Grouping:
We have grouped most social studies, history, science and Bible since we started homeschooling. This year, though, we are going to do things a little differently. I have not done well coming up with appropriate activities for the different kids on the same subject. And they are all interested in different things and we can't all do everything all the time and get it all covered. We've also felt like we've held our oldest back somewhat and he is no longer challenged and is therefore bored and unmotivated. So, we are actually "ungrouping" a little bit. I still plan to have the children share their information with each other, but other than Bible, a lot will be done more independently and individually. At least that is the current plan.
2 Starting the Day with System and Order: Confession Time:
"I have found that I must insist that school starts at 10am whether or not the chores are done, "I agree. I really hope that we can get our things in better order this year, though we are still dealing with the fallout from last year and the summer chaos. We used to be better and I believe we can do it again. We are going to make some changes to our regular chores, learn new jobs, and hopefully it'll help us get out of the rut we are in. But, on the days when I have insisted that the house be perfectly clean first, school often doesn't happen and that isn't good either. The trick for us is going to be better maintenance so we don't let things get out of control.
3 Begin School Time with Bible Study/Worship: "We have never had a family worship time per se. Since my husband and I both grew up in non-believing homes, we didn't know such a thing could exist. I have tried to be good about including a bible study/reading time in our school schedule, but I do find that when pressed for time, I chuck everything except math and language arts for the day, since I know in the back of my mind that is what the world values as schooling." We are the same way, though we were better with it last year. I have always wanted to continue a prayer and devotion time through the summer, but haven't yet. I am in the process of eliminating extra activities so that I can be the mom that I should be. Without the extra stuff in my head, I hope to do better.
4 Bonding of Hearts and Minds:
This kind of goes with my last comment. I am trying to unhurry our lives to achieve this. The kids and I have done a lot of bonding over the ordinary things, though. Like shopping, chores, etc. All of us watching Bethany grow and develop has been a lot of fun. I remember how torturous it was for us all watching her try to roll over several months ago. Pretty soon she'll be learning to walk and we'll be at it again! What a wonderful thing to share.
5: Challenge Students Towards Excellence:
My biggest goal for this year is to get Ryan a little more motivated and excited about school. That is why he will be doing a little bit more work on his own, at his own pace. I've tried asking him what he wants to study and he has no clue, so I've picked his stuff again. I hope that as the year goes on, he'll find something he is interested in and seek to pursue more in that area.
Cheryl Z. in IL |
Susan (Susan)
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 07:22 am: | |
APPLICATION 5
WHAT IS GROUPING?
Grouping is combining two or more students together on one project or activity. In a regular classroom, the students are divided into groups such as math groups, history groups, reading groups, because even public school teachers (no offense to those who are teachers!) realize that within one age group there will be varying needs and abilities. The classroom teacher begins one group on an activity, then leaves them to it while she works with another group, sometimes in a completely different subject.
The Moores suggest we employ this "crowd control" to our own schooling, having our students of varying ages work together on most science and history lessons. They don't have to be involved in the same activity, but one could just color a picture, another could write a poem or build a model, and one could be asked to write a research paper or compile information to present an oral report to the others.
START YOUR DAY WITH SYSTEM AND ORDER:
Even if school has to start late, the house should be in order before beginning, breakfast dishes done, laundry started, beds made, etc.
Always begin school with worship or Bible Study. Have those children who can read portions of the scriptures while the younger ones listen.
Ask questions and allow them to ask questions too. This will teach the older children patience and kindness, and the younger children feel accepted into the learning sphere with their older siblings.
BONDING OF HEARTS AND MINDS:
This section warns us of trying to achieve "righteousness through meetings", hurrying here and there, having our lives so bogged down and scheduled that the activities themselves become the focus of our lives.
To assume responsibility for our children's education, as is right, we "must give them our finest and fullest attention". Home schooling is a full-time occupation, working closely with our children to share ideas while planning his future and education.
Have the children participate in setting goals. Let them choose areas of interest to study. Help them set goals, and the steps to achieve those goals. Encourage and teach them to lean on God. Lead by example. Motivate to strive for higher principles.
CHALLENGE THE STUDENT TOWARDS EXCELLENCE:
The analogy of the bonsai tree, which is nurtured, clipped and trained to grow in certain ways, while the master carefully observes and utilizes the natural bent of the growing tree. Each tree is unique, even those grown by the same gardener in the same garden.
No two plants grow at the same rate, nor with the same inclinations, and we must remember that it is the same with children. Carefully observe your children, and how they learn best. One type of learning may be too overwhelming for one, and not enough for another. Your students need lots of TLC, and will grow according to your awareness of their special needs.
We are grooming our little ones to mirror the character of Christ, not ourselves.
Discussion (Confession) Time:
1: Grouping: Well, since my two children are very close in age, and abilities, in most areas, and their strengths complement each other, we do a lot of grouping. All of our bible study, science, history, literature, social studies, and math etc. are done together. The only thing that is separate is their language arts instruction, since he is just now starting to read for himself. Sarah's reading consists of independent reading and some writing and composition.
2 Starting the Day with System and Order: Confession Time: We are not morning people in this house. We wake up slowly, and get moving slowly. Conversation doesn't exist over the breakfast table. We are getting better about doing our morning chores before school time, but I have found that I must insist that school starts at 10am whether or not the chores are done, and anything left to be done must be done during their free time in the afternoon, before they are truly free to play.
3 Begin School Time with Bible Study/Worship: We have never had a family worship time per se. Since my husband and I both grew up in non-believing homes, we didn't know such a thing could exist. I have tried to be good about including a bible study/reading time in our school schedule, but I do find that when pressed for time, I chuck everything except math and language arts for the day, since I know in the back of my mind that is what the world values as schooling. In the past, we have done intensive bible studies, and are planning on beginning them again this fall. Right now we just read a portion of scripture aloud and pray for our school day to be fruitful and pleasing to God. I need to expand this time to include praying for others and asking for help in areas of weakness.
4 Bonding of Hearts and Minds: One reason my husband and I decided to take karate with the children is that we realized that this was a sport that all of us could do together. (We found a place that teaches just the moves and sport of it, without the Eastern Religion mixed into it. There is no time set aside during classes for meditation or anything strange like that.) By “leading by example" in this area, my children could see me struggle and persevere, doing something I don't necessarily like to do (exercise) to achieve the goal of a healthier body. Unfortunately, my husband hurt his shoulder last year and dropped out, and I found that I could not participate because Aaron refused to obey his sister during my class times, so I quit too. By then the kids were very into the sport, and don’t mind that Ted and I are not participating any more.
Of course, there is so much more to our lives than just Karate. But we used to tend to err on the other side of the tracks, and do EVERYTHING with our children. We didn't even have a regular date night, or a regular babysitter. Now that Sarah is perfectly capable of babysitting the boys, and Aaron finally has learned to obey her, we have been trying to spend some time alone as a couple, even if it is just going for a walk in the neighborhood or going to the grocery store together.
As far as school goes, at the beginning of learning the Moore Formula I always chose the topics to be studied, for the most part. The only participation the children had is to DO the projects. Now they have much more input into selecting topics and activities.
5: Challenge Students Towards Excellence: All that comes to mind is "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it"...
Well, let's talk! Any thoughts about this? |
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