Is is just me?

[AmyB]

I have been reading some of the posts here and wondering if I am missing something. I start school with my dd (9) who is doing Bigger. We do Bible, math, Eng., cursive, poetry, Science, Hist., rotating bottom left box and then she does her Reading on her own. She does some of the extension reading on her own and then we do storytime at bedtime. After this I start Beyond with dd (6). We are doing this over two years so we are taking it slow. We do Bible, Math, Spelling, English (another program), Emerging reader schedule, and Rocket Phonics each day. Every other day we add on Hist and bottom left box. Most day I start around 8 am or a little before and we are usually finished up anywhere from 10:15 to 11 am. I've been reading these posts that say many of you aren't done until way later in the day or you have to end your day without finishing something. What am I missing? I don't want to complain about a good thing, but I don't know if I'm doing something wrong.
Thanks!

[jensmom]

It doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong - just using your time very efficiently. I am using Beyond for my dd (6) and adding several items (additional Bible curriculum, Language Lessons by Jesse Wise, Daily devotional reading, Writing Made Easy, and Art with a Purpose) and we still get finished in about 2 1/2 hours each day - some days even sooner than that. She also attends a weekly class on Mondays and also Master's Academy for 3 1/2 hours on Tuesday mornings not to mention the physical activities she participates in. I am VERY happy that HOD takes only 2 to 2 1/2 hours per day!

Judy

[inHistiming]

Bigger is designed to take about 3-3.5 hours and Beyond to take 2 hours per day, so I think you're doing great. It could be that some of the posts you're referring to are by people using higher level programs...Preparing takes about 4 hours. Or, maybe it's just an issue that particular poster is having with their schedule. Often, when you have several children, or if you're starting the program new, or you have a baby or a toddler in the mix, that can 'mess up' your day. Also, as each child's abilities are different, it can take some children longer to do things than others. So, I believe that's probably what you've been seeing...and your time seems to be right on track. You can rest easy!

[water2wine]

I agree you have it. Some of us add things and of course that can add time but my day doing just HOD and Math And LA is about the same if I leave out my child that has learning issues and adds a whole other component. Easily 3 hrs it can be done for Bigger. I can combine Bigger and LHFHG and get them done in 4 maybe less with six kids and I am a scatter brain. But in practice we do add some other things and those take time and I work my with my dd that needs it. But my sanity is it is all done the major stuff and then it is the icing on the cake for us like Spanish etc and reading the Bible (which is not icing on the cake but just more of a life habit than a school habit in my mind). So nothing wrong you just have is exactly as it should be.

[Tansy]

himm does this sound like your day.
we start at 9am
Mom i can't do it... well honi get out the blocks.... 2+2 is ? waits and waits for reply. 5 mom... um no try again Child wails I can't I cant you need to tell me... (Phone rings mom ignores it.) this goes on for every single question. math takes 30-60 min for 6 questions. and it's not that she can't, it's that she won't. Mom resists urge to tell child answers. it's how we got in this pickle in the first place.

Little sister interrupt's she done with her task, Mom gives her another worksheet or tells her to run and play.

ook lets do history, review what narration is, read passage. ok your turn to narrate, child doesn't look or respond. finally she says sorry Mom I was in la la land. You re-read passage, and ask for narration. Child looks at you wild eyed and repeats last sentence you read. sigh.. you ask what were you thinking about. and discover (lil sis interrupts, send child out if room again.) child has been back in la la land. So you re-read the passage. Patting child arm to retain her attention. (phone rings its ignored again) At end of story child spends 10 min hemming and hawing to say story about washington, he fought a battle he won. Problem is story is not about Washington... himm to discipline or not Mom walks out of room to calm herself down. Adds book to homework pile.

vocabulary, mom writes out half the cards because child is terribly slow. Child looks up definitions but takes well over 15 min to write out 2 cards. but they are neat and readable. (phone rings 2x, you get up and shut phone off)

poetry: child reads it making commentary bout other subject matter. child re-reads poem. discussion.. why do you think it blah blah blah.. child fails to respond. mom waits, child waits. finally child answers question. repeat Mom assigns part of poem to be written out.

Child needs to blow nose, goes into bathroom wipes nose, comes back and is sent back to blow nose and bring in box of tissues. Really this happens every day she has a chronic sinus thing she needs to blow her nose when reading think she may be allergic to school? And every day that box of tissues disappears!

Bible study mom has child practice verse this can go quickly or be pure torture.

story time for younger Big sister reads story time to sister while mom returns the phone call to hubby, He gets upset if i don't answer the phone preps the stuff for lil sis math and art.

Mom starts the grammar lesson while lil sis does a assigned a "do it carefully" thing. Used to do lesson orally but have discovered she does it better and faster if I put it on home work pile.

Big sis is set to handwriting and spelling study while Mom works with little sis on math and reading. Big sis interrupts, Mom and lil sis knows the best way to stop it, is to give attention to big sis. so we stop for 3 min and just look at big sis. then we get back to work. big sis repeats interruptions we repeat attention... finally were done with math and reading. with only 2 interruptions. Big sis is not done with her work due to envy, so it goes on her home work pile.

We all do lil sis's art project. Paint gets on floor, dog, and walls, we stop to clean it up.
Mom looks at clock wow its 12:45 and hubby isn't home for lunch yet... eeeek Mom runs to kitchen to start making him lunch

I guess big sis's Dithor reading and science will have to wait till tomorrow.. we'll try and do her story time in the afternoon. Lil sis school gets finished after lunch, while Big sis is working on that homework pile...

So maybe you have co-operative children? On the other hand I have been not putting up with it lately, and have been just piling on homework to unanswered questions and responses that take over 3 min to answer. I want to give her time to answer but she has brought distractibility to a high art form.

I have just started to not put up with this any more. and it seems to be working for a bit. but if she doesn't respond in a reasonable amount of time I turn it in to homework. lately she has been sitting at the kitchen table for 3 hours waiting for me to: do it for, her release her, or eventually come around to my way of thinking and finally choose to do it. This has been helping get school over with sooner than later.

Can you imagine what it would be like with MFW or a longer curriculum my dear girl would be in school that is what!

[inHistiming]

Good for you Tansy! It's so hard to stick to your guns and say, "I will NOT put up with this!" I had to do this with my son and it was miserable for him (and me) for him to sit at the table 'til 6 or even 7 in the evening because he dawdled with his work. I couldn't understand why he would want to do that when he was so obviously able to do the work! He did eventually learn that it is fun to just get it done the first time, because then he has time to work on his own projects, play, read. Keep up what your doing, don't give in! It's so hard, but you can do it. I just wanted to give you 'props' for devising a plan and sticking to it...and now you're reaping the rewards. Way to go Mom!

[Carrie]

You're right on track, Amy! Rejoice in how your day's are going! As I'm reading this thread, I'm struck by how different each of our situations are, yet we are all united in using the same curriculum. God uses that diversity for His glory! Praise the Lord that He made each of us (and our kiddos) unique and will use that uniqueness to accomplish His will!

Blessings,
Carrie