For those who Combine

[Patience]

I am wondering if anyone who combines has experimented with encouraging independence with some of the boxes, particularly bible, and discussion. Not all the time, but sometimes my children compete and get frustrated when doing discussions and bible memory. Just this week I tried having them go off into separate rooms to come up with hand motions for the bible memory. I have started to "meet" with them separately at times to give them each a chance to consider and answer for themselves. I am wondering if there are other ways I have not thought of, where I could give them a chance to be more independent while at the same time combining the curriculum? I can't help thinking it may be time to separate, but I am a bit daunted by the idea of how to organize my day if I were to use Preparing, Beyond, and Little Hands to Heaven.

[Carrie]

Patience,

I think that having your kiddos have a separate moment from one another for Bible is a great way to handle what you're noticing in that area. It also gives you personal time with each of them to discuss and share what is on their hearts. I'm wondering if you've also had a chance to have them be in different rooms or at different tables when working on reading, math, grammar, etc. (or for anything that they are doing separately right now)? I know we do this with my boys, so that they feel like they don't always have someone looking over their shoulder or watching them.

I'll schedule one child to be in the living room, one to be at the kitchen counter, one to be at the kitchen table, and one to be up in my bedroom. Then, I'll have them rotate areas every 20-30 min. or so. My kiddos love this separate time, and I enjoy sitting with them and working with just one child. Anyway, this may give you a little more separation, so that when you do have your together time for Beyond it will feel like the exception to their day rather than the rule. Just a possible idea.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Patience]

These are great ideas and I am going to definately give this some thought. We have always worked at the kitchen table together, but my son is increasingly becoming a dawdler. I use the timer and this helps. I will try the separate room idea. I might need to put on my running shoes to go between the three kids!

[Carrie]

Patience,

I schedule the kiddos who need me to instruct them to be at the table and my kitchen counter, so they are near one another but not right next to each other. Then, I can pop back and forth between the two. We all talk very quietly during this time to make sure we're not interrupting the nearby child. Meanwhile, the kiddos I schedule to be in the living room or bedroom have more independent tasks that don't require my help. Then, we can switch areas after 20 min. or so, and I can help the next set of kiddos. In this way, I'm pretty much staying in one area to help with instruction, rather than running all about. It's just the kiddos who are moving.

I will admit that the movement between areas can cause dawdling, however it also is great for getting my boys to get the wiggles out by moving every 20-30 min. It gives them a fresh perspective to be in a different room too. I will also mention that I only have my oldest son scheduled in my bedroom to work, and he earned that privilege by staying on task and coming down on time with his work done. At first, we scheduled him in his room but there were too many distractions, so we moved him to my bedroom. If he didn't come down in a timely fashion, or was making loud noises upstairs, or did not have good work to show when he came down (at the end of 30 min. at the longest), then the next day he worked downstairs during that time instead. Now, he's able to work in any room in the house and stay focused.

My little ones are also scheduled to play in their room (alone) during part of our worktime, so that helps keeps the noise level downstairs to a more manageable level. I've found that 20-30 min. increments for activities for the little ones is a good amount of time.

At our house, we've found it really helps if you happen to have 2 or more different table/counter/desk areas where 2-3 kiddos can be spread out working separately but nearby. We used to do the round table instruction with everyone working on their own things at the table at once, but I actually felt more frenzied having everyone around the table while I jumped from child to child. It also could get pretty loud and felt more like formal "school" to me, rather than now as I'm utilizing the whole house and each kiddo has a chance to have time with just me for some things. I'm not sure if that is helpful at all. Sometimes it helps to ponder options.

Blessings,
Carrie

[lmercon]

If you need to keep them working at the same table for whatever reason, you could make "blinders." Just use a large, heavy piece of cardboard and fold it so that it stand up in front of the child, providing a smaller attention area to keep the child focused. It would also create a nice "cubby" for you to have little meetings with each child. This keeps school in one general area if the idea of spreading out around the house doesn't appeal to you for any reason. The posters made for science fair displays work really well. Each child could personalize the folder. Just take them down when you are doing group things.
Just an idea,
Laura