Doing Preparing at half speed?

[Sue G in PA]

I know there must be another post on this topic, but i couldn't find it! Has anyone done Preparing at half-speed? My ds10 and ds12 are a perfect fit for Preparing. Both work mostly independently and get their work done without any problems. Ds9 is my challenge. I was concerned about him from the very beginning but decided to put him in Preparing with his older brothers anyway. I couldn't see doing 3 guides in one year. Anyway, ds9 continues to have focus issues, discipline issues (defiance, disobedience, etc.) and some days will refuse to do ANY work. He doesn't respond to punishments (loss of privileges, tv/game time, etc.) and the reward system I have in place isn't working well for him either. I count it a successful day if he gets HALF of his work done. I will typically choose the subjects that he does each day, knowing what his limits are and hoping to get to each subject/box at least 2x each week with math and la at least 4x. Does that makes sense? I am just wondering how to do Preparing at half-speed with him while his brothers do it full speed? My dh does the storytime box with the boys before bed so he does keep up with that box. And I do the History reading so he is good there as well. Problem areas are : anything requiring writing, science experiments (he couldn't care less about them) and grammar (which we do orally). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[striving2Bprov31]

Hey there! In response to your original question about doing Preparing half speed....I say go for it. Think of it this way: the guide is a framework but you use it and apply it in the way that FITS YOUR family! Carrie wants us to do what works for our families. That would also ease your work load everyday to possibly work on attitude problems (we have had to deal with this at our house ). Don't sweat it. Everyone will still benefit from the content of the program. One option might be to allow your older son to continue full speed with just the three R's. Just mark down in the little boxes everyday of who has done what. Then you can keep track of their seperate three R schedules!! Just an idea.

This is the biggest lesson I have learned in homeschooling: RELAX. I am learning this the hard way. Dh is thinking we should put one of our kids in school so I can stop stressing out. I know this post is not about me, but pray for us if you have aminute. I want to homeschool all of our dc.

Hope this helps!!

Liz

[Sue G in PA]

Liz, I will certainly pray for you! My dh decided we should put our 3 oldest back in ps last year to ease my stress. Tell your dh that it really doesn't ease the stress...it just trades one type of stress for another! My dh understands now and we are very committed to hs. Thanks for the reminder to relax. I have been better with that this year as I can see that ds9 is learning even when he doesn't get all his work done. I think I'll keep my oldest 2 doing Preparing full pace and just keep ds9 at his own pace. He's been keeping up through Week 7 but has fallen behind. I'm going to pick up this week at Week 10 and just go at his pace and work on attitude issues and character issues. Any other tips would be appreciated! Thanks.

[my3sons]

Hi Sue! I think we all need reminders to de-stress and not feel that the weight of the world is upon our shoulders. Taking time to try to enjoy what we are doing as we journey through raising our dc is so important - for it will soon be a memory - sooner than we think according to every parent I've ever talked to who has an 18 yo child or older. So, yes, by all means, your 9 yo can easily do PHFHG half-speed, and your olders can do it full-speed. I think this pacing seems right for everyone! Here's the link to a past thread that may help...

Half-speed PHFHG, with daily 3 R’s schedule by Carrie:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5431

In Christ,
Julie