Struggling with Science!

[tnahid]

I am really struggling to get the boy's science portion done each day. For some reason, it seems that I am rushing through and skipping things, etc. I know I do not need to do this, but I am just not sure how much they are getting out of this. What if they simply read the assignment and that's all some days? I really struggle with science, and I don't really want to do a textbook approach to science, but I feel like I am short-changing them by leaving this til last and not really focusing on it. HELP! I have been thinking they might do better with a workbook approach in this area or something, just so I would know they are learning something. Although, I am sure they wouldn't really be retaining it to well probably. Right?

I just feel like I can't read more to them than I already do, so I have them read it, etc, and I want them to do the assignment on their own, but I always have to explain it and walk them through it. Hmmmm...any suggestions for me!? I personally love the living book approach but guess am still fearful that they aren't learning "enough" whatever THAT is! And in TX, science isn't even a required subject! Yet, I still want them to have it!

[raceNzanesmom]

We're only in Beyond with rotating science, but I find I *have* to do that box as soon as I read the history. If I put it off until after the "more important" stuff it gets dropped too often. It's what works for me. Find what works for you so you can get it done.

[countrymom]

We always do history first (other than reading which has to be first for us), then we do everything connected with history for the tie-in (science and Bible). I have found this to work well. We are doing it while we are fresh and the history reading is fresh in our minds. Maybe that would help. I'll think some more on it, I just looked at the clock and have to fly.

[my3sons]

I have had Riley read his own science for Bigger Hearts for about the last half of it. He is almost 9 yo (the age Charlotte Mason suggested dc take over the reading for their school as they are able), so this has worked very well. I think that it is just fine to have your dc read the science as long as they are reading it without difficulty. The science readings are pretty short, so this should not take much time. After Riley finishes his reading, we go over the science plans in the box together, and then he works through it with me being available to help as needed.

It helps me to think in my mind which parts of a subject area are important for me to teach, and which parts are more their responsibility. In science in Bigger Hearts, my teaching part is reading through the box with Riley, and overseeing the follow-up science assignment. I have found that if I take a few minutes to read through the box with my ds, and we begin the assignment together, that he has the ability to finish the work independently, with me joining him at the end to help with any needed additions, editing, or changes. The actual time I am working with Riley on his Bigger Heart's science is about 8-10 minutes. What keeps this time to a minimum is helping him see the flow of the activity by reading through the box with him before he begins it, and then helping him get off to the right start. This is much easier than expecting him to do it all himself and then coming in later to have to redo things done incorrectly. If I was doing a textbook science, my time would be about 8-10 minutes as well, as the textbook really never works as a total replacement for teaching. Science is a hands-on subject, and it really is important that this portion of the work is done. If you are having difficulty doing your teaching time for science, I would move it to first thing in the day. I try to do this myself with teaching times that aren't necessarily my favorite things, as I know I will naturally get them done if they are first. I find my energy level going down as I come to the end of my homeschooling time each day, so it helps me to put more independent things last. Maybe switching the order of the day, and explaining their part/your part to the dc would help - I hope something here helps!

In Christ,
Julie

[tnahid]

Thank you for these good thoughts, Julie and other sweet ladies! I appreciate it. This has helped me! I am going to start doing their individual work with them earlier and then work with my youngest while they are doing independent and see if that makes the day go smoother and see if I get more done. Thank you!

Oh and also I am going to have them read their own science and do the lesson with my direction. Thanks!

Tina

[pjdobro]

I just want to encourage you to hang in there with the science in Bigger. The time and effort you put in this year will make next year with Preparing go so well. The science is set-up so similarly in Preparing so by guiding your dc this year and helping them learn how to follow the instructions to do a notebook page and do the experiment in Bigger, you will be allowing them to soar when they get to Preparing. After spending this time with it this year, they'll be able to be independent with the science next year.

I know it's difficult to trust that learning science through living books, narrating, notebooking, etc. works. Sometimes it is difficult for me to see the learning that is going on at the time, but later on my dc come back and surprise me with all sorts of knowledge that they have retained from the science that they have done in the previous years. It really does work and the teaching time put in this year will pay off huge rewards in the future.

[tnahid]

Thank you for the encouragement, Patty! I needed that! I will press on...