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I added up the box times in the different guides I'm doing and how much time with me is required. No wonder I am taking all day and not really finishing! I need 7 hours of MY time! Yikes.
In case anyone is thinking of my combining, it really can't happen. The only 2 that could are the ones doing preparing and Bigger, but that would not be good for my 16 yo who is doing preparing. Last year she did Abeka DVDs 3rd grade. It was a nice break for me because she did it totally on her own and she really liked it. She was going to do 4th grade this year and I really couldn't stand it, it's not what I want for her. (I want HOD of course). She expressed interest several times in doing the CtC guide that her sister did last year and I told her to do that she needs to do preparing first. Enter--my school time just went up drastically!

I found a couple of things that might help, maybe someone could tell me if it work mess things up though. It looks like she only needs me for the Bible study 2x week and the research/timeline/geog/vocab box 2x week. Maybe I could do 1 of those each day and mix them up to do that. That would save me about 15-20 minutes.

Could you have one of your older ones do LHTH with your youngest? And then move to LHFHG? Or at least part of it?

Can you do teaching time with one of them while another one is doing independent work?

I'm doing Preparing, Beyond, LHFHG, and LHTH right now and it's only taking us about 3 hours worth of my time. Even if I had kids who wanted to discuss everything thoroughly it would only take 3.5-4 hours. And since teaching time doesn't really go up once you get into Preparing I don't imagine it changing too much from here on out.

I go over all the Preparing child's semi ind work and ind work (showing her which boxes to do or writing it down for her) and read the history (or assign it to her occasionally) then send her off to another room with her stack of books. During that time I do Beyond and either LHFHG or LHTH... sometimes, if it's a day I've assigned my oldest her history reading I can do all three of them.

In Bigger (I can't remember if you said you had one doing Bigger or not) I assign some things independently and have them do them all together, so I give myself a chunk of time. The things I have them do independently (after the first few weeks) are vocab, notebooking, timeline, cursive, math (after we go over the lesson) and science (I do the reading). So that gives me at least a 30 minute chunk I can do something else with someone else. Depending on how old and how good of readers they are, they could also take over some of the history or science reading. I can totally see my current Beyond child doing that about halfway through Bigger. During the time they are ind I can generally get LHFHG either done, or almost done.

For LHFHG, I do history, Bible, science, and storytime first thing for that child to knock it out of the way. Then if I need to teach someone else, an older sister can listen to them read or can watch them do handwriting, fine motor skills, or math. Or I can set them up with their art project, explain what is to be done, and let them have fun.

If any of them finish their ind work before I'm done with the other person I'm working with, I give them chores to do (real chores that I need to do, like laundry, dishes, floors, etc.)

We do not take breaks once school has started for the day. We work until I deem them done.

The biggest help for me though is that when they start LHFHG I slowly work from then through Bigger on them being independent on things. So in LHFHG I'll tell them what they are to do for handwriting or fine motor skills, and then walk away while they do the page. It takes all of 2 minutes for them to do it, so basically I'm in sight, but not right there with them. In Beyond, I have them do what spelling they can without me there, copy work without me there, math workbook after we've gone over the lesson, and their art stuff. And I've already said what they do in Bigger.

Hope this helps some. It's the best way I've found to streamline my day. I go from Most Independent Child to Least Independent Child. I enlist help with my olders when they are finished to help with a younger (with school work). And we do not take breaks once school has started. I get my part done before a break that is. Sometimes, depending on when we start, my oldest is finishing up one last thing after lunch, but generally we are always done.

Wow, Lora Beth! You are amazing! I'm going to have to bookmark this and come back later to spend some time with seeing how I can cut things down here. And I don't have the 4th guide in there, yet . Thanks for being so detailed!

Gwenny, one thing that might help is to have you and your child in Preparing read the HIstory stuff seperately-it will take less time for you to read it silently to yourself than to read it outloud, and then when they are done reading it, you can come together for discussion time only. Are you trying to get completely done with one child before you move on to the next? That's what I was doing when I was coming up with those long hours. Like Lora Beth said, it helps to have someone doing independent work while you're working with someone else. I know also that I need to do some more work with the timer. Setting it to see how long boxes are taking us, or setting it for how long they should take us and then moving on to the next thing. Anything left over can be assigned as "homework" when my part of the school day is done. I think the scheduling thread has some ideas for target times for how long each thing should take in a guide.

Okay, I just saw your other thread and noticed your daughter doing Preparing is proably not going to be able to read things on her own...scratch that advice I have no idea! Sorry

Thanks ladies! I keep looking over things and trying to cut things down.
My daughter in Preparing COULD read it, she can read the words, but she understands it more when I do and likes me to read it. I think I'm just going to have to have her practice more on her own and with the follow-ups I'll see if she understood what she read. I guess it will work the same way as with the younger ones, they are practicing listening carefully.
I also found out about some brain training exercises that I can do with her that I really think will help. That and fish oil!
Of course, I need to figure some time for that.
Thanks for talking this out with me.

It's interesting MomtoJGJE that you said you do most independent to least independent. I've been trying it the other way. (and it's not working)

The main reason I started doing it that way was because two of mine aren't compulsory yet. So if I didn't get a chance to get to them, then it didn't really matter. But I found that when I did it that way, I ended up having more time to actually do stuff with them.

You've already gotten some good ideas here! You have many wonderful dc in the home to care for, and you are doing 5 HOD guides, so honestly, 7 hours of teaching time so far off the mark. BUT I do think you can whittle that time down with a good routine and plan in place, and I really think you are wise to put some real thought into how you'd like your day to flow - a little planning before jumping into multiple guides goes a long way.

It will be important your RevtoRev high schooler can work efficiently independently. How did she do with RTR? It sounds like she did well. I'd get her off to a solid start with RevtoRev, making sure she has a good understanding of what to do, and I'd have a midpoint meeting time with her to do your teaching time and checking of completed work. Here are a few links about this kind of checkpoint...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10939
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12123&p=87698

For your PHFHG dd, it will be important for her to take on more independence. I'd definitely have her reading her Independent boxes on her own, and work on the follow-ups with her to help build comprehension. I love the follow-ups HOD plans for dc. They are varied, and they really do help all dc shine in the areas they are stronger in, while also helping them improve in the areas that are not their strengths.

For your Bigger Hearts dd, it sounds like she is largely independent and doing the extensions. Floating between her and your PHFHG dd and helping as needed would be a good strategy. I would try to look at their work as they hand it in. It can be checked rather quickly, so you don't have a pile of work to correct later. On the other hand, I'd not check your RevtoRev dd's work until you sit down with her for your midpoint meeting time. That kind of correcting works better collaboratively.

For your LHFHG, LHTH, and littlest dc, I'd utilize the 20 yo dd. You can do this however you feel is best. What does she enjoy doing with them? Teaching? Playing? Cooking/baking? Taking a walk? Whatever you have her do with each of them each day, I'd try to include some teaching time for her, and the rest of the time, make sure that they can function independently, completely without you. My almost 13 yo has a playtime with our 5 yo. He likes to bake. He also likes to get on the 3-wheelers with our 5 yo and pick up stick, or do garden work. He enjoyed choosing an active box or two from LHTH to do with Emmett too. He has had 45 minutes of each day to be in charge of our 5 yo, and they both enjoy it. It has made them very close. Our 9 yo likes to play with our 5 yo, so each day for their 45 minutes, they simply pick something to play together. They both have grown close as well. I'd have your PHFHG, BHFHG, possibly your RevtoRev gal, and your 20 yo dd take turns with the littles. This will give you a lot of time to focus on dc independently, and it will build close relationships as well. Here are some ideas of things your olders can do with your youngers...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10601&p=77197
Doing 1 Storytime with your BHFHG and PHFHG dc (adding in your next child when that child moves into Beyond) would be a way to maximize time too. This is something HOD suggests to do when teaching multiple guides.

Having a routine for the littlest one will be important. I'd try to map out that child's day in 30 minute increments or so. Keeping the littles happy with purposeful things throughout the day will do wonders to cut down on interruptions and help your day flow more smoothly.

For your 5 yo, you could have that child do stations. Here is a link for that...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10565&p=76848

I hope something here helps! I'd love to know what things you think from this thread may work, and then we can all try to answer more detailed responses for the things you are interested in knowing more about.

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks Julie! I've been working on my planning as I can grab moments here and there and it's really coming together. Yes, I know there will be a lot of my time necessary, but I don't have 7 hours for one on one school, that's for sure. I'm seeing that I can consolidate and definitely give my Preparing daughter more independent tasks. Unfortunately, the things I can give her to do on her own (as well as my Bigger daughter) is the stuff I LOVE to do!! The reading out loud of the books is my favorite part. I saw that there were things during the week that I could move around a little to make the teaching time each day less. For instance, I switched around the Bible teacher intensive days with the Research/Geography box so that I only have one of those boxes each day to do.

**Here's a question for you: because for at least 6 months I need to do these brain training exercises with her that take about 30 minutes 5x per week, I decided to not do DITHR. Is that the wrong choice? Would it be better to not do the storytime with her instead? I simply can not fit another 30 minutes in my schedule. I think the storytime is less time than the DITHR, but I'm not sure. **

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your ideas for the 5 year old. I want to do that badly. I really need to set that up. He will love it. He is one that will play for hours on his own and I don't have any child that I have trouble "containing", but I would like their time to be more productive and use the wonderful items that we have. Thanks for that detailed post, I need things like that so I can "see" it.

My olders do help a TON. In fact, the 16 yo makes lunch everyday, the 18 yo makes breakfast every morning and the 20 yo makes dinner. (of course we have days when someone is home, or is sick or something, but this is pretty much it). I think it's been so crazy and I've been floundering a little more because my 18 yo just got back from almost 2 months gone to Dubai helping a missionary family, now my 20 yo is gone for 2 months to Slovak and the Czech Republic on mission trips and my 16 yo just sprained her ankle and can't do anything!

My RevtoRev can do everything very easily, no problems there.

How could I do just one storytime? The ones in Preparing are tied to the history, so I wouldn't want the youngers to hear them, what would they do when they get to the guide? What do you suggest there?
Again, that's my favorite part!!!

Do you have a suggestion for who to do first or what order? As I'm planning the different "blocks" it's also kinda tricky because there are sometimes things they need to have done before we meet, or that we need to meet first for them to do it on their own. It's a lot of thinking!

Thanks, you all are such a blessing and I'm grateful for HOD!

Okay! I have something of a schedule! Implementing, now, that's another thing!
Oh, and a huge thing also- my husband is going to hire someone for me for my birthday--a weekly house cleaner for at least 6 months! My older girls are ecstatic also, it will be a nice break and they can focus on some others things as well.
8:15-9:15 Beyond with 8 yob, 5 yob doing stations (thanks Julie)
9:15-9:45 LHTH with 5 yob, (10 yog doing Bigger ind.)
9:45-10:45 Bigger with 10yog (10:15-10:45 8 yob Beyond ind.)
11-12 Preparing with 16yog
12:30-1:15 Beyond with 8 yob, 16 yog and 10 yog independent
1:15-2 Bigger with 10 yog, 16 yog independent
2-3:15 Preparing with 16 yog

So, I'm pretty much busy from 8:15 - 3:15 with a break for lunch. Not sure how doable that is, but we'll try. I honestly think that there will be a few more breaks in there, I don't think the times for the Beyond and Bigger will really take that long. We'll see. . It is only for 4 days, the 5th day I won't have all of that time with the Preparing girls only the brain training exercises, about 30 minutes.

Any thoughts, suggestions?

Hi, I can't help with your schedule much since I only have 2, beyond & lhth. But it looks good. I also think it would be ok to delay dithor for a few months like you said but I wouldn't wait longer than that!!

I really just wanted to say, what an Awesome birthday present!! Weekly house cleaning!!! WOW!!!
Happy birthday!

Glad to help - sounds like you have some great things in place already - hooray!

Gwenny wrote:...
**Here's a question for you: because for at least 6 months I need to do these brain training exercises with her that take about 30 minutes 5x per week, I decided to not do DITHR. Is that the wrong choice? Would it be better to not do the storytime with her instead? I simply can not fit another 30 minutes in my schedule. I think the storytime is less time than the DITHR, but I'm not sure. **

Yes, I do think Storytime takes less time than DITHOR in general, and I can see waiting on that for a time. There was recently a good thread about this where Carrie shares her thoughts on this, as well as others sharing their thoughts...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12148

Gwenny wrote:I LOVE LOVE LOVE your ideas for the 5 year old. I want to do that badly. I really need to set that up. He will love it. He is one that will play for hours on his own and I don't have any child that I have trouble "containing", but I would like their time to be more productive and use the wonderful items that we have. Thanks for that detailed post, I need things like that so I can "see" it.

Great - I'm so glad that something within that post may help!

Gwenny wrote:...My olders do help a TON. In fact, the 16 yo makes lunch everyday, the 18 yo makes breakfast every morning and the 20 yo makes dinner. (of course we have days when someone is home, or is sick or something, but this is pretty much it). I think it's been so crazy and I've been floundering a little more because my 18 yo just got back from almost 2 months gone to Dubai helping a missionary family, now my 20 yo is gone for 2 months to Slovak and the Czech Republic on mission trips and my 16 yo just sprained her ankle and can't do anything! ...

This will help out so much! Wise mama to enlist help from the olders - delegate... a beautiful word!

Gwenny wrote:My RevtoRev can do everything very easily, no problems there...

Smart mama to train the older in successful independence - that will pay off this year! Be sure to do some point of checkpoint time to stay on top of her, but otherwise, should be smooth sailing.

Gwenny wrote:How could I do just one storytime? The ones in Preparing are tied to the history, so I wouldn't want the youngers to hear them, what would they do when they get to the guide? What do you suggest there?
Again, that's my favorite part!!!

I'd probably do the Bigger Hearts readings, and have your PHFHG dd read her own Storytime books if able. If not, you certainly can do 2 Storytimes, but if you are trying to downsize time, this would be an easy and effective way to do it. HOD plans for us to be interacting with our dc in many more ways than reading aloud, and as dc get older especially, I think they begin to hunger for that interaction, as they can do the reading themselves, but the digging deeper, discussing things, getting into the meaning of things - that they need our guidance and interaction from desperately. So putting my teaching time into that instead of reading aloud a lot has actually done wonders for building strong relationships with my older dc, and for making our school time not go so long too!

Gwenny wrote:Do you have a suggestion for who to do first or what order? As I'm planning the different "blocks" it's also kinda tricky because there are sometimes things they need to have done before we meet, or that we need to meet first for them to do it on their own. It's a lot of thinking!

I'm going to check out your schedule below, as I see you posted some thoughts about this now!

In Christ,
Julie

Gwenny wrote:Okay! I have something of a schedule! Implementing, now, that's another thing!
Oh, and a huge thing also- my husband is going to hire someone for me for my birthday--a weekly house cleaner for at least 6 months! My older girls are ecstatic also, it will be a nice break and they can focus on some others things as well.
8:15-9:15 Beyond with 8 yob, 5 yob doing stations (thanks Julie)
9:15-9:45 LHTH with 5 yob, (10 yog doing Bigger ind.)
9:45-10:45 Bigger with 10yog (10:15-10:45 8 yob Beyond ind.)
11-12 Preparing with 16yog
12:30-1:15 Beyond with 8 yob, 16 yog and 10 yog independent
1:15-2 Bigger with 10 yog, 16 yog independent
2-3:15 Preparing with 16 yog

So, I'm pretty much busy from 8:15 - 3:15 with a break for lunch. Not sure how doable that is, but we'll try. I honestly think that there will be a few more breaks in there, I don't think the times for the Beyond and Bigger will really take that long. We'll see. . It is only for 4 days, the 5th day I won't have all of that time with the Preparing girls only the brain training exercises, about 30 minutes.

Any thoughts, suggestions?

Good thoughts here, Gwenny! I like how you are thinking through your time, and how you are planning somewhat generously to be sure it's accurate. It also makes really good sense to have 2 teaching blocks of time for your Beyond and Bigger dc, as they will need you more.

Other thoughts that came to mind... can you have your 20 yo? dd help with some of the teaching of the youngers to gain some time for you and shorten your day a bit? With your dh's thoughtful hiring a cleaner for b-day idea (FABULOUS idea - kudos to dh BTW!), this would free up some time where dd could help with some of the teaching maybe? Or is she helping more with littlest one? I am thinking that she could help just a little with each of the dc, and this would really gain you some time! For example, using your neat schedule and sticking to exactly the same amounts of teaching times for each guide...
8:15-9:15 Beyond with 8 yob, 5 yob doing stations (thanks Julie) Your teaching 8:15-9; Her teaching 9 - 9:15
9:15-9:45 LHTH with 5 yob, (10 yog doing Bigger ind.) Your teaching 9 - 9:15; Her teaching 9:15-9:30
9:45-10:45 Bigger with 10yog (10:15-10:45 8 yob Beyond ind.)Your teaching 9:15-10; Her teaching 10-10:15
11-12 Preparing with 16yog Your teaching 10-10:45; Her teaching 10:45-11
12:30-1:15 Beyond with 8 yob, 16 yog and 10 yog independent Your teaching 10:45-11:15; Her teaching 11:15-11:30
1:15-2 Bigger with 10 yog, 16 yog independent Your teaching 11:15-11:45; Her teaching 11:45-noon
2-3:15 Preparing with 16 yog Your teaching 11:45-12:45; Her teaching 12:45-1 PM

This is a hypothetical, but you can see how with her help in little time increments, you could actually be done by 1 PM and then do lunch. If you look at just her schedule, you can see that she does have quite a few breaks in her teaching times (actually a total of about 2+ hours' worth of non-teaching time, and she doesn't even start until 9 AM and she's done at 1 PM ), to do other things, or even to help care for little one(s). I think this is excellent training for her to become a manager of her own dc and home someday, so this is really time well spent for her, and it helps out the rest of the family as well. You can consider giving her some payment for doing this, if you want, but I do think this would be super training either way.

The only other thoughts I had were that it would be good to figure out what the 1 yo, 5 yo, and 8 yo are doing the rest of the time they are not schooling, and it would also be good to have a checkpoint time planned for your RevtoRev student - perhaps after lunch? You will know best, and I think you have a good start to a schedule here to work from. These are all just ideas to pick and choose from as you will certainly know best here. I hope something here can help!

In Christ,
Julie

Julie,
Great ideas about including my 20 yo. (I'm just now able to really look at it!)
I am definitely going to try something like that. I can't do it until she gets back the end of August from Skovakia. That will give me time to really try things out and figure out what would be best for her to do and timing, etc.

You are right, I need to plan the time for the little ones more. The baby is on a great schedule for sleeping, eating, etc but I know that will be changing more quickly as she grows. I will work on that.

We are trying our schedule the first time today. I'm on in 2 minutes, so far so good.

Blessings.