First week - is it this good, or am I in for it?
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:42 am
Okay...I feel like I am dreaming.
Last year I used Bigger and LHFHG with my 4th and 1st....and had a 3 yo running around. There were days that the reading was exhausting juggling between them and getting the 3 yo occupied.
We are now using Preparing, Beyond, and Little Hands.
What's the catch?
We are getting our school work fully done in 2 1/2 - 3 hrs. Is it just the freed up time I have from dd's Preparing where she is doing the independent work making this much of a difference in my day?
I get the 4 yo done while the 5th grader does her Teaching Textbooks...then she moves onto her Bob Jone English...then the independent work in the Preparing manual. After the 4 yo is done (only takes 1/2 hr), then I move onto stuff in Beyond that I need to do with the 2nd grader. That might take up about 1/3 of our class time. I then spend the remaining 1/2 - 2/3 doing between the older two doing their work.
I was also using Saxon Math last year for both. That took up a LOT of time compared to Singapore Math for the 2nd grader and Teaching Textbooks for the 5th grader.
I was just floored at how our first week went. I didn't even do dictation last year, and we are getting that in as well...and the spelling for my 2nd grader which I didn't so last year either.
Since Preparing is 4 days, I am thinking of having dd spend all of her time Friday on reading and DITHOR. She is a bookworm. If I can't get that in during the week, and Friday is open...I thought I might as well make Friday DITHOR day.
For me, my 2nd grader has food allergies, and I need time to work on food for her. So I would rather not rush DITHOR during the week if dd has no issues just focusing on that on Fridays.
I guess my question is, will it stay this nice of a pace? Am I in for a surprise up the road?
Last year I used Bigger and LHFHG with my 4th and 1st....and had a 3 yo running around. There were days that the reading was exhausting juggling between them and getting the 3 yo occupied.
We are now using Preparing, Beyond, and Little Hands.
What's the catch?
We are getting our school work fully done in 2 1/2 - 3 hrs. Is it just the freed up time I have from dd's Preparing where she is doing the independent work making this much of a difference in my day?
I get the 4 yo done while the 5th grader does her Teaching Textbooks...then she moves onto her Bob Jone English...then the independent work in the Preparing manual. After the 4 yo is done (only takes 1/2 hr), then I move onto stuff in Beyond that I need to do with the 2nd grader. That might take up about 1/3 of our class time. I then spend the remaining 1/2 - 2/3 doing between the older two doing their work.
I was also using Saxon Math last year for both. That took up a LOT of time compared to Singapore Math for the 2nd grader and Teaching Textbooks for the 5th grader.
I was just floored at how our first week went. I didn't even do dictation last year, and we are getting that in as well...and the spelling for my 2nd grader which I didn't so last year either.
Since Preparing is 4 days, I am thinking of having dd spend all of her time Friday on reading and DITHOR. She is a bookworm. If I can't get that in during the week, and Friday is open...I thought I might as well make Friday DITHOR day.
For me, my 2nd grader has food allergies, and I need time to work on food for her. So I would rather not rush DITHOR during the week if dd has no issues just focusing on that on Fridays.
I guess my question is, will it stay this nice of a pace? Am I in for a surprise up the road?
Yes, older kids doing work independently always helps! I was struggling to do Bigger and Beyond at first - then I started having ds10 do more of Bigger by himself (because he is older and can handle to work) and then I dropped back to Little Hearts for my younger. That took a big load off, but then having a good schedule did too. We use workboxes and I fill them in order such that my older ds can work alone while I start with younger ds. Then, during a break for younger ds, I work one on one with older ds. Then older ds does some more work independently while I finish up with younger ds. Then older ds and I finish his day together. It works beautifully (most of the time!). 
Yes, it IS that good, and no, you are NOT in for it. 
I love it when we reach this point - get into our groove and start to coast. This usually happens for us sometime within the first month of HOD. With the guides I've previously taught, we hit our groove quickly - sometimes even the first day. With the guides I'm teaching for the first time, it takes a bit longer. But, eventually - we hit our stride and are off and running. As far as DITHOR - I'm not sure if you are saying you'd only do DITHOR on Fridays, or if you are saying Friday would be your catch-up day if you'd missed a day of DITHOR earlier in the week. I wouldn't suggest doing DITHOR just once a week, as it is meant to be slowly over different sessions. But if you're saying Friday would be the make-up day (or an additional day of instruction so you'd get through more genres), then I think that's a fantastic idea. Anyway - Congrats on finding your groove, Tabitha! 