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Hi Ladies,
I don't post out here much, but I check in and see what's going on often. A quick re-introduction. This is our second year of homeschooling our 9th grader and my 1st grade son. We also have a 3 year old who wants to be a part of everything.

I had envisioned this year with my 3 yr old sitting at the table and doing things while my 1st grader did his work. She'd listen, do some of her own things and join with on some things. The problem is that my son can't focus on his work if she is in the room. He is constantly telling her that she is coloring the wrong color or she can't make her craft that way. You get the idea. We've been trying for awhile to see if he would get used to it and he is not. I'm afraid that I've been right about his attention issues all along (he's not just a boy). School had been taking all day with the 3 yr old around so I thought we'd try having her play downstairs while he did his school (big sis is down there to keep alittle eye on her). Time is the same. He just finds other things to distract him. I got frustrated last week and yelled at him to "Will you just pay attention!" He replied in tears, "I am trying Mommy." Then we both starting crying. On Friday, it took us from 8:30 - about 3 with a 1hr lunch break to get through Beyond, Health (10 min of reading) and Book-it (20 minutes - his choosing). I've tried adding breaks and he stands, sits and paces during his work. It's not a control or disipline issue. It just takes him that long.

Another thing. It is not that he is not mature enough either. He can do all the work. He understands the stories. He answers the questions. I was alittle nervous about the Benjamin West book, but he loves it and wants to read it first each day. He even likes the poetry which is unusual for boys isn't it? So I really just think he can't focus long enough to do it ALL each day.

I talked with my homeschool support ladies this weekend, and they suggested that we just do Math, Reading and Handwriting for awhile. After thinking about it, my only problem with it is that my little guy LOVES all the rest of Beyond too. He has really enjoyed reading about Pedro and Catalina and like I said he loves Benajamin and the cat. How do I do reading and math each day and split up the rest into 2 days? I'd like to try some combo first before we go to just reading, math and handwriting. I think he'd be bored with just the three.

Any ideas?

Thanks , Laurie (sorry so long).

i don't know this will help or not. all of our days are not exactly the same but we try to have some order. We have 21 month old and 4.5 yr old. the little one is the one that can be a distraction. there are good days and bad days and sometimes it seems like some days do take longer and it is 3pm before we are done. but that is with breaks and lunch . the weather is so nice here right now that we have to savor the it (Havana, Fl).

i will say that we are using LHFHG with my son who just turned 6 and using the emerging readers from Beyond. (it is his "kindergarten"). he is very busy, active. he is the kind of kid that i can read to even if he is playing with dinosaurs, cars or other figures in his hand. in fact, he does better. Trying to make him sit still for too long can be fustrating for both of us. i have to be very clear and not necessarily set timelimits, but i will say for instance "while i change the baby's diaper you can have a short break and we will get back to work when i done taking care of her" or " after you copy three words, you may play for such and such a time and then i will call you to write 3 more words,etc". He likes to know EXACTLY when, how we are doing things.

another note. most of the time he is standing up while he does his work. his book is on the school-table, but he is standing. this is actually good because then the baby can't climb up on the chair and get to the school stuff. i don't even have chairs at the table unless the kids ask for them. and then they are folded up until they need to use them again.

i do try to get my 4.5 yr daughter old to play with the baby but it just doesn't always work. and my son will tell my 4.5 yr old she is doing something "wrong" when she is doing something, just like your son.

i have made a little chart for him ,as well, with the subjects on one side and and Unit Day numbers (1,2,3,4,5) across the chart. The chart is about as big as my hand. each time we complete something he marks it with a dry erase marker. i laminated the chart but you could also put it in a page protector. i have an "x" marked in subjects on days that we don't do that subject ie. science because it only done a couple times a week.

i think we start by9am most days but it seems like the earlier we start the better. i do usually ask him to do math first and i will help him if any questions. we use Math-u-see. i am usually cleaning up the breakfast table at that time.

don't know if that helps , but some things i have done to help school run more smoothly.

Jenn d.

Thanks Jenn for the nice response. Our guys sound alot alike. You have my sympathy.

I do let him stand up or sit or lay on the ground. I also let him fiddle with things while I'm reading as long as if I ask him a question he can answer it. If he was my only child, going that long every day wouldn't be all that bad, but I'm not getting things done for my oldest (she is doing it all by herself including correcting all her work) and the youngest is spending way too much time unsupervised and no time playing with mommy. The housework and making meals we won't even talk about.

Last night, my husband and I talked for a long time and think we have something that may work. We both think he needs reading and math everyday. Then we split the remaining boxes into what we think are logical groupings and will thus split each day into 2. We also cut out any extras for the time being. If this doesn't help THEN we will go to just reading, math and handwriting.

I'm off now to give it a try!!
Thanks again Jenn!!

Laurie

Hi Laurie! Your little guy is kind of on the young side of the age range for Beyond, isn't he? When we've been in that situation, we just go half-speed. We did the left side of the plans one day, and the right side the next day, thus taking 2 weeks to get through one week of plans. The only thing we did make sure to do daily was phonics, just so the carryover was there. I would think you could just do this and be fine. If you really wanted daily math, you could always do that and just have 2 sticky notes in the guide, one for the daily plans and one for the math as he moved ahead in that. I have all boys, so I totally get where you are coming from. I think stopping the extras, slowing the speed would really help and would not hold him back in any way - Beyond is a full program. One other thing that helped my middle ds was to give him an outdoor recess first thing in the morning for about 20-30 minutes, or if inclement weather, an indoor recess with free playtime. Then, when he came in he had most of the wiggles out and could concentrate on school better. I hope something here helps! It sounds like your little guy is loving a lot of school, just the time needs to be cut down, which blessedly can be done quite handily with HOD.

In Christ,
Julie