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Hi all,

We are 2 weeks into our new school year and I'm tweaking things. I have a few questions...

1.) We're using a composition book for dictation. When your child needs to redo the dictation do you have the child go to a fresh page in the composition book or rewrite it on the same page?

2.) As much as I like the idea of everyone having their own storytime, it is much more practical for us to do one storytime which I like to do at lunch. However, I never seem to have the HOD manual with me when I need it, since the "school" books are kept and used in another part of the house. Any suggestions as to how I can resolve this? On this same note, I'm using the read-alouds from bigger, although I have children in Preparing and CTC. I'm profoundly aware that the assignments are much more challenging in CTC...how/if at all should I address this?

3.) It is my top priority to finish at lunch. Some days we simply cannot get it all done...after all life happens. What are the MOST critical things to do? Do you think it is important to do every single thing or what is the alternative plan for those days when you need to simply move on?

4.) Finally, what do you do when your child simply doesn't complete assignments at their best ability? My oldest is currently in a homeschool "slump", distracted, etc. and he seems to be cutting corners a bit - sloppy work, just enough to complete the assignment, dawdling. These are all "new" issues for the most part. I want him to work to a level of excellence. HOw can I foster this?

I'm sure I'll have more tweaking over the next week, but I look forward to your thoughts on these items.

Thanks a bunch.

Florence - I'm glad you are off and running with your HOD school year! I know you have a busy year with many little ones to consider, so I'll do my best to answer these questions with that in mind.
1. I had my ds rewrite his dictation on a fresh page, so he couldn't turn it into copywork and look at yesterday's for help. When we'd been through the whole composition book, he went back and started using the back side of the pages.

2. Can you have a small tub/basket with your Bigger Storytime books in it in the kitchen somewhere? That would keep the book at hand. As far as the manual, I'd have the Bigger Hearts child be responsible for bringing it to lunch each day.

3. I'll answer the end of 2 as well as 3 here. I would choose to either assign Storytime to be done independently for the PHFHG and CTC dc, and have them do their follow-ups together. If you have to omit something, I'd omit Storytime for your older dc. The rest I'd try hard to get in (you have to know you're talking to the sister of the author here , and as such I get to be in on what goes in a guide and what doesn't - so I don't view any of it as twaddle and wouldn't advise skipping ). Really encouraging our dc to clip along and develop good work habits has gone a long way for us. I try to clip along myself. I've also found it helpful to put totally independent things (or the independent part of finishing up a box) at the end of the school day. This means I'm done by lunch no matter what, but a child may have to finish after lunch if they dawdled. This is a natural consequence of unfinished work. This works well for project type things if you have an artistic child too. That way if they want to draw it out because they are so into it, it's no big deal because your teaching time is done and it's their free time anyway. This makes them weigh if it's worth their extra time. Of course if all of this fails, there is always the option of starting the day earlier (your older dc could start before you officially start teaching as much of it should be independent for them anyway).

4. Is what he's writing good? If it is, I'd be apt to let the neatness of it slide a tad. It must be legible, and the words chosen should be worthy, but (IMO) very neat handwriting and work takes a back seat to the thought behind the work. I would also set the timer to nip the distractibility issue in the pants. I guess I think of the per box times as goals to work toward during the first month of a guide, but by the second month, they ought to be able to complete the boxes within those allotments. At this point, a timer is a huge help.

I know others will probably answer too, but I hope something here can help.
In Christ,
Julie