OK, we are moving along. We're in the middle of week 2 in Beyond. We have read one biography so far on Helen Keller, it wasn't the reccomended one but a Level 4 reader we found at the homeschool store, so I could have my 7yo read parts of it. We are now reading Squanto (which we read last October) and we started Benjamin West last night. My 4yo has no interest in Benjamin West, but my 7yo is very interested! We forgot to make our shields last week so we did that yesterday. They really enjoyed showing them to Dad.
So far everything is going well, except copywork and math, the two things we've been struggling with for the last year. My 7yo hates copywork and math. Any ideas how to make it less hated. He can do the work, he just doesn't want to and at this point, I'm tired of the rebellion.
Suggestions needed for attitude adjustments...
Lee Ann,
It sounds like your kiddos are finding things to enjoy with "Beyond Little Hearts...". We liked making the shields too.
My second son especially enjoyed the biography about Helen Keller. It was one of his favorites. He is also loving Benjamin West. We're sad to be finishing it today. You are so blessed that your 4 year old is able to sit and listen to any of your longer read-alouds. My littles have had short attention spans at that age and would much rather play.
As far as the attitudes about copywork and math, I'm wondering about a couple of things. If you wouldn't mind sharing, are you using the Singapore Math and activities in the "Beyond..." teacher's guide? I've found that the activities really help make math interesting and that the pace scheduled in the guide keeps the math lessons short and sweet. Even my non-math loving oldest son can tolerate math then.
In their earlier years, I set the timer for math for 15- 20 minutes, and when the timer rang we quit. If they dawdled, I set aside their math to do in the evening during playtime. If I felt they worked hard, we quit after 15-20 minutes, even if we hadn't finished. They knew as long as they worked hard, it would be over in 20 minutes.
I also sat right by my oldest son during whichever subjects were more of a struggle to make sure I was available to help immediately if needed. This took some training on my part, as I love to flit off here or there (which added to my son's frustration if he had to wait for my help).
As far as copywork goes, my kids have varied widely in how much they enjoy copwork. For the one that didn't enjoy it, I again kept the assignments short and sweet, not requiring more than one line per day. But, I did require that one line to be done well. For my one that loved copywork, he copied a stanza a day.
I let my kids decorate their copywork with pictures, paints, markers, etc. at the end of each week. So Friday was decorate day, and I counted that as their copywork. They were motivated by that because they loved art.
I have also found that placing each week's copywork in a plastic page protector and saving it in a 3-ring binder for them to add to each year has made a big difference in how they felt about copywork. Their "Copywork Binder" has become something beloved to look back on as showing progress from year to year.
We all experience what your mentioning. The areas of frustration vary from kiddo to kiddo, but all kids have them. As you know, each child has his/her God-given areas of strength and weakness. With my own sons, I try to capitalize on the strengths and work on the weaknesses slowly but steadily. I figure a little progress each day is better than overkill that ends in tears.
Hope this helps encourage you a little.
Blessings,
Carrie
It sounds like your kiddos are finding things to enjoy with "Beyond Little Hearts...". We liked making the shields too.
My second son especially enjoyed the biography about Helen Keller. It was one of his favorites. He is also loving Benjamin West. We're sad to be finishing it today. You are so blessed that your 4 year old is able to sit and listen to any of your longer read-alouds. My littles have had short attention spans at that age and would much rather play.
As far as the attitudes about copywork and math, I'm wondering about a couple of things. If you wouldn't mind sharing, are you using the Singapore Math and activities in the "Beyond..." teacher's guide? I've found that the activities really help make math interesting and that the pace scheduled in the guide keeps the math lessons short and sweet. Even my non-math loving oldest son can tolerate math then.
In their earlier years, I set the timer for math for 15- 20 minutes, and when the timer rang we quit. If they dawdled, I set aside their math to do in the evening during playtime. If I felt they worked hard, we quit after 15-20 minutes, even if we hadn't finished. They knew as long as they worked hard, it would be over in 20 minutes.
I also sat right by my oldest son during whichever subjects were more of a struggle to make sure I was available to help immediately if needed. This took some training on my part, as I love to flit off here or there (which added to my son's frustration if he had to wait for my help).
As far as copywork goes, my kids have varied widely in how much they enjoy copwork. For the one that didn't enjoy it, I again kept the assignments short and sweet, not requiring more than one line per day. But, I did require that one line to be done well. For my one that loved copywork, he copied a stanza a day.
I let my kids decorate their copywork with pictures, paints, markers, etc. at the end of each week. So Friday was decorate day, and I counted that as their copywork. They were motivated by that because they loved art.
I have also found that placing each week's copywork in a plastic page protector and saving it in a 3-ring binder for them to add to each year has made a big difference in how they felt about copywork. Their "Copywork Binder" has become something beloved to look back on as showing progress from year to year.
We all experience what your mentioning. The areas of frustration vary from kiddo to kiddo, but all kids have them. As you know, each child has his/her God-given areas of strength and weakness. With my own sons, I try to capitalize on the strengths and work on the weaknesses slowly but steadily. I figure a little progress each day is better than overkill that ends in tears.
Hope this helps encourage you a little.
Blessings,
Carrie
Hi Lee Ann!
We put on Christian radio during Copywork and drink hot chocolate. I set the timer, and he copies about a 1/3 of the poem a day. Like Carrie, the last day is just for decorating (which my son does not do such a beautiful job of, but he enjoys the change of pace).
We've had frustration or attitude issues in other areas (i.e. phonics or chores). I put a line of squares on a paper. He earns a sticker for each square, and gets an M & M for each one (I've also done marshmallows, suckers for bigger things, etc.). For example, for square 1, I might say he needs to say his phonics sounds correctly. He then gets a sticker, and eats the M & M. For square 2, I might say he needs to read a list of words properly (if correct, sticker/M & M). For square 3, he might have to read a small book or complete a paper (sticker, M & M). I act very excited about all of this, like it is a very big deal! It usually works, because we don't have M & M's very often, nor stickers. I've also done it with physical activities (i.e. if you get 3 problems right, you get to do 15 jumping jacks, or, you can tickle me, etc.).
However, if it is truly a bad attitude that hangs on because of laziness rather than frustraiton, then punishment is given instead. Playtime can be taken away, or whatever works in your house.
We put on Christian radio during Copywork and drink hot chocolate. I set the timer, and he copies about a 1/3 of the poem a day. Like Carrie, the last day is just for decorating (which my son does not do such a beautiful job of, but he enjoys the change of pace).
We've had frustration or attitude issues in other areas (i.e. phonics or chores). I put a line of squares on a paper. He earns a sticker for each square, and gets an M & M for each one (I've also done marshmallows, suckers for bigger things, etc.). For example, for square 1, I might say he needs to say his phonics sounds correctly. He then gets a sticker, and eats the M & M. For square 2, I might say he needs to read a list of words properly (if correct, sticker/M & M). For square 3, he might have to read a small book or complete a paper (sticker, M & M). I act very excited about all of this, like it is a very big deal! It usually works, because we don't have M & M's very often, nor stickers. I've also done it with physical activities (i.e. if you get 3 problems right, you get to do 15 jumping jacks, or, you can tickle me, etc.).
However, if it is truly a bad attitude that hangs on because of laziness rather than frustraiton, then punishment is given instead. Playtime can be taken away, or whatever works in your house.
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
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netpea
math and copywork
We are working on Singapore math 2A right now, We are 2/3 of the way through 2A. We aren't using the hands on activities for math in Beyond since they are geared at 1A/1B. I am considering purchasing Bigger so we could do the hands on Math activities from there. We go sort of slow. I usually have him do 2 - 3 pages in his workbook each day, depending on how many problems and how hard.
I know he would do better with me sitting next to him, but I am often trying to do too many things at once. I guess I forget that being what he needs is important too.
Writing has always been a struggle. After talking to DH tonight, I will back off on the copywork. Instead of 4 lines per day, we'll try doing 2. He likes to illustrate the poems, just not to copy them.
thanks for the advice.
I know he would do better with me sitting next to him, but I am often trying to do too many things at once. I guess I forget that being what he needs is important too.
Writing has always been a struggle. After talking to DH tonight, I will back off on the copywork. Instead of 4 lines per day, we'll try doing 2. He likes to illustrate the poems, just not to copy them.
thanks for the advice.
Lee Ann,
Thanks for sharing about what you're doing with your son. It helps so much. You're right that it might be worth getting the "Bigger Hearts...." guide (if you plan on using the rest of it someday anyway) to have it for the math activities.
Also, we found with our own sons that 2A was quite a jump from 1B and took some getting used to, so you're not alone. Backing off on the amount of pages required in math will also help. We usually only do 1 or 2 pages at the most of Singapore each day, and we still finish both A and B in one year. We just follow the schedule in "Bigger Hearts...".
Less pages and shortening the math time using a timer was a gem for my oldest son. For what it's worth, he's always been able to do the work, we just had tears and frustration early on getting it done. Now, he's in 6th grade and doing math without complaint. Praise the Lord!
It's a good idea to back off on the amount of copywork. I love Charlotte Mason's philosophy that says even one letter or word (or line) done right is better than many lines done sloppily. The goal is "excellent" copywork instead of volume. That philosophy has taken me some time to get used to, since I am a finisher. I had to let go of the feeling that my boys must copy every piece to completion and know that that isn't the point of copywork.
Blessings,
Carrie
Thanks for sharing about what you're doing with your son. It helps so much. You're right that it might be worth getting the "Bigger Hearts...." guide (if you plan on using the rest of it someday anyway) to have it for the math activities.
Also, we found with our own sons that 2A was quite a jump from 1B and took some getting used to, so you're not alone. Backing off on the amount of pages required in math will also help. We usually only do 1 or 2 pages at the most of Singapore each day, and we still finish both A and B in one year. We just follow the schedule in "Bigger Hearts...".
Less pages and shortening the math time using a timer was a gem for my oldest son. For what it's worth, he's always been able to do the work, we just had tears and frustration early on getting it done. Now, he's in 6th grade and doing math without complaint. Praise the Lord!
It's a good idea to back off on the amount of copywork. I love Charlotte Mason's philosophy that says even one letter or word (or line) done right is better than many lines done sloppily. The goal is "excellent" copywork instead of volume. That philosophy has taken me some time to get used to, since I am a finisher. I had to let go of the feeling that my boys must copy every piece to completion and know that that isn't the point of copywork.
Blessings,
Carrie
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netpea
Hmmm...
So maybe I'm the one who needs the attitude adjustment. 
Who am I trying to compare him to anyway
I think I forgot that he is who is and I am homeschooling partly because I don't want a school system turning him into someone else. 
We had a better day today. I am praying for a better one tomorrow as well.
In Christ,
Who am I trying to compare him to anyway
I think I forgot that he is who is and I am homeschooling partly because I don't want a school system turning him into someone else. We had a better day today. I am praying for a better one tomorrow as well.
In Christ,
HI Lee Ann!
You are doing a great job! Reflecting is a super thing to do in homeschooling. I do it all the time! I have a sneaking suspicion you may be like me in your desire to "finish" things. That used to bother me with copywork - if we didn't finish the whole thing. Or, maybe your son is the finisher. If so, something that we used to do is I would write a line, then he would write a line. That helped us "finishers" finish without tears! Just an idea! Also, I'm using Bigger, and I think the hands-on math activities are really helping my son understand the math better. You probably have a good idea in purchasing that and using them. We just did carrying in addition, and the activity made it so easy for my son. Plus, I didn't have to come up with some lame way of trying to explain it. Well, it's Friday... Hip! Hip! Hooray! Celebrate another week of homeschooling by being good to yourself!
My3Sons
You are doing a great job! Reflecting is a super thing to do in homeschooling. I do it all the time! I have a sneaking suspicion you may be like me in your desire to "finish" things. That used to bother me with copywork - if we didn't finish the whole thing. Or, maybe your son is the finisher. If so, something that we used to do is I would write a line, then he would write a line. That helped us "finishers" finish without tears! Just an idea! Also, I'm using Bigger, and I think the hands-on math activities are really helping my son understand the math better. You probably have a good idea in purchasing that and using them. We just did carrying in addition, and the activity made it so easy for my son. Plus, I didn't have to come up with some lame way of trying to explain it. Well, it's Friday... Hip! Hip! Hooray! Celebrate another week of homeschooling by being good to yourself!
My3Sons
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Mine was so fustrated with math yes even with hands on activities.. we couldn't even get though them. The minute math was brought out it was rebellion city.. and Mom took a long time discovering child actually could do the work. I mean really can a child tell you every answer but the right one for 20 min straight... 3 weeks in a row... Duh!!! (picture me banging my head against wall) 2+3= anything but 5 in our house... My kid would rebel with singapore if we had to do 3 pages. it was really really frustrating.
I have tried stickers with prizes for good days worked for 3 months then deteriorated...
Stopping after 15 min and revisiting later.. never worked she saw this as mom giving up and her succeeding in controling the situation. later was worse than the orignal time
Not doing Math with her and letting her father handle it. Worked for me till he gave up in frustration.
I finally gave up on singapore math all together. We switched to a hands on blocks based math. That has tons of practice sheets so if she doesn't get it we have lots to practice on. Its is not a "Finish Me" style and you are encouraged to stop when the child gets it. And not move on till the child gets that concept. So freeing for the finisher in me...
Since it looks and feels compleatly diffrent from singapore and it is the same manipulatives from day to day. it gives her security that MATH can be done and quickly. And I do not think my child has done that flip where she can do math in her head yet. (mine never did I still need an abacus for any additon over 2 digits) the manipulatives really help her, if she gets stuck she can use them to achive her answer. Math takes from 8-15 mintues per lesson now.
before I switched I got some Cuisenaire (sp?) rods and tried those first with singapore. Math was better, not great but better.
We have had one day of rebelion during math with the new system. This is how I coped... told her I was giving grace that day. I pulled out the windows worksheet with the 100 addtion problems on it gave it to her to fill out. she had a choice 100 problems or todays lesson she chose the 100 problems. Sometimes it's just about control.
I have tried stickers with prizes for good days worked for 3 months then deteriorated...
Stopping after 15 min and revisiting later.. never worked she saw this as mom giving up and her succeeding in controling the situation. later was worse than the orignal time
Not doing Math with her and letting her father handle it. Worked for me till he gave up in frustration.
I finally gave up on singapore math all together. We switched to a hands on blocks based math. That has tons of practice sheets so if she doesn't get it we have lots to practice on. Its is not a "Finish Me" style and you are encouraged to stop when the child gets it. And not move on till the child gets that concept. So freeing for the finisher in me...
Since it looks and feels compleatly diffrent from singapore and it is the same manipulatives from day to day. it gives her security that MATH can be done and quickly. And I do not think my child has done that flip where she can do math in her head yet. (mine never did I still need an abacus for any additon over 2 digits) the manipulatives really help her, if she gets stuck she can use them to achive her answer. Math takes from 8-15 mintues per lesson now.
before I switched I got some Cuisenaire (sp?) rods and tried those first with singapore. Math was better, not great but better.
We have had one day of rebelion during math with the new system. This is how I coped... told her I was giving grace that day. I pulled out the windows worksheet with the 100 addtion problems on it gave it to her to fill out. she had a choice 100 problems or todays lesson she chose the 100 problems. Sometimes it's just about control.
♪♫•*¨*•.¸❤¸.•*¨*•♪♫•*¨*•.¸❤¸.•*¨*•♪♫
Dyslexics of the world Untie!
Adoptive Mom to 2 girls
http://gardenforsara.blogspot.com/
♪♫•*¨*•.¸❤¸.•*¨*•♪♫•*¨*•.¸❤¸.•*¨*•♪♫
Dyslexics of the world Untie!
Adoptive Mom to 2 girls
http://gardenforsara.blogspot.com/
♪♫•*¨*•.¸❤¸.•*¨*•♪♫•*¨*•.¸❤¸.•*¨*•♪♫
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jamieswife
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:22 pm
- Location: Willow, Alaska
- Contact:
My experience with math and sitting next to my son....
He has always struggled in math no matter what but my sitting next to him was always crucial. He's now almost 16 and math comes much easier to him but he still wants me at the table with him! Even if he doesn't need to ask me any questions he says he "thinks better" when I'm there. Even if I get up to do something a few feet away he gets flustered! He is not this way with any other subject at all. He usually takes most assignments to his room to do (since his 4 younger siblings want his constant attention and he's his baby sister's favorite toy...haha). I think it's just the security of knowing if he gets frustrated I'll be RIGHT there to help him through it. He is SO independant in EVERY other way...I'm just going to enjoy this last bit of needing mama while it lasts!!!
He has always struggled in math no matter what but my sitting next to him was always crucial. He's now almost 16 and math comes much easier to him but he still wants me at the table with him! Even if he doesn't need to ask me any questions he says he "thinks better" when I'm there. Even if I get up to do something a few feet away he gets flustered! He is not this way with any other subject at all. He usually takes most assignments to his room to do (since his 4 younger siblings want his constant attention and he's his baby sister's favorite toy...haha). I think it's just the security of knowing if he gets frustrated I'll be RIGHT there to help him through it. He is SO independant in EVERY other way...I'm just going to enjoy this last bit of needing mama while it lasts!!!
-Crystal in Alaska (using BLHFHG)
Wife to James, mom to Cody, Megan, Luke, Jesse, baby Gideon-born straight into the arms of Jesus and now our little Molly girl!
Wife to James, mom to Cody, Megan, Luke, Jesse, baby Gideon-born straight into the arms of Jesus and now our little Molly girl!