Post
by StillJulie » Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:56 pm
I have not been successful with real detailed grids.
I work with one child at a time (generally in the same order, but I need to have some flexibility... we're a farm family, and I don't always know in advance when my husband will need a given child or two or even three to help with some chores) while others work independently.
I allow interruptions for oral narrations when I'm in between subjects. Sometimes I'll explain how to complete a workbook page to one of the littler kids. Other times I'll ask them to go to a bigger kid (who I'm not working with) for some help.
Also, while I work at the couch with students, one by one, the other kids are piling up their completed work next to me. I'll work on correcting it as I'm able. (often while I'm doing dictation or a child is working on some math problems after I've explained new problems) In our family, it is necessary for me to check all work daily, as soon after completion as possible. Kids will generally make their corrections the same day. (if I don't do it this way, it's just too likely that I'll get behind)
This past year I was generally able to get through the M2MM, Res to Ref, and Preparing before lunch. Then I'd work with the Beyond child and the two little girls after lunch. Sometimes I'd need to do a little follow up with the bigger kids. I will admit that since I've chosen NOT to combine my crew, my days are long. I am generally hands on teaching from 8 til 11:30, and then again from 1:00 til 3:00 or even 4:00. There are times of the year when I'm often teaching from 8 til 10 at night for my oldest son if my husband needs him for work during daylight hours. I imagine that will be even more common this fall since he will complete tractor safety in a couple weeks, which will enable him to be even more useful for field work.
For work management for the older children, I look over their notebook pages daily. On Fridays, I go over a notebook rubric sheet that someone created (can't remember where I'd find that... yahoo group, fb group, or where). This helps to keep them accountable for completing those neatly and carefully. I even got a little extra detailed with my son, requiring him to proofread, looking for capitalization and punctuation before he met with me with the rubric sheet.
16yo DD using US History 1 for 11th grade
14yo DS using World Geography for 9th grade
13yo DS using Rev to Rev for 7th grade
10yo DD using Creation to Christ for 5th grade
8yo DD using Bigger for 3rd grade
7yo DD using Beyond Hearts for 2nd grade
). Thanks so much for your help!
)
