Multiple Guides: Readings all together?

[Heart_Mom]

I'm not Carrie, but thought I'd give you the link to a recent thread where I asked about where to start dictation. We also use AAS and my ds will finish up level 4 this year. I've started him where Julie suggested and so far he's had no mistakes. Here's the thread. Not sure if it would help. I too would love the less time on spelling.

Thanks, Edwena! Could I ask you one question? As I look at my Preparing Guide (and Bigger too) it seems like the easiest level of dictation is Level 2. Am I right about that?

I think my son could handle level 2, although I might glance through the 2 spelling lists first and see if there are some words that we just haven't worked on systematically with AAS yet.

[John'smom]

Yes, Level 2 is the easiest level of studied dictation.

[Heart_Mom]

Yes, Level 2 is the easiest level of studied dictation.

Thanks!

[MelInKansas]

After lunch wouldn't work for me, just because I'll need a nap with a new baby. But once the baby's sleeping through the night that might work. I really like to try to get my teaching done before lunch, which right now we are accomplishing. We start math at 7:30 and are finished by 11:00 or 11:30. (Then my 7 and 10 year olds do some independent work after lunch.)

Well, thanks so much. Lots to think about...

I am totally with you on this... new baby coming for me very very soon! We always do reading (the things I read aloud) at the end though, it's kind of a fun and easy ending for the kids since they've worked through all their other stuff. Sometimes I save the rotating box for after reading if it makes more sense to do it that way. It sounds like you have it going smoothly to finish in the mornings, good for you! It's so funny that public schooled kids spend all day at school and come home with plenty of homework to do, and we feel like we have to finish everything in the morning or the day is just shot... but the kids can have a little homework to do on their own, that's not such a big deal. Good for you for preserving afternoons for whatever you need to do most... like a nap!

[Heart_Mom]

After lunch wouldn't work for me, just because I'll need a nap with a new baby. But once the baby's sleeping through the night that might work. I really like to try to get my teaching done before lunch, which right now we are accomplishing. We start math at 7:30 and are finished by 11:00 or 11:30. (Then my 7 and 10 year olds do some independent work after lunch.)

Well, thanks so much. Lots to think about...

I am totally with you on this... new baby coming for me very very soon! We always do reading (the things I read aloud) at the end though, it's kind of a fun and easy ending for the kids since they've worked through all their other stuff. Sometimes I save the rotating box for after reading if it makes more sense to do it that way. It sounds like you have it going smoothly to finish in the mornings, good for you! It's so funny that public schooled kids spend all day at school and come home with plenty of homework to do, and we feel like we have to finish everything in the morning or the day is just shot... but the kids can have a little homework to do on their own, that's not such a big deal. Good for you for preserving afternoons for whatever you need to do most... like a nap!

Hi, Melissa!

You're right that everything really doesn't need to be done in the morning. I guess for me I feel like there's no way I'll be able to keep up on routine things like children's chores, cleaning, cooking, and time to go outside each day if the school day extends into the afternoon. I'm sure it will have to be that way eventually, but until my new baby is sleeping through the night, which usually happens sometime between 5 and 10 months around here, I really can't function without that daily nap!

I do love that my 10 year old is really done his assigned work for the day by 1:00 most days! Even when he's done his lessons, most of the things he does are educational (reading, building models from scrap wood, drawing, etc.). I'm so thankful he doesn't have to do homework in the evening. If he did, I just don't think there would be time for us to read together as a family in the evening, which is a very special time!

I have a question for you! When you say you do the reading last, does that mean you really do most of the rest of the guide before it? I guess I always felt like I need to do the reading first so there we be a context for the activities. I certainly agree with you though: reading aloud is dessert, the favorite part of the day for my children and me!

I pray that all goes well with your new baby coming! Congratulations!

[countrymom]

I just let my younger listen whenever he wants to. Even though he is listening, he is not taking it in on the same level he will when he gets to the guide. Now that I have just started Little Hearts with him I find my older (who began Little Hearts at young 5) sometimes has forgotten the material. He will kind of remember it and will tell me so. He wants to sit in with little brother now. Even though my plan was for him to do copywork while I am working with little brother, I have told him he can sit in if he is willing to do copywork at the end of his schooltime.