How to fit it all in???

I cut and pasted this question and answer from the SL chat (Core E weekly chat) b/c  I thought it would be a good one to keep here too.  I pretty much feel very exposed having shared that much of me there on the SL forum, and am tempted to delete my response now that the person who asked the question has read the answer....but spent so much time and energy answering her that I hate to delete all that effort!  So--here it will sit.

Tracy, do you mind me asking how your dd gets everything done in your signature line?  Do you require a lot, can she keep up with it or do you let her do
it at her own pace?  Didn't she just turn 11.

Even without all my ds special needs, if I required him to do all that or try he'd have a major meltdown.  Just curious, I know some kids thrive on a lot and others
just get overwhelmed with lots of things to do.

Hi Cathy,

That is a big question for me.  I'll try my best to answer it. I'd like to invite anyone else to share in trying to answer this very common question of "How do you fit it all in?" b/c Cathy, I think the same thing when I see what other people in this forum get accomplished---like Pam, for example!  I am going for a shot-gun -wide/net answer and hope that something that I say might be of use to you or someone.

First thing--we don't do everything every week or every month.  We've had a few months of not wanting to do Teaching Textbooks, and that is okay.  I bought the extra math programs b/c last year while doing Gamma, Dd needed some time for her brain to absorb some of the NEW concepts before moving to the next lesson.  I didn't want to just do 4-5 math problems a day, working on just that ONE concept, so I often use LOF or TT as a way of distributing our math time during difficult phases.  DD hasn't had many issues with Epsilon, so I haven't used TT or LOF as much this year; which I guess is good.  But, after we finish our Epsilon book in a few months, I plan on going back to our TT to see what we can get out of that material.

I teach in chunks often.  So, I will do a month where we do a lot of science.  Then a month where we do a lot of art.  Then a month when we do a lot of IEW.  I have a hard time jumping from subject to subject to subject and being on top of it all, so I prefer to do "chunks" or "sections" of electives at a time....with the exception of BIBLE, Math, and Language Arts---those 3 things are daily for the most part (LA can be put aside on super busy days).  This also keeps our lessons having variety!  I like variety.  I was just adding "Meet the Great Composers" to our schedule for the next 4 months--and I am so excited!  Dd found an article on Bach today in her Cricket magazine, so she is excited already too!

If you were to ask me if we get MORE done than most homeschooler's, I'd actually say probably not.  B/c of the way we hs we probably get less done.  I do the work and reading right alongside with her, so she doesn't do much independent work.  I actually need to work on that, and that is on my agenda to find some subjects for her to do alone, for her own benefit.  The problem is that I really LOVE learning all this stuff and want to learn it all with her--I really don't want to miss anything myself!!! But, the people that do "workboxes" and have independent learners, probably get more accomplished.

My Dd does a lot of reading on her own---but that is material that is not SL, not official reading material---we get a lot of magazines for her (Cricket, Cobblestone, Jack and Jill, Ranger Rick, Nat'l Geo Kids) and we go to the library at least every week, plus we own so many books...so, she just loves to read, read, read.  I think what I am trying to say-she does a lot of things that would be considered 'educational' by most on her own.  But, I have worked hard to create an environment that was very conductive for her growth. She does a lot on her own--having no tv on throughout the day.  No screens on.

For our lessons each day: at 10am we go to our "library" in a spare bedroom and we are there until lunch.  Then after our lunch break we go back until we are done.  If she wants to go play, or go read----well, then, let's finish our lessons!

I've literally read to her for hours each day since she was literally a baby---honestly.  I started taking her to "story time" at our library at 11-12 months old--honestly.  I've slowly, slowly, slowly built up her attention span.  She use to just flip the pages as I would get 3 words out, flip, flip, flip. But, I just tried every single day, and SLOWLY each day I would get a little, teeny, tiny bit more in each day.  I just try to slowly do better and use our time better.

Since I don't know what the Lord has in store for my Dd, I am trying my best to prepare her with as many "tools" and "talents" as I can to make her a useful "tool" for His service.  That is my first and foremost thought.  I always think in analogies, and I think of her as a tool box--(I know that is silly!) and I want my daughter to have as many tools in her tool box as I can fit in there, so He can use her for His service.

A lot of the stuff in my signature line are my Dd's hobby's--and those are just fun things she loves to do.  She is just a kid that is always doing something--or making something..that is just her.

I'm not very strict or hard--we are a slow and steady type of hs'ing family.  If you go to my blog, I type out what we actually get done each week--which some weeks is a lot, and some weeks isn't much!  But, we always try!

Also, a lot of the other women in this forum have a LOT more experience than I do--and have more children than I do--and more Core experience than I do---so, I am NOT the best person to answer this question.  But, you asked and I try to answer in the hope that maybe something may be  helpful or useful.  The worst thing is when someone gives "help" or advise that makes other people feel WORSE or inadequate, and I don't want to do that!!  I have so much to learn and that is why I have been on these forums every week since 2008!!!  I have learned a lot; but I have SOOO much more to learn!

I've been reading your posts for a few months now--and it seems like you are adding more things in and spending more time each day.  It seems like you are slowly, gradually building up his tolerance to include more interesting things into his day and that is great!!!  I can see improvement and wanted to say that to you!!  Slow and Steady wins the race!  I hope something I've shared helps in some way!

Edited by reader19, Today, 01:28 PM.