Am I Doing Enough?

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  • December 1, 2017 at 4:25 pm
    amypinva
    Participant

    Hello, ladies!  I apologize for the length of this post.  I’m in my 2nd year of homeschooling my youngest DD (10).  I’m a rather late homeschool convert —  my older daughters went to private Christian middle school and public high school.  I love the Charlotte Mason approach and am trying my best to use her methods, although my daughter does attend a Christian co-op one day a week.  However, I just can’t shake the feeling that I’m not “doing enough” with her.  Perhaps my expectations are too high or I pay too much attention to what the public/private schoolers are doing.  She’s good about doing her work and uses her time wisely.  But our day is finished rather quickly.  We have a daily “morning work” time (poetry, picture study, hymn study or holiday study + a chapter of whatever read-aloud book we’re on).  Then her daily schedule usually covers:

    Copywork (4x week)

    Typing (4x week)

    SCM Spelling Wisdom/Using Language Well (1-2x week)

    Personal Journal Entry (1x week)

    SCM Genesis-Deuteronomy and Ancient Egypt (4x week)

    Her IEW work for co-op (2-3x a week)

    Nature Study (1-2x week)

    Math (4x week)

    Once or twice a week I’ll ask her for an oral narration of something we/she read.  And occasionally I’ll ask her for a written narration.

    We’re starting up a new SCM Shakespeare study.  We already finished the Twelfth Night study and LOVED it.  What a great way to do Shakespeare!

    Since I’m still fairly new at this I just need confirmation that this is enough/not enough for a 5th grader.  I get a bit anxious when I think about the posters, projects, etc… that the public-schoolers are producing.  I know that can be busy-work, but as a public school veteran myself I just seem to remember a lot more work than we are doing.

    I’ve found this site to be so helpful — especially before I even started homeschooling and was looking for courage to take the plunge!  Thank you!

     

     

     

    December 1, 2017 at 10:35 pm
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    It looks like you are covering plenty of “school”.  What is she doing outside of scheduled learning?  This is where every homeschool is unique.  We limit television and other media so they naturally spend time learning what interests them.  Sometimes they work on crafts, read a book of their choice, play board games, bake or cook, work a puzzle, or just play!  Homeschooling is different for every child.  Some children may spend their afternoon time playing a musical instrument, drawing, sports, etc.  Don’t think of the day ending when all the items scheduled for school are completed.  Learning happens all day.  I love the Charlotte Mason motto: “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.”  I think that would apply here, so you can hopefully see that you truly are doing “enough”.  You are covering the skilled subjects of the three R’ s and adding in some CM extras, plus time available for masterly inactivity and pursuing her natural interests.

    https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/you-need-both-masterly-inactivity/

    December 2, 2017 at 9:29 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    I think it sounds like plenty, but here are a few ideas for additional subjects.

    A Delectable Education podcast has lots of information on afternoon occupations and special studies.  Special studies are nature topics picked by the student, and observed and researched somewhat on their own.  The podcast explains it really well and has lots of ideas for additional areas of study too.

    Also, does she have a book of centuries or timeline to work on?  That would feel more like “school work” without being busywork.  My 5th grader just started one this year.

    Are you doing handicrafts?  We love a public domain book called Paper Sloyd for the Primary Grades.  You just need scrapbook paper, a ruler, and a small hole punch to get going!  Clay sculpting is also fun at this age.  Drawing, watercolors, and chalk pastels are fun too.  We like having one or two handicrafts to focus on each term.

    I hope this gives you some ideas!

    December 3, 2017 at 6:34 am
    Melissa
    Participant

    Thanks for the ideas and links here!

    December 4, 2017 at 8:57 am
    amypinva
    Participant

    Thank you both for the ideas — and the reassurance.  I’d never heard of Paper Sloyd, but that sounds like fun and something she would love.   I had started her on a Book of Centuries last year, but this year we haven’t touched it.  I need to get it back out again.  Good reminder!  Thanks again!

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