Name: Great Homeschool Conventions (Columbus)
Start: 2025-04-24T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-26T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Columbus, OH

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by Tia.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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January 22, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Heather
Participant
…be questioning everything the next? I had been so thrilled with how everything was going, we sold our boxed curriculum, I combined all three children together except for Language arts/ Phonics and Math, and my daughter who had lost her love of learning even told me how much she loves school now!…Then I snooped on the old discussion board for our old curriculum (nosey me) and there was a discussion about combining children together with their schooling and how we can cheat our children of their own special time…and either not challenge the older child, or go over the younger child’s head. Why am I letting this get to me? I am wondering if I am doing right by my oldest now (3rd grader)…I am wondering if I am doing enough. I devised our curriculum using the free curriculum guide and book suggestions on SCM to make sure I wasn’t leaving anything out, but I am still second guessing myself! Do any of you ever have these kinds of nagging doubts and what do you do about them?
January 22, 2011 at 7:02 pm
crazy4boys
Participant
I think all of us do this naturally – we’re women after all!!! I would suggest that first of all you stay away from discussion boards! The more I read from blogs and forums and boards, the more I worry that I’m not doing enough or doing it wrong or messing up my children. Yes, there are wonderful ideas out there (especially here) but too much can cause you to doubt and question.
Second, pray for peace and the knowledge that you are following the right path.
Third, most of us here have combined our kids and would say that it is not cheating them in any way. Academically my children are doing well. I have 4 kids (10, 10, 7 and 4). The 7-year-old taught himself to read by 4. The 4-yr-old is well on his way. The younger two know all sorts of random science and history things and are happy. Some things go over their heads but they ask questions and have large vocabularies! The “special time” comes in the form of individual math and reading as well as time spent working together on housework, playing outside and “dates”. Because we are combine many of our subjects we are able to finish school fairly quickly and then have more time to do “fun” things together as a family or individually.
I have always taught to my oldest kids. My younger two just follow along as they can and I am constantly amazed on how much they retain and understand. We read a lot of picture books (which my older boys listen to as well) that discuss the science or history topic we are learning together. For example, we’re studying American History right now. I’ll read many chapter books outloud and all kids listen. I also read many picture books to which they all listen. If my older boys want to wander off during picture book time, I let them (to go work on individual work), but they always choose to stay!
Another Heather (my 7-yr-old just said, “This world sure has a lot of Heathers!”

January 22, 2011 at 7:38 pm
simple home
Member
Crazy4boys is right! CM kids are learning a lot together, and it is hard to put a finger on what they are exactly learning at times because they are learning SO much! Remember this is a teaching style that requires faith, not scores and grades. We all feel guilty, even the moms who use traditional school methods feel like they are not doing enough. It is just our nature I guess. 🙂
I love the days when my older is reading a book to my younger ones. This is an example of learning and bonding together, and to me that is what is MOST important in our homeschool.I do have to remind myself that God is their teacher and He will have them learn what He wants them to know over the years, even through my mistakes and my perpetual guilt.
Just yesterday I had to tell myself to stop looking at others’ blogs at their Book of Centuries. I started feeling like mine needs improving. (well, it does but that should not require Mom stressing over it ! ). LOL, there is always something that needs improving around here!
January 22, 2011 at 7:41 pm
houseofchaos
Participant
“Then I snooped on the old discussion board for our old curriculum (nosey me) and there was a discussion about combining children together with their schooling and how we can cheat our children of their own special time…and either not challenge the older child, or go over the younger child’s head”
Of course that CAN happen – it doesn’t mean it’s always happening every time we combine children! I can’t really add to the above advice, it’s already complete
Gaeleen
January 22, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Tia
Participant
your “old curriculum” wasn’t HOD was it? 😉 they are passionate about not combining children. but i think they are warning against one size fits all curriculums that claim to address 4 different age ranges. that’s not what you are doing. 🙂
January 22, 2011 at 11:03 pm
TailorMade
Participant
I have five children. They all learn differently and they have never fit a specific grade level individually (or collectively.) They learn very well when we combine history/science or whatever other subject we’d like to learn together (or need to for time/financial reasons). At times I fall prey to doubt. But, over the long haul (we began officially homeschooling when our youngest was 5 in 1997), I’ve learned a couple of things. They learn well together and they learn well independently. The times we spend studying subjects together involve a lot of conversation and discovery. The transfers over to their independent studies. Whether these studies are assigned or chosen freely by each of the kids, they are eventually equipped to learn on their own. So, don’t fret about “cheating” them out of any particular information. After all, some day they will leave home. If they find it necessary to learn something that was missed or neglected (by you or by their own lack of attention), they will be able to learn it. They will continue their education for the rest of their lives. That’s a lot of time to make up for any unintended missteps/mistakes when choosing curriculum. Be blessed to enjoy the time together. Your children will be blessed by building a strong relationship with you and each other. And, in my estimation, that’s more important than any particular subject or grade level suggestion. Blessings, Becca<><
January 23, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Heather
Participant
Thank you all for your encouragement and practical advice! I feel much, much better now! I have gotten in trouble not “keeping my eyes on my own paper” before, especially when it comes to h’schooling, and here I am at it again! I’m thankful for the Lord’s patience with my stubborn heart!!!!
*3littlegirls…yes it was HOD!!! Are you a current or former HODie??
January 24, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Tia
Participant
i used HOD last year for my dd’s kindergarten year (LHFHG). i also tried to use LHTH for my (then) 3/4 year old. I quickly found however that i was doing two entire curriculums for both girls because each one wanted to sit in and participate on what the other was doing. It wasn’t like they went off and played alone while i was doing “school” with the other one.
so, i dropped LHTH and just tailored thigs to fit my preschooler when necessary. i was shocked with her ability to hang with us! whenever i posted anything about combining them in the same guide on the web board, it was usually met with opposition. i think it is a great program, but for us, my kids do EVERYTHING together. it is hard for me to separate them. i found that trying to do so was more effort than it was worth.
this year i put together my own stuff, we are doing much more together and it is going great! i just have to keep in mind that everyone has different needs and philosophies. while keeping kids in separate curriculums has worked great for many families, it just wasn’t for me…to each his own!! lol 🙂
January 24, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Rachel White
Participant
Is HOD, Heart of Dakota? I’ve only ever done a CM philosophy, so I am clueless on many of these curricula.
Rachel
January 25, 2011 at 12:54 am
Tia
Participant
yes, heart of dakota. it is a boxed cm based curriculum.