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Scheduling Read alouds with really littles in tow
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Bear with me as I try to get what I’m actually trying to ask out…I’m still trying to figure it out. 😉
This coming year I will have a DS5.5 (K) and a DD7 (1). This past year I found it difficult to fit in History and Science read alouds with my toddler (now 20 mo.) and my preschooler (3). We did a literature read aloud during naptime using SCM’s module 1. When I could I would squeeze in Edward Eggleston’s Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans. We spent our mornings rushing through sit down work before someone had a breakdown. This included math, copywork, and reading lessons. At the beginning of the year, I used Planning your CM education to make a nice schedule that included Art, Poetry, Composer/Artist Study, Hymn study, science, etc. You name it. By the end of the year we were only sure to get Bible/catechism at breakfast, our sitdown work, and a read aloud. Wow…all that planning.
So, here I am again, planning. I’m for sure going to do Paddle to the Sea, TQ history, The Burgess Bird Book, and some literature readings. (Still undecided on AO or SCM module 2). So, that leads to my main question, how do I do my read alouds without having to read EVERYTHING in the afternoon? That would just be too much reading for my five and just turning 7 year old. I’ve tried all the tricks for the toddler and the preschooler and we literally just “got through it” every day. On top of my DD dawdling, my days were awfully dreadful some days. (And then some days were surprisingly perfect!)
When I “curl up on the couch” to read a picture book my sweet, rambunctious 20 month old thinks this is his time to climb up with us and jump from one end of the couch to the next, not minding who he may be injuring in the process. I often resorted to placing him in his crib…but I don’t always want to do that. I want to train him to sit quietly doing something. (I mean, he sits through church on Sunday mornings! but then again…Daddy is in control then. 😉 )
On top of this, Charlotte Mason’s words on habits were quite haunting on these days.
OK, refocus…original question…how should I schedule 2 or 3 readings a day to 1. change that brain acitivity and 2. make sure we’re not distracted by these little people!
((HUGS)) I’ve been in teaching with littles mode since we started Kindy with my now ready for 8th grader. Seriously, every year I have been pregnant, given birth, had a miscarriage, and already had a baby or toddler or both (11 pregnancies in 13 years).
My first advice is to gently but consistently train that 20 month old in acceptable behavior on the couch. My current 2 year old is being taught that it’s not okay to run into people with his wheelchair.
My second advice is to be sure those children are given many ok ways to use up all their energy – and that they do them! They are fairly bursting with energy and if you don’t give them opportunity to use it they’ll make opportunities. Love them, but wear them out!
Third piece of advice – read consistently. Sometimes the best routine for us is to read a different book at each mealtime. Mouths are full and little ones are seatbelted in boosters so it’s even relatively quiet! Try moving read alouds to different rooms instead of on the couch. We used to gate everyone in a kid bedroom so they could play quietly while I read aloud. Make use of audio books and that frees momma up to train and spend time helping younger ones learn to be quiet and do quiet activities during reading time.
Good luck! Each family and each child is different so what works with one or at one age/stage may need tweaked for the next child or mix of ages/stages.
I have kids ages 6, 5, 4, 4 and 2. What we have just started doing the past month or so is doing our readings at mealtimes. We had been doing a lunchtime literature read aloud for a year or more, but I just shifted recently to doing set readings at breakfast and lunch and it is going well! Like Tristan said, everyone is in their seats, and they are eating and so hopefully being mostly quiet. At breakfast we do Bible, scripture memory and poem reading. At lunch we do literature and science/character/art. Right now I do history with my oldest separately (he is an advanced reader) but for next year I am planning to do history twice a week and science twice a week at lunch, and add the character/art to the end of breakfast, and add in some spanish videos too.
The other thing that is really helpful is to do “table time” activities with your little ones. I do 1st grade stuff with my oldest while my 2 yo does table time with things like playdough, dried beans, markers, etc. This buys me some time!
When we do do our read aloud NOT at the table, I keep my 2 yo on my lap or else she will not be still. It is definitely a matter of training!
I couldn’t do the readings at meals. I was starving and trying to shove food in my mouth, feed the baby, etc. Snack time is easier but main meals were a struggle. I like the idea of listening to an audio book at meals but there is still so much interrupting with asking for more food or drink and such. We usually do audiobooks in the car or for a quiet time. I need to try and implement them in other areas of our day and train them to be quiet so other’s may hear the story.
I also struggled with read-alouds with my 11-month old hanging around us (7, 6, 3). I just let some subjects take a break knowing we’ll try again this coming year.
I understand the rushing to get some things done before a meltdown too. We take turns with the individual subjects and the other one may play with approved toys/items while they wait for their next turn. We don’t have much as far as independent work at this point so they are all in the same room waiting. I found that if we used a separate table for 2 for the individual work then they are not as distracted with the others at the main table.
Hope that helps some.
My first thought was that perhaps you’re trying to do too much. Your children are still very young — so history and science can be simply read alouds read twice a week or so. Composer/Artist read alouds can also be done just once or twice a week.
Really, the holes that exist now in subjects like History, Science, Composer, Artist – all that can be filled in the next time you go through that section of history (or that section of science, etc.).
Good luck! I so, so, so understand the frustration of having such fabulous plans and then being unable to carry it out!!
I’m in the same boat, Michelle. Or on the same sofa! Ha ha. Seriously though, it does get easier. One sequence that works around here is to do a read-aloud (on the couch) immediately after the toddler’s table time. There is a basket of toys in the living room that she plays with & we can get 10-15 min of history or lit in then. After being “seatbelted” at the table a while she is usually happy to be free on the floor. We have baby gates to keep her in the room with us. My ds4 usually listens in, but if it’s one of those days that he just can’t be quiet I’ll let him play in his room or let him do legos or something in the next room.
Thank you for all the responses!
Meal time readings are a no go right now. For the reason Mrs. McCardell mentioned with interruptions for seconds, more drinks, napkins, spills, etc. We do use breakfast time to do Bible and Catechism.
I feel like what I’m trying to include is no more than what CM’s ideas were for this age. (Even less for my soon to be 7 year old!) Short readings/lessons and as was mentioned above, science/reading only 2/week or so. The only thing we do DAILY is bible, math, copywork, reading lessons, and a literature read aloud.
I like the idea of doing one morning read aloud (science or history) and one afternoon (lit). Paddle to the Sea chapters are so short I don’t think it will be an issue. Right after we do breakfast they have morning chores and we try to start our school stuff right after. Things I’ve read that would be helpful to implement are toddler table time, etc. I’ve tried the playpen but he just sits there and throws things out. Maybe a read aloud right after chores with the toddler in his high chair with a play-doh, clay, crayons (when he stops eating them) will work by fall. Isn’t it funny how we have our “ideal” day…and then we try it. 😉
Wearing them out is good advice! Our kids play really, really hard…after school. During school days, it may be a good idea to start with a morning walk. It’s something I envision but isn’t always at the top of my priority when I think about hauling the smallest ones out. Maybe it would be better to neglect my own kitchen chores and just do a morning walk before school to get them ready.
This gives me a lot to think about.
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