STILL not done with school!! helpppppp

HUGS and many prayers. You’ve had a very challenging year, to say the least.

My vote would be to stop everything. Take a break. Enjoy your summer. You can start back up in the fall. Your kids are still so young and you all need a break from the everyday grind.

As for history, we really loved SCM’s Stories of America this year mixed in with living books that I grabbed from the library. It’s so simple, and yet so rich!

Continued prayers for your family.

Drop school, take a break, then plan.  And if you need to, start later than you normally would.  How many math lessons were completed when she was 7 will make so little difference in the big scheme of things.  Many people don’t even start formal lessons until age 7 or even later, so don’t fret.  Most likely you will actually move through the material much faster in the fall when you’ve had a chance to regroup than if you are just pushing through the drudgery, possibly ending up further ahead in the long run.

Hugs and prayer to you! Give yourself GRACE. Life isn’t perfect and the flexibility of homeschool is amazing.

We too aren’t finished (I have a 9th, 7th, 5th, & 2nd grader). My youngest was diagnosed with cancer last March and I’ve had to give myself a ton of grace. I didn’t choose this path for my family just like the path you’re on isn’t what you surely set out for. I am so thankful we homeschool because it has afforded me to just plug along as we can. In time we’ll get it done. Thankfully you’re children a still so young. I feel the pinch more having a 9th grader, but then again, gobs of grace are what have helped see me through when I just want to throw in the towel.

(((HUGS)))

Hugs for you! I went through some rough times with my health when my first two were young. You will “catch up” – it is easier than it seems.

You could take a break from everything and then start back into math a little earlier than normal.

But definitely take a break for now and relax. Spend your summer weeks working on character training.

Praying for you.

I’ve never used Saxon prior to 54. We’ve usually done manipulative / real life math until 65. I had one who only worked halfway through 65 by the time we needed to take an extended break. We picked back up with the beginning of 76 which had plenty review. The break actually gave time for doing half of 65 to work as a foundation for 76. It’s usually a matter of using larger numbers for the same sorts of problems. You can also compare the table of contents from the current level with the next and use both the current and next for the topics that didn’t get covered this year. 

I’ve come up against math drudgery in the past with Saxon and some of our children. Consider looking into CM math suggestions for quite a while instead of a purchased curriculum.  We’ve collected so many formal math resources through the years, it’s quite silly. Our youngest wanted books like her public/private schooled friends. She’s “using” Rod and Staff” and likes it, but we use lots of living math books and things around the house more often than the textbook. And, I second Mathtacular as a great way to cover math topics while you need a break from structured lessons. It’s quite fun. 

Take a look at these:

http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/product-category/product-math/

You will likely find Richelle’s CM math suggestions to be a breath of fresh air. 

As for history and the rest, why not pace yourself in the planning stages?  Decide what will ease your mind about math. Then, decide if you’d like family history, or individual history. My pick at a stressed time is family togetherness. It’s much less work in the management department. We’ve done it this way for years with five children. Now that I’m going down to two for the next while, I’m seeing that separate topics are doable IF it makes better sense for each of them because I am at a place that makes it possible for me to finally devote the time to managing more than one time period myself. I’ve already studied the subjects enough with our older children that I can be confident in having more than one history plate spinning. 🙂 That took years. I’d say, pick a time period that your kids are likely to enjoy. Discuss a sample of each with them.  You can fast forward, slow down, or combine SCM modules quite easily with helpful input from forum members. Even if you only look at the free curriculum guide titles and get a few from the library, reading them without a spine or any serious structure for a while, it will be a blessing. 

Like habits, choosing to add in one subject at a time in your situation with the ages of your children is perfectly fine. Consider yourself hugged! ;0)

You are in my prayers,

Becca<><

“As far as history, for some reason I have this idea in my head that I need to be daily told what to do, what to ask, etc…otherwise I do not feel organized or that I am accomplishing what I hope to.  Maybe I am overthinking it too much.  Just want to engage them and stay with a good rhythm. “

The best way to go about reading history is to take a max of 10 – 15 minutes at the age of your kiddos, read a paragraph and ask them to “tell me about that”.  Listen intently, smile encouragingly, and add nothing.  When they appear to be done, ask if there is anything else anyone would like to add, listen if there is, go on with the reading if there isn’t.  🙂  Easy peasy, and shown by research to be the most effective way to learn and retain what you learn. 🙂