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To combine or not and other considerations
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Hi all! I am struggling a bit this Jan/February. We have 6 children. Do all large families combine history and geography?
I split my kids up this year and in many ways it is better, but I’m not getting to all of it very well;) The 2 oldest are studying Roman history together this year and not really loving it. They like the Bible but not the Romans so much. Also oldest (12) really wants to read American history.
The 3rd child disliked Greek and ancient history so much the last 2 yrs that I pulled some gentle early American history to do just with him ( mainly from heart of Dakota Beyond). He loves it and wants to continue along the same lines next year (so bigger with the Eggleston books perhaps).
I feel like I don’t really have enough time to just play with the next 2 who are 2 and 4 currently…..4 yr old will be 5 soon. She loves to be read to and 2 yr old doesn’t sit still for reading much yet. He craves my 1 on 1 attention to do something with him though….Then we have an adorable 7 month old who is trying to walk and eating everything he can pick up in his little pincer fingers;) The vacuum cleaner is very necessary right now.
I guess I don’t have any particular question except I can’t see how we could do 1 history next year. I am thinking of having the oldest 2 do fall of Rome to Reformation history independently perhaps with SCM perhaps with HOD perhaps with 1 I design. Maybe 1 or 2 times a week schedule a chat with Mama about it?
We spend a lot of time on Language arts here as the 2 oldest boys appear to be dyslexic and spelling is certainly not coming naturally to any of the 3 oldest;) We use and love RightStart math.
Any thoughts or stories?
Combining hasn’t worked for me since my oldest turned around 11. I have a 12 and 10 yr old who are very proficient readers. Sometimes I take a book upstairs when they are playing with legos and read to them. Otherwise it’s not part of our regular schedule. My other 10 yr old I am prioritizing buddy reading with him science/ history to help with his dyslexia. Some stuff he reads on his own. My two younger ones I spend lots of time reading aloud and it’s not content the older kids are interested in. For the older ones I try to prioritize playing games with them, baking, and doing other fun stuff. We have Fridays off and try to do fun things together (inside game days or outings). I had to let go of a lot of my ideals (family read alouds). The 3 Rs take up so much time. Also I have children getting up early to work in peace and quiet (5a/5:30). I try to get up with them most days around 6. Hopefully earlier soon. No advice… just figuring this out too. I am also trying a bedtime read aloud for the 3 olders. A chapter each night.
PS. Many of the games we play are educational (trekking the world/ national park, ticket to ride) or involve lots of logic/strategy (dominion, splendor, flamecraft).
They also earn 30 minutes of a screen game for completing work by Thursday. Those are often educational too (civilizations and read for fun- teach your monster lately).
My children are ages 12, 10, 8, 6, 3 and 6 months old. We combine for history/geography. Mainly they read independently and narrate in various ways. I will read aloud 1 book to all when able, not every day during this season of having a new baby in the house. The 8 and 6 yr old are not required to read history books independently for their focus is 3 R’s. But every now and then I will give the 8 yr old a picture book (from the history time period) to read to 6 yr old or if possible I read it to them.
If they like Anerican history I would just go with that for next year and let them read to their heart’s desire. SO MANY GREAT books for American history. If you need more booklists I love Turning Back the Pages of Time. A pamphlet sold through Rainbow Resource
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