Temporary 'homeschooling' Help

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 05 2005 Posts: 3526

Hi. I'm moving to another state right before Pesach and will have my kids, 6 yo and 4 yo (and baby) home with me until the end of the year. They will be entering first grade and kindergarten, respectively, in September. This primarily concerns my 6 yo, as I will need to work very carefully with him to catch him up to the level of the new school. What I'm basically looking for is advice as to the structure of the day. I need a rough schedule to work with but I don't know whats normal to expect from the kids (how long to do various activities and stuff). If I can get an idea of what a typical homeschooled day looks like that would really help.
I figured I would also incorporate alot of trips to the libraries and musuems. Besides for that, what other advise can other homeschoolers give? Whats important to know and whats the best way to prepare?
TIA.

First you need to find out what the academic expectations of the school you're entering are for your child. If they won't be teaching reading (Hebrew and English) in first grade, then you'll need to be sure he's ready for that. Otherwise, there's nothing else you NEED to do.

I also have children this age and was thinking just last night about the schedule for the day for them. A typical homeschooling day for a child this age would be less than an hour of academic work, and ideally that would be presented in as hands on and integrated a way as possible. For example, for math you can do lots of fun manipulative based activities. Measure things, bake together, count out loud, play with a hundred number chart, look for games that involve sequencing and patterning. Build with blocks, etc. It looks like just games but they'll learn so much more than if you sit them down with a math workbook. (My kids are all strong in math and this is the approach I used with them for years - it really works!)

For reading, do lots of reading out loud to him from good books - not the Animorphs type of junk. You can get so many amazing books and fill your children with knowledge and the learning will be so natural. You want to take your cues from your child. Tell stories about the parsha every week; for years our kids listened to Rabbi Juravel's parsha cassettes.

You might be more comfortable with a general schedule for yourself as to what the flow of the day looks like. This could be something like (say about fifteen to thirty minutes per activity or more if your child is enjoying it):

- wake up, get dressed
- eat breakfast
- daven
- activity time
- read a few books out loud
- craft
- reading practice
- outside play
(stick meals and snacks in according to your schedule)

Also, at this age they need lots of unstructured time for creative play. There is a value to brain development from emergent play that they won't get from structured learning activities; sometimes parents think more is better and overfill their child's time.

I can't stress enough the importance of keeping it relaxed and enjoyable. Kids this age learn so easily and naturally, that if you're reading and getting out on a regular basis with them (trips are fantastic, but even a walk around the block is great), then they're getting plenty. When it comes to structured education of young children, less is definitely more!

It's a real bracha to have this opportunity with your children, and your children are so similar in age that the four year old can participate in whatever you do with the six year old. Have fun with it!
_________________
Avivah - grateful mom of ten amazing kids (ages 4 - 20 and our gorgeous baby boy with Trisomy 21!)
http://oceansofjoy.wordpress.com

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 05 2005 Posts: 3526

Thank you, Happy Mom. The school my son is going into is more ahead in Hebrew studies then he is at this point with his current school. However, especially because he is doing the current grade for the second time, I'm pretty confident that I can catch him up. The daily schedule that you listed seems very practical. I just hope that they don't get too bored. Even though I only let the kids watch s/t on the computer on Sundays, the kids are very into watching and also try to sneak playing things on my kindle, which I don't even use much. Hopefully, this will give me the opportunity to give them an 'electronic detox'. I really want it to work. I love reading and it bothers me that my son prefers to have the book read to him on an electronic device (although I do read books a lot on the kindle touch, I barely use the kindle fire, both of which we received as gifts).
Any other advice is completely welcome Smile

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 05 2005 Posts: 3526

Ok. So practically speaking. Do you just write the schedule down for yourself or do you do s/t like putting it on the wall? Do you use timers or pictures of clocks to convey the schedule for the kids or just go with it and just follow it in your head?

Do you or your children enjoy structure in a concrete way or does it make you/he stressed? I think that is the answer you need.

For my older children I like to have a concrete written schedule to make them accountable to themselves (and me) but at your six year old's level, I just have a general schedule I do not write down but follow each day (reading, phonics, spelling, math, Parsha, Ivrit kriyah, yahadus) and sprinkle in science/history as needed. My 2nd grader likes to see what he has accomplished so I write his schedule for him.

Hatzlacha on your adventure,
Yael
_________________
Interested in learning more about homeschooling?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jewishorthodoxandhomeschooling/

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 05 2005 Posts: 3526

Around what time do you start your day? Does the 'get up and dressed' slot go from 7-7:30 or start 7:30 or even 8? Whats normal? Is it bad to sleep late? Recently we have been and the guilt is eating me up (and this is with the 'pressure' of getting my son to school).