MP 3rd grade and "pencil-twirlers"

[tanya]

Dorinda,

We're going to use Spelling Workout B for 1st grade, C for 2nd grade, D for 3rd grade, and so on. Send me an email, and I'll send you the lesson plans.

Cheers,

Tanya

[Mom2mthj]

Tanya,

Can you comment on which version of spelling workout you are going to be using? I just purchased the 3rd grade package in hopes of doing it as is with ds turning 9 at the end of July. I will need plans for spelling. Thanks!

Dorinda

[tanya]

Hi, Dianna.

Sorry I haven't answered your previous post. I have been trying to get some final decisions made for you. I am attaching a sample lesson plan here. The only subjects I don't have complete are States & Capitals and Science. Latin, Greek Mythology, and Christian Studies are all at a half-pace (2 weeks per lesson). Spelling is the new Spelling Workout program, which is less work than R&S Spelling was. Literature, NAC3, and Math have remained at grade level. Intro. to Composition stays with the literature, so it is unchanged. I talked with one of our 3rd grade teachers about science and States & Capitals this week. She feels that Astronomy is difficult for the 3rd graders, so I think we are going to move that up to the new 4th grade and add a new science. I am looking at the Christian Liberty Nature Reader 3, Usborne's Complete First Book of Nature, and a couple of other things for this year. She also said that States & Capitals is difficult because of the spelling of the cities and states. So, I thought I would take 2 years to get through that so that students only have to learn 4 regions a year. I will intersperse some American history Landmark biographies throughout the 2 years also to fill it out a little. So, once I make a science decision and get States & Capitals rearranged, it will be completely finished!

I can't get the sample uploaded on here because it is too large. I'll email it to you.

Tanya

[DiannaKennedy]

We're still working this out, but it does look like we will be doing half of LCI, Greek Myths, Christian Studies I, and English Grammar Recitation. I think we will do all of States & Capitals that first year, and do the US Review and some American biographies for the second year (4th grade). I haven't worked out what we are going to do with science. We may split Astronomy into two years, but I'm not sure that will be enough science. And we are going to leave 3rd grade literature alone and add new literature guides for the second year (4th grade). For composition, I think we'll finish Intro. to Composition in one year since it is tied to the literature and add a new writing course for the new 4th grade. That isn't really worked out yet either. We are making good progress but still wandering around on a couple of subjects!

Regards,

Tanya

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but have you been able to come up with a definite plan for the alternate 3rd grade track? I'm trying to customize our plans. We're leaning heavily toward the HLS Cottage School, and I'm trying to figure out what that leaves for me at home. We're thinking about putting her in LC, Greek Myths, English 3 and Composition.

Like Mrs Bee, I'm still struggling with trying to figure out how to juggle all these littles at home, working outside the home, and homeschooling. I'm at wit's end.


Thanks so much.

[Mrs Bee]

"I never wanted my regret to be that I wondered if I held them enough" Exactly, Sarah!
This was a much prayed-for baby, and we're so so happy! I just never imagined how difficult it would be for me to juggle all the other responsibilities. That's why having an Alice would be wonderful - it would be just babymoon for me, and all the work for her

[KF2000]

It does calm. I have always thought being at an odd number was harder than having evens, for some reason. But that is just me! I tend to have little ones who always want to be held too, and have just gotten used to it. I never wanted my regret to be that I wondered if I held them enough....so enjoy this time...it really does go by so quickly!

AMDG,
Sarah

[Mrs Bee]

Ah, to have Alice, what a dream!!!
I only have 3 children and I'm totally at sea right now

[KF2000]

Mrs Bee,
I just had to share....we caught an old episode of Brady Bunch a while back....and I had to catch myself from thinking "wow, so many kids!" because we have now surpassed them....but instead, I saw Alice, and realized, "Aw, man! She got an Alice!!!! No fair!!"

AMDG,
Sarah

[Mrs Bee]

No pressure, Tanya! Many thanks to you and Jen for making things clear for me.
I am so curious to just start and see what happens! The children are also very excited, which is good. I look forward to meeting Paul S. and Sarah at the conference next week.

Jen, I am at my wit's end with this baby And yet, I wish these baby days never ended! I joke with my husband that if only I had a live-in maid, a cook, and Mary Poppins, all would be fine, lol. I am in awe of all mothers who manage to accomplish so much while taking care of many little ones!!

[tanya]

We're still working this out, but it does look like we will be doing half of LCI, Greek Myths, Christian Studies I, and English Grammar Recitation. I think we will do all of States & Capitals that first year, and do the US Review and some American biographies for the second year (4th grade). I haven't worked out what we are going to do with science. We may split Astronomy into two years, but I'm not sure that will be enough science. And we are going to leave 3rd grade literature alone and add new literature guides for the second year (4th grade). For composition, I think we'll finish Intro. to Composition in one year since it is tied to the literature and add a new writing course for the new 4th grade. That isn't really worked out yet either. We are making good progress but still wandering around on a couple of subjects!

Regards,

Tanya

[Jen (formerly) in Japan]

"Half 3rd":

I believe that the following will be slowed to about half:

Latina Christiana I (which you aren't planning on anyway)

Greek Myths (which both kids could do as "enrichment" next year, the pick it up the next year as both review and a full curriculum)

Christian Studies I (OT Bible)

English Grammar I

Intro to Comp



Actually, I'm not 100% sure about the last two items. My tendency is to focus on the Latin and Classical Studies.


The rest of the package is FULL and AS IS (Literature, Timeline, Spelling, Math, States and Capitals, Astronomy)


As for the tiny baby, I wish you well. I had a late in life baby so I well remember the days of trying to manage Baby's naps around a host of older children's school work and activities. I even hosted book clubs one year (American Girl, Teen boy) while juggling an infant on my hip. I did manage to survive (although I don't remember many details, ha, ha). Also, babies do change their patterns rather often. Baby might be on a more manageable routine by September. Crossing my fingers for you!


Jen

[Mrs Bee]

Jen, thanks for your thoughts. You are right that this will be our first MP year and that my idea is to have both kids start PL. Though I have to say that my major worry right now has more to do with my days still being all baby all the time In my first post someone - maybe even you - suggested taking it slowly at least at the beginning, and it is a good point. The hope is that a slower approach will work for us until this little fellow shows he can cry less and sleep for more than 10 minutes away from me! When it was just the two older ones, my son's "inefficiency" was more manageable - but now with the baby with me all the time it's a lot harder. If not for the baby, I don't think I would be wondering so much about slowing down.
In this post I was just wondering if there may be something developmentally unavoidable in this kind of behavior, something I need to accept as normal for many kids at this stage - something I need to work on with him, obviously, but without going crazy (and, boy, can he drive me nuts! But I need to remember my attitude is very important to him.)

By the way, is there a post somewhere with definitive info about the "half-3rd" package idea? I remember the idea being discussed here and there, but I am not sure there is something clearly dedicated to it.

[Jen (formerly) in Japan]

Mrs. Bee,

Something to keep in mind.... people love what they can accomplish and master. That feeling of completely grasping, mastering, accomplishing... priceless.

If you are at all struggling to decide on the "full 3rd" or the "half 3rd" lesson plans for your pencil twirler, I'd have to give the edge to the "half 3rd", especially if this will be your first year with MP. Don't forget that the "half" is only in SOME subjects, not all, *and* if I remember correctly, you are planning to tackle Latin for the first time with both students. If your pencil-twirler can (guilt free) do the "half" of some subjects, he might gain the sense of ownership that completing work well, and mastering it (!), can give to the student.


Just some thoughts!


Jen

[Mrs Bee]

Food for thought here - thank you! I guess it will be an ongoing struggle for a while. Elimination of distractions helps a lot, but no timer for us: it doesn't help him at all, he just freaks out about the time passing and just melts down...

[KF2000]

Courtney, my dreamer is much the same. Fully capable, and actually, probably one of my brightest kids. She has a memory like I have never seen. And disciplined when motivated...for instance, she has started in ballet, and can come home and tell me (and show me) the entire class!! At the same time, I see the helplessness in her face when she is struggling to concentrate. It is definitely not something she is doing on purpose. So we manage, at this point. Timers, yes, those are helpful. Removing distractions....not always possible, but we do try to minimize.

As Tanya mentioned, it is up to you to discern where your child really is....willfulness, laziness, overly stimulated....hungry, tired, growth spurt, etc. Could be any number of things. For us, my paying attention to it rather than wishing it away has helped me feel less angry. It is still frustrating, but I know she is frustrated about it too. So we keep trying to make progress, and rejoice when progress is there.

Sorry I cannot be more specific. My one thing I will say, is to always reinforce that these challenges right now are going to become strengths for them in their adult life, if they direct them in a good way. God has a plan for them, you know? And as Tanya has reminded us often, they do settle down on their own schedule, and can end up being pretty terrific students. I try to cherish now, and realize that someday, these challenges too will have passed.

AMDG,
Sarah