Beginning with almost 6-year-old reader, 7.5 yo, and 9 yo

[CherryBlossomMJ]

Jessica this is great !

[pickandgrin]

A tangent on Read Alouds and multiple children

Emily,
Since we have similar ages I thought this little tangent might be helpful as well.

For read alouds we simply have a once-a-day "Morning Time" for all reading that needs to be done by me. This last year I was reading Bible, a picture book a few times a week (from grade 2), and a book from the 4th grade list. I also mix in some Tales from Shakespeare from time to time. All the kids listen to all the books and I don't make a big deal about who they are for. We are all listening to them because they are fabulous! I hit up the kids with this quote from Lewis: 'No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.' In other words, a good book is a good book. The kids don't have to be still but they do have to be quiet (a moving target). They often play quietly with toys or draw.

The read alouds are scheduled for you in third at a pace of about a chapter a day and they often coincide with holidays or other areas of study in Geography, Classical Studies, etc. In fourth grade you simply have a list in the back of the lesson plans. We read at whatever pace is suitable. Next year, this will morph into a picture book (from K) a few times a week, and a chapter a day of a 3rd grade book, and the same from a 5th grade book. This might sound overwhelming but everywhere I turn I'm being reminded of the importance of reading aloud (Martin Cothran, Andrew Pudewa, etc.). I've found this becomes even more important after your children can read for themselves. It's easy to dump it, but I'm fighting back hard against that temptation! We aim to read aloud no less than an hour a day. We don't always hit that target, but sometimes we actually exceed it. We also use books on Audio to listen in the car as well as in bed. Our three big kids all have CD players with headphones in their bedrooms. This can be a great way to sneak in books during otherwise wasted time.

A special bonus from this I've seen is that your children get to hear books above, on, and below their reading level daily. My four year old adored my fourth grader's books (Princess and the Goblin, Peter Pan, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Just So Stories, The Black Stallion to name a few) and my 9 year old son got the treat of hearing Dr. Seuss, Mother Goose, and amazing picture books again and again (all under the safe auspices of it being "for" his little sisters). It is really a great treat of having multiple ages! And the toddler? I can't even imagine what beauty is happening in his little brain with all the stories and words!

[EmilyGF]

Thanks for the input. Starting out at half pace sounds like a really great idea.

It is good to know that others have similar set ups going on!

Emily

[pickandgrin]

Emily, Welcome!
What you've laid out sounds very doable. As is often mentioned, you might want to take two weeks to work through the first "week" of school. There is no ramp-up in the MP lesson plans--week one is full bore. This way you can ease in a bit and everyone can get a feel for the work style and load. With your older two, you can give them your Lesson Plan book and let them check off their assignments. This has been very helpful in my home!
Again, welcome, and here's to a great year!

[SaintJude7]

do it

This sounds workable to me. And you will find that, just as studying Latin helps in learning other languages, having studied other languages helps in the study of Latin.
Blessings,
Jude

dd 17
ds 14 (special needs)
ds 11
ds 9
dd 7
ds 4
dd 2

[EmilyGF]

I'm considering using MP packages in the fall, but with our own math (if it ain't broke, don't fix it).

After trying to stay away from workbooks, I have to admit my kids like them. They also like languages, and are learning German. I think they would really enjoy learning Latin and that it would help them learn German better.

I'm considering starting my 9-year-old in 4th grade with FFL because he is driven, he loves learning logical languages, and he likes challenges. I think he would perform better in a harder class than an easier one.

I want to start my 7.5 yo in 3rd grade with LC1. I think FFL would be too hard, but she reads and writes exceptionally well and shocked the socks off of her German Saturday School teacher this year by her personal desire to learn (for example, she chose to keep her own notebook of all vocabulary the teacher wrote on the board).

I am considering 1st grade for my youngest, since she is beginning to read I-Can-Read Level 1 books on her own and can write a sentence in cursive.

We would probably use Grade 1 enrichment and Grade 3 read alouds.

Will we go crazy? :-)

Emily