You are my new favorite youtuber! I so appreciate all your insight and recommendations. I would love to see a video on the books you found not appropriate that everyone loves. Like you, I try to read as many as possible, but there are only 365 days in a year... I'd also love to see how you plan your highschool students' school year and calculate credits since you don't use traditional curriculum.
Thank you for the compliment, and those are definitely in the works. Though credits may be different for us as we are in Indiana, and don't have any state requirements there. Though it is something I have considered (can't totally break out of the state educated teacher mindset- Purdue trained me too well there).
Another great video Heather, thank you! Do you schedule out the independent readings for your kids? Assign days they should be working on a particular subject/book/recitation? Or just let them work through them as they want during the term? I'm taking your advice on koinonia, morning time and independent readings in order to be more Christ centered and also to have less tension and anxiety in our homeschool, especially with lots of little kids in the home. Prior, I've had every day scheduled out for the term. I was also using a timetable and although it got us done by lunch, it is beginning to feel too rushed/chaotic for us in this season. So I'm trying the hour or so of independent time but unsure how to plan those books all out. Or maybe they don't have to be! Thank you for the inspiration :)
Thank you for your kind words! I create a timetable similar to Ambleside Online by term. (I only try to plan out one term at a time for reading schedule in case we get behind and need to move some readings on to the next term). They have a list of readings for each week, and they can accomplish them at their own pace. When in form 1, I generally help organize that with them, but with my older ones they are now trained to be able to do that themselves. My year 4 is starting to do this for herself this year and for her I simply encourage her to read at least 2 independent readings a day at the beginning of the week. She can do more, but must have at least one book for independent reading for Mon-Thurs. My year 7 likes to read a ton on Monday & Tuesday and keep her reading light the rest of the week. My high schooler likes to balance, but I do see how they start to think through which books they want to read based on mood or length or content. Each is different.
@@raising_arrows_mama I see, thank you. I'm going to give it a go. I think especially my year 6 is going to need quite a bit of help organizing but I really want to help his independence, diligence and planning skills to grow. This is a shift we've needed to make and I really appreciate how much you've shared, it has blessed our home a lot. One last thing...we're using the 'Leading little ones to God book' you recommend in our Koinonia time. My oldest is 12 and although having been raised Christian, often is confused about the faith. All 4 kids are hearing me read through the book and is as wonderful as you said. I've prayed for help to lead my kids more clearly, your ministry here and this book recommendation have been an answer to prayer. I can't say thank you enough.
@@kathey1736 I'm glad you are enjoying LLOtG. My 6 year old plans nothing, next year she will have more say. This year she knows she must do piano practice, handwriting, and reading/phonics every day but otherwise I choose which books I read with her-seeing as she is not an independent reader. They can choose more independently when independent readers. That said I do sometimes give her a choice in her books for the day, but I'm still the one making sure it gets done. I made her a simple picture checklist in Canva at the beginning of the year to help her with her basic daily tasks: cleaning her room, brushing teeth and hair, getting dressed, piano practice, handwriting, read Bible with mama, phonics, read a book with mama (this would be one of her school books) and play outside were on her daily tasks. She no longer needs a checklist for those things- but she's a bit of a go getter.
@@raising_arrows_mama It's my year 6 student (he's 12) that is going to need help planning. He is in that spot of adolescence where he doesn't want to be told what to do but also can't manage his time on his own yet. My 8 year old/3rd grader is much more willing to get things done herself. Next year I will have my 6 year old joining us, thank you for sharing how you approach her books/lessons. I'm very much looking to 1st grade again! :)
@@kathey1736 Gotcha, yes it does take simple training. For my kids the great motivator is that they can finish in their own time and make some decisions regarding their days. However, those natural consequences do come into play.
I love all the great books that come with CM style of learning (we only loosely follow CM). However, I've never been a huge reader (i know all the benefits of reading but I'm just not a big reader) so I don't really pre read. We only have one kid so its not necessary to pre read. We do one read aloud so that I read to her. She reads bible and history. But I am there following along. As for her literature readings (we do one book at a time) she reads them on her own. She orally narrates everything. And things I dont do with her you can just tell by the narrations if kiddo has read and understood the materials read. So I dont feel I need to follow along with her for everything or pre read. Bible and history I find very crucial to do together and to further discuss cuz afterall God created the world and its "HIS" story.
That's wonderful that you can do that along with her. Yes, I didn't pre-read with just one either. Though since we create our own curriculum book choices now it's crucial so that I can find the right books. I've also heard tales from friends where kids made up a narration after googling a summary ...luckily mine have not tried that one, yet. ;)
Great tips! I love your new name btw!
Thank you!
Thank you! This is wonderful advice! 💖☺️
you are welcome!
You are my new favorite youtuber! I so appreciate all your insight and recommendations. I would love to see a video on the books you found not appropriate that everyone loves. Like you, I try to read as many as possible, but there are only 365 days in a year... I'd also love to see how you plan your highschool students' school year and calculate credits since you don't use traditional curriculum.
Thank you for the compliment, and those are definitely in the works. Though credits may be different for us as we are in Indiana, and don't have any state requirements there. Though it is something I have considered (can't totally break out of the state educated teacher mindset- Purdue trained me too well there).
Another great video Heather, thank you! Do you schedule out the independent readings for your kids? Assign days they should be working on a particular subject/book/recitation? Or just let them work through them as they want during the term?
I'm taking your advice on koinonia, morning time and independent readings in order to be more Christ centered and also to have less tension and anxiety in our homeschool, especially with lots of little kids in the home. Prior, I've had every day scheduled out for the term. I was also using a timetable and although it got us done by lunch, it is beginning to feel too rushed/chaotic for us in this season. So I'm trying the hour or so of independent time but unsure how to plan those books all out. Or maybe they don't have to be!
Thank you for the inspiration :)
Thank you for your kind words! I create a timetable similar to Ambleside Online by term. (I only try to plan out one term at a time for reading schedule in case we get behind and need to move some readings on to the next term). They have a list of readings for each week, and they can accomplish them at their own pace. When in form 1, I generally help organize that with them, but with my older ones they are now trained to be able to do that themselves. My year 4 is starting to do this for herself this year and for her I simply encourage her to read at least 2 independent readings a day at the beginning of the week. She can do more, but must have at least one book for independent reading for Mon-Thurs. My year 7 likes to read a ton on Monday & Tuesday and keep her reading light the rest of the week. My high schooler likes to balance, but I do see how they start to think through which books they want to read based on mood or length or content. Each is different.
@@raising_arrows_mama I see, thank you. I'm going to give it a go. I think especially my year 6 is going to need quite a bit of help organizing but I really want to help his independence, diligence and planning skills to grow. This is a shift we've needed to make and I really appreciate how much you've shared, it has blessed our home a lot.
One last thing...we're using the 'Leading little ones to God book' you recommend in our Koinonia time. My oldest is 12 and although having been raised Christian, often is confused about the faith. All 4 kids are hearing me read through the book and is as wonderful as you said. I've prayed for help to lead my kids more clearly, your ministry here and this book recommendation have been an answer to prayer. I can't say thank you enough.
@@kathey1736 I'm glad you are enjoying LLOtG. My 6 year old plans nothing, next year she will have more say. This year she knows she must do piano practice, handwriting, and reading/phonics every day but otherwise I choose which books I read with her-seeing as she is not an independent reader. They can choose more independently when independent readers. That said I do sometimes give her a choice in her books for the day, but I'm still the one making sure it gets done. I made her a simple picture checklist in Canva at the beginning of the year to help her with her basic daily tasks: cleaning her room, brushing teeth and hair, getting dressed, piano practice, handwriting, read Bible with mama, phonics, read a book with mama (this would be one of her school books) and play outside were on her daily tasks. She no longer needs a checklist for those things- but she's a bit of a go getter.
@@raising_arrows_mama It's my year 6 student (he's 12) that is going to need help planning. He is in that spot of adolescence where he doesn't want to be told what to do but also can't manage his time on his own yet. My 8 year old/3rd grader is much more willing to get things done herself. Next year I will have my 6 year old joining us, thank you for sharing how you approach her books/lessons. I'm very much looking to 1st grade again! :)
@@kathey1736 Gotcha, yes it does take simple training. For my kids the great motivator is that they can finish in their own time and make some decisions regarding their days. However, those natural consequences do come into play.
I love all the great books that come with CM style of learning (we only loosely follow CM). However, I've never been a huge reader (i know all the benefits of reading but I'm just not a big reader) so I don't really pre read. We only have one kid so its not necessary to pre read. We do one read aloud so that I read to her. She reads bible and history. But I am there following along. As for her literature readings (we do one book at a time) she reads them on her own. She orally narrates everything. And things I dont do with her you can just tell by the narrations if kiddo has read and understood the materials read. So I dont feel I need to follow along with her for everything or pre read. Bible and history I find very crucial to do together and to further discuss cuz afterall God created the world and its "HIS" story.
That's wonderful that you can do that along with her. Yes, I didn't pre-read with just one either. Though since we create our own curriculum book choices now it's crucial so that I can find the right books. I've also heard tales from friends where kids made up a narration after googling a summary ...luckily mine have not tried that one, yet. ;)