Letter From a Fellow Homeschooler on Teaching the Upper Grades...

Dear Jody,

I really enjoyed your website. I have a couple of questions.  I noticed you have a 15yo. I am a little "iffy" about how to go about using CM for my 8th grader boy.  I have a sneaky feeling that, a lot of it is me, and my insecurity regarding "product" .  I am a very concrete person.  So please allow me to sound "dumb" for a minute. When you say you all sit around the table and do writing, does this mean your 15 yo is also doing copywork, or is he/she working by herself?  My son seems to have no interests whatsoever.   Do you pick out their writing assignments for everyday?  Do they go by a list? See, I really desire to go all the way with CM, but I'm feeling choked by all the planning, and thinking of what we need to cover, etc...  My son takes FOREVER to do his stuff, do you use "short lessons" for your older ones? My goodness, Jody, I'm sorry for all the questions!  This is the very first year ( we've h-schooled for 5yrs) that I have felt like giving up. I just don't have any energy to push my son anymore.  My 2 little ones have never been to PS, and they are a delight to use CM with.  Thanks for your time.  Please don't feel like I will try to copy what you do.  I, by now, know that H-schooling is a very individual pursuit.  But it sure does help to see what others are doing, for us non-creative folk.

One of my pressing questions is this, Do you all just discuss your History or do you have your older ones "produce" something ie.. essay question, maps, etc... 

Dear Friend,

I completely understand your feelings because honestly, I feel them quite often throughout the years.  I don't think it's highly unusual to feel inefficient or that you're never going to fit everything in and OH! what about the "gaps".  Well, I do know that I certainly do have gaps in my education, and I was a good student in public school.  So let all this quell your feelings of inadequacy...we never will teach it all.

Now, the meat... You say you're a concrete person so I'm going to figure that you wouldn't mind a pre-planned lesson for your son (my 15yo is a boy). I highly recommend the Learning Language Arts Through Literature program.  I didn't use the program until about 6th grade (Tan Book).  Really, I think the Tan Book would be ok for a 7th or 8th grader too.  You might want to look through one if you can, to see what you think.  I have the other higher levels too.  We do this program, but not solely.  I still like the freedom to have my children write an essay, poem, instructions on "how to..." about any subject they happen to be studying.  Do you see?  It's not that you can't use a "program" that fits you, it's just that for me, I like a little of both...program and freedom.  Just because I  use a language program (at times) doesn't mean  I MUST finish it if I don't deem it as all-important. Does this make sense?

PLANNING....a word that is difficult for me!  I must be honest with you here...I'm more of a person who does things "on the fly".  This may not sound very teacher-ish, but it's the truth and I'm a MOM first and Moms often have to "do life" on the fly, don't you agree?  Anyway, most of our copywork is unplanned.  Often I'll say, what's your favorite page in your book today? If you'd like it more structured, then you might sit down and plan which days you copy, dictate, or report.. 

SHORT LESSONS...Often my older children (13 & 15 year olds) will take more time to accomplish their work... naturally, they have more to do. I do, however, try to get the children to think in half-hour blocks of time for their lessons. Sometimes I'll give them a deadline like..."I want this essay on Booker T. Washington done by Monday  before bed.  If you want to begin it now, do so; if you want to do it Sunday night til midnight, fine, just as long as you can do your work and get it done in time."  This frees ME up more than anyone.  I'm one who seems to always ask them..."Did you begin?  Have you got it done?  Will it ever get done?"  I'd rather not be this way and giving a deadline helps me and them because I'm not nagging.  I explain that they WILL have deadlines to meet in the future, and this is just good practice.

Do we all sit at the table and do writing lessons together?  Well, yes and no.  Some of my kids need to be alone at a desk with the door shut, some like the radio softly playing and one may have the same dictation as his brother so they're at the table together.  I think we need to be sensative to their needs.  However, sometimes we may all copy the same scripture together while I dictate it, and this is rather fun!

INTERESTS... I am SURE that your son does have an interest of some kind...computers? race cars?  books?  gardening?  horses?  sports? music? If I were you, I'd ask your son what he'd like to study.  Tell him you are going to give him a choice in some of the subjects he will study.  When he figures out what he wants to study, then you and your son find the books that seem to be right for the studies or find someones who knows lots about what he's interested in and see if he can come and learn from this person once in awhile...or have an email correspondent. Consider apprenticeship. Our eldest son is in our neighbor's hip pocket whenever he can be. He's an auto mechanic. This has been one of the best teaching methods I've seen so far. Exploit their interests!

I asked my son--whose interests are in cars, hot rods, motors and such-- what he thought we needed to be studying. He brought me a Hot Rod Magazine (ugh!) and said, "I've got to show you this article."  I thought, "Oh not this again," and gritted my teeth to listen.  The author of the article recommended that anyone wishing to build these high-tech, modern engines should take all the sciences and higher maths available. 

"Huh?"  I couldn't believe it!  So my son said, "Mom, get me the best science and math you can."  (Wha'?)   I was overwhelmed by this, but now this is his core curriculum...  mostly science and math.  The "woman in me" wants him to love poetry, good literature, fine art and music (which I do push as much as I dare) but the other side of me says...."God made him who he is so let's give him what he wants most."

HISTORY...We mostly do discuss history, but I also have them write some reports to include in a historical notebook. It's a chronological "narration" of sorts. I usually ask them to record unusual facts that most of us wouldn't know. At times I will ask the children to have a short narration ready for the dinner table. All will "tell" their findings after supper and the rest of us get to ask questions. It's quite fun! If they have read an important biography that they were particularly interested in, I may assign an essay on that person, complete with an outline and rough draft and bibliography. Maps would be a good addition if your child likes mapping. I always ask my children to find the places we are studying on the globe or world map or in the atlas.

I know the feeling of not quite knowing exactly how or what to do with this age group.  I just forge ahead continuing in much the same manner as always, and let me tell you what else...I take lots of walks alone for my peace of mind and for prayer. God is good to show me things and give me bright ideas.  This is my best advice...prayer.

I hope this will help you. I'd be interested to hear if your son decides there is something he truly does want to study.  Oh, and one more thing I've learned...all learning doesn't come from books.  Allow yourselves that freedom.

Blessings on all you set your heart on doing.

Jody

ack...