Separate studies for teens?

[nutmeg]

Thank you for reading my post; I'd appreciate any input!

dd1 and I started with WTM her 1st grade year. Two years later, we folded dd2 into our studies. As dd2 is quite bright, they have always done history, science, grammar, and Latin together.

My questions is: when and how to I "unfold" them?

Next year, our science studies will be separated, with my eldest doing Apologia General Science while the youngest continues with the elementary series. At some point we will need to do individual history studies, as each girl will need her own turn through the cycle in high school. Or do they?

How do you homeschool teenagers? Do you do any of the subjects together, or is everyone off doing her own thing?

I guess maybe I'm mourning the end of an era. Oh for the days we simply gathered on the couch, snuggling under a blanket to read and talk!

[Jean in Wisc]

My dc decided that they really preferred the textbook approach in high school--it was a packaged deal and when the book was done, they were done. So we switched to doing history/social studies that way. They still learned a lot, and it was easier for me...

FWIW.

[Gwen in VA]

Ditto here.

My kids have LOVED read-alouds and endless discussions....but somewhere around age 14 they all seem to just want to do their own thing. I am doing read-alouds with my third child this year for the last time -- he will graduate to a read-aloud-less existence in June. :-( He wants it that way -- he can read through the book faster on his own, and gets to self-pace his day more.

My older teens and I touch base and discuss, but for the most part casting them off on their own is what has worked around here. (Lunch will go on for an hour occasionally if we hit a "hot topic" -- but that is more spur-of-the-moment.)

[Michelle in MO]

We always used to do science and history together as a family, but by the time the older two hit 7th grade, it became apparent that I had to separate out those two studies. So, my oldest (and then the middle one next) start Apologia General Science in the 7th grade, and we began to divide out the history as well.

It does all work out; things are a bit crazier, though. I do try to at least read the history chapters the older two are doing and focus in on history with the youngest daughter. Science they have to do on their own, except I help them with experiments.

It's the passing of an era, so to speak, although we've started some family read-alouds in the evenings, so that has helped a bit! :)

[Lori D.]

nt

[Moira in MA]

I separated my dd's for subjects as necessary. Latin was split when my eldest hit 7th grade, we still do Omnibus together (although I made my eldest wait until the younger was in 7th). Science split at high school.

But we still do readalouds. They are usually recorded books in the car. Since we nolonger always travel together I tend to have one for us all and one each for the girls. It's sometimes a challenge to get through the book before it is due back at the library and I have to get creative with field trips ;)

hth