Realistic Academic Expectations

[Tracey in TX]

HELP! I may have overplanned, and attempted to cover too much for the 8y/o triplets. They struggle to finish math almost daily. It's become a crazy, vicious cycle of begging, pleading, cajoling, and yelling. Followed by tears.

The oldest two are thriving in this new academic environment, but the triplets seem to be falling further behind. At least according to my game plan. The triplets were the youngest in their grade due to school cut-off dates. Giggles has always been a bit behind and not sure if it's work habits or something else. Darling Dash even works to her name: flies through everything easy, but will avoid anything which feels overwhelming. Little Soccer Dude has dyslexia and works his heart out until he's whooped.

How do I find a balance? What can I do to ensure they're being pushed forward, without struggle? The goal is to further their education not maintain status quo or fall behind their ps peers. The oldest two have flown past their peers in the last 3 months already.

Is there an educational consultant to bring in? Testing? Merely slow it down and pick up the pieces to begin again? I feel like I'm in a teeny bit over my head this week.

Thanks,

[Mrs. H.]

What all do you have them doing this year? I have a 7yr. old doing 3rd this year, so I can sort of compare and help you sort it out.

[Jean in Newcastle]

What math are they doing? Curriculum and grade level?

[Tracey in TX]

What all do you have them doing this year? I have a 7yr. old doing 3rd this year, so I can sort of compare and help you sort it out.

Math-3rd grade Saxon (lesson 77, as we began when I began hs) They were previously in 3rd gr

[Mrs. H.]

However, I despise Saxon for the lower grades (anything under 5/4 just drives me batty). I haven't found anything I like better, though, so Saxon it is.

We don't do the "lesson" that is scripted in the teacher's guide unless it is a concept that ds doesn't understand. Instead, I have him do the first side of the worksheet for the day, and if he gets all the problems right, he's done with math. If he gets them wrong, we flip it over and do the back together, and I use the teacher's guide as a reference only. There are very few concepts about 3rd grade math that I don't know, so I don't used the guide very often.

Saxon is just too much work, in my opinion, for a child this age, and for parents of several children. We could easily spend 1 1/2 hours every day just doing Saxon math, but I have three other children to teach every day, a baby to keep up with, and several subjects to get through.

Dd (10) is doing Saxon 6/5, and there is MUCH less repetition, and it goes back and covers all the concepts covered in the end of 5/4. By the end of 3rd grade, if your children can add, subtract, multiply, divide, know a little about fractions and can use a ruler to measure and a thermometer, they are doing well. Knowing the days of the week and the months of the year can be taught in one week, so we never do those 'morning meetings' in Saxon.

[Soph the vet]

We use Saxon. We don't do all of the "Meeting", it is just too repetitious and bores them to tears.
I focus on the Lesson and they do all drill sheets, untimed as one of mine freaks out at being timed. We do math four days per week, Fridays off, and spend about 20-30 minutes on Saxon 1, 2, or3 and 45 min. on Saxon 54. (I have one doing 54 and one in Saxon 2 this year). For the lower levels they do Side A of the lesson sheet in the morning then Side B after lunch whether they already get it or not. For 54 we do half the mixed practice in the am and the other half in the pm. We also do all the tests and investigations at this level. Saxon has a lot of review. So when your triplets go on to 54 next year, they will be reviewing for the first 30-40 lessons, so don't sweat that.
I would try figuring out what incentives will motivate them to focus on their work and get it finished. I realize that is not always easy!:)

[Tracey in TX]

Thank you so much! I tried the A side lesson only, unless there were complications. It was a huge motivator. We'll also break up math into am and pm work. That will also help.
I appreciate your help.

[Musical Belle]

However, I despise Saxon for the lower grades (anything under 5/4 just drives me batty). I haven't found anything I like better, though, so Saxon it is.

Saxon is just too much work, in my opinion, for a child this age, and for parents of several children. We could easily spend 1 1/2 hours every day just doing Saxon math, but I have three other children to teach every day, a baby to keep up with, and several subjects to get through.


I'm so glad to hear someone say this! My ds is using Saxon 5/4 and it's like a breath of fresh air to get past the lower levels. He's not math-minded anyway, and every lesson turned into two hours of fighting and tears. Now ds is in 1st grade, and knowing what we can skip makes a huge difference; we only spend 30-45 minutes on math now.

[Eliana]

However, I despise Saxon for the lower grades (anything under 5/4 just drives me batty). I haven't found anything I like better, though, so Saxon it is.



We do like the early grade Saxon very much, but I have never done the whole thing as written... I am glad it is all there, because each child has benefited from a different combination of elements (For example: one child *loved* the daily meetings at this level learned a lot from them, another child loves to do both sides of each worksheet, another did the lessons with me but only occasionally did the worksheets at all...)

I think the key to enjoying Saxon, though this applies to any program in any subject, is to have it been a tool and not a taskmaster. Choose the parts which enhance your student's learning, and provide as much reinforcement as is actually needed - and let the rest be optional or discard it completely!