Feeling Frustrated!

[tmkclscroggins]

This has not been our best year of school. I really feel like a failure and that I'm ruining my kids. It's sometimes hard to remember that my 5th grade daughter didn't know her math facts when we pulled her out of ps!

Does anyone ever feel like this? We started high school this year and there are a couple of things that I just cannot get right!

History: we are currently using Truthquest and it just doesn't seem enough. It goes great if I get the time to sit down, review and discuss. Having my terminally ill mother living with us has cut my time down. I am really struggling with what to use for next year.

Math - we are doing Algebra and for me, this is the easiest class to teach! She struggles and is definitely not a math person!

Literature - she's reading but we just haven't had time to discuss. Again...what do we use next year? Scholars Online? TOG?

German/Latin - these are both going really well for her but her brain is definitely geared this way.

Vocabulary - using VOcab for the HS Student. Her vocabulary is not where it need to be. Again... this is my fault -just not had the time to go over and over and over her words.


I guess I'm just complaining and looking for suggestions! Is there hope? Are my kids going to be holding the "Stop"/"Yield" signs for the road construction crew after graduation? ( Not that there's anything wrong with this)

How on earth is she going to get into college when I really don't see her doing well on the math portion of the SAT/ACT?

HELP!!!!!Give me hope! Is it possible to grow literate, well-educated children when their parents are going crazy with worry?:confused:

melissa

[mcconnellboys]

There are a growing number of colleges in the US that don't rely on ACT/SAT scores any more, so if she wants to go, there is certainly hope for her.

Even if she's just reading tons of good info for history and literature, she's probably in a better place than she would be if in school, because she's probably covering more info. If you have her writing some about what she's reading, that's even better. I know that you'd like to be able to discuss things with her, but I'm sure she understands the place you're in right now, with your mother.

If languages are going well with her, then let her run with those more on her own. If math and vocab are what you most need to work on with her, then try to set aside some time in your day to do just those two things very thoroughly so that you can feel better about her base knowledge in them.

If you have the resources to allow her to do some outside classes next year, either online or at a local college, etc., then perhaps you can look into that over the course of the summer.

It doesn't sound to me as if she's floundering.

Good luck to you on your journey,

Regena

[MaryM]

First, step back and look at everything YOU are trying to do dear lady! As one who is trying to care long distance for a terminally ill parent, I know the amount of emotional energy is spent on that let alone that and homeschooling a high schooler. I have had to reassess my own situation so that I don't feel like I'm letting my kiddo down too. BUT, and it's a big but, the child can step up to the plate as well and maybe work a bit more independently? I have found that scheduling time for discussion once a week and limiting face to face time to 2-3 hours a day frees up more time and helps ds grown in independent work. I think you really must allow yourself some slack and see that you are wearing many many hats at the moment. Schooling will get done and I bet the "education" your dc is getting with caring for the grandparent is so much more important and relevant than a few missed lessons or moving at a slower pace.

All that said, I do have a suggestion to free up some time. Have you ever looked at the Mother of Divine Grace(MODG) syllabi for History and Literature? They do combine history, literature and geography plus offer a daily schedule written to the student with discussion days with "teach" written into the syllabus.

Also, sign her up for the SAT question of the day starting now. It will become part of her day and she gets test prep well in advance in all the questions with a bonus of learning "ahead" a bit without pain.

If I think of others, I'll add them Please be kind to yourself though and realize that we can only do so much for all the people tugging at our apron strings. I am sure your dd will be just fine with a Mom who is so loving and concerned! Prayers for strength.

Mary

[tmkclscroggins]

Thank you so much for the wonderful reply. It was so encouraging!


m

[Heather in Savannah]

Your child is seeing life as it is really lived. The love and care you are providing for your terminally ill parent is a wonderful life lesson....way more important than a vocab lesson. Could she help you a little with the care to provide more time for the two of you to work together on school?
In terms of Math, I have just recently switched math curriculum for my dd. Neither she or I are math people, so it does not come easily. I had her using the Jacobs program which equates to Algebra I. This program gets rave reviews on this board, but as I am not a mathie, it meant I had to do every lesson with her so that when she ran into trouble I could help her figure the solution. If I didn't do that, I would have to take an hour and read back over the prior chapters to learn the lessons. A friend uses Teaching Textbooks, and on her recommendation, I have switched. All problems have solutions show on CD so that the child can see where they went wrong in their thinking... what a relief that has been for me....I am no longer relied upon to help solve difficult equations. All that to say, that you might want to have a look at Teaching Textbooks.
My daughter is also doing one course on line which is working out very well for her. The on line course definitely sets the stage for personal accountability in their studies....no more mean Mom setting unreasonable deadlines:D That life lesson has carried over to her other school work.
Blessings, Heather