Going Half-Speed to Uncombine
Questions via phone, email, and social media pour into
Heart of Dakota every day. As a placement specialist and homeschool mom of 25 years, I love connecting with homeschool families! Together, we find answers to those questions, and we make some pretty amazing action plans. These talks have been such a blessing, that it occurred to me they might be to you as well… and that is where this “Let’s Talk” series came from. So, precious homeschool mom… pull up a chair, take a much-deserved break, and “Let’s Talk” about… How Going Half-Speed Can Help You Uncombine!
The Paraphrased Question or Query
I’ve combined my son and daughter for several years, and it worked well! However, I want my older son to be in his own guide now. He wants some independence, and he can handle it. My younger daughter took to reading and writing quicker than him, and the relationship became competitive. I don’t want her to graduate multiple years early, and I’d like her to do her own guide that better fits her age and maturity. We are in Unit 27 of
Bigger Hearts for His Glory now. Can you help me uncombine my 6 1/2 yo daughter and my 9 1/2 yo son?
Easing into Going Half-Speed to Uncombine
Kiddos do tend to want to be in their own guide as they get older if they’ve been paired with a younger sibling. Charlotte Mason said children should begin to independently read for subjects at the age of nine or shortly thereafter, as able. So, your son wanting to do that is natural and actually a good thing!
Since there are eight units left inÂ
Bigger Hearts for His Glory, your daughter could go half-speed for the units that remain. She could just do this four days a week. Since plans are five days a week in that guide, she’d have 40 days left. At a pace of four days a week, she’d finish in 10 weeks. Then, she could startÂ
Preparing Hearts for His GloryÂ
half-speed, putting some distance between her and her older brother. Just stop and take your summer break like normal, and pick up where you left off.
Since your older son now fits squarely placement-wise inÂ
Preparing Hearts for His Glory, you can start him half-speed in this guide now for the remaining time of your homeschool year. The focus can be slowly getting him used to the independence of the guide for the remaining part of this year. Or, if you’d rather not switch him now, he can finish out
Bigger Hearts for His Glory more independently (i.e. reading his own history, science). The goal would be for him to finishÂ
Preparing Hearts for His Glory by the end of next school year.
Let’s Talk the Details
So, how do you go half-speed when you want to go full-speed with your daughter in subjects like reading, dictation, grammar and math? You could have a daily block of time that stays the same (about 45 min.) and then alternate days with another block of time starting with you teaching and ending with your daughter being more independent (about 1 hour and 15 min.). That way, she’d be doing school about 2 hours, though you would not be teaching her that entire time…
Daily:
- Dictation (5 min.)
- Grammar (15 min.)
- Math (20-30 min.)
- (Total: About 45 min.)
Every Other Day (alternating “One day” and “The next day“…:
One day…
- Storytime (20 min.) Teacher-directed
- Bible Study (15 min.) Teacher-directed
- Poetry/Creative Writing (5-10 min.) Teacher-directed (Creative Writing Day will be 15 min. longer)
- Science Exploration (20-30 min.) Independent
- (Total: About 1 hour, 15 min.)
The next day…
- Reading About History (15 min.) Teacher-directed
- Rotating Box – Research/Geography/Timeline/Vocabulary (20 min.) Semi-Independent
- History Project (20 min.) Semi-Independent
- Picture the Past (20 min.) Mainly Independent
- (Total: About 1 hour, 15 min.)
3 Times a Week:
- Drawn into the Heart of Reading (30 min.)
- (Your daughter can just do Drawn into the Heart of Reading on the same days your son does it)
This plan to go half-speed to uncombine should put distance between your son and your daughter. Your daughter’s days will be shorter, and your son will take on more needed independence. Your daughter will not graduate so early, and your son will be ready for middle school. They can cheer each other on in their own respective guides, as they won’t be in competition anymore. Both will actually be placed in guides that fit them well – hooray! I’m glad you’re excited about this plan!
