Need Advice, Help, Something!

[evansmel]

I will start off with a little history to my situation.
This is my first year homeschooling my daughter that is in 2nd grade and I work Full time as well.
I started off with Abeka and she doesn't really like (she likes the math) and tried to change around and make it more fun. My issue is she doesn't want to do ANY work. She loves to learn but she refuses to do any worksheets or journal writing Anything. Like I stated I work full time, so we do lessons in the evening and she does worksheets or whatever the next day while I am at work (my mother keeps her during the day).
Alot of her problem is that she is MAD at me because I work and can not stay home all day with her.
My thing is now it is sooooo difficult and I don't know what else to do and I am to the point of putting her into Private school. I don't think it is fair for my mother to have to deal with my daughter being so defiant. It may be something I am doing or not doing, I really do not know, but it is really hurting me and bringing me down.
Sorry for this being so long, but I don't have people to talk to (just my Mom). Thanks again.
Melissa

[elizawill]

are you part of a homeschool group? is there another homeschool mom with a similar age child that would be willing to teach your daughter one or two days out of the week at their house? this would probably make it a lot of fun for your dd. or is your mom willing and able to take her to a co-op or PE class, or other homeschool group activities? my daughter really enjoys homeschooling along side other kids her age. is this even an option in your situation? i know it's got to be difficult working full-time and homeschooling. saying a prayer for you!! i'm sure others may have more ideas and insight for you.

[Dianna]

Melissa, you said that she loves to learn, but doesn't like doing worksheets or journal writing. I can't really blame her... worksheets are usually boring and she's a little young for journal writing. Instead, could you let her choose topics in science and social studies that would be interesting to her and ask your mom to take her to the library for good books and videos about those topics? Can your mom take her on field trips? Would she let her watch Animal Planet or Discovery Channel and other PBS or educational shows that engage young learners?

Is your daughter doing okay with reading? If so, she can read during the day. For writing, if she's enjoying learning about topics she chose for herself, she may not mind writing a story about the topic (with illustrations, if she likes drawing). She could work on it during the week (or two weeks, or whatever), and learn sentence-writing skills, punctuation, spelling, handwriting practice, etc., in context of that one story. You said she liked the A Beka Math, so I assume that's going okay.

I encourage you to just try a different approach before enrolling her in a private school. Do any of these ideas sound workable to you? :smile2:

Warmly,
Dianna

[Marywood]

Hi, Melissa,
Not sure that I have anything super-helpful to add to the above, but if it's any consolation, I think that there are many, many 2nd graders out there who, if given half an opportunity, would rather NOT work and will pull out any behavior they think will get them out of it. Heck, I'd rather not work and I'm, well, a little older than 2nd grade :rolleyes2 !!

The only other thought I had was that your daughter might enjoy playing educational (board) games or computer games (with a preset time or round limit), if your Mom agrees and has access to a computer. The education store in the outlets at Gaffney has a good variety of board games (including an excellent line of reading games) and educational toys, as well, if that is near you.

I've gone through rough patches with my son (4th grade) as well and I'll bet that many hs'ing Moms can say the same.

I also wanted to add how much I admire you for doing this and working full-time. I'm sure that it makes for a very long day for you.

My thoughts are with you,
Mary Ann

[evansmel]

thank you both for your thoughts and ideas. Well my mother used to not have very good transportation to take her too many places and I also have a 2yr old, so sometimes it is hard. She ice skates and I enrolled her in the homeschool group lessons, so she does that everyweek. She plays softball and practices 3 times a week.
Here is where I get confused if she doesn't do worksheets what do I have for proof that she is learning?
My local group does this thing on Fridays that offers many different classes that they can take, however I did not enroll her for this current year, I did not want to overwhelm either one of us. I am going to put her in some of it for next school year.
I am always worried about not having proof of learning if ever questioned.
She reads well and likes to but only for me.
Thank you again.
I knew the first year would be tough figuring out the best way and making sure on my part to cover everything.
Thanks again
Melissa:wave:

[Dianna]

Here is where I get confused if she doesn't do worksheets what do I have for proof that she is learning?

For the area of reading, I just provide a list of books my children have read (or that I've read to them) in their portfolios. For writing, I include samples of their writing (letters to Grandma, stories, notes, reports/essays when they're older, etc). For math, I keep copies of some of their tests or worksheets (math is a subject where worksheets are almost inevitable). For science, I insert museum brochures, tickets from field trips, a list of books and magazines they've read that relate to science, pictures of science-related projects or experiments, and writing they've done that's related to science. I use the same format for social studies. I've never included worksheets in the reading, writing, science, or social studies sections of our portfolio because we've never used them. It's harder to document those areas, but it can be done (and hopefully others will jump in with other documentation ideas).


She reads well and likes to but only for me.


Melissa, remember to let her read by herself, too. Many times parents of new-ish readers will ask their children to read aloud all the time. Children usually enjoy reading much more if they can read to themselves and really sink into a story. If you're concerned that she's not really reading or comprehending the book, just read the book yourself and then talk about the book. Don't grill her with "comprehension" questions, just talk about what she liked about it, or didn't like. You'll soon get a sense of whether or not she read and understood the book.

I hope this helps!

Dianna