HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

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mrsrandolph
Posts: 717
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:21 pm
Location: Cartersville, GA

HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by mrsrandolph » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:13 pm

OK. True confessions time. I have had the CTC BIG BOX for weeks. My kids finished Preparing today. I have been absolutely paralyzed by FEAR of opening CTC!!

WHY?
Well, several reasons.

My kids never reached the level of independence in Preparing that they were supposed to. They never did (ahem) *all* of the required writing. I feel so ashamed of myself!!

Part of the independence thing is that I have a hard time letting go of the control of the learning. I was a teacher. I teach!! I wanted to be involved in every subject and every step. Sigh. Cry...

I have read about setting up various notebooks and folders and binders for CTC, and I'm FREAKED OUT!! I don't know what I need to do! So I'm scared to open the box!

Then once I DO open the box, I have to work toward getting my 11 and 12 year olds on a road toward independence.

Maybe you can tell, but I am STRESSED OUT about this.

Help?
Shannon Randolph LOVING HOD & Running 4 Guides & DITHOR
Mommy to 4 Precious Blessings
Cassie (15- World Geography),
Will (14- Rev2Rev,
Ellie (12- Res2Ref), and
Jack (10- CTC)

lmercon
Posts: 659
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:05 pm
Location: Zieglerville, PA

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by lmercon » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:47 pm

Deep breath!

Just because it says "I" doesn't mean it has to be that way with YOUR kids from day one! With my severely dyslexic ds, CTC was completely teacher-led the whole year, and he's doing more and more independently now that we are in Rev. to Rev. It will come. Maybe choose an "easier" independent box to start with and do all the others together. Then move towards introducing the "I" boxes and sitting nearby for when help is needed. Slowly, they will gain that independence. Most kids actually WANT to work more independently. It gives them a good feeling to NOT need you every step of the way. You still are the teacher because you are slowly orchestrating the scaffolding needed to build that independence.

The notebooks and such are really not that hard to set up. I think when you see what everyone does all together, it looks like a lot. Just take out the manual and read the intro. Get things straight in your head and give yourself time to think through things. Your kids will love the notebooking pages. They'll have so much fun and learn a lot. Try to enjoy it!

hth a little,
Laura
Wife to a great guy and mommy to:
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!

Rice
Posts: 526
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:00 am

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by Rice » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:57 pm

Hey, you start where you are and work towards more independence, no matter what guide you’re using!

Plan on going half speed for a while until you all figure out what you want to assign as independent and what they’re capable of doing.(Part of post removed per board rules by board moderator) they’ll likely surprise you on some things! Smile

Set it up as if they would be independent (dividers for each subject, all the notebooking pages you want – (Part of post removed per board rules by board moderator) - paper or a scribbler in there for whichever subjects you don’t have notebooking pages for, maps and travel logs printed off for geography) and then start off doing everything together for the first week.

The second week start one new subject as Independent or semi-independent every couple of days. Check their work and if it’s not up to standard (and that may be a floating target as you all learn what this level demands, how to do the different assignments on different days and they learn how much you will/won’t let “slide” if they’re not sitting right there with you Winking smile ) then make them redo it, and try again the next day.

Independence is a slow and steady goal and it certainly doesn’t need to start Unit 1 Day 1. I hate it when people say it isn’t a race, it’s a marathon, lol, but I’m starting to let go of my high expectations and release to them their freedom to fail, if they choose. (This week for one its “You have 5 days to complete the unit. If it’s not complete by Friday you will do nothing but school and the scheduled hockey game that you’re committed to – no friends, no media – until it’s completed.”)

Start small for them and you and make expectations for each independent subject clear so they and you can clearly see if something is worthy of repeating or simply a reminder to do better next time.

And have fun opening the box! :D There are some great stories and experiences in there! Oh, the things you’ll do and the places you’ll explore together!

Blessings,
Rice

DS 21 - GRAD '20: after WG
DD 19 - GRAD '21: after WH
DS 17 - GRAD '22; did CTC-WH + 2yrs non-HOD (🇨🇦)
DS 15 not using a guide this year (DONE: LHFHG-MTMM)
DS 13 MTMM (DONE: Prep-Rev2Rev)
DS 11 +
DD 9 CTC (DONE: Prep)
6yo DS phonics

Nealewill
Posts: 1611
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:08 pm
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by Nealewill » Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:50 pm

Have you thought about purchasing 2 guides? I find that by giving my kids the guide, they can then work really hard. I also highlight my guide to help direct their eyes to the most important information on the page. I highlight the letters in the boxes. It helps me to also color code the things I need to work on with them and helps them to see what they need to do. I would also not stress about your day and let the day go as it goes. The first step toward independence is letting go. There will be days they fail and days they make mistakes. My dd did okay being independent in Preparing but this year she is soaring with independence in CTC. It makes a huge difference in my day. I only spend about 1 hour a day working with her and she has embraced the independence and works hard at it.
Daneale

DD 13 WG
DS 12 R2R
DD 10 R2R

Enjoyed DITHOR, Little Hearts, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, RevtoRev, MtMM

LynnH
Posts: 1846
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: OH
Contact:

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by LynnH » Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:12 am

I agree with what others have said. They don't have to be independent from day 1. Set goals for themselves and for you to have them become Independent one box at a time. Also independent doesn't mean you don't know what they are doing or not involved in their day. Their are plenty of things in the CTC guide where they answer questions out loud to you, do oral narrations etc. Also if they are doing some things on their own, then you will enjoy the boxes they are supposed to do with you that much more. Look at it as part of that process of slowly letting them move toward the independence of adult hood. I know for my son when he reached that age if I was seeing attitude in school it was because I was hovering too much. Boys especially need to feel like they can do some things without their moms. Kids that age get a sense of accomplishment when they do things on their own. It's ok if they struggle at first, don't jump right in, let them try and figure it out. Figuring things out will teach them perseverance. The one thing you may have to let go is any perfectionism tendencies you have. You want them to do their best work, but realize it may not look like it would if you did it. It's hard to let them go, but it is also so incredible to watch them start to rely on God and move toward that adult he means for them to be.

As far as setting up the notebooks, just read through the introduction one subject at a time to see what you need. You can do things in one big notebook or in a few little ones. I would put the notebooking pages in a separate one. CTC is pretty easy to set up and as others have suggested let your dc help you.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

sahervey
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:46 pm

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by sahervey » Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:01 pm

For setting up, read this: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12245
This post was very helpful to me when I started CtC.
Amy
Married to a Navy Chaplain
Mom to 4: Addie, Joel, Silas, and Lincoln
AH2
World History
MtMM
Bigger

my3sons
Posts: 10698
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by my3sons » Thu Jan 22, 2015 4:19 pm

Oh Shannon - don't deprive yourself or your dc any longer, and OPEN THAT BOX! :D :D :D Just like most things we worry about, the worry comes to
be nothing worth worrying about at all! :) Every HOD guide begins with a training period, which includes training dc to do each box of plans little by little, taking over the "I" ones successfully as able. Our best stride in a guide is always about 1/3 of the way in, and by the last 1/3 it's just second nature! New skills are taught each year, and they are often moved from the "T" stage to the "S" stage prior to being moved to the "I" stage. So, there is time built in for training there! :)

You'd mentioned...
Part of the independence thing is that I have a hard time letting go of the control of the learning. I was a teacher. I teach!! I wanted to be involved in every subject and every step. Sigh. Cry...

I want to encourage you not to elongate lessons that are meant to clip along, or let the teacher in you take over things that don't have to be micromanaged. I say this as a reminder to ME as much as something for you. We are in the last 1/3 of RTR, and I am JUST feeling like I can allow Riley to do his own Medieval History Based Lesson key word outlines more on his own. It has been an unnecessary source of frustration for us when I take it over and make his words be my words. I've had to step away and let the boy write! :shock: Things go so much better when I am the helper rather than the dictator. Knowing when to step in and help is tough, but taking over is worse. My rule of thumb lately is to give a good solid introduction, using the daily plans and the instruction already provided in whatever resource HOD plans for me to use, but then after helping ds make a good plan, I walk away for awhile. It just about kills me sometimes, but I do. :wink: I check back and if it's total writer's block or there is some obstacle to moving forward that is frustrating Riley and causing time to tick away, I jump in and help. Many times, I find he didn't need me at all. Other times, I check back and whatever was stumping him can easily be fixed without me taking over the entire rest of the assignment. For example, last time he had done a good job with the first part of his draft, but he couldn't think of an -ly word to include in his writing. I pulled out his Writing Resource NB, found the -ly words chart and suggested he look there. No go still. So, I chose 3 words that would work, and he picked 1 to use. Then, he was off and running for the rest of the entire writing assignment! In the old days, I would have taken over the entire assignment from that moment forward, when all he really need was an -ly word. :D

You'd also mentioned...
I have read about setting up various notebooks and folders and binders for CTC, and I'm FREAKED OUT!! I don't know what I need to do! So I'm scared to open the box!

So a word about setting up - just refer to the post, read the Introduction to gather your needed materials, and then have your kiddos help you for their first day! It goes more smoothly this way rather than setting up as you are trying to teach. Your dc can DO this! Put your worries aside and open the box and begin! You are a very capable person, and it is going to be just fine!!! :D :D :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

annaz
Posts: 833
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:47 pm

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by annaz » Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:03 pm

my3sons wrote: I want to encourage you not to elongate lessons that are meant to clip along, or let the teacher in you take over things that don't have to be micromanaged.

Things go so much better when I am the helper rather than the dictator. Knowing when to step in and help is tough, but taking over is worse.
In Christ,
Julie

This is an AWESOME reminder!!!!
Married 1994
One DD 6/2000
One DH :)
One cat
One dog
Three horses :shock:

mrsrandolph
Posts: 717
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:21 pm
Location: Cartersville, GA

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by mrsrandolph » Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:19 pm

Thanks Julie! I was hoping to hear from you. ANd thanks to all the others who encouraged me. Box is opened and notebooks are set up. Monday we start teaching!!
Shannon Randolph LOVING HOD & Running 4 Guides & DITHOR
Mommy to 4 Precious Blessings
Cassie (15- World Geography),
Will (14- Rev2Rev,
Ellie (12- Res2Ref), and
Jack (10- CTC)

chillin'inandover
Posts: 151
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:05 am

Re: HELP! I'm SCARED to open the BOX!

Post by chillin'inandover » Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:45 am

Shannon,
I am so glad to read you are ready for Monday. Praying for a wonderful year. I can relate to errors doing in Preparing. To compensate for my error I created a curriculum that developed the skills. It was a lot of work for me. I so appreciate what Carrie has done with HOD. What I realized is that if I had slowed down CTC so that each box that was "I" was done as "I" it would have been ok. I didn't really need that extra year, I only needed to slow CTC in the beginning.
Like I often say, "I am the one getting an education." Homeschooling has been refining me. Patience check, give up control check, slow down and smell the roses check, and deepen relationship with Christ check.Enjoy CTC.
Tammy
Wife of 32 years
Mom to 4
DD 29 Technical Manager FA, Playwright, Producer, Lighting Designer
DD 28 Master in TESL, Lead ELL teacher 3rd grade
DD 19 AAS welding
DD 16 , WH
Home Educator since 2000 HOD LHTH-US2

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