
I have 4 dc: dd is in 2nd, ds is in 1st, ds is in K, and dd is our resident toddler who loves to "do school" but also loves to foil any attempts at in-depth schooling I make with the olders!

My schedule has worked great up to this point, but here's my frustration: I generally spend from about 9-10:00 with dd in one-on-one time. Then we break for a snack and read-aloud time. From about 10:30-11:15 is time with one ds and then to about 11:45 with second ds. The problem is with the boys while I'm schooling dd. In an ideal world where I have all this planning time, I'd plan some "center-type" activities for them, but I just never find the time to plan all these extras on top of school for 3 1/2 kids! As a result, they are just kind of doing their own thing during this time--not that that's bad because they're learning as they build tents, construct with Legos, etc., but as they become better readers and older students, I feel they should be doing something a little more "schoolish"!
In short, I'd like to hear from some of you what your other children do while you're having one-on-one time with each child. And I don't really want to hear about what you do with toddlers and preschoolers because I've read books on that, attended seminars--there's really so much out there about that subject! But I want to know what your other school-age children are doing during one-on-one times. Are they doing something academic? Are they doing independent work--even if they haven't yet met with mom that specific day? Is it free-time for them?
I haven't been concerned about this with the boys so young, but as I mentioned, now that they're getting older, I feel they ought to be doing something a little more academic, you know? Sorry this is so long--I tend to get a little wordy sometimes!

I'd appreciate any advice you have to give!
Blessings,
Kathleen Pierce