Heathermomster Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Hi There, So, has anyone taken their summer break to examine useful software and/or hardware for accommodations and planning? I have spent the last couple of weeks examining EverNote and OneNote to help me organize and hopefully rope DS into assuming a more active role in planning his school days and working on EF skills. He is starting ninth grade with a full schedule. My younger will be first grade and needs more face time with mom. For my DD, I have set up work boxes. Work boxes make a perfect excuse for purchasing a laminator, and my laminator rocks. :hurray: My homeschool cover has a Super Mom/Engineer/Excel guru that provided a generic Excel homeschool planning spreadsheet for the cover moms to use. I looked at it last year and passed. I just didn't have the heart to piddle with complicated looking software. On Monday, I took a second look and by George, I read the directions and figured it out. Plus, the spreadsheet works beautifully with OneNote. I can easily produce and email a weekly schedule to DS. I preferred EverNote at first, but honestly, OneNote meets our needs so much better. In the coming school year, DS will be carrying his 3 year old Netbook computer to class. After pulling out the laptop to examine it, DH and I discovered that the operating system was toast, and I cannot locate the recovery CDs. DS is currently getting a crash course in loading Ubuntu, a Linux operating system. Going Microsoft free on this computer feels a wee bit like when I pulled DS from school. :svengo: Anyhoo.. This afternoon, whenever DS didn't know something, I made him look up the info over the Internet. The last three days have been one grand experiment into how to make the upcoming school year better. I feel like I have climbed a mountain. So, what is everyone doing or planning software or hardware wise to improve school? Blessings, ~h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I'm recording the snores of my dog to make peaceful white noise to fill her earbuds. (just joking!) I have no clue, but your progress sounds terrific. They sort of ham stringed the OneNote for mac version, so I haven't really pursued it hard. I guess I should, sigh. I hadn't thought about it till just now, but if I were a better woman I would figure out a way to have that file open on both our computers somehow, hmm. As is we've just usually done paper, nice boring paper. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 I'm recording the snores of my dog to make peaceful white noise to fill her earbuds. (just joking!) I have no clue, but your progress sounds terrific. They sort of ham stringed the OneNote for mac version, so I haven't really pursued it hard. I guess I should, sigh. I hadn't thought about it till just now, but if I were a better woman I would figure out a way to have that file open on both our computers somehow, hmm. As is we've just usually done paper, nice boring paper. :) See, this is the kind of out-of-the box thinking that our kids need..I could use that kind of white noise. It is so environmentally sound and friendly. :tongue_smilie: Hopefully, I will follow through and stay on top of the schedule. I haven't even explored my OneNote IPad options. Off to check.. :seeya: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I started researching the One Note thing last night and got tired. I saw some indication there's a collaboration option and a One Drive account to sync the files. Or maybe that's old? If there is, that would be cool, because you could see instantly on the other work station how the dc was doing going through his work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 One of the key selling features for OneNote is the collaboration feature. I also like that I can e-mail his schedule and attach extras on the side with Internet links. He looses bits of paper. OneNote is free too, which is awesome. Now, I need to set up some sort of personal calendar to sink with it and figure out algebra planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 UPDATE,,, DS is using an Internet textbook for his DIVE Biology course, and he's reading from the screen. Last night, we discovered the Google Chrome browser's iSpeech app and we are pleased. To operate, the user highlights the text they want to hear and then selects a speaker icon in the tool bar. The program then reads aloud the selected text. The program is painless to operate and the voice is pleasant. Just wanted to share. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Thanks so much for the update! I had planned to spend this summer getting DD up and running with Dragon, Inspiration and a couple of other things but failed miserably. Business issues and our impending move/long commute just got in the way. I am looking into OneNote now. I need something on line that I can use but also print out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I need to upgrade to Ginger Plus but that costs $$. I really should look into that new math app too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I need to upgrade to Ginger Plus but that costs $$. I really should look into that new math app too. What is the difference between Ginger and Ginger Plus? In other words, why do you feel that the upgrade is necessary? Haven't used Ginger yet, by the way. Looking at purchasing it next week... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 You know, I'm not really sure. Ginger Plus was just the option on sale at HSBC and our free trial has run out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 You know, I'm not really sure. Ginger Plus was just the option on sale at HSBC and our free trial has run out. Oh! I get it. Hmmm....will have to dig up reviews... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srs Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 UPDATE,,, DS is using an Internet textbook for his DIVE Biology course, and he's reading from the screen. Last night, we discovered the Google Chrome browser's iSpeech app and we are pleased. To operate, the user highlights the text they want to hear and then selects a speaker icon in the tool bar. The program then reads aloud the selected text. The program is painless to operate and the voice is pleasant. Just wanted to share. :D Ooooh, we will have to go check that out in Chrome. I am mostly hiding my head in the sand and feeling totally stuck between accommodation and remediation for DD with writing and to some extent with reading as well. Think paralysis. But she is young so I keep telling myself we have lots of time to figure out what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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