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WTMCassandra

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Everything posted by WTMCassandra

  1. Actual BOOKS. Okay, I get having internet available for homeless/poor, but please, don't let it take over the lion's share of space. Online reservation system. Unlocked bathrooms. A quiet READING room. Hardly any libraries have quiet spaces. And similarly, some quiet work cubbies tucked away.
  2. Oh no, definitely not aggressive and belittling. That's not her at all. Seriously. Sorry it looked that way : (.
  3. I believe she says in the book (not sure which edition) that she recommends folding the littles in with whatever you are doing for your oldest. I would also get creative. What can you relegate to the car, to school while you drive? Music appreciation, SOTW, other audiobook? You need to find time daily to spend at least a few minutes with your K'er on phonics and handwriting, but the younger ones can just be included in what you are doing, even if they are scribbling with a crayon on paper "doing math" while your oldest is doing math. I would combine, reclaim found time like in the car, and possibly try to streamline meals a bit to try to fit things in. But yes, if you have to, you can either cut out art appreciation or cut it back to once a week (Friday afternoon, maybe?).
  4. Yes, Bonhoeffer, Schindler, Corrie ten Boom, are all other choices. I also agree they would be more uplifting. I'm not saying Hitler's a bad choice for a Christian group, but I'd rather spend time on someone more positive than him. Just my preference.
  5. I think she's saying, "Y'all play nice on my site, now." And perhaps also, "Get back in there and grade that Latin homework!" But look carefully and you will see that she is also secretly amused at the same time. I actually like the picture--it shows a lot of her cool personality.
  6. Eric Wallace and Uniting Church and Home was around about 10 years before NCFIC started. They are not the same thing. A family-integrated church is not necessarily a VF church. In a family-integrated church, the focus is on having the children involved and worshipping as families, NOT patriarchy.
  7. I plot and do whatever it takes to avoid school groups as much as possible. I also recommend on going after lunch, if possible. I HATE HATE HATE noisy school groups. Blech!
  8. In our speech and debate league, that would mean "khakis and polo/dress shirt, no sneakers." We also call this "Club Attire." For tournaments, full suits are required.
  9. I do feel like an outsider a lot IRL. I am considered "tiger mom" here, although in the context of this board, I am average. Lots of unschooling and relaxed schooling, as well as a lot of public-school partnership members. However, most people are willing to talk about curriculum at least to some degree. Most of the time people ask me, and I consult The Hive, LOL! I hang out here a lot because I feel like I mostly fit in here.
  10. Great answers so far! Thank you! If there's any more, I'll pass those on too. I knew the people here would know!
  11. All, I have a friend with 10 children, and one of her youngest is having a lot of trouble learning to read. Lots of ADHD symptoms. Obviously this Mom is experienced, so she must be really having a time! They are working on other changes like diet, but they are looking for multi-sensory choices for phonics, or things on CD/DVD. Child cannot sit still for anything else, but will sit for movies ; ). I have passed on a couple of Cathy Duffy's picks for Wiggly Willys, and also the book idea of How to Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and On to Learning, but I want to give her suggestions that have been field-tested by you excellent ladies. What phonics programs might she try, especially computer-based ones? Thanks, WTMCassandra
  12. While I don't have outcomes to share, we're getting kind of close. Last year, my DD maxed the PSAT in language. She just took it again as a junior, so we don't have the results from that yet. She isn't as strong in math, which coincides with her "bent," but she still does a credible job in that too (way better than her math-phobic, hating mama). IMHO, both CM and SWB are in sync (pretty much) about the "what" of classical education. They differ in the "how." CM was a big help with tips on how to reach the littles. I mostly did SWB stuff CM's way in the early years, although we didn't do as many nature walks as she would do. But the short lessons, no twaddle, oral narrations, etc., all of those kinds of "tricks" helped me adapt classical to those little ones. Mine definitely didn't do written narrations as soon as WTM says, but they did get there. As an English major and writing teacher, it was kind of harrowing to "do" teaching writing SWB's way, which is SO VASTLY different than modern techniques. But at the beginning of high school, my children were just where she said they would be, able to write short persuasive papers. And now that they are in speech and debate, they are learning the research stuff. (In Team Policy debate, if you write your own Affirmative case, you've accomplished about 85% of a research paper.) So, I don't think it's "either/or" with CM and SWB. I think it's "both/and." P.S. SWB also told me years ago to do Latin for 3-4 years before attempting Greek. Her recommendation was spot on. So now they do both Latin and Greek.
  13. Would you think you would have to remind a 17yo and a 15yo to put PERIODS at the end of their SENTENCES consistently? No, me neither *heavy sigh.*

  14. This might be off the wall, but did they do any basic bloodwork? My daughter presented with chest pain to the ped five years ago, and she ordered a chest x-ray to be sure, but she also did basic bloodwork. And my daughter's blood sugar was through the roof. Chest pain can be a sign of high blood sugar, although it is a rare symptom. But oddly, the chest pain is how we found out she was a Type 1 diabetic, AND if she her numbers are high, it returns.
  15. Cool! I got 78%. I bet my daughter would really like this.
  16. Sure! I'd do it, if we could find a weekend where we are both free. Totally serious about that, BTW. Mostly, my criteria for keepers are: 1) True family favorites 2) Books we want to read over and over 3) Books not available (read: free or cheap) on Kindle 4) Books likely to be used in the next couple of years ETA: Whenever I do a book cull, I always try to pay attention to see whether a certain culling choice still really bugs me after a day or two. Does it make me sad that title is in the box, and does the sad feeling last and bug me? If so, I pull it out again with no guilt. It's clearly not time to part with that title yet.
  17. In junior high, we really liked the History Lives series. It is Protestant but didn't seem militantly so or militantly reformed to me. It also corresponds really well to the four-year cycle. Here is a link to the first one: http://www.amazon.com/Peril-Peace-Chronicles-Ancient-History/dp/1845500822/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379279964&sr=1-1&keywords=history+lives+series In high school, we are doing Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language that others have mentioned, and we like that as well.
  18. Drunkenness is not fine, but alcohol is only a substance. It is neither inherently holy or sinful. But me personally? A teetotaler. I don't think I'm more holy than someone else, but I hate the taste, and I don't want to flirt with any possible addiction (although I know that is not inevitable).
  19. I understand. This is partially a cultural difference and partially a dignity issue, I think. He is profoundly impaired at attempting to use his voice. He is not stupid--he knows this. And it is likely really hard for him. Many profoundly deaf don't speak unless they absolutely have to, to the minimum number of people possible. Culturally, many profoundly deaf have a coping mechanism called "Deaf Pride" where they believe that they don't need the hearing world and focus almost exclusively on the Deaf Community. This culture devalues using voice or trying to appear hearing in any way. It sounds like he might be in this camp. It is a different culture and perspective. He does not see the situation the same way you do. Because interacting with you is going to be a huge effort for him, either with your beginning ASL or asking him to use voice (which I don't recommend, by the way), you should, culturally, show some effort and interest first. Keep in mind that he has to go through this huge effort anytime he interacts with any hearing person--he is going to conserve his energy. You have to show a sustained effort in his direction first. But if he decides you are a safe person who genuinely cares enough about him to learn his language? That could go somewhere really sweet. Many deaf people are exceedingly patient with hearing people who have proven themselves over time to really care. Just my humble opinion.
  20. Honestly, the best approach is probably to be willing to learn sign language. Could you write him a note like, "I'd like to learn some sign language to be able to communicate with you better. Are you willing to teach me a few signs that will help?" If he is not interested in the hearing world (some deaf are not), trying to learn his language is your best bet. If you give him the note when you arrive, perhaps he will teach you a few things. "Hello" is super easy, "How are you" is pretty easy too, and if you can get him to teach you his "name sign," that would be a really positive step. If he asks you "How are you," it is easy to sign "Fine." You can even check out a few basic signs like that before you go. Here is a pretty good video dictionary: http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi
  21. Thank you! I am blessed to have a very cooperative liaison at the local high school, so I called her yesterday and then brought over a check. She seems to view me as a fellow educator and knows my rights as a homeschooler, which is awesome.
  22. Kindle paperwhite was the model that finally convinced me to enter the ereader market. I love it! I also like that it's actually less expensive than other models.
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