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Michelle My Bell

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Posts posted by Michelle My Bell

    Young Relationship: WWYD?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Something that really worked for my sister and I, and that I am hoping to fabricate with my own children as they grow up, is to emphasize that dating is for folk who are ready to be married. If you aren't ready to be married, yes even in high school, then you are not ready to be dating.

     

    There's more to it than that. But just because "everyone calls it dating" does not mean that is a good word to call it.

     

    Since I knew I was not ready to be married, when I did things with friends, that's what I called it. Doing activities with friends. (even the guy who took me to senior prom was not a date. Though it was the closest I got since we did some of the traditional "date" things since it was the prom. But we were going as friends and that was quite clear to both of us).

     

    When, as an adult, I DID meet the guy who I thought might be my husband (*laugh* after going out to see a movie as Just Friends)... then we did date and were very careful to keep everything in public and above board. But we were free to let our emotions go and grow closer together in the process.

     

    There were a few "Is this the one" emotional trials before that fizzled before it even got that far. But when there aren't a lot of guys around and you desperately want to be married... it can be hard NOT to eye every guy you see who might be an option with those glasses! But I do not feel I missed out on anything but not dating in school and waiting to date until I was really testing each guy out as a potential spouse.

     

    This is exactly what I mean. Teach this to your son.

    Young Relationship: WWYD?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Well, I am. I guess I don't think a "failed relationship" is the end of the world at 13. You would be surprised how much damage a romantic relationship can inflict, even at 13. It depends on how deep it gets.

    We've talked about it. I've explained the dangers. Most of us made it through young relationships that didn't work out, as I did.

     

    I can't "disallow" the relationship.

     

    I am not actually suggesting you disallow it either, but you are the parent so you have the right and the responsibility to step in and stop interaction should you deem it important enough to do. A better route would be to explain to your son the reasons why you feel this relationship should not continue. You could tell him you are sorry for making the mistake of allowing him to already develop feelings (even if they are minor) by allowing him to go on this date. You love him and know he is not ready for marriage. You would tell him the truth. Why he should not be in this relationship and why you care enough to protect him.

     

    It is already there; they already like each other. All I can do is block contact, and based upon some experiences I had with my oldest, I'm not convinced this is the way to go.

    .

    Young Relationship: WWYD?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Let me ask you this? Where is this relationship supposed to go? Do you expect it to be stagnant? If you don't want it to go any further, then why do you allow the relationship? Boyfriend/Girlfriend relationship by their very nature move forward. If that is not something you want for your son, I suggest you stop the relationship before it becomes "more" in terms of emotions and actions. Are you prepared to deal with the emotional baggage that will come with a failed relationship? Do you believe this relationship will lead to marriage, because if not, it will be a failed relationship you will have to get your son through. Think it through.

    Ugh -- smokers for neighbors

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    My new neighbor moved in and started smoking on her porch which filtered right into my house and yard. I sent her a nice note telling her how I would appreciate if she didn't smoke outdoors as I am very sensitive to it. I also explained I didn't want my children breathing it when they are outside. Fortunately for me, she hasn't smoked outdoors since.

    If you were going to do American History in a co-op setting

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I have been working on this all morning and I really like the idea of units of study versus a whole curricula. I really need help breaking the units down into about 8-10 studies for the whole year. Each would cover about 3-5 weeks.

     

    I brainstormed and looked at some websites and I came up with this format. I would love additional or different ideas to this model...

     

    Week 1 - Introductory Week

    Summarize the topic that is going to be covered. Get the kids excited about what is to come. Assign a History Reader they are to read for the next 4 weeks. Assign a research topic to each child and give them book suggestions to study up on the topic more. Tell them to write a topical report to share in class next week. (Use book report ideas booklets from Scholastic)

     

    Week 2 - Report Week

    Spend part of the class sharing reports. Spend later part of class doing mapwork, timelines, etc... Assign Biography Reports. Encourage creativity here. Ideas include: Child dressing up as character and dramatically presenting report, Art Projects such as Dioramas, Cooking etc.. anything that represents the person they are reporting on.

     

    Week 3 - Hands on Week - Do crafts, or learn skills that relate to the unit. For instance... Weaving as in colonial America. Another idea is to introduce a dramatic element. Give the kids a play and assign parts. It could be done readers theater style.

     

    Week 4 Presentation Week - ???

     

    I don't know, as I am typing this I feel like this is too much work or not organized enough. I need help.

    If you were going to do American History in a co-op setting

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I am in a co-op and we're starting our sixth year, with me leading the co-op five of those years (stepping back now). When we discuss classes, the main concern we get when we discuss elementary/middle sch history is "we're doing history at home." Moms are not wanting to mess up their four-year plan (or whatever...) by adding a different history at co-op. So, I recommend not trying to cover a chunk of history "home style" at the co-op. Moms simply don't want to be covering medieval history at home and modern USA at co-op.

     

    What has worked for us is for us to take a snapshot of a piece of history and dive in deep and have fun. This year (as I did in 2008) I'm teaching an elections class. I guess this is more civics than history.

     

    In the past, we've had successful classes on Lewis and Clark and Egyptian culture. Neither of these classes covered a lot of time but instead took an interesting look at a slice of history. In Egyptian culture, the kids made pyramids, mummified a mouse caught in the teacher's garage (squeamish kids mummified apples), etc. In the Lewis and Clark class, the kids learned about the historical characters, medicines, diets, politics, and nature encountered on this trip. They wrapped up the class with a play and a poem performed before parents. Oh, another study we did was a study on Presidents. Each kid did a presentation during class and the students learned a lot of interesting facts about the presidents.

     

    So, I would suggest that you find an aspect of history that you can dive in deeper with. Just brainstorming here... How about:

     

    Philadelphia

    Life on the Mayflower

    Life of a 10 year old child at different times in USA history (what would a 10 year old Pilgrim do, a 10 year old slave, a 10 year old sweat shop child, a 10 year old in 1920)

    Landmarks

    Explorers

    Founding Fathers

    USA Symbols (Uncle Sam, etc.)

    USA Documents

    Jamestown

    California Missions

    National Parks

    Farming in America

    Transportation in America

    Dust Bowl

    Inventions in America

    Pioneers

    Biomes in America

    Cowboys (I want to do this one some day!)

     

    So, I recommend, instead of doing a chunk of history just like it would probably be done at home, pick something interesting and jump in.

     

    These are some great ideas! I am in the process of reworking a class that is not going to happen. I need to get this pulled together this week. I have experience running History Nights once a year and this sort of sounds like it. I agree with everything you've said. We are doing a completely different program at home and I wasn't too excited about adding in a whole another program from co-op.

     

    So how would you run the class. Could you break it down for me? What I mean is, is there a lecture time where I would be teaching them? Would I be reading to them? Doing activities? Having presentations? I would appreciate some insight into how you would do this.

    If you were going to do American History in a co-op setting

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    If you were going to do American History in a co-op setting for 4-6th graders and you wanted it to include...

     

    A Spine - Nothing too intense. You would be reading (or watching... DVD's?) from it once a week at the co-op and it should only take about 15 minutes max to cover.

     

    Literature - Assign Historical Fiction for the kids to read at home to make the lessons come alive. Something they can possibly do projects and reports on.

     

    Hands On - Some sort of fun projects, games or activities they can do in class. Should not take more than 1/2 hour.

     

    Special Events - Every so often you would want to do something extra fun or extra big to finish up a unit. Something that could involve drama or food, special guests in historical costume. I don't know, I am just throwing out ideas.

     

    Weekly Segment for the kids to share at home projects they worked on. Book Reports maybe??? Art Projects related??? Any ideas???

     

    What resources (free or not) would you use to make this happen? I would love as many suggestions (no matter how crazy or simple) you may have. Help me brainstorm!

    ACE, TT or MUS for struggling & behind DD

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    OK, I misunderstood. CLE can be advanced for many students. You may need to back up into the previous grade. But, CLE is very easy to get through quickly. What you need to do is do 2 lessons a day. This is how....

     

    Do the new material at the beginning of the lesson. Once your child has completed all of that, move into the review section. Go over this part very quickly. Skip material you KNOW she understands, or just do 1 or 2 problems. Do all the problems for areas you know she needs more work on. All of this should take less than half the time it takes to do a whole lesson.

     

    Next, move onto the next lesson. Do the same steps as outlined above.

     

    Every few lessons, have your child do just one whole lesson.

     

    Gauge your child's progress with the quizzes and tests. If she is passing those with ease you know she is getting it.

     

    Following this plan will eliminate a lot of frustrations.

    ACE, TT or MUS for struggling & behind DD

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We usually skip the first book of each grade because there is already so much review built in. Also, you could do the extra light units out of your TM and have her skip books of already mastered concepts. She could progress much faster that way. To me, it sounds like she is frustrated doing things she already understands. I would move forward, not change curriculum.

    School prep day tomorrow!!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I have been trying for the last two weeks to get some major stuff done. I got a lot done but not anywhere near what is necessary to start school tomorrow. Well over the last few days there have been cracks in my nuclear reactor but it was yesterday that there was a meltdown. I tell you I was Chernobyl. After that, I have been better. I realize that I am just going to have to function within the parameters given me and trudge through.

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