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thowell

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Posts posted by thowell

  1. Math:

    one comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester = 100% of the grade.

    Daily work is for practice and has to be complete and correct; any mistakes have to be redone, but I do not give a grade. Since I teach for long term mastery, that is what I test.

     

    History and English: essays are graded. We teach to mastery, so the essay has to be reworked until it meets my criteria for an A.

    We do not do quizzes, worksheets, or vocab.

     

    Science:

    courses that are taught at home: monthly tests that are averaged.

    Homework has to be complete and correct and is redone until it is, but not graded.

    Lab has to be completed to my satisfaction, but is not graded either.

     

    We teach to mastery. I see no value in giving low grades and moving on with less than full understanding of the material.

     

    I completely agree with you and this is they way we have always done it. Tis year dd13 is really trying me! This has been the worst year so far with her getting her work done. I had to pull her from her Algebra class because, only a month in, she was already so far behind. She is behind in science and honestly only doing a so so job at it. I have to work part time, from home, so we have class time together in the mornings until 12. I teach dd10 her math and SWR, and we do bible and history together. Dd10's science and then dd13 math. So she does have a bit to do on her own but I expected hr to be able to handle it this year!!!! She's not doing alot!! Guess i am just frustrated with it and wanted to show her how good she has it.

     

  2. So I think dd13 needs a little lesson in reality. I want to really grade and keep track of her grades. So in math for instance how much should categories get? Examples, homework complete, quiz and test. I have never set this up before so any advice would be great. i am going to attempt to use the free version of Skedtrack. Thanks!

  3. Mine was in 600 before he lost it. We moved to a more mastery approach and he is doing fine now. CLE can be difficult to remember everything especially as the math becomes more challenging. I would not dismiss the idea of making a switch. If it is early hormones, I would do it anyway for the sake of your relationship.

     

    I see you are using BJU. If we do switch this is at the top of my list. Is it somewhat align in skill level with CLE. If she is in level 4 with CLE where would I start her in BJU? It is not cheap for the newer editions, are they worth it? I have read that the higher levels are much better in the newer 3rd edition what about the 4th and 5th level?

  4. This is so unlike her that I am at a loss. She loves school and has always loved math! So, I took everyone's advice and am slowing her down to let the topics sink in more. She is in 403 on lesson 3. She missed over half of the "We Remember" part for the lesson. I always go over the new concept with her and then allow her to do the "we Remember" by herself and then we go over any she misses. But WOW! over half??? One of them was labeling rays, lines and line segments. She forgot to put the symbols over the names and when I asked her to label them she just completely broke down and said she could not remember. She went on to tell me that there are too many things going on in the lessons and that she is getting confused and forgetting things. Poor thing was really stressed out!

     

    She has used CLE from the beginning and has done great with it. Is it possible that all of a sudden a spiral approach is not working for her? Would this make sense at this level?? I have so torn over what to do and would really love any help or advice.

  5. My dd10 and I just settled on the science Wiz kits. They come with a guide that I have heard is great! The instructions are supposed to be so clear that dd10 can do it on her own. They also have great additional resources for each kit on their website. We plan to do these and add in some of the online components and library books.

  6. The TOC may not really show the difference. It will probably be more about the depth of coverage in the topics rather than a terribly different set of topics if you go with BJU. Anatomy and Physiology is another good option. I have a problem with calling that Advanced Biology, but Apologia doesn't :).

     

    Hmm, how would you list it if not Advanced Biology? Here is another thought thought. Since I wont list the biology she did in 7th and if I dont list the Anatomy and Phys. as advanced biology will it look weird to not have Biology? I think Biology is required here to graduate.

  7. You could also do an Anatomy/Physiology course which would be considered an advanced Bio class and would have different labs. I have taught a co-op class using the Apologia Anatomy (the one for high-school, not the elementary one) and thought it was good solid book. 

     

    Anatomy/Physiology may be the direction we go. This is where her passion is anyway.

  8. I would move her to an AP level biology. AP biology is actually a bit narrower than most intro to biology courses. She will go deeper in cell biology and biochemistry and lighter on things like plants animals and anatomy. The labs should be different too. She doesn't have to take an AP exam at the end of the course or call it AP. I would just head toward that focus. You might look at this textbook. There is a 9th edition too, but it is expensive. If you feel you need something that walks you through it more, you might consider Thinkwell.

     

    I wouldn't do Science Shepherd because she really would just be repeating herself. If you really prefer Christian based science, you might consider BJU. I have heard many families whose kids took CLEP or AP Biology exams after completing one year of BJU, so I think it goes deeper than most first year programs.

     

    Thanks, I will look into this. We do want to stay with a Christian publisher. I will compare the table of contents to see the difference.

  9. Dd13 did biology this year including the labs. She kept a lap notebook in a composition book with all write ups and sketches. She did the dissections and other labs included in the Abeka lab book. The problem she was only 7th grade so this can not go on her transcripts as high school class. No biggy since this is her favorite subject we plan to do another biology, more in depth. Here is my question. Should she have to do all the labs again? We are looking at Science Shepherd and a few others but most of them have the same labs she already did. Can we jut read the text and watch the lab DVD and still count it as a lab credit??

  10. Thanks April May! I had seen the ages on their website but then read a few reviews on Amazon that said they were more for 5 year olds! Dd10 is just turned 10 and is not so much into the physical science topics as she is the Life and nature sciences so maybe this will be up her alley. They are very inexpensive so I think I will try the electricity one. Do the materials and supplies look sturdy? Does the book do a good job of explaining each concept?

  11. Thank you so much! We actually got out the marbles after lunch and worked several problems together. I took 8 advice above and not only made sure she could tell me what 1/4 of a number was but 2/4 3/4 and 4/4. She really got it. I drew circles on the table and a pie on the board to show how many parts each whole was to split into equally. She worked it with her hands and says she really gets it now! So we will see if it is still there Monday...lol

  12. Ok thank you! I think I just typed it wrong the first time around. I have been adding in working the problems out with marbles and such so maybe we just need more time on the concept. This is what is worrying me now about the spiral approach to CLE. Even though it has worked great for her in the past, I feel like now that the concepts are requiring her to really think a bit more, she is not spending enough time on them to get it. Does that make sense?

     

    So my options??? Tweak CLE to stop and stay on a concept longer using hands on I come up with (like the marbles) or move on to a mastery type math. I like the look of BJU but I am afraid to switch her. Dd13 switched alot until last year she finally settled. I swore I would not let that happen with dd10!!!

  13. Hmmmm. Ok let me make sure I am explaining this right, so they have this problem:

     

    1/4 of 36 is what?  wish I had the little division box on here!! lol 

     

    problem written 4 division box 36 answer is 9. But you are saying this is not correct? That makes me feel great about it!! UGH!!! This is the problem when I am not a mathy mom in the first place.... Going to find a place to hide for a while.

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