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homeschoolally

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Posts posted by homeschoolally

    No Regrets: How Homeschooling Earned Me a Master's Degree at Age Sixteen

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    :001_huh: It's a matter of perspective, yes?

     

    You see inflexibility.

     

    Many others see that she didn't curriculum bounce, which there is much positive to recommend. Many home schoolers choose what they feel is best and simply stick with it.

     

    You see inflexibility, but truth is there isn't much flexibility for most kids k -12 in this country. They use what the school says and that's it. Extraxurriculiars are completely based on parental income and desire to fund it. Most kids don't get much flexibility in their classes (and never in materials) until high school. And with so many required courses now, that might be only one class or two.

     

    Just another POV to consider.

     

    From the books, my impression was that at the time Calvert set all the curriculum and had strict requirements for completing each grade. I don't think that's flexible by homeschooling standards.

     

    I could understand your point in the context of average American public/private school students...but on the WTM board, I'm thinking in the context of homeschooling, rather than kids in the school system. When I think of flexible, I'm thinking of my being in control of the curriculum without being tied to an institution. Agreed with your point in comparison to students in traditional schools though.

     

    In the context of homeschooling, I see plenty of positives in the Swann's methods--but I don't think I'd count flexibility among them.

     

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    No Regrets: How Homeschooling Earned Me a Master's Degree at Age Sixteen

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Share many of your sentiments about the books. Yes, they were laser-focused. I'm all for acceleration, but one thing what really stuck with me about their methods is that there wasn't flexibility--from what I recall they used straight Calvert and it was expensive.

     

    Good read though, especially if you can get it for free! I like the mom's book as well. I wouldn't use their methods for our family but I enjoyed reading about them.

    I need practical ideas to get through a couple of really difficult days.

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    :grouphug::grouphug: 2.5 months is really soon. Maybe this year like a pp said, you should make this anniversary less about you two and more about the family. Have a family celebrations, a family day out.:auto: Make this time about what you two have created together, have accomplished together. For me it would be WAY too soon for romantic gestures (they would feel so empty). You need time to cope and heal...must more time.

    :grouphug:

     

    :iagree:In reading through some of the other posts, I found myself thinking I could never do some of those suggestions if I were in your position.

     

    I think it is way too soon for you to be expected to just suck it up and act as if it is a "normal" anniversary--but the whole confrontation thing sounds painful as well.

     

    My thinking is something along these lines. Make it a family time, not a romantic, intimate time. :grouphug: Make plans for next year to be your most romantic anniversary ever.

     

    That is a tough spot to be in, and I'm sorry! FWIW, I could never, ever, ever do a 'normal' anniversary under those conditions. I might want to, but I couldn't. Not all of us can put on that 'happy face' on command. Call me overly emotional, flawed--whatever, but I couldn't keep it together. It would take time, lots more than 2 months, for me to do that.

     

    ETA: and I wouldn't be afraid to just tell your husband that you just aren't ready for this yet. Make a strong commitment for next year's anniversary so it isn't a total rejection, but you just aren't there yet.

    Purge-Fest: Declutter with us!

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I've been trying to spend less time on the board over the summer, but this has me hooked again! :001_smile:

     

    Hope you guys will continue to post pictures...that is super inspiring to me, and I love seeing pics of 'real' homeschooling homes. The picture-perfect magazine ad looking homes just discourage me. When you have a thousand books it's hard to use the typical model home look as inspiration.

     

    If I can get a project underway I will post too!

    Dual enroll at home through College Plus????

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Yep, never heard of this either, and we have talked to many schools and many other parents with AP-laden kiddos. I'd be interested to know which schools, too!

     

    Wow, I'm excited that I might be wrong on this one. That could be a game changer for our high school years with the youngers.

     

    Patrick Henry College and Furman are the two I recall, but admittedly this was several years ago and I was only dealing with the entry level admissions people, not directors of admission or anything.

     

    Looking into this now, thanks!

    Dual enroll at home through College Plus????

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

     

    3. I'm confused about where the numbers for the cost of APs is coming from. The test costs around $80 (just a bit less than CLEP depending on the fees of the test center). Students are not required to enroll in a specific course for APs. With self study and used textbooks, we've done some APs in our homeschool for very low cost - so maybe $20 investment in materials, $80 for the test resulting in close to $2,000 in college credit for a single test. So that's $100 out of pocket for $2,000 in credit.

     

    Following this thread with interest, and wanted to point out one quick thing. Most of the colleges we have asked will not give credit for the AP test alone, it must be accompanied by the year-long, College Board approved, AP class.

    Do you ever feel you're wasting your time posting?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    A little late here, attempting a board break myself but you know how that goes:tongue_smilie:, but I have a thought I haven't seen mentioned.

     

    I'm pretty much an 'info only' poster, but I think it is nice to know that if I reply to a thread to give input on a certain topic, even if the OP never replies-- it lives on in "searchville" and can help others.

     

    Actually some of the most informative (for my needs) posts I've found when searching have been shorter ones without a lot of action--impersonal ones if you will.

     

     

     

    OK, returning to board break. Feeling the pinch of time-wasting around here. When there is no clean silverware and the kids have watched PBS all day, I try to step away. :001_smile: I started trying to make the break when Beast Academy was tempting me to make my 8th math curriculum purchase.:auto:

    Homeschooling vs. private school

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Thank you for posting this.

    I too have the "grass is greener" syndrome this time of year, so it was especially helpful.

    The social issues you mentioned are a huge reason we want to stick it out with homeschooling. I'm not opposed to my kids "growing up" but I want them to be themselves, not copy-cat teenagers as is so easy to fall into in a peer group.

    Appreciate you taking the time to share.

    Need advice on Saxon Algebra 1/2 or 1 from those who have BTDT

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We didn't do all three, but I think that is going to be the case with many on the board so I'll share our experience in case it's helpful. I talk Saxon with lots of families so this is drawing from what I've learned there too.

     

    We went 7/6, Alg 1/2, Alg 1, Alg 2.

     

    My understanding, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, is that you do either 8/7 OR Alg 1/2 with a typical student. That doing both would only be for kids who were stalling a year to wait for more maturity before Alg, or those who were really really struggling conceptually. I also have read that in the newer editions 8/7 is preferred, and in older editions 1/2 is better. So it sounds like you've been on the right track.

     

    So I think since you have the newer edition 8/7, moving ahead to Alg 1 and taking it slow--doing every problem set and backing up if you hit a roadblock--would be fine, even for a student who is average in math.

     

    I've even seen another family jump straight from 7/6 to Alg 1 and just work very slowly through it.

     

    If cost wasn't an issue I guess ideally you'd get Alg 1/2 and work though the last 30 problem sets or so to make sure you've got it all covered, but if it were me I'd just give Alg 1 a shot and prepare to do every problem set, every test, and work slow and steady through it.

     

    Hope this helps!

    Are non-confrontational, shy people less effective?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    :iagree: However, I am learning that it doesn't matter who deals with a narcissistic type, nothing is very effective. Silence can equal too stupid to see, confrontation can equal twisting of words so neatly that no responsibility needs to be acknowledged by them.

     

    Absolutely. The current narcissist in my world :D has been hard to ignore, but I agree---regardless of what I say, it is likely going to be 'heard' far differently. I guess this is a good reminder that continuing to follow my introvert instinct to "dodge and avoid" is probably best. Whew, I'm off the hook:001_smile:.

     

    So while that might appear to be ineffective....since I'm not facing it head on....I'm handling it exactly how I want. I think determining who actually has the upper hand in a conflict is often a matter of perception.

    Article about teacher shouting down student in class

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    Yea, I found that pretty interesting too.

     

    For me though, it was more the chaos of the classroom (if you can stand listening to the whole 9 minutes that's what really stuck out to me) as it was the political leanings of the teacher I found troubling.

     

    I really don't see how much learning gets done in an environment where people think it's ok to shout out whatever and talk amongst themselves during a class. And although I agree the teacher was being pretty obnoxious in yelling at the kid, I'm still stuck in my 1970's school mindset---I can't believe kids talk back to the teacher like that. The whole scenario is just so ugly.

     

    Made me extra thankful we can homeschool because I don't think my kids could learn a thing in that setting. As far as whether it is too political to discuss, I'm on the fence there. I do think the tone of the classroom and the hostility between students/teachers is a good discussion regardless of the topic.

    Unintended consequences of using iCloud...

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    That is hilarious. :D

     

    Did you include the one about your "celebrity crushes" being Susan Wise Bauer and Andrew Pudewa? That one was especially hilarious to me.

     

     

    Our oldest has taken to playing similar pranks on us with the Apple TV. One second we're watching Cyberchase on Netflix, the next he's popped up whatever creepy thing has tickled his fancy like this:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    funny-pictures-lordring.jpg

     

    especially annoying when it is close to bedtime for the littles, but....still pretty funny the first time or two.:D Guess these gangster Gollum pictures are almost as funny as the "Hey Girl" ones.....if you're 14!

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