Kendall
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Posts posted by Kendall
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It's not much of a solution to say recognizing that... I see that it is true, but I agree there needs to be an explanation of how to recognize that. I'm not real familiar with AoPS, but my daughter did PreAlg and this fall finished the exponents chapters in Intro to Alg. I don't think there was anything in there showing how to recognize that. We did not do the challenge exercises, though.
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For the Love of ACT Science.
Though there are very few questions for which the student needs outside science knowledge, but the more comfortable they are with science topics the easier it can be. My daughter definitely does better on the passages that are less 'foreign' sounding to her. But I'm not sure how that can be done in a prep setting, just accomplished in overall science reading over the years. Someone with stronger reading skills overall will likely do better even without much science background.
One of the best prep methods for all the sections is doing real ACT tests and going over every answer.
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I have always used the provider grades. However, in one case for a semester course the teacher gave no feedback nor grades and the first 8 weeks there was very little work required. So we only used the course for what little we could get out of it and I gave other work and gave my own grade. I told the teacher not to bother with a grade.
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Thanks for the dual recommendation for the sharpener for Japan. That will have to wait until after Christmas season, price wise, but it sounds very tempting. Have either of you used it for the Ticonderoga pencils?
I use this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Kum-Automatic-Sharpener-1053021-included/dp/B003G560JQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513359177&sr=8-1&keywords=kum+automatic+long+point It has two steps, but you can get really, really, fine points with just about any pencil.
I bought this one when our electric died. We aren't loving it. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Have you used it with Ticonderoga pencils? If I put it in the 1st step until it stops and then into the second it sometimes(often) just spins and doesn't sharpen. If I put it in the 2nd step only it doesn't usually sharpen.
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I can't tell you specifically about the SAT, but I would either do the systematic review of basic math, algebra, geometry
or work through real practice tests together(after he has taken them) and stop and cover the concepts as you come to them.
Either way you could also try this for anything he didn't remember easily on his own:
Write a problem on an index card (either from basic math/algebra review or the SAT test) Write the answer maybe with some work shown as needed. I wouldn't do the harder SAT problems on cards at this point. SAT problems you can cut out and put on the cards if they are too long to write.
Each session (ideally at home on his own as well) have him spend 10 minutes or more going through them. Over and over. Then back to working on review or going through a test and then make more cards.
This is what I did with my daughter who struggles to remember and understand math. In about 6 months she went from getting 19's on the ACT math section(though it took her about 90 minutes to do that) to getting a 24 on the actual ACT test in September. And we didn't do any practice ACT tests during the few months leading up to it.
This would be easier with a student who understands your explanations fairly quickly and remembers well.
BTW go through each and every problem on every practice test even if he got it right. You will find weaknesses even doing this. Maybe he took the long way and doesn't understand the short way or maybe he made a lucky guess or even a shaky educated correct guess.
llwelma gave me the card suggestion in this thread-post #16 http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/630994-where-to-discuss-math-pedagogy-and-how-to-teach-specific-concepts/. There were other good suggestions, but there are a lot of posts that are pretty specific to my situation, so I wanted to help you jump right to that one.
Good luck,
Kendall
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Our old electric pencil sharpener has started damaging rather than sharpening pencils. Most of my children are using mechanical pencils, but a few are not. I don't want to spend much on an electric sharpener. In the last 10 years I haven't found great electric ones anyway, but if you have an electric recommendation for $20 or under I'd like to know about it.
I think price wise I'm really needing to look for a manual sharpener that works well.
Any suggestions?
or convince me that I need to spend more!
Thanks!
Kendall
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To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
My husband and I and all of our teen boys (My 3 teen girls will read it this year) enjoyed this one. Lots of literary and historical allusions, well written, and amusing.
I personally think that to develop the joy of reading, great children's literature is a great place to start for adults. Then skip to classic and quality adult fiction. I'm sure there must be some quality YA books, but there is lots more that isn't IMO.
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ETA: Since you mention your other student feels like she has done the same thing over and over after short exposure to the concept, I would not attempt to teach them synchronously, but create two completely distinct courses to allow her to progress at an appropriate speed. She'll have more fun.
Thanks for the suggestion. In early November I posted about this issue and got one suggestion which I am using-to have the younger one read living chemistry books. So I have done that when I see I am heading into a long (re) explanation with the one girl that the other doesn't need. So the younger one is reading Uncle Tungsten now and really enjoying it. I also have looked for more interesting/challenging problems and given her fewer of the easier ones and more of the other and she is liking that as well. So thankfully we are finally getting a pretty good rhythm going in chemistry.
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The input has been so helpful. I initially was seeing Conceptual Physics as the last option, but I am warming to using it for the older one. I'll have to find a way to sell it to her, but I think I can.
She will be taking 12 hours at a CC her Spring semester of senior year and continuing physics at home that second semester might prove to be too much. If it was Conceptual Physics she could continue that reading and watch videos second semester, or we can just stop. That semester will be kind of an extra semester for her because she missed a half a year due to health issues/treatments but we added a full year to her schooling. So we will be okay transcript wise.
I think I will use the Knight(I think that is the author) book with the younger one. She really likes Chemistry, really liked Biology, and may have already read some of the CP book her 8th grade year(I know she didn't do all of it). So a stronger Physics is a good plan for her.
Thank you both so much.
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The one who struggles more will be a senior, the other a junior. The older one will not be doing anything in college that will require physics, nor Calculus.
I do not think there is a math LD. I wish I knew the cause of the struggles. Maybe some memory issues?
I guess by basic algebra skills I mean that when she encounters math equations involving solving for x she knows what to do without being reminded. When she sees a quadratic equation she has an idea of what to do, but it takes some time to remember that most quadratics are solved by moving all terms to one side. Sometimes she needs to be reminded of that, but if we have done one recently she remembers on her own. She can factor quadratics and solve from there and also knows to use the quadratic formula if applicable. She will see a problem asking for the vertex of a parabola and complete the square to put it in the form of y-k=a(x-h)2 instead of remembering that -b/2a will give the x coordinate and is a faster way (usually). In spite of repeated and varied explanations of why this is -b/2a she doesn't remember to use it. But if the parabola has an a that is not 1 she may or may not remember how to handle that when completing the square. She can have trouble with a math problem or chemistry problem if the wording of the question is different. Early on in algebra simplify vs. evaluate would throw her. It has taken an extra semester of review to get the prealgebra and algebra skills to where they seem to be solidly in there.
In chemistry she doesn't understand the processes and/or concepts easily. Even if we get to the point where she seems to really have it, it can be shaky or gone the next day. But if I look at weeks instead of days she slowly gets it. My younger one can feel like we have done the same thing over and over by the end of the first day. (I've found a decent solution for this).
Yes, you are right, the Conceptual Physics would require no planning/teaching and only some time going over questions and answering her questions. But I think the working hard in Chemistry this year to get things,things that at first it looks like she was not capable of getting, is good for her brain. She is interested in how the world works.
The younger one is not likely to take calc based physics in college either. I think that even if she does, solid math skills and some work in algebra based physics would be enough preparation. What do you think?
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I'm avoiding planning what I should be teaching this week by asking about next year:).
The general question I'd like opinions on is how to make physics manageable for a student who struggles. I actually will be teaching this to two of my daughters. The options I see are
Use a text I have Giancoli or Knight-Most likely Knight which I used last time using regentrudes helps and help!
1) Cover the same number of topics/chapters and just do easy problems
2) Cover fewer topics/chapters and dig into the problems and get them to really understand it. Understanding takes a LONG time. Maybe cover the missing topics with videos/reading for exposure.
3) Or use Conceptual Physics for the one
Cons to #3 are using two texts for the same subject and two teaching times. I also think that the one who struggles the most needs the struggle. I'm not sure going the easy route is going to build her mental skills as much as using the algebra based physics might do. Her basic algebra skills are getting pretty solid. Both girls will be doing precalc/trig the same year as physics.
Whichever route I go, I hope to have them view as many Great Courses Physics in Your Life lectures as I can during the summer before and/or to cover topics we won't get to.
Thanks in advance,
Kendall
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Julie Bogart of Bravewriter mentioned Peter Elbow who has written several books on writing.
Have any of you read them and have opinions? I'm always wanting to learn more about writing and wondered if these were worth reading and if so, which titles.
Thanks,
Kendall
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Thanks for the tips on specific topics to review. We are just starting the log/exponent chapter of Foerster Algebra 2 and have worked with functions. If we do trig first I'll keep some review of those topics going and see what else the precalc book adds to the topics.
Really, at least one of my girls needs average. Thinking this through more, I either need to adjust down an honors type text for one girl or beef up an average one for the other. I think an average text with some supplementing would be enough for the stronger one. Maybe I should do different texts, but the thought of two teach times with different texts is not appealing since I have 3 younger ones that need me, too. I personally wouldn't mind doing math all day... I'm avoiding a writing session with my 11th grader by writing this post. Back to work.
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nm I thought my post hadn't posted so I repeated it.
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Thank you so much everyone! You've given me some texts to look at.
It is embarrassing to report that I had a Lial's 4th edition and solutions manual on my shelf in the basement. I knew I had purchased an inexpensive text a year ago when I started anticipating this issue, but I thought it was Larson without a solutions guide.
Thoughts on this anyone? One amazon review criticism said "Straightforward and clear, although a bit too calculation focused. IMO, the book doesn't teach good problem-solving skills, and isn't that the reason to learn math? I would definitely not recommend. I would recommend Foerster's Precalculus or Ronald Brown's Precalculus. If you just want to learn to calculate things, use Khan Academy for free, which will do that and much more -- and you won't get misled with misleading problems."
Mark - If you have time, tell me why you say Sullivan for me and also do you have opinions about the graphing calculator aspect of Foerster?
BTW I do want a solutions guide or at least answers, but I will be teaching this so I don't need online or video options.
I also realized that I need to think about doing trig first regardless of text because one of the daughters will probably take College Algebra the 2nd semester and won't get trig otherwise. On the other hand she will need the non trig portion of precalc to help her get ready for College Algebra. She wouldn't have to have trig but it doesn't seem right to me not to give trig to her because trig is fun and I think everyone should do some. College Algebra is all she will need for any major she is/would consider and math is very hard for her.
Decisions, decisions...
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I used Forerster with my oldest 3. My two daughters might need something a little less difficult, though I could probably modify Foerster. But I also would like to explore options that aren't as graphing calculator heavy.
I'm not interested in Saxon and AoPS would be too hard,especially since they have had very little AoPS exposure.
What texts current or out of print would you suggest that I look at?
Thanks,
Kendall
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Getting your syllabus approved is super easy. When I did mine I got a response in less than 24 hours that it had been approved(2 years ago). I think I altered one of the ones they provide. Once approved you get access to the practice tests and the forum.
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Thank you so much for the summary of what online courses do and the link to the past thread. I'm going with two credits and a third for Henle 2.
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Looking for opinions
Does anyone give a Latin 2 credit for finishing Henle Latin 1? The book is so long and she has been working through it for two years. So is a Latin 1 credit for the first year and Latin 2 for the second year too generous?
Thanks,
Kendall
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My daughter took at least 18 months as well(6th/7th). I think we did a few other things during those years, but mostly AoPS PreAlgebra. We skipped the challenge problems and toward the end of the book we skipped the review as well. Without those it is still a stronger program than most and I thought going back to some of the challenge problems when she is in Algebra 1 would be a good idea.
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Great idea! Thanks for the links. Maybe Uncle Tungsten...
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I am teaching Chemistry this year to my 10th and 11th graders. We are doing Introductory Chemistry by Zumdahl and are currently ready for Chapter 8.
One of them is struggling more and needs lots of repetition. The other could be moving faster. But I have 5 kids at home and I do not have time to teach Chemistry separately. So I am looking for ways to challenge the younger one while she waits for the older one.
Do you have any ideas? Chemistry texts seem to be so different, that I'm not sure how helpful random worksheets will be, but maybe I should just try some and hope for the best.
I have had her do some work setting up labs or demonstrations, but I'd like to challenge her as well.
Oh, maybe a writing assignment!
I'm open to any ideas you have.
Thanks,
Kendall
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If you choose an online class make sure that you ask specifically and at minimum these questions
1) what kind of feedback they will get on each writing piece and how timely the feedback will be.
2) How many essays will be written and what the lengths will be
3) What other assignments will be given weekly
4) What kind of live instruction(if any) there is. If at all possible view a class recording.
IMO it is getting harder to find affordable quality writing courses.
You will probably have to ask the question of the specific teacher rather than of the company, but that may depend on the company.
If the course changes teachers as the semester nears, ask the questions again of the new teacher and if you don't like the answers, try to get a refund.
Kendall
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If you get time, could you post a link to the videos?
Thanks,
Kendall
Lewis structure method I found helpful
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
We are using the Zumdahl Introduction to Chemistry book, but one of my daughters was struggling with drawing Lewis structures. I found this method which wasn't mentioned in our text (nor was it mentioned in many other videos). It takes away some of the trial and error that we were using.
Posting in case it helps someone else, too.
Kendall