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Dudley

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Posts posted by Dudley

  1. At what point do you allow/encourage the use of voice typing (voice to text) to compose paragraphs? 
     

    i have two 7th graders , one with significant learning challenges. So I got a microphone for him to dictate some sentences this year. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense since he can’t read most of what is getting put on the screen when he speaks, but I thought it would have some value since it is the only way. And seemed liked a reasonable accommodation for him.
     

    But then I looked at my other more typical 7th grader who has always hated writing . Last year he started to type his paragraphs, (which was helpful and less painful than handwriting) and today a thought maybe voice typing would help us get farther in the process of writing if the mechanics weren’t so hard and slow. (Mostly it is spelling and finding the keys, but can’t get him interested in typing practice too much)
     

    What are your thoughts for typical learners who might struggle with writing?

  2. It is set up to use with the online course, so I spent a bit of time weeding through what parts would be useful for us. I liked the maps and writing prompts especially, we used some of them but after a short while reading a discussing the text was as much as I could get from my boys. I have loved vol 1, we will finish this week. I could send you a pdf of some sample pages if you like

    • Like 2
  3. I know it's pretty new but has anyone used the Commonlit 360 curriculum?  

    I'm an engineer, and everything LA related it like another language to me. My 6th grader currently does Rod and staff english, megawords, wordly wise, reading and reasoning, and writing on our history usually with IEW theme unit prompts/texts, and he is assigned ~9-10 novels to read with our history.He hates writing, but can type a somewhat adequate paragraph, but probably not 6th grade level, he also doesnt enjoy reading, and thinking.  He avoids all of it and tries to whine his way out of it.

    I am attracted to the Commonlit 360 because as I think about preparing him for public highschool I feel like my LA instruction is insufficent. I'm looking for something he can take alittle more ownership, rather than me walking with him every step , jamming learning down his throat, hoping he swallows some of it.  It feels like more of what he would encounter in the public schools as far a LA goes.  I'm still struggling know if that is a good or bad thing.... I love that it is free and would guess that most of the topics would be engaging to him. 

    I'm use to mostly open a go, It feels like it would take a bit of work in assigning  neccessary work, though it looks like he could just fill in the worksheets on google docs, but It would be alittle learning curve to figure out how to set it up. Do you find set up combersome to set up?

    What could I cut from his LA line up if I used commonlit 360? The grammar doesnt look very rigorous, but how important is that?  maybe Wordly wise? definatley the reading and reasoning .  he really needs the megawords, and I will still expect him to read our historical fiction... I have to cut something so that he doesnt feel like Im adding a whole another subject.

    Any other thoughts?

    Thanks

    Dudley

  4. I have a 12 yo boy who struggles to learn to read and math.  We are using BJU math . He has worked through 2,3 and is half way through 4 in the last 3 years. I want to work at catching him up closer to grade level and focus on basic computation skills.  I'm kind of wanting to drop the chapters on Data & Graphing, measurement, and 3D figures.  Spend extra time on 2 digit multiplication and division and adding fractions and just move on to Book 5.  Am I crazy? Is that stupid? Am I going to regret it? 

    The last chapter is pre-algebra dealing with negative numbers.  do I skip that one or keep it? My sense is all these topics will be covered again next book.  

    I think I may have to look through and at least introduce the vocabulary so he will have a start at learning the words (English language learner)

  5. @Storygirl I have requested Evals from school district. They first required a English proficiency test. He had been in country 2 1/2 yrs at that point and conversed very well, but could hardly read or write. I was interpreting some issues He was having as audio processing problems and it felt like their test showed his problems (he struggles to listen and follow directions especially multi step )  and not how far he had come in learning English. They said the problems I see were typical of traditional language learners. So they would not pursue any testing. I was pretty angry.  And the psychologist we were referred to by primary is impossible to get into, they are booked 6 mo out and actually wouldn’t even schedule me. I’ve called for the last 3 months 
     

    @Kanin I think he generally understands before and after. He does often confuse yesterday and tomorrow, which I just attributed to a language learning issue , whetting the words mixed up not the concepts, but maybe I’m wrong.

  6. I appreciate everyone’s help here. My frustration isn’t stemming from a math point of view at the moment (only because we aren’t starting math till next week, when I will learn how much of a mistake it was to not do math this summer) .but it is helpful to see how his math struggles fit into his lack of concept of time. I have hit brick walls in seeking evals. Don’t know where to look next. 

    It’s hard to explain what I see.  I think I’m just surprised he can’t understand that things happened in the past before his awareness and that people grow older . I wish we had pictures of him as a baby or could reinforce the memories he has from his past that help solidify that things and people change with passage of time.  That would probably help. Maybe he hasn’t had enough consistent relationships in his life to see people grow older.

  7. 20 minutes ago, Rosie_0801 said:

    Read up on dyscalculia.

    And go back to an analog clock for now. Can he skip count by 5's?

    How is he with place value?

    I suggest you explain dyscalculia to him. It might help him trust a little more.

    he hates the analog clock so will use the digital whenever he can. We have made progress with the digital, but there is a lot of relearning  that goes on each time. And the concept of elapsed time  on the analog clock is also very difficult

    Every time a  place value section comes up in math it feels like a disaster and usually leaves me in tears. I think we are making progress, but still. That is another significant learning issue. 

    counting by five has been a struggle. We have made progress there too. He can. At this point he struggles to count on from a number by 5s 

    I guess I do need to look into dyscalculia …

    thanks

  8. My son is 12 and really struggles to understand time . He is adopted with trauma background and is likely dyslexic. I just don’t get why time is such a difficult concept. 
     

    Couple of years ago we were reading my fathers dragon about a boy telling a story about his dad as a boy. We had to stop after that description. That was way too complicated for him.

    .Yesterday Dad was talking about how we were married 29 years ago and he asked if he was alive then? Today we were working on setting up a timeline for history and he was getting exasperated because he was so confused. I put today on the time line , when he was born and when he came to the US. I was seriously messing with his brain. 
     

    Time seems like such a straight forward idea. 
    Everyday we talk about what the plan is for tomorrow and then we live the plan. 
     

    Topping on the cake is he has learned to read the digital clock but just reads the first number. So twice in the last day we had significant discussion(arguments ) over the fact that 9:55 is or is not 10. 
     

    Sorry I’m just ranting because I don’t know what to do

  9. We used the first 2. I would put it more in the category of theology lessons rather than bible study. Each chapter has a story, (often continued through out the book, that works to illustrate the topic. Then there is “teaching” with many scripture references through out the rest of the chapter. I would say it is organizes topics pretty throughly. It has frequent sidebars dealing with interesting  topics that are somewhat related. I did not use the journal or do much more than read it and discuss. 

    I intended to use it for my bio 10yo, but it was so engaging for my newly adopted 10yo that I dropped his simpler program in favor of this one. It laid out pretty clearly who God is. It was great discussion considering our newly adopted son had a vastly incorrect view of Gods character. It painted a good picture of heaven as well and steps to take enough that he chose to be baptized after the first book.  He went from “that’s what you believe” to “I am so excited to be a part of Gods family” The second book dealt more with how God views us and how we view ourselves.  This was helpful, not quite as earth-shattering for him, but still gave us good discussion topics.  

    i chose not to do book three this coming year because I felt my boys needed more of a biblical overview to be more familiar with the Bible as a whole and also its individual stories when I realized church wasn’t providing that as it had for my older children, probably because of Covid but also frequent changes in leadership.

     

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  10. 15 hours ago, Momto6inIN said:

    Exploration Education fits perfectly everything but #5. It's physical science

    I second this. It’s short and sweet, it has great projects, just about every day has some hands on activity. I really liked how you built something and then used it for the next couple weeks to explore the science concepts. We did it together but it is set up to do independently , open and go with all project supplies included

    • Like 1
  11. On 5/11/2022 at 10:21 PM, Green Bean said:

    BusyMom & Dudley- do you use k12’s platform for Human Odyssey or make your own? I would very much be interested in anything you have made.

    Guess I should reply to this and say I’m making my own, just dividing up the reading into manageable chucks and picking the pages/activities I want him to do from the student guide. I pm’ed you. 

    • Like 1
  12. Im not decided either but this is my start.  I have 2 6th graders next year at two drastically different levels. 

    Together

    Bible - OT overview with memory verses.  Still trying to work this out thinking about Most important thing you will ever study, or MP christian studies.  I really want something mostly just for discussion, structure, and review . I want more than just reading, I want to increase their bible literacy. I want incorporate some videos from bible project or what;s in the bible with buck denver.  long way to go to figure this out.

    History - Human Odyssey vol 1. , Ds 1 will do many of the student guide activities

    Read aloud - selections from SL G

    Science - Earth science with Science Fusion independent for Ds1, I was hoping to do the online portion for Ds2 but looks like they discontinued. so I may piece together a series of youtube videos for him and then together discuss and do labs

    DS1 -

    Math -BJU foundations. 1 day of Singapore word problem review

    LA -R&S grammar 5, Megawords 3 & 4, Wordly Wise 6 and Word roots (CTC) (Roots to fill in after finishing WW)

    Writing - possibilities : HO student book writing assignments, Paragraphs for elementary school  or IEW ancients

    Reading - Selections from SL G and Reading and Reasoning 1  (second half)

    typing.com

    DS2 -somewhat recently internationally adopted and dyslexic

    Reading AAR finish 2 continue on...

    Spelling. Apples and Pears  Finish A, move on...

    Math BJU  finish 4 move on..

    It feels like his list is too short, but we spend enough time on math and reading that there isn't alot of focus left for more, and hard to believe he will grasp anything else.

    • Like 1
  13. My only beef with Singapore math over the many years I have used it is what seems like a lack of review.  While I knew and experienced that I forgot It here with my last kid and don't know if I have ever figured out the best way to fix it.  

    My youngest is finishing up 5B at the end of 4th grade, and while he picks up the concepts well he doesn't really remember them very well over time.  Give me ideas on how I should go forward.  Should I spend the summer in 5B intensive practice? Should I go ahead a start 6A since it is mostly review and do the 5B intensive practice each a couple of days a week? Are there other books beside the intensive practice that would be better?  Im afraid the intensive practice would be too...well.. intensive , he just needs to keep using the skills.  I don't need to drill him to death. I just don't know how to get the right balance of practice and review that isn't too much for him to handle (he has trouble focusing so gotta keep it shorter)

    (We usually do math 2-3 days a week in summer and he will move to BJU fundementals after 6B)

     

    Thanks

    Dudley

    • Like 2
  14. Maybe Gods Design?  If Christian is ok, it’s pretty well organized and comprehensive and each section has a 3 page or so spread , good pictures, vocabulary, there are some activity pages on cd ( I didn’t use many so don’t know much about them) , there is often a activity or experiment you can take it or leave it depending on your energy level. Can use with multiple grades and use as much Of the pieces beyond the reading as you have space for.

    • Like 2
  15. I would like to resurrect this thread, because I have there same Question! Maybe throw Novare in there to!

    We have used BJU for Life Science and Physical Science,(7th and 8th) and while I really like BJU content and thorough coverage, there has to be something better out there for the homeschooler.  I think the things I struggle with with BJU is the labs are not great. There are not enough of them for me, and they aren't engaging.  Also I haven't found the course provides enough interaction with the material to make it stick. Maybe that is something a good teacher would do, but I need help, even if I was an engineering major. We read the section, discuss the review questions, write down important things.  But still lacking.  I like the life science student workbook ok but definitely miss it at the physical science level.  And the tests. I don't really need tests at this point, but their tests are way too difficult. It maybe part of my problem that I am trying to make 9th grade course work for 8th grade ... but still..

    I am determined to find a physical science course.  Actually I only need the physics side of it. I want academic rigor, math is fine and good, plenty, easy to do labs (more interested in illustrating point than learning to write a lab report, but gathering data is cool , if its interesting), Interaction with the material! something that will take it to the next level from hearing the information to really understanding it.  I need a christian bent too, and have no interest in Apologia.  It is actually these three that I am considering Purposeful Design (Does anyone use this at home?), Shepherd (Actually i dont think the physical science is out yet, but life science reviews are helpful too), and Novare (I know lots of you have used this). Tell me what you think!

    I used ACS middle school chemistry with NOEO for 6th and it was great, great labs, great visualization and engagement, my kids remember that so well. They set the standard high.

     

  16. I liked youscience . It had an interest survey and some aptitude tests. It also gave a lot of careers for you to look through. And it tells you how you match up to the job, like this one won’t challenge you enough in this area so you may have  to use this skill elsewhere.Or you are detail oriented and that is what this job needs. Etc. 

    They have a 1/2 off sale right now through 6/30 code success50 I think we paid $30 so looks like it should be $15 If the price didn’t go up

    • Like 2
  17. 14 hours ago, RenaInTexas said:

    My competitive boys like Quizlet.

    Another thing is to get him to internalize his competitiveness...compete with himself...his best. So, for example, let's see if this handwriting exercise can be better than your last where better means neater, not faster. ... You made a 90 on the last spelling test, now shoot for a 100. ... Can you get 2 in a row ... How long can this 100 streak last ... Let's see if you can finish this spelling test with a 100 and its neat and within 3 minutes. 

    So just keep adding layers of him competing with his prior efforts.

    Ooo that’s good. I mean, we do that once in a while but I’ve never put it in my tool box of school strategies!

  18. My 8 yo is VERY competitive. The best way to get him to do something is to make it a competition.  He is not very interested in school, so games and competition are needed to accomplish anything significant.   I have a 19 yo who was the same way. Because of family circumstances at the time, he ended up in public school at 5th grade and has thrived with the competition and social element, and so  he stayed in school when the others came home 2 years later. So here I am looking ahead at my 8 yo seeing he would probably also thrive in a school setting (though the school is horrible), but I want to try to push that off till high school if possible. We do some school with another boy 3-4 days a week that is 1 year younger and the competition is really becoming a problem.   So looking for ideas on how to make homeschooling with a social, competitive boy work. 

    How do you make school work fun and competitive but not make it a race to the finish??  I say every day "Handwriting is not a race!"  I can motivate  with " if we get all our work done by noon, we can do this"  But then the focus is on finishing and not on learning... I need to figure out how to make the competition learning more...., or on the quality ,but have no idea how to do that. 

    He does wrestling and cub scouts to give more options for competition and achievement. How much more do i add? 

    I dont really want  to squelch the competition. It seems to me that used well it could really be a benefit to him, but I just dont know how to harness it now, and it is creating quite a bit of friction with other boy when working together and he is fairly unmotivated when it is just him and me. 

    any thoughts? 

  19. I have 2nd grader who doesn't like to write. No tears, just stalling, avoiding, and asking/whining to do less.    I was looking at Apples and Pears spelling and the comments on it being lots of writing. So Initially I would run away from it. But I have got to thinking...I might be able to drop some of the other writing he does in favor of Apples and Pears Spelling and also split up the lessons.  Some of the things I have noticed this year:  The WWE2 dictations are above his spelling level.  Wouldnt it make sense to do sentences that have more words he could spell? Is there something special about WWE dictation sentences except that she points out the mechanics with each one?  One nice thing about WWE/WWS is that the skills grow steadily, so that is one advantage I guess. We love the narration passages, but I am shortening the dictation passages to be more tolerable for him. 

    I'm also coming to believe that good spelling comes with practice. One of the reasons I got MCP plaid is there is lots of opportunity to practice writing words with focus on phonograms, hearing the different sounds, adding endings,prefixes, looking at roots. We also switched from LOE D to SWR at Christmas to drill some of those easier words he want getting enough.  And being an Engineer I love the rules and the way SWR uses them.:)  I'm not using it to its full potential though, just cuz I'm trying to keep it short and sweet and let the MCP plaid be more of the practice, though hes  not practicing the words he is learning in SWR there. I've seen some improvement in his dictation (asking for less help on the easy words and more spelled right) still hard but any progress is good, amen?

    Currently I have worked him up to tolerating the following for LA:

    1 MCP plaid C phonics page each day (most of it anyway) 10-20 words

    SWR  (write 10 words M & Tu, Oral on W, 1 ,maybe 2, dictation sentences TH, and F test on 20 words on white board)

    WWE2 (T,W shortened copy work or dictation and F he writes one sentence of his Th narration)

    RFH we do at a separate time daily with a friend and once or twice  a week a sentence for history.

    FLL2 , vocab all oral

    So I got to thinking that next year maybe apples and pears would be alittle more cohesive. And I could cut out some other things.  I could cut MCP Plaid (though I already bought it ) because I would be getting the practice, though I still feel like I would be missing something, D goes over alot of advance phonograms that look helpful, but it also feels like there is too much repetition in there, I just dont know how to cut, (and D is just 1 color) .  I could drop SWR and still use my knowledge of the rules to reinforce and I could drop the Dictations from WWE3, which looked alittle hard to condense.  I think I would still like to use the narrations and composing days of WWE , but might still feel like I am missing out. Its alittle hard to give up SWR too, even though I dont do all the steps I should , it just makes sense to me.  My plan all along has been to move to Megawords around 4th grade, so not quite sure how I would make that transition, if I still wanted to .  And starting with A in third grade I think I would feel the need to push him more than I should.. instead of going at a pace his writing could handle...

    So next year - 3rd Grade should  I do

    apples and pears (starting 1/2 way though A) - and narration/composition days of WWE3 ?

    OR  MCP Plaid D, SWR , and WWE3?

    either way he will do R&S english 3  mostly oral (grammar sections), RFH, and some history sentences.

    I guess I need some help on how well apples and pears can fill the hole if i drop MCP plaid. and that the dictations in there will be enough to replace WWE. Are there parts he could do on a white board? he is happier on a white board. And then the question you can't answer, will I be able to adapt to keep him from freaking out at the amount of writing?

  20. I have three supplemental workbooks (Building thinking skills, Reading and reasoning, and Word Roots) that I want to schedule over 2 years. But I cant decide how to do it? Do I put each one a day or two a week? or do I start with one and just go till its done and start the next? I'm debating over continuity of doing the same thing for a while to keep the flow, or coming back to something every week could be good review that helps it stick. Maybe BTS continually and then reading and reasoning one year and word roots the next? I dont know. I have been staring at this all day

    I guess part of me just wants to keep it simple and the number of books we have to manage at a minimum and my kid has to have pretty similar expectations every day/ week otherwise he gets all bent out of shape and refuses. 

    How do you do it?

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