creekmom
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Posts posted by creekmom
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Have you tried nonfiction books? Ripley's Believe it or Not, 100 Awesome Things on the Planet, 100 Most Disgusting Things on the Planet, 100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet, etc.?
Some kids take off with reading, some kids need a little push (shove). I would require him to read at least 30 minutes a day on his own. I would also pick a novel that you think he'd enjoy and read with him each day (alternate pages). You might also try reading aloud a book and stopping right when it gets really good. Some kids lack the patience it requires to "get into" a book, and reading aloud the first few chapters may be all it takes to get him hooked on reading.
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:confused: You haven't had 'the talk' with her yet? She is 11?
If she were in public school, or had friends in public school (they're all homeschooled), or even if we lived in a neighborhood (we're way out in the country) I would have felt the need to discuss it earlier. We've talked about menstruation, but not s*x yet. I think 10/11 years old is the perfect time to talk about these things in detail, but I realize not everyone is going to agree with me.
I'm not sure how I'm going to approach this topic now bc I don't want her to view it as something negative or something to fear. Thank you for all the advice. You've given me lots to think about.
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Of course, my first response was, "Where did you hear that??" Apparently, she had been listening to a Christian radio station (Air 1) on her ipod and discovered and read a story about human trafficking. A young girl on a date was drugged, kidnapped and taken to another country to be a s*x slave.
I realize trafficking is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, but is it really something that needs to be talked about on a Christian radio station???? A radio station that young children listen to?? A station I thought I could trust to not put inappropriate material for children on its website?? Obviously, this is not a topic I want to discuss with my 11 year old!! I'm so frustrated right now! She was so scared after reading that article. To make matters worse, I've been preparing to have "the talk" with her, and now, she is going to associate s*x with rape and slavery. :(
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SOTW didn't fit us for middle school.
We loved it in elementary, but frankly middle schoolers need more. They don't need their primary resource to be a story book. At that point, they should be researching and learning to use multiple sources to develop a viewpoint.
Do you mind showing us what that looks like week to week?
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So adorable!! Makes me wish my girls were still little and could wear those cute outfits! You might want to join the Saturday Night Special team on Etsy. Each Sat., you list a special (free shipping, or % off) on the thread. It will help you get your store name out there for more people to see http://www.etsy.com/teams/8085/the-original-saturday-night-specials-sns.
Good luck with your new business! I love Etsy!! :001_smile:
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I'm not real sure what Saxon reading you are referring to... the phonics program is the only thing I'm aware of as far as reading with Saxon. If she wants to work on specific reading skills (inference, main idea, etc.), I recommend the Reading Detective series from Critical Thinking.
http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/023610/d5659f67da1a3ec747f3b402 The computer program is fun, and it really packs a punch as far as teaching those skills. Other than that, I would just choose novels on his level and let him read, read, read!! She might have him write a narration about a chapter every once in awhile, but the most important thing at that age is to NOT kill the love of reading.
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Assuming there isn't a vision/learning issue, I would try a different approach to handwriting. When you think about it, handwriting is a boring skill to learn. I bought a package of sticker stars at Walmart and told my children that I would put a star beside the letter (or word) that I thought was their best one on the workbook page - I would also give them a star to "award" to the one they thought was the best. Most times, the siblings also wanted to pick a "winner". This made it a little more fun, and I noticed they tried harder to form the letters correctly and neatly.
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Thank you for the great advice! I've got lots of planning/thinking to do!
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Home Sweet Homeschool http://www.amazon.com/Home-Sweet-Homeschool-Survivors-Education/dp/0800759303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346430515&sr=1-1&keywords=home+sweet+homeschool
My all time favorite for encouragement!
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I like Spelling Plus http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Spelling+Plus%3A+1000+Words+Toward+Spelling+Suc/014528/1266704271-576109.
It's one book (with 1000 words) that includes levels that start at the very beginning (at, the) and end with words like exaggerate and embarrass. The words come from lists of the most commonly used words in the English language. I like that it doesn't use difficult words that the child is unlikely to ever use again. She compiled the lists using several different resources (commonly misspelled words, most used words in writing, Dolch lists, etc.) You can buy the dictation book which covers all the words in dictation sentences and paragraphs for each level. The sentences continue to use previous words from earlier lists as review. You can give him a pretest to determine where to start instruction. She does say that the different levels cover words that should be mastered by the end of 6th grade, but if your child is way behind his peers, this should be a quick way for him to learn the words he'll use most often in writing.
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I've read all the threads and listened to SWB's lecture about preparing for high school. I'm trying to figure out how to actually implement these ideas. For example, how are you working on the skill of note taking? How are you teaching study skills? Organization? Responsibility? Are you keeping grades/records/hours? Are you assigning projects with deadlines? What kinds of projects? :confused: I'd love to know how you're doing all this!
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My son is using CLE math3 this year (he used Saxon 3 last year- but he's repeating 3rd grade this year bc of some other issues). It is light years ahead of Saxon 3. We started last week, and my daughter (who's using Saxon 3) is doing addition of doubles (3+3, etc.) time only to the 1/2 hour, graphing birthdays by month, etc. My son is doing borrowing/carrying, adding 3 digit numbers, telling time to the minute, fractions and multiplication - this is all before the 5th lesson!! That said, even though it is ahead, I'm not impressed with the way CLE "teaches" math. Actually, there isn't much teaching at all. CLE (so far) just tells the student what to do (when borrowing, cross this number out, put the one over here, etc.). Saxon "showed" what was going on using money - changing out pennies for dimes, etc. CLE math is moving very fast, and each lesson is 4 pages long! My son isn't complaining yet... but I'm not as happy with the math as I thought (hoped) I would be.
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My 9 year old son is repeating 3rd grade this year (but with different curricula). He was in vision therapy last year and was really struggling with 3rd grade material. We told him we were going to do a "transition year" this year and wait and do harder "4th grade stuff" next year. He was actually relieved. (So was I!)
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GAMES!!! My younger kids love games. It takes a little effort on your part, but it really does make school more interesting. You can easily add games to phonics practice. I printed out blank bingo cards- add the words we're studying to a card for each of us (example - long vowel, silent e words). Take strips of paper, write the words then turn over the papers. Ask her to pick a slip of paper, read the word, then you both find it on your cards. **** Be sure to have some chocolate or a sucker or something for the winner. This ALWAYS makes things more fun.
Math is also a great subject for games. There was a dollar deal from Scholastic awhile back that had tons of math games with a deck of cards.
Once you start incorporating games with small prizes in your day, you'll see an amazing attitude difference in her!
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I think you should start by shifting the responsibility over to her... you shouldn't be waking up a 14 year old. Buy her an alarm clock. Decide what time school will begin (I would give her some freedom in deciding this btw), ask her, "If you need to start your work at ...., what time should you set your alarm for each morning?" Take the "monkey" off your back and put it on hers.
Next, stop making empty threats. Stop making threats at all. When you do this, she sees you as powerless - resorting to yelling threats to try to get her to obey. She has too much power and not enough responsibility. Discipline is most effective when you act more and speak less.
After having the "what time should you set your alarm for in the a.m." discussion, I wouldn't mention it again. Hopefully, she'll see your calm, confident attitude and decide that she'll rise to your expectation. But if she doesn't, I would be ready with a major (huge!!) consequence that you won't hesitate to dish out. Do not wake her up - do not call her downstairs to get started - do not do ANYTHING she should be doing herself. When she finally does appear, calmly say, "Freedom comes with responsibility. I expected you to do ..... on your own, but since you are not taking on that responsibility, I am taking back some of your freedoms. For example, you may no longer have (??? free time with friends, screen time that's not limited by me, the freedom to .... fill in the blank with something very dear to her!!) When she asks how long it will last, do not give her a time frame. Tell her that when she is characterized by a responsible attitude towards her chores/school work, etc., you'll consider giving her responsibility/freedom in other areas as well.
Hope this helps!
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If I want to count this year of Algebra, what kinds of records do I need to keep? How do I calculate his grade? Does he keep track of the hours he spends working? I have soooo much respect for you ladies! The thought of keeping up with high school courses/credits etc. overwhelms me! :tongue_smilie:
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Sorry - I accidentally posted this twice. Please just respond to other thread. Thank you, Angie, for your great advice!
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We're starting back on Monday, and I still can't decide which read aloud I want to do first. I'd love to hear what you're reading! :001_smile:
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Thank you, everyone. You've given me lots of great ideas!
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My 13 year old has asked me to make school more interesting and fun. :001_huh:
He sees me playing phonics/math games with my 7 and 9 year old and misses the time when school was not quite as difficult and boring as it is now. I feel his pain, but I'm already so overwhelmed with everything else I have to do, that making things more interesting is pretty low on my priority list.
Soooo, I'm thinking fun projects and field trips etc., but how to work it all in is difficult with his workload this year. :confused: We attend a co-op on Friday that has elective type classes, but it only frustrates him to have to come home at 1:00 and still have a lot of school work to accomplish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! (BTW - lots of guilt involved here bc his cousin is now in middle school with computer/production type classes and other fun opportunities for kids his age, so school at home has lost a lot of its appeal.)
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Thank you so much, Chris! That is very helpful! :001_smile:
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I used Rainbow last year and we didn't do lab reports (would have been a good idea, tho). Donna Young has free samples - might get you started :D
http://donnayoung.org/science/labsheets.htm
HTH
Thank you!
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Mary, that's kinda what I'm thinking too!
I bought the set off Amazon b/c I had a gift card. Although it was "free" dh is lamenting the loss of $75 he could have used for stuff on *his* wish list. My theory is "dude, get over yourself!" I understand that it was his gc to begin with, but he said I could use it! Argh! Men!
$75.00 for one set of Hake?? Rainbow Resource has the sets for $44.65. (You might have known that, but just in case, I thought I'd mention it.) :001_smile:
Help, we need a fabulous read aloud not often listed!
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
The Candy Shop War - http://www.amazon.com/The-Candy-Shop-Brandon-Mull/dp/1590389700/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347553309&sr=8-1&keywords=the+candy+shop+war
- A new candy store in town has magic candy - rock candy that makes you weightless, jawbreakers that make you unbreakable, chocolate balls that disquise you...
My boys loved this story (girls did too)!