Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

Beth in SW WA

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,629

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Beth in SW WA

    Planning for accelerated children and getting into college

    in Accelerated Learner Board

    Posted

    :iagree: I think most of us think of accelerated learning versus accelerated schooling when we think of this board, but that is a misnomer by definition of the board description, which I had to go back and read.

     

    Perhaps SWB left this description vague so that more people feel free to participate.

    Is your child working ahead of grade level in one or more areas? Share thoughts and questions here.

    What do you do (children outgrowing you academically)?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted · Edited by Beth in SW WA

    So I ordered the following for her (based on her interests and a few things her dad wants to do with her when he has the time):

     

    The Way Things Work

    LOF Physics

    George and the Big Bang (if she likes this book, we'll continue with the series?)

    a couple TOPS units

    the Horrible Science books

    and she has a Snap Circuit set

     

    ... just for her to do as she wants and give her more independence with it all, does this sound like a good list? I have Behold and See 6 on the back burner if she proves to need more structure with it.

     

    That looks like a fabulous list. When I woke up dd9 this morning for her online class I saw a pile of LOF books next to her (Geo, adv alg, alg). Dd8 fell asleep reading Beast. Books are an excellent resource for independent study. Videos also. My girls don't watch tv so they think it's a real treat to watch NOVA or Brian Greene on the iPad in bed. STEM is part of our everyday lives here. It feels natural -- not contrived or forced.

     

    This year I am outsourcing many of their classes for a variety of reasons. Whether they learn from me or an outside teacher, each day my girls learn a lot about their world. Every day they make progress and enjoy the journey. I don't need to be right there with them in the process. What dd is learning in her online classes are so far beyond what I could offer. I am watching dd do her class with Rachna right now. She is in heaven. Asking questions. Graphing velocity word problems. A bit of science. A lot of math. I love it!

     

    Outsourcing is fine. Using materials that are computer-based are fine. I haven't done bio or chem since 1990. I'm not about to 'teach' that content nor am I called to.

     

    I am not homeschooling because I want my dc educated at home by me as their sole teacher. I am not a teacher. I am homeschooling because I have the freedom and flexibility to find the BEST resources for my dc for their age/stage. Some of it is at home. Some is outsourced. Some is online. Some is in our basement school room. My girls LOVE it. The way I do it isn't cheap. I consider myself an administrator of a private school. I plan & hire whom I choose. This hybrid method has worked beautifully. We are able to learn at our own pace, travel, experience the world (locally & beyond), with ample time for sports, music, art.

     

    I admire the parents who are willing & able to do it all. Each family has a unique calling. You need to find out what you are called to do. You have received advice from some who do it all at home with mom or dad as the teacher. You have received advice from those who outsource. Only you can decided what is best for your family.

     

    Don't compare. It's a trap. Be inspired by parent-teachers here but don't try and replicate what they do at your house. My favorite posters here over the years have inspired me to create the homeschool that is uniquely suited to my family. For that I am thankful. :)

     

     

    And second, I am finding that as my kids get older, my job is to self-educate as well. I don't have to learn everything in order to teach them, but I don't think they get as much out of their studies if they don't have someone (me) to discuss it with.

    I spend hours each week self-educating because I enjoy it and have the time. God is good. :)

    Any Science Fusion Users?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

     

    My PhD husband really wants them to continue with ScienceFusion next year because he wants them to have a very solid science background. I feel torn because the kids don't enjoy it. Surely there has to be a secular science that comes with labs and materials. If so, I haven't found it.

     

    Jen

     

    Jen, Sorry to hear it isn't working as you had hoped. I had low expectations going in which is probably why I like it so much. We aren't doing labs here and I'm not 'assigning' so it is open & go for us. The content is fabulous. Dd9 has learned a ton about cells this week in a format she enjoys. For $27, it is perfect for us.

     

    I am green with envy that your dh is able to help teach this -- and that you are game for doing labs at home. What a gift. :)

     

    We get to the mitosis/meiosis chapter next week. My ds saw what dd9 is learning about cells and said he didn't cover that until 10th grade bio. Not sure if I should be happy about that or not. :tongue_smilie:

    What do you do (children outgrowing you academically)?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    What do you do when your child outgrows you in an academic area and you have nowhere to outsource said subject to?

     

    Autumn is very... STEM focused. I'm not able to teach science beyond this year, really. She *needs* a full lab and a teacher who can answer her questions and teach her how to learn the answers herself. My husband works far too much to be of much help in this.

     

    There is a local classical academy that allows partial enrollment for homeschooled students, but it's affiliated with Bob Jones university (also here)... uses teachers from there and their books/they are, therefore, creation based science... and we aren't comfortable using them. Other than that, we have nothing really.

     

    I know there's a simple answer to this, but I can't seem to find it right now.

    I outsource science labs to tutors and classes for dd9. Science Fusion middle school modules are perfect for dd currently. We read a lot of science and watch docs.

    Planning for accelerated children and getting into college

    in Accelerated Learner Board

    Posted

    Perhaps this is a time for us to remember that our messages can seem more harsh than we intend. If we drive people away, that may mean we are overbearing with advice or opinions although well meaning. I know I have taken extended vacations from this board out of frustration, and I know of several other who have as well. Just food for thought.

     

    :iagree:

     

    It's a shame that certain threads need to turn out like this one. And this one and this one (re CyberScholar).

     

    We all lose when valuable posters disappear.

     

    I hope JM4, Bloggermom & CyberScholar give this board another chance.

    if you use teaching textbooks

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Well, I actually consider TT a supplement to our other math -- but I suppose you could switch that around and say that I supplement TT rather heavily. I have dd do Horizons as well and Timez Attack. I also have Life of Fred and Beast Academy for variety from time to time. She's doing Horizons 5 and TT7. Beast Academy is level "3", but it's so different that it's still challenging in its own ways.

     

    Dd8 uses TT with other math resources. See below.

    After Key to Algebra?

    in Accelerated Learner Board

    Posted

    Dd9 enjoys the mental stimulation and problem solving with her online algebra tutor, Rachna. It's the highlight of Abi's day since she gets one-on-one time with an enthusiastic math professional. She starts weekly lessons with Ben (aka Crewton) in Sept. She has classes with Rachna 3x week now. No math doldrums here. :001_smile:

     

    The content is important. But the teacher makes it come alive. Dd would not enjoy the format of the AoPS books or classes at this age/stage. She appreciates a lively discussion and the ability to explore and ask questions. What we have going is perfect. I am so thankful.

     

    She enjoys Kinetic Books Alg 1 also. She started in chapter 5. So far so good.

     

    HTH! :001_smile:

    Any Science Fusion Users?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    This is a great question! So far, I am thinking open and go looks doable based on the sample that Beth posted. It never dawned on me that the sample may have looked that way because it was "assigned."

     

    Sandy

     

    I am not using the pacing guide. No box-checking here. I am not assigning lessons. We just log in and go to the Resources tab, click on the module and start where we left off.

     

    Just follow the instructions in the greeting letter to set up the student(s).

    ScienceFusion...pacing guide and do the next thing

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Maybe someone that is currently using this can answer this. I was staying far away from this program due to all the talk about how hard it is to figure out how to assign. I was planning to use Plato instead. Someone in the other thread pointed out using the pacing guide (found at the bottom of where you purchase) and letting the dc check off as they complete. Is the a doable option? Do I still have to go in and assign lessons/units before my dd can do them? Or can my dd literally use it as open and go, checking off as she goes?

     

    Thanks,

    Sandy

     

    It is open & go. You don't need to 'assign' anything. It is all there after you login on either the student or teacher account. The content is fabulous -- and worth the headaches of setup.

    HOW are you assigning Science Fusion?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

     

    So I guess I was right and there's not a way to assign things via the web-site that would take her to the lesson. I'm a bit surprised with all the tabs and "add" and "manage" options. Oh well.

     

    Thanks for the tips.

     

    There is a way to assign. It's just a pain to actually do it. This program is set up for teachers with large classes of kids to manage. So it's worth the effort. For homeschool, just simply log in, open the module and start. For the workbook, follow along the audio or skip it. The workbook content contains tons of new and challenging vocab for dd. The audio is handy for new exposure.

     

    I'm increasing dd's non-fiction reading this year and SF is just the ticket. We love it so far. We are doing Module A: Cells & Heredity

     

    But yes, the program is cumbersome to assign.

×
×
  • Create New...