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Magic Wand

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    Can you be educated adult and still struggle with spelling?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    and so much that I agree with and have experienced with my own children, adults I know and with the dyslexic students that I tutor. I do believe that my oldest daughter, who struggles with spelling, wouldn't be as far along as she is today without the help of a program like Spell to Write and Read, which is what we used. My younger dd, who is more inclined in the area of language, would have become a great speller with or without SWR. (IMO) I don't think spelling rules are the be-all-end-all, but I do think they are tools that can help in many cases, and I find them helpful for many of the dyslexic students that I tutor.

     

    I do wish remedial spelling courses were offered in high school and college for those who just didn't get a good foundation in grade school. Math and English are, why not spelling?

     

    Spelling has always come easily to me, not that you would know it from my earlier post :), and I've benefitted greatly from teaching my own children. That's part of what I love about homeschooling, the opportunity to fill in the gaps in my own education! I knew how to spell words, I just never knew they "why" until I began teaching spelling.

     

    I also agree with recognizing where your deficiencies are and working to accommodate them - it's true that some people are completely unaware, but what we write and say is received as a message about ourselves to the world - *I think*. Spelling obviously does not define our character or our level of intelligence, but I personally believe in striving hard to improve or excel at whatever we take on. We had a pastor who was dyslexic and many of his PP presentations were misspelled. IMO, he should have used spell-check, his wife or a friend to help him with what he was presenting to the congregation.

     

    Thank you for all the input. It's quite obvious that spelling ability/inability has not affected academic and workplace success for many of you and others that you know.

    Exercise Recommendation

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I've been using the 30-day shred; love it. Easy to follow, but a great workout. I've lost 20 lbs!

     

    For me, I had to get out of the house--while I did try a few videos, I had to start running again. I was about 75 lbs overweight, so I started with couch to 5k (which seriously had me running 3+ miles in 9 weeks and feeling totally awesome). But running makes me happy. :D I know that's not the case for everyone. Also, when I started running again, my one kiddo was about 2. It was a very simple thing to put him in the jogging stroller and go. Actually, it was easier than trying to do a video at home, where I would have to constantly stop what I was doing and re-direct him from, say, climbing the curtains. :lol:

     

    The one video I did like (and actually used more than once) was one from Jillian Michaels. It definitely made me work, but it was easy to follow (no intricate, highly-coreographed dance-like routines that would have me falling on my toosh) and I believe it was only 20 -25 minutes long. I believe it was the "30-day Shred" video.

    Word Roots or Vocabulary - which is more beneficial?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Wordly Wise 3000 or Wordly Wise?

     

    Thanks!

     

    We just use the workbooks for Word Roots and it works out to about one set of roots a week. This year we are making flash cards with the root on the front and definition on back. About every six weeks we will self quiz with our card collection. I can't speak to the other products, our goal is a simple visit to it weekly.

     

    I second what was said about trying to use the words from Wordly Wise. D usually has a favorite word from each week I will see appear in her writing or conversation.

    Word Roots or Vocabulary - which is more beneficial?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    There are two series, Wordly Wise 3000 and Wordly Wise. What is the difference and which did you use?

     

    Yes, I agree about using those words. We're actually good about throwing them into our vocabulary or making little word games.

     

    Thanks for sharing!

     

    I never used Word Roots, but my guys did use both books of English from the Roots Up back in their middle school days. (It covered the most common Greek and Latin roots.) We've done Wordly Wise every year. Last year when middle son was taking the ACT he thanked me for having him complete the Wordly Wise Book 11 before his test saying there were several words on the test.

     

    One key to it is making sure students continue to use the words they learn and don't just "learn and forget" which is so common. Repetitive use afterward (occasional - not meaning beat them to death) is what really helps them "know" the words.

    Back from Alaska

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I'm from Ketchikan...and my dd is working @ Knudson Cove this summer with James! Too funny. Yes, we definitely take for granted that whales bubble feed in our backyard, kayaks are the norm...and silly us, doesn't everybody get to eat fresh salmon? :)

     

    Glad to hear you enjoyed your time in our great state!

     

     

    We went on Norweigian Cruise Line (NCL). The itinerary was Seattle, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, Prince Rupert Island and back to Seattle. In Ketchikan, we went salmon fishing through Knudson Cove. It was perfect! Gorgeous day, constant fish-reeling, genial and totally helpful guide (named James). We pulled up 17 salmon, along with another couple we were randomly paired with (and with whom we got along just great).

     

    In Juneau, we did not do a cruise excursion, but Mendalhall Glacier is very easy to get to on your own. We bought tickets on the city bus for $8 round trip. Again - it was spectacular. Bright blue sky, sixty-some degrees, easy walking trail down to the roaring waterfall. Arctic Terns nesting; took a bunch of pictures of them.

     

    In Skagway, we again had splendid weather. The excursion we chose drove us by bus up a mountain, which crossed into Canada. We let off at a pristine glacial lake, where we kayaked for an hour-ish. I can see this being hard to do if the weather was not cooperating. Then, we took the train through the breathtaking Yukon and back to Skagway. If you only wanted to do the train, it would be very easy to do this in town and not through a cruise excursion.

     

    Cruising through Tracy Arm was just magnificent beyond description. The mountains are so tall and steep, you just gawk endlessly. Binoculars are very useful here, as there is a lot to see that would be specks without.

     

    Prince Rupert was our first rainy/foggy/chilly day. I'm sure there are spectacular mountains there, too, but we could not see them. We saw tons of bald eagles, though. We took the Butze Rainforest tour, which was a cruise excursion. Despite the sometimes-pouring rain (it is a rainforest, after all!), it was very interesting. Massive cedars, moss and huge plants (Devil's Club?) are a sight to see. No pictures that day, because I was taking care not to get my camera drenched.

     

    I'll try to put up a couple of pictures tomorrow. My internet is too squirrely here.

     

    NCL was a great cruise line. I love the Freestyle concept. Each and every staff member we dealt with was incredibly courteous, pleasant and accommodating. We had a cabin with an Outside view (picture window), which I was soooo glad I sprang for. We could sit on our bed and just stare at the amazing mountains; that is also when we got to see a whale. I was able to run upstairs to take pictures of a stunning pink sunrise only because I had a window and could see the sky turning fuchsia.

     

    For us, it was just dh and me, but I would have been happy to bring the kids also. It wasn't financially feasible, both because of the need for two rooms or a large suite and because that's three more plan tickets. We couldn't have done all those excursions, either, with 3 kids. I did admire some families on board that were multi-generational. That would be such a nice thing to do, if that were feasible.

     

    So...see what you get when you ask? LOL! Sorry I've babbled on. It was just such a truly great trip. We had phenomenal weather, we met so many completely lovely couples and families, we ate delicious dish after delicious dish, the bedroom was just fine - we even thought the pillows were comfortable!

     

     

     

     

    YES!!! :D

    Forego chemistry this year and let dd take exercise physiology instead?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    as is letting her take it as an elective. I did purchase Total Health and dd is excited about using it, but she may be more excited about exercise physiology as a health credit...and, depending on how hard she wants to work, she could add it as an elective if she wants to stick with Total Health.

     

    Thank you for all the excellent suggestions. I really didn't want her to give up chemistry this year.

    Forego chemistry this year and let dd take exercise physiology instead?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Dd took biology last year and the plan is to follow-up with chemistry in the fall.

     

    However, we saw the exercise physiology/sports medicine class offered at homeschoolscienceacademy.com and dd is very interested. However, chemistry is a required course and exercise physiology is not.

     

    Should I stray from the plan and let her take chemistry next year? She's not necessarily leaning toward the medical field, but loves exercise and health.

     

    WWYD? Take chemistry this year and exercise physiology next or let her take the physiology class this year and pick up chemistry next year?

     

    Thanks!

    IEW vs. Winning with Writing

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I'm surprised to hear that WWW doesn't offer enough writing. I have only looked at the upper level samples, 7 and 8. Maybe too many exercises and not enough writing. I found this to be the case with Wordsmith Apprentice when we used it several years ago.

     

    I agree, IEW is a great program. I thought perhaps WWW would be a little more manageable in terms of time, teacher involvement, etc., but it doesn't sound like the benefits are nearly the same.

     

    I just received the sample of WWS and it does seem somewhat similar to IEW and looks very appealing.

     

    Decisions, decisions...thank you for the comparison, it was quite helpful.

     

    Back to sorting this out...

     

     

    I have both programs. I have begun IEW with my DD10, we both like it. I love the way it teaches writing. When I saw WWW a few weeks ago, I couldn't resist, since we have GWG and really like that, and I was looking for something for my younger 2. So I bought WWW3 and 1 for them. It was not at all what I expected...oddly enough, not enough writing.

    WWW does have some good exercises, so I will still use it this year supplemented with lots of written narrations, but I won't buy it again. Next year I will simply move my then 2nd and 4th graders onto IEW.

     

    Also, I'll add that I looked at the new WWS samples, and it seems more similar to IEW in how it uses outlining and rewriting original texts at least in the beginning.

    How to Teach Spelling for 8th grade?... Need quick & effective help w/spelling

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    this looks like a great option. The concept is similar to HTTS and SWR, but simplified. You were asking about whether or not the words seem hard enough. This program might work nicely as a foundation and then you could use specific word lists...like the most frequently misspelled words by high school students or words from writing, other published lists, etc., and plug those into the 'rules' or pages where they fit in The Spell of Words. A vocabulary program might even work well with this program.

     

    Thank you to the poster who shared this program!

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