AHASRADA
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Posts posted by AHASRADA
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I would definitely go to Plimoth Plantation, and plan on at least 1/2 the day. If this could be the teens' only chance to visit in their lifetimes, or at least in the foreseeable future, I absolutely wouldn't miss it.
That is, as long as you believe they are mature enough to appreciate the historical value of it (not just along for the ride/enjoying the trip but not paying much attention to the content, you know like the majority of PS fieldtrips) :D.
Seeing the layout of the village, the size and construction of the houses, as well as touring the Native American longhouse and seeing how they made their canoes really brings the time period and way of life, well, to life! Speaking with the actors in costume is invaluable, as they are very knowledgeable and interact with visitors as if they were truly pilgrims.
If possible, I would start by touring the Mayflower replica (not at the Plantation itself), then visiting the Plantation, followed by other Boston historic sites. That way, you get to experience the sites in chronological order.
Have a great time!
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I plan on about $2,500 for my high schooler, almost completely outsourced. One OM course ($850), 2 Keystone online courses ($400 each) and 2 American School correspondence courses (~$200 each), plus some electives and supplements.
If I were teaching everything myself, I would probably budget closer to $1,000 or less.
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Thanks to everyone for the congrats and encouragement. I was afraid I had provided TMI, boring you with dull details. I am pleased to know that some of you found those details helpful. :)
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As of today, I have lost 35 lbs., which is exactly 1/2 way to my goal weight! It is so encouraging to see how far I've come, and sobering to realize I have the same road still ahead.
The last time I was at this weight 10 years ago, I decided I weighed much too much and had to do something about it :tongue_smilie:. I watched my portion sizes and exercised, losing 35 pounds then, and kept it off until we moved out of state (stress/upheaval).
I gained 30 lbs. back, and once again was determined to take it off. The weight was a bit more stubborn, so I committed to a vegan diet, strictly counted calories, and exercises 60-90 min. daily, in addition to counting daily steps. I lost 50 pounds, and ended up weighing less than I had since middle school! That was 7 years ago. But, the strictness of calorie counting and intense exercise became difficult to maintain, and I gained a bit back, about 15 pounds, but stayed there for a good year or two with moderate diet and exercise.
Then we moved a couple of times out of the country, had no home base for a while, then got established again but found ourselves in a situation of extended financial uncertainty that we had not experienced before (much more stress/upheaval).
Over the course of 4 years, I gained 75 pounds. Mainly due to not exercising, stress, and emotional eating. I knew I needed to get back into exercising, but I had no energy because I was overweight, felt I had no time anyway, my size and lack of energy were depressing but eating made me feel better...a vicious cycle.
In March, something finally clicked. I was sick of my lack of energy, motivation, enthusiasm for much of anything, sick of being embarrassed by my size and drowning those feelings in more food. My BIL and SIL came to visit, and I agonized over what to wear during their visit that wouldn't make me look huge, but I didn't have many options. While we were out shopping, SIL asked if I was pregnant again (I'm pretty sure she knew I wasn't :glare:). The day after they left I started exercising again, only 15 min. at a time, but I started.
I moved up to 30 min., and have recently started exercising 50 min. nearly every day. I do workout DVDs in my basement, which is what has always worked for me. I started out counting calories, but not as strictly as before. Now I am aware of what I can eat at each meal to be within my limit, so I almost never count calories anymore. I am not strictly vegan, but focus on eating plenty of vegetables and some fruit, and avoiding refined grains and added sugar, oh and drinking at least 3 qts. of water per day.
My daily meal plan is generally as follows:
Breakfast:
Oatmeal
1/2 banana
2 prunes or 2 tbsp. berries
1/2 cup soy milk
1 stevia packet (all cooked together)
Lunch:
8-10 oz. healthy, low-fat entree (about 250-300 cal.)
4 cups steamed vegetables with fat-free dressing
1 whole bag of pre-washed salad greens with fat-free dressing
Snack:
Protein bar - 160 cal. (satisfies my chocolate cravings)
Dinner:
2 cups vegetarian soup - about 200 cal. (1 large can)
sometimes I add a small piece of fruit
Hopefully my story will inspire someone who has been where I was, and needs a kick start. You can do it! And once you stop eating junk and overeating, you start to get control of your life back and don't even crave the stuff anymore!
To all of you who are on the same quest for health and fitness, keep on keepin' on!
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I *would have been* an empty-nester at 44. As that day loomed larger, I realized I wasn't ready to be done with this parenting (and homeschooling) gig. Sad, lonely, depressing thought.
Hence, caboose dd.
Now, I'll be an empty-nester at 55. Yeah, that sounds better :D.
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These questions are so much fun, Dawn!
Yes, dh has "a chair" (recliner) in front of the TV. Yes, he will boot the dc out of it if he enters the room, but in a joking, not authoritarian way.
If I'm sitting in it, I will often move to another chair so he can have it, out of kindness, although he will usually tell me it's not necessary to move, etc. He would never "expect" me to get out of his chair, but might ask very nicely if he really wants/needs to sit there.
When his father enters the room, however, everyone jumps, makes space for him, etc. This is just expected in his culture and generation. While dh expects to be respected (doesn't everyone?), he is very empathetic and kind and does not demand such behavior. It's a good thing because, while I treat such authoritarian men with respect, I find them a nuisance and prefer not to have them around much. Not a quality I want in my dh :tongue_smilie:.
Again, we're Muslim.
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No, dh has never used this terminology. :glare:
We have an understanding that he is the spiritual head of our household, meaning it is his responsibility to ensure we all have a proper religious education and to lead us in family worship. He is also the breadwinner, tasked with supporting our family financially. These are both tenets of our faith (we are Muslim).
However, we make all of our decisions mutually, through consultation and compromise. He doesn't even make a purchase over $100 without running it by me (probably since I manage the finances). When asked to make a decision, he regularly replies that he has to ask "The Boss" first. If the other party misunderstands and doesn't realize he's referring to me, he clarifies, "No, the Big Boss!" :D
My great-grandfather had a plaque on his kitchen wall (still there 15 years after his wife died) that read:
"I'm the king of my castle,
and I have my wife's permission to say so."
Dh loves this, and quotes it often. ;)
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I don't mind having the "you might like" suggestions (based on previous purchases), etc. popping up, because sometimes they are useful. However, I DON'T want my dc seeing it, especially around gift-giving time!
I just make sure that I log out of my account when I am finished, even on my own Ipod because they do play games on it, etc. That way, if they search Amazon, my searches won't show up; they'll only be in my own account.
Dh doesn't order from Amazon, and I never search for anything for him there anyway, so that aspect wouldn't be an issue.
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Decorative pottery and metal ware: tea pots, bowls, canisters, etc. Just for decoration, really (often gifts that, while beautiful, serve no purpose :001_smile:.)
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So, I'll use this for my 7th grader but would my dd 4th grader be too young? Should I wait until we are finished with AAS before starting Megawords?
Thanks!
IMHO, I would probably wait until 5th grade to start. If you are still working through AAS, then she needs all the basic rules that apply to single-syllable words before she goes in depth applying them to longer words.
By starting in 5th, she can do 2 books a year and finish before HS, but that's just me.
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I attended PS in a good school district. I only remember reading whole books, although my memories are sketchy (don't remember much of any content prior to 7th grade :001_huh:).
I remember reading 12 Angry Men and Across Five Aprils in middle school, and To Kill a Mockingbird and Emma in high school. Obviously there was more, but that's what comes to mind.
However, I was in the highest reading group in elem./middle, and the middle tier of English in HS (there were 3 tracks: high/average/low). I suspect the "low" tracked kids might have used Lit. books?
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Sooo cool! My dd12 would have gone nuts! She absolutely adores the show as well. Great for her!
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Yes, we did one page per day, but you could easily finish 2. The exercises incorporate vocabulary work as well, so you can choose how much of that to spend time on.
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My dd is dyslexic. I totally get it. Even though I know she can't help it, it is a frustration on a daily basis. We've only done this weekly for a couple of years..and you're asking me how to do it, again!!??
:grouphug:
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I began Megawords with my dd in 6th grade, starting with Book 1. She finished both Book 1 and Book 2, and began a bit of Book 3 in that one year. She also previously completed the Wilson Language program, which is OG-based, so the concepts in Book 1 were review for her.
I suggest you take a look at the concepts taught in each book, and make your decision based on your dc's prior knowledge. That said, I don't think I would skip more than Book 1, and that only if your dc is very familiar with syllabication rules already.
I would probably recommend that you work through all the books, but skip some exercises (there are a lot of exercises for each word list, and we don't usually do every last one). Breeze through the concepts she already knows or grasps very quickly, so you can spend more time on new ones. This way, you will know you covered everything and didn't leave any gaps.
HTH,
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I consider RR catalouge to be a reference book, that I get to recycle each year the new one shows up. :D
:iagree:
The RR catalog has come in handy over the years as I am searching for something that fits our needs, but I don't really know what it is yet, KWIM? I just go to the topic (vocabulary, math supplements, etc.) and start browsing!
I only order a few odds and ends from them each year, but they usually have the best prices, often even better than Amazon!
BTW, when you place an order online, there is a box to check whether or not you want to receive the paper catalog. Watch for that, and you can avoid receiving it next year if you'd really rather not have one.
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In my book, practicality trumps outdated concepts of "etiquette" any day. I have high regard for tradition and cultural expectations, but to a point.
Why inconvenience and frustrate both the giver and receiver; the former going to the time, effort and expense to select and purchase a gift, and the latter having to figure out what to do with, a gift that is not needed or wanted?
If the couple doesn't need anything specific, then a polite and appropriate manner in which to express that can and should be found.
I agree that having such a gathering might be more appropriate after the wedding, however, since there will be no reception.
BTW, in some cultures money is the most common and expected gift. Very few people give actual items, since they wouldn't know the couple's taste, needs, etc. It can also be considered tacky to give household items, since guests could use this as way to give a cheaper gift (on sale, poor quality, used, etc.) Just another way of looking at things...
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I've never used anything else for baking. I just could not possibly justify the added fat of using original cream cheese in baked goods where no one is likely to notice the difference.
In fact, I think the only time I've ever eaten regular cream cheese is at a bagel shop where they spread it on for you. I just grew up using low-fat versions of high-fat condiments/ingredients, and I can't imagine why someone would purposely use full-fat anything. Yeah, I know, the taste, oh well, I wouldn't know.
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You mentioned your dd is just finishing up some CC courses. Has she changed her name with the college? If her college transcript will have her maiden name, her HS transcript certainly should. If she has changed her name with the college, then I would go ahead and *add* her married name to her HS transcript. I would still leave her maiden name there too, though.
Suzie Maiden Married, no hyphen or anything.
BTW, her maiden name will always be *legal*, because that is what is on her birth certificate. Changing one's last name due to marriage is not the same as having it legally changed (ie: birth cert. is court amended). Gov't agencies allow you to use your husband's last name based on a marriage certificate, but it certainly isn't required.
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Our local speech and language practice is private, but has an endowment which allows them to offer scholarships using a sliding scale based on income. The standard rate is about $120 per hour, but can go as low as $25 for the most needy families.
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Just be informed about what type of testing the school will do exactly. True, their testing is probably better than nothing, but most schools will tell you they do not test for dyslexia. They are testing in a way that will help them place students based on their criteria, curriculum, staffing, etc. You could start there, but you may find you still want to do further testing with a professional (educational psychologist or neuropsychologist). Also, if part of the reason for testing is to document a learning disability in order to get accommodations in the future (public school, SATs, college), check with these institutions to make sure school-based testing "counts". It doesn't always.
If you have a large university nearby, they might do this type of testing in their education department. We had our dc tested at the university by doctoral students, supervised by an educational psychology professor. They were very thorough and it was 1/4 of the cost of a practicing neuropsychologist.
Also, if you want to start with testing for dyslexia specifically (rather than the full battery of tests for LDs in general), go to Susan Barton's website http://www.dys-add.com/, and send them an email asking for a list of certified dyslexia testers in your area. BTW, there is a wealth of info. on her site!
A diagnosis really does help relieve a lot of the frustration during lessons on both sides. Her issues still drive me nuts sometimes, but I remind myself that this is the way her brain works, and we have to accommodate that. It's not her fault, nor is it mine. I hope you can work this our for your daughter and yourself.
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Put chicken wire around your garden and leave the little cuties alone! ;)
We have had a family of groundhogs living under our deck and our shed for years. The kids get such a kick out of watching them from our sliding door. We saw an adult out with 3 precious little furry babies in the spring, and sometimes they even make it half way up the stairs before they notice us and scurry off. They are intriguing for my tutoring students as well when they spy them out the window.
We don't have any pets, so these little guys sort of serve that purpose for us. They are sooo cuuuute!
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Thanks for reminding me of this! I actually had the same symptoms for a while; I don't remember when they stopped exactly.
I did end up finally getting a contoured memory foam pillow, since I was having neck pain in addition to the tingling, and just couldn't get comfortable. Since most of our pillows are at least 6 years old, I thought I deserved to splurge :tongue_smilie:. I have been sleeping well and comfortably ever since.
And yes, since I hit the "lost 30 pounds" mark as of today :D, that may have helped as well.
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I also tutor, so here are my $0.02, from a tutor's perspective:
Where do you meet?
Almost always at my (the tutor's) house. If the student wants me to come to their house, I charge them $5 per hour extra, but I really try to get them to come to me! (most of the time they prefer that as well, so there are no distractions from the student's siblings, etc.)
What do you pay? Do you pay for several sessions up front, or one at a time??
I charge $20 per hour. I do ESL tutoring, and I could probably charge $25 or $30, but most of my clients are friends or friends of friends, and this amount seems reasonable based on their income. I also prefer to mainly help them with their homework, do some review (flashcards, etc.) and work our way through texts and workbooks (not a ton of planning). If I charged more I would feel like I needed to do more formal lesson planning, and I'm not interested in doing that.
Most of my students pay at each lesson. I have one friend who prefers to pay every 2-3 weeks, which is OK too. I am thinking about instituting a cancellation policy, though, since it is not unusual for students to cancel only a couple of hours to 2 minutes! before a scheduled lesson, or simply forget and not show up at all. If they paid in advance, I would have the ability to enforce a penalty for late cancellations/no shows, so that is something to consider.
What goals do you typically have from the tutoring??
My students want better English grades and to work toward fluency by the time they graduate from high school. The speaking, writing and grammar work I do with them helps them achieve their goals to the best of their ability (sometimes they come to me too late, so I do the best I can with the time we have).
How did you find your tutor? Wondering how to advertise.
Almost all of my students came to me from word of mouth. I had business cards made at Staples and handed a few to friends who were willing to recommend me. I also left some cards at local businesses that allow that. I always keep some in my wallet in case I make an acquaintance who either could use my services or might know someone who would (I use them as calling cards if someone wants my phone or email, but once they have my card, it inevitably turns into a lead of some sort).
What did you look for in a tutor??
My clients are mostly looking for a teacher who is a native speaker and that they feel they can trust (same religious/cultural background).
HTH,
Do you eat supper at a certain time every night?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
Nope. I cook when I have time, so dinner revolves around my schedule and no one else's. Dh works from home, so we are all 5 together in the house most of the time, so his "arrival time" is not an issue. When dinner is ready, everyone can eat, only those who are hungry at the moment can eat, or everyone can postpone eating until later. I don't "serve" dinner. I make it, it stays on the stove, and each family member fills his/her plate as necessary.
Typically, I have tutoring students until 5:30 on weekdays, and often I want a short break after that, plus ds has karate and soccer, etc., so dinner usually isn't ready until 8pm or so. Lately, though, dh and I have been taking a 40 minute walk just before sunset, so I've been trying to finish cooking by 7pm. The kids might eat while we're out walking, or we all eat upon our return (usual time).
Even when dh had a 9-5 job, he wasn't one to expect dinner on the table upon his arrival, so we never ate before 7pm. I just can't make myself think about starting dinner before 5pm. To me, dinner is the culmination of the day, and cooking any earlier than that shortens the day in my mind, if that makes any sense.
I also don't make a big deal out of eating together around the table. We are literally all together, all day, every day. We each take advantage of meal time to do our own thing (read, internet, TV) and have a break from "family interaction" for a short time. It works for us.