AHASRADA
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Posts posted by AHASRADA
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I'm constantly striving for a balance as well. For us (dyslexic dd), it has come down to more of what she needs to work on most, forcing us to do less of subjects that just aren't that vital right now. That might mean focusing on basic skills and keeping content to a minimum for now. IMHO, trying to remediate learning issues while keeping the child on grade level in every subject is a recipe for frustration, disappointment and burnout for teacher and student.
:grouphug:
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Can you explain more why you did not go with Kolbe? Does Oak Meadow accept credits transferred from Kolbe? I have been considering both, but may have to steer away from Kolbe if the credits are not useful somewhere else.
I did not get an answer about Kolbe specifically, and I didn't push for it. I asked if they would accept credits from distance learning programs which were accredited by agencies other than one of the big regionals, like NARHS or Kolbe. They specifically rejected NARHS, but explicitly stated that they were obligated to accept credits from other regionally-accredited institutions, even if they felt the coursework was not equivalent (easier).
I think Kolbe is a great, flexible solution if you stick with it from start to finish. It gives parents ultimate authority over the curriculum they choose and the grades they assign. I doubt colleges would have any problems with Kolbe's transcript, since they are an accredited Catholic school. Some days I get sick and tired of being held to someone else's plans and requirements and wonder if I should have just gone with Kolbe.
However, I still wanted my ds to do some online classes, and with Kolbe, I would have to pay over $300 per year just for their transcript services, in addition to the cost of courses. By taking courses from several different programs with equivalent accreditation, ds can ultimately transfer them all to one place and get a diploma without additional transcript fees (as long as he takes the requisite minimum credits from that institution). I also live in an area that is not super familiar with homeschooling, and I wanted a very academic-looking transcript for him from an accredited school. Kolbe's transcript has something to the effect of "verification of parent-issued grades" printed on it, and I didn't feel comfortable with that. Not to mention that only their math and science curricula would likely serve us; everything else would be swapped out/outsourced, so it just didn't seem like an ideal fit for us. HTH.
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The main thing that made me rule out American School as an option for dd #2 is that the college prep diploma option has very low math and English requirements. It lists "Essential Math 1 and 2" as being required, and "Understanding English 1 and 2." Looking at the course descriptions, both of those courses appear to be remedial, rather than what I'd consider high school college prep.
It sounds like you're saying that they're flexible on those requirements though. Could a 9th grader start with a higher level of math? They would have to choose the "special" option then, correct?
I was concerned about this issue as well. I was told that, if the student was at a higher level in math, s/he could begin at a higher level. The requirements they list are the most basic requirements, but you can certainly go above and beyond. I was explicitly told that Essential Math could be replaced by Alg. I, etc. They only offer through Alg. II, though, so any higher math than that would have to be taken elsewhere. (UPDATE: AS now offers higher level math through their online courses. My ds recently finished their Trig. course).
ETA: I forgot to mention that a student enrolling in the diploma program can test out of up to 5 courses. If your dc completed Alg. I in 8th grade, for example, or completed other homeschool courses that you would like to get credit for, s/he can simply take the final exam for that course and the grade will be listed on the transcript as if they had taken the course (no distinction). Max of 5, though. (UPDATE: I was recently informed that those 5 "test-out" courses are typically 9th grade courses, such as Alg. 1, English 9, etc. It is possible to test out of higher-level courses, but special permission must be obtained from the principal after providing a description of the materials used, etc.)
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Well, I found myself in your position this time last year, which is why I ended up choosing a few courses for my ds from several different programs, in order to try them out and make a comparison. I'll do my best to give my impressions of each.
American School - Definitely the most affordable, and considering the difference in price, really not that different from Keystone's equivalent courses. I did have to do some research to find out exactly how their program works, though. The incredibly low price they list for a full 4 years of high school pays for the minimum required courses to receive a diploma: 4 credits and 1 elective per year. The receive that deal, you have to enroll in their diploma program. You automatically receive the courses, in a pre-determined order, usually 2 at a time. When your dc is close to finishing a course, the next one is mailed out to you. If he wants to study more than 2 classes at a time, you can request that they send more, but you must have paid up enough of his tuition to cover the cost of those materials. If you would rather pick and choose the courses and the order in which they are received, you can (called the "Special" or "Individual Courses" program), but then you are paying for individual courses, not the "bulk rate" of the diploma program. As an example, English costs $120 per semester, Psychology is $140 per year, World Geography $190 per year, Geometry $230 per year and French $250 per year. They offer a few online courses as part of a pilot program, which I believe are $250 per year. (UPDATE: They have added a great number of online courses. They are completely self-contained, no textbook. The extension policy is much less generous than for American School's own courses, but it has really expanded their offerings). It is a still a very affordable program, but the contrast is less stark if you want to customize.
I have actually been the most impressed with American School's feedback out of all the programs we've used. Part of that could be due to it being a "snail mail" program, which lends itself to comments in the margins more so than online programs. (UPDATE: AS now offers online exams for most of their paper courses. The course materials are the same, but the student can choose to complete the same identical exams online instead of filling them out by hand and mailing them in. The multiple choice portion is graded immediately. The short answer/essay portion is graded within 72 hours, but very often the same day. There is a section for comments for each written question, so the same level of commentary is given as on the paper exams.) At the same time, it isn't very practical to ask a question of the teachers, etc. There is no one teacher assigned to the class; whoever is available when your dc's test arrives in the mail does the correcting, so there isn't consistency in that regard. It is really set up for the student to read the book and take the test. (UPDATE: The student is now able to call AS Student Services, tell them they have a question about their coursework, and they will be transferred to the correct department. From there, they will be connected directly to a teacher for their class, if available. If not, the teacher will call them back, usually the same day. My son has received excellent timely support from his AS teachers this way.) I have been pleased with the materials, they are not super challenging but aren't dumbed down either. Basic PS level. Great for "getting it done" so your dc can move on to what they would more enjoy doing.
Keystone - More of a "college prep" program, they offer a much wider variety and selection of courses. I like that they combine online with textbook learning, so the student isn't spending all day looking at the screen. The online portion is mainly an introduction to each chapter (pre-reading activities), they post-reading self quizzes and tests for grading. Being able to complete the test online, especially typing out the essay question answers rather than writing them by hand, then hitting send and receiving a grade within 72 are the major selling points for us. (UPDATE: AS now offers the same option with online exams). Each course does have a specific teacher, and although the course can be completed without any student-teacher interaction, they are available by phone and email for any questions (response within 24 hours). They also offer Honors and AP classes, which is a nice benefit for some students. At $399 per course, it is still a good value and offers a few perks that Am. Schl. doesn't.
Oak Meadow - Out of the 3, OM is by far the best program for a student who thinks "outside the box", who wants their high school coursework to be meaningful, thought-provoking, and give them a chance to express themselves creatively and using their own learning style. Definitely no regurgitating for tests at OM, no multiple choice (Am. Schl. and Keystone tests are at least 2/3 multiple choice). OM uses short answer and essay questions that asks the student to use the info. they've learned, analyze it and apply it to their own life experience. Multiple assignment choices are often given to allow students to use their own talents and strengths (ie: after reading the play "Our Town", my ds could write a 3-5 page essay, or act out a scene with set, costumes, etc., videotape it and send it to his teacher). He has definitely grown, retained and generally "gotten the most out of" his OM course. However, it is quite expensive at $875 per course, which is why we only did one. While the teacher is always available for questions, and she offers much more detailed feedback than Keystone, I don't know if the support is worth the difference in cost. Also, while I love the depth at which he is learning, I know there is no way he would have the time to complete the more demanding coursework of OM for all his courses. There are some he just wants/needs to "get done", and others he wants to go in depth on. For both of these reasons, we will likely continue to use only one OM course per year, maybe 2.
About accreditation, we chose these programs because they were accredited by one of the "big 6" regional accrediting agencies. They are acknowledged by all colleges and other accredited schools. Therefore, if he decides to transfer all his credits from these various programs to one of them in the end and get his diploma from them, they must accept the credits from the other schools, because they are all accredited. We had considered using Kolbe or NARHS, but that would limit his diploma choice down the road, since OM said outright they wouldn't accept NARHS credits, but were required to accept Am. Sch. and Keystone credit, since they have equivalent accreditation.
Hope this helps! -
True, people have always had the capacity to be cruel and uncivilized. True, this is more likely to occur in groups/packs/gangs, especially among the immature.
I believe the difference now is that all social structure that used to govern such behavior has broken down. As Imp said, adults/authority figures used to have some deterrent effect and some recourse to deal with these issues. In many cases, there was a sense of community, where families knew each other and neighbors kept an eye on, as well as disciplined, each other's kids. There was more likely a level of behavior and morality that was shared by the majority of the community and, while these expectations certainly didn't stop evil actions, it at least limited them to situations where the perpetrators were unlikely to "get caught". That fear of punishment/dishonor/retribution was there. It seems to have disappeared in many communities.
Locking up huge numbers of children and adolescents in an environment where the adults are outnumbered at least 20 to 1, and these adults have limited and ever-shrinking authority, only invites "Lord of the Flies" behavior. Duh.
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We are billed once a year. It is called a "water tax". The water meter reader shows up in May and we are billed in July. It's usually around $100.
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I voted "several favorites", but in reality, I rarely hang out on any of the boards. When I visit the forum, I click on "new posts", and read those. I don't usually pay any attention to which board they came from, other than to make note if it is from the For Sale board, to know if the poster wants to discuss a certain curriculum or is selling it.
I have visited the High School and Special Needs boards from time to time, but it's rare. "New Posts" it is for me!
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Joining the crazy party! :lol:
I actually used both for my ds in grade 2. It worked out quite well, actually. They are both "light", but cover very different things. LLATL does a bit of everything, including spelling, reading, tactile projects, etc. We enjoyed the variety, but some topics were covered a little too lightly for us. FLL provided thorough coverage, repetition & review of grammar concepts, but in short lessons that were easy to add in. We also enjoyed the poem memorization.
So no, I don't think you're nuts. Sorry if that makes the decision more difficult.
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Enlightening. Thanks!
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I feel a greater accountability and less boredom with DVDs than on a machine like a treadmill. I get sick of the machine pretty quickly and want to stop; even if I'm reading or listening, the repetition just gets to me. I need the variety of the DVD, and I am more apt to push myself to the end of the tape than to finish a set # of minutes on a machine. True, hearing the same instructions over and over each time I do the same tape can be boring; that's why I listen to podcasts at the same time. I turn the TV down so I can still barely hear the instructions if I need them, and exercise my brain listening to NPR in the meantime.
It's true there can be a little more incentive to push oneself in a class at a gym, in front of the other participants, but that only works if you can get yourself there ;).
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I have one of her videos, but it's not on your list, it's a 5 mile challenge. I have found it very useful and versatile. From your list, I would recommend the ones that say "super", "power" etc. and not "start" (since you are not a beginner). The 3 mile would probably be good as well.
On my DVD, each mile lasts about 13 minutes, so you can do as many or as few miles as you want at a time. I usually only do one mile as a warm up before I do weight training, but you could certainly do 3 miles as a full workout when the weather is bad.
Since you're using Amazon Instant, you might as well choose one and give it a try before you buy more. Good luck!
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I'm from New England and never heard the term outside this board, although I understood the meaning of the phrase.
Now that I think about it, we always said "going into", as in "He's going into 2nd grade," or the even more precise "He'll be in 2nd grade in the fall.". As for camp forms, etc., we were expected to list our upcoming grade level. Once the school year was done, students were automatically considered members of the next grade.
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Also planning to use Verticy grammar & comp next year, and wish I had bitten the bullet and used it this year instead of a cheaper alternative.
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Tried the brownies over the weekend. Nothing but raves out of dc and dh! Huge hit. It was all I could do to wait till they finished the batch to tell them what was in them :D.
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We specifically bought new doorknobs with keyed locks for dc's bedrooms when dbil and dsil were planning to stay in our home with their 3 dc when we weren't home. Granted they were only 5, 8 and 10, but we knew their parents wouldn't enforce any boundaries, lecture them on respecting our dc's stuff etc., so we took our own precautions.
It's actually a fairly inexpensive solution to these unfortunate situations.
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Keystone High School. They offer regular and honors, and possibly AP as well.
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1. Do you understand the reference about sleeping (or waking up) next to a pod?
Sorry, never heard of it. I would have had the same reaction as your friend.
2. If yes, do you think it is a culturally important reference (ie. pretty widely known/common knowledge) or not?
3. What country do you live in?
Grew up in the US, currently in Canada
4. How old are you?
38
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When I was pg. with caboose dd, my OB must have asked me at least 3 times, on different occasions, if this baby had the same father as my other 2. She seemed so thrilled this was the case, as if she was proud of me for such a great accomplishment! :001_huh: She actually said, all giddy, "Oh, so now he'll grow old with you!", as if this baby would permanently bind dh to me in a way he wasn't before :confused: I eventually switched to a group of midwives, who made no personal comments or questions whatsoever. :tongue_smilie:
Still, I understand that, when seeing a family with 2 teens, a boy and a girl, plus a toddler, the first assumption would be teens are from a 1st marriage, and the baby is the product of a new relationship. People don't automatically assume we've been married for 20 years and just decided to have "one more" after an 11 year gap! :D
For this reason, while most people don't actually comment, I sometimes find myself saying, "Yup, all with the same husband!", to answer the question I know they're thinking. I guess maybe I am a little proud of that! ;)
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There have been times where I felt strongly that I had something to say regarding the subject of a thread, took quite a bit of time to respond in detail, only to decide it was TMI that I was interested in writing, but others may very well not be interested in reading, and/or I thought better of posting those details online. The simple act of writing it out was therapeutic, I deleted and moved on.
For the most part, though, I think through my response, but find someone else already posted something similar, or it's not that profound, wouldn't add anything to the conversation, etc. and go on to the next post.
When my reaction to a thread falls in between these two extremes (not overzealous, not dull), then I post :D.
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I voted "I don't iron at all", because I don't. I absolutely hate it and don't see the need. If I take clothes out of the dryer quickly and hang them, it isn't usually necessary. If something is wrinkled, I throw it in the dryer for a few minutes with a damp towel and that takes care of it.
On the rare occasion (maybe 3-4 times a year max) that dh, ds or both need dress clothes ironed, they do it themselves. If they want to look that good that badly, they can suffer through the process. Personally, I'm not that picky ;)
So yes, I do own an ironing board and iron, but I don't personally use them.
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If you dry on low, it should not shrink the clothes. If yours does, check to see if the dryers thermostat is messed up. It is a very easy fix.
Unfortunately, my old dryer doesn't have a "low" setting. It's hot, hotter and air fluff, which doesn't really do anything.
I have had good luck air drying clothes, and if they are stiff and/or wrinkled, I put them in the dryer for a very short time, or on air fluff if I'm really worried about shrinking, with a slightly damp wash cloth or hand towel. That softens it up and removed wrinkles without the risk of shrinking.
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I agree with either handwashing or machine in delicate (I always use the machine) on either cold or warm.
But, whatever you do, DO NOT put it in the DRYER!!!
I hang dry all my 100% cotton outer wear (I don't worry about t-shirts, sweatpants, etc.) Laura Ashley is expensive, and I'd hate for your dd (if you have one) to be wearing it instead of you. ;)
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Never thought about it, actually. Total head-in-the-sand over here :tongue_smilie:. If I worry at all, it's about what we would do without dh (very scary prospect).
Dh is blessed to work from home, so it is usually the 5 of us home together most of the time. I am pretty confident they could continue their current homeschool plan and schedule, as well as caring for our toddler without me if they had to. I would worry that there wouldn't be anyone to homeschool toddler dd when she reaches school age, but hopefully they (dh and big kids) would come up with an acceptable solution by that time.
I actually had an extremely frightening close-call last week; these types of things never happen to me. Our car died on the highway, on an overpass, at rush hour, and there was only enough room on the shoulder to get 1/2 the car off the road. I watched in the rear view mirror for 10 minutes as cars came barreling down on us at at least 65mph, not noticing we were stopped (flashers/blinkers not working), and veering at the last minute to avoid hitting us. The side of the car that was still in the road was where toddler dd and I were sitting (dd12 was with us as well). 911 told us to stay in the car, but we couldn't stand it anymore and crawled out the passenger side, standing against the guardrail until the tow truck arrived. He ordered us into his truck and got on his radio yelling for them to hurry up and send a police car with flashing arrow to protect us, because we were all going to get killed where we were stopped. It all turned out OK, but the thoughts of either of my dds, myself, or all of us being killed, and the repercussions of each of those scenarios, haunted me for days.
I may be naive, but I never seriously considered not being around to finish raising and homeschooling my kids. Wake-up call time.
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Our spines (history, science) stay out on the shelves, along with other reference books and "just for fun" readers, art books and supplies, etc.
Materials related to a specific historical time period (spines and historical fiction) go back to the basement in their own box when we're done with them. All leveled curriculum (math, English, etc.) are also packed away, usually to be sold. Completed workbooks have representative samples removed and saved in a portfolio of the year's work, also stored in the basement.
I really enjoy clearing off the kids' "work shelves" and restocking them with brand new curricula for the new year!
Do you have rules about treats?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
Rather than "rules", we have more of a routine around meals, along with education about nutrition, sugar, fat, etc.
We have breakfast, lunch, snack/tea time, and supper. The only time that is appropriate for "sweets" (including pastries) is breakfast and snack time.
At breakfast, they understand that a small piece of a baked good is OK as long as it is accompanied by other healthier options (fruit, oatmeal, whole grain toast, etc.) The pastry is a side dish to an otherwise balanced breakfast.
Snack time is the primary time for "treats", although a fruit, yogurt, nuts, etc. is usually present as well. I don't keep items in my house that I wouldn't want my family to eat (seems obvious), so the main issue is with portion awareness. I have taught my dc to read labels, and see what a serving size of a certain food is, and stick to that. If 14 Pringles is a serving, then that is an appropriate amount to eat. Our whole family is trying to stay within the recommended guidelines of no more than 30 grams of added sugar per day, so they will often check the sugar grams on the package before choosing their snack. Giving them the info. to make smart choices is easier than making rules and policing.
In your situation with the inlaws, I would teach my kids the value of moderation. Whether at their house or your own, they can be polite and taste grandma's treat, thank her profusely, and move on to an activity without stuffing themselves with junk.