AHASRADA
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Posts posted by AHASRADA
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I was going to suggest AAS as a follow-up, so you're on the right track. The same thing happened to me with ds way back when. I called up the creators of the phonics program I was using at the time, and they said, that's it, he's done.
I discovered later on that he could have used more in-depth phonics, the kind taught in AAS, as well as syllabication work, prefixes and suffixes.
She probably is "done" with basic phonics, but the next step would be to prepare her for sounding out multisyllable words she is not familiar with. Of course, you have plenty of time for that, so getting her going in AAS would be a good place to start.
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I strongly agree with the PP. As I recently posted on another thread, middle school is absolutely the worst time to be in school, imho. From ages 11-13 or so, kids are extremely vulnerable to peer pressure as they try to find their place in the world, discover their interests and passions, etc. Their entire focus turns to fitting in, being accepted by the cool crowd, and not being picked on.
I don't believe that a "socially awkward" child will somehow be cured by sending them to ps. What, are there no "social awkward" children in school?? We are all born extroverts, introverts, etc. The only socialization they learn in school is how to fall into the pecking order in a controlled institution, taking on the role of leader, follower, teacher's pet, bully, class clown, and victim.
I agree that kids need experience interacting with others, including children their own age, in order to learn how to navigate social situations. I absolutely do not believe this is best done by locking them in a building with hundreds of age mates to "fend for themselves" and "sink or swim". A brief negative encounter (such as your dd being left out) followed by plenty of time with people who love her and with whom she can discuss the issue, is much more healthy.
School is an artificial environment, but kids within it begin to see school as their "world", with everything outside those doors as secondary. If that world becomes hell (in their eyes), it can do a great deal of damage, and the parents may never even know the full extent of what their dc experience on a daily basis.
Weren't most (if not all) of the world's great thinkers, inventors, artists, etc. considered dorks, or nerds, or weirdos growing up? They didn't fit inside the box, they didn't fall into line, they didn't buckle under pressure to conform to the norm. Where would we be as a modern society if they had?
Allow her to flourish and discover her true self without the confines and pressure of growing up in an institutionalized setting. When you feel she has well-established her interests, preferences, values and confidence, then you could consider whether she would benefit from attending school.
Just my $0.02.
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I think the answer would be based primarily on the social status/circle of the family receiving the gift, as well as the "quality" of the gift, of course.
Based on your description of the gifts, however, I would certainly not hesitate to give them at a shower. If you are familiar with the couple and have a bit of concern that they (or other guests) might look down upon a homemade gift, you could add in something purchased as well.
In my experience, though, a well-made, cute and useful homemade gift is appreciated and treasured much more than something from BabiesRUs. Rather than saying "cheap" it says you put an enormous amount of time, thought and effort into the gift. I still have baby quilts that were made for my dc and keep them as heirlooms as well as souvenirs of the gift-giver. All the other plastic stuff is long gone.
In my area, professional craft shows are frequently held during the holiday shopping season, where people with $$ to spend pay extremely high prices for handmade items. If the guests aren't crafty, their first assumption could be that you purchased a very pricey, high-quality handmade item for your friend. They will be even more impressed when they discover you made it yourself.
So, if these are trendy, snobby people, you should probably add a name-brand trinket to the package. Otherwise, I'm sure everyone will be thrilled and amazed by your creation!
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#1: DH and mom
#2 mom (DH decided seeing that once was enough!)
#3: mom, dad and dd (she was born unexpectedly at my parents' house, while DH and ds were visiting family a few minutes away)
Honestly, at the exact moment of birth, I don't really care who's there. I'm in a zone and just focused on getting a job done. I was happy to have both my parents and dh there during my entire labor the first 2 times, but somehow preferred to handle it on my own the 3rd time. I labored alone, in my bed, while everyone else slept, until I couldn't bear it anymore. Hence, the unexpected delivery! That was truly the best.
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My MIL lives out of the country, so we've always called her after the baby was born. My parents, though, are with me every step of the way, through labor, at the hospital and my mom has been by my side during each delivery (well, except for our little "caboose" dd, whom she actually delivered herself!)
I am sure if my MIL lived nearby we would certainly inform her that we were headed to the hospital, and she would be welcome in the waiting room, maybe a brief visit during labor, and welcomed into the room to see the baby immediately after the birth. MIL and I are very close, but she would know it is my mother's place to be with me during the birth, not hers.
Of course, it depends on the family dynamics and relationship. I can understand a MIL being hurt, though, if her DIL's parents (the other grandparents) were informed beforehand and she wasn't. If no one else was informed, then she has no case. She might have liked to have known, but this is obviously the family's choice of privacy, and she was not being singled out.
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I chose one day, because while I am never "in pain" for an entire day, I do wake up with a sore back every AM, which could be averaged out to "a day's worth" of pain over the course of a week. The pain is gone once I get up and get started on my routine. Oh yes, and I have foot pain from time to time, but that's about it.
No, I do not think most people are in pain "most of the time". Pain is supposed to signal something being wrong with your body, or your environment (an old mattress and bunions, respectively, in my case).
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I never have this problem, and am having a hard time imagining anyone doing that :001_huh:.
Of course, I always have my cart pushed just slightly into the checkout lane, and I stand beside it, standing in front of/against the end of the conveyor belt, reaching sideways into my cart to remove items. I am physically blocking any access to the belt whatsoever, and my cart is blocking the lane, so there is really no way anyone could encroach on my space. Actually, I don't remember when I started doing this, but most of the time one of my dc is in front of the cart near the cashier unloading from that end, so maybe that's why I do it that way. Even if no one else is with me, though, that's my routine.
BTW, my supermarket doesn't have baggers (most of the "low-end" supermarkets in my area don't), so I organize my items in the categories I want, and *I* (or dc) bag them the way I want. It's annoying and takes time, but at least I have my bags the way I like them!
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Well, I didn't really have any *specific* plans beyond helping dc with their college work other than to enjoy having much more free time to follow my own interests.
I would probably continuing to tutor, maybe volunteer for a literacy project or some such cause, and just basically have time to do what would be interesting and fulfilling to me (in addition to finally having time to keep up with the housework!) I have always toyed with the idea of getting my master's, but I'm not really interested in having a "career". I want to do meaningful things on my own time.
Notice I said I *didn't* have specific plans, past tense. Now that sweet little dd has been added to the mix, I have much, much longer to decide what to do post-homeschooling, and I will be much, much older when that time comes :tongue_smilie:. I'm really looking forward to having the chance to do this all over again, with experience under my belt this time (I'm referring to homeschooling, as well as parenting in general ;).)
So, not thinking much about post-homeschooling around here anymore.
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Oh no, Nadia. How horrible for you, for your neighborhood, and of course for the family. It sounds like he may have wandered off rather than having been taken, which could offer a bit of comfort for you and the neighbors, but it is still terrible. Hoping he is found soon.
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As a mom who tends to get really, really mad over things that, in the end, aren't life-or-death, I can absolutely sympathize with how angry you are.
It is a big deal, especially the lying, and you and your dh have to work together to find a parenting solution to address that.
Before dealing with your dd, though, I would try to step back and work through your anger. I have yet to see a sound parenting decision made in the heat of anger. I had a newborn not that long ago, and I can't even imagine trying to work from home when she was only a couple of months old, with multiple other kids to care for, including a 1yo! You are probably feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by life in general, frustrated that you work so hard to fit paid work into your schedule and have to wait an unacceptable amount of time to receive your due for that work you performed. And now, you finally get your hard-earned pay, and someone (your own child, no less) destroys it. I can see this being the last straw, but most of which has nothing to do with your dd.
Your work issues and your dd's behavior issues are two separate problems that just happened to converge today. Treat them as such, and hopefully you will be able to deal with both situations in the best possible manner.
Just my $0.02.
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I would worry less about the diversity of *race* and focus more on diversity of *thought* in a community.
I also grew up in "White Bread" America, about as white as you can get. However, my community was not insulated, close-minded or bigoted. On the contrary, each person encountered was judged as an individual, not as a member of some minority group (there weren't enough minorities to form a group!) The vast majority of people were truly curious to know about different cultures, backgrounds and origins, and no one was made to feel unwelcomed simply based on their race.
As an adult, I have moved to a major metro area where there is enormous, wide-spread diversity, large minority groups, large enough for each to form their own neighborhoods, speciality shops, private schools and places of worship. I feel there is much greater stereotyping, bigoted behavior and pressure to "assimilate" than I ever saw in my tiny white hometown.
Of course, the opposite experiences can be true as well, but it has nothing to do with diversity or a lack thereof. It's based on open-mindedness, or a lack thereof.
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I've brought homemade chili (veggie if necessary), cornbread, a bag of salad and bottle of dressing. Easy to transport and keep, and the recipients were thrilled!
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In 1995 I graduated from college summa cum laude and had the honor of giving a speech at the ceremony (talk about a proud moment!) I also got my first "real job" (using my degree) and dh and I got our first apartment together (we had previously been living with my parents or BIL). I also planned and pulled-off a wonderful surprise party for my parents' 25th wedding anniversary.
It was a wonderful and life-changing year, the beginning of our "adult lives" together, and although we had already been married for 4 years, we were still head-over-heels honeymooners :001_wub: Our first child was born at the end of 1996.
No, it doesn't seem like that long ago, and yet so much has changed. We have grown and matured and had a multitude of life experiences together, and of course 3 wonderful kiddos.
When people mention "the 90s", though, I feel like it was reasonably recent, not over a decade ago! I guess I lost the first decade of the 2000s somehow, or they were a blur, what was I doing, oh yea, raising littles! ;)
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I have been unhappy with some of the weekend religious classes I have enrolled my dc in over the years. At one of them, a small group of motivated, well-meaning parents formed a parents' association, meeting weekly to brainstorm ways to improve the classes and practical suggestions for doing so. Our goal was to help and support the director and teachers. The result? We were accused of trying to take over the weekend school and that our help wasn't wanted or needed :confused:.
My point is, you can try to change the entire system (which may be met with territorial resistance or simple apathy), or you can change the situation for YOUR dd. Did you try to change your public school system to fit your dd, or did you just pull her out?
In our case, we ended up teaching one dc at home and found a school that was a much better fit for the other (as in, teachers who really want to be there, are motivated and prepared and welcome help from parents!) Incidentally, the school we ended up with is at a different place of worship than ours, although of the same faith.
Good luck in your decision.
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We used BOTH (as in, concurrently) for Algebra I last year and currently for Geometry. I know, not the answer you wanted, but there it is.
I love the aspects of Jacobs mentioned by the PP, especially the conversational style and cartoons. However, we really need a program with automatic grading. No matter which textbook we use, dh and I never end up getting around to checking his work, say nothing of having time to walk him through his errors and how he should have done it, in a manner timely enough to be helpful to him. He also needs the video explanation, and while we could do Jacobs accompanied by the Callahan DVDs, that wouldn't solve the work-checking issue.
Cost-wise, Thinkwell is much, much cheaper that the full Jacobs program (text, answer key, tests, etc.) plus the Callahan DVDs. We always buy Thinkwell through a Homeschool Buyers Co-op group buy, so we get it for around $65. Then I pick up a used copy of the Jacobs text from half.com or even on this board as a supplement.
Thinkwell is ds's primary program which he does on a daily basis, but he reads through the Jacobs lessons as well, doing some review problems and the Algebra review (in the Geometry book). He also has a small group of friends who are using Jacobs this year, and they meet weekly to do the "challenge" (set III) problems together.
For us, this combo works. Good luck in your decision!
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I voted 9-12, although ds is in 9th and he's still not going ;). In his case, I might consider 11 and 12.
I believe it probably depends on the child, but I would definitely not send them to PS for the 1st time in middle school :tongue_smilie:. Most people (being honest) would have loved to have skipped ages 11-13 or so altogether. My SIL told me she wishes she could have spent those years with a burlap sack over her head. Grades 6-8 were definitely my worst peer-relationship wise. It is a time when you are trying to find your place in the world, figure out your likes, dislikes, interests, passions, etc., and are very easily swayed by the opinions of peers. I spent those years in search of the elusive "coolness" formula, changing my style of dress, interest in music, even my penmanship style :confused: to copy the "cool" kids in hope of being accepted by their clique. By the time I was 15 or so, I was doing my own thing, had my own group of friends with like interests, and left the cool kids alone in their own posse.
Of course, this experience will be different for every child, but I vote for putting off school until at least some point in HS,
Good luck with your decision.
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Whatever you do, don't move to Quebec. It is homeschooling hell (sorry to be blunt, but that's how it is). Most of the rest of Canada should be fine. HSLDA in Canada should have the most accurate information on the HSing climate in different provinces.
Good luck on the "avoid snow" thing. BC is the only place I can think of.
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I think those who rant against Teaching Textbooks don't have kids with special needs or learning disorders or hate math.
:iagree:
It's working great around here for my dd, who needs the problems read aloud to her, needs the repetition, needs the break-down into tiny pieces with step by step explanations.
I don't think it would be challenging enough for ds, but I also doubt dd would be successful with a traditional program.
That's why there are multiple programs available, and why we homeschool, so we can make those choices based on our dc's abilities and learning styles. Curriculum bashing is really unproductive.
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You don't need a passport for a land crossing. Send his birth certificate and a signed (notarized is good) statement from you that it's okay that he's going. That's all we've needed.
:iagree: (your ds doesn't need a passport, but his father does)
We cross the border every 20 days or so, and the above info. is correct.
Make sure the notarized letter you provide giving his father permission to take him across the border includes your contact info. (address, phone, cell number) because they may call you to make sure it is valid. The border guards may not even ask for the letter, but in the event it is requested, their crossing may be seriously delayed if they don't have it.
Hope all goes well!
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:grouphug:
I can totally understand your feeling torn. It's too bad that you have to be in this decision crunch at this point in her education. She has several years left and the choice might be easier to make at another point down the road. But, it is what it is.
At least you have several months left to make the decision, assuming the exam results are positive, right? Even if she is accepted and registered, you could always change your mind at the last minute, I would think. So, it doesn't have to be decided tonight ;). I hope she didn't race through the exam with the subconscious attempt to fail, not wanting to go to school. :tongue_smilie: Hopefully she is open to leaving her options open.
Still, I know that churning feeling in the pit of your stomach, wondering if you are doing what's best for your dc. Of course, there is no way to know for sure until years later, which doesn't make the decision any easier.
Keep us posted. We'll support whatever decision you end up making (well, maybe my dd won't but, that's to be expected ;).)
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I was looking into a Sunday school for my dc that had a "no parents in class, not even for observation" policy. That was the end of our investigation into that school ;).
Their current Sunday school is always open to parents, welcoming (and strongly encouraging) parent and sibling volunteers.
I know it is easier to find a Sunday school than a full-time private school, but I would do my best to find one that were more closely aligned with my parenting values.
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My ds has used Thinkwell for Algebra and Geometry. It is an online program, meaning you access the lessons via the internet, but it is not associated with any school or teacher.
It consists of online video lectures, followed by a problem set which is automatically graded by the system. The teacher explains things very well and is a bit light-hearted. The equations and examples are on an on-screen whiteboard next to the video of the lecture, so you are listening to the explanation as you watch the problems being worked out on the board, just as you would in a real classroom.
There are also chapter tests, mid-term and final exams, also graded automatically. Their customer service is great. You can contact them if you don't understand something and they will email you back with an explanation.
It costs about $130, but Homeschool Buyers Co-op has sales several times a year so I have bought it through them for around $65.
It is truly independent due to the automatic grading, as opposed to a textbook with accompanying CD. Teaching Textbooks is similar, except you don't see the teacher, it is not a true lecture, but a verbal explanation of the lesson. TT is a great program for someone who needs math broken down into very small chunks and explained thoroughly at every step, but it can be quite boring for someone who catches on more quickly. If you don't have particular trouble with math and want a program that will prepare you for the lecture-style presentation of a college classroom, I would look into Thinkwell.
Good luck!
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You see, it would bother me. Maybe it is because I don't have the best relationship with my MIL. I would not feel able to relax in my home with her there. But, my issues are that she did not ask (she was an univited guest) and she did not allow the parent the opportunity to parent.
I guess we are just coming from different family cultures. In my family, parents are not "guests" and don't need to be "invited". We are accustomed to the attitude that a child's house is defacto the parents' house and it is their prerogative to stop by whenever they want and stay as long as they want. Yes, some kind consideration in the way of asking in advance if it is a good time, etc. is appreciated, but bottom line, it is their right as a parent to make use of their child's home.
I think there is a lot of history here that is making this a bigger issue than it should be.
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I think I would need some background history of MIL being pushy and hard-headed in order to agree with the OP.
Based on this incident alone, I see no problem whatsoever with her offering to spend the night. I know, she didn't offer, she "announced", but some people are like that. They see what they perceive to be a problem and set out to fix it. It can be annoying, but they only mean well. She doesn't want her grandson to have an uncomfortable night. If the *kids* preferred not to have her there, grandma could have been taken aside and gently told that, while they appreciated the gesture, dgs was really looking forward to having a sleepover with his siblings/cousins, staying up late doing kid things, etc., without an adult crashing the party. Hopefully she would understand. But the adults being bothered? I just can't see it.
I am imagining either my mother or my MIL doing the same, and everyone would be thrilled with the idea, including the dcs. Of course, we have a great relationship and it wouldn't be unusual for them to want to sleep over after a bday party anyway. Why not continue the fun!
I can see how the dynamic would be different if this is a constant battle of territory and MIL overstepping boundaries. On it's own, though, no biggie.
IPod Apps: Which ones do you love?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I just got an IPod touch for my birthday (I've been wanting one for over a year so, yea! Thanks mom!)
My mom got it for me because she knows my ancient Palm is my life-line, and I was sure it would just die at some point and all my info. would be lost (and so would I!)
At the moment, I am just trying to get my info. (contacts, lists, etc.) from my Palm entered into the IPod, and find apps to replace the software I have on my Palm, mainly for my grocery list and exercise tracking. I think I have found decent free apps for these uses (GroceryIQ and either LoseIt! or DailyBurn), but it got me thinking.
As home managers and homeschooling moms, which apps (preferably free or cheap) have you found indispensible? Recommendations, anyone?