AHASRADA
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Posts posted by AHASRADA
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I should clarify that to date, I haven't actually told anyone my kid is in KG. Just thought it would make life simpler if I could honestly say that - but I guess based on feedback, it would not be honest.
I don't think it's even a matter of "honest" or "dishonest", it's what will answer the question in such a way as to avoid further probing by the questioner. If you say they are both in K, the puzzled stranger will inevitably ask if they are twins, when you answer no, you will be asked how they can possibly both be in K then, and you are thus forced to give your life story, which neither of you want to do ;).
In other situations, it may often be advantageous to fib/stretch the truth a bit to avoid getting into details you would rather avoid sharing with the general public. :glare:
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We have raised our kids bilingual from birth. Our first child (ds) is completely fluent in both languages and has never had any issues with reading or vocab. Languages seem to be his strength.
Our dd isn't as fluent in dh's language as ds is, partly because she had a sibling with whom she was also speaking English, in addition to the rest of her environment. However, she still speaks reasonably well and is understandable in dh's language. She does have a very basic vocabulary in both languages, and has a hard time understanding material that I read aloud to her, as well as retrieving the correct name/term for things. She is dyslexic, and I am having her tested soon for language processing disorder.
I am sharing this to demonstrate that, two children raised in the same bilingual environment, have completely opposite language outcomes, not because of the environment, but because of who they are. I don't believe raising dd in a monolingual household would have improved her reading or vocabulary in English.
Keep working on English vocabulary, and keep speaking your language.
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Yes, the syntax is awkward and, the way it is written, literally means the person in question used to be a woman. However, I would not take the statement literally as written, but assume the author, at least in this instance, is not adept at expressing themselves clearly in writing. This is one of those situations where context is key. If you know the author's native tongue is not English, and there is no reason to believe a trans-gender issue in this situation is likely, than I would go with the latter interpretation.
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I have used both Grades 3 and 4 without a teacher's book. The material in the student book is very clear and straight-forward, and I don't think there is a great deal of instructional material in the teacher's book that is really necessary (it is created for teachers in a classroom).
The only vital info. in the teacher's book would be the answers to the exercises. If you are following along in the book with him, you should be able to figure them out. If you find it would be helpful to have an answer key, you could always purchase the teacher's book later on.
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We used the Hewitt syllabus last year. It is great, but no, it does not list additional lit. selections. However, these are abundant and easy to find elsewhere (ie: Sonlight catalog, etc.)
Basically, the syllabus divides the reading of all 10 books over a 36-week school year. There is a test with answers for each book (multiple choice, short answer, extra credit essay). There is also a list of several (40 or so) project suggestions which could be done with any of the books. The idea is for your child to select projects that interest them to complete relating to their reading of the Hakim books.
I thought it was a great resource for the price, although the shipping does sound high.
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I use a weekly planner page from donnayoung.org. It is a 5x8 grid, so I list the subjects down the left margin and Mon. - Fri. across the top. I then fill in daily assignments for each subject in the squares. I do not fill in times, however. My dc are free to complete their work in whichever order they prefer, as long as it is done by the end of the week. The daily breakdown is just a guide. I do sometimes make a note of how long each subject should take, though, in order to help them to pace themselves.
If my curriculum gives weekly assignments, I break them into manageable chunks across a few days per week. For textbooks and workbooks, I simply divide the number of chapters, lessons or pages by 36 weeks in a school year. This gives me the number of lessons or pages per week. I then distribute subjects evenly throughout the week (most are 2-3 days per week, with the exception of math and lit.).
My dc each have a clipboard where their weekly assignment sheet lives. They cross or check off assignments as they are completed. I also clip any loose papers, like worksheets, that are to be done that week, to that board as well, beneath the assignment sheet. A binder could serve the same purpose. Once the week is done, I file the sheets in my planning binder, so at the end of the year, I have a complete record of what was accomplished.
HTH,
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Secular logic...does this mean that Memoria Press's Logic courses contain religious content? I was planning to have my ds do their Traditional Logic course this year, but now I'm hesitating. I understand that MP is a Christian publisher, but I wasn't expecting there to be CC in the Logic course.
OP or others, if you are looking for a "secular" Logic course, could you tell me which ones aren't secular?
Thanks!
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BTDT, in fact, still doing that :) I know how frustrating and exhausting it can be to teach a kid who "just doesn't get it" after breezing through with a dc who learns well traditionally.
I just wanted to pipe in to say don't dream that the school can and will do any better than you can. True, it can be a long road, involve a lot of research about learning styles, different teaching approaches and techniques, possibly testing for learning disabilities, etc and a great deal of trial and error.
There is no way the school will put in the same amount of time and effort for your child that his mother will. They may be touted as "experts", but you are the only expert on your own child, and so many kids fall through the cracks because they are given cookie-cutter remediation that does not necessarily address their unique challenges.
You are not a failure. You successfully taught several other children, this one is simply presenting a greater challenge. You can do this, and he will thrive, without the stigma, possible labels and damage to self-esteem he would endure in PS.
:grouphug:
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I will 2nd the suggestion to apply for Medicaid. Most states have some sort of special coverage for pregnant mothers, even if they won't cover you before or after your pregnancy. Pleeeease look into this. It will save a lot of headaches, not to mention your health!
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I was considering using AS for my ds entering Grade 9 this year. However, I had seen some negative reviews about tests that were mailed in being lost on several occasions. There also is apparently no consistency in teachers; whoever receives the tests on any given day corrects them, so there is no "assigned" teacher, which I fear would leave room for a wide discrepancy in comments and feedback.
Also, a couple of basic math courses are required for graduation, even though ds has already completed Alg. I in grade 8. How do you get around those "too easy" courses? Pay the fee to test out of them, or just fly through them?
I would also fear that since AS is so "easy" and "efficient", it would have a negative reputation among colleges/universities. Has anyone found that to be the case?
I would appreciate anyone with experience speaking to these issues (and I just realized that I have sort of hijacked the thread; sorry OP :)
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I am using Megawords book 1 with my dd11. Megawords teaches how to spell multi-syllable words, so the 1st book isn't "too easy" or "babyish" for a pre-teen (or even teen, for that matter). If your ds has not learned the syllabication rules, etc., then yes, you probably should start from book 1. They are fairly inexpensive, so it's not a huge burden.
There really isn't much "teaching" involved. I mostly clarify the workbook page directions and let dd do them on her own. There are a few pages with dictation words that I have to read aloud to her out of the teacher's manual, and you are supposed to give a spelling quiz at the end of each lesson, but that's it.
I would glance at the teacher's instructions before he begins each lesson, just to see if there is anything you want to discuss a bit, make sure he gets, etc., before he starts the lesson, maybe pre-test him on some of the list words, or do the first page or first few questions together to be sure he's got it, then let him run on his own. Check his work and give him the test at the end of the lesson. This should only take 5-10 minutes per day.
It really is a good program, and I hope you find it works for your ds.
HTH,
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I absolutely love our Shark Navigator. Actually, any Shark product we have ever had has worked lightyears beyond any of the junk we've tried from Walmart, etc.
It works fabulously on hardwoods as well as carpets/rugs. We have mostly hardwood, but a couple area rugs which never really got clean until we bought the Shark.
We had a similar problem with our old vacuum, with bits of dirt spitting out of the machine and not picking everything up off the floor. The shark suction is amazing and we never have any such issues with it.
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I am considering enrolling ds in either Oak Meadow, Laurel Springs, or a few courses of each, with teacher-assistance.
I am familiar and pleased with Oak Meadow's curriculum, and Laurel Springs online courses appear superior to others I have looked at.
What I am wondering is, was the teacher grading/comments/support/encouragement/guidance worth the cost of the courses? Were you happy with the individualized attention your child received? How about the turn-around time for receiving feedback? Any pros as well as cons would be appreciated.
My motivations for enrollment are:
- an accredited diploma (for various reasons)
- outside accountability to ensure ds completes essential high school-level work (neither of us is intrinsically motivated enough to push through completing difficult/challenging projects)
- regular work submission requirements to keep us on track, but with enough flexibility to allow for vacation time, our own choice of start date, etc.
- Independent, so ds can do the majority of his work on his own, with little to no planning on my part
K12 looks great, but class discussions and due dates are pre-determined.
We could continue doing our own thing and use NARHS for the accredited diploma, but there is no external grading, and only submitting a portfolio at the end of the year would not be enough motivation to keep us on track.
Kolbe provides the diploma, flexibility and offers grading, but again, work submissions are too infrequent and the grading at our discretion, allowing for falling behind.
Please let me know if you think the cost of Oak Meadow and Laurel Springs is worth the fact that they meet all of my criteria. Of course, feel free to suggest any other programs you believe would fit the bill.
Thanks!
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My ds used middle school Physical Science this year. He has done well with it.
It is NOT simply read and fill-in the blank. Each lesson consists of a series of "slides", which are illustrations with audio presentation of the content. Once they have watched the lesson presentation, there is an application activity, followed by several quizzes in preparation for the mastery test.
Based on his level of success on the quizzes, my ds goes back and reviews the specific slides that present the content he did not retain before he completes the mastery test (all quizzes and tests are multiple choice). The quizzes have automatic correction, so he knows instantly that his answer was incorrect and he can rethink his selection. On the mastery test, only a final grade is given. It is not possible to print the entire test for our records, but you can print a report after each test that gives the topic of the lesson, the number correct out of total questions, the final grade, the date and time.
Hopefully that gives you the info. you were looking for.
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I fix one meal: supper. I always cook enough to leave leftovers for the next day's lunch.
When each of us is hungry at midday (any time between 11:30-3), we each scoop out our portion of the leftovers, zap them, and eat.
As for breakfast, everyone prepares his or her breakfast upon waking, or when hungry (between 8-10am). We always have hot and cold cereal, toast w/spreads, eggs, pancake mix and occasionally muffins or quick breads on hand, so there is a good selection for everyone to have what they want.
Most of us are hungry for a snack between 4-6pm (we eat dinner at 9pm), and again, we each choose fruit, yogurt, nuts, a few small cookies, popcorn, etc., based on our tastes.
My family members' self-sufficiency probably has a lot to do with the fact that my kids are older. I would say we have been following this routine since about age 8-9.
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This is perfectly normal for my engineer dh as well. What year is it, what month is it, what day is it, what's the date, how old he, I or our kids are, etc. Funny, but totally expected and normal for him.
I guess the main issue with your dh is whether this is typical for him or not. If so, no worries. If this is very usual, however, you might just keep your eyes open for any other strange behavior. But on the surface, I don't see a problem with it.
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The first two were born in the hospital. Our most recent addition was *unexpectedly* born at home, or more specifically, at my parents' house. My mom delivered (as in caught) our dd. :001_smile:
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Sorry to tell you, but I don't think the feelings of self-doubt and what-ifs ever go away. The good news is, even if we weren't homeschooling, we would still have these feelings, just about some aspect of our dc's lives other than schooling. It's part of parenting.
Where they go to school, what activities they participate in, who they hang out with, every act of discipline, admonishment, encouragement, every time we permit or forbid something, we have that doubt. Did we do the right thing? Will they hate me forever/be a failure because I let them/did not let them do A, B or C?
Since education is such a foundational aspect of a person's life, and we are acting so far outside the norm in this critical area, we experience more of this self-doubt than other parents, and likely always will. We would have these feelings if we were taking a great leap of faith in raising our dc differently than is typical in any aspect of their lives.
I am hoping the feelings go away when our dc grow up into decent, honest, satisfied, successful adults. And if they don't, we will have the task of coming to peace with the fact that we are not entirely at fault for their shortcomings, as any parent must.
Don't worry, this is not the curse of homeschooling parents. It is the burden of all parents.
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I would dig deeper into your dh's opposition. What is his reason? Is it due to the initial investment in cloth, the "gross" factor of having dirty diapers in the washing machine, a stigma that it's a "hippy" thing, or just that he doesn't want to have to change them?
I agree that writing out the cost savings is usually helpful in convincing dh. I also agree that if he doesn't want to change them, just get a pak of disposables for him to use. There are certainly all-in-one cloths that are as easy to change as disposables, but they are much more expensive.
I didn't use cloth with my first 2 dc, only this baby, and I have found an enormous difference in the amount of diaper rash. As in none, unless I don't notice she's pooped and she remains soiled for a long period of time, and even that redness goes away quite quickly.
For some reason, I also find maintaining the cloth diapers to be therapeutic and satisfying. It sounds weird, but based on numerous blogs, I know it's not just me.
It sounds like a great deal on the cloth diapers. I would go for it, but again, I would get to the root of dh's opposition and try to sway him beforehand.
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We pay about $95 *PER YEAR* for our water. We have no additional fees for septic or trash removal, so I assume those are included in property taxes (which our landlord pays).
I'm sure our water bill will go up this year since I'm washing cloth diapers now; it'll be interesting to see by how much. I guess I should be thankful water is so inexpensive for us!
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To be the dissenter, I personally wouldn't bother, unless he is interested himself. By that age, he has established his penmanship style, and trying to change it now has the potential to be agonizing, awkward and honestly time-wasting.
I am imagining myself as an adult trying to learn a different form of writing. If I were doing it for fun, willing to take the time to write slowly and beautifully for cards, etc., that's one thing. Actually trying to change my daily writing style at this point, particularly if forced, would be miserable and likely unsuccessful.
If you simply want to introduce him to cursive, familiarize him with reading it, or if he is interested in learning it himself, that would be fine, as long as it is done casually and in only maybe 10 minutes per day.
However, at Grade 10, the bulk of his time really needs to be spent on academics, not on remediating handwriting.
If you do choose to work on handwriting with him (or he would like to), I would recommend http://www.bfhhandwriting.com/fixitwrite.php It is a quick program for adults to improve their handwriting. It is not a traditional cursive, but a form of italic, which is much easier to learn and implement. I would expect a higher likelihood of success with this program than starting from scratch with traditional cursive.
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The first space shuttle launch. I was in 3rd grade, and a TV was wheeled into our classroom so we could watch. That's about all I remember.
The next was the shuttle challenger explosion, in 7th grade. Our social studies teacher had applied to be the civilian passenger, but of course we all know Christa MacAuliffe was the one chosen. That event hit us all very hard. Fortunately for us it was a snow day, so we weren't gathered around the TV at school to witness it.
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Yup. Washer, dryer, dishwasher, crock pot (although not the oven) stay on when I'm gone if it's convenient. I'm also not paranoid about unplugging the toaster and coffee pot when I leave, either.
I wouldn't do anything reckless to endanger my home, but my time is precious, and it usually works out to switch the laundry before I leave, so I can fold when I get home, and run the dishwasher so it can be emptied upon our return.
I figure, if anything unforeseen happens with these appliances, that's what insurance is for. I refuse to be captive to worry about "what ifs" day in and day out.
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As I recall, only perhaps half of the answers are in the text; the rest are in the Companion. I would call the company to be sure. They are usually great about answering questions.
Roasting Red Peppers.... Help!
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I do them in the oven. Either 1/2 or 1/4 the peppers and remove the seeds. Arrange skin-side up on a greased cookie sheet or one lined with aluminum foil. Broil them until the skins are black. Allow to cool, or place in a plastic bag until cool. Remove charred skins. Voila!