[World's Story 2 - Master Books]

Have you looked at Notgrass History? We are using Our Star-Spangled Story from them and we love it (they also have a world history offering for 5-8th). It is a colorful textbook with real pictures of depictions or actual buildings/places. Ray Notgrass did study history. 

[Digital Piano]

My parents had me start on an electric keyboard. Not fancy, no weighted keys just something someone was willing to part with. I would say something that doesn't sound awful (to a regular person) for you to gauge your son's interest. He will get the experience of a real piano at lessons and for a little bit there is an abundance of things to learn even if the piano just plays the right note when pressed.

I think my parents had me on the electric piano for a few months before looking at buying an upright piano. I'm partial to having an acoustic piano like people are partial paper books. Digital pianos have come a very long way though, so I will say a good digital piano will be better than a shoddy acoustic piano. Do not buy a shoddy acoustic piano. If you get a good digital piano with weighted keys, you could be set for life; unless your son wants it. 

[Emergency food pantry if you mostly eat fresh?]

I mostly cook frozen or fresh too. After Mar 2020 when there was a brief moment when grocery shopping was hard to come by I bought a few canned goods (SPAM, vienna sausages, beans, jarred artichoke hearts, olives, canned tomatoes). We also got a deep freezer so there is more space to store frozen veggies and fruits. I also bought a container of dried mushrooms. 

During the craziness when we had fire season power shutoffs and a pandemic I caved and we did eat some canned green beans (it was not good I made a casserole even). My family complained but in the end we did survive.  

So, I suppose I would just keep some jarred/canned veggies, and canned meat just in case.  You can refresh the stash every so often. 

I do have rice, pasta, lentils and stuff in my pantry normally.

[The Unequipped Young Adult - Homeschool Version GOOD UPDATE pg. 3]

Thanks for the update, no more advice. Just I'm so sorry he's so thick-headed about it.

[Parenting advice appreciated]

4 hours ago, hjffkj said:

I mean they see their dad and I show affection without verbal consent daily: hugging from behind while one of us does dishes, just walking up and kissing the other, grabbing the other person's hand while walking, etc.  All positive interactions never any negative touching (that sounds silly to me.)

It doesn't have to be a forever rule, just a right now rule because child in question is having trouble with inappropriate touching. You can choose to call out the one egregious child on it or if all the other children are also doing it enough that maybe everyone can use a reset in this department. We've had success implementing this type of temporary rule for "aggressive hugging" and had success. Asking for consent gives children a habit of pausing before engaging.

I try not to go down the rabbit trail of whether my kids mean to do something with mal-intent or not and treat behaviors depending on that. I just address the inappropriate behavior being very clear with them it doesn't matter what the intent is, it is still wrong. 

My kids are younger than yours and I only have 2. So definitely not any sort of parenting expert.

[Parenting advice appreciated]

4 hours ago, hjffkj said:

We try to solve conflict by discussing them but no amount of talking has solved this issue.

This worked wonders for me and it works fairly well with my little girl. She doesn't tend to get stuck trying to be right. My son responds much better to natural consequences. Even in our discussions, telling him the consequences of his actions to him are much more effective than telling him how he is causing consequence to someone else. (Not saying this is a boy/girl issue that just happened that way with my kids.)

If you are more into the "positive parenting" thing and not random punishments, you can try to Amy McCready. For me she has done a good job balancing "positive parenting" with kids who are less compliant. 

[Parenting advice appreciated]

34 minutes ago, hjffkj said:

It is more the reaction and behavior once he realizes his actions weren't appreciated by the other person.  He really double downs and gets upset that they feel wronged.

I agree with what @wendyroo said. I just wanted to add I would rephrase that he was wrong into a person got hurt and that's not OK. Especially since he's doubling down on that he wasn't "wrong". 

Also I don't know when developmentally kids feel remorse (I mean my 3.5 year old isn't there yet and I think my 5 year old only feels remorse about getting caught). I have just given up on remorse being something to keep a person away from doing something. I just set if someone isn't happy about something that is "fun" or "all in jest" we reevaluate what we are doing. I tell them they can remove themselves from the situation or attack an inanimate object if they feel questionable urges. 

I also started implementing new consequence/punishment for my kids when they are too rambunctious called running 5 laps outside or batting/throwing/kicking a ball 10 times or 3 big screams outside/into a pillow. Depending on their infraction. 

 

[Angles]

11 hours ago, mathmarm said:

I wondered about that, but radians are a measure based on the radius of the circle and don't exactly map to a clean fraction of a circle that elementary students will already know.

I do suspect the pi part is what keeps them from teaching radians immediately after introducing the fraction of a circle. Actually, if you just assume pi to be constant, radians are very clean fractions of a circle. 2*pi represents a complete unit circle so looking at radians it's easier than degrees to figure out exactly where you are in a circle. 

7 hours ago, UHP said:

Radians are more suited to figuring out lengths, areas, and volumes.

Radians are super powerful to solve periodic (repetitive) things because of how easily it maps on a circle. Fascinating application is noise cancellation, auto-tune or in general manipulation of sound.  I know it's mainstream and commonplace to introduce radians much later in math (middle school/high school). Even then, it's usually quite vague as to why we are learning this piece of information at all. Since I've learned that kids can learn about placeholders pretty early in math, it just seems like it would be a great little nugget to throw in there as why we would have 2 different angle measurements.

In terms of introduction, probably have to go through the introduction of the circumference of a circle is 2*pi*r (that I think is complicated, but I suppose they could just memorize it as fact until polar coordinates and integrals). You can physically approximately show the 3.14 ratio occurring by doing an actual measurement of a circle or area of a sphere. Then imagine you have a circular track with a radius of 1, you can define each point on that track using radians. Values above 2*pi just means you've gone around several times. 

Then with the understanding of what degrees and radians with relation to a circle how to convert between the two becomes obvious and if a student needs an explicit way of doing it show the procedure, otherwise visually it's a map of both on a circle (one on the circular path and the other as slices).

[Angles]

On 2/23/2022 at 2:46 PM, UHP said:

"Connecting Math Concepts" introduces this stuff after the students have been working for a long time with fractions and ratios. It discusses angles as "fractions of a circle" and one purpose of the exercises is to give another setting (and more practice) for ratio problems. Here's a problem my daughter worked yesterday (from lesson 79):

Interesting, I feel like after "fractions of a circle" I expect the subsequent angles and problems to be in radians instead of degrees.  

[How would you handle this?]

My mom's talk with me went like this:

XYZ tends to be touchy with people. It is not OK. If he does that to you tell him stop loudly and move away. You don't have to be mean; you don't have to be polite, but you absolutely have to be firm and clear.

I don't ask kids or adults to be polite when encountering situations like this. I've found saying stop politely doesn't work, even in the most innocent of situations, just gets absolutely ignored when it's not innocent. 

[Package dilemma]

I think it doesn't matter whether it's a scam or not or what exactly happen. I would call either the carrier or retailer (whichever may be easier for you) and tell them no one by that name lives here or "return to sender". Then leave it at that. 

Someone had tried to look up a person before online and got my husband. My husband was not the person they were looking for at all but had the same name as the person they were seeking. So, you really can not be totally sure the person you looked up is indeed the person whose stuff this is. 

[Dance Studios - Do some operate to get kids onto teams, require more classes before they teach proper technique?]

Also a studio that is going to teach good technique is going to teach that from the start. In a beginner class they will teach you the proper way to do things, but not yell at you or correct you if you did it wrong. They are also more relaxed about the choreography. 

[How do I choose a church nowadays?]

23 hours ago, sangtarah said:

So how do we find a church that puts love first? Love for God, love for others; kindness, empathy, compassion, generosity, etc. He isn’t comfortable with the more liturgical churches, but is willing to visit. Any denominations you would recommend? 

A church that puts love first is kind of vague in what you want in a church. I would narrow this down to somethings that a church is doing that would demonstrate this to me. Do you need them to be affirming to be loving or caring to all people despite not agreeing to their lifestyle (I know this is a triggering phrasing for LGBTQ+, but it can apply to other things like alcohol/amount of Bible reading/contraceptives)? Do you want ever act of service to be completely wrapped up in Christianity or do you want some of it to just be? Big massive projects, or small routine things? More financial or more boots on the ground?

I mean we want it all, but you have to decide which outward expressions of love from a church do you prioritize or desire. Not all of these things are mutually exclusive but having a priority can help you find a "good enough" church. Your own acts of love are not limited to what your church can do so some of the prioritizing might be "Oh these things I can manage on my own" vs. "I need my church to encourage me". 

[Dance Studios - Do some operate to get kids onto teams, require more classes before they teach proper technique?]

So if the dance class stays light and fun (aka If she says Ah I don't want to do it or it hurts or is uncomfortable they will just let her be) then as long as she is having fun it's ok, even if they aren't teaching everything correctly. If they are pushing her to do more than what she is fully confident in, then you need to seek out a studio that is doing things right.

There are definitely dance studios that teach the "wrong" things and sometimes dangerously. Usually if a studio does good teaching it will do good teaching across the board. "Bad" studios can also have competition teams and stuff. The worst studios in my opinion push kids to do things before they are ready (there is actual physical age-inappropriate stuff for dance). One major example is pushing kids to go en-pointe (ballet) before their ankles are formed.   

[On learning mathematics]

4 hours ago, mathmarm said:

At my University there's a pretty consistent (at least on paper) pacing for most of the courses within the STEM math sequence beyond Calc III (ie, Numerical Analysis, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Complex Variables, Topology, Abstract Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Foundations in Analysis, Discrete Math I and II, etc). I personally manage to stick fairly faithfully to my pacing schedule and spread the material out as necessary. Its easier to cover 10 chapters of Linear Algebra in 15 weeks if you move at a steady pace.

I do know some of my professors will tack on extra "just for fun" things. Things that are not necessary for the course officially but the professor just thought it's an interesting topic. "Just for fun" topics are not necessarily easy in fact most of the time they were challenging; some professors would divulge that this was extra material, I also felt like some didn't divulge this information - aside from not seeing it at all on the final. 

[On learning mathematics]

For me it was dependent on the individual professors, some were very evenly paced and stuck with it, some tried to be evenly paced but would somehow run out of time at the end and the end materials would be rushed. Also, I felt like semester system reviewed stuff in the first week(s) of class whereas quarter system always just took off with the new stuff. Depending on the class and how long ago I took the prereq it was either helpful to review or a better use of my time to just dive into the new stuff. 

[knowing when you've stayed too long at the fair]

If you just want to finish just so you can be done doing it. I mean once your brain is fully formed, I think you have a good idea of when to give up on something. From experience "accomplishing" that things isn't really going to be full filling. I should have quit getting my masters and just dealt with everyone's disappointment in me. Instead, I pushed myself through and really don't care that I have it.

[On learning mathematics]

I think I would relate it in the homeschooling world, like when you read books to your kids that are beyond their actual reading level. Mathy parents automatically just talk about math beyond what their kids are learning in their lessons. My kindergartener isn't doing division in his math lesson but I talk to him about rates, fractions and dividing things. To me it looks a lot like when I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to him, I don't expect him to read at that level and there are a lot of things he needs to know between where he is now and being able to read that book, but you give him exposure to where reading and writing can go.

21 hours ago, EKS said:

If you're having trouble, skip ahead to examples.  This may contradict what you have been told - that mathematics is sequential, and that you must understand each sentence before going on to the next. 

I remember when someone finally told me I wasn't suppose to read math (or a textbook) from cover to cover. You browse the chapter, take a look at the problems at the end and try and do those. While you try your hand at the problems go back through the examples to help you figure out how to do the problems and if you need more information then read the paragraphs surrounding the examples. Then when you encounter a problem in real life and refer back to the textbook again read the sections that are pertinent to seek your answers. That's why the college math textbooks have answers to the odd problems, so you know if you understood, or you need to go and read the section again. 

[Suggestions for replying to argumentative people]

I wouldn't blame yourself for "not backing down" fast enough. I mean your buttons can get pushed too. It's exhausting to be on your "A" game all the time with an argumentative person.

[Suggestions for replying to argumentative people]

Usually with my person if it's not an "important" thing (Ukraine is an important thing but my discussion with someone over it is not) I do what you do and give up and alright. I never say you are right or anything just alright. If they push, I ask what response they want from me. If I disagree and they want me to agree then I say well I don't think you can convince me and I don't think I can convince you so what's the point? If we are actually in agreement (don't know about your argumentative person but mine will argue me even when we agree), we agree what do you want me to say.

I do have some friends who are argumentative because they want to debate things. In those cases, as long as it stays civil I engage and have fun with it. When it turns nasty I just tell them it's going too far for me and can we pick another topic.  

[Cyber stalking]

16 hours ago, Scarlett said:

 Dh thinks…and I don’t know……..that it would be near Impossible to have a devise transmitting to CA.  So maybe the texting when we were all talking smack about him was coincidence. 

SO I woudl say bugging someone's house may be unlikely. Although distance-wise may not be the deterent. The devices can just connect to the wireless internet and go anywhere from there. See how you can control your nest from you phone... OF course would ex go through all that trouble and or money to do so I don't know. 

Spying from her phone or computer is easier because all the tech is already on her phone/computer he would just need to install some nefarious software to make that happen. 

[Singapore Math for K]

I want to buy Singapore Math for my little girl. I did Earlybird Mathematics with my little boy we love it. For Earlybird Mathematics I had access to but didn't really use the home instructors guide. I'm looking at getting the 2022 edition for my little girl. (Biggest reasoning perforated pages.) If anyone has used it, can I use it without the home instructor's guide. 

Earlybird Mathematics had some hands-on activities written in the textbook, is the 2022 edition similar. Is the Home Instructors guide just to teach me how the math works and scheduling stuff? I looked at the samples the K student book samples looks like I would have to get the HIG, but the level 1 samples I would feel like I wouldn't have to get the HIG for.

[Anyone else have a toddler with post-covid side effects?]

4 minutes ago, Jann in TX said:

This morning he keeps pointing to his knees saying 'owwie'... his knees are a bit chubby so I can't tell if they are swollen. 

You can have it checked out make sure he didn't get hurt of anything, just in case. If you don't want to risk taking him in for nothing make sure he is walking normally. My son's joints hurt when he goes through growth spurts. There is a lot of growth spurts that happen in this age group, both brain and body, and some kids display discomfort due to it.

The sleeping issues would also be normal for kids his age. When my kids go through brain spurts (their brain grows and they acquire new thinking skills - cognitive leaps/brain leap), all sorts of crankiness occurs. For one kid her sleep always regresses for my other kid if anything he sleeps more. Combative when just awake, are you absolutely sure he's actually awake? My son would actually not be awake sometimes, so I would go in and hold him firmly and repeat "I'm here. Did you have a bad dream? I'm right here, everything is OK. You can go back to sleep." You can also tell him where he is, that he was just sleeping, give him information/words that may indicate what might be happening. To reduce exhaustion some couples will define times when each person is going to be "in-charge" of waking and comforting him, so each of you can enjoy less disruptive sleep sometimes.    

I'm not saying it's not COVID or something else related, but just giving you perhaps some normal benign reasons for his behavior. (The rash would be concerning.) 

[Physics Board Games?]

Not board games but build car/boat/plane to race them, members of the household can spend time researching and building these and see who wins. Build toothpick structures like bridges, towers, container, etc. Do drop test, weight, shear test (twist), squish, earthquake, etc. Those were the most fun physics things I did. You can insert as much technical physics knowledge into them as you want.   

[When one parent dies suddenly - moving forward]

I only have one piece of advice. Seek help for you. With a therapist to just process it, with someone who has gone a similar circumstance, and with the practical process of it all (documents, moving, funeral, etc.).

We did not have to seek assisted care because my mom is able to take care of herself.