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Ilera25

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Everything posted by Ilera25

  1. I'll put in another recommendation for Minimus Latin! When my 7-year-old came to me and said he'd like to learn Latin, I was little baffled. I wanted a program where he'd feel like he was learning, but that also wouldn't take a lot of time each day. I also wanted something more hands-on and engaging. It took awhile to find something that wasn't geared towards middle school/high school. Minimus Latin is rather pricey, but well worth the investment (at least for us). I purchased the audio CD and my boys started picking up on Latin phrases right away. I've been using it for three years, and my youngest enjoys making up stories in Latin to confuse his older sister (who chose to study French independently instead). Since it's published by Cambridge University Press, they sort of speak Latin with a British accent, which is hilarious. They're in 4th/7th grades using Level 2 now. If you purchase the teacher's manual, it includes a variety of extra study options (art, music, history, etc.) There are also worksheets in the appendix. All of that is optional though. You can use the stories and the exercises in the student book. If you know a little Latin, you'd probably be able to translate the stories. But I've liked having the teacher's manual for extra study suggestions (especially if you're looking for ideas for a multi-sensory, or interdisciplinary, approach to learning language). The only real downside I can see is the cost. I've been able to find it used from Ebay and Amazon Marketplace, but I've had to purchase all the parts from different sellers. I paid more for Level 2 than Level 1. But I did eventually find a decent price! We're using that level for two years instead of one, since I didn't feel that my youngest was ready to move up to a middle school text yet. Another critique might be that it isn't really designed for mastery, but more of an introductory course. I think you could use it for mastery, by having your child memorize vocabulary and grammar rules. But the lessons aren't really designed with that purpose in mind. It builds on concepts over time (the second book is definitely more challenging than the first!) My boys couldn't necessarily decline a verb or tell you what the case endings are. But they usually end up using the grammar correctly when they make up stories. I think by listening to stories they're learning the language in a more natural way--like how we all learn to speak before we study grammar. I guess you could actually count that as a strength of the program, rather than a weakness? It depends on what style of language instruction you're looking for.
  2. I've wavered on this too. We also live in an anti-mask/low vax area. My daughter's friends have labeled me "very strict" and "crazy" because I require my family to wear a mask in public regardless of what others around us are doing. We also avoid indoor places where no one is masking (or leave quickly). I honestly don't know why people here think it's safe not to mask. Our case numbers are still high and our hospitals are struggling. Since only about 4 out of every 10 people are vaccinated in my area, I just do not feel safe in places where no one is wearing a mask. It's no use being mad about it. But I'm not giving up either! I'm trying to accept that I can't control what others around me are doing (or if they're even looking out for the common good). I can, however, control how my family responds to this situation. I'm fairly confident that wearing a mask while vaccinated is the nicest, safest thing I and my family can do for our neighbors. Even (especially?) those neighbors who aren't doing anything to protect themselves or others. I hope one day my kids will see it that way too: we're not just wearing masks to protect ourselves. We're doing it because ANYTHING we can do to lower case numbers and help end this pandemic is the right thing! I still feel like wearing a mask is worth it. The CDC is recommending it. My kids' pediatrician still recommends it. Our local hospital recommends it. The department of public health recommends it. The only people I know who aren't advising us to continue masking are some politicians in my state. I definitely believe the former are better equipped to advise during a pandemic than the latter. It might be different in your state. But if your area is anti-mask/low vax, then the medical establishment would probably still recommend masks until vaccine rates are up, even if (right now) case numbers are decreasing.
  3. Did Pfizer's data show that a booster would increase efficacy against Delta or just that it increased antibodies? That's not exactly the same thing. No one has yet (to my knowledge) determined that Pfizer's decreased efficacy is due to waning immunity rather than simply being less effective against Delta. I understand all the arguments in favor of boosters. I want them for my parents, in-laws and high risk brother-in-law. But I think a some of the pressure for boosters is simply frustration that mRNA shots are no longer 95% effective. It'd be great if boosters could create that again. But I'm skeptical they would and, honestly, I don't see that Pfizer is providing evidence to that effect. In the last month, the number of people I know who've had break-through Covid19 cases has jumped exponentially. Some got their vaccines as long ago as February; some as early as June; most in April. Does that show waning immunity or is it just the Delta wildfire in my area? At this point I think the FDA is right to wait on boosters for everyone. I don't see that they've completely rejected it. The panel just didn't receive the evidence they needed to convince them that the risks outweigh the benefits. Perhaps in the next few months the data will show that boosters are needed. Since vaccines do seem to be protecting against severe Covid19 and hospitalizations, waiting strikes me as a good thing. Here's an article from The Atlantic that gives compelling evidence for a wait and see approach to boosters: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/09/when-you-should-get-your-covid-booster-shot/620123/
  4. I agree with the general consensus here. Would you say your boys are "failing" because they just don't understand the information presented? Or are the problems are too hard? Are they working the problems correctly but making a mistake somewhere in the process? Or are they confusing how to work the problems? I give my kids partial credit for working a problem correctly even if the final answer is wrong. (For what it's worth, I had a professor in college who could never work an entire algebra problem in class correctly. He kept notes to double check his answer and would always have to go back and fix where he'd miscalculated.) If they're really not understanding the material and you're all frustrated, it's ok to change the curriculum. I've switched to Math Mammoth and it's been a great fit for my son (starting 7th grade this year). The author explains concepts thoroughly and my son has so much more math confidence in than he ever did before.
  5. Wow! I wish I could say things are back to normal for us, but they are not even close. My high schooler is fully vaccinated as are my husband and I. My middle schooler had an allergic reaction to his first Pfizer dose and is currently not recommended to receive a second dose. I also have a elementary schooler who isn't eligible for the vaccine yet. We wear masks whenever we go out and try to be selective about what activities we participate in. It's not easy though because practically no one here wears masks, and hasn't since mid-May, even kids. My state's vaccination rate is not quite 41%. I wasn't too worried until the Delta variant started spreading like wildfire in my community. Our case numbers are back to what they were in February and our percent positive is nearly 20%. I was going to let my high schooler go to in-person school this fall, but my state has a law preventing public schools from mandating masks. The mayor of my city is currently fighting to at least allow mask mandates in elementary schools. The president of the state college, who is an epidemiologist, tried to mandate masks (because state law clearly prohibits vaccine mandates), but the state attorney general said that violated state law. It actually feels like it did last August. I'm terrified what will happen when 10,000 college students descend on the city, students return to school unmasked and flu season hits. I want things to be normal. I want all of us to be fully vaccinated. I at least want to live in a state where people are taking precautions and we could go out and feel reasonably safe. A week ago one of my husband's bands got together for the first time in 18-months. A few days later the drummer, who is fully vaccinated, contacted them to so say he'd tested positive for Covid19. I'd made my husband wear a mask to practice, and thankfully his Covid19 test came back negative. How is my high schooler doing? I'd say she's handling things as bet she can. She asked to be withdrawn from the local high school. She's planning our holidays like she did last year and wants to order some art supplies to keep her busy. Her best friends actually moved during the pandemic, so she's used to keeping up with them virtually. At this point, I don't know what activities to participate in. Maybe homeschool student council? I'd be surprised if anyone there was masked though and she feels awkward being the only one who is. Once the weather and mosquitoes aren't so bad, we'll at least try to find some outdoor activities to take part in. Last year it felt easier to navigate the pandemic. I was scared only for me (because I'm in a high-risk category). The Delta variant is indeed a game changer. I'm concerned for everyone, including those of us who are vaccinated. There are too many break-through cases in my community; too many people are unvaccinated, unmasked and acting like the pandemic is over. It's a perfect breeding ground for virus variants. Anyone else in a state where the Delta variant is raging out of control? I'd love some advice on what you're doing to get your tween/high schoolers though this. What activities do you participate in?
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