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brendafromtenn

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Posts posted by brendafromtenn

    Visitor from K-8 board: Anyone do mainly textbooks for middle/high school?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Some us do Textbooks when we get to the high school level. I think especially in those areas that we don't feel as comfortable with ....

    and that would depend on YOUR skills. For me, I am much more COMFORTABLE teaching math and science from a textbook because those are MY two weakest areas.

     

    Whereas, I might do something more "classical" or "charlotte mason" with lit or history. These are two things that I am more comfortable with. Make sense?

     

    Also, it WILL depend on your specific child. When my oldest was in upper elementary, I thought that we would get ONE Algebra course or ONE Biology course and that would "fit the bill" for ALL of my students. LOL!!!!! :lol: Each child is different and you need to be flexible when buying curriculum.

     

    Also, each YEAR is different and has a flavor of its own. For instance, the year my dad suddenly passed away, we needed something that would be easy to pick up and just DO. I needed time to heal. I needed curriculum that was completely laid out for me. Nothing I had to think too hard about. The same would hold true if you had a new baby in the family.

     

    But yes, relax! You may use textbooks. That is o.k. And take one year at a time. Don't look too far ahead.

     

    Hope that helps!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    What is a "good score" on the PSAT?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Adding to Cynthia's discussion this week about PSAT prep. We too have a Junior, and have been taking a practice test this morning. So, far he scored a 61 on reading and a 64 on math. He is not done with writing.

     

    I don't know how those scores would relate to a national percentile,though. Do any of you?

     

    And how would these compare to others.....Would these be O.K. scores? I have no clue.

     

    Just trying to get some perspective here on how to study for next week. We too have a child that is not highly competitive, but wants to do his best job. And he doesn't do well if mom starts to freak out and says....let's practice, this and this and this and this......(Don't want to do that....;))

     

    So, I'm trying to keep my cool and not freak out.....for him. In other words, if these are fairly o.k. scores, we will relax a little more this week and put it all in God's hands and give HIM the glory for the outcome.

     

    But here is what I do know. DS will bump up these scores by a wee bit, when he gets in the test atmosphere. Happens every time for him.

     

    Any thoughts would be appreciated.

     

    From raining West TN,

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    Favorites for Ancient History Study with Lit

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    This is for those who have done Ancient History and tied their Lit study in with it.

     

    Next year(o.k. I 'm planning just a wee bit;)) I will have a 12th grader, 10th grader, 6th grader and 2nd grader.

     

    In the past, we have used the Classic version of TOG with some Teaching the Classics thrown in.

     

    This year we are in year 4 of our history study and will cycle back around to Ancient History next year. (The last time we were in ancients, 12th grader was in 8th grade! My how time flies!)

     

    I want a program that has both history and lit together, and may use TOG because I am familiar with it.

     

    However, just wondering what others have used for their Year 1 History study(Ancients)

     

    Please tell me what WORKED for you. Trying to have senior finished rather early. Think I want him to do just Genesis, Epic of Gilgamesh, The Illiad, the Odyssey and one other piece.(Yes, he has read easier versions of these, so he is familiar with the stories.:001_smile:)

     

    He will also be taking a Writing Comp class at the same time. Then may let him pick some pieces for the late spring....Things he wanted to read during high school, but we never got to do. Something just for fun.

     

    But just tell me what worked for YOU for an ancient history study, with Lit combined in.....And if you used TOG, let me know if you used classic or redesigned.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    Huck Finn Lit Guide

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Thanks for all the WONDERFUL ideas for studying Huck Finn. This is going to be a great study. I had completely forgotten that Teaching the Classics had those study guides. How great is that! I use Teaching the Classics for all the books that we don't use TOG discussion questions.

     

    I can not thank you guys enough!

     

    Off to get supper started!

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    Help for improving reading speed & comprehension for ACT/SAT...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    When our ds took several practice tests, he did the very same thing. He would get to the very last story and have to rush.....

     

    BUT there is something about being in the REAL setting that causes adrenaline to start flowing. When they know it is for REAL, they speed up a bit. Our ds finished ALL the tests with time to spare in the real one. Just our experience.....

     

    Hope that helps,

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    Those of you who use Writing Strands...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    At the last minute, I decided to use Writing Stands this year with my kids. (Have used IEW and TOG writing assignments and WTM narrations in the past.)

     

    5th grader(boy) is using Writing Strands 3 with Rod and Staff Grammar. (Yes, we are doing the writing portions in this book. But not on the same days that we have a writing strands assignment.:001_smile:) Periodically, I have him write a history narration too, as described in the WTM, but presently we are working on outlining, as we are working through SOTW4 with him this year.

     

    9th grader(girl) is using Writing Strands 5 and we are seeing incredible progress from her. (Reluctant writer...)I am also asking her to do history papers periodically. This week she is writing on a Civil War figure of her choosing. She will be writing on Clara Barton. She is also doing Analytical Grammar. We are about to finish the book. We started this last year. And we will do the review book, when done.

     

    In between our lit books study using TOG, I am sticking in some Christian Light "light units". (IE: Light unit followed by Red Badge of Courage and Huck Finn= 1 quarter of work. ) The "light units" also include Creative writing. So, she is getting writing from Writing Strands, Light units, and some history writing. I just try to alternate assignments so that things do not get BORING, and so that she is writing something EVERY WEEK.

     

    11th grader(boy) is going to use Writing Expostion of Writing Strands. He is preparing for a Dual Enrollment Writing Comp class next year. He is also finishing Analytical Grammar and doing Light Unit creative writing. He has written TOG essays for years. So, he is much more comfortable in his writing abilities, but still has some work to do to get ready for this class. (Mainly needs to write quicker....) We started Jensen's Format writing with him this past August, but I really think he wants to work on more STYLE this year, instead of FORMAT. So we are switching to Writing Exposition....

     

    Got to get off the computer.....

     

    Hope that helps!

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    Did you have your boy/s read Pride and Prejudice, or did you just skip it?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My ds was 15 when he read it. He identified with Mr. Bennet's humor and considers himself to "be" much like Mr. Darcy. So, he was racing dd to get to the end of the book. He really liked it, much more than dd did. In fact dd, who much prefers mysteries to romance, did NOT like it as much as her brother did. I was completely blown away by how they both responded to this book.

     

    So, I would not rule it out....

     

    Just my two cents,

     

    Brenda:001_smile:

    Where to get Fels Naptha soap?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I will got try our local Kroger first, and then check the local hometown grocery. (Once school is done, of course.;)And this nasty thunderstorm is through....)

     

    We don't have a Harris Teeter or REI near us, but thanks for that information too.

     

    If I can't find it locally, I'll just order some online. You guys have been GREAT! (Once again!:001_smile:)

     

    Blessings,

     

    Brenda

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