Something that is game-like and vaguely interesting? Ds uses the computer a lot, but needs to learn HOW to type. Thank you!

one alternate spelling is with the greek accent mark, which falls on the second syllable. That is the one you will hear when you click on the button on the Webster's link--notice the accent. KOY-nay is listed (to my surprise) as a secondary pronouciation, but IMHO is not as correct as it does not reflect the original greek word as well. When I studied koine greek in seminary, the professors always said koy-NAY.

Lol! We posted the same thing at the same time... nice to meet you, fellow lower left quadranter!

I'm in the "libertarian left".... my dot is literally in the little triangle made by Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama (Gandhi is one chart up, NM and the DL together on the final chart). I am totally happy and proud to be right with that group, even though we're such a minority on the board ;)... so there!

Application Admission Requirements to EPGY Students must demonstrate a high degree of mathematical or verbal ability (depending on the courses they are applying for) on the basis of standardized testing. All standardized tests must have been taken within two years of the date of the application. Achievement and aptitude tests other than those specifically listed below may be accepted as qualifying tests pending approval of the EPGY Admissions Committee. (A guide to the abbreviations used here for the names of standardized tests is provided at the end.) Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Music Students age 6 or younger. If available, a psychologist's evaluation from any of the following tests: Stanford-Binet, WISC, WPPSI-R, or Woodcock-Johnson. Students age 7-8. The EPGY Mathematical Aptitude Test; if available, a score report or psychologist's evaluation from any of the following tests: CAT-5, CTBS/4, CTP-III, ERB, ITBS, MAT-7, OLSAT, PLUS, SAT-8, SAT-9, WISC, SCAT, or Woodcock-Johnson. Students age 9-12. The EPGY Mathematical Aptitude Test; if available, a score report or psychologist's evaluation from any of the following tests: CAT-5, CTBS/4, CTP-III, ERB, ITBS, MAT-7, OLSAT, PLUS, SAT-8, SAT-9, WISC, SCAT, or Woodcock-Johnson. Students age 13-14. For 13 year olds only, the EPGY Mathematical Aptitude Test. For both ages, if available, a score report from any of the following tests: CAT-5, CTBS/4, CTP-III, ERB, ITBS, MAT-7, OLSAT, PLUS, SCAT, SAT-8, SAT-9. Students age 14 and above A score report from either the PSAT or SAT. Additionally, students applying to advanced AP and university-level courses in mathematics may submit the results of the AB or BC Calculus, or Physics B or C AP tests, or equally relevant material for admission to the program. English Students age 8 or younger. Admission is granted for this age group into the writing program only in rare cases, by special consent of the English program. The student must also submit the materials listed below for students age 9-12. Students age 9-12. A score report from any of the following tests: CAT-5, CTBS/4, CTP-III, MAT-7, OLSAT, PLUS, PSAT, SAT, SAT-8, SAT-9. Students age 13-14. A score report from any of the following tests: CAT-5, CTBS/4, CTP-III, MAT-7, OLSAT, PLUS, PSAT, SAT, SAT-8, SAT-9. Students age 15 and above. A score report from the PSAT or SAT. ____________ It doesn't seem to list specific scores, but I would guess the cutoff is similar to an ordinary gifted program? You may be surprised... I had no idea how math my ds was until he started EPGY and really moved at his own pace.

Oh no! That sounds horrible! So good you had the presence of mind to get the water going fast. Give him hugs from us on the board...

EPGY is a distance-learning program offered through Stanford university. They offer classes from K to post-graduate level (post COLLEGE graduate level, that is). You must apply and submit testing. It is kind of expensive (IMHO), but the financial aid is generous and easy to get. We love the math program, and started it after reading rave reviews on the old board. Check it out at: http://epgy.stanford.edu/

Lol! I kind of LIKE the name Epiphany... hmmm....

Yes. ;) ____________ Seriously, I loved The Hobbit as a child (I think I was 9?), but it is a children's book. As an adult, I enjoy it... but I find the themes/content of LOTR much more satisfying to read.

I'm sorry. When I read: " I will *always* support my boys in defending her and the principle of respect/kindness. " I really thought that mean always. If you won't support physical intervention, then that's not always, right? I have no problem with immediate non-violent intervention. In fact, I would encourage it and insist they stand up for what is right. I'm on your side. I believe all people are called to stand up for justice and speak for the least, the last and the lost. That's a strong part of my faith.

I think this isn't an easy question, QWIM? In the other thread I would support reasonable physical intervention because someone else had their property stolen or was physically threatened. The "invertentee" (is that a word?) had already indicated by their actions that they were willing to cross the boundary of acceptable behavior, and the boy who responded did so in a minimally invasive way. I would also walk him through some other responses that may have been more effective in this particular case, but that's neither here nor there. Now, I understand the hurt of bullying (agressive words). I was frequently bullied as a child. But I would never support physical violence as a response in this case--why? Because it would teach the lesson that when you get very angry, it is acceptable to use violence to express that anger. Nope, that's not OK. If you were an adult, it WOULD be illegal. I think that there are plenty of ways to defend yourself against verbal attacks, and defend your little sister against verbal attacks, that don't involve hitting. Better to learn them now, because unkindness doesn't stop at 18--and prison starts. I agree that aggressive speech is under responded too (how often I've been the only adult to notice in a youth group setting--simply because I was a victim as a child, and they weren't). But as adults we have to model ways to respond that would be appropriate as an adult: "That is a completely inappropriate thing to say! I don't understand why you choose to be rude and hurtful, but I am not going to keep talking to you!" Walk away. As a kid, tell an adult. NOT responding physically is not the same thing as tolerating or accepting.

I'm very non-violent, and understand your desire to teach peaceful resolution. But the little girl had been attacked--her things had been stolen. Jen's son didn't "attack" the boy, he restrained him and retreived the articles in question. If you see someone have their purse stolen and dash off down the street, is it OK to try to stop them? I certainly think it is ethical/moral to do so, and that there might even be a moral imperative to try if you think you can. I don't think a bystander would be "in trouble" for doing so. If someone tried to steal your car, of course you could try to stop them. Would you just hand them the keys and wave? Now, restraining them and beating them up--yes, that would be wrong. But that's not the case here. Any touch is simply not an attack. Restraining a thief is just not the same as "attacking" them. I worry much more about doing the right thing than getting in trouble. I hope my boys will as well.

I'm with you on this too. I would encourage your ds to use words first, but sometimes you just have to step in... of course, that means sometimes you might just get punched in the face. Doing the right thing is generally not easy. 12 years old is a great time to learn that. I don't think I'd contact the other parents. If they brought it up to me I'd not get into details of who pulled who first. I'd just say "Your son had stolen the shoes of a little girl, and my son was defending her." and leave it at that.

Dh and I picked the names of our children on our first date. It was sort of a "hypothetical" conversation, but we talked about it for over an hour. The names were: Kieran Danger (check! This is our oldest son!) Allyn Jane (never used the name... no girls) Rhiannon Kay (ummm... we didn't have girls) When our second was born it was hard to pick a name because we'd planned on 2 girls and a boy, not more than one boy. We eventually settled on Corwin Drew, but it was so much harder than just using one of our "first date" names.

Yep! Not as much as my dad does, but I frequently chat with those around me. We had one of those lunches the other day when we were sitting at a table next to an elderly couple. We ended up talking through the whole meal... my dh is an introvert and NEVER does this, but the gentleman engaged dh on the one topic he'll talk about with a stranger--comic books! He started by asking dh about his Flash t-shirt. My dad can talk to anyone, anywhere, and makes friends like crazy. He has more buddies than anyone I know. Every time we go to visit them in Florida, the house is full of new friends. I need to learn some of his tricks...

Now this I've never understood... scrambled eggs and ketchup? :tongue_smilie: Yucko!!!! I do like both Miracle Whip (yeah, it has sugar) and Mayo (no sugar), for different reasons. I'm even willing to mix them in one bowl, though I never have. But my eggs will remain pristine.

All these years, and I never knew you were a cheese addict! I actually sent my dh out yesterday afternoon to pick up a variety of cheeses... just having a cheese day, I guess. He bought brie, comte, gouda, stilton, chevre, a nice aged cheddar and havarti. We had guests over, and all the cheese went! Mmmmm... But I have no quote. Mostly because there are TOO MANY things I'd like to say....

I like "Educational Anarchist" as well... I want a women's plus size scoop necked t-shirt, so fix it up and I'll buy one!

With my ds we use copywork primarily as handwriting practice. He has poor handwriting, but spells and composes fairly well. I try to vary the content (literature, poetry, history) and relate it to other schoolwork--but I think that CW will be far more useful in growing those composition skills. I don't plan to drop copywork yet, though--his printing is still babyish, and we'll be introducing cursive in 3rd grade... but I can see dropping copywork after he masters writing legibly and reasonable attractively. At this rate, he'll be copying for a long time.

Tia Thomas was the only homeschooler in the finals--she came in third. Matthew Evans was the favorite going in, aslo homeschooled, and he was surprisingly out a couple of rounds before the finals. I was pretty impressed by the homeschool showing, though. There were at least 4 homeschoolers in the final 24--and we're certainly not 1/5 of students.

I totally agree. It made me sick to read the description of what was done to this innocent child. As far as I'm concerned, this woman isn't simply "undertrained", she sick. Since when is "Lord of the Flies" the model for classroom discipline? Any adult, even one with NO teacher's training or knowledge of disabilities, knows that this was emotional torture, pure and simple. Collecting children in a ring and encouraging them to insult another child, telling him that she hates him? I think it's very likely that she has been a victim of abuse in the past and has learned some really horrible behaviors--regardless, Ms. Portillo should be out of the classroom and never allowed to work with children again in any setting, IMHO.

Lol! I still have it singing when I read this thread... After reading the thread I decided to try the K12 tests... ds has done the first six of each without mistake, and he's losing interest, to say the least. I think we'll dive back in tomorrow or MOnday.

I disagree. It is the parents who are responsible for their kids, whether they go to public school or not. I went to public school for much of my childhood. If I wasn't learning anything there (often the case) my parents had no qualms about travelling with me. Some of my best memories are accompanying my mom on business trips to Russia, German, all over Scandinavia--we lived in Oslo. I missed a lot of school, but it never affected me academically. She worked full time and would never have even considered homeschooling if she had even known it existed, but she always "put education first". That's why I was allowed to travel so much! If the schools were "responsible" for me, then they would have taught me at an appropriate level. They never did. So my parents did the best they could to provide an education beyond what the schools offered. I'm never big on rules for rules sake... blind legalism is just a way of not having to deal with the underlying causes. Preventing violence is a good goal, but expelling children for bringing plastic forks is ridiculous. Similarly, getting a good education is a good goal, but enforcing rules that are used to prevent children from learning (no travel, etc) is also ridiculous.

Are you sure that it wasn't grey ash? That's a traditional way of finishing goat cheese....sometimes it has a grey thread running through it , or a swirl. A good cheesemonger (yes, that's the word) would be able to tell you, but a Whole Foods employee may or may not know that much about it. This is ash: So is this: As you can see, the ash coloring can vary wildly. As far as I know there are no soft goat cheeses that have grey mold on them. But I'm a cheese eater, not a cheesemonger.

Oh my, this sounds familiar. Good to know I'm not the only one with a kid like this!