hoosiermom
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Posts posted by hoosiermom
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You didn't mention the age of your cat.
We discovered one of our cats was completely blind when he was around 16. I strongly suspect that his eyesight had been failing for some time before we noticed it. But he had lived in this house for about 10 years, so he was quite familiar with the placement of objects, and his blindness didn't really present a problem as long as we were careful not to startle him. For example, we made sure he was in a safe place before anyone started the vacuum.
I did not seek a vet's advice as I figured it was a symptom of his age. If he were a younger cat, I probably would have taken him to a vet.
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We did Real Science 4 Kids in 6th grade. I think it would work for both levels, esp if you were willing to supplement. My very science-y daughter loved this curriculum. She still talks about it as one of her favorites. We esp. loved the chem and physics labs.
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We used Runkle's Geography for 7th and 8th grade. This is physical geography, not cultural. I think it could also be counted as earth science. I thought it was very well written and easy to use, if you want to use a textbook.
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all you have to do is show that you have 180 days in attendance.
I did notify my local school district that I would be homeschooling and requested that all previous school records be sent to me. I also notified the state dept. of education that we would be homeschooling, but that was optional.
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I tutor ps students during the evenings. Dd, who is 14, is able to help out w/ some of the younger ones. We live in a rural area where it's at least an hour's drive to what I call a *city* where Sylvan or other similar places would be available. I always have a waiting list and must turn away many who call. If you wanted to get started, I would contact the guidance offices of any nearby school and also put notices on bulletin boards at groc stores, post offices, churches, etc. Before long, you won't need to advertise--it will be done by your past clients recommending you to others. Altho I hs my dd, the public school bus driver who goes by our house is willing to drop students here after school, and then their parents pick the kids up when they get off work.
Best of luck w/ whatever you choose!
Cathy
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We're also using Prentice-Hall chem, but we're using the syllabus from Kolbe. The text itself was very inexpensive (used). The price of the materials from Kolbe wasn't bad considering how much time it will save me. I also bought the PH virtual lab program and may be buying the chem Labpaq which will be expensive, but we could probably get by w/ just the virtual lab and the labs in the book which use common household items.
Usually Alg 1 is considered a pre-requisite for chem, and I noticed Introductory Alg is on your schedule for this year.
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I sympathize with you! After 9 knee surgeries (dd was 2 when I had my first) and many years using crutches and a wheelchair, I know how difficult it is.
It's already been mentioned, but put your weight on your hands, not your armpits, or you will get terribly sore. Make sure the crutches are not too tall or they will rub your armpits. I second the idea of some kind of bag to carry stuff in--I would carry around the handset to phone and a water bottle.
When you do stairs, remember it's "up w/ good foot first, down w/ bad foot first." You will get better w/ practice.
One of the nicest things dh did for me was make up my ice packs. There was always a spare in the freezer. We made our own using two zip-lock bags, one inside the other to prevent leakage. Also, I kept a mini portable cooler/ice chest beside my bed or favorite chair w/ an ice pack in it. If you search the net you can find a "recipe" for a re-usable ice pack. It's basically water and rubbing alcohol, but I can't remember the proper proportion of each. It will be kind of slushy, so it molds around the injury. Elevate, Elevate, Elevate!!
I highly recommend a shower bench. Often if you ask around, someone will have one in storage that they're willing to loan out. W/ a bench, you can at least relax for a few minutes in shower w/o trying to stand on one foot. Also high on my list is a high-rise toilet seat.
Best of luck,
Cathy
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We've used several from Progeny Press. I think they include everything you're looking for, plus some ideas for projects.
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Clarks are the only thing I wear. JCPenney, DSW, shoebuy.com and zappos.com all carry them.
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We have a golden retriever/chow mix--thick, wooly undercoat, silky, long topcoat. I just came in from a 45-minute brushing session w/ many, many more needed. I highly recommend the furminator, plus a brushing tool called the matbreaker--both work like a charm, but for us, must be used outside. I could literally stuff pillows with this dog's fur.
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Dd checks OYO; I check module summary which she is required to correct before she takes the test. Neither one is counted as a grade for us.
As far as the final course grade, I count 60% for tests and 40% for labs.
When I took over teaching the biology class for co-op second semester, I did use some extra review worksheets and a few worksheets I found on the Internet that I felt were applicable to what we were studying. These extra worksheets were counted as labs. I also wrote some additional sections for the tests since I felt the Apologia tests were a little "light" on content.
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In the public school where I used to teach math, the sequence was Alg 1, Geom, Alg 2. I taught Alg 2, College Alg/Trig, and Calculus. After I left the school, they changed it to Alg 1, Alg 2, and then Geom. The reasoning was that students needed more alg before they began taking the graduation qualifying exam as sophomores. I prefer the former sequence so that students go directly from Alg 2 to College Alg. I've tutored many students going from Geom to College Alg, and it seems like they've forgotten a lot of alg skills.
My dd will be in 9th grade. She did Alg 1 in 8th, will do Geom this year, and then Alg 2 in 10th.
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I mainly drive our 2002 Toyota RAV4--LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! It's small, but can hold a surprisingly large amount of stuff. We've never had to do anything to it except recently replace the tires. My now 14 yr old dd will probably get this car in a couple of years, but I'm not sure I'll be ready to let it go.
We also have a 2009 Toyota Highlander, which is much roomier and gets better gas mileage than the RAV. The ride is incredibly smooth and quiet.
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Co-op classes:
Speech and American Lit using Hewitt Homeschooling resources
Latin 2: Latin Alive 2 plus an additional resource for reading
Geometry: Holt Geometry 2007
At home:
Chemistry: Prentice-Hall, w/ syllabus from Kolbe and Teaching Company's High School Chemistry DVDs
Grammar: Analytical Grammar
Writing: probably two on-line classes from Home 2 Teach Writing
Vocabulary: either Wordly Wise or Vocabulary for the High School/College Student
World History: Spielvogel's Human Odyssey, concentrating on Renaissance/Reformation along w/ Teaching Company's Western Civ DVDs
P.E.: taekwondo classes
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I will be using Holt Geometry 2007 to teach a co-op class this fall. I believe Jann in TX also uses it. I've just begun preparing lesson plans. At this point, I would say it looks very comparable to other geometry texts I've seen that were written for public school use. One reason I chose this book is that there are free on-line videos for each example presented in the book.
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We have french doors w/ freezer on the bottom--Love it!
Ours is a Kenmore. If I recall, we bought during summer months and got a great deal because they were closing out previous year's models.
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If you would give your son's reading level, that might spur some ideas.
I used several Progeny Press guides w/ my daughter around the same age. She especially liked Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, and I think a boy would very much like it as well.
If you tell me his reading level, I could probably give you more suggestions.
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I taught math in a public high school for 16 years--LOVED the job, hated the politics. I was always a very good student and noticed early on that while some teachers have knowledge of a subject, they are unable or unwilling to explain their subject to their students. I was miserable as a public school student!! Homeschooling would have been a god-send for me but was unheard of in our area at the time, so I immersed myself in every book I could find.
Despite my frustration w/ the system, I decided to become a teacher and was determined to be a good one. Teaching is in my blood--it is seriously like oxygen to me. I only quit (when dd was in kindergarten) because of health issues. We left dd in ps until 4th grade, when she began begging to be hs'ed. We discussed it for about a year and decided it was the right choice for us. I couldn't bear to see her love for learning be slowly extinguished by ps, and I was confident that I could do better.
Hs'ing has absolutely been the right choice for us. Dd will be in 9th grade and tells everyone who asks that she is NEVER going back to ps.
I tutor students after school, but still miss my job at times. However, we joined a co-op this past year and I get to teach two math classes next year!!
I'm curious, for those of you who have been teachers--how do your former colleagues view hs'ing?? I think we're seen as a bit of an oddity in our community. Some of dd's former teachers have told me privately that we made the right choice in hs'ing (altho they don't want anyone to know they said that!). Others ask why we would pull a straight A student out of ps--obviously the ps was doing its job. My fellow faculty members from the high school where I taught were like family for 16 years. But hs'ing is a taboo subject w/ them--they'll be glad to talk about everything but that! It's like they view me as a traitor to the system.
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Dd has recently been biking 15-18 miles round trip just for fun. She's 14, carries a cell phone, and stays off main roads. We live in an extremely rural area, so she's mainly riding on "back" roads (which sometimes concerns me). She's proven herself to be responsible and trustworthy and is close to being a black belt in taekwondo. Before she leaves, she tells me which route she'll be taking. I've decided I need to take a deep breath and learn to let go (a little!).
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I work part-time as a tutor.
Is this girl going to be completely in charge of planning and grading for the class? If so, I would think you would need to consider the time to do these things as well as her one-on-one time w/ the student.
I agree that $10-$12 is a reasonable place to start. But if she is going to be doing planning and grading and is doing a good job, then I think she is worth much more. And certainly more if she gets additional students.
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We just finished LL8. I can't think of any reason it wouldn't work to get the books elsewhere.
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:iagree:
I taught high school math (Alg 2, Pre-calc, Calculus) for 16 years.
I totally agree w/ Jann. I would not want my Alg 2 students using a graphing calculator. If allowed to do so, in my experience, they begin to think they don't need a full understanding of the concept--they expect the calculator to do everything for them. I think Pre-Calc is the place for a graphing calculator.
Also, I taught an SAT prep class in our local co-op this year. I did not see any advantage to having a graphing calculator for SAT math problems.
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I responded to your question in K-8 forum.
A few more thoughts:
I totally agree that general science is probably not the place for your dc. We did Apologia Physical Science in 7th and just finished Biology in 8th.
I don't remember the phrase "young earth" ever being used in the books, altho that view is very apparent. There is an entire chapter in Biology devoted to creationism vs. evolution. He explains both (respectfully) and then gives his reasons for supporting creationism (and he obviously supports a young earth, altho I don't believe he distinguishes between young earth creationism and old earth creationism).
My dd chose to keep her physical science text--I'm looking at the table of contents and I honestly don't think you'll find anything particular offensive to your views except a stray comment here and there. His views on global warming are different from ours, but I know many agree w/ him.
As I stated in my other post, make sure you know whether the teacher's/co-op's views are in line w/ yours. I would be more concerned w/ that than w/ Apologia's physical science. The biology text, on the other hand, you might have a problem with.
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I think I would also consider the pros and cons of the co-op class. We actually joined a co-op this past year for the first time--I thought it was time for dd to do work for "other" teachers besides me, plus I wanted the interaction w/ other students. I was seriously considering moving away from Apologia for biology, but the co-op was using it, so we went w/ that.
I am absolutely pleased w/ the decision to join the co-op. But you'll need to consider the views of the co-op in general and those of the physical science teacher. Are their views in line w/ yours--or more in line with the young earth views of Apologia?? My dd is very opinionated and very mature; her views are definitely not young earth. Before joining the co-op, we had conversations about respecting differing viewpoints. Our co-op is not teaching chemistry next year, so we're switching to a different curriculum for chem.
HS geography...Runkles?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
My dd did Runkles in 7th and 8th grade. It is a *physical* geography course (almost like an earth science), not a cultural geography course. If you were looking for something along the lines of cultural geography, I suppose you would need to supplement. Otherwise, I think Runkles stands alone. I think it would be difficult to finish in 1 semester if you also did the student activity guide which involves memorization of every country in the world. If you were doing the text alone, you might be able to finish in 1 semester.
We did small chunks on most days. If our days were full, geography usually got skipped. When we were working on the map memorization, we did not work in the textbook. So I guess I'm saying we just kind of took a relaxed route thru the program. We completed it over the course of 2 years. However, it's meant to be a 1 year class.
For what it's worth, I was extremely pleased with the program.
Hope this helps,
Cathy