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Pam B

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Posts posted by Pam B

  1. Just wanted to warn any and all who have their kids enrolled or who think they might.

     

    After homeschooling my three children from the beginning through grades 7, 8, and 10th, we moved from Illinois to Tennessee. The year before moving we enrolled in HomeLife Academy.

     

    After the move, it was decided that the kids should attend public school. Their dad and I divorced and he insisted they go.

     

    My youngest started 8th grade, my next oldest started freshman. No problems. My oldest- starting as a junior was made to take tests to prove her credits thus far. She failed all but one- English.

     

    I know she learned and she made good grades. She worked hard and did well. She's never been a "pro" at tests. Anyhow- the school has just informed us she has ONE credit so far and will be put into freshman (with her younger brother- by two years) after Christmas.

     

    Since it is impossible to go back and earn all the credits again within a reasonable amount of time, allowing her to graduate with her class next year- we will be pulling her out after Christmas and allow her to go for her GED.

     

    She will be missing all her new friends, proms, and of course--- WALKING with her class... Actually walking at all!!!!

     

    Her Spanish that she worked so hard on for two years and made nothing but A's??? Rosetta Stone... No credit there either!

     

    Challenge A that she did in 9th grade- nothing.

     

    Biology online? Nothing.

     

    We're furious.... Would be the understatement of the century!!!

     

    So- PLEASE be careful enrolling- ESPECIALLY if your child isn't an awesome test-taker!!!

     

    I would love to see how many of the other juniors in her school, if made to take the same tests, just how many would fail???

     

    Tennessee schools care nothing about genuine education. They prep and prep their students for tests. That's basically all. My youngest told me the other day they are going to have a huge test, so they are studying a lot. When us the test???? FEBRUARY!!!!

     

    High test scores = more tax dollars for their school.

     

    So who's to blame??? My guess would be a but of both---

    The Tennessee school system as well as home life academy.

     

    ----------

    Is there any other way any of you see for us to have her graduate?

     

    Thanks.

  2. every so often she starts texting me out of the blue and ranting and all about why am I trying to keep her grandkids from her. I usually play it calm and tell her she's always welcome to visit, yadda yadda.. This time, my phone wasn't working properly and she apparently tried at call. It didn't ring. She called and called, it still didn't ring. I was sitting right there beside it. so she texts me "If I'm a woman I'd call her". What the.... So I called. She cursed me from top to bottom wishing I would burn in hell and everything else. So, I asked. Are you drunk?

  3. I decided to make a page for my kids to fill in of their favorites. Although it's great for keepsakes, I thought it would help ME plan their schooling. I thought some of you may enjoy it as well.

     

     

    Name: ___________ Date: _________Grade: _________

    Fill in the blanks with your first choice first and so on.

    List three careers that interest you.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List 3 activities you want to do now.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List 3 activities you want to do when you are older.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List your top 3 games you like to play.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List 3 courses you want to take.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List your top 3 favorite books. *Series count as one book.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List 3 things you want to learn how to make.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List your 3 favorite subjects in school.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List your 3 favorite movies of all time.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List your 3 favorite foods.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

    List your 3 favorite drinks.

    1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________

  4. You should check out Knowledge Quest.

     

    I have two of their books: Map Trek- Atlas and outline Maps of World History and Expedition Earth- My Passport to the World. Both come with CDs. Another program I have created by Knowledge Quest is Global Mania. Global Mania is free when you sign up for their newsletter. It also lists several geo games.

     

    Also another great site for quiz games is http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/. At the top you will see several choices, two of which are USA and World. These are the two geography sections. Great fun!

  5. We are finishing up a six week study of ocean science. We used the Smithsonian Science 101: Ocean Science book (from the library). Each week they read two chapters and outlined a two page spread in each chapter. I had them draw a cross section of the ocean with the different zones labeled. I assigned two short papers (topics based on requirements in the BSA Oceanography merit badge). They also watched all the episodes of Blue Planet. For the last week, I will have them write a short paper on a topic of their choice.

     

    The one thing I would have liked to add would have been more of a field trip, either to the beach or to an aquarium. (They've been to many beaches and aquariums, just not during this study period.)

     

    I think we're headed into a geology study that will be similar (but using a different book as the Science 101: Geology book has quite a different set up).

     

    That sounds really interesting. I'll have to look it up. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Hunter (or anyone else who has looked into the MatchCards),

     

    Do you think it would be confusing for a child (aged 12/13, or even my 15 yo) to study perhaps 3-4 objectives then go on to another topic- to create a spiral approach? Or do you think this would... not confuse them... but maybe make the program less effective?

     

    I really am wanting to cover it all in one year, however I am not crazy (or cruel) enough to make them memorize all the objectives in 36 weeks.

     

    Example:

    Botany: master 3-4 objectives

    Zoology: master 3-4 objectives

    Oceanography: master 3-4 objectives

    ................. And so on unil they have ran through all the topics, then the next year repeat the pattern learning another set of 3-4 objectives per topic.

     

    They would still be doing the readings and projects.

     

    Does it sound crazy or good?

  7. Where is the one year plan? I won't be following it, but I'm curious.

     

    I was planning ahead today and have the lists of all the objectives printed out. My main unit study sometimes has fun sounding, but non priority topics suggested. It helped so much to pick the closest objective to make the week's focus and then to only add a little literature as bonus points for exactly what the unit study suggested.

     

    Decisions now seem so easy and definate. I'm really liking this :-)

     

    And if a unit study calls for a topic I think is important and interesting enough to make an objective, the project or bonus point time can be devoted to creating a self-made objective card.

     

    Sorry Hunter, I somehow missed this post. The one year plan I thought covered all, which was crazy wrong, is on the top of page 7 in the Instructor's Guide.

  8. You should check out Knowledge Quest.

     

    I have two of their books: Map Trek- Atlas and outline Maps of World History and Expedition Earth- My Passport to the World. Both come with CDs. Another program I have created by Knowledge Quest is Global Mania. Global Mania is free when you sign up for their newsletter.

     

    Also another great site for quiz games is http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/. At the top you will see several choices, two of which are USA and World. These are the two geography sections. Great fun!

  9. I have been having the same problem with my soon to be 7th grader. I have looked around a bit and I continue to come back to Write On! At $25 (ebook or $30 print) for four levels, I figure it's worth a shot!

     

    I'll also be using her "Grammar Slammer" game ($19 ebook or $24 printed), as well as her "Matchcard Science" (free).

     

    I'm really liking the gentle approach she goes for.

  10. Hi all,

     

    Is there anyone out there who can suggest a site that will enable my kids to build their own website?

     

    More specifically- here's what I am looking for:

     

    1. A site that explains the how-to of it all.
    2. A place to actually build the site for free.

    These can be one in the same or seperate. Picky, aren't I? :iagree:I just thought it would be a good project for them to work on over the summer- WITHOUT my constant help! :D Mean aren't I? hehehehe! Nah, I don't mind helping, I just really want them to do the most of it on their own.

     

    Thank-ya!

  11. I am not sure if it is 'unit studies' because I am not clear what unit studies are :blushing: , but I have liked using TOPS. They are focused on a single topic and approach the topic in a number of different ways.

     

    Oh thank-you! I actually have a big TOPS book and forget about it all the time. I think maybe I will at least use it to supplement Matchcard Science- if I definently choose it.

     

    HERE is a link to different homeschooling approaches- including unit studies! :001_smile:

  12. This is good stuff. I'm still printing and reading too.

     

    slight adaptions, but mostly from the curriculum:

     

    Pick 1 or 2 objectives a week to serve as the spine of the week's science studies. 4-6 weeks of study should cover:

     

    6 objective cards

    3 main resources (1 book, 2 other)

    1 project

    Bonus activities based on student interest

     

    Students should study 5 minutes per grade per day (7th graders should study 35 minutes, 8th grade 40 minutes). One bonus point = 10 minutes

     

    Students will:

    work on weekly objective card and review 5 cards

    read and use resources

    plan and carry out project

    work on collecting bonus points

     

    I'm wondering if it would be possible to cover all in one year, without of course burning out.

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