mommy4ever
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I took all this information to heart. I really thought about how she works best. How I function best.
We snooped at some of the recommendation/suggestions. I decided to shelf TOG :(
It is simply too much and I know I would spend so much time trying to find everything.
I decided to go with Memoria Press. After talking with them on the phone, at length. We are using their lesson plan guide and doing the Ancient World and Ancient Greece. I have Story of the World if we want to do a little more reading on any particular era. Adding D'aulaires Greek Myths read aloud and discussion(she loves myths and fables) and read aloud Percy Jackson. And the goal is last week of it all we will do lots of movies with Greek Mythology as a base.
What works is that she thrives in workbooks. Maybe because it's ready to go, or maybe it's the structure. It works for me because it is ready to go. Life has been hectic, and this keeps us going.
I think it was a happy find :). I am so glad I asked!
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Social studies/history is one area, we don't thrive in. It isn't a topic of interest for me, I didn't do well in my own studies, hence my struggle to teach it. A few years back, I downloaded the first Unit of TOG, year 1. I am thinking of pulling it back out. But it overwhelms me. I am missing something. I must be over thinking it and complicating it.
Can some one give me some guidance? I'm going to be working with an upper grammar student. She is a good student overall, but if I am not organized and understanding what we're doing.... I lose her. So we do great in my strong areas. But we struggle in my week.
So far this year, I'm ashamed to say, we have only read some historical fiction, I really wanted to study our history (Canada) but what we've found to work with is set up so poorly. I don't have the background to create my own. I need something concrete. And if I could wrap my head around TOG... I think it could work. I see lesson plans. I have a healthy budget to order books, as well as 2 nearby libraries. I would really like to tackle it in the new year.
I'm failing at this, terribly. So much so, there are times I feel she'd be better in school, which I know is ridiculous. But thankfully, she is thriving in all other areas.
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DD16 is taking a grade 12 social studies class in school. She has an essay assignment, and we're really struggling with it. We spent hours researching it, and she has started writing, however, in talking with a friend, who is a Social studies teacher, he feels she has approached it completely wrong.
I thought that we have some great minds here, maybe we can get another point of view.
Here is the full assignment:
To what extent should we embrace the ideological perspectives(s) reflected in the source.
Write an essay in which you:
- analyze the source to demonstrate an understanding of the ideological perspective(s) reflected in the source.
- establish and argue a position in response to question presented
- support your position and arguments by using evidence from your knowledge and understandings of social studies
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Source: Political realists believe that the implementation of the principles of democracy in the twenty first century is impractical. The economic and social costs of allowing for the free play of conflicting opinions is prohibitive. Advocating a practical political system, realists reason that to expect political institutions to be totally responsible to the participants is not possible. Moreover political leaders cannot be expected to be totally responsible to the electorate. While the principles of democracy are sound in theory; application of the democratic principles in a modern political system is not attainable.
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The instructor outlines how she wants the essay written. What should be in the introductory paragraph. 2nd, third etc.
How would you interpret the source? We are trying to analyze it. And looked up what political realist is, how they think, etc. Found examples of where democracy has failed, where it is succeeding.
Thanks, Social Studies is not something I am good at, never was..lol. so this is so beyond me.
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It is always interesting to see what people like and don't like. It's a really good thing that there are so many choices out there for curricula!!!
Behold and See science 3 & 5 didn't work for us this year either. And they got such awesome reviews, I thought there must be something wrong with us, lol. I didn't hate them, but my kids just could not get into them, they find them very boring.
We loved 3 and 4. This year we tried something different, for a change...doh... and going back to Behold and See 6.
One other program I forgot to add in my last post was OPGTR was a huge failure here, very boring. We love Phonics Pathways much, much better. Same concept just not as boring!
We loved OPGTR, we didn't do every single page, if she had the concept, we moved on. We started at the vowel sounds. I have recommended it to sooo many people!
Saxon Math for my big-picture dd. I'd never seen my mathy, laid back dd so unhappy with math or any curriculum.
I agree with this one. We did it for 8th grade, and my dd didn't like it. We did finish it, but it was brutal to go through.
Other things that were bad ideas for my crew
Real Science 4 kids
Apologia Science (this was the junior high level, not the elementary)
Elemental Science
Writers Jungle
Tapestry of Grace
Any Latin
Easy French
Math Mammoth _ Liked grade 1 and 2, but after that she didn't retain.
Easy Grammar
Life o Fred
We liked but discontinued
CLE Math
CLE Language Arts
FFL
WWE
I'm sure there were more... but I can't think of it.
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4H isn't very big here, the closest club would be a minimum one hour drive one way, that isn't related to animals, a friend tried to start one within the city and couldn't get the numbers, it's only 8 kids, but there was no commitment around here for something like that. \but the comment was about myself growing up, only farm kids were able to participate in 4-H.
I know 4H is for all kinds of things these days, including fun things like paint ball, painting, etc, but I think around here there isn't much else, other than involving large animals, that are within a decent travel time. I just looked at the regional listing, and there is minimal that isn't, and the distance just isn't feasible.
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This is a skill that I know we are lacking. Being homeschooled, there isn't necessarily a group to present to. I have dd9 present her projects to her older siblings, but that isn't the same, plus they think she's adorable, which angers her..lol.
Anyone care to brainstorm with me on how to provide this learning opportunity?
I was thinking perhaps small group, co-op like setting. But I'm not sure. I know we could get a room at the library, and meet there to do the presentations. Truly, I'm not a speaker myself although I did do well in 4th grade competition but after that the school didn't do anything for me, 4-H was only for farm kids.
How can I teach this to dd9, and give her the opportunity to improve and grow her skills? I don't think she's missing anything that the school might be doing, as all my kids lack in this area. I see this as an opportunity to grow. I see so many videos of young teens speaking to rooms full of people,and they are so eloquent. I want to let dd9 have a chance to try this.
Thanks!
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I stumbled across the term in another post.
The concept of having the kids write what they do remember vs. finding out what they don't is really appealing! I struggle with some of the textbook questions at times, I've read it but can't recall several of the things.
I am evaluating this year, after all it's February, and finding we have a great math and LA system, but LA could use a little tweaking. But I am not enjoying science, social studies, or even the religion, which we did enjoy last year.
This is really a new concept for me. What can you tell me about it? what did you find most helpful in making this successful?
I see real potential!
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I created my own, love it. It's loosely weeks, and divided by topic, as I am rarely on task on all subjects. Some are way ahead, others on task, and others maybe a little behind. All are behind dividers. It's so easy to go through, flip see where we're at,check things off. Love it. I plot everything in.
I do put dates in, simply to see if we are too behind, then we'll spend a little more time on it. I don't worry about a week or two, but if it's more than that I know we need to focus.
I love it :)
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I am just starting thinking on this.
Math: CLE 400/500 - we are off by 1/2 cycle
Science: CHC grade 5 or possibly CSH hands on science + co-op
LA: CLE 4/5 - plus AAS 4
Social: provincial curricula, 5th is still a narrative and dd enjoys it.
Religion: Faith & Life - possibly online
Art: ecclectic, some crafty, some grand masters and co-op
Music: Possibly piano lessons
Performing arts - co-op
Phys Ed: home treadmill(burns anxious energy). hockey and karate. Possibly swimming, but that is usually summer+co=op
French: 1x a week group class, L'art de lire and at the co-op.
Very preliminary. I'm debating LA right now as well as science..lol.
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I was thinking no drop, parents stay. The possibility of some of them teaching, but all stay to assist, in some capacity.
I do child care already, I am not about to take on more of that. I also know that this age group can be difficult, so mom or dad nearby is a great motivator for good behavior.
I do plan on charging. I am not sure what would be better, yearly or monthly. It woul. Be nice to have the budget up front. That way I can catch sales, etc, and be prepared, without household funds.
I am really leaning towards doing it. I am trying to dot all my i's and cross all my t's
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Any one done this?
I am sitting here contemplating doing just that. This January, my girls started going to a co-op, dd9 absolutely loves it. She repeatedly tells me she wishes there was a second day. I don't worry about the missed school day, because, really it's not lost at all, as she studies French there, does science experiments, art, drama, and phys Ed. I have tried the various groups to increase her social interaction, and it's never the same kids in attendance, it's hard to form solid friendships.
I did find another co-op, but I wasn't comfortable with some if it. And that's all I can find in this area. We have a pretty large homeschool population here, but they are quite unschool-y, some are awesome, but most I've met I haven't found it a good fit being more of that Classical learning style.
So the thought is what if I started a co-op? A once a week, 1/2 day co-op. I don't know what facility costs might be yet, but could a coop be kept really small? 6 kids? At least initially. Then that would solve facility issues for now. Science, art, grammar, public speaking skills, math, finishing up with a social time, both for parents and kids. It would be done in 30-40 minute blocks.
That is a very loose idea at this point, and I have a lot of thinking, pondering and debating with myself to do for this.
I figured, this was the place to get the information. :)
What are important factors to consider? What have you learned since starting? What do you wish you'd known from the beginning? What would you do differently?
Thx
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Another factor that can bring on anemia is hypothyroidism, and it is one of the most undiagnosed illnesses in women. Just a thought
I battle anemia as well. My count is typically 2-3, in a REALLY good stretch it's 6. I have been tested for anemia, had a uterine biopsy, have had lots of blood work.
The one thing posted here that I hadn't heard about is low HcL... I'm going to look into that.
Hope you're feeling better
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I can relate. I had some one in my life that was like that. she didn't have money to buy food for her kids, but when they got money, she didn't stock her pantry, she wasted it within days. Then she'd complain there was no money. They earn a 6 figure income.
As much as i liked her, I found her stressful. So I keep my distance. I miss her in some ways, but I am much less anxious without her.
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I have learned many things in this thread. Some new, some refreshed.
I have been trying to cook more or less only what we need that meal. Dh isn't taking leftovers to work, no heating facility, and ds isn't working right now. Leftovers are often wasted in the fridge.
As I was tidying today, I realized something, why not freeze them? Not a major epiphany. Some things I already do that for. Left over ham is cubed for soup or scalloped potatoes and ham. Mashed potatoes for potato dough. Why not everything else? No one will take that 1/2 cup of veggies left over. But tossed into a container with complimentary veggies for a soup or stew would make use. Left over roast could be cubed to be warmed with broth and served over rice. Left over rice can be frozen for mini rice puddings or heated with milk and cinnamon for a warm breakfast. There is no reason to have a fridge full of leftovers. Freeze it, and plan to use it in the next 2 weeks. The kids don't like having a left over day, but leftovers can be made into fresh new meals.
I'm going to need to think on this more. I see great potential with approaching leftovers as an ingredient to a new meal, vs the main course a 2nd go round.
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On the topic of food storage and shopping rarely:
I actually found that we had the smallest amount of food waste when I had no possibility to buy or store much, but had to shop every day or every two days. When we lived in Germany three years ago, we did not have a car, so bulk shopping was impossible and I had to shop every other day. This meant that bread, produce, and dairy were always fresh; nothing got stale or wilted, because the quantities I could bring home were just enough for a few days and got eaten before they could spoil (or be forgotten in the back of the fridge).
I see the same thing at my parents' house: my mom shops on foot, and they almost never have anything they must throw away.
OTOH I notice that when I shop here, with a car, I sometimes bring home things that eventually end up going bad. So, while I keep a store of non-perishable staples, I find that frequent shopping for perishables cuts down on waste.
Having JUST cleaned the freezer out, I have to agree with this. There was alot of forgotten things that had to go :(
That said, I now have a well organized freezer, I've written down the full inventory. I have it on my computer. I will be sitting down this evening and planning my next week meals based on what is in there. I have enough to do nearly 3 weeks of main courses. I do have a large amount of frozen fruit that we'll be using up, starting after Lent.
Further continuation of my pantry challenge..lol
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So one bucket is larger than the other and the water goes into the outside bucket from the rain collection system?
Joan
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Typically, the directions are for the same size buckets. 5-gallon pails generally next together, leaving about a 6 inch gap at the bottom, with a pipe running through the soil the bottom of the pail into the air space. you'd fill through the pipe. however i plan to use the lids, and have the bucket with soil sitting on top of the lid of the bottom bucket. Stacked rather than nested. You can use a siphoning system to fill the buckets from a larger water barrel, however, i think if you have nearly 5 gallons of water, you would be fine for at least a week without concern.
http://www.globalbuckets.org/ this is the site I originally saw them on. It also has the siphoning system too. I might have to do that..lol. Just because.
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I'm amazed that you get beans into choc chip cookies and muffins! I have a long way to go in terms of increasing protein in this way....so they are only/usually navy beans that you put in bakery?
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No, any softer skinned beans or lentils work. Chickpeas, navy, white etc. Dark ones will alter the color of the cookies.
This is a good question for people = how do you keep track of your inventory?
I tried the white board and no success....Now I've listed the different types of meats, cans, cereal, grains, pasta, oil, etc etc. on sheets of paper and put them in plastic 'sleeves' (one for the pantry and one for the freezer). Then there is a check in erasable marker which a person is supposed to erase when they take the item out of the freezer or off the shelf....But so far it is not working because people aren't disciplined....So maybe it is just a discipline issue or is there another way?
I find anything organization is doomed by lack of commitment. This is my project, so I need to be on top of it. The only thing the kids go in the freezer with out being asked to is ice cream, so I should be able to track the freezer fairly easily
Never heard of the Earthbox principle but will have to look into it as our earth is close to deadpan and not really so productive....We catch some rainwater as well....and I'd forgotten about Mother Earth News....Thanks!
Continue in next post - re clothes...
Joan
Essentially, it is 2 buckets stacked. The inner or top bucket has a large hole with a big container packed with soil that extends to the lower bucket, it will wick water up to the soil in the top. The lower bucked gets filled with water.
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I subscribe to Get Rich Slowly blog
Do you have a link to the blog? I got many random sites when i searched.
loesje (well your mother it seems), Colleen and anyone else who cooks without recipes - I don't know how you manage to do that all the time. I would never be at rest. I manage to do it very rarely. I think I'd always be worried about what we were going to eat.
I'll be back tomorrow hopefully,
Joan
Joan, thank you for starting this thread! It has given me lots of food for thought. Considering everything, and I mean everything has a rising price, however wages are not.
I cook with out a recipe for most things, most of the time. My husband isn't very tolerant, he's a fussy eater, so I have to stay within the scope of his food repertoire. However, there ARE ways around it. Dh doesn't mind stews and soups. Easy to make, add biscuits and soda crackers he's a happy man. But beans for get it. However I did just find out he doesn't mind lentils. So a possibility there. I am stubborn and need to get more nutrition in to my family. i have a whole family of picky eaters.
To save money, I resign myself to the basic foods they'll eat. They don't eat beans, but what they don't know is they do. I will cook up navy beans until tender. Then blend them as part of the gravy of a stew, into soup with the blended tomatoes(they like the flavor of tomatoes, but not the texture). I have used blended beans for the moist part of the Tightwad formula for muffins. I can even use them in chocolate chip cookies. How's that for creative.
As to skills to learn. Learning to alter already owned clothing that isn't being worn, into something that IS, is a great way to save money. You don't need much more than basic skills for many things. IE - alter a huge t-shirt(a thrift store find, or one your dh will never wear) into a trendy vest. Find the center front and cut from hem to neck line. Cut out the collar. Cut off sleeves. Now you have a drapey vest. Depending on the fabric, it can be quite elegant. I had a grey light weight t-shirt that had metallic roses. I treated it to a make over, and now dd12 has a very pretty vest that every one asks about. If there is a little one, remake it into a simple dress, carefully cut along the seams to have fabric peices, and then cut your pattern pieces from it. Pants worn at the hem, can be hemmed up to capris, worn at the knees into shorts, or a casual skirt. Pinterst has lots of ideas for re-fashions or upcycles. Clothes that are worn, often still have something worth keeping. Nice buttons, pretty trim, perhaps a unique waist band you could use on a simple skirt(cut off part of the fabric below so you have something to work with on a new garment). Back pockets from jeans can be sewn onto a backing to make a hanging organizer for the back of a door. Old jeans can be made into stripes to make long braids that are then wound and stitched together to make area rug or mats in front of sink. If you have colored twills it can be very pretty and bright. Even stained and torn clothing can be used this way.
My grandmother used bread bags to make little mats woven together, I can't remember how tho.
Knowing what you have in the house is very helpful for cooking. (sorry scattered thoughts). I had to defrost the upright freezer today, and found some REALLY old meat :( I didn't through it out, it was given to some one for her dogs. But I will be putting a white board on the freezer to track what goes in and what goes out, so we don't lose things like that again. I will have an accurate inventory and eat from that for a few more weeks.
Growing food. Our soil is horrible. Too many huge trees, which are beautiful, but wreaks havoc to the soil. Last year we did container gardening. And on a whim, made some self-watering containers. Like the Earthbox principle. The plants in those did SO well. We'll be constructing more of those this spring. But modified, so they sit on top of a 5 gallon pail. So there would be a whole 5 gallons of harvested water(from the rain barrel) in there, as the way it is on most sites, there is maybe a gallon of water, and when it's hot, it's not enough to last more that 36 hours, where 5 gallons, would last a long long time :)
Another nice site for diy, is Mother Earth News.
Sorry, this is all over the place, randomly laid out.
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Hope you are well. Your knee looks like what my dh leg looked like when he tore his quad. No real margins to the bruise as the bleed was actually under another muscle and just moved up to the surface. All he did was dash to grab something, not a real strenuous activity, just a sudden burst and it tore.
He was sore, but not insanely so that he stopped activity. It took several weeks for the bruising to go away, simply due to the size.
Hopefully all your blood work comes back fine! As the nurse said, no news is likely good news
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Oh another thought. DD8 loves being able to do the 'corrections' of her work. I give her the answer key and a red pen. On the subjects I let her correct, I notice she does much better work. She is honest and marks things wrong. Then she can correct and circle the 'x' to show me she's revised it. I think we learned this with the CLE workbooks. It works well.
You said it's below her level, perhaps it's time accelerate and find where her level IS, so she can be challenged or 'dared' to do better work.
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Suggestion for Fridays.
Since it is a day you have to work, why not give her either a free day, since it isn't a productive day anyway, and many families successfully school 4 days a week. Or, a fun day of activities. Puzzles, craft projects, free reading. Or a light school day, such as projects. I use a hectic mom day, for a day my youngest pulls together her projects. All the pieces for a poster board are fine tuned and assembled. Starting a new book for book report(book reports can be fun!).
She is 9. Some of it, i would agree is immaturity, but some of it may indeed be not wanting to try. You know your child best.
Try some physical activity before starting the school day. i have started this recently. DD8 loves it. DD12 more reluctant to get involved, but she can't resist all of it when dd8 and I are giggling like wild things at ourselves. She joins in. I find dd8 focuses much better after 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity. Let me tell ya, the ants are outta her pants after 3 sets of 60 hops and a game of tag. LOL. She's more willing to sit with a water bottle and do her lessons. I skipped our 'phys ed' today, she didn't do much work, and complained she couldn't concentrate.
Plan a reward for the end of the week. If it's a good consistent effort all week, then Friday after dinner it's a trip to the park, pool, for ice cream ________fill in the blank_____. If it's a bad week, then it's homework on the weekend. She'll figure what she likes best in a hurry.
It'll take time to retrain her behaviors. one of our homeschool boards here, has an assessment for families to use. I think it's pretty cool, as it's not all about grades. Assessment I thought it was really relevant to what I deal with with my crew, and you might find it interesting too.
She'll improve and regress. I struggle with that all the time, even the 17yo regresses, (heck, even dh does!). Just when you think you got it figured out, they return to old habits. I wish there was an operating manual for the kids, but I doubt they'd read it:glare:
This will pass, it will improve, it will regress, but in the long term, you'll all be better for it.
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Hehe.. I'm right with you! I am overwhelmed by bad attitudes, too. I am schooling 2, 12 and 8, and care for a 4, 3, 2 and under 1yo. It's hectic, it's crazy.
Here are some things to consider. Just because they want to cook, doesn't mean they get to. If getting good attitude is a challenge, use the cooking/baking as reward for positive behaviors. Set aside 2 potential times to do so. If the attitudes don't improve, they have until the next set time. If not oh well. No rewards for negative behavior. I totally know what it's like. I sit here thinking, wonder if she's par to go to school next year. But I recall, I did this last year too.
Last year I had a 'meeting' with the kids. I gave them my expectations. Low and behold in 2 months, not only did we catch up, but finished early. Crazy, I know! But we survived the year and essentially had 4 months of summer vacation to do what ever. :lol:
I am thinking, I need to have that talk again.
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We use CLE for DD-nearly 9 (3rd) and MM for DD7 (2nd). I love them both, but hated MM for 3rd grader. She NEEDS spiral, so CLE has helped tremendously and she has confidence again. She was the same as your son, forgetting things if she didn't touch on them often, so CLE it was. MM is wonderful. DD7 catches on quickly and applies math concepts quickly. She loves to play with numbers and twist them around (as I call it). She loves the mental aspects of it, whereas her older sister just couldn't get it after many months.
I used Grade 1 and 2 Math Mammoth with great success, but now we are in the 3rd, and it's not sticking. We go to a new chapter, and we're starting from scratch. Her confidence is suffering. We have put MM away for now. She is using Timez Attack right now while we wait for CLE to arrive. She never memorized her facts with math mammoth. We're seeing it in the Timez Attack. But she's getting over being wrong and starting to memorize it. She knows how to calculate, but she counts it. Now she's memorizing.
I'm a little sad MM isn't working for her. But to reteach everything every chapter... it's too hard on her. Hopefully, CLE will build her confidence back because she is 'mathy' but some where something didn't work and I missed it.
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Hi Heather,
memory work we are using - poetry, quotes, bible verses, etc. there are a variety of things.
s/o curly hair
in The Chat Board
Posted
As a curly girl, and mom to 3 curly girls, I think her hair is cute. Curly hair is what it is. My girls use the Pantene for curls with great success. I use Deva curlz.
My hair never sees a brush. I use a pick when wet only. 2nd day hair is achieved with spray bottle with a squirt of conditioner shaken in.
I have better luck with cream styling aids. AG recoil comes to mind as a favorite. Mousse frizzed my hair out.
My youngest's hair is probably the closest to your daughters. I do the same as mine, but since it's so much longer, pony tails, braids and cute messy buns go over great. Play with a few things and take pictures. Then create a style book for her. Then she can choose her style. If the knots are really bad and driving you crazy, consider shoulder length layered. Then a hair band can be used with cute bows and flowers.
My mom struggled with my hair, she has slight waves and I have crazy curls. My motto is just go with it, don't fight it. The celebrities and hair models with the curly hair that is just so spent hours and hours on it. It's not a realistic expectation.
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