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Pam L in Mid Tenn

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Posts posted by Pam L in Mid Tenn

    Could you help me work out a plan for using Spielvogel's Western Civilization (5th edition)?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Here's a link to all the 6th edition books they support. Click your book title, click the tab for "free materials" and then the button "access now". No login or signup is required.

     

    We're using WC: A Brief History, 2nd edition at a pace of 1 chapter per week this year. The kids read the chapter, take outline-style notes, then take the chapter quiz from the online site.

     

    I do not see anything that says "free materials".

     

     

    never mind.

    i found it.

    thanks!

    Assigning a Spanish grade based on hours

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I have never given a grade for number of hours.

    I have given ONE grade, to be averaged with others, for completion of a text.

     

    For example: during fall semester I'll sometimes set a goal to be on a page number or certain chapter at the end of the semester.

    By Dec 15th read through page 500 of "xyz" book. Then on Dec 15th the %complete becomes one assignment grade that will be averaged with other assignments.

     

    My kids know that is an easy 100 and can be used to balance a low grade.

     

    We've used this for all foreign languages. When my dd did spanish 2, it was a hodge podge of different materials. I did take into account the number of hours and take into account an "E for Effort". Thankfully, SOS averaged grades for me.

    Easiest Biology?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    This has gotten to be a discussion of how to figure a full credit.

     

    OP asked about an easy biology.

     

    My opinion on biology:

    I think you can take most any high school level text book and make the "assignments" easier. For example: I don't make my students memorize and write out all the vocabulary. We use Quizlet to test vocab. They still need to learn the terms and definitions but it is much easier than making them write out definitions verbatim.

     

    Discussing questions and finding answers together is easier than writing out answers.

     

    Just reading from the text and then reading again from another source can solidify facts. My son will prob read Mader's Essentials of Biology after finishing Apologia. He has already read several chapters to see a different viewpoint.

     

    I've heard the Walch books are good and you should reserach those.

    Speigovel editions?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    What is the difference between Western Civilization Volume 1 and Western Civilization Volume A? There are volumes with 1, 2, and 3. There are volumes titled A, B, and C. What's up with that?

     

    I'm looking at "Combined Edition" too. Is the combined edition just vol 1, 2, and 3 in one huge book?

     

    I wanted to order today, but now am really confused.

     

    Thanks!

    Pam

    Readjusting the Sails: Single parenting, homeschooling ds while working

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    ((( hugs to you )))

     

    I have not read the other replies yet.

     

    I'm not a single parent ,but I do work. And, I've been asked to work as much as possible. I could work 40/week IF I wanted to. Also, we might be looking a job change/move in the next few months. So, I do understand uncertainty!

     

    I will be homeschooling my 15 yo son regardless of the number of hours I work, moving, or whatever we may be facing. I do not have money to outsource anything. My son also has some problems doing lessons on his own. I'm home today and he is happily doing his lessons in his room. When I am at work the lessons are half heartedly done and sometimes not done at all.

     

    My son does love to read. So, I am going to capitalize on that! He will read history and literature when I am not home. I have not made final decisions but I'm thinking very strongly toward a pure WTM 'humanities block' along with math and science done with textbooks. I plan on using Spiegovel's Western Civ text.... the one that has an accompanying workbook ... as our spine. One chapter a month, one 'great book' read together and discussed a month, one other classic read independently per month, and one 2 to 4 page paper per month. I will take one day per month to plan more details. Math and Science will be textbooks. French will be computer program.

     

    On "most" days I do not have to leave for work until 1pm... that gives us the whole morning to work together and will leave him the whole afternoon for reading. I'll prob listen to an audio of our 'great book' commuting to and from work.

     

    I'm thinking that this will take less of my time and energy than assigning textbook work and checking daily assignments! it will certainly be more interesting for me!

     

    We are also going to school year round.

     

    ((( hugs and prayers )))

     

    We'll probably also schedule a 30 minute chore time each morning to do housework together.

     

    Edited to add:

    Now that I've read the other replies....

    Someone else mentioned that textbooks can be a good thing. I AGREE!

     

    We had a time of crisis several years ago and our homeschool went from CM/WTM to textbooks and workbooks. Textbooks saved our homeschool for several years! And textbooks/workbooks/switched on school house might be the best thing for you this year.

    High School Writing...I'm failing my son miserably on this one...help...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I have not read the other replies yet. But, to offer words of encouragement..... I failed miserably with teaching my 17yos to write as well. Or so I thought.

    Last spring I began working with him through a college text (Writer's World )that I had been given. This fall we began IEW Themed Based Economics. It was like an act of congress to pass a law to pull his teeth without anesthesia. At Christmas I told him that since he would not write for me then he could write for a college professor. He is taking Freshman Comp and has a solid B average! Not great, but he can write! He said that working through the Writer's World text was the most helpful.

     

    IEW gave him a base to work from and Writer's World gave him short, specific assignments (paragraphs) that required a more creative thought process.

     

    You can get a used copy cheap on Amazon. Teacher's Manuals are also available.

    Invitation to the Classics

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    He wants to do another cycle of world history for the next three years. He wants to study some classics/great books.

     

    I want a combo of history/literature/writing. I want him to have the "richness" of classical education that my older three students had in earlier years. Being the youngest child he was "folded into" our 4 year history cycle.

     

    I've pulled out my 1st ed. WTM to read through the high school years yet again. I might check out the 3rd ed. from our library again.

     

    I've mainly used textbooks and workbooks with him over the past 4 years. We are both ready for real, living books! No matter what I choose, I plan on a Charlotte Mason approach with lots of oral narrations.

     

    And, even as I type this, I realize that even though, in my heart, I would LOVE to design my own WTM style year, I should probably go with a pre- planned program since I work outside the home.

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