I pay attention to the way people hold writing utensils,but that is because it used to be my job:). I am not sure how it contrasts with other countries, but American kids tend to be taught to write before age of 8. It is a bit too early and kids need to use other muscles in the hand to stabilize. Sometimes, children don't have the shoulder stability or are not sitting in a correct height desk to function appropriately. They compensate and get it done, but it results in a wide variety of grips and techniques. Perhaps America has more of a melting pot background with a larger variety of heights, and muscle tone in her children? Perhaps fine motor skills are used in more toys (leggo thumb is an example). I don't know. Is this conversation really about pencil grips? Because it seems like it may not be. Edit. Should have read the last page before responding. It had gone way beyond handrips at that point.

Algebra 1 is the only revised upper level class. It is a sunrise editon and very similar to the lower level. The Algebra2, Geometry, ect are not the sunrise editon that many of us use and love.

I don't know that I would jump into the extensive eval route unless you have other concerns. I would recommend two things: First, I would recommend that you see if there was an opthamologist who does vision therapy and is COVD in your http://www.covd.org/? If you find one, have them do regular annual eye exam on your son with a quick screen to see if any problems with the two eyes working together . I think it is important to rule out the physical. This visit is often covered by insurance . The second thing I would recommend is Barton's Reading and Spelling mentioned above. It is an Orto-Gillingham method and that type of reading instruction is helpful for many people that struggle with reading. Here is the student screening. Check out the other videos and information to see if it sounds like your son. The levels are expensive, but you can pretty easily resale them on Amazon for 50-75$ less than you pay. Many of us have tried many other programs and for some(not all) this was the only thing that worked. Also, you don't have to wait to start the Barton's program if you both pass the screening tests. In my opinion ( sorry, have trouble with acronyms ), you can always pursue the eval route later if this doesn't solve the problem or you want a paper trail down the road. https://bartonreading.com/videos/#ss

Dp! Sorry!

I havn't seen a guideline, but have read lots of discussion about it. My not so mathy daughter did super well with CLE and I tried to transition her to Saxon 7/6 and It was a colossal fail. My gifted math little guy sailed into Saxon , no problem. Well, we do dislike the way it is laid out with the lack of white space, and have to work problems on paper instead of on the workbook pages. Although both Saxon and CLE are spiral programs, For my family they were not interchangeable. I have seen some discussion about the levels and grades and CLE and kids are very frequently in a level one or levels below their grade. Depending on when you want to start Algebra/ when your child is ready, I would think you can stick with CLE all the way through the Pre-Algebra and then decide which Algebra program looks like the best fit. The high school levels of Saxon have a different author and personally I like them better than the lower levels. I sometimes read the best transition for an Algebra program is after level 7 and other times, people are recomending at least if not the entire level 8 first. Level 8 has some consumer math that some people recomend skipping to complete all of the Pre-Algebra. Your dc is on target to start Algebra in ninth grade if using CLE and starting after the 700's level? Saxon is good and many people do well after CLE. One of my daughters complete the Saxon Algebra sequence, and two of my other kids did/ are doing Video Text Algebra. Other than Saxon,the more commonly used programs are Larsons, Lials, AoPS,Foersters, and others. We tried to consider which Math sequence was best for learning style and would help her get a traditonal four years of Math completed in high school with a bit of a later start. Videotext has 176 lessons to take a student from pre-Alg through Algebra two. My non mathy dd2 rcently started after CLE 600 series and about half of the Key to Algebra series for Pre-Algebra. Saxon earlier editons Algebra 1&2 and first half of Advanced Math incorporate Geometry, so an additonal class isn't needed. Those combinations of Math classes can be timesavers if needed in highschool . The high school board will be of lots for help a year before you are ready.Hth!

I will be thinking and praying for you all day Onestep!

Is your liver ok on the scan?

Well, I think you might have read that the sunrise editions only include Algebra 1 at this time. The other high school maths are still in the Alpha Omega agreement they have. I wouldn't switch personally, until you have to. Maybe the Algebra 2 will be out be then. It still does a great job for prealgebra and you could switch after 8 into your preferred Algebra program. If you love it and it is working, personally I wouldn't swtich! Hth!

Or another view is that the U.S. Governement does not get to restrict practice of free religion. Justice Kennedy’s concurrence added: “Among the reasons the United States is so open, so tolerant, and so free is that no person may be restricted or demeaned by government in exercising his or her religion.â€

I just did a quick search, didn't know there was a different term. I am always learning from this board. I can't find anything that says it is a ball of indistinguishable cells, but I did see it as zygote/blosocyst.https://www.reference.com/science/difference-between-zygote-embryo-53ee71488bb28dc1

The morning after pill is often referred to as an abortion pill because the result of the medicine is not to allow implantation and expel the tiny human embryo. It is not the same as the RU486, though. So if your definition of the begining of human life is conception, it acts the same. Look at number three from the FDA: here is the link:http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm109795.htm ". If fertilization does occur, Plan B may prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb (implantation). If a fertilized egg is implanted prior to taking Plan B, Plan B will not work." Just sayin.

I read the article and the author seems to be saying that one cannot have deeply held beliefs unless they are written in scripture. That may be a problem for a sola scriptura Christian, but many Christians have deeply held beliefs that are in their catecism,ect, not only in the bible. What about other religions...that may not follow the bible? I think the arugment is a poor one.

Yes!!! Congrats!!!

I would skip it. Being stressed about missing classes could play into his score. Depending on how/where/if he wants to go to a four year school, he could even transfer . If he uses that option, he could skip all of the standardized tests anyway. Congrats on his success in DE. A happy teenager. Big win! By the way my DS missed the cutoff for NM by two points, and was commended. No scholarship/merit money from state flagship. My DD is hoping to transfer to same school and is Phi Theta Kappa from CC. If her grades stay high, she will get the scholarship(it is automatic). She has never taken the SAT or ACT. Go figure.

I do not have any experience with this, but back when i was researching, I thought this approach looked interesting.http://www.ballstickbird.com/ http://www.ballstickbird.com/diffbsb.html I can't locate much right now, but I have a vague memory of reading some success with kiddos with Downs. It seems like something that would boost interest. I don't know if it would be helpful, but wanted to throw it out there. HTH

I have to vote for "the best curriculum is the one that gets done", also. It made me think of my family differently . The best vegetables are the ones that get eaten, the best housework...ect. Letting go of perfectionism and making progress instead of stressing about what isn't getting done. I am a much happier person now. I owe so much to the boardies on the LC and high school/ college boards. Thanks Onestep, OhElizabeth,Creekland , and oh so many others. You are amazing people who take the time to share and it has made such a difference in my life!

Dp and it wasn't helpful the first time!

not helpful, just my humor which only I share after no sleep. Have fun on your trip!

Silliest thing.."What about P.E.? Seriously, I have an Aunt who asked this for years. I guess her P.E. Experience was life changing or something:).

We have a store pickup free function. I can order from their pretty surprising organic section online and drive up the next day , so they can load it into my trunk. It was so easy and the prices were some of the best in town. I still like AlDi and Sprouts , but this is easiest(and I stick to my list).

Regentrude and Bluegoat , I absolutely agree with both of you. I am not quite sure if the author does. He did put "mistake" in quotation marks and I formatted my response so poorly, it is difficult to see. He went on to say ,"If I were to optimize purely for college applications, I should have spent that time on pushing my spike even further – working on more Olympiad competitions, or doing even more hardcore research.Looking back I don’t mind this much because I generally enjoyed my musical training and had a mostly fun time in orchestra (and I had a strong Spike anyway). But this problem can be a lot worse for well-rounded students who are stretched too thin." Seems like he had some mixed feelings, and perhaps would not have played the violin if he didn't have a strong resume strength already. I am amazed that anyone would do this. He is an entrepreneur. I am not sure if he wouldn't have the same client base if he had just been admitted to his schools( not attended) and started his business. Heck, he could have used the money he saved by not attending as a pretty sizable startup.

Well I guess I have too much time on my hands today, but I read the article and enjoyed it. As for the violin, if I am reading it correctly, he was first chair, but he also said this about his orchestra: "Second, it is important to do things you enjoy. I still enjoyed playing the violin and being part of an orchestra, and I really enjoyed my school’s academic teams, even though we never went beyond state level. Even if some activities don’t contribute as much to your application, it’s still fine to spend some time on them – just don’t delude yourself into thinking they’re stronger than they really are and overspend time on them." I took that to mean that high school students should do what they enjoy, but know that some things won't make a stronger application, and that is ok. He also said this"In retrospect, one “mistake†I made was spending a lot of time on the violin.Each week I spent 8 hours on practice and a lesson and 4 hours of orchestra rehearsals. This amounted to over 1,500 hours from freshman to junior year. The result? I was pretty good, but definitely nowhere near world-class. Remember, there are thousands of orchestras and bands in the country, each with their own concertmasters, drum majors, and section 1st chairs." I don't have a dog in this fight as so far none of my kids are even applying to an elite school. I guess I just didn't read the article the same way in regards to both the violin and doing activities because the student enjoys them.

Funny, I had the Claire's experience as well.

Praying!

I have worked at hospitals that actually gave a bonus in Dec . if no sick days were used. So staff would cough and sneeze all over immune compromised patients so they could get their bonus. This was for the lower paid staff who transport patients, ect. I don't really blame them, they didnt have much and the money was significant. I think the hospital knew what they were doing. Hospital didnt care much about patients.Very sad.