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guateangel

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Everything posted by guateangel

  1. If you had my rats (2) then yes, you will get pooped and tinkled on! Be prepared to vaccum/sweep a couple of times a day. Be prepared for potty, poop, hair (they shed) and bedding to end up on and around the area where the cage sits (unless you have an aquarium, we didn't.) For us that included dd's dresser, floor and wall....disgusting to say the least. Be prepared to bathe it often (they stink if you don't!) The tail gets nasty (poop/potty). I would take a soft, wet tooth brush to the tail in order to get it clean. Ick! My dh would take a pressure washer to the cage 1x month. Change bedding 1-2 x's a week. We spent, on average, $30 a month just on bedding (the good stuff.) I always made dd wear a long sleeve, old top when she handled them becuase she'd get pooped/tinkled on every time and scratched. Washing hands was a must after handling too. VERY sweet lil things (we had our since they were babies), we loved ours very much BUT it's a lot of work trying to keep everything clean and smell-free. I have a dear friend who has 2 rats and they love them. When I walk in their house, I smell the rats immediately. They switch bedding maybe every 2 wks, never bathe them and rarely scrub the cage. To each their own. :) I guess you can say I'm more of a dog/cat person. :D
  2. :iagree: DD's private school uses this. I can't wrap my brain around it but I do know other hs'n mom's who love it even though it took a couple of months of studying on their part in order to teach it.
  3. Thank you, Heather, I'm going to try this on Monday. If I do not sit beside her while she's working on seated work, it wouldn't get done. I'll walk away for a second, turn to look at her and she's off in lala land. A quick reminder and she snaps out of it for a few seconds and continues with her worksheet. I feel like such a nag because this is an all day, everyday occurrence. Yes, I've considered this but dh quickly and very adamantly rejected this. If he homeschooled all day, he might change his tune though. :rolleyes: Thanks! :bigear:
  4. We spend 15-20 min., 3x's a week. I think we are the minority because we only finish 1 step a wk now that we've hit level 2. Typical week: Day 1: Complete 'Review' section, introduce 'New Teaching' section and have dd write out (we don't use the tiles anymore) the new words from the 'Word Cards' section. Day 2: Review word cards, rules, etc. Then complete the 'Dictate Phrases' section. Day 3: Complete the 'Dictate Sentences' and go over the 'More Words' if needed. Once in a while we complete more than 1 step but generally I take it slow.
  5. DD8 was dx with NVLD when she was 5 which seemed like a good fit at the time. DH was not convinced. Fast-forward 3 years and now I'm not convinced. At the time I was convinced because she had poor fine motors, was a tad clumsy and had the typical discrepancy between her verbal and performance iq score. I was pretty adamant about getting a diagnoses at the time for fear she wouldn't get the help needed in public school (IEP was going to be taken away w/o proper diagnoses...I was a naive.) Here are some nld traits and some that contradict the diagnoses.... DD does not exhibit social problems, although I realize she's still young. She reads facial/body/gestures expressions without any problems. She's not socially awkward and makes new friends easily. Does not have an exceptional memory or vocabulary, I believe it's typical. Reads at grade level (maybe a tad above,) comprehends well. Can narrate and dictate well. Her writing was always a huge concern but this year it's improved tremendously since pulling her from PS. She really needed the copywork and one on one. I'd say it's on level/typical (never thought I'd be able to say that.) :) She avoids fine motor activity....cutting, drawing, gluing and any form of art. She sees no fun it it. I'd say her drawings are that of a 5 yr. old. Math is difficult; we are 1 year behind her peers but I'm finally seeing the light bulb going off. She really enjoys word problems. She is more of an auditory learner, for sure. Takes things literal and will ask confirmation if unsure of a verbal expression or idiom (not convinced this is abnormal for an 8 yr. old though?) The visual spacial processing issue is obsolete. I see no clumsiness and believe OT, gymnastics, violin and swiming have fixed this (and pure determination.) I am seeing more and more of a focus issue. It literally takes her FOREVER to accomplish anything if I am not there coaching her. It's a battle, everyday. She is sooooooooooooo, painstakingly slow and distracted (brushing teeth, hair, dressing, getting shoes on, etc.) I've tried reward charts, taken screen time away, etc. She says she can't help it and breaks down in tears. She gets easily distracted and her teacher has even noticed it getting worse. It can be a quiet room, with no distractions and she will be in her own world, also. Her swim coach said it's becoming a problem because she's unable to keep up with her peers in the pool because she's horsing around (and she doesn't care that she's 2 laps behind everyone else.) Are we possibly dealing with ADHD in addition to NLD or just ADHD? I'd say she's always been like this, it's just more noticeable now that she's getting older and more independent. Help!!!! As an ousider looking in, does this seem like NLD behavior/traits or something else perhaps is going on? I could take her back for another evaluation but I don't want to do that to her but (another 'but' ;) ) it makes it hard for me as a mom to know how to best help her without losing my mind with this focussing issue. If you've made it this far, thanks for listening and reading.
  6. I agree, sounds like your son would benefit from AAS. My dd is on 'grade level' for reading and her spelling is poor but I've noticed a significant improvement with her spelling since beginning AAS. We work on it 3 x's a week for 15-20 min. I believe it's a great program for all and even more so for those of us with kids who are not natural spellers.
  7. I started my 2nd grader with level 1 and am glad we did as it layed a good foundation for the basic spelling rules and phonics. We finished it within 2 months and will be finishing level 2 soon.
  8. Susan's audio lecture on A Plan for Teaching Writing: Focus on Elementary Grades helped me to understand it all. I was making it more difficult than what it really is and this lecture put me at ease and reassured me. We do narration 2 days a week, copywork 5 days a week and dictation 2 days a week (not using WWE, planned on my own.) We will be implementing WWE2 for 3rd grade so I don't have to pull and plan this on my own. I've always referred to simplycharlottemason.com for clarification, as well. I believe there is a youtube video with SWB doing dictation with her son that you might find useful.
  9. *raising hand* for NOT mathy. :lol: This is why dd gets the short end of the stick by having me as her math teacher. :blush:
  10. Still in the planning stages and unsure about some but this is what I'm thinking. I'm open to suggestions and thoughts! :) Math: MM 2a/2b (still playing catch up from PS) Grammar: MCT Island? WWE2, FLL3 , AAS 3-4 and ETC 6-8 Penmanship: A Reason for Handwriting C?? (cursive) Bible: Apologia, "Who is God"? Reading: Veritas Press list History: SOTW3 Science: Finish Elemental Science then move to REAL Science Odessey Geography: MFW ECC Typing: Typing Instructor Art: Artistic Pursuits or Atelier Not sure if we are going to continue Latin. Music: Violin PE: Swim team Logic: Logic Safari 3-4 hours a day, 4 days a week.
  11. DD (8 yrs. old, 2nd gr.) is a good reader but poor speller. She was in ps last year and received ZERO spelling so we started with Level 1 and finished within 2 months. We are on Level 2 and will finish in a month or so and move onto Level 3 by the end of the school year. We only do spelling 3 days a week for 15 minutes. She's come a long way thanks to AAS! ETA: Also, wanted to give credit to ETC. Between AAS and ETC dd's reading and spelling has improved immensely!
  12. File Folder Games is what came to mind when I read this. I've made a ton from this website for my preschooler and 2nd grader. http://filefolderfun.com/FileFolderGames.html
  13. I am the same way about children's songs. Even this one annoys me BUT I can handle it in small doses. Glad I could be of some help. :)
  14. My dd enjoys http://www.havefunteaching.com/songs/counting-songs for skip counting.
  15. I'm always looking for something fun and active for my dd during these cold, harsh days. I think she will love this. Thanks!
  16. Thanks! We, unfortunately, are having a sick day, so now I'm going to have dd watch Liberty Kids (instead of playing my ipod in her bed.) I had no idea this was on Netflix. :)
  17. I will be praying for you and your family. Seek the healer and you WILL be healed! :grouphug: Isaiah 53:4-5 Psalm 103:1-3 James 5:13-16 2Timothy 1:17
  18. It wasn't until I learned about Lazy 8's that dd's handwriting improved. We tried everything; shaving cream, sand, HWOT, PT, etc. Then I came across the Lazy 8. I found this website (just did a quick search) for a good explanation on how and why it works. We did this everyday for a couple of months and there was an immidiate improvement in her handwriting. My ds, who is 3, loves to do the lazy 8, too. :) We also did 1 sentence of copywork everyday and I would sit and watch her form every. single. letter. I would put dots at the 2oclock for the circular letters; a, b, d, c, e, g, o, q, s. And lots of reminders that letters do not float, they need to touch the lines. She uses her index finger for spacing between words (with reminders). It's been a long, tidious task and her handwriting is still not perfect, but it's legible and we're very proud!
  19. I am new to all of this but can relate as my dd8struggles with math. I understand wanting to give your dd the best opportunity in overcoming her math 'disability'. My dd is 1 yr. behind her peers and we are working at her pace (as slow and frustrating as this is). One day it clicks, the next she forgets what she learned the prior day. :svengo: I, too, see that math may never be her strong point and I've come to peace with this very real possibility. We work on 2 Math Mammoth worksheets each day (takes 45 min.), play a math game and focus more on her strong points; reading and LA. Unfortunately, RS didn't work for us; whereas MM has been good. We will work through the summer on math, as well. I know, for us, if I put my dd back in PS she would fall even more behind and her confidence would be shot. She knows she struggles in math and PS would only put a spot light on her 'disibiility'. I would also be concerned that she would fall behind in her other subjects. She was in PS last year and we are still trying to play catch up and build up her confidence where PS failed her. I would, without question, continue moving forward with what you are doing (maybe give MM a try :) )and keep her home with you. :grouphug:
  20. I wondered this same exact thing back when we started in the fall. I researched for months and knew I had the cat in the bag when I chose curriculum. Unfortunately, math and penmanship were both a bust. Math was a bust due to my inability to teach it (not certain it was a good fit for dd either) and writing was a bust due to my daughter. We've switched math and I made up my own penmanship sheets and all is good. :)
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