WTMindy
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Posts posted by WTMindy
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I taught high school math before we had kids. Then I stayed home for the first years. I never planned on homeschooling, but I started teaching them when they were in preschool and I liked it so much we just continued on.
I don't know if you ever get over worrying that they are "missing" out on something even if you have never taught in a public school. You will spend a lot of time thinking about how to fill holes, avoid gaps, and just make sure they are getting the best education possible. That is just part of homeschooling. I will say that reading WTM was a huge comfort to me in the beginning just making sure I wasn't missing something, and it is still (7 years into this gig) the basic guide I use in my planning.
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First of all, do you know that to get tours of the capitol building and the white house you need to contact your congress-person to get tickets. They are free, but you want to give yourself plenty of time because there are a limited number that they get.
Here are some things we loved in no particular order
The Library of Congress
The mint (get there pretty early in the morning to get a ticket)
The monuments at night are very cool
Any of the Smithsonian Museums (History, Natural History, Space)
National Archives
We had the kids memorize the beginning of the Declaration and the Preamble to the Constitution before we went. It made it very cool to see the original documents.
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Great to see you again, Cathy!!
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Heather, I speak as one who has a GREAT need for my mom's approval, so I get it!! You HAVE to do what you need to do for your family. Your mom will come along eventually. And, she will think it is great when she comes and visits you someday. A few years ago we felt we needed to leave the church I grew up in (where my Dad is an elder). It was awful telling them, and it got kinda ugly. But, four years later we are totally back to normal and everything is fine. But, it took a little while. It is going to hurt for awhile. Like a band-aid ripped off. And it will feel uncomfortable to be together for while. And, she won't thing you are doing the best thing. And....it will be fine. It sounds like you two have a good relationship and she won't want to give that up.
I'm so sorry that this is putting a damper on your excitement. It will work itself out in time. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: But, I know how terrible it feels to have that distance between you and it hurts!!!!
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So - you want it to be secular but not a textbook? Like, a study guide for history books like Democracy in America?
Yes, I think so. I don't know about Democracy in America. What is this?
Is History Oddysey secular?
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Praying for you now, Molly!!!
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I am looking for something like Lightning Literature for history. The families I work with need something very laid out and not too difficult for the kids to do on their own if they need to. It has to be secular because it is a public school co-op. Lightning Lit has been a good fit because it seems to be do-able for the families I work with. Any ideas for something similar in history?
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The snow is melting. :-)
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My dh goes to bed earlier than I like and gets up earlier than I like. It is important to him (and to me) that we go to bed at the same time. So I do that voluntarily most nights. I also get up at the same time as he does (5:30) not because I have to, but because it helps to ensure I'm tired at night. Plus, I love getting things done in the early morning! :-)
My brother has serious sleep issues, so I know it is more complicated than just "you need to....." But, I pray that you will get to the deeper issues that it sounds like might be going on here.
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With my dd almost none. She is a very independent worker. My son needs a lot of hand-holding still. We are working on that, but the truth is that he is an oral processor and he loves to do it all outloud with me. It isn't because he is trying to avoid writing things, he just loves it when we do it outloud.
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That is such a difficult question, Colleen! I think every marriage will do it differently depending on the personalities of the individuals. I wish I had some wonderful wise advice to offer to you, but I just have a :grouphug: and prayers. I think striking the balance on this issue is one of the keys to a good marriage, though. And it is SO HARD! And, harder when there are two strong personalities involved.
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Keep reading.
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I have kept my kids together (18 months apart) on almost everything all the way through. I just make adjustments for ability levels. The younger might not have to write as much or something like that. It has been great. However, as my oldest starts jr high next year, I'm going to separate them back out a bit.
I'm a big believer on simplifying and doing as much together as possible. Especially if they both like it.
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Here is a link to the answers I got a while back when I asked about Greek. I bought Elementary Greek (which I got RIGHT away-great service)and that code book (which I have not received yet)
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And, they will NOT understand the implications of history in 1st grade either, but we certainly lay a foundation. I don't think the idea is that in the first rotation kids understand all there is to know about physics, but that they enjoy rolling things down ramps and timing them and comparing, or dropping different weight objects from high places and predict what will happen, or investigating what happens when you mix baking soda and vingegar. It is laying the foundation for future studies.
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I was thinking about dropping it, but some wonderful ladies from this board said some things that encouraged me to keep going. They talked about how just doing the 7th and 8th grade English books from R & S helped make their students very well prepared in their grammar. So, I'm actually dropping it for my 5th grader (next year) and keeping it for the 7th grader. I'm going to do spelling and writing with him, but take a year off from grammar. (He gets it pretty intuitively.)
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What is that one "website" where the person takes pictures of and posts quotation mark "offenses?"
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LOL!! You were thinking history. :-)
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Praying for her (and you) now!
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Read, read, read, read. Lots and lots of good and classical literature expands the mind. We were discussing my kids' friends last week and discovered that every "good friend"--you know,the people who love to chat with each other--were readers and thinkers. Those who did not like to read did not have much to say.
Teach Logic--informal and formal.
When they get in high school give them lots of short essay tests--especially in history.
Talk to them about everything that is going on in politics, in the homeschool group, in the history book, at church...everything that touches your life, be sure to dialog with the kids. Tell them your perspective. Talk about other people's perspectives.
When your kids have an opinion ask them questions so that they flesh it out--so often kids give an opinion that is vague and adults can't follow the reasoning--and often adults say, "hm-hm," and ignore it. Ask them to explain. Ask questions. Get them use to telling you why they think what they think and on what they are basing their opinions.
Share what you believe and compare it with other people's faith, political stance, lifestyle choices, our culture, etc. etc. Explain what and why you believe what you do.
When you or the kids have questions no one can answer go immediately to a book or Google it to show them how to figure things out.
Talking to them does not have to be formal or planned. Just spend time talking with your kids.
My daughter gets rather perplexed at her college classmates. "They need a class in Logic!" They can't reason anything out!"
Jean
:iagree: Good answer, Jean!!!!
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Thanks ladies! You all are the best.
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Hello again. I was thinking about using Vocabulary from Classical roots for my 7th grader next year but that was before my TOG decision. What do most of you do for that age? Do you use TOG or another Vocab. course? Thank you, Jeana
I plan on using Vocabulary from Classical Roots next year with my 7th grade dd. We also use TOG, but I don't do anything with the vocab section in TOG.
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Oh, I wish. That would take not only laundry help and an in-house cook but also a couple of extra brains and the ability to go without sleep for, oh, three years. :tongue_smilie:
SWB
Sleep is over-rated, Susan!! And, why don't you throw a good logic stage history in there while you're at it!
I hope you are having a WONDERFUL trip with your hubby!!
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Which pieces are necessary? Do you need the teacher's guide and the tests?
Thanks!
At what age?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I would be LIVID!!!!!!!!!!