Firestar Academy
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Posts posted by Firestar Academy
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we use our timer A LOT. none of us wear watches and the only other timer is out in the kitchen (on oven).
:iagree::iagree::iagree:
mine kept walking away, so the last friend that had a pampered chef party, I bought 5 of them. I sharpied on the back "piano" Kitchen", "mom", "K", "L"
they have a magnet on the back. very expensive but we LOVE it
robin in NJ
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I never expected to use Sonlight but I've just read so many wonderful things about it. Last year Dd was doing a half public school/half homeschool program so I didn't have to worry about history. This year we are doing homeschool full-time so I need to find a history program. We did use SOTW 1 in 2nd grade. For us, it was just okay. I was thinking of using SL Core 2 because we missed the middle ages. But, I'm thinking it might be too easy. Should I just skip on to Core 3 or even Core 3+4?? I've spent hours on the Sonlight site and just can't make up my mind.
Here's her stats:
Age: 9
Grade: going into 4th
Reading Level: average 4th grade level.
Could anyone help me?
Thanks so much!
I am not an expert!! I am using Sonlight because my friend loaned to me.. We LOVE IT!!!! I can't beleive how lucky I am. I have been loosely using it since june, not really trying since I work over the summer. I just looked the other night and we are on week 8 without really trying! It is just so easy and interesting.
We are using core 3. I HIGHLY recommend using core 3 then core 4. There is so much US history, there is no need to rush through it in 3 + 4. I am actually adding books (and one DVD so far) to the core for the 1500's.
I have a 5th dd and a 2nd dd going through it together. We are following the 5 day regular reader schedule but I added the 'extra' books from the advanced reader schedule for the dd(5th). US history is so user friendly, I want to take my time with it and learn with them. Your dd is the perfect age for core 3.
Most of the SL elders recommend doing the two cores separate.
Robin in NJ
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Where is the obligatory 'other' choice??
I voted for 1, but we already started back in early june when my friend loaned my sonlight core 3.
robin in nj
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I voted mom alive and frequent contact.... Does living with me for a year count as frequent??? We talk, ooohh, 100 times a day. She lives 2 hours away, and has my kids for the week for VBS at her house. She is babysitting for the 7 weeks I am working this summer as archery instructor and canoe instructor for summer camp.
and, she is a former montessori teacher. She has taken on the poetry part of sonlight core 3. she just kinda goes with the flow.
I constantly say to her, " i love you being here and I love you to go home." She says to me that, "she loves being at my house and she loves going home."
Robin in NJ
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Phew... Nice to hear I'm not the only one!
Should I tell you that all this happened in my bed this morning? The books, the computer, the dictionary, the pencils, the dog, all there... (Maybe not)
robin in NJ
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She is 7 and asked to do a lesson of Shurley 2 today. (Huh?? doesn't she know it's Sunday??)
We ended up doing 3 SE lessons while the older dd(10) wandered in and completed a TT5 lesson with headphones on.
Is this normal?:confused:
Background: Kids were in ps last year. I afterschooled in June and occasionally do a lesson here and there before we officially 'start' homeschooling in september. I am working full-time for summer camp at the moment (3 more weeks to go:hurray:). I haven't even purchased all our school books yet! :w00t:
thanks
robin in NJ
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.... and I just kind of scratch my head, squint my eyes, shrug my shoulders, and pick a letter.
:lol::lol::lol::thumbup1:
Robin in NJ
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ds10 (4th grade)...LC, Bigmathtime, Saxon 6/5, SWO, FLL, WWE, WT, SL-Readers...and Core 3
dd8 (2nd grade)...PL, Bigmathtime, Horizons2, SWO, FLL, WWE, CW-Primer, SL-Readers...and Core K/3
dd6 (K)...Earlybird, HorizonsK, HWT, ETC, SL-Readers...and Core K
Baby Boy
I don't know if this will help, just a few ideas. :001_smile:
Get your older students working "independently" as soon as possible: Spend 5-10 minutes to start your 4th and 2nd graders right away on whatever work they can do most independently. Tell them you are doing handwriting and reading lessons with your K'er and they are not to interrupt this important work, except for a true emergency. Tell them you will check their work or answer their questions after the Kindergarten lessons. Have something else lined up for them to do if they finish before you are available -- math fact drill, spelling drill, memory work, mazes, math fact songs (listen with headphones), geography songs, music practice, Latin songs, Latin vocabulary cards, classical music, art folders, SL readers, chess/checkers, puzzles, library books/book basket, and so on.
Get your youngest student to write and read as soon as possible. Focus on your K'er and work on handwriting (10 minutes). I would start with handwriting because it is straightforward, the child's hand isn't tired yet, and it's teacher-intensive in the early stages. If you've just settled your 4th/2nd graders into their work, and tucked the baby somewhere, you can concentrate on HW for the K'er. Next, do a reading lesson (15-20 minutes). It will be worth your investment to get #3 reading, and reading well. When the "formal" K lessons are done, assign your K'er something she can do independently (listen to an audiobook, look at picture books, draw a picture, sort/count/add/subtract, complete a simple math page, play with the baby). Or, have your 2nd grader spend 10-20 minutes playing with and/or reading to your K'er. (What we do here). ;)
Give focused teaching time to your oldest student. Check your 4th grader's work and move him on to the next assignment -- the part of his work that requires the most teaching time. Give him as much as you can squeeze in! Then, assign him more work to be completed independently.
Set up your 2nd grader and K'er, then bounce between them. Next, focus on your 2nd grader. Check the work that she did independently, correct errors, and encourage her independence. Move her along to something semi-independent. Set up your K'er for something semi-independent. Bounce back and forth between your 2nd grader and your K'er. :D (Sounds like fun, right?)
Devote one more "teaching session" to your K'er. Send your 4th and 2nd graders off to do math fact drill and/or spelling drill and/or memory work. If they work well together, send them to drill each other. If not, put them in separate spots. Send them off with a TIMER (your new best friend), and tell them, "Do not come back until the timer goes off." Focus another teaching session on your K'er, this time for math. Then, your Kindergartner's seat work is done! :D Dismiss her with a hug and a smile. Call her back if there's any group work that is suitable for her.
Teach the older students until their work is finished. Focus teacher time onto your 2nd grader, then your 4th grader, back and forth until the seat work is done.
Drill Latin grammar and vocabulary together. I've seen threads on here about this, but I have no firsthand experience with it. I know that others have posted about combining PL & LC levels into one "Latin Drill Session." The Memoria Press website has articles on doing Latin drill that might help you structure one Latin drill for both students (see also Veritas Press and their comments on "Memory Period").
Take a well-earned break. Snuggle that baby! Answer nature's call! Put the workbooks and pencils away. Geesh!
Read your Cores and any RAs together. Maybe after lunch? A nice, long Read Aloud, with all of them at various degrees of listening. ;)
Have a daily household Quiet Time. After Read Aloud, require a Quiet Time/Nap Time, so you can recharge your batteries!
Evening. There may be one or two things that your oldest can get done in the evening, as if they're homework. Or maybe you want to snuggle and read Core K with the girls, while your husband spends time with the boys. I hope that helps in some way.
:iagree:hmmm...yeah....what she said....
robin in NJ
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I was given some grass fed beef liver, but have no idea how to cook it. I like fried chicken liver, but have never had beef liver. Whats the best way to mak it for a newbie?
yummmmm.
haven't had liver in years.
my mom used to give it a egg/milk wash, then coat in italain style breadcrumbs, then pan fry in oil (almost deep-fry) Oh, she did add some wheat germ to the breadcrumbs for a bit of healthy...
robin in nj
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I'm here
robin in nj
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As long as there is nothing you find morally offensive (other than possibly turning the brain to goo), I would let him read them if he wants to, or not read them if he doesn't want to.
My son is 8 and reads his fair share of what I consider garbage, chosen by him. He also reads a lot of great books, so I figure it evens out. Sometimes he seems to be on an easy read streak, and then he will read a few really tough meaty books in a row. I let him choose as long as he is getting a mix overall, and nothing contains things I really consider offensive.
:iagree:
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From your post it sounds like this teacher is just making a anecdotal judgment without adequate information to back it up. Founder of a private school or not, she has no idea what she's talking about unless your son has been given a real examination.
:iagree:
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What dates are you doing school? How many days off, etc.?
We are doing full days mon,tues,thurs,fri. We are doing bare minimum/nothing on wednesday due to dance schedule. 1/2 hour drive to studio, then dd(7) dances from 4-5, dd(10) 5-6 and 6-7, the dd(7) from 7-8, then 1/2 hour drive home. If needed, hs can be brought to studio
I have received some of the curriculum I will be using. A bit overwhelmed as to how to schedule each subject, lesson, etc.
How do you do it? Sit down and look through each book and write down a day by day plan? Or a monthly plan? :confused:
I started using http://www.homeschoolskedtrack.com/
I entered in the minimum information. like under math, I just put lesson 30. It will calculate to the end of the year for each subject. I haven't actually looked to see when the offical last day of school is b/c I 'plan' to school year round. so when the kids are almost done with the 'book' I will just get the next 'book'.
But if you have an end date in mind, you can compare each subject end date. if you need math to go 180 days, maybe make math only m,tu,wed,thus and see where that puts the schedule. or if history is going too long into the summer, you can make sure to do it 5 days or you can 'merge' some of the lessons.
I know this is a simple task most have figured out, but I am have some trouble with this. I can't imagine sitting and going through each subject (someday for each kid, I have 4) and figuring out a plan.
With the program above, you can copy and paste the common schedules from kid to kid.
Thanks for any help. It does not look as simple as, oh, math has 154 lessons, so if I do math everyday I should be fine.....KWIM?
robin in NJ
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Lisa
Homeschooling ds, an 11th grader, who has been pleading to leave public school for years. This will be his first year! :D
My dd(10) has been pleading to be hs as well for 4 years. so after the next dd(7) spent 1 year at ps, we are doing the homeschool thing, too.
I believe in starting one subject for a couple of days, then add in another subject, and so on. we will not be doing any foreign language or spelling program.
Robin in NJ
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I gave up picking my own when the u-pick place starting charging $.10 /pound MORE to pick your own. They said it was b/c of the gas in the tractor to take you out to the fields.
That said, I live in NJ 'near' the blueberry capital of the world. It is our state fruit !!!
I purchased 120 pounds this year b/c the 80 I bought last year was gone by christmas. I like the quality at my place and been happy with THEM doing the picking.
Robin in NJ
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newbie here, too!! I seem to be in a different spot than most of you. I have dd(10) finished ps 4th and dd(7) finished ps 1st grade. they both did montessori for the primary level. we just 'started' after-schooling in early june.
I am 'doing' (well, very sparsely now in the summer as I work for Girl Scouts Summer camp)
sonlight core 3 with both of them and loving it (Borrowed from a friend)
Teaching Textbooks (3) and (5). we do try to keep this up regularly and are about 25% done with these levels.
Shurley (2) and (5) Loving the Level 2!!! still waiting for the (5). bought it off these forums last week.
We will do apologia astronomy and swimming creatures. I let each child choose the area that interests them and will do both this year. haven't purchased any of this yet. they sell for almost new price on the used forums. so need to get my order together soon..
I have a latin program but not sure i will start it until after christmas.
my oldest does piano and my little one will start in september.
they both dance.a lot. We will be at the studio 4 hours on wednesday and 2 hours on thursday..
both are in scouts
Robin in NJ
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I AM a friend of a homeschooler and just about 100% sure we are homeschooling next year. tell her to read these forums and listen to you.
the best thing that has happened to me is that my FRIEND loaned me tons of her material to try out. She gave me a stack of her failures to try out, as well. who knows, her failure could be my success story!
I am kind of doing some of what she does and seeing if it sticks.
we started with borrowing her sonlight core 3. it is awesome. love it. we are not religious, but finding it wonderful. I am learning a lot.
We purchased TT for math and loving that, too.
She uses FLL. I am going with shurley grammer.
she has no interest in science. I think she is using sonlight science. We are using apologia. Haven't ordered it yet.
just my 2cents
Robin
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Never. and I don't plan to. My parents never told me. :)
:iagree:
although, we do not label anything under the tree as 'from santa' or 'from mom'. just say that 'some' are from mom and 'some' are from santa..always the best ones are from mom!!!!
just every year, more and more are 'from mom'...
robin in NJ
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I would, but we are only in TT5, sorry...
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:bigear:
just pulled my daughter from ps. she would have been in middle school in september.... So interested to hear what others have to say.
robin in nj
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We use the benadryl spray. stop the itching immediately. it will burn if the kid has been scratching (breaking the skin). but if I can get to them before the scratching, no problems. And it lasts all day.
robin in NJ
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Never say never!!!! My dh started snoring something terrible. I'd end up awake and angry and frustrated that I couldn't sleep. So, I started kicking him out! He usually ends up in dd's room. She still sleeps in our room. We all sleep better this way. Once he loses more weight and stops snoring, he can stay!! I need my sleep!
:iagree:
same EXACT thing here!!! waiting for CPS to come knocking when dd says her dad sleeps in her bed. hoping they will follow up with, "where do you sleep?"
robin in NJ
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I didn't read all the posts, but my kids took forever to tell time. I always figured it wasn't really a 'building skill' where you needed it to move on. So we just went through it once, she got every one wrong and we moved on to the next lesson. I did not make a big deal that she couldn't tell time. She is 6. most of the time, she is not responsible for knowing what time it is (the adults in her life are ).
When she is ready to 'own' telling time, I'm sure she will pick it up. Her older sister was in 4th before she could tell time and then it was a short lesson and BAM.
for me, it was not worth the battle.
BTW, my kid couldn't tie their shoes either until 4th grade.
Robin in NJ
Shurley Grammar jingles
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted · Edited by RobinLK
spelling
i don't think so. I have the SE 2 disc. maybe I can send you one jingle. I think sending one as a sample might not be a problem.