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DivaMommy

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Posts posted by DivaMommy

    So disappointed in Writing Strands...

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We tried Writing Strands 3 last year. My oldest dd who doesn't mind writing didn't like it, and my other dd who hates to write didn't like it. I didn't like it. You are not alone!

    Edited to add: yes, it is great for some dc...I have a friend whose dc love it!

     

    I haven't found any other purchased curriculum yet but I will second Cadam's suggestion to listen to the writing lectures by SWB on PHP. It made a huge difference to me to see the big picture of where we needed to be heading with my dc's writing abilities. I am much more relaxed about it now. That being said, my oldest has requested some different writing assignments other than summarizing so I have found some lesson plans for writing here http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=6&learning_objective=31

     

    The site should open up to the writing process lesson plans. I have found several different types of writing assignments that my daughter found to be interesting. They also have graphic organizers to print and online graphic organizers that were neat too.

     

    Anyway, just thought those might give you some out of the box type writing projects that might help.

     

    Thank you for this resource! Can't wait to go check it out in detail.

     

    For others who are following this thread, I am circling back to my original idea of getting Saxon Grammar/Writing for him. I really didn't have a grammar program picked out yet, so I'm thinking this might "kill 2 birds with one stone." Plus, I have taught writing before, but just never to an Aspie :). So, I feel pretty comfortable supplementing with resources like the one above, and trying to fit it to his needs. My goals for him (as a 7th grader) are to get him to be able to write good paragraphs (as the basis for good essays in high school), and to give him some tools to use in the writing process. He really likes clear directions and frameworks (he is doing really well with outlining his history chapters based on a template I made for him), so I think we will be okay with something as structured as Saxon.

     

    I think I have just learned my first very important lesson in homeschooling, which is nothing works for every kid! Lesson learned...

     

    Andrea

    Saxon Math is killing me slowly...and my son hates it too...

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I think it all depends on your teaching style and your kids' learning style. We are new to HS, but the one curriculum choice that I know is right for my son is Saxon Algebra 1/2. He doesn't like a cluttered page, loves math, and is fine with repetition. So far, he is doing great with Saxon and likes it so much more than the math textbook they used in his PS last year.

     

    So, to each her/his own, I think. There is no one curriculum that works best for every kid all the time (believe me, I know...we are dumping Writing Strands, and looking for a new writing curriculum!).

     

    Good luck with whatever you decide to use next!

     

    Andrea

    So disappointed in Writing Strands...

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Look into Meaningful Composition, its the "style" of IEW broke into bite sized chunks, workbook format.

     

    Thanks for this rec...will look into it.

     

    And so glad that I'm not the only one who thinks that WS is confusing and not a good writing program! I guess it might work for some, but it was a total bust here.

     

    Andrea

    My son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome yesterday.

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    Welcome to the club! I have a 7th grader Aspie, and we are also new to homeschooling, but loving it already.

     

    The book I would recommend for family members is Ellen Notbohm's "Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew." Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Things-Every-Child-Autism-Wishes/dp/1932565302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282178660&sr=1-1. This book really gets at the heart of what it means to be a kid on the spectrum. I really love it!

     

    Hope this helps,

     

    Andrea

    So disappointed in Writing Strands...(x-post)

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    This is my first year to homeschool, and my son is in 7th and also has Asperger's (high functioning autism). He doesn't like writing (does most of it on his laptop when he does it..he's a great typist!), and so I was worried about getting a writing curriculum for him that would be fun and not too difficult. So, on the advice of WTM, I purchased a Writing Strands book (started with Book 3 since he is behind in writing). Boy, did he hate it, and so do I now. Our problem? The directions are confusing, the little sarcastic jokes don't work for a kid who doesn't get them, and the whole book seems very low on actual work/practice involved. I am so disappointed, and am now trying to find something else instead.

     

    We use Saxon Math (which we both love), so I'm thinking of getting the Saxon Grammar/Writing. Does anyone here have opinions on this curriculum? I'm sure Writing Strands works for some families, but it totally did not for us.

     

    Thanks in advance for any opinions on Saxon Grammar/Writing,

     

    Andrea

    So disappointed in Writing Strands...

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    This is my first year to homeschool, and my son is in 7th and also has Asperger's (high functioning autism). He doesn't like writing (does most of it on his laptop when he does it..he's a great typist!), and so I was worried about getting a writing curriculum for him that would be fun and not too difficult. So, on the advice of WTM, I purchased a Writing Strands book (started with Book 3 since he is behind in writing). Boy, did he hate it, and so do I now. Our problem? The directions are confusing, the little sarcastic jokes don't work for a kid who doesn't get them, and the whole book seems very low on actual work/practice involved. I am so disappointed, and am now trying to find something else instead.

     

    We use Saxon Math (which we both love), so I'm thinking of getting the Saxon Grammar/Writing. Does anyone here have opinions on this curriculum? I'm sure Writing Strands works for some families, but it totally did not for us.

     

    Thanks in advance for any opinions on Saxon Grammar/Writing,

     

    Andrea

    If you are using Vocabulary from Classical Roots...

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Hi! I am brand new to HS (today was our first day!), but I have a 7th grader, and we are using Vocabulary from Classical Roots. The way I do it is that he reads the lesson first. Then, he makes flash cards for the roots and the key words at the beginning (one side for the word/root and one side for the definition). Then, he'll complete the exercises by the end of the week (we do vocabulary 4x a week).

     

    I think that TWTM has the kids write the words as they learn them in the Word Study section of their English/Reading notebooks. I am going to try doing that with my son. I'm not having him write a sentence with it on his cards since that is sort of what the exercises help with (plus he hates writing).

     

    I'll be glad to let you know how this goes for us, but that is my plan for now! Hope this helps...

     

    Andrea

    Anyone used Organized Thinking Book from The Critical Thinking Co.?

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    I just ordered Critical Thinking Book one and MindBenders B1 for my 7th grader for his logic curriculum, and I got an email from them that I was their weekly web winner! And I could get any one book or CD for free (in addition to my original order). After looking over their list, I chose Organizing Thinking Book 2. I chose it mainly for the graphic organizers, as I think that would be a great way to help my writing-challenged son be able to organize his ideas more effectively before he writes.

     

    Does anyone else have any experience using this book? Just thought I would ask...it looked really great, but I know that the way a curriculum book looks online vs. how useful it really is can vary.

     

    Looking forward to hearing from others!

     

    Andrea

    Anyone used Organizing Thinking from the Critical Thinking Co.?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I just ordered Critical Thinking Book one and MindBenders B1 for my 7th grader for his logic curriculum, and I got an email from them that I was their weekly web winner! And I could get any one book or CD for free (in addition to my original order). After looking over their list, I chose Organizing Thinking Book 2. I chose it mainly for the graphic organizers, as I think that would be a great way to help my writing-challenged son be able to organize his ideas more effectively before he writes.

     

    Does anyone else have any experience using this book? Just thought I would ask...it looked really great, but I know that the way a curriculum book looks online vs. how useful it really is can vary.

     

    Looking forward to hearing from others!

     

    Andrea

    So, tell me about Vanderbilt

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I actually work at Vanderbilt, though not in the student side of things. So, I can tell you that, yes, they are committed to making sure that all students are able to afford Vanderbilt's tuition (no student loans, they will cover the difference of what a family can afford vs. Vandy tuition, which is crazy expensive). And, yes, they also have tons and tons of applications because of this (and because it is a good school)...their acceptance rate has been getting lower and lower every year.

     

    So, I would definitely agree that you should apply, but also have a back-up plan! Let me know if you have any other questions about the school in general...I don't know anything about the classroom experience, but I do know that the student body is known for being fairly conservative. And I would agree with others who say that it is a safe campus...I work there, so I should know!

    Doubts about h'schooling my Aspie through h.s.

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    KarenAnne: Thanks so much for your post. I am dealing with similar issues from family members who think my son just needs to "suck it up" and deal with the pressures of being "different" in public middle school. It breaks my heart that these people think this is a normal way to live! It is great to get support on this board for our choice to homeschool!

     

    Thanks to everyone for your support!

    Not sure what to do for my 13yo son

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    Hi, Susan:

     

    I have a 12 yr old w/Aspergers. We had him tested at a local children's hospital by a developmental psychologist. I have a feeling that if you do a search for developmental psychologists within your insurance program, you will find one that will test your son. Even though my son has been in public school his whole school life (we are new to HS this upcoming year), he was never tested at school for Autism/Aspergers. So, I think you will be fine doing it on your own. Just check with your insurance first to see what they cover.

     

    Good luck! I think you will find that testing him will give you some great help in figuring out what he needs...our psychologist referred us to many good resources after our son received his diagnosis...behavior consultants, support groups, etc. It really did help us tremendously.

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