LBC
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Posts posted by LBC
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I'm trying to merge my crazy life into one planner, and I'm thinking I may need to create something. I thought I'd check in with the creative and talented people on this forum to see if anybody has something they're willing to share.
I want something with one day on each page. I'm thinking I'll need three columns, one for our school schedule & activities for the day, one for appointments and chores, and one for work related tasks (I work part-time from home). I want to spiral bind it so that it's fairly easy to carry from my desk, to the school area, and wherever else I might need it.
Right now I have one planner for appointments, one for business and one for school, and I'm feeling rather disjointed!
Lori
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I'm curious what your student did ( the OP's student) the last 3 years form math, in what book, what method, that all of a sudden she is hitting a wall in the Algebra? :confused:
There is always the possibility she is in the Wrong Level too.
Dd started math with Saxon. Being my first, and somewhat of a guinea pig, we experimented with a few programs in the early grades until we found Singapore Math. By this time she was in about grade 4. She did Singapore until part way through 6a, and then I was finding it difficult to find the time to teach it properly. I switched her to TT Pre-Algebra at that point. She didn't have any problems with that. It wasn't until she started TT Algebra 1 that she began to stuggle. In February of 2007 I put her in school (7th grade). At this point most of the math was review, and she did fairly well. We're in Canada, so the things they cover at each grade level are slightly different. They don't focus on Algebra and then Geometry. There's a mixture, and a lot of statistics and probablility. When she came home from school she hadn't really made any progress, so we picked up where we left off with TT Alg. 1.
Lori
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Dd is almost in tears at the thought of continuing with TT, but I'm thinking that I might do it anyway. We can afford to switch programs, but having options isn't always the best thing. I just need to commit to learning it with her, and then it won't be so unbearable for her. I can do math with her while the younger kids are having their lunch break. It's only our second week of school for the year, so we're not far into things yet - meaning it shouldn't be too difficult for me to catch up with her. With two math oriented boys coming up through the ranks, it will be a worthwhile time investment for me to learn this subject. I am capable of learning math. I do all the bookkeeping for dh's business, and I'm actually fairly good with numbers. I was a wild teenager, and my parents weren't paying much attention, so I ended up in the nonacademic stream in high school. It sure would have been easier to learn it back then rather than now, at the age of 43!
We will probably choose a different program for geometry next year, but we will keep plugging away at TT until we complete this text.
My life doesn't always allow me to spend time on the boards these days, but I sure appreciate the insight that I find here when I need it! You ladies are great!
Lori
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I would have her just repeat lessons.
Before sending her to school last year, I had her re-do chapter 3 of TT 1 three times, and she still kept scoring about 60% on her end of chapter test. I spent an entire Saturday learning the material, which enabled me to figure out what she was doing wrong. It turned out to be an issue with negative numbers, and since she didn't cover that in chapter 3, she hadn't been able to identify the problem.
More than a year later we are running into the same problems. She is now on chapter 4. She began this year with a great attitude, and was so proud of herself for staying focused on her math lesson and getting it done in a reasonable amount of time. When I marked her math and told her how she did, she was very disappointed. She's been re-reading the lessons, and gone through a few of the solutions on the CD ROM. She's not improving so far - she's actually scoring lower. I could have her spend the next couple of weeks going over the material again (I've told her she can't continue until she figures out what's wrong, or she'll just be practicing the wrong way of doing it). This is why I'm wondering if it's the program that's the problem, and not just our approach. I know it's a good program, but she's a very creative, dreamy, English & History oriented girl. Perhaps all the "help" provided in the TT program is becoming a distraction to her, rather than a help.
The one good thing about tackling this problem is that we now know that school is not the solution, and we are committed to making this work.
Thoughts??
Lori
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I don't know Algebra. I've been trying to learn it, but my schedule is quite full (4 kids - all homeschooling - plus I run my dh's business home office), and I find it difficult to put it high on my priority list.
A year ago I put dd (14) into school because she was struggling so much with Algebra. I thought a classroom environment with a "qualified" teacher would be helpful. As it turned out, she hated school, and is now back home, but we're in the same place with her Algebra. She's consistently getting between 60% - 70% on her exercises. She said that she doesn't enjoy the style of TT, and finds it very distracting. We used Singapore until we started Algebra, and she did much better with that, although it did lack review.
I read the post about using Foerster's Algebra with Math Without Borders. It looks like it might be an option. Dd took a look at the sample MWB lessons, and said she thought she would like it.
Would that combination work well for a non-math daughter and her non-math mother? I have two math/science oriented boys coming up next, so I need to be ready for them as well.
Any suggestions would be helpful. Even if you need to tell me that I can't homeschool through highschool unless I learn Algebra, I'll listen :tongue_smilie:
Lori
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I decided to try Sonlight for the first time this year, and so I've planned our entire year around it. I'm using Core 7 for grades 8 & 9, and LA 3 advanced for my 3rd & 6th graders. I had planned to use the LA in Core 7 with the 8th & 9th graders, but I'm reading a ton of negative comments on the Sonlight forums re: SL LA, especially in Core 7.
We had a really bumpy year last year, and I really need this year to go well. The thought of starting off with SL LA, only to find myself switching to something else after a few weeks is really freaking me out.
We've used IEW for years, so I could just go with that again, and maybe Lightning Lit. for literature. Or maybe the SL LA 7 will be fine, since my dc have had a few years with IEW and won't need the hand holding that seems to be lacking for some using SL LA 7.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Lori
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After a day of test driving, I've decided that I really want to stick with a van. I think I've narrowed it down to either a Dodge Caravan, a Honda Odyssey, or a Toyota Sienna.
What do you have, and why do you love it?
Lori
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My dh is leaning towards a Hyundai Santa Fe or Veracruz. Does anybody have one of these? What do you think of it? Dh likes the warranty.
Lori
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What about a used Pilot? Could you go for a used car?
I could go for a used car, as long as it was a 2009 Pilot - lol
The new Pilot has been completely redesigned. My parents have the older model, and even though it's a great vehicle to drive, I don't really like the styling as much. So many of the other SUVs out there either don't have enough seat belts, or are gas pigs. The new Pilot is pretty good on gas for an SUV. I know, I know - if I spent $15,000 less on a vehicle, I could afford to put more gas into it...
I'm such an all-or-nothing girl:tongue_smilie: I'll try to be more open to seeing what's out there in the used car market. It's a great idea.
Lori
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My 2000 AWD Chevy Astro is starting to cost a lot in repairs, so we're thinking it's time to trade it in for something new. I can't decide what we should be looking at for a new vehicle.
We have 4 children & 2 adults in our family, so we need 6 seat belts when we go somewhere together. At this time the dc are 14, 12, 10 & 7. Any vehicle we get will probably last us close to 10 years, which is the end of our needing a huge vehicle.
Option 1: Small car - DH drives a 2007 Chevy Silverado which has room for 6. This means I could get a smaller car, save $ on gas zipping around town, and listen to the kids complain about who's touching them every time we go on a trip in the truck (dh has family in Alberta, which is a 9 - 12 hour trip we make about once per year - more often if there's a wedding or funeral). There is a lack of space in a smaller car. I'm accustomed to a big van. The kids and I ski/snowboard in the winter, and would need to take my vehicle with all our equipment in a roof top carrier. The Mazda 5 has 6 seat belts, with a bit more space for the kids, but no cargo space for a trip. I don't love the styling, but it's practical. Costs about $27,000.00 + taxes for the model I like. We could also find something with only 5 seat belts in the less than $20,000.00 range.
Option 2: Van - I confess that I'm pretty sick of driving a van. I've had 3 Chevy Astros over the past 13 years, and I'm ready for something a bit sportier (mid-life crisis?). I like the Honda Odyssey, but they're pretty low to the ground, and might not be the best choice for us. The Toyota Sienna comes in AWD, which is nice for our Canadian winters. Costs about $35,000.00 + taxes for the AWD base Sienna.
Option 3: SUV - This is my favorite option. In fact, I have a huge "car crush" on the 2009 Honda Pilot. It's a lot of money to spend on a vehicle. The mileage is somewhat better (15%) than our current van, and is even a tiny bit better than the Toyota Sienna. Costs about $45,000.00 + taxes for the AWD without the frills.
We could "afford" any of these options, but of course getting a more expensive vehicle would mean we would have less money for other "extras".
Any suggestions? Anybody gone from a van to a small car and wished they hadn't? Anybody gone for the small car and are glad they did?
Lori
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I am of the opinion that I don't have to base my decisions on what the public school does.
We are in the process of "recovering" from a year of school, which dd claims has a lot to do with her emotional state right now. We put her in a private school, and she was treated very badly by the "mean girls". Her self-esteem took a major beating during a very tender time in her emotional development.
Lori
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DD, who is 14.5, is having a week of emotional ups and downs like I've never seen. After many tears and much resistance from her, I told her to take the rest of the week off and go to bed.
Part of me knows that she wouldn't learn anything this week, even if I forced her to do her school work, and I'm thankful for the flexibility homeschooling gives us. Another part of me is anxious and worried that I'm giving her too much freedom. I asked her this morning what she would do if she were in school, and she told me that she's so tired she'd probably sleep through her classes.
Parenting my first teen is a bit nerve wracking. I was a miserable and rebellious teen, and thought of nothing but boys and parties. I gave my parents a terrible time for many years. My dd is a kind, considerate, cooperative girl. I want to be sure I parent her well. I want to be fair, but firm. I want to hear her, yet provide her with healthy guidelines until she's mature enough to set her own guidelines.
Any advice would be welcome. How can I help her manage her emotional "crises"? How can I provide the flexible structure she need in this season? Anybody here BTDT?
Lori - who's just returning to the boards after a very long break:001_smile:
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I'm looking for an early modern curriculum. I did check out Sonlight, as suggested. The Core 7 seems to fit what I want to do, and might allow me to incorporate my three oldest children. I'll put it on my "maybe" list.
Lori
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I think this is my first post on the new boards:)
I'm looking for a way to cover the early modern time period with dd (9th grade) that doesn't focus so much on US history. We're Canadian.
I also have grades 8, 6 & 3 in the mix, so something that works well with multiple grades would be great.
We all enjoy history. We used TOG for ancients, and although we loved it, it was more prep than I'm able to do, and it's fairly heavy in the US history starting halfway through volume 2.
I thought we might use History Odyssey, but my dd looked at the sample and said, "yuck". She looked at the way TRISMS is laid out, and thought she would really like it, but I have some reservations about using it with multiple grades.
Is there anything I've missed? Is there some wonderful new world history program out there that I haven't heard of?
Lori
TT Alg. I is not working out. What should a "non-math" mom do?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Are you actually using this program? I really like the way it seems to give immediate feedback for each mistake. Part of the difficulty dd is having is that she does an entire lesson before I mark it, and with three younger children to work with it can sometimes be a day or two before the marking gets done. By this time it's very difficult to make the connection between the mistakes and how to fix it. She's not really at a maturity level that can check the answer for each problem as she goes, and self-teach (which is what I need to do in order to learn Algebra).
I'd like to hear more about this program from people who are using it.
Lori