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kalphs

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    Anxiety about school

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Hugs!
    Been there, done that myself during my academic years.
    I concur with One Step.
    Based on the advice from our guidance counselor, my parents relented, and allowed me to see a counselor.
    The counselor was able to pin point the anxiety issue, which had nothing to do with my academic workload. 
    Dh and I have always encouraged Dd to put forth her best effort. 
    We do not expect perfection, but we do expect her to work hard and persevere. 


     

    • Like 1

    Middle School LA

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Writing with Ease: Strong Fundamentals Testimonial

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    "This year our daughter wanted to try a different approach to writing.
    After twelve weeks of the new curriculum, she had had enough.
    Lack of logical sequence and writing exercises which allow me to practice the skills I had learned" were her the two major concerns.
    In the end, she returned to "Writing with Ease: Strong Fundamentals."
    My husband and I have seen her progress from a "reluctant writer" to a "confident writer" through the use of this curriculum over the past four years.
    She is looking forward to using Writing with Skill next fall."
    I wanted to post this to encourage parents here on the WTM Forums.
    For the most part, Dd does not struggle with school. However, writing is her "Achilles Heel" as it was for her father. 

    WWE has taught her how to logically think through the process of writing.
    She has gone from being frustrated because "The words are trapped in my mind, but I don't  know how to put them on the paper" to "I can do this because I've learned how to think through it." 


     

    • Like 5

    need help figuring out which pre algebra to use...

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Algebra-Geometry-Grades/dp/0769643302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426772449&sr=1-1&keywords=complete+book+of+algebra
    I wrote a review of this resource years ago. It is an excellent introduction to pre-algebra. 
    Sadly, the book has gone out of print, but it can still be purchased online through used book dealers.
    Here is a link to the resources the publisher has available currently 
    http://www.carsondellosa.com/search-catalog?q=complete%20book%20of%20algebra

    How much Shakespeare?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Dd has enjoyed Shakespeare just as she has Aesop's Fables. 
    In the earlier years, we didn't focus on the historical time period. 
    However, when Dd reached the "logic stage" we connected the stories to the historical time periods.
    If you have the opportunity to attend a "live" performance, I highly recommend it.
     

    How much Shakespeare?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    How much Shakespeare do you require for your middle schooler, and how do you approach it? Do they read abridged versions, watch movies, see a play, enjoy cartoon versions on YouTube? How much historical background do they have first?

     

    My DS doesn't care a bit for Shakespeare or theater (and frankly, neither do I), and I'm thinking there's no need to press it. I'd like for him to have a general sense of some of the plays, but he'd rather poke his eyes out than watch a performance. His history program suggests reading over a dozen plays, some more obscure than others, and I feel like that's overkill for a disinterested student. Obviously I won't make him suffer through all that, but I think I want some reassurance that Shakespeare is hardly the be all, end all of a decent middle school literary education. ;)

     

    Thanks for gentle input.

    Dd was introduced to the Bard as a preschooler with Bruce Coville's books. 

    http://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Dream-Bruce-Coville/dp/0803717849/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426692410&sr=1-9&keywords=bruce+coville

    Next came Marsha William's books. 

    http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Shakespeare-Marcia-Williams/dp/0763623237/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426692465&sr=1-1-fkmr2&keywords=marsha+

    http://www.amazon.com/More-Tales-Shakespeare-Marcia-Williams/dp/0763626937/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

    Along with the BBC's "Shakespeare Animated Tales" available for viewing on You Tube. 

    Then came Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare 

    http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Shakespeare-Puffin-Classics-Charles/dp/0141321687/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426692650&sr=1-4&keywords=lambs+tales+from+shakespeare

    Stories from Shakespeare

    http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Shakespeare-Marchette-Chute/dp/0452010616/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426692709&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=marchette+chut

    Shakespeare Stories 

    http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Stories-Leon-Garfield/dp/0395861403/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1426692916&sr=8-19&keywords=stories+from+shakespeare

    http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Stories-II-Leon-Garfield/dp/0395708931/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0NSBR0FPA3QB5EDTRGW8

    For viewing the plays, we chose

    BBC Shakespeare

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bbc%20shakespeare&sprefix=bbc+sha%2Caps

    Opus Arte

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=opus+arte+shakespeare&sprefix=opus+arte+sha%2Caps%2C174&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aopus+art

     

    • Like 2

    Middle School Science

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I am beginning to plan out middle school science for my DD and would like to dedicate one year to each of the following sciences:

    1. Earth/Space
    2. Life
    3. Physical sciences

    Any ideas?  Any places to look?  I am having a hard time finding anything and need some inspiration.  Thank you!

     

    ETA - We are not interested in any YE science program.

    Here is what Dh and I mapped out for Dd's logic stage science years. 

    1. We chose a spine for science which presented the topic/concepts in language a Dd could understand.

        The spine we chose was Christian Kids Explore Biology, Earth & Space, Chemistry and Physics. 

         I've written reviews of the Biology and Earth & Space curricula. Presently, I'm working on the review for Chemistry.

    2. We purchased Magic School Bus Science Kits and Janice Van Cleave's "Science for Every Kid" experiment books.

    3. The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia (2006 edition), Usborne Science Encyclopedia (2011 edition) and DK Eyewitness selections

         from the WTM Logic Stage Science added the finishing touches. 

    Stewart English Program

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    The cogs and wheels in Dd's brain are getting ready to switch from the logic stage to the rhetoric stage. 
    Originally, we had planned on using Learning Language Arts Through Literature Gray Level.
    However, after looking through it, the curriculum appears to be a repeat of what Dd covered last year. 
    While perusing through the WTM, I came across The Stewart English Program.
    Has anyone utilized this resource? 
    What are the pros/cons of it? 
    Thank you!
    :001_smile:     

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