Mandy in TN
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Posts posted by Mandy in TN
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Do you really care if I think it is ok? lol
The question is: If you dd is happy with it, what can you change so that you like it better, dd is still happy with it, and it still meets your need for her to work alone? Worksheets certainly require the least effort on your part. Are you willing to take the time to set up workstations or hands-on projects that accomplish the same thing as the worksheets? These are things to think about that will either bring you to terms with continuing to use the worksheets that your dd likes or will spur you on to spend time putting together something different.
HTH-
Mandy
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While I agree with others that this is not an optimal situation, I do think a lot of how this works out will depend on how badly your dd wants it to work out. How motivated is she? Is she willing to do math several hours a day for the next five weeks? Does she want to do this? If the desire is originating in her, then it may happen.
My oldest took the ACT and did poorly enough on the math section that it was going to effect his acceptance to the colleges he wanted to attend. I enrolled him in Kumon and he did levels D-I in less than a school year. There are 200 worksheets per level, so that was 1000 worksheets he completed and some of them he had to do more than once. Those sheets covered multiple digit multiplication and division through the quadratic equation, factorization, and square roots.
Now, he had covered the material previously. He had hobbled all the way through Alg2 without retaining and using his dyslexia as the reason he couldn't do any better. So, it wasn't completely new, but he had not mastered it. He pretty much covered the computation skills used in late elementary school through the basic skills of Alg1. He did this while going to a tutor to review Alg2 and study the few advanced math topics on the ACT. However, he was crazy focused, and, after previously dragging him through math, I found myself pretty much just staying out of his way.
So, if the motivation is there, and she just needs a few middle school topics and an introduction to where Alg1 will be heading via Keys to, then she has a real shot at getting there. She will really have to put forth effort this next year. She needs to realize that she will be spending a lot of time on math not just the next five weeks but this whole next year. She really needs to consider doing Keys to Fractions, Decimals, and Percents as review this next year while she is doing Alg1 to solidify those skills, because a couple of week introduction this summer may enable her to start Alg1, but she will not have mastered the material. So, she would do her Alg1 and a page in Key to every. single. day including the weekends.
How badly does SHE want it?
Mandy
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Hard to say without knowing where she needs work. I agree with doing an assessment and looking at the book the tutorial will be using. Did the school give you any direction based on the test they gave? With a young algebra student, there is sometimes concern over how they will handle abstract thinking. Without that concern, she probably just needs to have mastered the four operations with fractions, decimals, and percents. If she has mastered the four operations with whole numbers, then that should be fairly easy to accomplish as long as she is motivated. If there is time, the first three books of Keys to Alg contain beginning algebra to set her up for algebra 1.
Where is she with the four operations with fractions, decimals, and percents? Can you spend one week on fractions and one week on a decimal/ percents combo, and then begin Keys to Alg and do a book each week?
HTH-
Mandy
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Maybe he needs some more counseling? Although it is more obvious in girls, boys also go through changes as they enter puberty that impact their moods, and young people go through shifts in how they see the world. When these things happen, sometimes they also dredge up things from the past. Because of his past experience with bullying, lying about where he attends school to avoid peer disapproval would concern me. I don't know that I would want him in middle school when he can't even stand up for himself over something so minor. What kinds of trouble could he get into in middle school while doing and saying things in order to fit in?
Rather than talking-about-it-counseling (which may be exactly what he needs now), at some point maybe he could go to life-coach-transitions-counseling before transitioning into a classroom.
HTH-
Mandy
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I want one! We have almost all of these and never use them, exactly because it is too difficult to find anything specific.I agree, the cards are great but it's hard to find anything specific. I'm going to type out an index this weekend. If anyone wants a copy let me know :)
Mandy
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I have ordered from them at least once a year and usually two or more times a year for over a decade. I always order enough that I receive free shipping. A few times I have ordered with a friend so that we could get free shipping. If something is on backorder, I do not pay $10. I just wait. OTOH- I also have Amazon Prime, so, if I need something quickly or just a few items, I order from them.
Do I live in a house full of books? Yes, yes, I do.
Mandy
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Bump- anyone?
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Not that I am aware of
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I don't leave my youngest in the car and he is 11yo. I don't consider myself a bad parent or hovering parent, but he is still under 4.5' tall and only weighs 55lbs. I think TN state law says children under 7 or 8 must have someone 13 or older in the vehicle with them. Either way the keys can not be left in the vehicle.
At his size, I would be concerned that a police officer would think he was under the age requirement. I wouldn't want to leave the windows down, because I would be concerned about kidnapping. It is way to hot here in the summer to leave him in the car with the windows up and the car off. He goes wherever I go. I can't imagine leaving him in the car summer or otherwise. He is a child not a dog. (Although I must say, I am not thrilled about leaving my dog in the vehicle even to hop out and run to he bathroom when on car trips.)
Mandy
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As far as the difficulty level of LLATL and how it would line up with your children's abilities, since I don't know your children, I don't have a clue. That is probably a call you will need to make. Do you want to catch them up? Will you be able to do that with LLATL? Is there another inexpensive option that can be moved through at more of a catch-up pace or a program that contains a lot of review so that you could go ahead with their age grade?
Regarding inexpensive secular history, have you looked at Intellego Unit Studies or Connect the Thoughts?
HTH-
Mandy
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Being named Apple or Remix will not stop a person from becoming a judge or priest. ;)And none of them have been named Apple or Remix or something else that is not the name of a human being. And never will be.
I don't desire any particular job for my kids (ok, I would love if one became a priest, but that is a different order of things). I do desire that my kids, and all kids, have available to them all things because their parents had the good sense to respect their dignity as human beings and not name them something stupid.
I must say I initially thought the name Apple was quirky, but really it isn't any different than naming a child Olive or Cherry, and, although they are perhaps not common, they are not unusual.
Remix chose his own name, and it didn't stop him from becoming a dentist. I guess it meant something to him.
Mandy
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Even if this statistic exists, I would not try to use this to try to convince your MIL that home education is the bee's knees exactly because of the comment above. For every homeschool parent who once taught in public school, there are multiple previous and current public school educators who do not choose to homeschool.Then again, because of dh's career, we know way more ps teachers who are not homeschooling than those who are, certainly more than 70%.
Frankly, your MIL raised her children, and it is your turn to raise yours. This is decision made by you and your dh. MIL doesn't have to agree with it. She just needs to respect that this is your and dh's decision.
HTH-
Mandy
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Oh, I have a really horrid spelling story.
While I really don't have a strong feeling about names, profanity as a name probably isn't a good idea. If I moved to another country, I would inquire as to whether my name meant a sex act or a word for poop that would have a grade school child in trouble.
Having said this I knew an Indian family whose should have been furious that the person who did their American paperwork didn't clue them in that a better spelling of their last name would have been Dixhit or even Dixit, but not only would their name not be pronounced correctly but a school would probably not want to put that spelling on the back of their son's sports jersey- Di*ks*it.
Some person actually let them fill out their paper work spelling their name that way. Do you think that person didn't know, just couldn't bring himself to explain, or had a long, cruel laugh at the family's expense?
Mandy
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A name is a noun used to easily identify a particular person. I have no emotional attachment to my name. I don't care if people call me Amanda even though that isn't my given name. I don't care if people call me Amy, Mindy, or Wendy (all names that for some reason people have confused with Mandy frequently over the years). I don't care if someone calls me Sam for that matter as long as I know to respond to that.
I don't see someone named Mandy or something with Mandy on it and think, "Oh, there I am." lol My mom does this. She identifies as being her name.
I don't feel like I am my name. It is just super easy for identification. I have considered changing it. When I was growing up, I was the only Mandy. Now, when someone says Mandy, three of us turn around. My youngest son has started calling me Mem instead of Mom. I kinda like it. We have a difficult last name for Americans to spell and pronounce, and Mandy is now so common. I used Mem last time for a restaurant wait list.
I bet for identification purposes Apple is clearer. When you say Apple, there is probably just the one. :D
However, some names have ethnic connotations, I do expect to see a Latina if I hear the name Juanita, Arab- Houda, and Indian- Aditi. I think ds throws people off with his real name, because his name is Middle Eastern, but he doesn't look Middle Eastern at first glance. He has a cousin who is/ looks Middle Eastern, but her parents gave her a common Latina name. Another female cousin has a name that is a fairly common American girl's first name, but is a Middle Eastern boy's name.
Names are convenient. I really thought about my kids' names, but I don't care if they change them. They aren't their name.
Mandy
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People disagree. Sometimes, they disagree loudly. That doesn't mean that they don't love each other. I see harm in pretending relationships are Polyanna perfect and people never raise their voices, never curse, and never say things in anger that they don't mean.
That said I don't know the background here and mental illness is a whole different animal. If for any reason you feel that this is a dangerous environment, then you owe no explanation. I agree with the previous poster who said not to mention your dd or her feelings. Just keep it short and direct, "Thank you for the offer. Dd can't come visit, but we would love to have you come here without step-mom." Based on what you have said, it sounds like he will understand why even if he doesn't agree. If he tries to talk you into allowing her to come visit, tell him you love him very much. Then, repeat that you really look forward to planning a visit with him, but that dd is not going there.
If nothing is going to change, then there is no point in discussing step-mother's mental illness. She can't help being mentally ill. He obviously isn't going to leave her. Nothing to discuss. It isn't a place you want your dd. Again, "I love you, Dad. Dd is not coming there. We would really like for you to come up."
Bummer of a situation, but kuddos to your dad for taking care of a wife with mental illness for all these years. That's got to be rough. If I were mentally ill, I hope I would be lucky enough to have someone responsible, strong, and caring enough to love me enough to not leave me on the street, in a shelter, or (best case scenario) in a group home (unless, of course, it was absolutely necessary). I know that isn't helpful to you or your dd. Mental illness is really hard on families.
Mandy
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Well, good to know.
Thx-
Mandy
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Bump and more questions-
If you purchased this through Middlebury did you use it with or without a teacher? If you used a teacher, was it worth the additional cost?
Thx-
Mandy
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I agree with what others have said about having goals for the week rather than the day, about shifting what you do first so that it isn't the same thing the gets left off every time, and I also agree regarding percentages that if this is a routine that is only accomplished a small percentage of the time then you need to rethink because you may simply have too much on your plate.
It may also be that you need to compartmentalize your school time and your housework. During the day we do school, when the sun sets we do xyz housework or an hour before dinner or the first hour of the morning or whatever.
HTH-
Mandy
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At this point, it would just be wrong to post the little hugs smiley. :(Ds has done a great job trying to head her off with kindness and humor. None of it has worked. We aren't able to switch churches since Dh is the pastor. Dh or I need to address it I think at this point but it does get a bit more complicated simply because dh is pastor (because his position of leadership adds a different dimension to it).
Can you talk to the young lady and her father without your dh? Tell them either or both the reversal (what if your son hugged his dd) and/ or the what if a person insisted on doing something his dd had asked them not to do? Then, ask them both to plz respect that your son is different and stop hugging him? Do you need to add that you were trying to let the kids work it out, but that after dad's comment that moved this beyond a kid's issue you felt that you needed to say something?
HTH-
Mandy
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That is just plain rude! She has been asked to stop, and she keeps touching him?!? In an office that would be harassment and on file with HR.
I agree that you need to role play with your ds on how to maintain his personal space and encourage others to respect his wishes.
My middle ds would say things like, "Love me from a distance." He also borrowed a line from the old Disney movie The Emperor's New Groove. "No touchy touchy." He was good at sidestepping and good about extending his arms to create a personal space. He was good at sarcasm and funny. It worked for him.
I am not a touchy-feely person, and I am a woman in the south where women tend to be touchy. I have learned to extend my hand as I introduce myself. This seems to create a more formal, less touchy, environment. I have learned that when standing to say goodbye I can keep the chair between myself and others and, if they come towards me, extend my hand to say nice to meet you or nice to see you. If they don't come towards me, I can just say goodbye.
Your son could try beating this girl to the punch and approaching her with his hand extended when he sees her coming. Practice having him shake with his right hand while he keeping his left arm ready to be raised as a barricade. Show him how he can face his palm out to put against her shoulder to keep her from coming closer and still appear friendly. Explain how people who like to give this kind of hug don't want face-to-face contact (they don't want to kiss his face) so if he maintains eye contact, instead of turning his head to the side, they tend to stop at a certain distance and back off.
With this one particular girl where there is a history, your son may need to talk to her. He needs to turn towards her, look her in the eyes, and explain that he wants her to think of something that people do that really bothers her. Then, tell her to imagine there was a person who did that every single time she saw him even after she explained that it really bothered her. Now, tell her that he isn't asking her to understand all the whys behind his dislike of hugging, but everyone isn't like her and that it is ok for people to be different. He needs to explain that he would appreciate it if she would respect this difference between them. (It is important to explain and ask rather than telling her what not to do. Some people just insist on doing what you tell them not to do, but, if you ask and make it seem like their choice, they choose to be nice.)
I am not suggesting that he explain himself to everyone or really anyone. He really shouldn't have to explain, but with this particular girl, because this is an ongoing issue that began before he had any defense mechanisms established and it is someone he sees regularly, it may be worth the time and effort to put forth an attempt at clearing the air. If you/ he don't care if she is highly offended, then by all means tell him to turn, face her, and ask her if didn't she at any point learn self-control and how to keep her hands to herself because he has met preschoolers who are more self-disciplined and display more respect for those around them. Hey, fwiw, with the history you described, I am all for shouting back the h-ll off in her face, but it doesn't sound like you are ready to switch churches.
HTH-
Mandy
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Huh- I suppose it depends on what they mean by me time.
If they are accustomed to having nothing that they must do between when the kids leave and come back, and they want to figure out how to homeschool and still have time to go to the spa weekly and Pilates three times a each week, and get their nails done weekly and go every four weeks to the salon for several hours to have their hair done and have a weekly afternoon outing with just their friends, then I would be honest and tell them that this would be difficult to pull off.
If it is just wanting a little quiet time in day, then I would help them brainstorm.
I know there is a lot in between these two and I would try to treat each unique person and unique situation as unique, but I do not feel any need to sell homeschooling to other families.
Mandy
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It makes sense to me. CLP is a curriculum provider and therefore not a generic name. If you use the name of a curriculum you must make it unique. (Johnson Family Sonlight School, Jones Family Alpha Omega Academy)
If you want generic you can always pick the name of a local landmarks, rivers, etc (or if you move around a lot you could ise names from where your child was born). In our area, any reference to Andrew Jackson, Old Hickory, the Cumberland River, the Harpeth River (well actually there are tons of little rivers), Cumberland Plateau, Natchez Trace, etc would be a safe, generic bet.
Our homeschool is named And There Was Much Rejoice Academy which is usually shortened to Much Rejoice Academy. It is a Monty Python reference, but living in the Bible Belt people may it is a religious statement.
HTH-
Mandy
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I check stuff as it is completed, and I don't save much. Mostly, it goes from completed to recycled unless it is something special. I don't typically think of things that must be checked as special.
I don't keep notebooks or files of paper. I did do this at one point many moons ago, but can you imagine what a fire hazard that would be once you have been homeschooling multiple children over a decade. This spring I threw out almost everything that I had kept belonged to my big boys, and I have never kept much from the little man- just some special projects and whatnot.
So, I vote to sit with them or have them bring it to you as it is completed. Check it, correct it, recycle it. If you absolutely must keep something for documentation, keep a binder handy and shove a sample each week or however many you need into the binder. I can only speak for me and my boys, but trust me none of us want to walk down memory lane through old math or grammar sheets.
HTH-
Mandy
Does independent work have to mean worksheets?
in General Education Discussion Board
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Mandy