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Dolphin

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Posts posted by Dolphin

    Give me a report card and constructive advise

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    This is my first year homeschooling. My son is in third grade. I am having to get used to having him around all day. As he was in a school before that did not use a single curriculum that we are using, he and I have both needed time to get used to it. The language and the way things are taught are entirely new to him.

     

    I had a chat with a veteran Homeschool mom early on. She told me that instead of worrying about finishing 3rd grade on time, to focus on ds having all the skills he should have down by the end of 4th grade. Take this first year easy. Take breaks while you are re-evaluating instead of trying to teach through them. You have just taken on a new full time job, you have to train yourself, keep yourself on track while managing a family.

     

    We are so far behind it is funny, but I am taking heart from the fact that I have not quit. That I have learnt a lot with what we have already done, and we will find a way that works for us. You will to. Keep at it!

     

    Oh, and drop the co-op, I also added in way to much at the beginning. You can always re join at a later date, but drop it for this year.

     

    Nicole

    is tofu unhealthy?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I go with what my granny said "A little bit of everything and not too much of anything." There are so many things out there that are dangerous, or could be dangerous. Soy for me is one of those things that is in a lot of things, so I don't add it in else where, like substituting meat for tofu. I also don't avoid it. The thing I seek out to add as a meat substitute is beans and lentils, since they are not already in a lot of our foods and if you don't make an effort to add them, you can go years without eating them. I have been basing a lot of my food choices on this

     

    http://www.med.umich.edu/umim/food-pyramid/index.htm

     

    variety is the spice of life.

    History study = "I'm so depressed" (your experiences)

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We are really enjoying SOTW, I read it aloud and my 3 yr old daughter often comes and listens. Then we do the coloring sheet from the activity guide (dd joins with that too) Then we work on the map, which my son LOVES. Then usually instead of the narration and questions from the book, I have him tell his Dad about he learnt in history during dinner.

     

    For fun, we are reading Horrible Histories. If you have not tried these, they might change your view of boring history. We get DVD's from netflix and watch those. I also try and do field trips. We live in Oregon, so we did an Oregon Trail themed road trip this summer with my in-laws. We walked in the wagon ruts, all of us enjoyed that.

     

    Try and find the fun in history. Watch night at the museum 1 and 2. Ask who they are more interested in learning more about. My son became fascinated about Teddy Roosevelt from that movie.

     

    We were visiting my mom in New York, so we went to the museum of natural history. Then during our road trip to Mystic Ct, we stopped at Yale and looked at their visitor center. Did you know that the Frisbee was invented at Yale? It is the make of a pie tin company, and they started tossing it around and yelling Frisbee to warn people it was flying.

     

    Hope that helps!

    Episcopalian Bible History for Upper Grammar

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I have not yet found a great curriculum. We are using MP Christian studies to study the bible for "school" for us it is good enough with the other things we do.

     

    First, do you have a family copy of the book of common prayer? We have been using that at home, we started this year doing morning prayer each day together, in January we will add noonday prayer, once that is habit, evening prayer and then compline will follow.

     

    Next, it might seem a silly question, but if you are new to the church, do you realize that the Episcopal Church is a part of the Anglican Church, the American branch? If you search for Anglican resources you will find more out there. The church of England is the English branch of the Anglican church, and a good resource there for implementing religious studies into your home school is Charlotte Mason.

     

    Also in January we are going to start going through The children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. (He is an Anglican Archbishop)

    http://episcopalbookstore.com/product.aspx?productid=1958

     

    and

     

    The Eucharistic Manual for Children

    http://episcopalbookstore.com/product.aspx?productid=184

     

    That is how we are approaching it. John at the Episcopal bookstore has always been able to help me when am looking for a book for something. I have not asked him for Home School yet, but you might try e-mailing him.

     

    I hope something in there helps.

     

    Nicole

    Do you ever feel like you can only do one thing well at a time?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I am like this too, but I have been working on it. The black and white/all or nothing thinking. I am finding baby steps to work on this.

     

    First, cooking for the family. You can get those menus that you spend one day cooking and make enough for the month. Things usually stay in the freezer for longer, so if you don't already have a separate freezer, try and get one (in the long run it is cheaper than eating out) Then, enlist dh on one of his days off, and spend the day cooking. Supplement with costco or something, frozen lasagna, enchiladas etc... still cheaper than eating out. Make sure you have enough for 6 weeks, write a schedule and put it on the fridge. You have focused on one thing, and you don't need to think about it again for 6 weeks. This has really helped us with the cooking, and DH doesn't mind sacrificing one day off for 6 weeks of meals.

     

    I have separated our week into 4 school days/activities, all about kid days. The other 3 are for me, the house and DH. Keeping it in sections is helping, I am hoping one day I might be able to blend more, but that is where I am now.

     

    We do about 4-5 weeks of school and then I take 1-2 weeks to organize food and other things that need attention again.

     

    With the kids helping, have you seen lessons in responsibility? I picked it up thinking I was going to laugh, and it is really good. It breaks down everything into one week increments. It has helped with me getting my son to change his habits in a way that is appropriate for his age. We took 3 weeks to do week 3 (your stuff) But I helped him to do it himself, and now when I ask him to clean his room, he knows what I expect. He can make his bed, change his sheets, has a morning routine etc... We are on week 9 and I like it so far.

     

    I hope something in there helps.

     

    Nicole

    Geography?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We do a variety with Geography. We are doing the Evan_moor Daily Geography. One thing I like is that I bought the pdf, and I can print a second copy for my 3 year old who likes to "do" school with us. We also do the maps in the activity guide of SOTW.

     

    My son really likes Geography, so we wanted to do some more. We are putting together a program based loosely on The Core's method of geography. I had draw write now book seven recommended to me. Starting on page 48 it shows how to draw continent blobs. We are starting that on Wednesday with 2 8 year olds and an 11year. They are all looking forward to it and excited. If you do some searches for map drawing there is a lot of good advice. Mine all came out of my frustration with the core and cc thread. If you ignore the venting and anything else negative, it is a really good geography thread.

    Really Frusturated with The Core and CC

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    The customer service getting back to me was from the 20th. They were in that day as I did receive one e-mail, just none after my last response. I am glad some of you have had good experiences with them, I have had some not so great interactions. Have you read through the whole thread or are you just responding to my most recent post? This has been going on for awhile, not just this time. Of course people are taking time off for Christmas.

     

    I first wrote to them on November 4th, they wrote back to me on the 5th. Then I replied on the 7th, and the responded on the 8th (great so far). I then wrote to them again on the 10th of November, twice on the 12th of November (as I had not heard back) they wrote back on the 5th of December. I took a deep breath and wrote back on the 19th and they responded on the 20th, I wrote back right away and I have not heard anything.

     

    I do not know what a group would be like. I am sure that they are great for people. It is an interesting concept, and I did look to see if there was a group near me when I was first interested. There are none near me. I have no idea what the groups are like. What I was frustrated by was how difficult it is to implement part of their program on your own at home if you do not have a group near you. If I thought their program was horrible, this would not bother me in the least. The whole reason for my frustration is that I think they have a lot of good ideas that I would like to incorporate into my own homeschooling experience. I had hoped that with the aid of the Core and the foundations curriculum guide I would be able to see away forward with that. They just kept telling me that as there was no group in my area I should start one. I am a first year home school mom and I told them repeatedly that was not an option this year.

     

    That aside. I probably should not have written so much. I was posting an update so that they people who had offered me help would know how much I appreciated it. That I listened to their advice and that I was feeling good about the path we were taking with our geography program.

     

    In summary:

    I am the original poster.

    I was frustrated with the Core and CC, and I had a vent.

    I think as with most things out there it has good and bad sides to it, I just had to vent as I had come across some of their not so good areas.

    I thank everyone to had helpful advice,

    I apologize to anyone I offended.

    I am very happy with how we have decided to move forward and grateful for the support I received here.

    What's your go-to meal for company?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I have three I rotate between, depending on time and taste

     

    Macaroni and cheese. I make it with smoked gouda, provolone, and blue cheese with crispy bacon on top if they are not vegetarian. Add a loaf of garlic bread and whatever vegetable and we are good to go. It is very rare I find someone who doesn't like Mac and cheese.

     

    If I have more notice and I know they like Indian food I do that as everything can be done before and it reheats wonderfully.

    Panch Dal

    Cauliflower and Potato Subzi

    Cherry and Raisin Puloa

    cucumber and cilantro raita

    Paratha bread.

     

    Cottage Pie is also a good one

    My 8 yo Just doesn't get math and I feel like I have failed her

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I have to admit that I have only read through the first page of this.

     

    My 8 year old son is having problems with Math too. I have been getting really frustrated. We have gone back to the beginning and all sorts.

     

    I am going to look into Kumon, Sylvan and Math tutors and see if maybe this is one subject where I need to send him to someone else. I have found that with certain subjects, we do not click together. My husband does writing with my son, and they have a great time. When he and I sit down with the same material it is just horrible. I am wondering if the way his brain understands Math and the way mine (and my husbands) understand it are just really different. I am going to see if I can find someone that he can get it with.

     

    Good luck and let me know if you find something that works.

     

    Nicole

    Really Frusturated with The Core and CC

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    So, an update. I never heard back from CC. I guess there customer service just really does not care about the customer service side of things.

     

    Now for the good news. Draw write now book 7 has arrived (I love amazon prime) It is EXACTLY what I needed to start maps. I am so excited, my son is so excited, and his best friend who is going to do this with us is so excited. We are going to start Wednesday. So my new geography plan is to start with the Draw write now, and then progress on to Uncle Josh's maps when we start needing more detail.

     

    Thank you all so much for the support and the ideas. I needed this boost to get excited again. This is my first year homeschooling, and I have come across so many stumbling blocks, holes in his previous education etc.... I am really glad that I did not quit in November. I am ready to keep going and am happy about my choice again!

     

    Cheers,

    Nicole

    Are you ever hesitant to admit you don't like a book?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I am an English Lit major. I am that strange girl that actually read and finished every book assigned to her.

     

     

    Except....

     

    Moby Dick, I only made it about 2/3 of the way through the book. When I got to the second chapter that was droning on about the whiteness of that ridiculous whale I tossed the book across the room and watched the movie. I do not care that it is a classic, you can not make me read, no how, no way. It was dreadful.

     

    I also do not care for Picasso when it comes to art. I like pretty pictures!

    Really Frusturated with The Core and CC

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Oh good, I am so glad. I am one of those people that tries to rise above, let it slide etc... Problem with being that way is sometimes it just boils over. I am so glad to have this community that is so understanding, and great at problem solving.

     

    Yes, my new guide has the maps, and you are right they are horrible. What I am wanting is even more simple, I have no artistic or computer skills. I was hoping for a printable with just the 5 great circles, like what is on page 125 of the core. Most map outlines I see have the world or something else with it. I want just the lines so I can blow it up and photocopy and start doing the continent blobs. I am going to try and convince my husband to make it for me over Christmas. Then I am going to work on the map drawing with my kids. I think they are both going to do better than me.

    Really Frusturated with The Core and CC

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Angela,

    I am fine with LB promoting her own things within her own book, in fact I expect it. Have you looked at the public library on the classical community site? There are free resources on in that you do not have to subscribe to. Here is a link for anyone that wants to see it

     

    http://www.classicalconversations.com/registered/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=198'>http://www.classicalconversations.com/registered/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=198

     

    What I have a problem with is this

     

    Direct quote from page 225 in the geography resources section

     

    "Classical Conversations Connected Community also has a lot of maps to memorize, along with history facts and stories, multiplication tables, and much more. The public library can be accessed at http://www.classicalconversations.com/registered/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=198

     

    IMO I found that misleading.

     

    I was surprised that when I wrote to their customer service that it was a hard sell for a community.

     

    That said, after exchanging a few e-mails with them, I was frustrated and I needed to vent.

     

    Thank you for the words of support, and I am sorry if my frustration offended some people.

     

    I am going to take the good pieces I can and piece meal them into my own system. Take the good and leave the rest.

     

    Thanks for all the suggestions on how to implement the geography program. We are really excited to start that in January.

     

    Cheers,

    Nicole

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