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happygrrl

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Everything posted by happygrrl

  1. Science Shepherd has a lot of detail. What we did: My dd took notes in outline form as she read. This was a huge help- making an outline helped her to see the main points and not get too overwhelmed by supporting details. It was a great exercise in learning to select how to fine tune her view as there is no way to learn everything in the book. I thought it a great prep for college. We discussed, using her notes, before she filled out the study page. She took the study page almost as a pre-test, helping her see what she was hazy on. Then she would use the book to correct her study guide and clear up any shallow understanding. After taking the test, she went back and corrected any missed answers using the book. Secondly, I allowed her to do two tests open book- her choice. That way, when there was a chapter that was completely overwhelming she could choose to treat it more lightly. That opportunity put the power back into her hands, and gave her confidence that she could finish the course. I graded those tests as quizzes. If I recall correctly, she chose one of the genetics chapters to do as an open book test. I also did the entire evolution section open book; I wanted her to experience that material as a conversation and point of view, not necessarily as fact that had to be memorized. It comes in the middle of the course, so it was a good time to chill a bit and just read the chapter/do the study guide. We spent the time (that would usually have been spent studying and test taking) sitting on the couch talking about faith and science. This girl is not a philosopher by nature, so I count that time more precious than any graded work. Science Shepherd is honors level work, in my opinion (though you should probably add evolutionary material to call it honors). If my non-science major son decides to use Sceince Shepeherd, I will focus on this as an opportunity to learn how to extract main themes from a text book, and will not ask him to memorize the details, which would be completely overwhelming to him. I would also then modify the tests to reflect a comprehension of themes, and ask for examples without worrying about the depth that a science major would be expected to go. Just my opinion! Hope that helps!
  2. Well, we can't either, so I feel 'ya! :) We were on an old hughes modem (back when it was called direcway) and were only able to use 450m a day before falling prey to restrictions. For the same money per month we now get 20 gig and a significant speed increase. The promotion gives us 150 g for 6 months, then we go back to the 20g we signed up for. I am sure they expect us to miss the freedom and want an upgrade. On our part, we are finally glad to be able to do all the software updates we could never do! Now I just have to change the email accounts….ugh…..
  3. Just throwing this out there: There is a satellite company offering a great promo deal. Check out Excede satellite to see what they offer in your area. The promo is not good for every area, but it is worthwhile to check, as the bandwidth difference is mind-boggling for those who have been on sat. forever (150 g for $99!!!). There are some bad reviews online, but they are mostly from people who are switching FROM cable and are stunned that there are bandwidth limitations :) Those who switched from other sat companies give better reviews. We have been on Hughes for years, and are switching to Excede today. If you want to pm me later to find out how the service is doing, feel free.
  4. Dive ICP. You can use the lectures on disc with many physical sci. texts, which tailors the course difficulty to your liking. The disc also has an online textbook incorporated, which you can use in place of a standard textbook. I am on mobile and can't grab a link, but it should be easy to find via a web search or search here on the boards. HTH!
  5. You might see if there is a Greek Orthodox Church nearby. Their services are often in English and 'Biblical' Greek (the amount depends on the constancy of the parish). If they are large, they will also often hold a "Greek Festival' (the one in Portland, OR is in October). They usually have great food and entertainment, and things are presented in both Modern and 'Biblical' Greek. I attend a Greek Orthodox church, so if you have any questions (like what you can expect if you visit) feel free to PM me.
  6. I agree! My DD loved this course. I was really surprised, as it was a 'get it done' course in my opinion. She ran with it, though, and still talks about it. It also developed her idea that fitness is her own responsibility- now she is more fit than anyone in the family! Hmmm, maybe I should do the course….
  7. Just bumping this for the night crowd. :) My real issue is this: Limited funds, with a STEM kinda girl. I am also caregiving for my husbands parents right now, so I don't have time to pull things together, as much as I think I could. We already have an extensive lab materials collection, so I am hoping that we can do a solid class without breaking the bank.
  8. Free online Chem lectures from Trivedi Chamistry: http://www.trivedichemistry.com/index.php/online-chemistry-lectures Online Chemistry Dictionary: http://www.trivedichemistry.com/index.php/chemistry-dictionary
  9. DD and I are intrigued with the idea of Trivedi, specifically the AP version. http://www.trivedichemistry.com/index.php/ap-chemistry (I am curious about the regular high school course as well.) Has anyone used this yet? Our budget is a little tight, so this seems like a (relatively) inexpensive way to go. We'll be doing some traveling this year, so the idea of the entire course on flash drive is great. I did a search, but the course is not mentioned much. I wonder why? I would love to hear your thoughts on this program! Thanks!
  10. Thank you so much, Lori D. I have been stressing over Econ for a few days, and getting lost in WTM land. Having these listed in one post is extremely helpful.
  11. I had to help my DD with a crying jag today. She is smart, accomplished, and funny, but this morning was stressed to the max. My mom, in a phone call later this afternoon, remimded me that some of the stress is natural for a smart girl facing changes that accompany growing. The world appears to be going crazy (especially to a teen paying attention), my expectations are high (even though I don't realize it), her body is still learning what it feels like to have monthly swings, the PSATs that count are coming up, And here I am waving college pamphlets and talking about AP. My mom reminded me that stress is scary if you have led a great homeschool life where stress is not a part of daily activities. Her stress handling abilities are just not developed yet. Hmm. I came home, wrapped my daughter in a bear hug, told her I loved her, and if she wanted to run barefoot and jobless in the woods forever that was fine with me. I told her I could see her potential, and that I handle that Incorrectly sometimes (thanks to my own mishandled youth). I told her it is all OK, and that the life skills of managing stress are just as important as the skills of leaning the life cycle of unicellular algae. I told her that I was not going to let up with pushing her, because that Is what friends do. I also told her the goal was that I prepare her to be able to love and accept love, and everything else was accessory. Most importantly I told her again I loved her, and that love has nothing at all to do with her smarts, and that her value is not dependent on her career path or GPA. My boys don't seem to handle life the same way, and DD is so practical and cheerful that I don't often see her struggles. Forgive me if this is not applicable, I just thought I would share, just in case it is.
  12. I was just going to suggest this! I just finished it, what a great read.
  13. There is a new edition coming out; you might want to clarify which edition your group will be using. I am not sure if any one has seen inside the new one yet.
  14. That is what I was thinking :) Since this thread started, I am thinking more about how to have moments like this in our schooling. Now that my kids are in high school, we have lost a little bit of that 'delight of discovery' feeling. I think I will give these art courses a more prominent place in our day then they have had heretofore. Thanks to you both!
  15. Materials list: Paints, acrylic or tempera, primary colors and black and white Brushes, soft tip. Selection of several sizes Canvas pressed paper or canvas board Canvas for stretching, you will need enough for four stretched canvasses Stretchers (for above) Staple Gun gesso If she has previous art experience, she'll be fine. The course is less instructional than I thought it would be. I like that, as I truly love to mess around and I learn more via exploration. You know your dd, and will have to decide if that will frustrate her. I have a very driven daughter, and she would go crazy without explicit instruction! I think she needs this course to help her :). For example: lesson 4 says: Next, start to capture the colors you see by mixing and gently applying them to your drawings. Observe the subtle variations of color. Mix your paints in small amounts as you seek just the right hue. Keep in mind, this is the lesson on primary values, so there has never been an explanation of mixing colors up to this point, you are supposed to just do it, and learn it that way. My daughter would have needed a whole lecture on what mixes with what and why and how, before being able to follow the instruction. Do you see what I mean? If you send me a private message with your email address, I can take a photo of a random assignment, so you know what you are looking at.
  16. We used Drawing adn Design last year, but I wish we had done integrated drawing first. Integrated drawing starts off with 'what is a line' and uses 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' as the main text. While Drawing and Design is listed as Oak Meadow's first fine arts course, it is not the best start if you want to simply learn to draw and have no experience, are not artistically inclined, or are not comfortable with the 'discovery' style of learning. I chose oak meadow arts courses for precisely that reason- I want my son to gain confidence in exploring and moving forward when the tasks are not spelled out 100%. Drawing and Design moves a little more quickly than Integrated drawing. One thing to note is that these courses are mainly just a syllabus; there is no detialed instruction. They expect you to pick up the skills by reading the texts that go with the course, so the texts are not optional. Drawing and Design is the prerequisite for the painting class, so if you want to go that route start with D and D. If you simply want to learn to draw and knock out a fine arts credit go with ID. If you have art experience, you could probably do painting without doing the drawing and design course. I have no experience with the painting class, but I do have the syllabus in front of me and can try to answer any questions you might have. It also looks like it really does not have much instruction, rather it is a list of assignments and tasks. The appreciation part of the course uses '50 Paintings You Should Know'. If you are able to learn while doing, and can pick up skills by hands - on messing around, then it could be a fun course. One thing: I bought a different edition of the texts on amazon for much less money than buying new. The page numbers were different, but it was easy enough to match the relevant sections. Hope that helps! Forgive me for the jumbled response- I had a long night and am still working on pumping in enough coffee to return to some sort of equilibrium!
  17. One of my kids used the DVD, and another just read the lesson (which is very clearly presented). It depends on the learning style of your kids. My son would never have remembered it simply by reading and loved the DVD; my daughter wanted to get it done quickly and enjoyed the freedom to skip it.
  18. I have hear this sentiment before - from my brother in law who got his doctorate in some branch of Astro- physics at an Ivy League school. He is now a prof. at a well-known uni, and esteemed researcher on the side (he is occasionally in the news and all). When he told me how he (and apparently the rest of the science factulty at his ivy) viewed biology, I was totally floored! (Edited to add: Not 'floored' in a bad way, the conversation really made me think, and was of great benefit )
  19. Many of you have mentioned using this in High School, so I thought I would throw this out there: Foundations in Personal Finance curriculum on sale through 8-28 https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/dave-ramsey/?source=GBC&c=1 Foundations in Personal Finance - *NEW* 2014 Homeschool Edition Dave's curriculum for high school level students; the premier curriculum for teaching high school students about money. **Up to 40% OFF**
  20. I suspected as much :) I have the book at my bedside, but it is awfully heavy to hold up when you are drifting off to sleep, so I have not gotten far along in it. I will move it to the top of my stack now. Thanks! (Still giggling over the machete-waving )
  21. I think that why my daughter found it less annoying than anticipated was because the strong perspective is found in only 3 chapters, as opposed to every chapter. I too would love to see the opposing viewpoints presented without the obvious bias, but we can deal with it. We have decided to take a course similar to the one Orthodox 6 mentioned in a previous post.
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