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tajott

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Posts posted by tajott

    Teaching sewing to 5-6 year old?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by tajott

    I don't have a book for you, but here are some things I did with my kids.

     

    Start with hand sewing on felt. Use a light color and make dots on it to aim for. (like lace cards w/o the holes).

     

    Then procede to some muslin and have them draw or trace a simple shape, or picture. Teach the back stitch which is close to the running stitch. Then they can use different colors of embroidery floss. My 5 yos made Christmas ornaments like this, I put them in a small embroidery hoop with a ribbon to hang it.

     

    Then proceed to the sewing machine and have them sew on paper. Draw straight lines, and then curves and then zigzags. The stiffness of the paper makes handling it easier, so that they can concentrate on following the line. The zigzag will teach them to pivot with the needle in the paper. They can make a simple 4 or 9 patch quilt out of paper by using a zigzag stitch (experiment with the size).

     

    Oh, and perhaps not obvious, put the machine on a low table so that they can reach the pedal from a small chair.

     

    After awhile they can stitch fabric together making a doll quilt or aprons. Dress Up clothes come next...and then they are on their way!

     

    Teresa

    My 14yog wants to change her name

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    we went though this with a teen of whom we became gusrdians. She was so mad at her mom and did this as a way to establish some boundaries and such. She INSISTED on calling me mom, and her mother by her first name. She pushed quite a bit about us leglly adopting her.

     

    I told her we would call her whatever she wished and she could call me Mom, but she needed to realize that changing a name did nothing legally. She was still who she was, and (mother's name) was still her mother. When i said that to her, she looked like i had slapped her. She burst into tears, but it was the start of some healing.

     

    Teresa

    Lets talk college and "other" options, please??

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    We can't pay for our kids either.

     

    My oldest is going to college only because she got a great scholarship package and is living at home. If that hadn't happened she would be taking CC classes, CLEPing, and working to save for future college if she wanted it. She would also be getting her Suzuki certification and teaching music at home.

     

    #2 is a sophomore and also knows he will need a scholarship or he will be going to the CC.

     

    #3 will begin taking some CLEPs soon so that she can begin to chip away at some of the Gen Eds.

     

    #4 is too young to really worry about, but he has some natural atheletic abilities and so he may be working toward a sport scholarship.

    MOH or SOTW?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by tajott

    I've not used SOTW, but my oldest read through Vol. 4 as the spine to a high school level course.

     

    I have used MOH and I like it a lot. I used Vol 1 when they my youngest 2 were 6 & 3rd grades. I plan to use vol 2 next year when they will be 8th & 5th grade. I'm pretty sure there is a Vol 1 available used for $25 on the for sale board. If it isn't there, then check homeschoolclassifieds. I was looking for vol. 2 and saw several vol 1s for sale somewhere.

    Elderly dog dying: how to comfort kids?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    hugs. We had to go through this last Easter time, but my kids are a little older.

     

    Just tell them how sick she is, and that she won't get better, but will soon die. Let them say goodbye in their own way, and be prepared with lots of hugs for their tears.

     

    My own worry about this situation is when we call it putting a dog to sleep. That is awfully scary for little ones like yours. And telling them you are giving the dog something to speed up the death has its own concerns. I'm sure you will handle this with grace and love.

     

    Blessings,

    teresa

    Older dc's playdates - how do I handle this?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    At an activity last night another child asked my 11 yo to come play this afternoon. Do I assume the parents know about the invitation? Do I call them (and possibly put them on the spot)? Do I wait for them to call me? Do I have my dc call to ask if it's okay with the parents? This is a whole new ball game for me! How do you handle this part of the transition into independence? What is considered "correct" etiquette?

     

    sometimes they do, but why would that put them on the spot? If a kid calls and talks to my kid and asks to do something, i always ask to talk to the parents first. It isn't only to see if it really is ok with the parents, but it is oftento cover logistics like rides, or dinner or times.

     

    In your situation, I would remind my 11 yo that i need to make final plans with an adult. So them i tellmy 11 yo to tell that to the friend and let them know if they want to get the other mom to me in person or on the phone we can talk and make appropriate arrangements.

    My child "repeated" a grade ... How to notify our school district?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    My daughter attended public school through the 4th grade. Because her birthdate always fell a week or two before the school year began, she was always much younger than her peers. Beginning in kindergarten, her teachers always recommended we hold her back a grade. We never did.

     

    We began homeschooling this year, for many reasons. This should have been her 5th grade year. To make a long story short, however, we soon realized that her education was severely lacking (placement testing, etc.). We have spent this year reviewing (and even learning for the first time!) many things she should have already known. Essentially, we have repeated the 4th grade. (Next year will be our first year of classical education, beginning with 5th grade, and we can't wait!)

     

    Here is my question:

    How do I notify my school district of this change? Should I call or write a letter now? How should I explain this? Or should I just wait until we submit our intent letter for next year, and list 5th grade as the school year, once again?

     

    Has anyone else encountered this problem?

     

    I would be mortified to be placed on "probation" by the school district.

     

    in my state I would just not worry about it because we don't need to list grades.

    "Mean Girl" Advice

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    If this were mine i would have her do the following:

     

    Go to the other mom in private (but at church with the daughter in the building), with me along and have her tell the mom that her daughter has said mean things to her. She (my daughter) needs to know exactly what she is going to say to her.

     

    Then I would not allow my daughter to hang out with this group of girls anymore. I would probably have to be more intentional about getting SOME of that group of girls together for activities that are under my eye and control so that my dd isn't feeling punished.

    Graduating at 19?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I want to add to this:

     

    My ds was about to start in K when we "held him back" for another year of preschool. He was in a Montessori program and since it is multi-age anyways, it really didn't matter. The Teacher of the group suggested we give him another year of "preschool" instead of sending him off to K at the PS. We ended up staying another year with the "preschool" and keeping in the Montessori program for K also. So when he did get to the PS he was a 7 yo 1st grader. He was easily ready academically, but he was an unassuming little guy, perfectly happy to be in his big sister's shadow. The teacher thought it would give him a chance to be the leader of the class instead of always the follower. He was.

     

    He was always the leader of his classes and when we removed him from the PS at the begining of 5th grade he was still very advanced academically, but also still very happy to be learning to finger paint, play kickball, and stuff like that with the younger kids.

     

    We decided to just stick with the grade levels that had been established already. He is doing some college level work, but emotionally he is not ready for going away to college.

     

    This is a personal decision, but itsn't it fabulous that with home education we can change courses in the middle of the journey to fit what is going on in real life? You are not locked into anything if you "start early"., "on time", or "hold back"

    Come in if you sew!

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I've got a Bernina that's so old no one can actually remember where it came from. It's a groovy little machine. I wouldn't recommend spending huge dollars on your first machine. I've had good luck with machines bought from garage sales then sent for a service. Even those spectacular sewers the likes of you and I are in awe of keep an old favourite (probably a retired machine from the local school) for straight sewing. No one wants to use their spiffy expensive machine to sew denim or canvas!

     

    :)

    Rosie

     

    i have 2 treadle machines I inheirited that I keep puting off trying out. I remember watching my great aunt when she was almost 90 (and i was about 12) sewing on this machine. I'm 48 now. i should just DO IT!

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