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Libby in Texas

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Posts posted by Libby in Texas

    Need Marine Biology direction for 11th grader

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Dd has had her heart set on becoming a Marine Biologist since she was in 1st grade (specifically for killer whales).

     

    She has been narrowing her list of colleges but doesn't yet know which ones are her top choices. I'm positive someone here as BTDT with their child so I'm hoping to gain from your wisdom :). Could someone kindly share what colleges you found to have the best biology program? My daughter is having a hard time pinpointing her top choices since she can't seem to find a conservative Christian college. This is important for her as well as staying close to home but she has said if she has to go out-of-state she's fine with it. She'd prefer a small, cozy setting instead of a huge university, but again has said she's flexible on this as well. Her main thing is the college being Christian (we are from a conservative Baptist background).

     

    For now I guess that is my main question: what colleges did your child look at w/a marine biology degree in mind? Even if your choices were not in line with ours I'd still like to know as my daughter is pretty open minded and adamant to find out as much as she can. She is in the 11th grade and a sharp cookie, pretty sweet, and is sincerely trying to take charge of her life.

     

    Also, so far for science she's had Biology, Physical Science, and this year she's taking chemistry (BJU). Would it hurt her in her senior year if she took Marine Biology instead of the standard Physics? I guess I'd also like to know how your child prepared academically (if comfortable).

     

    Ok, so I think that's it. Sorry if my thoughts are all over place. AT&T dropped the ball on the installation date and I don't have internet or tv at home. So I'm having to post from the computer library and the noise level is quite distracting.

     

    Thanks so much for taking the time to read.

     

    Blessings,

    Libby in Texas :)

     

    Mama to 4 dc aged 17, 15, 14, and my wee one---an 10 yo

    What gives?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I just spent an entire hour constructing a very important message that I was trying to share with everyone. When I was done the system made me log in again. After I did so it told me my page was lost. Why does it do that? I was posting some for sale items over the summer also and it did it then too. Why does it do this? Anyone?...........

     

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    What have you used when you've been here....

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I've had to return to work on a full time basis. I'm working in the evening and homeschooling 4 dc during the day. I have an 11th grader who is not challenged by BJU's 11th Writing & Grammar. We've also tried A Beka's 11th grade level so far and she's also bored. I wasn't expecting to homeschool her anymore (last year we sent her to private school. Some here might remember my old posting about how slow moving the school's pace using Saxon Math was). Anyway, we only used BJU & A Beka because a dear friend lent them to me. Dd is a very strong writer, speller, and reader. The last English she did before going off to private school last year (for her 10th grade year) was Rod & Staff's 8th grade English. The only thing we dropped the ball on a little was vocabulary (ok, so maybe more than a little). Sooooooooooo, since I'm working I'm looking first and foremost for a way that she can continue doing writing & literature independently and one that'll keep her challenged. I just don't know what program that would be. Please, anyone? If there's a program you've tried please let me know. If it has vocabulary that's perfect! Would prefer a Christian themed one but since time is of the essence I don't mind something secular. I admit I haven't had time to look much because of work. Please feel free to jump in now..............................

     

    Sincerely as always,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

     

    Mama to 4 using CLE, A Beka, BJU, R&S, SWO, Saxon, and others

    Playing vocabulary catch up in the 11th grade

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Dd is entering the 11th grade this fall. When she took the PSAT and the PLAN she said the vocabulary really got her. Quite surprising if you ask me. She is willing to spend her summer studying vocab, cramming if necessary. Yup, I know, not recommended--but what to do?

     

    What vocab book should I get her? How would you go about this? Thanks! Please answer so I can order asap if necessary. Thanks!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    No Latin yet...are my kids doomed? LOL

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Ah, I'm surprised no one mentioned Latin for Children. I know that was all the rage a while back. Anyone know if it was indeed worthwhile after all? Yes I'm going to start searching the boards for the answer anyway.

     

    Ok, I'll look into both Latin Alive and Lively Latin. Thanks again everyone.

     

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas

    How old are you?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Hey alilac, pretty please don't hate me!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this board!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    Just get plenty of sleep, drink tons of water, splash freezing water on your face morning & night followed by any organic moisturizer, exercise, and stay from toxic people and you'll see!!!!!!!!!! Besides, most women are too hard on themselves so I'm sure you're more beautiful than you're willing to admit :).

     

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Did dd's school do a terrible job by doing this??

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I really have no idea how this happened. My daughter enrolled in late Thanksgiving; she said that she picked up right where they were at that particular time.

     

    I know some of you are questioning the quality of education she was receiving and honestly so was I. For instance, they had one end-of-the-year science fair in late April for the middle & high school. The subjects & experiments these students chose weren't as sophisticated and elaborate as another science fair my other homeschooled children had participated in March-----and this was a fair for K-8. The younger homeschooled kids definitely were more advanced in their ideas than these high schoolers. Then the school's Spanish teacher quit abruptly in early April and my daughter was told she'd be given full credit. In her science class she was put in a corner all year by herself to teach herself A Beka's 9th grade Science of the Physical Creation since the rest of the class was doing Biology (she had taken Biology in 9th already). No labs, no nothing. No communication from the teacher other than to give her the reading assignments, tests, and quizzes. The history teacher is a member of their church and his daughter was in the same grade with mine. Before my daughter started attending this school, his daughter was supposed to be what the school considered "a genius". Well, when the entire school took their California Achievement Test in March the history teacher's daughter scored 90% in only 2 subjects while my daughter scored 90% in 3 subjects. This history teacher got a "friendly rivalry" going between his daughter & mine about who would be the valedictorian in their senior year. Those were his words, "friendly rivalry". Interestingly, his class was the only class my daughter seemed to struggle in. Got high B's sometimes. Didn't understand that one when she had high A's in all her other subjects. Even Algebra II. Oh yeah, his son just graduated this year and he was the valedictorian. When I'd check her online grades there seemed to be varying discrepancies from subject to subject between what the school said my daughter got and what her real grade was on her actual assignment--which she produced for proof time and again to me. There was never any contact or parent meetings initiated by the school or teachers throughout the entire year. I took mental notes of all these incidents. At the science fair I was excited to finally meet her teachers to introduce myself and try to set up some sort of meeting. They seemed disinterested (or maybe distracted by the science fair going on). I then tried making further conversation about my daughter's progress but again, nothing. The last straw was when her final report card was emailed to us my daughter was furious because they said she made 4 A's and 3 B's. She showed me all her paperwork and grades and they seem to back up her claim. Her history teacher kept all her assignments for the last 2 weeks of school. History was one of her B's. He was not her English teacher but for some reason he gave her her final grade, a B. She'd had high A's all year.

     

    I don't mean to make the school sound so bad, but this is really what happened. These people seem really nice. When I'd drop off my daughter or pick her up her teachers would wave or something, stuff like that. The principal was always pleasant from a distance. I never really made an effort to deal with all this because I kept trying to remain positive & optimistic. Kept trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. You know, trying to be the "good Christian" and not be so quick to judge. I was always rushing when I'd drop her off & pick her up because back home I still had 3 others kidlets waiting for me. I kept telling myself I needed to do something, anything, but I kept procrastinating. Probably because the group of kids at the school are really sweet and my daughter seemed to like it there. She seemed so happy socially but unsure academically. All the teachers are chosen only from the church body. It's a tiny church. The school had a total of 150 students from K-12. I really think they need to raise their standards and take them a lot more seriously.

     

    So, after reading all your advice I've decided to homeschool her and at least get up to lesson 130 or so. For science she'd been doing the labs here at home on the weekends and we're halfway through those. Just not sure how many labs she needs to do for the course to be officially considered a "lab course". Anyone?

     

    I guess I don't really expect anyone to answer to what I've mentioned about the school. I mostly just had to let it out. If anyone would like to further let me know what they think, about the math/science, or the school itself as a whole, I'd really be interested. I feel soooooooo much better though for having shared this. Thanks for letting me and for "listening". Oh and by the way, she's not returning next year.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Hope I'm not beating this to death: homemade laundry deter..

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I tried the "recipe" with the Fels-Naptha ingredient and the borax and baking soda and it completely bombed. Clothes came out dingy and looked almost the same as before being washed. I followed the instructions to the letter. Did your clothes come out like that too? How did you fix it? It sure would be nice to finally stop paying so much for Tide!!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    No Latin yet...are my kids doomed? LOL

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    So my 3rd, 7th, and 8th grade dc haven't done any Latin. The 7th and 8th grader did Prima Latina back in 2nd and 3rd grades but they forgot everything. We stopped doing it simply because I was feeling overwhelmed for a few years. Things have settled a lot better here at home and I'm in a better position to introduce Latin again, and this time to stick with it. I'm trying to figure out what would be best for them. WWYD? Some of the Latin programs seem great but sometimes they seem either too young or too old for my kids. Maybe I just haven't been reading carefully enough. Anyone been down this road before that can show some guidance? I have no previous Latin experience. Dc like workbooks. Can spend about $50 to $100. If I can only afford the older two what should I spend it on? They're really bright children and we've never had any learning problems. They learn quickly and adapt quickly.

     

    Help me spend $100 dollars? Thanks!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    How old are you?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Just turned 40, however:

     

    **I have dc aged 9, 13, 14, and 16. The other day at the post office I was waiting in line and when I was called up I turned around and told my kiddos, "C'mon kids. Come with Mom". The clerk was astounded that they were all my kids because she said she thought I looked more in my 20's!!!!

     

    **A few months ago some Jehovah's Witnesses came to our door. I answered and politely let them make their speech. When they were done I said kindly no thank you. She tried giving me a pamphlet and when I further declined she said, "Is your mother home?" ha ha ha ha

     

    **2 years ago my 8th grade daughter had what looked like the beginnings of an ingrown toe-nail so I took her to our pediatricians (we've had this same doctor since '93). No make-up or anything. Hair in a ponytail wearing my reading glasses. After doc examined dd she turned to me and said, "Just tell her mom to soak her foot in some Epsom salt and warm water."

     

    **About 4 years ago dh and I were greeting fellow churchgoers in our 3,000 member church on a Sunday morning. Dh is 10 years older. A very much looking grandpa type man came up and shook hands with dh and when they were done grandpa looks at me and says to dh, "So is this your daughter?"

     

    **Some 5 years ago I took all the kiddos to dh's work at a large bank that dh had just begun working at. Some of his co-workers who hadn't met me yet thought I was my kids' big teen sister! Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    ***And for my favorite one: I went to Exxon about 2 years ago just for a soda that I was craving. There were dual registers so two lines had formed. When I got up to pay I was waiting on my cashier. The man next to me was buying cigarettes and beer but had placed his stuff more towards the middle of the counter to where you couldn't really tell if it was his or mine. When my cashier finally returned she saw the cigs & beer and said to me, "Do you have ID?" Yyyaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!! When I stopped laughing I just had to ask her how old she thought I was and she said I barely looked 20 but she wanted to be safe by carding me. And I was really 37 or 38 at the time!!

     

     

    Sorry if I appear self-absorbed or on an arrogant love-fest! There was no way I was revealing my age in public without mentioning these incidents sisters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Did dd's school do a terrible job by doing this??

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Ok, our previously homeschooled 10th grade dd just finished her first year in a private, non-accredited Christian school. She mentioned to me over the weekend that she was concerned that in her math class they only got to lesson 80. The school uses Saxon and she was taking Algebra II (she took Algebra I in 9th). The Alg. II textbook has 129 lessons. Did they do enough work to be ready for the next Saxon level, which I think is Advance Mathematics? I'm really concerned! That's almost 50 lessons missed!! Isn't this the level where you do not want to be skimping on math?

     

    She has asked me to homeschool her over the summer to finish the course, or at least most of it. She said it's that important to her. I don't know what to do. I wouldn't mind doing it. If you ladies on this board tell me she's not ready for the 11th grade I'll homeschool her. So do I? She is definitely going to college into a science field so I guess that's why I've hit the panic button.

     

    I'll wait for a clear concensus before I proceed.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Christian Light Language arts for 3rd grade

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I switched my 3rd grade dd over to CLE from Rod & Staff in the middle of this school year and we have never been happier! A couple years ago we started off using their Math just to try it out. We liked the layout and its ease of use so much that now we are using CLE for Math, Bible, Language Arts, and Reading. I definitely agree with the pros & cons listed in another post. The program looks simple & easy, but it is quite challenging yet gentle. HTH

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Switching language arts: If R&S is mastery and CLE is spiral, how do you

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Ok, you ladies convinced me--we're doing the diagnostic test! I'll order tomorrow and let you all know where dd placed. So glad to know I'm not alone. Lots of great advice here as usual! Thanks soooooooooooooo much ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

     

    God Bless,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

     

    Mama to:

    Emily, 10 grade

    Sarai, 8th grade

    Jonathan, 7th grade

    Jessica, 3rd grade (the cause of all this LOL)

    Switching language arts: If R&S is mastery and CLE is spiral, how do you

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    mamaof2andtwins, if my dd is strong in English how do you think she'd do with 2nd grade CLE LA with half a year of R&S 3rd grade under her belt already? I'd rather she work her way up from 2nd grade than to start her on 4th and find that we bit off more than we could chew. Considering how frustrated she is with R&S I wouldn't want her having another "experience" with another English program so I'm cautious about starting her in 4th. Sigh. What to do??

     

    God Bless,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Switching language arts: If R&S is mastery and CLE is spiral, how do you

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    So here's the latest: I called CLE and spoke to one of their homeschool consultants and told her the same thing I shared here. She said she did not recommend starting dd at all in the 3rd grade. For new students she said they recommend students start a grade below where that student is currently at. I mentioned dd was quite strong in English so she said I could do this either way: since I have the detailed scope & sequence I could go Lightunit by Lightunit and try to pinpoint from there where I think my daughter should start based on what she's already learned. The second option is, as Ellie touched on, that I order their language arts diagnostic test. She said the test won't narrow dd's starting point right down to the exact Lightunit but that it would definitely clear up for me which grade level we should begin. So I took out the scope & sequence and right away noticed everything she's learned so far seems to be spread throughout the LightUnits. Is it safer to just start her from the beginning and let her zoom through until she hits something she hasn't learned? I'm not worried about the Spelling part because we're doing A Beka only through this year so we'd be skipping that. I have no doubt she'd work very quickly so that she wouldn't be behind. Michelle could you please elaborate on why you wouldn't start CLE in the middle? Just curious because I'm not at all familiar with their language arts enough to even guess. Julesmama3, yes I tried joining the CLE Yahoo group but you know what happened? I set up an account with Yahoo, went through the whole thing twice and twice I've forgotten my screen names and passwords. Terrible I know. I just didn't write them down so now I don't know what to do. Yeah right now I'm like a big dummy wishing I had written it down because I really need their advice LOL!! Ok so what would you do if this were your child? Would starting her on 4th grade be too much? Ack I just don't know which way to go!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

    Switching language arts: If R&S is mastery and CLE is spiral, how do you

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    transition in mid-year? (like now?) After homeschooling 8 years with 4 children, my youngest--in the 3rd grade--is the first one to do mostly CLE except in English. She has really taken off with CLE math and Bible. I've always used R&S English with my other dc and they've liked it, but my 9 yo dd literally hates it. Every day she tries to talk me out of doing it. She has whined about it since day one. This is the only subject she does this with. She is otherwise extremely easy to homeschool. Excels in all her subjects. Has trouble with nothing. Learns quick. Grasps quick. Always does what she's told. Never talks back. Has a great overall attitude. Yet as soon as she sees me take out my teacher book she makes a face as if I were serving spinach for dessert and here we go again! (so funny but right now as I'm typing this she's complaining about it again LOL). She really likes her CLE workbooks so I asked her if she wanted a workbook "like math" except it'd be for English and right away she got excited. Except we're on Unit 3 Lesson 70 in R&S and I have no idea where to start her on CLE. I'd hate for her to have to start all over again because she really does know her English (as far as what she's learned so far this year with R&S) and is a pretty good writer so far. How should I switch her over? Should I ask the folks at CLE what they recommend? Has anyone here done this before? I'm placing an order today or Monday so I hope I don't mess anything up.

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby :)

    Looking for 3rd grade suggestions....

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Is there an independent cursive program that teaches traditional cursive like A Beka? I just need something of a refresher for my dd. I don't want to have to order from A Beka because I think there's a minimum of $8+ for shipping just for one item. Yikes! I was thinking about CLE's but I can't really tell from their catalog and website if it's too "babyish", like more for a beginner. Dd has had plenty of practice but nothing this year so I think she may have gotten a little rusty. What have you done in this situation? She likes workbook type stuff, doesn't have to be colorful and cutesy but she likes that too. Thanks!

     

    Blessings,

     

    Libby in Texas :)

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