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southmetromom

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Everything posted by southmetromom

  1. Thank you! As always, you have answered my question. Thanks so much for taking time to respond. Sandy
  2. I have been considering TruthQuest for American History this upcoming year. (My dc are 10 and 7 yo). I saw at it at a conference last weekend, then I looked at ATTA, which I already own. Am I missing something? It didn't seem significantly different. (I confess, I didn't *study* the TQ materials). For those who have used TQ (or just relied on ATTA) -- what does TQ have than ATTA doesn't have? Thanks, Sandy
  3. Thank you, thank you - great discussion! We have a Borders -- just not as close. I'll keep it in mind, for sure. Sandy
  4. Well thought out -- thanks, each of you! Tax is a factor here. Great points. Thanks again, sandy
  5. Great advice - I tend to be "all or none" but I will try to look on a book-by-book basis.
  6. Dear Friends, Has anyone done the arithmetic concerning which is cheaper -- Amazon.com (with free shipping, assuming orders >$25); or Barnes & Noble (local, with membership and Educator discount). I almost exclusively use Amazon, but a B&N is opening up within walking distance here! Thanks, Sandy
  7. Just underscoring what others have said... ...our two adopted-at-birth-children DO have relationships with the birth families. (By our choice and mutual agreement, not legal requirement). We see them once or twice a year. Dc are 7 and 10 now. They call their birth-relatives by their first names (which sets them apart from the rest of the world, whom they address as "Mr." and "Mrs."). They call other birth-relatives by "Aunt Doris" etc. They understand who these people are, and we maintain the relationships because they are positive. (If that should change, we would back off). Sandy
  8. Kisa, thanks for your warm words and encouragement -- also the tip about online classes. I really appreciate your taking time to answer. Wish our sons could meet, too! Hugs, Sandy
  9. Really thought provoking! I thought about this all weekend as I shopped at our local homeschool conference. Thanks so much! Sandy
  10. I have this book -- you could use the selected material for imitation and analysis -- according to whatever writing method you know. The books, as you probably know, strongly urge people to be "up to speed" on the IEW method of teaching structure and style. The worksheets are laid out according to the IEW method. I'm with you -- I love that the writing lessons will follow along our history readings. HTH, Sandy
  11. Thank you so much! Your words have helped me to RELAX (again). I appreciate your perspective as I set goals and plan for the fall. Oh, and -- we do LOTS of field trips -- I forgot to mention that in my original post. That's partly why the list goes out the window from time to time. Again, thanks for your reassuring words. Hugs, Sandy
  12. Dear Friends, My 10 yo ds will be going into 5th grade. He is smart, but we have struggled greatly with some emotional problems over the past 3 years. By God's mercy, our family has grown tremendously and experienced great healing. We are getting along well, now! Now I am ready to focus more on academics. Will you please give me your opinions and advice concerning "where we are": *Mid-way through SOTW IV (at grade level, I'd say). He is a history maniac and has read tons of books on topics that interest him. He doesn't have many dates memorized, but does have a wonderful "big picture" of world history, and knows some aspects of it in great detail. He wants to study American history this next year rather than returning to the ancients, so I am planning to do that (Truth Quest or something similar) -- and let him read, read, read. He does not write fluently, so I take his narrations for him, still. (Occasionally have him re-write them as copywork). *Language arts - Spelling - he had trouble spelling, now is just starting AAS 4, so I guess you could say he spells at 3rd grade level. It is an effort for him. Grammar (at grade level) - Finished FLL1 and 2, and about 3/4 of FLL3. He understands grammar very well, I think. Am hoping Latin will suffice and I don't plan to add more grammar. Handwriting (at or slightly below grade level) - HWT all the way. He prefers printing to cursive, though he finished the cursive book. I have had him do copywork and I let him just print it. Should I require cursive now? Composition (at grade 1 or 2, I think!) - Because of spelling difficulties, we have not done a formal writing program. I have had him do copywork (not enough probably -- perhaps 2 paragraphs per week, and then we do those as dicatation. The past few weeks of the school year this seemed suddenly easy for him). We are starting CW Aesop this fall. I think/hope he will catch on quickly and progress quickly with it. *Science - we have done it "on the fly" -- it has not been a regular part of the curriculum. I'd like to do more, and he enjoys it, but I seem to run out of time for it... (it "falls of the list") *Music - piano. Strong. *Arithmetic (at grade level) - MUS just finishing Delta. He understands it, and grinds through it. He will literally sit for 2 hours with his math, unless he is motivated by "Finish that and then we're going to go see our friends." Any ideas on how to help him with his self-discipline? *Latin - we have made it through Lively Latin Lesson 8. I need to buckle down and learn it so I can stay ahead of him. He does well with this, but doesn't particularly like it. I need to pick up the pace. *Literature - he read at junior-high or high school or above level. He reads incredibly fast. He mostly has read books of interest (every baseball book in the library, for example) -- I need to assign more literature. He isn't as inclined to read any fiction, but if I find the right books (more his age level) he will (e.g. baseball fiction, LOL). *Faith - we study the Bible and our (Catholic) faith in an eclectic way, but it is a frequent component of the school day. I must say, I feel that I could do a much better job of keeping him and dd(7) organized and motivated. We waste a lot of time -- through distractions, etc. -- goofing around. I am looking at the workbox system to help with this, and with creating one or two "distraction free" places for him to do his schoolwork. I vascillate between REALLY wanting a rigorous classical education (I love to read about this) and LIVING the reality of the effort we have made to just get along with each other, and not being sure if I can maintain the harmony while kicking it up a notch academically. (I am thankful for the miracle of just getting along together each day!) Any feedback or ideas are welcome. Thanks for taking time to read this. It is helpful just to jot things down, of course, too! Sandy in CO southmetromom
  13. Now I just wish I could have the Hive to help me remember everything else I forget!:lol: Sandy
  14. Dear Friends, I meant to jot a note or mark it down, but now I can't find it! Someone posted that she was switching to almost entirely workbook curriculum, and everyone verified how wonderful these are. I want to look at them for my very workbookphilic daughter. TIA, Sandy
  15. It was easy to use and worked so well with both of my (very different style learners) children. Just turn the page and do the next set of words. Very easy. They learned to read long ago and I cannot seem to part with my book! Sandy
  16. ...actually, it's hard to add, but I'll try: I wish I would have required my children to perfect their handwriting as they learned it -- I later learned that every child can make perfect letters (barring a bona fide disability). I let them be sloppy. I wish I had held the bar higher in other areas, too. I ask more of them now, and they are able and feel accomplished when the work hard. But much of this I had to learn as I went along -- trying to be "in charge" and yet keeping a good relationship with the children (I have NO regrets for abandoning school work during a time when my son and I began to have a terrible relationship -- we went to counseling and both received help and healing, and I'm glad I didn't make him die at the school table during all that). For spelling -- someone asked -- just that it IS important, and children CAN learn to spell. Keep trying until you find a system that works. My ds was 9 and couldn't spell a 3-letter word -- until we started using All About Spelling. Now he is transformed into a wonderful speller. HTH, Sandy (homeschooling for 6 years now).
  17. ...and though nobody would sign up for an experience like this, it will work in the end for good -- to help him improve his test-taking skills, to bear disappointments gracefully, etc. But I know a Mom's heart does ache. I'll remember you both in prayer. Hugs, Sandy
  18. Dear Friends, I finally have read through the CW Aesop instruction book, and I am excited about implementing it next fall. I have a question -- I use AAS and am thrilled with it, as my ds had a terrible time with spelling until we began this program. How do you combine a spelling program with CW Aesop? I am trying to cut BACK on the number of items on our list (a la LCC). The Imitation and Analysis segment seems so important, though, that I don't want to skip it altogether. Oh, my ds is 10 and my dd will be 8. I hope to do CW A with both. Any ideas or encouragement would be appreciated. TIA, Sandy in CO
  19. ...and the overall response I received, from the 3 or 4 ladies who had attended CC, was that it WOULD offend most serious Catholics. I might be able to retrieve the thread if you need it. (Just e-mail me: sandy dot ramlet at gmail dot com I also have looked at the Veritas Press materials and they are anti-Catholic, particularly in reference to the Reformation. I don't mean to inflame anyone, I'm just calling it as I see it. I was seriously considering CC but decided against it based on the experience of my Catholic friends. Of course, it depends on the specific CC group and demographics -- so perhaps you will have a more ecumenical group. HTH, Sandy in CO
  20. ...totally transformed my 9 yo ds who could read at high school level but couldn't spell first grade words. You have received much wonderful advice here. Good luck. Sandy
  21. ... I am finishing FLL2 with my dd (age 7). I am amazed at what she knows, and at what she can tell me about grammar. I love FLL because it is fun and funny sometimes. When she does have a problem with something, I remind myself that I didn't learn some things (e.g. the list of prepositions) until I was much older. I would rather have her feel positive -- like grammar, than crank out a bunch of sentences and diagrams. That can come later. I love grammar. I took advanced grammar as an elective in college, and I remember my friends thought I was crazy! HTH, Sandy
  22. You just can't "bee"t the Hive Mind. Hugs, Sandy
  23. Dear Friends, Several of you have recommended TruthQuest history for me. I mentioned it to another online friend, and she said the books are wonderful - but many are out of print, and unavailable due to recent legislation. Has there been a discussion in the Hive of this legislation? She said: <clip> The most significant problem that I foresee is that it recommends/requires quite a few out-of-print, collectible books that are very rarely available in public libraries. Until very recently, many could be found for resale on eBay or from other homeschoolers and children's booksellers. Due to the recent CPSIA legislation, books published before 1985 are nearly impossible to find and may remain that way until the significant problems with this legislation are worked out. <clip> Any feedback from the Hive Mind on this would be appreciated. Thanks! Sandy
  24. I will investigate these. Thanks again, so much. Sandy
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