Hate to say it but it depends on the individual child. My 2nd grade girl writes far more at this age then any of my boys ever did. So far today she has: -written 5 sentences with adverbs. These sentences range from 8 words to 11 words. -answer 12 math problems all with the answer in the thousands -wrote a short Bible verse She still has to... -write a 2 sentence narration for science -label a map for geography -copy her spelling list in script, 15 word This does not include drawing or coloring work she needs to do for some subjects. Over all this an average days worth of scheduled writing. Dd usually has some writing project she works on on her own time.

I see and hear it everywhere...STEM...Maybe I am missing something but why all the focus on this. And if all the focus is on STEM studies what happens to the other studies that are just as important. Personally I feel it is not the "fix" to all the educational problems but also feel those in control have just moved their focus here in the hopes it will be. Someone enlighten me please.

:iagree:

Thanks, I enjoyed it.

BJU Depending on the age of the child, Apologia can TOPS take a month to do one book (not a semester but a few books you can do)

I don't know is this is what you mean or not but we dropped all formal curriculum except math and part of science. We are still doing the other subjects just not with curriculum or any set plan. We do have a theme a week I center writing around and our book basket books with. I have also dropped schedule making. I am keeping a notebook of skill being covered each day so I can see what we have done and what still needs to be covered. After I go over things I want to cover for the day dd then spends time at the theme table and reading from the book basket. The rest of the day is for quality play. Notebooking is the way dd keeps record of her work as well as lists of books read/looked at and pictures of projects or events participated in. After 19 years of structured curriculum this year (our 20th) is less stressful since we freed ourselves from curriculum and I feel the day is more packed with learning (through what I teach and her self directed learning). Ds is in High School so this "dropping curriculum" cannot be done, however I have dropped the schedule and besides Math and Science the rest are done in a more research, reading, and exploring type way. This has left him with more time to try new things...learning computer programing, writing a book, photography, model weapon building, and pursuing his love of mythology.

This would make sense. I think at this point ds needs something that makes him feel like he has a grasp on math. His math esteem is pretty low.

I think it all boils down to the relationship you have with your parent(s). If it is a close healthy relationship then whatever the siblings do is irrelevant. Another factor will be how much strain will it put on your family, which I believe comes first. It also all comes down to they will reap what they sow...the parents that is. If they favor one over another sibling and that sibling opts out of caring for them then it to a nursing home they go. Harsh, yes,but it is either that or help and feel more resentment toward them and your siblings. The Bible tells us to respect our parents, it does not tell us we need to be a doormat to them or your siblings.

This is a cool site to shop from if she is into space http://www.thespacestore.com/

My main concern is SAT and ASVAB test he will be taking. If TT will get him ready for these then all will be good. Maybe TT just seemed easy after working on AOPS, I know it gave me a workout and I have been through Calc 2.

Sorry, but I think the observing cells is pretty much it. I have not looked at chapter 6 yet, we are in 5, but maybe some saline solutions with cells. It will show how the cell membranes work.

Just remember that core B and C do not have books that coincide with the history. They are just readers.

:iagree:

Mathy to me means the student thrives in this subject. Ds has never thrived in math, he can do the work but it is not a natural thing for him and is painstakingly slow. This is why I thought AOPS might help, if he could see the progression of math as he figures it out, by seeing how it all fits together, then he could grasp it better. Boy was I wrong. I had him sit try the sample problems in TT Algebra 2 and he worked them all without a problem, actually said they were easy. This has me concerned. Is TT too easy? Is it's Algebra 2 on level with other Algebra 2 curriculums? Will the work prepare him for SAT and other tests?

I love AOPS and am doing the work for fun but ds hates it. He gave it a good try though, worked through 5 chapters with great anguish. Today I took heart and released my ds from AOPS, ordered TT Algebra 2 and am hoping it will be what my non mathy son needs to get this stuff. Has anyone used TT Algebra 2? What are your thoughts on it being enough for SAT or other tests? The good news is now I can keep the AOPS book on my desk. I was getting tired of tracking it down to play with it.

Many years ago I went on strike. At the time I had 3 boys the youngest was 6 plus my hubby. it is amazing what a difference it made. When the strike was over I laid down the new rules, which were all accepted with great enthusiasm. Since that time I have only had to threaten striking again once. Key was I had to be strong and not waiver no matter what.

We did. I have math and part of our science with a curriculum, the rest I chucked and am doing my own thing. Most freeing thing I have done. I am keeping a notebook with the date and skills covered for the day. We now have more time to do fun things like art and music plus more nature hikes. It is definitely more relaxed but more is getting done.

The HP audio books are excellent. We just finished listening to all of them and loved how they were read.

Did you start the long term project yet? Maybe you can start this. Begin a journal for night time observations, go outside at the same time each night and look at the sky (even if it is overcast). Point out things for her to see. I found actually seeing the night sky and pointing out things made Astronomy more real for dd. As for SOTW, my dd started this last year (she was 6/7 then) and she could not get it. Some kids cannot think ancient history yet, too abstract. We switched to American history and state study and it made a world of difference. Don't feel like you need to continue with a book if it is not meshing with your child.

There is so much processing going on in a child's brain when a move happens that to add school on top might be too much, but there are opportunities to add some learning along the way. Older dc could follow the map and make predictions when you will get to certain places. Car games promote observing the landscape. Audio books are good. Let your Ker nature journal the new flora and fauna she sees. Organizing their books and things. Give older a map of the new neighborhood so he can help find places you want to go to. There will be plenty of time for scheduled school work once you are settled. Trying to do it before then might stress you and your children out. I would also slowly start back...main subjects first then full days.

Definitely break the reading into smaller chunks for Apologia Astronomy. I have dd read about 2 pages a day and tell me something interesting she read. This we write in the notebook. Each day gets a sentence or two but by the end of the week the entire notepage is filled. The 2nd week is all activities. I do some of the apologia ones and some from Jan Van Cleaves Astronomy for Every Kid book. I will admit, of all the Apologia books the astronomy is my least favorite.

I posted what my dd is doing for geography on another post, here is the link http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showpost.php?p=4395472&postcount=3

We used it for a yr and never found them to be anti-"insert a religion here" in their materials. If I remember correctly 7th is one part of World History, and at any one time in history a religion or several religions might not be shining their best and may have done something negative. But as a whole religion, no, I do not remember anything.

I used the History of Science from Beautiful feet books when my youngest son was in 4th or 5th grade. It was very enjoyable. Easy to use too. Each week had a list of things to read , notebook , and do. You could do all of them or just some of them and you can decide how much or how little detail you wanted the writing to be. There was definitions, map work, experiments, timeline and research to go along with the reading. We used it alongside our main science (SL and Apologia) so it was not a very time consuming curriculum. I enjoyed it and will be using it again when dd is in 4th or 5th.

Make a section of the yard just for them, even put up hedges or a fence to make it their own space...short fence with a cute gate. Put a table and chairs in it for tea parties. Do you have a wooden fence? They could paint (water colors) on the fence or draw with chalk on it. Rope Hammer and nails and wood bucket with bottles from Rocks, normal ones but add in some colored rocks for aquariums and crystals, also large ones, different sizes so they can build with them Fairy house supplies bucket and bottles for water play jogging trampoline Spary bottles Paint brushes for painting with water, doing archeological digs, dusting for finger prints. Put together a tool box with tweezers, magnifying glass, collection bottles, and other things. Get them a book like The Daring Book for Girls or others similar so they can get ideas.