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Chelli

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Posts posted by Chelli

    What paint colors do you like?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by Chelli

    I love color, but I'm horrible at being able to tell what works together, so I used the Rustic Refined color palette from Sherwin Williams to do everything in our house: wall colors, furniture, accents, etc. I love it. It's cheerful, bright, and eclectic. 

    Living room:

    Screenshot_20210515-221643_Facebook.jpg

    Dining room:

    Screenshot_20210515-221655_Facebook.jpg

    Homeschool room /library:

    Screenshot_20210515-221744_Facebook.jpg

    • Like 10

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Not_a_Number said:

    Ooof. That does sound like math anxiety 😞. Any idea where it comes from? 

    She actually was an amazing math student until around third grade and her first encounter with fractions using Singapore math. It was the first time she could not grasp the concept. It was also the first time that I could not figure out a way to explain it to her so she could understand it (probably because my own knowledge of fractions was so poor). We struggled for months. I finally decided to leave Singapore and try something else. We finally landed (after multiple curriculum flops) on MathUSee Epsilon which spent an entire year on fractions.  Since that struggle though, she's convinced she's not good in math and approaches anything new in math with trepidation and panic. My guess is that it's related to her anxiety in general. It doesn't help that her younger sister is great at math and flying through Algebra 1 in 8th grade. 

    • Sad 1

    What was the best book you read this year?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    My favorite books this year were Zoe Ferraris's trilogy about various characters (the main one being a female forensic scientist) involved in crime solving in Saudi Arabia. It was a fascinating peek into a culture and a country I know very little about. The mystery was good as well, but the snapshot into Muslim life in Saudi Arabia is what made it my favorite. It felt like traveling in a year where that was impossible. 

    I had quite a few close seconds, especially from the YA category. 

    And I just finished Piranesi by Susanna Clarke last night. It was by far one of the most intriguing and different books I've read in years. I'll definitely be mulling it around for a while. 

    • Like 4

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Just now, Not_a_Number said:

    Only a year?? That's actually quite fast. She doesn't sound that bad at math, honestly. Just a bit behind schedule, but life doesn't always work out on the schedule you might want. 

    I think you should give yourself a break and pat yourself on the back for creating a kid who ACTUALLY understands math. I've taught at fancy, fancy schools and most kids don't get many basic concepts. You're equipping her for life in a good way if you're making sure she's solid. 

    I believe she has math anxiety (if that's even a thing). She can do the math she knows well. She can learn math well with lots of practice and repetition, but when she sees a math problem or is asked to do math, all of that goes out the window and she just shuts down. I can't tell you how many times she'll bring me her math work and ask me to read the problem out loud to her. She says that it helps her better understand what it's asking eventhough she's read the same thing ten times. Once she does that once or twice, she's easily able to complete the rest of the problems even if the other problems are completely different than the one she asked to read for her. It's like she has to retrain herself every time that she can indeed do math. 

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Just now, Not_a_Number said:

    There are very few people walking around with pre-algebra level math skills, but not in the way you mean. Most people max out at Grade 4, as @EKS is fond of pointing out! 

    Seriously, most of my college calculus freshmen couldn't deal with fractions, and for a good number of them, that meant 1/2 + 1/3, not 1/x + 1/(x-1).

    She can definitely do 1/2 + 1/3. It took her a year to get fractions, but she understands it. That makes me feel better at least. She had to pass a basic math skills test for her job and passed on the first try. The manager was impressed. She said most of their employees need 2 or 3 attempts to pass. 

    • Like 5

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, freesia said:

    It is possible she'd be ready for algebra.  Maybe have her do a pre-test.  Have you considered Mathusee.  I think it would be easier to move quickly through bc she wouldn't have to spend time on the concepts that she gets quickly.  I am using Calculus with my dd this year and I love how flexible it is for her..  I would totally use it in your situation.

    Yes, we used Mathusee at the end of elementary, but she got bogged down in the decimal book and asked me to find something else. I even bought MUS Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 with intentions to return to it, but I started reading reviews on the boards here that said it wasn't rigorous enough to be a true Algebra 1 program, etc. so I went with Mr. D self - paced instead. Big mistake. That was two years of math wasted because she came to me last year and said she had learned nothing. 

    • Like 2

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Lori D. said:

    I'm looking at the table of contents for Saxon Algebra 1/2 (is that what you're using for Pre-Algebra?) -- and those are foundational topics and operations to understand in order to have success with the higher maths.

    Did she complete Saxon 8/7? And do so with understanding?

    We're actually in Saxon 8/7. My plan originally was to put her in Shormann math for her junior and senior year so she could cover three maths in two years, but it didn't work out that way. She really struggles with retention of things I know we've already covered which is why I chose Saxon to start with (spiral on steroids). She does make good grades on the tests, so I know she's finally getting it. I just feel like she has a lot of gaps in math that I didn't even realize. I made the mistake of trying to remove myself from her math education because it was where we had the most contention in the school day, but I'm realizing too late that by removing myself, I lost my ability to recognize when she wasn't understanding. 

    • Like 1

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, Lori D. said:

    Possibly covid-19 may work in your favor -- so many of the ACT/SAT test dates have had to be cancelled or postponed, and it is so hard to get into the few locations that have offered the tests due to restrictions (masking/distancing/reduced # of testers in a room), that many colleges have said that they are waiving the required test scores for incoming college freshman for fall 2021, and possible for the following year as well.

    Another possibility might be to take the GED rather than have a high school diploma, which might not require an ACT/SAT score for community college admission. HOWEVER, there are downsides to a GED, AND she would still need to work hard on the math to be able to score well on the math portion of the GED. (The GED overall needs to be studied for in advance for all subjects in order to score well.)

    Yes! I have thought about this multiple times and probably need to explore it more, but I won't feel confident sending her to higher education without at least geometry under her belt. 

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    22 minutes ago, chiguirre said:

    Hugs!

    My ds finished high school in TX in 2019 in Special Ed. His transcript showed Algebra, Geometry and Advanced Math Topics, but the reality is that he was working on money handling, basic budgeting and other life skills topics. He will get his diploma when he finishes his job training program in two years. The major takeaway from this is that those course titles do not exactly reflect actual content.

    But, since your dd wants to attend college, you do need to get her to a level where she will be able to pass the math requirement in the TX college core curriculum. Even if she goes out of state, it is likely she'll have a similar requirement so you can use the TX course as a guide. The standard course for students who are not pursuing a field that requires calculus is College Algebra MATH 1314. At our local CC there are sections that offer extra help intended for students with a weak math background. Realistically, she'd need to get through Algebra 1, Geometry (this doesn't need to be proof heavy) and some Algebra 2 to be able to go directly into this class without needing remedial math. You can see what level of math she'll need to master to place into MATH 1314 by looking at the TSI test prep materials. It seems that TX is changing its placement test in January 2021, so new prep guides might not be out yet. 

    At this point, you might want to look at the textbooks that your local CC uses for its remedial math classes. They'll be the best match to what your dd will need to get through MATH 1314. 

    If she's okay with starting at your local CC, she can start taking classes that don't require passing the math placement test while she works on her math skills in remedial classes or with you. That will give her a chance to earn college credits that will transfer while dealing with the math issue at a more relaxed pace.

    Good luck!

    Unfortunately, we are in Arkansas now. We moved here in March. The community colleges here require students to take the ACT for admission just like regular universities. There's no way she could pass the math part. Moving from community college to a 4-year university was my original plan. 

    • Sad 1

    Seriously Behind in Math! What Do I Do?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I need some help. Major help. My oldest is halfway through her junior year, but she's not even halfway through Pre-Algebra in math. There are multiple reasons for this difficulty finding the correct math fit in upper elementary, which resulted in basically a lost year of math. Finding what I thought was the perfect math fit in Jr. High only for my daughter to tell me that she spent two years learning nothing. Plus, she really dislikes math and will put it off or not do it if she can. 

    In all other ways, she's an amazing student with great grades and wants to go on to higher education (nothing math or science based, more in the humanities). She understands the math dilemma and how that factors into her graduating and future educational choices, but it doesn't seem to result in action. When I try to approach the issue with her, it is not pleasant. There are some untreated issues that we are working on resolving with ADD and anxiety. She also has a job working about 20-30 hours a week (only two days on actual school nights) and is taking two online classes (French 2 and Advanced Logic). 

    She says that she prefers spiral programs with me teaching (she says she understands my explanations best). Currently we are using Saxon for Pre-Algebra. 

    Please help me come up with some ideas to help me get her through math. 

    • Sad 1

    Math Education: What's most important?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Ordinary Shoes said:

    Wow - this is timely given the thread on the Chat board! I won't dare jump into this one but thanks so asking a question like this. 

    Well, I'll jump in a little. I don't know how you can teach math adequately if you don't understand it. 

    Right, so at that point would curriculum choice be more important? If so, what curriculums have really good teacher helps?

    Math Education: What's most important?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    What do you think is the most important component to being successful at homeschooling math?

    Is it curriculum? The teacher's understanding?  A combination? Something else?

    How do you take a kid who doesn't like math or doesn't understand math to a place of confidence?

    I have really done a disservice to my oldest, the poor guinea pig, with her math education to the point she almost has math PTSD. I'm thinking through all of these issues trying to make sure I don't drop the ball with subsequent kiddos.

    • Like 3

    Hiking Boot Recs?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by Chelli

    I would love to use trail runners , but I need a boot because my ankles have a tendency to roll. Nothing serious normally, but a potential fall if it happened could be.

    Keep the suggestions coming. They are very helpful.

    • Like 1
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