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teamturner

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  1. Sorry for the late reply! My twin sons have only been watching the Everyday Engineering lectures so far. This class has gone on the back burner, unfortunately. We are playing catchup now and looking at our next steps. I definitely plan to have them spend time shadowing some engineers we know and writing reports about their jobs. Also, they are taking a drafting/applied engineering class next year at our local co-op so I'm considering combining those on their transcript. Thanks for the other ideas on this thread!
  2. Daijobu, I can answer that one. She has the students work in columns by folding the paper in half and going down each side of the paper. She is a stickler for that and for showing all the steps (for algebra). I tried getting my kids to show all their work and they never would, but they did it for her when they started taking math from Jann 3 years ago. I was amazed. And they stopped using pen because she told them not to use pen. I think she has other specifics on how to lay out their geometry homework as well. I would say that the ability to have one on one tutoring sessions when they are needed and the quick response you get with Jann, and now with Mrs. Nowell, are one of the big plusses of their classes - especially for students for whom math may not come easily. She truly cares for her students and wants them to succeed in math, and hopefully even enjoy math.
  3. You may find an answer to this question in history. I know I read it on here, but can't look for it right now. My opinion is it doesn't prepare them for the AP test, based on comments here and talking to my ds, who is taking Advanced Bio at co-op this year. His class is working through the Barron's AP Bio study guide along with the Apologia book, and he doesn't feel like he can answer the review questions in that book. He did Apologia Bio in 9th grade (2 years ago) and it doesn't cover many topics well enough. For one it doesn't give a decent study of evolution, which is heavy on the test. Just my 2 cents. But I am considering having him take the SAT II subject test for Biology. I'm not sure.
  4. If you've created an Intro to Engineering credit or half credit for your student, could you please share what resources you used or plan to use? So far I have Everyday Engineering from The Great Courses, but I'd need some more resources. I'm trying to make it a half credit. I'd also like to have my ds shadow some engineer friends for a day if we can arrange it. What assignments did you give your student? TIA!!
  5. Jann @ myhomeschoolmathclass (dot) com. I can't rave about these classes enough. And the price is very reasonable! She has a max per family so I basically had 3 taking her classes for the price of two. They get two live online math classes per week and free tutorials. Students grade their daily work and she grades the tests. No more math grading, just checking to make sure they are staying on track. Prior to Jann's classes, my oldest taught himself Algebra 1 using Saxon and Khan videos. I knew my next two would not be able to do that and I was maxed out in my math knowledge. Jann uses Lial's texts. PM me if you want any more specifics.
  6. I have 3 kids who have taken Jann's classes and 2 continuing next year. We started 2 years ago, then 1 ds taking Geometry, 1 ds taking Algebra 1, and 1 dd taking Pre-Algebra. What has been said of Jann caring for each student is so true. She has tutored and helped each when they needed it. Last year they were all taking Alg 2, Geometry, and Alg 1. So next year, my kids will be taking Alg 2 and Geometry. In my opinion, Geometry is the most fun class with Jann. The students complete a fall tessellation project and a spring kite building project. Nice break from traditional math homework. Plus, the kids get to know each other a bit, chat via the text box before and after class, which makes it fun. And she has a new teacher that has joined her and is teaching PreCalculus this coming year. Check out her website for details. I rave to all my friends about math classes with Jann. They have been such a blessing to our family (and my sanity)!
  7. I want to do some kind of independent study for my rising 11th grader who is interested in engineering. Rather than spend time on a random elective, I'd rather give him credit for exploring ideas he has. He wants to build something complicated. He already has a packed schedule with swim team and school that we often don't have time for an elective anyway. So carving out school time for him to explore his interests makes sense to me.
  8. Thank you for the suggestion! I had told them they need to use Quizlet to help them with some trouble areas. I wasn't sure if that was enough, but I think they just need more review and drills. Your link is a great source of Lifepac material. Thanks so much!!
  9. Hello! Some background: My rising 11th graders have been working through Lifepac Spanish 1 this year. Previously, they studied latin using Latin for Children A-C and Memoria Press 1st and 2nd Form Latin books. They did part of the 3rd Form Latin book as well. We decided to switch to Spanish since there is a spanish teacher through our local co-op. However they had to do Spanish 1 at home since there was a conflict with my guys' schedule when the spanish class was offered at the co-op. The co-op teacher uses AOL Lifepac Spanish so we decided to use that at home as well so we can take Spanish 2 with her this coming year. My spanish is extremely limited as I only took two years in high school myself and that was a long time ago. :sad: We've only gotten half way through the program so we'll be doing Spanish through the summer. My problem: I had always heard that students of Latin found Spanish easy with the foundation Latin had given them. My guys are not finding that to be true and I'm wondering if it's because the Lifepac Spanish is a whole to parts program whereas the Latin was parts to whole. Questions: Does anyone have input on this issue? If you think this may be the issue, what Spanish programs use the parts to whole method. Or what can I supplement with the Lifepac Spanish to help them make the connection? Thanks so much!!
  10. My dd is considering taking the bio SAT in June. When is the deadline to sign up for it?
  11. I have a related question. I thought 1/31 was the deadline to submit syllabi for next year, but maybe I don't understand what they mean by "course materials." What exactly is due by 1/31? http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/ Thanks!!
  12. I have three in high school and they used most of the first two levels of WWS 2, but also used IEW. Whatever writing curriculum you use, for most of us classical-ish homeschoolers the writing comes later than most public schoolers. Like StartingOver said, they don't focus on spelling and grammar errors. Just filling a page. I think that leads to ingrained errors that are hard to undo. When I faced questions about not writing in early to mid-elementary, I simply said that classical education emphasizes grammar, spelling, and good literature to lay a good foundation. That seemed to stop further concerns. Whatever writing material you use, trust that your students will be fine as you are tailoring their needs to them as they progress through learning each skill involved in good writing. I am using WWE with my youngest (4th grade) now and she is much better at coming up with material to write about than my olders were. I also started using Writing and Rhetoric Fable along side WWE 3 this year. It is good too as it teaches other writing skills not in WWE, but the narration skills taught in WWE have great value, imo. I wish I had taught my older kids narration like I am with my youngest. I can see how that will help her so much. Kids that I know in our co-op that did Sonlight and did a ton of narration over the years are some of my best writers in the classes I teach. However, the amount of reading they did was just as important. Public schoolers typically don't read as much as homeschoolers, especially the classics.
  13. Okay, so I didn't know there were other versions of the PSAT. My twin 10th graders just took the PSAT in October. I just found this doing a Google search. Seems to have some good information, although it doesn't address if colleges see it. Not sure I would have had them do the PSAT 10 instead, but it may have been a better choice for one of my ds who is just now taking Geometry. I still think it will be a good gauge as to what they each need to study for next year when the PSAT counts for National Merit. http://blog.prepscholar.com/should-you-take-the-psat-10-or-psat-nmsqt
  14. So many great ideas! Thank you all! I have ordered some of the books you suggested and have much to read. One thing that I find annoying though is the use of 1st and 2nd person in the writing examples in The Elegant Essay. Did anyone else use that curriculum and think that. We are almost done with the it though. My plan is to eliminate all use of 1st and 2nd person for the persuasive essay assignment. And for the rest of the year only use them if writing a narrative essay and/or using a personal experience for support. Thanks again for all the ideas!
  15. So many great suggestions. I have been looking online for samples of essays to show her and the rest of my writing class. GThomas, can you tell me where to look for these? We have done some and will do more peer review in our co-op class when they have written more essays. She does read quality literature, but I think she could read more classics. I have noticed my 10th grade ds' writing make huge leaps this year as he is doing an intense Shakespeare study. And he is also working through the Sentence Composing book. Thank you everyone!
  16. Great ideas, Momling! I think she will connect most with turning song lyrics into a more formal address. And the link to the Sentence Composing book didn't work, but if it's the Killgallon book, I have my high schoolers working through it this year. I see her trying to imitate some of the complex sentences, but then she puts in something that doesn't make sense or sounds immature. I have the They Say, I Say on my wish list and I was considering using it next year, so it's probably time to order it. Thanks!
  17. I am not sure how to search this for topic so I'm just going to ask my question. I have a young 9th grader (turned 14 end of August). Her writing has a couple of issues, one is her lack of editing, which I feel like I know how to address. However, her writing style in essays is very conversational and lacks depth and maturity. This is the issue that I am not sure how to fix. Do I just get an anthology of essays to expose her to academic writing? I am teaching an Elegant Essay class at our co-op for the first time and I see the same problem with some of my other students. I have put a few essay anthologies on my Amazon wish list, but if you have one that you would recommend for this age student, please do. She would likely benefit from another year of grammar which might also be part of the problem with her writing. Or does this problem correct itself over time? If I need to be more purposeful I want to do that now. I will finish Elegant Essay with her class in January and move into The Lively Art of Writing and continue to have them write essays. She is also writing a few essays in literature and history. Thanks for any words of wisdom!
  18. I watch with my girls. Finally caught up to current season.
  19. Yes, that does help. At least now I know the religious content is similar to the 2nd edition. If we continue to use the 2nd edition, we will likely reorder the modules to put atoms first and pick other lab resources such as Microchem. Thank you!
  20. Okay, I am struggling with trying to figure out what chemistry book to use next year. I have 2 using Apologia Chem 2nd edition at a co-op this year. I don't like the order of the modules or the labs. So I am researching what to use next year with my younger teen. This would be taught by another mom at our co-op. We are not tied to using Apologia at all next year, but would like to determine which Apologia text suits us better and go from there on our comparisons of curricula. There are currently two Apologia Chemistry texts out there that are new. The 3rd edition 2nd printing is written by Plourde and Hughes and has rearranged modules that has atoms first, etc. Not sure if it has different labs than the 2nd edition. Read on WTM that this edition has more religious content which I would not care for. (Note: I am a Christian, but would like our chemistry book to focus on chemistry). Discovering Design with Chemistry is written by Dr. Wyle and has a similar layout of modules to the 3rd edition 2nd printing. Here are links to Rainbow Resource listing of both texts: http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Exploring+Creation+with+Chemistry+Textbook+3rd+Edition+%282nd+printing%29/062989 http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Discovering+Design+with+Chemistry/060710 Has anyone seen either of these books or used them? I would like to know if the DDC book has improved labs and if the religious content is similar to the 2nd Apologia edition, which has little. And I'd like to know what people think of these two texts in general. If anyone is currently using them and would like to chat privately, please message me. Thanks so much!
  21. I am using the Great Courses lecture series Analysis and Critique: How to Engage and Write About Anything this year with my 10th graders. If you used this series, can you chime in and tell me which of the suggested reading materials you found very helpful? I don't have a big budget for more books and I didn't find any in my search of our library, at least from resources for the first lecture. So I'm thinking if a book is highly recommended, at least for me as the teacher to read, then I'll try to get it on inter-library loan. So please reply if you used any of the "Suggested Reading" or Bibliography materials for this course. Also, I noticed that part of the lecture (at least from the lecture I watched) was missing from the class notes. The last part of the lecture was not included in the notes. Is it like that for all of them? I wonder why they did that? Thanks!
  22. I seen a few threads from people who have used both of these writing programs in the same year. I am teaching Elegant Essay (for the first time) at our co-op over a year, 24 classes. I had intended to do EE first and then LAOW. I keep getting stuck on how to teach thesis statements. LAOW is pretty different from the way EE teaches it. If you've used these two resources, how have you combined them or taught them in sequence. I like how LAOW includes writing out pros and cons for a thesis. To me it makes sense as part of the thinking process that one needs to do in order to come to a well thought out thesis and essay. One other question: My ds took EE from an outside teacher and she had them always use an academic thesis statement. What would be the benefit for doing it this way? I can see that it is helpful as it forces you to plan the body paragraphs up front. However, it puts all your points in the introduction. Is this a good beginner way of doing essays? Thoughts? Thanks for the help!
  23. Decided to just do world history. Thanks!
  24. Is CAP fable meant to be a semester or a year? I thought it was a semester. So a chapter a week or two chapters every 2 weeks? These are great ideas!
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