pgr
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Posts posted by pgr
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Thank you all! Awesome ideas -off to look! :D
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After an awful fail in science our first year, we read and discussed library books our second year.
I roughly followed the topic list from the Core Knowledge Sequence, but looking at it again this summer, it seems a bit of a hodge podge.
We're still at the stage of exposure, not mastery, being the goal. Even so, I keep looking for a "spine" or at least a list of topics to check every so often to make sure I'm on track and not leaving glaring gaps...
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
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Ruth, thank you so much for the picture you painted regarding the non project months- you've given me a much better idea of how everything falls into place at your home!
I am just seeing this now- I thought I'd followed the topic, but hadn't :P
You mentioned you do fiction to nonfiction to textbook reading grade 4+. Your DS have done projects since the very early years, yes? Picture book or simpler reading K-3? Reading aloud? Or something else?
ETA: silly question, but how do you chose your textbooks? Rather, for the younger group (say, 4th grade), would you have recommendations for life science, earth science, and chemistry as well?
Thank you!! :)
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We also tested thorough Triangle (ITBS). The test admin form took a minute or two to fill out - super quick and simple.
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Thank you! I'll look at the webinars and the Blended Style book :)
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I ended up buying the overview CD, the syllabus, and the Fun and Fascinating themed unit.
Recognizing that this is not how the program is intended to be used, I'm going to try. Time, budget, and current family situation is the deciding factor here.
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I tried the student dvds a few years ago with ds, now 8th, but he doesn't enjoy video learning and just prefers that I teach him. I sold it and moved on to other things. After many failures, we are back to IEW. I watched the TWSS over a few Saturdays and took lots of notes in my seminar workbook, then we started with a themed book. We are only a few lessons in, but it is going much smoother than any other writing program we have used in the past. And, I am happy that I watched the entire TWSS up front. It isn't necessary, and watching one unit at a time would work, but after watching the entire thing I see where it is going and what things to stress. I have confidence that I can teach it because I saw how Mr. Pudewa makes the entire process so doable.
Thank you- I appreciate your perspective! :)
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That makes sense, thank you.
Am I understanding correctly that there is only a video version of TWSS? My searches are showing a video course, as opposed to a book like Writer's Jungle. Just double checking ;)
I feel like a nut :P. Reading during nap time is feasible - watching DVDs is going to be difficult.
Thank you :)
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DD has been doing well with WWE, and we've thrown in some BW Arrow in the past. But she's just putting along - I feel she's not being challenged, and she's not enjoying writing nor really continuing to grow.
I keep coming back to IEW. Is it mostly DVD- based? That would be a negative point in our home. Video instruction has just not worked.
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Ruth, your posts have been tremendously helpful and inspiring- thank you so very much for sharing what you do.
Would you mind describing briefly what the non project months look like - what a typical week looks like? I believe you've said it's generally reading in subjects following an annual rotation schedule? Have you already posted that elsewhere?
Thank you again!
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Wow, that's something I wouldn't have thought of. Thank you!
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Dana, that is very helpful. Thank you!
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That's wonderful!!
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Thank you - I guess the concern was appearing pretentious :)
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DD just turned 8 this month, and is a rising third grader.
She took the IOWA for appropriate/actual grade level both this spring and last, and both times made only a few mistakes (around 5 total?). She's working we'll above grade level in LA, and about one level ahead in math.
I've been reading through all the talent search threads, and am thinking of testing this year- only now I'm still not sure which test to chose. :P
We're in PA - I believe CTY/Johns Hopkins is our home program. We are planning to move in the coming months - likely to either WI or ME.
My main goal is to try to figure out where she's truly at, especially with LA. It seems SCAT (through CTY) wouldn't really achieve that?
A secondary goal is being able to take advantage of local resources, though it is not certain how long "local" will = PA, nor what our new "local" will be.
She also is a very distractable child - even more so than DS who is 5 yrs old. She was able to think through all the EXPLORE sample questions, but needed help focusing - like me repeating the phrases "read the question" & "what are they asking?"...
I had planned to do SCAT this fall and wait until next year for EXOLORE.
Though now I'm wondering if there would be a better test than SCAT?
Finally, PA requires testing in 3rd. If we're still here, I had planned to continue with the IOWA at grade level- assuming that's what she would be given in PS?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
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Asking for opinion, as I'm not sure what the best approach would be. When submitting paperwork to a school district in a strict state that requires, among other things, a HS diploma, would it be a good idea or a bad idea to sign one's name including one's non Ed degree?
For example,
Joan Smith, MD
Not a minumental issue, yet I really wasn't sure how to answer. What say the Hive? :)
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Thank you for the ideas!
I also greatly appreciate the links :)
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Ha! :D
She's definitely more bookworm/tomboy/catapult builder than princess, BUT that gives me some terrific ideas to google for!
Thank you both!
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Curiuos as well if others have used this - It sounds like a nice supplement.
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Our rising third grader loved science in half day Montessori K. We began homeschooling in first grade, and nothing I've tried has clicked.
I think the problems started because we initially tried RSO, but because of our family situation (had just moved and had a 3yr old and a reborn as well), the demonstrations were all in the PM.
I've since learned that she needs to get school done in the AM. But she dreads science - automatically. If it even might be science related, she balks.
The remainder of first grade, we tried some RSO, then BFSU. Second grade we tried living books, magic school bus, bill nye, and Evan moor daily science.
Second grade was better, but she still fights it. We are a family with a strong science background (DH & I, both sets of grandparents, both our sibs...) - that does not at all mean she needs to ultimately choose a career in science, but it does mean we feel it's at least as important as any other subject, not to mention pretty cool ;).
She loved science because she thought it was neat & exciting. Now any kind of science gets her fighting - be it a nature walk or a book or a light discussion.
I have tried to be very gentle this past year and let her fall back into stride. I have tried interest led studies, as well as letting her choose topics, etc. Utimately, she'll do the work, but there's a bunch of grumbling and little to no discovery or retention.
I've waded through thread upon thread of discussion. I just don't know.
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Just seeing this thread & also wondering where the project is at. Sounds like a terrific idea. :)
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Thank you all for the replies!! I'm in Pennsylvania; though the law is fairly strict, I agree it doesn't make sense to go crazy over the book log :).
I am off to research the options suggested - I often have a hard time remembering if I've already checked out a book for DD to read (I hit the library while she's at ballet), or just made a mental note to do so at some point :p. Keeping a log might be a good habit!
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We've used Library Thing in the past, but for fun more than anything, and I have just manually entered when I find a book noteworthy.
Beginning this year we will need to keep a book log as per state requirements. Considering we generally have 60-80 books checked out, the thought of manually entering and sorting them is a bit overwhelming...
We have an iPhone/iPad - is there a good app that would let me scan, sort, record? I mean there are lots of apps, but any favorites?
Thank you!
:)
Scientific Investigations with my 12 and 9 year old
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I hadn't seen that thread - thank you!