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steppingstonemomma

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Posts posted by steppingstonemomma

    Need to teach the persuasive/argumentative essay over the summer.. what to use?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I want to teach my 14yo daughter how to write a good persuasive essay over the summer. She'll be going into a new co-op with a speech/debate class so I want her to have some preparation..

     

    She has completed IEW's SICC B in 10 weeks, and almost finished WWS 1 this year. She's a very good creative writer but doesn't enjoy academic writing.

     

    I own The Elegant Essay and even tried to use this with her after we finished SICC B, but it was so disorganized and hard to teach from. I had no time to prep before doing a lesson with her! Doing this through the summer is an option, but I wanted to see if there is something easier on me first!

     

    I need something REALLY clear as I am a horrible writer and have no recollection of writing persuasive essays in high school OR community college.

    Has anyone seen a Jane Austen Literature Unit study or lit guide for multiple books?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Ok, after posting a question (yesterday) with all my literature "requirements" I had a sweet conversation with my mother in law. She is retiring this spring and offered to do a literature class with my 9th grade daughter. They both LOVE Jane Austen's books so I'm wondering if anyone has seen or used any kind of book they could use to pull discussion questions or literature analysis help from?

    It's still in the "thinking it through" stages, but I think this might just be an answer to prayer! I don't have time to read all the books and hold a meaty discussion with her. My mil will have lots of time on her hands and loves this kind of thing. She is a former homeschool mom of 5 boys. They were never interested in any literature much less Austen! So I'm thinking this will be a sweet time for both of them!

     

    So if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!

    Tiffany

    Is there a high school literature curriculum like this?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Here's the deal:

    I am looking for:

    1. a lit curriculum that doesn't coordinate with any other subjects- just literature. I have what I'm using for the other subjects!

    2. something that is based on great books

    3. something that will give me good discussion questions and essay prompts

    4. AND *MOST IMPORTANTLY* give me the answers to those discussion questions so that if I can't read the book, I can at least hold a semi-intelligent discussion...

     

    I like Windows to the World- but it doesn't use great books...

    I like TOG (which I already own but don't use because it is too much!)- but I don't want to use the history and writing ends of all of it

    I like WTM's book list- but I don't have time to read all the books and come up with intelligent discussions

     

    Can someone help??? Pretty please?? And if nothing like this exists, please could one of you smart ladies please write a curriculum like this- by September of 2012! LOL!

    Tiffany

    Is BJU Science hard to do at home without dvd's?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I forgot I asked this question a few weeks ago!

     

    So now, I'm wondering... Do I need the TM for Biology if I am using the DIVE CD?

     

    Is the investigations dvd JUST the labs or is there instruction also? I was thinking that BJU only had dvds that you could lease or rent....which was waaay expensive and not an option for us. Can someone explain? I've never used BJU before and I'm a little confused.

     

    Thanks!

    Tiffany

    How do you grade Saxon's tests? Probably dumb question!

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I'm just curious. The tests for Saxon 1/2 are 20 questions each. So I have been counting each problem as 5 points. But it just dawned on me that some problems have multiple sub problems such as a, b, c, or d...etc. Should I just take a 1/2 or 1/3 off (etc) for each 5 point problem or should I just count them as their own problem and redo the point value....for example, count that there are really 24 problems instead of 20.

     

    Did that question even make any sense?

     

    Tiffany

    Is BJU Science hard to do at home without dvd's?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I am switching curriculum, possibly, and I'd like to know if BJU middle school and high school sciences are easily done in the home setting? I know plenty of people use them with the dvd's, but I can't purchase the dvd. It's just not in the budget. Would this be a self study course or does it require a teacher's lecture for the student to be successful?

    I am mainly looking at Life Science in middle and Biology in High School.

    Thanks,

    Tiffany

    Chalkdust cheap with new editions. Is it possible?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I just finished reading through past threads from 2009 where everyone was able to find CD dvds and texts super cheap. Most of the links now are not the same anymore so I was wondering if anyone had figured this out with the newer editions.

     

    I'm looking for Prealgebra and Algebra 1. The costs of the texts are upwards of $150 and I can't find the dvd's anywhere. Can anyone give some help?

    I'm a bit desperate as there is NO WAY we can afford it from CD new...

    Thanks,

    Tiffany

    Need more review to use Chalkdust... Help!

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    So, I really want my son to use CD Algebra 1 through Calc, but I KNOW he's going to need more daily review than what CD has. Has anyone else whose child is using this found a solution to this problem?

     

     

    Also, is there a placement test so I know if he's ready for Algebra 1. He's coming out of TTPreAlgebra so I'm a little wary... Might need some supplemental work. Anyone go from TT Prealg to CD Algebra 1? Were there concepts lacking?

    Saxon, Chalkdust or something else? Need Help!

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My son is finishing up Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra this year for 7th grade. He is doing well and is mathmatically inclined except for those darn middle school boy hormones that tell him not to work on anything at all! LOL!

     

    So, next year, for 8th, I'm trying to figure out what will be best for him. He wants to go into engineering so I am thinking that I want to stop using TT and use something more rigorous starting in Algebra 1 (I plan to use another curr to get him up to speed over the summer since TT Pre-alg is about a year behind- any suggestions?).

     

    I am NOT math minded AT ALL so I need a dvd or cd program that has a good teacher to explain concepts to him. Also, I am very pressed for time so I need something that is easy for me to check or help him with if he gets stuck.

     

    I have looked at Chalkdust, but it is mastery and I kind-of think that he needs more review built into his daily work. Also, from reading other posts about it, I sounds like I need to do some prep work each day in choosing what problems I assign him. THAT is not going to work! How will I know what he is needing extra practice with if I am not going through each lesson with him! And, it would take me too much extra time. That said, we looked at the sample videos and he really liked that teacher the best.... sigh...Any words of advice as to how to make this program work in my situation?

     

    OR, I've looked into Saxon. We used Saxon 5/4 and 7/6 before switching to TT and honestly he hated it. BUT, I'm willing to take a stalwart approach and just MAKE him do it if it is good for him. However, I need to know if Saxon teaches the concepts thoroughly or just the algorithms (That's been my frustration on TT.) Is Saxon rigorous enough for an engineering career? I would like him to get to Calculus by 12th. If he is doing Algebra 1 in 8th, would we get through Calc by 12th?

     

    OR, is there something else out there that would be good to look at?

    Independent study with a good dvd or cd teacher

    Easy for mom to help if he gets stuck (I don't have time to watch a dvd!)

    Rigorous

    Won't make me cry- I'm not so worried about him...again, he's in middle school so that happens regardless. May as well have a good reason! LOL!

     

    Thanks for any advice or help!

    Tiffany

    Teaching Textbooks not good for engineer? What can I use?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My 7th grader has been using TT and is in Pre-algebra this year. He is pretty sure he wants to be an engineer so I think I am going to switch him to a more rigorous curriculum for Algebra 1.

     

    Anyone have any suggestions on what to use

    1. to bring him up to par so he can jump into a rigorous Algebra 1 program

    and

    2. which Algebra 1 curr will be the LEAST teacher intensive and still be challenging?

     

    Thanks so much.

    Tiffany

    Is anyone her a Sensory Disorder Therapist?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    We recently adopted 3 kids and in the process (lots of research!) my 14yo daughter became fascinated with learning about kids with sensory issues. In fact, she is now thinking that she wants to do that as a career. She's 8th grade and for the 2nd semester I'm thinking of allowing her to do a major report on sensory disorders as part of her science/English. She's found lots of online info, but I would love to find her a textbook that she would be able to use. Could anyone recommend a text (introductory level!) or other books that would help her gain more basic knowledge for her research?

     

    Also, can someone explain what kind of degree one should look into pursuing in order to become a therapist that works in this field? I'm clueless as to what to look into!

     

    Thanks so much!

    Tiffany

    Lightning Lit 8?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Lori, thank you so much for that explanation! See, I would have never seen all that stuff!!! Seriously, I read what you wrote and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the book- now I want to reread it with those thoughts in mind.

    How do you get to this place of understanding? I never read a single classic book in high school so my education has been seriously stunted. How do I go about gaining some insight into how to think this way and see beyond the surface of a story? And fast- because my daughter is in 8th grade and I need to stay one story ahead of her! LOL!

     

    BTW, I've been reading though the student notes of LL8 and I am LOVING it. Though I think it is too hard for me. My 13yo will probably do a better job at it than me...

    Lightning Lit 8?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Actually, I was wondering about having her skip it. She's already told me all the comprehension type answers so I know she read it thoroughly. Good idea.

     

    Ok, I never got a chance to post my other question so here it is...

     

    Has anyone switched out a book in LL8 because they didn't like one that was scheduled in it?

    I just finished reading My Family and Other Animals and it really bugs me. I think the little boy is endearing, but I really hate the disrespectfulness and language that the oldest son uses. Does anyone think I could switch it out for another book? And, if so, which one?

    Lightning Lit 8?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Ok, I think I'm going to stick to the plan to do LL8. I just got it in the mail and it looks like way more than she's done in the past.

     

    Up til now she's just read the book, discussed with me and done a literature analysis via WTM. I think this will be much more meat for her.

     

    And, Lori, no, she hasn't read all the short stories and poems so it should be ok. She's not looking forward to Treasure Island though. She said she hated it. LOL! I loved it!

     

    I have another question about LL, but I'll post in a new thread...

    Discouraged with Spelling

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    No, I have no reason to believe there are any dyslexia or learning issues.

     

    Frankly, I think there is a measure of laziness to a lot of it. Also, someone (sorry, I've forgotten who said it) mentioned that the switching of programs never let us progress past a certain point. I think that might be the bigger issue that I hadn't considered... hmmm...

     

    So now, I'm wondering, what is out there for older kids- that isn't babyish that would "pick up where we left off". They are using CLE LA for grammar but not the spelling portion. It would be waaaay too hard for them at their levels.

     

    Do you all think dictation would be enough at this point? Or do I need an additional spelling curriculum?

    Discouraged with Spelling

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I need some advice. We have always done a very phonogram based spelling curriculum... SWR, AAS, a year of dictation, and my kids are still really struggling with spelling at 8th, 7th and 6th grades. And it has nothing to do with reading level because my 8th grader is reading very advanced Great books with no issues.

     

    This year I am thinking that we will just go back to dictation since that was the only year I feel like I saw any progress.

     

    BUT, I don't know what to use for the dictation. I don't have time to find selections in their reading. I'm already pressed for time with trying to hs 7 kids.

     

    I've looked at Spelling Wisdom and Simply Spelling and I don't know which one would be better. Any advice from users?

     

    Or, I could just succumb to the spelling list testing and lay out the money for Phonetic zoo since it is independent....

     

    Part of my issue is that I can't figure out WHY they can't spell. They know all the phonograms, rules, etc, but can't seem to put it into practice.

     

    Any advice???

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