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bpskowski

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Everything posted by bpskowski

  1. Thank You. I've got the girls their penpals.
  2. I've got a penpal lined up for my one daughter, now I need another for my other. She's a real girly girl - loves unicorns and anything pink! She loves to write too. Thanks
  3. Not sure where to post, but my two 10 year olds are looking for penpals. ?
  4. I'm using the history curriculum, modern, with my two 4th graders and my 8th grader! I'm using their writing curriculum that ties in with modern history too. I'm really liking it. My 8th grader has loved history from the first grade. My two girls don't seem to retain and enjoy it as much. On the other hand my 8th grader is not into writing and the two girls love writing. So every morning we meet and do easy classical history. The the girls have to do key word outline, paragraph and dress ups on one paragraph every week. My son has to do both paragraphs. It is really helping my girls focus in on the main important points. For my son it's a review plus making him produce paragraphs. (He is also doing Jump In for writing. Last year he did EIW and it worked well so continuing with that style for the weekly paragraphs just re-enforces EIW form last year.) He is also doing Beautiful Feet's US and World History Senior High. He reads very well and the literature approach is perfect for him.
  5. A month or so ago there was discussion, I think, about math remediation. But there was a website suggested that did a math assessment test. It was a very thorough math assessment and specified all the weak areas to be addressed. Plus the website offered online classes. I thought I bookmarked, but obviously not! Can you all help me remember? Thanks, Beth
  6. Over at Brookdale House, they list supplemental movies by history periods. https://brookdalehouse.com/modern-history-videos/ Guesthollow.com also schedules Brainpop videos with other movies by history timeline. http://www.guesthollow.com/history_shelf/history_shelf10.html
  7. Thanks, both are great options!
  8. Can anyone direct me to classes or lesson plans for basic computer skills or maybe a bit more than basic? I saw something last year that was done online and brought you through windows, word, excel, etc. I don't want coding classes. Thanks
  9. I have twin 3rd graders. I do math and language arts together. Sometimes in spelling (with AAS) I would physically be in between them to make them focus on the tile board and not on each other. In math they do get competitive to see who "gets it" first. But I teach until they both get it. If one "gets it" much quicker than the other, then I'll become the student and she teaches both of us. I ask leading questions to make sure they other understands and by her teaching I know she really understands. I suppose they are both at similar levels. The only thing I do individually is reading aloud. They each sit with me and read through a passage at their level. I used to lose my patience when they were not paying attention, but now I expect it of them. If they don't, they lose something (immediately - no warnings) like their screen time. Of course, I will tailor lessons to their patience level. Short quick lessons, with enough breaks and snacks to keep them focused.
  10. I have not used Mr. D or Algebra relief, but I have a struggling math student. Last year I contemplated between Mr D and Teaching Textbooks. I ended up going with Teaching Textbooks (Pre-Algebra). We have abandoned the DVD's. Initially it went well, but then he was getting too many mistakes so I had to go through the textbook and back up a redo a bunch of lessons. Then he started using the textbook himself without DVD's. Again he started making too many mistakes. Now I just use textbook and teach him the lesson and review the last lesson before letting him do the exercises. But the textbook is very incremental and using it as a tool for me is helpful, but it did not achieve what I was hoping. For next year I'll be researching for someone like Mr. D or another live online math class. He needs hand holding.
  11. Just read her description carefully. It's about the science and nutrition from a primal perspective. The primal diet is a very specific way of eating. If you eat that way than this is a good explanation for children for why you eat that way.
  12. Last year when my son was 11 year he had to be upstairs in room by 9:00. He could read until 9:30 (ok sometimes 9:45 or even10:00 if the book was that good!). I woke him up at 7:00.
  13. Has anyone used these courses? I am interested in the Think Like an Engineer. https://www.innovatorstribe.com/introduction-to-engineering-and-innovation/ Thanks, Beth
  14. My ds is going through the cycle second time now. We are going to do early modern starting in September. The last two years my son listened along with the girls SOTW and then went his separate independent route (Human Odyssey and History Odyssey). His listening was a review before he got into his studies. This September, he is going to read aloud to the girls and ask the narration questions from the AG and do the map and timeline with them. (Of course, I'll be there to join in with the discussion.) Then separately he'll either outline the chapter section or practice cornell note taking from the section. Plus, he'll have additional reading. But he loves history and I hope his enthusiasm will pass along to the girls. And I am hoping it'll focus his mind on the main points and not just the stories of history.
  15. My twins just finished 2nd grade and their brother just finished 6th. Last year when I started 1st with the girls, I was having my son do blocks of independent work in the morning so I could work with the girls. Then in afternoon I'd give one on one with my son while the girls played. My girls last year and this year both worked through same curriculum. I see slight differences but they are pretty much together. I'd have one read aloud to me while the other did either her copywork or reading independent and then I'd switch. That way they got the one on one reading instruction and the other was too busy to compare. With math, I'd do the lesson and then they'd do the workbook exercises. They'd work on exercises is different rooms (they tend to think out loud) and I'd bounce back and forth helping as needed. I plan to keep them together until it becomes obvious that one or the other isn't benefiting. I'll deal with it as it comes up - can't plan for it now. I had my son doing independent work in 4th grade as well. I'd do "lessons" in afternoon then next day morning he'd did the exercises and reading assignments. I wouldn't worry too much. Just plan out how you'd ideally like to rotate through the subjects and kids and then when you actually get going it'll be more obvious how things need to be adjusted.
  16. The Book of Virtues has stories categorized into 10 virtues. I just got the the CHSH Learning the Character Traits from the build your bundle sale. It is based upon reading a book to go along with the trait. For $1.00 you can purchase (unless you are a member) the book list to go along with the 20 traits. At this point I am looking for other available lists on the web. I found a book list on traits (secular) from San Diego Office of Education http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/287/character-traits-hfj.pdf And at kidsofintegrity.com there are lessons on many traits all from the bible. But I'm still looking as well.
  17. I'm glad this was bumped. The resources I am using lack the immediacy and the actual 2016 reality of elections. Thank your husband for sharing with us all.
  18. You could add poetry and use Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. There is a picture book rendition by Susan Jeffers that always make me think the poem is talking about Santa Clause.
  19. I'm going to add another one, The Great Latin Adventure. I have no latin either and am learning along with my ds. We did GSWL (4th grade) and it was good. But then what? It was just a start. Then we tried Latin prep last year and that was very slow going. So we are attacking again this year with a different curriculum. We've only just started but even the beginning is taught so thoroughly and painlessly, I wish I had found it last year. The teacher book helps you to teach the student (and yourself). The exercises for the student are to the point and hammer the lesson home. Again, we have only started but we are both excited again - for latin! And the price is reasonable. And the author can be reached in these forums. Please take a look. http://www.classicallegacypress.com/latin.htm
  20. How does your student like the course? Is it engaging? Are they able to do a lot on their own? How is the balance between reading and doing of experiments? The sample activity pages seem appropriate for my son. He's knows all about the three states of matter and then some. He'll talk about super fluids and how pressure changes states and a lot of other things I don't know. But the activity sheet samples seem to make them answer specific questions and learn essential vocabulary, the kind of grounding that is necessary but that he tends to ignore for the loftier ideas. But I don't want him to be bored with the material. Thanks for any questions that you might answer.
  21. Has nobody used these? Please chime in with your opinions of these two programs. I am almost done; I can see the end. The new year starts too soon! Beth
  22. I am trying to decide between these two science programs for my ds. He loves, loves, loves science. He reads a tremendous amount and watches videos and documentaries on his own. However he tends to be all over the place. I am obtaining a science mentor for him for the year to help guide him through his own topics of interest. (Frankly, the things he tries to talk to me about are way beyond me). But I also want to have a curriculum that will help keep things together so he doesn't lose out on the basics. Any feedback will be helpful. I tried to do a search here but came up empty. Thanks, Beth
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