trailofsparks
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Posts posted by trailofsparks
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I highly recommend (for you) Deconstructing Penguins:
http://www.amazon.com/Deconstructing-Penguins-Parents-Kids-Reading/dp/0812970284
It will take you through all the elements of LA and how to address them in a discussion-format with your kids. And it will illustrate book-group discussions on a bunch of really good books. I've picked several of the books for LA discussions with dd, to get some extra hand-holding by reading the chapter the night before! It's been really helpful.
I know that SWB also has a literary analysis audio lecture, but I haven't listened to it yet.
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/audio-products/audio-lectures.html
Reading Strands is another option, it is extremely comprehensive but not near as user-friendly as Dec Pen.
Thank you for these recommendations! I'll ck them out. Really looking fwd to listening to SWB's audio about this subject. Thx!
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Our Mother Tongue and can purchase the answer key separately. You can read a review of it here: http://www.exodusbooks.com/details.aspx?id=5245
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Teaching cursive (I recommend the program Cursive First) can really help with letters since the cursive b and d are more easily distinguished from the printed version. I know that my youngest would have transposed a lot more than I was ever aware of, thanks to CF.
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Can you tell me what you've used and what you've liked and disliked about it.
My dc have excellent reading comprehension. I want a guide for literary analysis, an area that I am very deficient in!
Would you recommend a guide specific to a book? Or a book that teaches these skills? Perhaps it would be good to start with the former (for me) and move toward a general type format?
Thank you for ideas!
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Yikes! Is anyone doing this curriculum week by week according to the schedule laid out? Can you tell me what it *looks* like in your home school, especially if you have modified it? I'm looking at Year 7, but would be interested to hear your experience for Years 6 or 8 as well.
I know I need to "step it up" with literature.... I like that it's laid out for me and it's *free*. I even like many of the selections.
Is there a bigger picture here that I'm not seeing? Do these books correlate? To the point that I wouldn't want to leave certain ones out?
Thx. I am so overwhelmed with my search...and so burned out on homeschooling.... TIA for any input, including other recommendations.
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Thank you, everyone, for your input. We have been using, since middle of Mod B, another text for Algebra word problems by Mildred Johnson. That is what has kept us with VT. Maybe we'll stick with this, but it would be nice (even so) to add another strong program.
My kid is not mathy but was enjoying it, is willing to work at it, and I want to keep it that way. The fewer books we have to flip through, the better. I really don't like how often we have to reference the word problem book. In fact, it's to the point where he is "warming up" with the problems there, before doing VT.
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It would be interesting to know their vaccination histories, especially Gardasil.
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We tried VT - ended up selling it on eBay. My daughter did not like it at all and I decided not to save it for my younger daughter who seems to excell at math. We found it to be very boring...and did not like all the different books to flip through...
Thanks for stating your experience. What did you use instead, assuming it's working well for you? Also, what did you do leading up to this choice? Why are you happy with it, etc? Thank you, chirowife.
To others: I am considering Dolciani, after reading other threads. I am really hoping someone who loved RS will give input as to what they chose other than VT, and why they didn't use VT.
Thanks, everyone!
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My dd#1 finished VT Algebra last year and is currently doing VT Geometry Module E. VT is all about teaching concepts. The algorithm is taught but only after the lessons have built the foundation for it.
There are some logical leaps in VT Algebra that my non-logical dd had trouble connecting. And I had to consult Purplemath.com a few times. But other than that the instruction was good. Is he using the video, the course notes, and the instruction in the student worktext?
Yes, he is using all of those materials. I do think his trouble is with *not* making those logical leaps. To be honest, some of them seem to be a stretch for me, too. He says VT doesn't give him enough examples. Ideally, I like my dc to have to dig for answers....At the same time, ds is possibly being turned off to math, after experiencing so much success and confidence via RS. Not sure what to do.
I haven't heard of purplemath.com before, but I'll check that out. Thanks.
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My ds12 completed RS Math thru Level E, LOF thru Decimals & Percents, and is currently working simultaneously thru RS Geometric Approach and VT Mod B (after finishing Mod A).
We have been frustrated, here and there, with gaps in the instruction. The most recent example is: VT Mod B Unit II Lesson 5, problem 9. In order to understand this problem, we referred to a separate algebra source on word problems, which taught the term "total minus".
This has happened many times and ds has been asking for a different curriculum. When I go through it with him, I see the cause of his frustrations, and am inclined to "jump ship".
I have loved RightStart for my kids. I have grown to trust Dr. Cotter - and she recommends VT wholeheartedly because it is as conceptually strong as RS. But
I have been wondering if this is not really so.
I need an algebra curriculum that is comprehensive and teaches concepts, not just algorithms.
What has been your experience with VT? Also, we don't necessarily need a video program. What other curricula would you suggest I look into?
Thanks for reading this and for help.
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I'm not into the whole mission statement thing, but I am interested in efficiency and simplicity. Do I really need those Christmas plates? I didn't bring them out the last couple of years because I was simplifying. Time to donate them.
Why do I keep the things I do? I am not a pack rat by any means, but I am tired of the stuff. It takes too much work to keep it organized and I'm tired of it. :001_smile:
Yes, but... As dc get older don't you think you'll have more energy and want to use those types of things?
:D
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Prayed for her and her family!
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For my very conservative, reserved dc - silliness. Silly people. Silliness in books. The latest video game RAYMAN is constant giggles between my kids. So fun to hear their laughter!!
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$230 is a very modest car payment. With no financial benefit of paying it early, I would not chose an option that pays it down.
I would chose the home improvements. If they've been around/pending for quite some time, they "rent space in your brain". To be able to fix them would free up the space AND give joy each time you pass them/feel the impact of them being done.
There is a lot to be said for this choice.... If it will impact your outlook positively. But if paying down mortgage principle impacts your psyche for the better, do it instead.
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If you're not renting, it might be more doable than you think.
But then, I kind of like to tear my house apart, move walls around and stuff. :tongue_smilie:
Yep, this is what I would consider. Or I'd rather have it in my bedroom than my laundry room. At any rate, I hope you can come up with a winning situation:)
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If you are in the mood to get away from it all, there's the Pacific Coast highway drive - and a place called Timber Cove Inn in Jenner, CA. When we stayed there, there were no tv's or phones in any of the rooms....hot tubs and fireplaces though! Lovely trails along the cliff.
But if you are thinking Disney, this may not be your style :D
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Don Quixote. When I couldn't tie the history with the humor, I threw in the towel. Haven't picked up WEM since.
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I regret that I didn't have oldest do some summer music camps. She went into her undergrad under prepared.
And I regret that we messed around with taking the AP Bio test at the school--the school changed her test paper and she ended up with a 1! We don't fool around with AP tests any more and just do college classes. Lesson learned!
What do you mean the highh school changed her AP grade?? B/c she is home educated? Anyone else have this happen?
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Management of people, jobs, time
Coordinator of schedules, activities
Consultant, counselor, coach
Communications director
:D
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Those are all good points, but as I Mom I would be concerned about this. Do you remember Adam Walsh? Sure, he was only 5-8 years old, but he and his mother were in a dept store. She turned around to look at something only to find her son missing and what would end in his murder and a nightmare for the family.
This was a younger child and a boy. I hate it happens to boys or girls, but girls at any.age are vulnerable.
OP, imo I would sit your dd down and go over the scenario in a calm manner. You can "still" use it as a teaching tool.
I tell my dd that stalkers can be any: color, age, gender, professional, homeless, attractive, ugly, and the list goes on. A stalker "looks" many different ways.
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree:
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Omg, I'm so sorry for your whole family. Said a prayer for all his loved ones.
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It is judgmental folks who give Homeschoolers (and anyone) a bad name. I don't mean to take a shot at you personally...just sayin.
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RightStart. It is conceptually very strong, has plenty of manipulatives, just the right amount of worksheets (not excessive), and all my kids (varying learning styles) have enjoyed and become good at math by using it plus the RS math games set. Excellent curriculum. I like RS's spiral to mastery approach, and the interative nature. It is good for students to discuss what they're learning. It's essential for students to handle manipulatives (does SM use real manipulatives or just rely on colorful pics?) that are content-rich. It is hard for me to imagine a better program than RS....Jmho.
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They discontinued their fennel toothpaste for a time. hen I asked about it, I was encouraged to submit my request for its return. it's back. This also happened with another item. I guess if enough folks request it, they'll bring it back.
Literature: teaching elements and theme, etc
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Thx! I don't follow anyone's blog regularly, but I've been to yours before. You do a beautiful job! Thx for sharing your book club ideas re: analysis. I like the idea of beginning w/ picture books to get our feet wet :)