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Mandowife

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Posts posted by Mandowife

    What is the story behind your username?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    My dh is a mandolin player and builder. He uses mandofool on the bluegrass board he frequents, as he is a fool for the mandolin. So I am mandowife in appreciation for the mandolin.

     

    Although at another board someone read it as man do wife and thought it was a reference to caveman pulling my hair or something.

    How big is your 8 year old???

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I must be raising a giant!!!

     

    My youngest boy was 9 in Nov. He is almost 5 feet tall and weighs 110 lbs!! He wears a size 8 shoe in mens!! He is a little chubby, but not fat at all.

     

    I am 5'11" and dh is 6'0....

     

    My 26 year old son is 6'1, my dd's, all four of them are 5'6".

     

    The dr predicts that Jack (my 9 year old) may top out at 6"5 or taller!

    What does classical education look like?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I think if you have read the WTM then you know what classical is.

     

    It sounds like it was just an excuse.

     

    :grouphug:

     

    They have read WTM, but yet they can't define it?

     

    That is exactly what my dh and I are thinking. But I don't want to just jump to that conclusion, which is why I posted here in case there was something I was missing.

     

    I would rather they tell me that I am a horrible teacher or that I offended someone or something....you know. We are requesting a meeting with the board and may end up with a meeting with our pastor if it isn't resolved.

    What does classical education look like?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

     

    I don't post here much, but could really use your opinions here. I hope this doesn't get too long and I hope that it is clear enough to read, as this is very difficult for me, but I don't want to ramble. You see, I got fired Wednesday (not going to renew my contract, same thing, IMHO) from the classical school that I teach at. The reason, some parents have complained to the board that you are not "classical enough". When I asked what that meant, the principal said, she couldn't define classical or tell me how to be classical, but they just knew I wasn't it. So I'm trying to figure out, if that is indeed the case, or if it was just an excuse and the real reason is personal.

     

    Background:

    I teach World History, American HIstory, American Gov't and Economics. I use the Notgrass curriculum...their suggestion. We only do the history part in my class. I work with the Lit teacher every week to assign writing assignments, projects, etc.

     

    Last year was my first year teaching there. I came in at the last minute because the teacher they had hired moved suddenly to SD. The teacher before that quit.

     

    I have read the WTM book, seen SWB speak, read these and the high school forums every day (ok, not all of these pertain to how to educate and what it looks like, but it is fun)

     

    I assign a unit to read each week, along with the primary sources to read. They have a writing assignment, usually an opinion piece, or to defend on view over another, etc. They also have to do a current event each week.

     

    Sometimes they have comprehension questions. I make them take notes on their reading. Most of my students haven't been classically educated their whole school career, so I try to bring them along with extra help.

     

    MOst of the 90 minutes spent in class (one day a week) is spent reviewing the material and me asking them questions about the reading. The questions are a mix of facts (Who shot the first shot in the American Revolution) but they are always followed up by thought questions, such as, What might have happened if that snowball had never been thrown at the Brittish soldier. We also answer questions like "Was the American Revolution a biblical war according to Rom. 13?"

     

    I know I'm not perfect, but NEVER did anyone come to me to say what I might be doing wrong, or how to correct what I was doing, etc. Just praise before this. NO parent or board member has ever sat in my classroom.

     

    I was told at this meeting that the students love me. That I am great at what I do, but I'm just not classical. (when asked to define that again, she couldn't)..She even said that she was sure that I could do classical if they could tell me what that looked like, but they didn't have time.

     

    Sorry this is so long......I"m just really trying to wrap my brain around what happened. I go to church with most of these people and had no clue that this was coming.

     

    So please, if you can, define what classical is, how that looks in a classroom that meets once a week for 90 min.

     

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

     

    Donna

     

    This is a Veritas school if that helps.

    I need wisdom and input re parents separating

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I don't have time to read all the responses (got about page 5) but wanted to first offer hugs and second to share my experience.

     

    My father asked my mother for a divorce 16 years ago. (they had been married 35 years at the time) Mom was devastated. We suspect there was another woman but didn't focus on that. Instead, my sister, brother and I went to meet with our dad.

    We told him that we loved him and always would. But we made it clear that things would be different. He wouldn't get every holiday with his grand kids or vacations now spent with them would have to be divided etc. We just made it clear what life would look like regarding his children and grandchildren. No malice, just facts. We also told him that we were disappointed in how he was treating our mother. And while we recognized that she could be difficult, she was still our mother and we felt she deserved a husband that was willing to fight for their marriage.

     

    Long story short.... After a lot of work, their marriage is better now than it has ever been. I know that isn't how most end up, but dad said us talking to him was what made him decide to fight for his marriage (and give up the other woman, we found out later).

     

    We said what we did in love and were not afraid and it made a difference.

     

     

    I'll be praying for you and your parents(((hugs)))

    Pensacola for a week?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    My parents live there right on the beach about half mile from the navy base! The naval museum is a must see and it's free! Also, the Blue Angels practice on Tues and Wednesday's during the season, and that is free. Fort pickins is also a good trip and educational to boot! The most haunted lighthouse in America is also there but I think it is a little pricey. Of course you have the beaches, but it may be too cold for that. If I think of anything else, I'll come back

    Dd's eval yesterday left me confused, questions...

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    The WISC IV is an intelligence test. It measures a hypothetical potential. An achievement test such as the Woodcock Johnson would be a test that would give a better idea of where the student was actually performing. Also, grade levels don't mean much on those tests at least not to the lay person. Without going into to much technical stuff , basically scoring on a 8 grade level means that most 8 graders could complete that, not hat it was 8th grade material. I really wish hey would leave that off the test results.

     

    You want to look for the standard score, it is a better indicator of abiliy.

     

    I would be glad to answer any specific questions about specific scores, etc if you want. I used to do this in a former life.

     

    Also, a good psychologist should list several recommendations at the end of her report. Specific... Not just extended time

     

    Hth

    I am REALLY hesitant to ask this but...

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I don't like them at all. I think it is even dangerous for a child (or anyone) to believe that because they walked the aisle or said a prayer that they are saved. No where in the Bible does it tell us this. I think it is especially dangerous with children who might be led to walk the aisle because their friends are and they have no real understanding of what that means.

     

    Our church does not do alter calls but instead encourages anyone with questions to speak to the pastor or one of the elders. We are a reformed church.

     

    I grew up catholic and then briefly attended a baptist church and then a Pentecostal church but didn't really understand salvation and my need for it until I found the reformed church. Of course that was just my experience

    Looking for a denomination

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    This kind of sums up our church. We are non-denominational Reformed. Not in Hawaii or Colorado, though, sorry. I would think that a Reformed Baptist or Reformed non-denominational church might be a good fit.

     

    We are a FIRE church and would meet your requirements, but we are in Ga.

     

    Are you familiar with Federeation of Independent Reformed Evangelicals- FIRE

     

    I know they fit the first 2 of your requirements. I can't really speak to the last two. It's something to look into maybe.

    Im really upset.....ok I am LIVID!

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    To those mentioning IEPs, I think you're thinking the wrong thing. What you need to look into is a 504 plan - that allows for accomodations due to a "disability". Like someone else said, not breathing is a disability. Type 1 diabetics are allowed 504 accomodations due to their disease. A 504 would allow you to say things like "epi pen carried by adult accompanying student at all times", "student in peanut free classroom", "epi pen administered by closest adult immediately upon notification of exposure", "parent called after epi pen administered", etc. 504 is a federal protection document and the best way to cover your bases - although, as others have said, I think fighting for "no exposure" is a losing battle - the 504 will allow you to have teeth behind the treatment plan.

     

    She's right, you need a 504 plan. An IEP would be if your dd needed specialized instruction from a special Ed teacher. That is the main difference between the two.

     

    As a person with many allergies, and who nearly died in 8th grade from anaphalatic shock (from a yellow jacket sting), I know how scary it can be. I hope you get the resolution you need with this.

    Musical instruments

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I play guitar and mandolin "by ear", and am learning piano. I've also dabbled with banjo and "fiddle".

    I would LOVE to really be able to play piano and violin.:thumbup:

     

    Very Cool!!

     

    I play some guitar...enough to keep up with the rest of the family when we're pickin' (iow...enough chords to strum along!)

     

    Oldest ds plays guitar

    Oldest dd plays fiddle

    DD#2 plays banjo and guitar and fiddle (and sings!)

    DD#3 plays the stand up bass

    DD#4 is another fiddle player

    Youngest ds plays beginner mandolin and guitar

     

    Dh plays mostly mandolin, but he can play any of the other instruments mentioned above. He is also a part time luthier and built all of our instruments (except for the baby Taylor guitar that youngest ds plays and my guitar) He mostly likes to build mandolins and has sold about 25 in the last 6 years that he has been doing it!

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