Hmmm....that's not what we as parents were told. The teacher said that she keeps telling the kids to keep doing their problems even when other kids are done. I kind of found that weird because my daughter said it is hard to stay focused when other kids are getting up and leaving the room, and she is still working. Heard the same thing from many other kids/parents. Oh well, who knows. And yes, I am not worried, I know the principal will get back to me sometime. I feel better realizing that the practice site wasn't put out by the NWEA, but still - the school told us to have the kids do it, makes me wonder what really is on those tests. Never really gave much thought to it before (didn't think I had to.)

So, I have not heard back yet. My guess is that he is probably looking into this. We just moved to this district, and a lot of people really like him as a principal. I don't think most schools would look at that article and agree that it is appropriate for 9 y/o or 8 y/o. The way those MAPS test work, is that kids keep testing until they got X number wrong. So, if you have a 7 y/o that is a strong reader, yep, they start to get into this type of "informational text". I say 7 because my friend's 7 y/o hit the same number of reading level as my dd did at 9. I actually sent the article/link also to NWEA/MAPS testing and just asked them is this the "type" of articles that are on the tests, etc. I will see what they say too. Obviously, I know they can't say anything much, but still, interested in seeing their answer. Either way, this experience makes me just wonder that much more about the PS system, etc

Like I said, this was the link the parents were given to have our kids "practice" MAPS testing. We were told by the school that these are the "type of questions" that will be on the test. I have sent this to the principal to look into it. If in fact the MAPS testing place does not put questions out there like this, great. But, it sure raises my eyebrows. I would love to know where all these test questions came from. Hmmmm.

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm So, here is the link I found it on. This is the link the school gave me to have my dd practice. Go under the "informational text" section and click on over 220. That is where she is to be testing. It looks like it is from another school district, but supposedly these are example questions from the actual MAPS test. I am so...dumbfounded, for lack of a better word. I actually am thinking of going to the school board on this one, maybe an a.m. radio station too. For pete's sake!

I do believe it is required by the school. Although, I did send the link also to her principal, who I like a lot. I am curious what he has to say. Makes me wonder, what else is on the tests? Discussions about condoms? The crazy thing is that after the above article, the question she had to answer was a multiple choice one on what is the topic sentence, etc. Just blows my mind.

Edited to change the title - it is not a NWEA/MAPS site, it is a link that my kids school wants my kid to practice on. Still, raises my eyebrows to think what really IS on the tests. Okay, my oldest is 9 years old and is trying our new charted school in fall (she actually went the last 5 weeks of last school year and loved it). I know along with having her in PS we have to accept some things we disagree with, but I never expected this. Our dd tested high in reading in her MAPS testing, so the practice tests that she is to do, are of course at the highest level. Mind you, this is the level she will be at in school anyways. We were shocked that this crap is even out there. Really?! "According to a 1999 study conducted by a University of Florida professor, every year, more than 200 international matchmaking services operating in the United States arrange about 6,000 marriages between American men and foreign women. Most of these women, commonly referred to as "mail-order brides," come from the former Soviet Union, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The matchmaking industry persuades the women that wealthy American husbands will provide them a better life. To its male customers, the industry markets an image of an "exotic" but submissive wife who will be easy to control. Despite criticism that mail-order marriages encourage the stereotype of dominant men and submissive women, many of these matches do seem to be successful. However, a few recent cases of domestic violence and even murder have given the mail-order bride industry a bad name and prompted women's and immigrants' rights groups to complain that the industry lacks adequate regulation. Yet there are no statistics on the extent of the abuse suffered by mail-order brides, and some people claim that the men are actually the ones who are most often victimized by mail-order marriages. The claim is that foreign women agree to marry American men only to gain U.S. citizenship. Then they falsely report physical abuse so that they can divorce but remain in the country. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have introduced legislation that would require American men seeking mail-order brides to submit to criminal background checks and disclose any prior history of domestic violence incidents. (Source of information: David Crary, "Abuse of Mail-order Foreign Brides Prompts Effort to Oversee Fast-growing Industry," AP Worldstream, July 5, 2003; Leela Jacinto, "Importing Brides," ABC News, July 10, 2003, http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/US/mailorder030710_bill.html)

What did work then? I am open to all ideas. :)

I have been looking at Teaching Textbooks lately, and am intrigued. I do have MOTL and love it, albeit a lot of work on my end. But, now that my kiddo is enrolled in a charter school, and they are paying for the curriculum, there is this part of me saying, what else is out there that might ignite something in my kiddo. I do know that TT has gotten a "bad rap" from several on the WTM. But then I see how many have said it was great for their kids. I would do it with her, and supplement with my MOTL 5 a days. I like it that it would help ME show my dd different ways to figure out a problem. To be honest, my kiddo has to work so hard on reading, spelling, and writing - which is all coming from the teacher-ME. That maybe, having her do some math with me not being quite so center stage might be a good thing. Hope that makes sense. What math programs have worked for your kiddo? Thanks.

What a great idea! I need to follow this thread. Thanks.

My year old has really struggled with handwriting. We started with HWOT, we took a break when I realized she had a huge vision issue. Now we are back to working hard on it. I don't particularly love their cursive though. What has worked best for you struggling writer? Thanks.

I have it, and love it a lot. The tears stopped with one of my kids, and the other asks for her 5 a day. It has helped me understand that it is okay to learn math "out of sequence", and keep making progress.

I am really trying to figure out what to do for history for 8 year old. I am looking at unique and traditional ways of doing it. One thought I had is that she is my music lover. She hears a Mozart piece, and knows it. Hmmmm...is there a way to learn history through music? Say classical music?

I am tagging along too on this. I am considering it. I have two of their older ones (for 9-11 y/o), and they are great. Thanks.

We have been doing SOTW for 2 years now...I love it. I am hearing from her that she wants a different history. I am also willing to do a geography/history curriculum too. Okay, give them to me...what are/were your favorites? Thanks.

As a part of history...I read about American Girl books and turning them into a type of history unit. I swear there was a post about this sometime, does anyone know of that thread or have any links to it? My 8 year old is still struggling with reading, I am trying to bring as many books into her day as possible. This is another way I am thinking of doing so...I will be reading the books to her, and as she gets better, my hopes is we end with her doing more reading out loud than me. :) Thanks.

what is/was it? I need ideas. My oldest taught herself to read mostly. My middle, well, that's another story. Phonics is hard - we are working on that. Reading, well, that is hard, she is reading at a 2nd grade level - but hates it. Writing/spelling - closer to a first grade level. She is now 8, technically going into third grade, and just got accepted into a charter school that pays for $1500 for non-religious curriculum. So, I am trying to think of different curriculum that is out there or just what worked for you kids. Thanks.

Yes, all great ideas! I have Peggy Kaye's books, so I need to look through those more again. I have simply charlotte mason business math pet store, I need to dive into that with her. My other dd just loves to learn, but then again, it comes easy for her. I feel for my younger dd, but I feel it is my job to find the key that will ignite her passion for learning. She lights up with music and art, hmmmmm...how to turn that more into reading and writing.

to want to learn. My little 8 year old is this sweet natured girl who has struggled with school since she was enrolled in ps kindergarten. I have hsed her the last 2 years. She is working with a SLP and OT for different things. I get that we need to focus on the 3 R's, but I don't want to keep playing to her weaknesses (reading and writing). I am trying to think of creative ways to sneak in reading and writing and play to her strengths (music, art) Yes, can you say right brain kiddo? Any thoughts? Thanks

Maybe, I will look into it. What I liked about MFW ECC was how they set it up, hmmmm, could I do it without any Bible work? Or atleast, do the Bible on my own time and not have the school pay for those books.

Thanks, I have actually been contemplating that too, but am not sure if it is going to be too hard.

...for my 8 year old dd. I have realized that maybe, just maybe, I need to be playing more towards her strengths and not weaknesses. She is my more right brained kid. Reading is coming, but slower. She likes math, loves art and music. She will sit and listen to SOTW and do the activities, but I am thinking of taking a break from the typical history this year (or not), and add in geography. I was looking at MFW ECC, but we are probably going through a charter school that pays $1500 for curriculum. So it can't be religious. Any thoughts? Thanks.

...for my 8 year old dd. I have realized that maybe, just maybe, I need to be playing more towards her strengths and not weaknesses. She is my more right brained kid. Reading is coming, but slower. She likes math, loves art and music. She will sit and listen to SOTW and do the activities, but I am thinking of taking a break from the typical history this year (or not), and add in geography. I was looking at MFW ECC, but we are probably going through a charter school that pays $1500 for curriculum. So it can't be religious. Any thoughts? Thanks.

So, I am still planning my school year for next year. My 8 year old would love to learn about flowers for science. Any thoughts on curriculum or books that would meet this or how I can do this?

Thanks Elizabeth. You know, one thing her piano teacher told me that really hit home was "remember, she has to work twice as hard to do what she does". Mind you, her piano teacher is a retired second grade teacher who is "pushing" homeschooling for this dd. I needed to hear that reminder. I think I just have to understand that this dd is on a different timetable of school. Who cares if she doesn't follow the norm. I have been reading The Right Side of Normal, and that is giving me good ideas - like playing to her strengths, not weaknesses. Like, since her vision is still an issue, why not go heavier on the science, or history, or geography? I also started reading How To Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and on to Learning. That too is full of great ideas. Thanks.

So, I have posted quite a bit about one of my kiddos. We moved, and our current public school just became a magnet/charter school for the integrated arts, creativity and design. Honestly, my older one, who is now 9, was driving me crazy while I was hsing. She was taking up too much of my time, my kiddo who needs extra help, wasn't getting the time she needed. So, my older one went to ps for the last 5 weeks, and loved it. I started thinking, oh, maybe my middle kiddo can go and do well, and I can just really spend time with my little guy. In my heart, I knew she probably needs to stay home. Today, I decided, she will stay home. It is what she wants. It is what is best. I was just getting so burnt out, trying to do it all. So, she is doing Fast Forword. She is on the second level and doing well. Writing and reading, still hard, but I am not pushing the reading at all, because she is doing FF. Writing, she is seeing an OT, who picked up on the writing difficulties, and she is going to work on this (her other OT never even evaluated her writing). She also still has vision issues/tracking issues going on (even after VT), but her new OT said her vestibular system is not functioning good, so her visual system is going to be effected too because of that. So, my thought is back to my last plan: math is Math on the Level, Language arts is FF, slowly add more writing (?), she loves her piano (she actually talks more in piano lesson than sometimes in a whole day). Not sure what I want to add in for others. I have Human Body Detectives from last year that we didn't finish. I have SOTW that we didn't quite finish either (do you see a pattern here). She loves art. We have the Home Art Studio. Any thoughts are ALWAYS appreciated. Thanks.