provenance61
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Everything posted by provenance61
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Help, need input ASAP as we are at a deadline for making a decision on our testing this spring! We've done IOWA testing with our two children in the past, through a co-op setting. I'm wondering what other testing others have done at home. Pros/cons on different tests? Either online or paper tests would be okay, and I have a bachelors so would meet that requirement if there is one. I did crosspost this on the general forum, but what I didn't explain there -- we should technically have a special large print testing booklet. It's the cost that is so high this year. So I'm wondering if we can avoid that cost. Either by using better magnification equipment at home, or an online version that would enable her to zoom in. At any rate, it would be better if I could do the accommodation at home. I should also add that we don't have any reporting requirement for our testing -- it's just that I want a record of progress and more info on strengths/weaknesses. I am actually interested in one like the IOWA (to test and compare with grade level) -- and then additionally one later that would test aptitude. Has anyone here done this at home with special needs? Thank you for your help!
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We've done IOWA testing with our two children in the past, through a co-op setting. I'm wondering what other testing others have done at home. Pros/cons on different tests? Either online or paper tests would be okay, and I have a bachelors so would meet that requirement if there is one. I've heard that Stanford can also be done at home, although I'd have to recheck this. And IOWA now has an online (more $$$) version. Need info ASAP today, as I need to make a decision on whether to proceed with IOWA testing or not this spring! Thank you for your help!
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I'm wondering how many use Acellus to supplement their curriculum. Pros? Cons? Suggestions? Am thinking of using the tutoring mode just as an extra. My DD likes variety, and I'm thinking that supplementing and being able to test and jump to what is needed may be very helpful.
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Yes, I've read the pinned post on math programs and did a search for TT and Algebra. What I need is some honest feedback at this point. Our DS is interested in science and technology, and always did well in math. Until algebra, where he's encountered some difficulty. We're currently using Holt through publisher with online materials. However, even with some repetition he's continuing to have difficulty with some of the concepts. I'm wondering if something more straightforward would help. I'm drawn to Teaching Textbooks because of the online gradebook and constant feedback. Questions: Would TT Algebra be a solid course? He did the placement tests but I'd not be comfortable in placing him into Algebra 2 at this point. (I'd thought TT was a year behind, but not sure about higher grades). He's currently between 1/2-2/3 done with Algebra in terms of going through book, but I don't think his skill level reflects this. I'm thinking about starting him at beginning and testing through the TT Algebra I until he has difficulty, and then starting lessons at that point. Is this a good approach? Any other feedback on TT Algebra, good or bad? This is a very intelligent kid but he does have some difficulty focusing. We'd always thought he was geared to go the math/science route but we're off to a later start and he really is showing more strengths at this age in some other areas.
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Deerforest -- my thoughts exactly. A bit confusing, until I got some help with it. Lori -- your breakdown (general) was great! This will be a big help. Now I'm starting to think about English, wondering if there's a standard progression for college-bound students.
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Thank you, this is very helpful. I'm still digesting some of the details. As far as following public school requirements -- I was under the impression that we had to give an "equivalent" education. Possibly not the same requirements, but I was planning to use the requirements as a starting point. Also, I'm concerned about the PARCC tests (for those in NJ who know about these). Right now they are not required for HS diploma but I'm concerned about this possibility in the future. If so, I'd like to make sure DS has the coursework to do these tests. And thanks for the reminder about colleges having different requirements -- someone above just posted about Rutgers. That was helpful especially because they translated into academic credits, which was easier to understand! Where do we start if we don't know yet where DS will be attending? Just start looking at requirements and majors and make sure we build on the minimums? That's what I'd think. I do know he's interested in science careers. Which brings to mind one other question. If the science credits are larger b/c of labs...do other Homeschoolers list labs separately on the transcript? For instand, we're doing biology at home but a lab through co-op (some overlap but most of the labs at co-op). Would this reinforce that we are doing labs with him?
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I'm in NJ and having difficulty interpreting our graduation requirements. When I was in school (many years ago and in another state) requirements were "1 year of", "4 years of", etc. \ But our state requirements include: 20 credits (including English I-IV) At least 3.75 credits per year in physical education, health & safety during each year of enrollment, distributed as 150 minutes per week 15 credits of math (including Algebra 1, Geometry) 15 credits of science 15 credits of social studies (including Modern World History/ geography, U.S. History I & II) 5 credits of world languages 5 credits of 21st century life & careers 2.5 credits of financial, economic and entrepreneurial literacy 5 credits visual and performing arts 15 credits of electives for total of 120 credits So...could someone help me please translate this into years of study? I mean, it seemed clear at first with 20 credits of English, divided by 4 years, 5 credit hours for each year. Math too. But then 5 credits of foreign languages? How would you divide that into years? Etc. Is this just set up for a public school system which has to calculate how many times a week a class would meet? How do you do this as a homeschooler? Thank you for any help here!
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Thank you for all the replies so far...so it seems that most start with geography in 9th grade. And that the order is most typically (although there is some room for variation): Geography World History U.S. History Government/Economics What if we were to follow this rough order: U.S. History + Government/Civics World History/Geography U.S. History II Modern World History + 1 semester Economics/Personal Finance (not sure yet about the order of these last 2 years) What would be the pros/cons of this? Or at least starting first year with U.S. History I and Government. And if we did, what would you recommend for following years? We are just interested in doing a year of U.S. History and Government now, especially in terms of current U.S. politics. I should include that we did take a chronological/classical approach to history early on, so DS has had world history from ancients to modern already. These would just be more in-depth courses. P.S. As far as our state's requirements -- how on earth do we interpret "15 credits, to include modern world history/geography, U.S. history I & II"? I'm wondering how you would decide which courses are 1 year long and which only a semester. The earlier comments look like some people do geography as 1 year and some not.
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What is the usual progression of studies in high school, as far as U.S. History I, II, Modern World History, and Geography? Our state requires all of these, for a total of 15 credits. However, I don't see any requirement at all for U.S. Government/Civics. We definitely want to include this. Would appreciate any recommendations about the order of these courses. I'm thinking of U.S. History I and U.S. Government/Civics simultaneously. Would this be a problem?
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I'm teaching a high school class for the first time. For those of you who have taught high school at a co-op, do you have a specific format for grade reports? OR if your students have just taken a class at co-op -- what information do you typically receive? I'm trying to come up with a format that would be helpful but not overly detailed. I do have a course syllabus with a detailed course description and grade breakdown (% for each component). However, I curved quite a bit in the course, and gave extra credit. So I'm wondering how to report grades now. Any help/suggestions would be much welcomed.
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We're doing an online Algebra course, but it's a LOT of screen time. I'm planning to either rent or buy the print textbook which is aligned with the course. This is through HMH. But when I look it up on Amazon -- they also offer an "interactive student edition." Can anyone explain what that is? I am LOST in the sea of HMH algebra textbooks on Amazon. LOL.
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Anyone use Schoolhouse Teachers online resources?
provenance61 replied to provenance61's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
Thanks Ruthie. My DD is 9. In 4th, but reading at about 3rd grade level. I'm looking for something that she'll be able to work on independently. Not as the entire curriculum, but a supplement. It would be best if it's accessible on iPad. Any info would be helpful. is this something that is directed at parent/teacher -- or for students? Is it just words and pictures online? -
I'm familiar with Schoolhouse Magazine, and they apparently have a division called Schoolhouse Teachers which has curriculum online. They're currently having a sale (until 1/15). Has anyone used this curriculum? Feedback and/or suggestions? I'm looking for online resources and curriculum for our daughter. I don't want something where you have to print a lot -- just online videos etc.
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Our 9 year old wants a camera. It needs to be durable, and I'd like it to be digital. But not costly. Any suggestions?
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Calming Tea -- thank you too for both your replies. I really understand what you mean about not making life harder. We have hit the 3rd year of Latin here, which is...really hard. And then we still need another language during HS. In terms of college, it's likely that our DS will go into some area of science. Most likely engineering or something in that area, rather than biology. He is way involved in robotics. I'm just concerned that taking biology in 9th would not allow him the time to get a more advanced science class later down the road. So you would recommend biology in 8th, then AP biology, then chemistry and physics? That would be the "track?" I really don't understand the AP courses and how many you need, as I far predate any of that. And then back to the original question -- you'd still recommend honors even if taking it in 8th? Would that make it any easier if he went on with AP biology? But I'm wondering if it would really matter so much if it won't be on his transcript as honors. Why did you really regret not doing honors? For the HS transcript?
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dmmetler -- Thanks for recommending the Holt-McDougal text! Did you buy direct from the publisher? And then get the online materials there? I saw everything on Amazon seems to be a state version. If you can give some suggestions about how to get it and where to find additional materials (multiple levels of labs, etc) I'd really appreciate it.
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Thank you both! Can I ask about the honors...would you recommend honors even if still 8th grade? If we count as 8th grade the biology (and/or the algebra) wouldn't be on transcript just noted as having been taken prior to HS. Also, a question just for Calming Tea...did you do biology in 8th or 9th? We have 2E considerations as well.
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Our son is gifted but 2E, interested in possibly going into engineering or science. He's currently in 8th. We're trying to decide now between honors or regular biology. How do you decide? What are the options for courses which give teaching materials and grading info, but where you will do the grading (i.e., no transcript). At this point we're "testing the waters". And if you buy a regular biology course, and decide to then progress further/faster, can you make it honors -- how? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!
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I didn't rush our son through math and science. He's gifted but 2E and needs more time with working problems. (Actually it's interesting because some computation takes longer, especially with steps -- yet he flew through pre-algebra mostly working through book by himself.) He is interested in possibly going into engineering or science. We'd like to start him now in algebra, but are hesitant to decide whether to go with honors or regular algebra. How do you decide? And what are the options for online? We are considering Calvert but they really don't give details other than honors algebra moves a bit faster and gets into some algebra 2 concepts at end of year. Any other options? We want something solid.
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We're looking for a good, self-paced biology course and algebra course. What we really want is self-paced, with textbook (NOT all online if possible!) but also supporting materials. Something that could be started now, and completed over the academic year and summer. Our son is very bright, but does need more time and everything written -- so an online lecture class is not the best choice for us at this time. Any recommendations? We'd like something that would be well respected on college transcripts.
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DS is interested in stop motion animation, and looking for an app. He has an Android. He looked around and came up with PicPac Stop Motion & TimeLapse. Any other suggestions? I just said let's take a look at what's out there, perhaps someone has comments/suggestions for apps that might be helpful.
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Thank you all for the suggestions, they are great! I'm going to sift through them all and work out our approach. Hunter, someone mentioned your curriculum. Does that mean you have a blog/website?
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- comstock
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I'm planning to start a nature study with our 9 year old and several others. We're going to do a series of weekly unit studies, and had already planned to use Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Studies. I was looking at Pinterest for activities, and stumbled across Handbookofnaturestudies.com, "home of the one-hour nature study." It appears to be short units with worksheets, videos, and other resources correlated to Comstock's handbook. Has anyone used this and would be willing to give feedback? Any other recommended resources would be welcome as well.
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- comstock
- handbook of nature study
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Oh Elizabeth -- We have an iPhone (me) and an Android (DS). And our desktop and laptop PCs are Windows. So something that works across platforms would be great. (We also have an iPad and Kindle, but use those much less.) He can set alarms on his phone -- but realistically I'll be doing a lot of that. He just won't remember until it becomes habit, and really ingrained habit at that. I just discovered Google Keep today, am going to check that out. As well as Homeschool Planet for scheduling both of us! Right now I've been using Cozi to schedule family events and also do daily to-do lists for both kids. But I want something with more features and he's acvtually asking for something that tells him more about what to do in what order. My prioritized to-do lists aren't quite doing it, he does forget to look at them. ;) What kind of calendars do the color coding/syncing across both kinds of devices, the ones you use? Cozi color codes, but doesn't really have enough reminders for us. I'm thinking we may have to move to Google calendar and Google Keep perhaps.
