Here's where I will confess mine. I can't seem to get through Don Quixote. (There I said it). I kept reading the same 20 pages over and over again because I fell asleep every single time :huh: and I couldn't remember what I read. I finally gave up last November.

DD has just completed 'Jane Eyre'. I'm plodding through 'Sapiens- A brief history of humankind'.

My DD went to a Montessori pre-school+K where they taught her cursive. Alphabet writing was taught through different stages as prescribed by Maria Mont.- first tracing the alphabet in air, then in sand, then on sandpaper letters. all cursive letters, no print. This article gives a brief idea about the process involved. I found the mont approach to writing quite fascinating. There are a couple of online stores that sell these cursive/print sandpaper letters, if you're interested. Ideas on how to make your own from those who've btdt, far cheaper and customisable (if there is such a word :D ) I did use books like this one with the tiny arrows on the letters when she was much older for extra writing practice. HTH.

Multilingual here (Speak 5, read/write in 4). Educated in a big metro (India), Medium of Instruction was English, and schooling 1st-5th was : First language (English), Second language (Hindi, in this case) and third language (State or regional language). From 6th-10th: 1st language: English (MoI), Second language: State language, and choice for third language between foreign language (French, German, Spanish etc) and Ancient Indian language (Sanskrit). 11th-12th: English and 2nd language (choice b/w National and state) Classes from 1st to 12th were taught by native speakers of that language, homework was a mix of : Grammar, reading a chapter and answering questions based on that chapter (long and short responses), essays, MCQs,. Tested orally and written. Expected to know arithmetic (counting, telling time etc) in the studied language too. Grammar + literature studies in all formally studied languages. All languages (except Sanskrit) studied at school were/are used in my immediate community. ETA: I forgot to mention that I speak more languages than I learned in school because my native language is distinct and not a part of my birth state schooling system. I picked up another regional language as an adult, but can't write/read in it due to lack of consistent formal study/practice. ETA 2: Spoke native language at home, English at school, Switch between English+Hindi+state language with everyone else (friends, neighbors etc).

Not a visualisation or memory trick, but how about Cursive writing? b and d are written distinctly in cursive. b is written with a loop, d isn't.

Sounds like pubertal brain fog to me. Could it be? In any case, no harm in going over the concepts until he's comfortable applying them. Good luck!

Can he use trial and error to figure out 'x'? i.e. What value of x will satisfy -13-5x=-12. This might take a long long time, but will drive home the need for a consistent method or strategy. fwiw, When any kid doesn't know where to begin given an equation, I review the following concepts quickly. Maybe these concepts are individually very basic, but many kids trip when all of them need to be applied together. 1- Additive inverse: In this case: what number when added to -13 equals 0? 2- Integer operations.: adding and subtracting integers. 3- Operations on negative fractions. 4- What is: a term, like and unlike terms, and algebraic expression.

I tried it when DD was between 5 and 6. I found it too time consuming for me to stay one step ahead of DD, stay alert for a learning opportunity and jump in. I'm not cut out to be an unschooling mum. :D YMMV DD thrived though. She loved the bunny trails, the games, the books; it was all 'play'.

When a child starts asking questions like 'does the number line extend both ways' 'are there numbers less than 0?' 'Is zero the smallest ever number?' 'Does infinity extend in all directions?'. Every single child (who I've tutored and taught) who asked questions about numbers beyond natural/counting numbers has been ready for the abstraction in Algebra. Alternatively, when I suspect a child is ready, I introduce the concept of a variable and see where it goes. Integers are introduced in 4th or 5th grade in most schools in India, Algebra 6th grade. Some children are definitely ready much earlier. As early as 1st grade (6 yrs) and as late as 7th grade (12 years). ETA: Typos!

OP: Probably a little late to the discussion, nevertheless; DD has had her share of math curricula thanks to an overenthusiastic mum. MEP, AoPS, Singapore Math, Jacobs, Dolciani, Foerster, and Indian authored textbooks. After a lot of $$$, I've come to the conclusion that her best math resource? Me! :lol: . On a serious note, Foerster has come closest to having the right balance of application+concept for my DD. ymmv. P.S. I really really like 'Algebra' - Gelfand. If I could go back in time and redo *my* math schooling, I would choose Gelfand. ETA: On second thought, deleted my opinion on AoPS. Don't want to get into that discussion online.

The PPs have offered great suggestions. Ditto to all of them. YMMV, but If I had an opportunity to re-parent my DD's toddler years again; this is what I would do more of: 1- Free and unlimited access to outdoors- with maybe a cheap phone camera (to take pictures), a magnifying glass, binoculars, and a clear container to collect bits of nature. And an adult who loves the outdoors and doesn't mind the million questions of curious minds 2- Unlimited access to books 3- A telescope 4- Formal exposure to classical music. 5- Informal exposure to aesthetics- through museum trips, nature walks, fine art, abstract art etc. 6- Invest in and learn to guide Montessori material for ages 3-6, especially math manipulatives. What I would do less of: 1- visual media. 2- writing, drawing, cutting, pasting or any fine motor related 'bench' activity. These have its place in the grand scheme of things but, in hindsight, not at 2 or 3.

Too cute!

nm. Deleted because post was O/T

Links? Or is this a general impression from the news about India in western media? ETA: I'll be the first to admit India has a problem with patriarchy( and related issues); but no more or less than any other diverse secular developing country. To club it with Saudi Arabia/Afghanistan and Russia is misleading. ETA 2: Domestic Violence Act 2005 Quoting: Given that Patriarchy typically presents an environment where women are pitted against one another; I would say this is a very progressive development which protects DILs living in multi-generational families from getting physically, emotionally harassed by her MIL or SIL. ETA 3: Laws against DV since 1983 ETA 4: The problem wrt DV lies not just in implementing the legislature, but also acknowledging that DV occurs at all! Often, wives shield their husbands from being taken into custody by the police when neighbours or relatives report the DV. I'm probably being quite simplistic, but this has much to do with the idea of 'Pati (husband) vrata(vow)'; taken to its extreme form. And as usual, very conveniently men forget that they need to be 'Patni vrata'(wife vow) too. :glare:.

My favorite is "The Annotated Alice" by Martin Gardner. It includes both 'Alice in wonderland' and 'Through the looking glass' with original illustrations by John Tenniel. IMO, a work of beauty. We have this edition.

Thank you, and I get the gist and the implications of what you all are saying; although you come from different sub-groups of christianity (?). I was a bit lost when someone up thread mentioned LDS as they're not a widely known group in my country. See, here's the thing. I grew up in a very socio-culturally and economically diverse city with an attitude of 'live and let live'. Place it in a secular country where religion and constitutional rights exist fairly comfortably without infringing on the scope of one another. I had a neighbour growing up who, in hindsight, was gay. He and his partner lived and behaved like a regular married couple (20+ years ago) I think I was 9? 10? when I naively asked my mother about it. She shut me down pretty quickly and told me to mind my own business. :D. AFAIK and remember, our behaviour towards this couple didn't change in any way. They continued to stay a part of the community enjoying the same rights as anyone else. Now, I'm aware that my context is likely very different from yours (christian members); but I'm curious as to how do you respond to a situation where you have a neighbor who is LGBTQ or your child has a friend who is LGBTQ? ETA: Please don't misunderstand my curiosity of micro-interactions in your family and community. I'm merely trying to figure out if you (specific you) can take a non-discriminatory approach wrt LGBTQ despite your religious beliefs.

I think many Christians don't realise that denying the LGBTQ the same rights as themselves (right to love/marry/cohabit/have children/live in dignity etc) is a denial of human rights. Either one is for granting the same and equal rights to 'all' fellow human beings or against. There is no neutral ground in human rights.

Thank you. I wish the members on this thread who defend their right to call LGBTQ 'sinners' would also chime in with their interpretation. I wish there was an emoji to describe how utterly disheartening it is to read the above post. The amount of hate towards fellow human beings; whatever their gender and sexual orientation!

As a non christian and with my limited experience of Christianity; I was under the impression that some parts of the scriptures were meant to be taken symbolically and the others literally. How does a christian decide which scripture to use, when to use it and how to use it? I see the religious ladies on this thread insisting that their position(on LGBTQ) is informed by the bible, but I get the impression that each person is quoting a different verse? ( insert the right word used to describe the passages) Are there these many passages or verses talking about sexual orientation? What about gender orientation?

Anorexia, NPD (not the colloquial social media version of 'my mom has NPD), depression and anxiety are categorised as mental disorders by mental health professionals in the DSM 5. Gender dysphoria is considered a condition not a disorder under DSM 5. Secondly, using religion as a solution for your daughters immense physical and mental torment (which I'm fairly certain she's going through) is so.....medieval. Thirdly, one would, I suppose 'add' or 'remove' body parts if it is a danger to one's health.? Hysterectomy, mastectomy are just a few examples. Lastly, and maybe this question is meant for christians at large- What would you do if a child is born missing an ovary or a uterus or some other reproductive organ? How would you raise him/her? and what if that upbringing clashes with how the child feels internally?

I highly doubt the group of people that suggest the first "no contact with family who are difficult/emotionally abusive" ; are the same as the group of people that suggest "don't cut off people who live contrary to your moral code". There might be overlaps sure; but lets not conflate the two groups. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and claim that people who accept non-binary gender and non-normative sexual orientation are also tolerant of extended family dynamics and idiosyncrasies.

I'm not Christian; I don't practice or follow any organised religion. I do have a lot of sympathy for your daughter, Endometriosis is a horrid painful condition. Having said that, I am curious about your post. Can you explain the bolded; especially the "True selves". What do you mean by this and how does this reconcile with what you said about "brain lying to her".

As far as I'm concerned; any action that increases love in the world is :thumbup1:. Whatever the gender orientation or sexual orientation. fwiw, its interesting that religion? or the religious? concern themselves so much with, to be crass, the happenings in the bedroom. As long as its not marital rape or domestic violence; its ridiculous that the sexual life of individuals comes under the scope of religion.

IMhO, Sociology and/or anthropology.

How about sitcoms? Some of the below are in syndication, might be available over netflix. The mindy project Blackish Modern family Frasier Seinfeld Golden girls Malcolm in the middle