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Hillary in KS

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Posts posted by Hillary in KS

  1. Our local group has, for the past several years, mostly been an e-mail loop. There are lots of smaller groups of people and activities, but it's hard to find them.

     

    So a couple of years ago, we started having classes one day a week, for a few months of the years. We did things that were hard to do alone: choir, pe, and drama. We just finished a production of "Annie" a couple weeks ago. The class day has been wonderful, because most of us gather to do classes. Now, we see each other weekly and we *know* each other. Before, we were all just names on an e-loop.

     

    Another set of moms organize one field trip per month. That's been a great way to meet each other. Last year we had a "Mom's Night" once a month. Everyone brought a treat and each night had a topic: "Homeschooling Through the Holidas," " Organizing Your Home," "Questions for Veterans," etc.

     

    Think about what *you'd* enjoy doing, and make it happen!

  2. We study 2 languages here, and are adding a third next year.

     

    We started with Rosetta Stone Spanish on the computer, and later added a written program to complement it.

     

    After a year of Spanish, we started Latina Christiana 1. So far, there's been no confusion and it has worked really well.

     

    I don't see why you couldn't study both French and Latin, so long as you don't start them at the same time. Maybe start French first (since your dh feels so strongly) and then add Latin next year.

     

    I think another important thing would be to choose programs that aren't high maintenance. Latina Christiana is very straightforward, and easy to follow, as is Rosetta Stone. As a parent, those two programs are pretty simple to manage.

     

    I've never heard anything good about Rosetta Stone's Latin course, but I haven't done it, either. SO, no first hand experience here. Sorry!

  3. We've used Latina Christiana books 1 and 2 and are moving on to Henle. We've LOVED LC books. I highly recommend this program.

     

     

    I've heard good things about Latin prep, but don't know enough about it. We do use Galore Park's Spanish series, and love it. If Latin Prep is similar, that may be a good option as well.

  4. What my bil told me is that allergy shots help about 80 percent of the people who get them, so I'm not surprised that some people can't. My insurance will pay for this, but not allergy medication (we have no prescription coverage) and so I'm thinking of starting in the fall when I can go off Claritin, which really does almost nothing anymore. He did say not to be on antihistamines when I started.

     

    Our allergist did say that the shots have a 90% success rate in children. In medicine, that's HUGE! Even 80% is really good. It's worth doing, in my opinion.

     

    The expensive part of the deal is the mixing of the solution. If you can explain to your Dr. that the insurance does not cover it, they might be willing to discount the injections or something. (Ours are $12 per injection, $150 per 10 shot vial of solution.) I know some people who only pay for the solution, and give themselves the injection. (Most of them are nurses, though.)

  5. We just did this last week.

     

    Call the orthodontist and have them demonstrate and show you how to floss. We went back in to the office to have them show us, because we had the same problems. According to them, it's largely "technique." :) She'll get the hang of it!

     

    Hilllary

  6. I wouldn't be taking medical advice from the owner of a health food store. Period.

     

    We've been doing shots here with ds 12, and we've noticed a DRAMATIC improvement. Ds is basically allergic to everything outside. :) We've gone from taking Allegra 2x per day, year-round, to only needing Allegra during ragweed season (Aug./Sept.). Ragweed is his worst allergen.

     

    We started with 2 shots, once a week and after 2 years are now only receiving shots once every 3 weeks.

     

    Hillary

  7. I wouldn't bother leaving another message. Just go down there before classes begin. You've already left two messages. If she walks away from you tomorrow, then go to the principal.

     

    It'll sound much better to say that you've left two voice mails, and the teacher wouldn't meet with you that morning, than to just say you've left 3 voice mails. KWIM? It shows you've given contacting her through two different mediums (phone and face-to-face) in a good-faith effort and have not had any success.

     

    Hillary

  8. When I was a ps teacher, I saw several students who transferred into our school having previously been homeschooled.

     

    Every single one of them was below grade level. Some alarmingly so. (5th graders who cannot read. 4th graders who couldn't even write their name, etc.) Nearly every one of them had social skills issues: toileting problems, nose-picking, etc.

     

    Had these students been my only exposure to homeschooling, I'd probably be of the opinion that homeschoolers are doing a huge disservice to their children.

     

    Thankfully, I knew several families who were hsing in real life and doing well at it. This exposure balanced my opinions, so I saw both successes and failures.

     

    Now, of course, there are children alarmingly below grade level in the public schools. And, of course, there are children with social skills issues in the schools too. However, there are enough other children to sort of balance them out. You sort of see those kids as exceptions. BUT, when every single homeschooler who comes into your building has problems, you don't get that balance. You tend to lump them all together. I can completely understand why teachers who have only seen hs "failures" may have a negative view of hsing.

     

    I don't know the stories in those children's homes. I don't know what was going on that led their parents to put them in the ps system.

     

    I do think that both hsers and ps teachers need to realize that no system is perfect for every child. The trend in the hs community is to assume that no matter how little you do with your child at home, it's still MUCH better than what a child would receive at school. We need to be honest and understand that there are kids being done a disservice in both systems. But not enough that we can lump either of them together and paint every ps student/teacher or hs student/parent with broad brushes.

  9. Do you belong to a homeschool group in your area?

     

    Every year our group hosts a "Book Look." We get a room at the public library, and bring our favorite curriculum to display. We spend 2-3 hours walking around looking through other people's things and answering questions about what we brought. IT's very casual, and is one of the most well-attended events we have.

     

    It started out with just a few friends meeting in a room at a church, and now we use one of the giant conference rooms at the library. :)

     

    Hillary

  10. We've moved several times and have had to find new peds. The only question I ask is, "Is Dr. So-and-So accepting new patients?"

     

    Honestly? I never ask about the immunizations. I know which ones are supposed to be given when. If there's one I have a question about, I ask for information and tell the Dr. that I'll make an arrangement to be seen (usually you just have to call the nurse and tell them you'd like to come in. No appt. necessary.) after I've read up on the shot.

     

    No one's ever hassled me. They usually appreciate the willingness to read about it first.

     

    If you've never refused a shot, why are you asking about it? Establish a relationship with a Dr., and if the question comes up deal with it then.

  11. Ground beef.

     

    (Except we usually buy ground chuck, which is different than just "beef.")

     

    I grew up in the northeastern US until age 9, and then moved to Idaho. I've heard linguists say that when listening for accents, etc., you want to know where people grrew up from ages 6-12. I kind of split my time, though....

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