74Heaven
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Posts posted by 74Heaven
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As a longtime homeschooling mom who rarely goes to conferences and rarely does anything "for myself" I thoroughly enjoyed the 3day practicum, the overview of classical education and the IEW free parent TWSS (units 1-4, 6) that was offered. I have taught IEW via videos for years but had never completed the TWSS.
My 7yo (geodrawing) and 10yo and 13yo (IEW) loved their classes, teacher and new friends!
The practicum was split up, roughly CC intro on day one morning; Classical methods and CC info on days 2 & 3 mornings. For the most part, the afternoon sessions were IEW teaching, Pudewa tapes and the moms practicing and learning about the IEW processes.
It seemed most of the moms were fairly new to homeschooling and classical methodology. Most of the kids that they had were in the 0-8yo set. I felt a little old and like much of the info was "things I already knew". But, I liked the 3 days for "me" and that the kids were well cared for and had a wonderful time and wrote several paragraphs for the IEW class.
I think I have decided not to help start a CC community in my town. Mostly because of the cost and the amt. of work that would fall to me as a Challenge (gr 7,8+) director/tutor and my own huge workload that I already have. It is just not the right fit for our family.
I seriously considered it just for the accountability for me; the curriculum looked pretty good and my children would have loved the co op friends and families. The CC presenter was warm, friendly and encouraging. I'm sure she does a good job as a Challenge tutor! The materials in the younger grades looked great. I had some preconceptions on the gr9-12 material, primarily because I have taught those grades with my daughters and the CC "way" looked a little too far away from the "Textbook/co op while still being classical" route that we had traveled. The CC way seemed to be very classical and very knowledge-seeking but it was a bit out of my confort zone for a high school diploma from home route.
Bottom line, I just don't think i have it in me right now to take on the director's role and respsponsibilities.
Lisaj, mom to 5
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I am strongly considering First Form for a Latin co op class I am teaching. I have used LfC and Latina Christiana and sat in while an excellent teacher taught the Henle Year One book. I am a novice teacher and will teach a class of 5th thru 10th graders. (Prob mostly 5-7th graders.)
So I am wondering, does First Form come in Classical and Ecclesiastical pronunciations? I couldn't seem to find that info on the website?
Anyone have tips for a classroom of beginners? And a beginner teacher?
Thanks
Lisaj
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Oh boy, my 10yo son is asking me daily "when those Iowa tests are coming back" because they get a candy bar or Wii time coupon for each test score over 92% and he is sure he will get quite a few. We'll see, the tests are prob. 2-3 weeks away since we tested in early June?
I've always shared the results and the kids are always curious. I always go over them individually and the news always travels fast because there is very little "private" info around here ;).
lj
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I can't remember what it is called: maybe the "IEW Essay Intensive" on DVDs with Andrew Pudewa. It was very good and I'd like to do it again. We did it over 2 days (maybe 3 days) a week apart over Christmas break. It seems like there was about 1.5-2hrs of video instruction; then we'd write - then that video/write keeps repeating. It seems to me we did it in 2 or 3 6hr sessions? HTH!
I think you can get a daily prompt from the college board website - to practice your essay writing skills.
Lisa
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I would go to the effort to get it out of storage (you'll have to do that anyway, right, to sell it?), take new photos and try craigslist again.
Also look into furniture consignment (resale) stores in your area.
If either of those do not work, I would donate it and take the tax deduction. Honestly, unless it's going to sell for over maybe $150, you should be able to make up that amount of money by cutting back in other areas for a while (ie, renting a smaller storage space?).
put the picture in the ad and explain how the real desk is similiar to the one pictured.
On our craigslist, unless the desk is very nice wood and great appearance, desks are a dime a dozen.
lisaj
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Our focus is protein and fruit. Every morning. So here are some protein servings at our house:
almonds (can't remember amount, 1/3 cup?)
sunflower seeds (I think 1/3 cup is 10g protein approx)
cottage cheese
yogurt
whole wheat or other bagels (10g protein)
peanut butter on anything :) or in a spoon in a rush
milk or homemade yogurt smoothie
leftover meat/protein dinner dishes
eggs in all forms
vegetarian or regular lean sausage
About half of these are available to be chosen at any given time. The kids are pretty good about getting their own breakfast. Blueberry or chocolate chip pancakes or waffles once a week :).
lisaj
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Here is the Awana store
Not sure if you can order the verse books as an individual. My mom is the secretary at her church and does all the orders. I'll pop her a quick email:)
(Maybe try registering to see if that shows up more items to order https://store.awana.org/AwanaRegistration.aspx ?)
Email me and I'll help you out. I have last year's (finished in May 2010) T&T book 2 and Sparks Book 2 Wing Runner. I see no problem with this as you explain it!
ljdeerparkATaol.com
lisa
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I would do the "Prerequisite" chapter. It was a good introduction to how much thinking and work goes into precalc questions. Also, for us, it was a good intro to "learn how to use the graphing calculator" which was a steep learning curve for us. (I've heard others have the same hard time getting familiar with the graphing calculator if you haven't used it yet.) If it is a no brainer, you should be able to do it in 7-8 school days.
lisaj,
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Barb, I use the same scale as AngieW. However, I am thinking of switching to the scale used at the local Christian high school, which is more like yours. I don't have it handy, but I know that basically:
A = 93-100 = 4.0
A- = 90-92= 3.7
B+ = 88-89 = 3.5
B = 84-87 = 3.0
B- = 81-83 = 2.7 etc.
The percentages listed above for the Chrisitian school are close but not exact. I'll look them up and edit them. Also, I found that my daughters' gpas were almost identical no matter which way I did it. In both cases, the A- and B+ (for example) seemed to balance each other out.
Lisaj
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I would ask the school what their behavior expectations are and really talk to the teachers. You may find that a thumb sucking first grader isn't exactly unique, or you may find a highly academic K program is perfect for him.
is very rigorous and I wouldn't be surprised if there were other 1st graders with advanced academic and reading skills. Especially with boys, I would strongly consider maturity issues in placement.
Girls too, my girls are academically advanced but very late puberty and I've found my advanced 15.5yo dtr to struggle a bit socially. Puberty hits pretty hard for some kids.
Lisaj
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When I came home from college, my father and I used to butt heads over curfew until we had a huge fight about it. I insisted that the curfew was stupid, because I was out much later, on my own, at college. He responded that he knew it might not be logical, but it was what he needed me to do for his peace of mind when I was living in his house. Well, duh ... when you put it that way it makes perfect sense, and I stopped arguing and obeyed curfew. Honesty and a desire for mutual respect go further than rules which seem to be arbitrary on the surface.
I really like this. This is an example of a young person who showed respect and love to her father. She willingly submitted her perceived "rights" to consider the "needs" of her father. That is how it should work when the teen is valuing the relationship.
Alas, lots of teens are too self-centered to make this work. Too impulsive. Too rebellious.
My 18yo daughter recently made some pretty bad decisions. She agreed they were bad decisions and said "well, I just didn't think".
I commented, "Freedom and Not Thinking Equal Disaster"
lisaj
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Unfortunately homeschooling costs are not qualified expenditures. I seem to remember that it may be that school tuition should be for accredited schools? You can read the fine print at the IRS website.
it says in my internet printout from my credit union:
"higher education or qualified elementary and secondary expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment".
Again from the "fine print from the credit union":
"Qualified educational expenses are: expenses for tuition, fees, academic tutoring, books, supplies, equipment and special needs services (f beneficiiary is special needs) incurred in connection with enrollment or attendance of the designated beneficiary as an elementary or secondary school student at a public, private or religious school as determined under state law. Expenses for room/board, uniforms, transportation, and supplementary items and services (e.g. extended day programs) required or provided by a school in connection with enrollment or attendance; and purchase of computer technology or equipment or internet access to be used by the beneficiary and his or her family when the benficiary is in elementary or secondary school, except that this does not include software for sports, games, or hobbies unless the software is predominantly educational"
There are additional info for college expenses.....
Personally I could see the above including (possibly, at least worth considering) homeschooling in all its forms if the home called itself a school - in our state anyway - and especially when homeschoolers are using online instruction, tutoring - and even sports that a homeschooler is participating in for p.e. credit......
In my case, I have a college student and a private school student next year so much applies easily.
But it looks to me like this is an avenue where high school homeschoolers could at least get a tax break.
I mean it even applies to daycare, as in "extended day programs) for students.
Lisaj
I will have to look for hte word "accredited". I know for sure somewhere I saw tutoring
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DD11 used to love having her tri-fold presentation board 'learning center' to hide behind when she was in the early grades. It was a colored presentation board, cut in half (so it wasn't so tall) with clear page protectors for pockets. She had her 100s board, penmanship letters, numbers or whatever she was working on at the time. It was nice for her to have the visuals that you would expect on a classroom wall, that wasn't on the wall IYKWIM. QUOTE]
What an awesome idea!!!
Lisaj
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Loving everyone's thoughts and ideas, thank you!!!!
I think I'm leaning towards some sort of separate desk-like tables that I can push together OR separate, depending on the mood of the day (lol). I need a design though....standard desk? Shelves underneath? I really like this table here so I wonder if we could modify it a bit to be an oversized personal space...but wow DH might have a heart attack if I ask for 4 of them!!!QUOTE]
My kids would have their feet all over the baskets or any other material underneath. I can just see them using the shelves as footstools!
Some kids aren't as active as mine tho!. I think a design I would like better (I've never seen such a thing) would be a plain table with a 6" divider that could be popped up across the vertical length of the table. Of course a husband could easily make a nice piece of pine or oak that size that could be slid across a table! The 6" divider would help my children not get so distracted or get into someone's stuff across the table.
Lisaj
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Remember, those kids will grow... And grow... And grow...
My 16yo is only abut 5'7" but as already outgrown all the desk we have except my fullsize one!
I have had a school room for about 7 years. For quite a few years it was an unfinished basement room with lots of light and a woodstove at the beginning. Now the room is finished - a slow process - and I have done every conceivable combination. But I have to say, I like tables because of the flexibility of redoing the room arrangement a few times a year. The kids like to help make a "new" look and sometimes certain kids are being too distracting of the others and need to move.
Right now two of my kids do have awesome desks with credenzas. The reason they are awesome is because they are smaller than usual desk/credenze arrangments. They have a built in fluorescent light, cubbies in the credenza and a shelf at the top of the credenza and a bulletin board built in all the way across the credenza vertical surface. Then they have drawers on one side. Because they are small - about 3-1/2' wide by 20" deep, the kids have a good surface, but they don't take up the whole room. By far, this is the "neatest" appearing option we have. The kids like the desks because they are "grown-up looking" and their own "space". The ones with these desks are 10yo and 13yo. The 15 and 18yos have desks in their rooms. The one drawback is these desks have a real "70's" cheap look. But they make up for that in sturdiness and durability.
Ok, one other neat idea I stumbled across - we are using hotel microwave stands as computer and DVD/TV centers. We do some classes on DVD and so I have these 2 stands that are about 18" wide and have two horizontal surfaces. The bottom one has the keyboard (or the DVD player) and the top one (about 45" high???) has the computer screen or TV on it. The kids sit on a round barstool to use them. I got these (great looking faux cherrywood) at a thrift for $5 each. They were trying to get rid of them because apparently they had a huge donation from a hotel....
lisaj
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From what I have read these education accounts can be used for school curriculum such as driver's ed, internet service (?), school books, tutoring and classes. Why isn't everyone rushing to use these accounts. At the very least, you can put away $2000 a year tax free for college savings.
I am just wondering why no one uses these and no one seems to know much about them?
Any thoughts?
lj
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this is sort of off topic, but what is wrong with trying to look attractive (not necessarily sexy, but attractive) in whatever we wear? It seems that the "pantsless police " (there are some no pants christians who are rather nasty about it, these are the ones of whom I am referring) constantly worry about women being attractive to avoid the men being titillated. So I suppose they want us to wear bags on our heads????
My dh loves that I pay attention to my weight, take care of myself and try to be pretty and attractive. He would be embarassed if I didn't care enough to look nice.
That's the normal term, fyi. Dresses only. And the thinking is to do with a Bible verse in the Old Testament that says women should not dress in men's clothing. The other thought is femininity. And obviously there's more to that than just slapping a skirt on but the general idea is skirts are more feminine than pants.
A third reason is definitely modesty which is also a biblical principle.
And keeping oneself attractive to our own husbands is encouraged by my dresses only friends. But likewise, not to draw attention thru flirtatious or immodest dress is the flipside.
Oh and I wanted to add, my dresses only friends are never even remotely pious or nasty about it. Never ever.
Lisaj, who doesn't really want to even consider giving up my blue jeans...
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Nan, this is terrific! Just what I needed and I needed to hear it! The "formula" is very much like the great, specific formula used to teach how to write a literary analysis essay in IEW's Windows to the World.
So, since it's so easy to teach, when do you hit the lecture circuit in the Southwest so we can attend...? :tongue_smilie:
Warmest regards, Lori D.
But the 8 sentences reminded me very much of what Shurley teaches. We've done the Shurley writing in the early grades (the 3 point paragraph which I know isn't unique only to Shurley) and found it about the same. However, I can see now from Jan Shafer's example that the junior high students should be able to greatly improve their Shurley "supporting sentences" to get them closer to the essays like for the SATs.
Thanks - very good looking curriculum site and great writing reminders!
Lisaj
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Thanks for all the replies. Funny note tho, is I am all about protein. <smile> I have lists on the fridge of suitable potein servings and try to have protein "requirements" posted for breakfast.
I do offer other things in the "A+ Candy Bar box"; but we eat pretty healthy (i.e. cooking from scratch, making our own bread) and I feel very comfortable with the 1-2x a week candy bars.
Keep the tips and ideas coming. What is a good snack lockbox.
Lisaj
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Hmmmm, I have 5 kids. Oldest is 18yo and youngest is 7yo. I have 2 Snack Stealers... I'm sure their is a nicer term. Sweet tooths? Cupboard Searchers?
Anyway, I wonder how you all deal with this problem. This is ongoing. The biggest problem child has always been my 13yo dd. My 18yod also does this but not as much as the 13yo. I would say when we have snacks around, the 13yo steals almost daily. She has eaten 2 bags of marshmallows a little at a time (bought for smores) over the past month, dipped her finger in the sugar bowl, taken brownies or cookies out of wrapped packages, ice cream bars, etc. The biggest problem is the snack cupboard. I keep fruit snacks, granola bars and the like onhand for co op day lunches, long errand trips in the van and for my 18yodd who works and my dh's lunches. I also have what we call an "A+" candy bar box where I try to keep it stocked with 50cent candy bars and it is accessible after meals and snack times if the kids turn in their "coupons" that I make for them if they get an A on a test or a paper, etc. The kids love these coupons and they know they can turn them in after every meal except breakfast and evenings, etc.
Btw, we are a 3 meals a day and 2 snacks kind of family. Fresh fruit and/or vegetables are available during daylight hours just by asking (at a reasonable time, i.e. don't ask right after you didn't eat your breakfast or in the middle of math flashcard review.) lol
She has improved in that she will ADMIT to taking them. But this has been a year or so in the habit getting worse and worse. Daughter seems remorseful but unable to stop herself. I have been encouraging her to come to me when she is tempted so I can pray with her (and applaud her honesty, asking for help.)
My husband heard a noise a few nights ago and got up to find her in the snack cupboard in the kitchen getting a candy bar. I didn't even imagine that anything was going on late at night tho I have often found wrappers under her bed, in her dresser, and closet, etc. I thought she was just going to her room to eat the snacks.
Btw, so far I have been charging her for the snack she takes. And I have had her tested for diabetes and low blood sugar issues, etc. She is average sized, on the slim side if anything. She has no health issues, she is in early puberty, but this started before that.
I am thinking of getting a locking container? Of course, I really don't want to. Nor will I enjoy managing one more thing. And it is hard for me because I have been parenting for 18 years and it seems odd that just now, after all these years this problem is cropping up....
Thanks- 13yod is a dear child and for the most part, i think she wants to stop.
lj
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Ok, I'll start.
And I know this is lame, but anyway...
I buy my socks from the girls department. I discovered a year or two ago that stores like Target and Walmart sell socks that are the same size in both the women's and girl's departments. For example, I needed some new plain ol' white athletic socks. So I went to Walmart a few days ago, and picked up a package of fruit of the loom socks in the women's department. They were $7 for 10 pairs, and they fit shoe size 4-10. Well, then I went over to the girl's department, and I found a package of fruit of the loom socks, $6.25 for 10 pairs, that fit shoe size 4-10. I've done the same thing at Meijer before, too.
Not a big deal, obviously. :D But I love to find ways to pay less for what I want. Anyone else have any tips to share?
I spent over $80 (at 8 a.m. this morning, I was taking my secondborn to an early summer class, lol) on undergarments and sox for my oldest dd. Everything was on sale but it was still a shock for me at the register. And I could have spent tons more but it was mostly for the oldest - college prep!
lj
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Oldest, 18yod, Love, Sex & Marriage - that is close to the title, it is by a Christian author, I think I got it at Rainbow and she took it off my desk (which is fine with me) I saw it on her nightstand
15.5yod, Lord of the Rings for pleasure, Jane Eyre was recently assigned and finished
13yod, The Hobbit or she is reading Mandie books constantly
10yo boy, something like 30 Third Graders and 1 Bunny - my library book - he read it first, he keeps reading funny excerpts to me (you all need ot read this book - very funny - by someone named Done, ______ Done, a teacher.
7yo boy, The Call of the Wild
lisaj
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Hi- Chemistry just came out- we got ours last week. It is just like the samples and my boys are already using it. It is nice-to break up the reading schedule with the Lessons.
Lisa
Is it roughly a DVD per day's "installment" of the module. Most people do Apologia modules, approx 1 module every 10-14 class days. Do the tutorials offer a lecture type explanation of the module's "daily" portion?
How long are the DVD sessions?
Thanks = Lisaj
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Thank you for all of these ideas! I hope people post more!
Leaving high school and back to elementary lol
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted · Edited by 74Heaven
I just realized (yes, I must be slow) that all of my homeschooling children will be in grades K-8 this year!!! (2nd, 5th, 8th) For the past 4 years, I have been busy visiting the high school board about 10x more than the K-8 board. But next year no high schoolers at home!
So for my first back-to-basics post, can you give me advice and encouragement on doing more together next year? How does "togetherness" over many grade levels work at your house?
Unfortunately, the 8th grader is the most easily distracted of all three kids so she likely won't be off "independently" doing her work without lots of supervision".
Do many of you do a lot of group memory work together? Almost like a "big review session" daily?
Here's my plan:
8a Bible, devotions, Latin chants, etc., WWE Dictations
9a Shurley jingles, Math flash cards, speed drills
9:30-1015a Math lessons - individual lessons and assignments
1015-11a Science Reading or lesson
11-1120a Break
1120-12p Shurley (independent) (A Beka for 2nd g)
12n-12:30p IEW or/ or finish (squeeze in spelling?)
1230-130p Lunch
130-2p Read ALoud & SOTW, History Reading and Assignments
2-230p Science & History Assignments
230-3p Latin
3p Break & then finish whatever needs to be done!
Somewhere we need 15min daily chess practice and 30min piano for the 5th and 8th graders...
This seems very scattered? I would like for the three children to work together with me as much as possible. I would like "math" to be all done at the same time.... i.e. at 10am, math is put away for that day for all three kids (with occasional exceptions if the 8th grader just has too much for that time period:().
Is this possible? I think the 5th/8th could work together because my 5th grader is very advanced. But. maybe trying to work the 2nd and 8th together might be too much work?
Thanks for all the help! (This is going to be weird not doing high school next year!!!)
Lisaj