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happyWImom

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  1. 2 hours ago, Angie in VA said:

    Essentials in Writing? It is less teacher intensive.They've added online classes and scoring services since I first looked at it. I never used it, though. 

    I would definitely work towards an online class be it EIW, Brave Writer or WTMA. It was good to have mine writing for others. ?

    We did use them for a couple of years (8 & 9) and I thought they would be perfect, but as she advanced with them, they weren't enough instruction for her.

  2. 23 hours ago, Julie of KY said:

    Well, I used IEW in middle school (and some high school) and then Bravewriter in high school. My younger kids have only done BW.

    IEW does have very explicit instructions. However it is very teacher dependent on the feedback. Also, the feedback tends to be toward did they follow everything in the IEW list of things to do. This can be good to try some new things out, but can also be constricting to some students.

    My oldest was entirely anti-writing and had done IEW. He's a math-dude that likes exact instructions, but he flourished with Brave Writer. BW instructions are not as exact, but they are good enough to get a good start. From there, the feedback is incredible. The instructors give lots of feedback, lots of questions and direction. IEW writing will fit a mold which is good. BW does not   give them a mold to fit, but allows more freedom. This sounds hard if you are looking for explicit instruction, but is actually very good. The instructions are very good and have examples to get started. However if you get stuck, you can say I don't know how to start - or whatever, and the instructors are very good at giving explicit individual help. 

    BW does tend to be expensive, but I've found the feedback to be priceless. My math-dude says he still hates writing, but if he HAS to write then he'd rather do it the  BW way. It's also been fantastic for my writing-comes-easy kid and my talented word girl. It's impressive how well they meet each student where they are and help them improve from there.

    I am just worried that since dd is not confident at this point, she will be totally intimidated by having to have her writing displayed for the students, as well as the teacher.  I do agree feedback is great & helpful, but.....  I do agree their on-line classes look fantastic but don't know if she'd be ready for them at the start, and while BW "Help for High School" did look thorough, it didn't seem as specific as IEW.  She'll probably hate no matter what we choose, but I want her to at least come away knowing how to do essays & reports! ☺️

  3. Okay, I haven't posted on here in FOREVER, and since I'm still having trouble with the "search", I thought I'd send out a public appeal for help!

    I need help ASAP in determining which way to go for dd (16) next year for writing.  She's used EIW for a few years, and it was ok, but we felt it was lacking.  This year, she started back to basics with WWS, but....still issues.  We need something that is extremely explicit when it comes to instructions & specifics for her, as well as for me.  She needs lots of help with essays & research papers, as well as note taking.  I am leaning towards IEW, but I did see Braverwriter's "Help for High School" curriculum, also.  I am thinking she needs to do some sort of on-line course at some point, and get feedback and help from someone besides myself, but not right when she starts.  She's still too intimidated & unsure of herself.

    Thanks for the help!

    (My siggy is totally outdated?)

     

  4. Sounds like you're on it then. Both my kids did neurofeedback (Zengar I think, I forget). It overloaded my dd and didn't do anything good for her. It seem to zap my ds (no other way to explain it) and he didn't really seem better for it either. I think he had 30-some sessions and we stopped rather than continuing to the 40+ they recommend for autism. Personally I think it's unregulated. It's questionable to me to take someone who was not exclusively non-verbal but still not able to self-advocate and go doing things to his brain. My dd didn't like how it made her feel, and she could say so. It's why we discontinued with both. The theory was good, but in practice it was just, well that's all.

     

    Even with CBT and mindfulness, there are more methodologies. It might be time for some variety. Or have you thought about an actual psych med? Or maybe some SAM-e? It's a methyl donor, so that could be good or bad, depending on the situation.

     

    It's a hard stage. We want to make everything better, and sometimes we can't.

    Yes, I am looking at some other therapy options.  DD has been on a low dose of fluoxetine for years, in addition to the therapy.  Even at the low dose, she hates how it makes her feel, and she has gone even lower on it.  I have spoken to her about switching to something else, as has her therapist.  She wants to try as much as possible to "work on things" without upping it or switching, so that's where we are.  Maybe the SAM-e would help.  Thanks for the encouragement.

    • Like 1
  5. It sounds like the anxiety and OCD are really affecting her right now. I would evaluate *why* they are so strong right now and pursue appropriate treatments. For some people, it's a methylation issue (over or under). Has she had an eval for them? If she has not, I would be questioning whether your labels are even correct. She could have something else going on as well, like some ADHD, that would explain the reading focusing issues. Methylation issues are treatable. ADHD is treatable. 

     

    It also sounds like she would do well to pursue some mindfulness or CBT. They would help with the anxiety and OCD and also bump her EF, helping with the academics. Mindfulness or CBT, done either with materials you find or a psych, could be EXTREMELY helpful to her. Her therapist mainly uses CBT with her, and while she has overcome a lot of hurdles, she still suffers.  I have been looking into biofeedback and found someone I think who would be a good fit.  She was tested for methylation & pyrolle disorders, as well as copper overload.  She is taking compounded vitamin/minerals that are specific for her issues.  She has been doing CBT for over 6 years-long before we knew about the Lyme.  I'm not sure what else we can do therapy-wise, but I'm willing to try anything.

  6. I'm sorry the cognitive therapies you've tried so far have not helped. I don't think they *can* help if the problem is her body needing time to heal. I think you could discuss with her the idea that healing is an ongoing process, that where we are now isn't where we'll be in 5 years or 10 years or 15 or 20. People are constantly growing and changing. It's not like we have some window beginning at 18 and closing at 22. For me, I went through this myself with some health problems (CFS, MCS, etc.), and I can definitely say some things take time. 

     

    I think also that being very stressed about academics would lead her to fatigue herself, which is not good for healing. I think, as the mom and homeschool teacher, you could quietly change/modify/tweak her requirements to make them less fatiguing. She has nothing to compare this to. If she excels at the birding, piano, guitar, watercolor, and 4H you listed (that's a lot!!), I would continue to nurture those. I would consider shifting the discussion to what she would like to do over the next few years, how those things could be a logical extension of what is going well now. I would drop discussion of college. I'm not saying drop the *idea* of college, just the discussion. How about stages? How about continuing to get well, embracing life as it is now, doing more of what IS working, and letting things come as they come.  I wholeheartedly agree with you!  I have tried to encourage her to focus on all of her creative stuff (art, music, photography, birding), and have very much stressed that she is definitely learning by doing those things.  She suffers from anxiety & OCD, and the therapist & I both have told her there isn't any "timelilne" other than her own, that she needs to get physically and emotionally strong and well and the rest can wait.  She truly feels she can't let up, however.  I have tried to minimize the classes she's taking, as much as possible, but she knows the graduation requirements. I convinced to to wait a year on biology, not do a foreign lang. until next year, and do geography this year (a 9th grade course) after not doing anything last year.  I'm hopng to switch her to WWS 1 which will give her a solid foundation and won't be as rigorous as EIW & EIL.  Because of her anxiety & OCD, it would make her more anxious to reduce her classes even more.  She obviously doesn't need to do all of the extra-curriculars, but those things actually bring her pleasure, so I hate to eliminate them.  (She also feels a sense of accomplishment from doing them, because she excels in those areas)

     

    If she enjoys those craft things she's doing, maybe she'd like to make things to sell on Etsy. I know someone whose grown daughters are both making a living selling on Etsy. There are lots of ways to earn a living now besides going to college. Many people go to college too early, before they realize their gifts or what talents they have that they ought to nurture. She ought to pursue career testing and career counseling. We did it with my dd, and it was very apt! It helped her realize she had strengths she had never anticipated. I have told her that we don't expect her to go to college and it's ok if she doesn't know what she wants to do right now-but again, it's her own thoughts that are the problem.

     

    I agree with the others that you would be well-advised to pursue neuropsych testing. I would spend time calling around and talking with them first. If you could find someone who had experience with Lyme, that would be good. At the very least, s/he should be non-averse on it, since it's a controversial diagnosis and treatment. But I think some good psych testing plus the career testing (which sometimes the psych can also do for you) would get you pointed in a good direction. You are right, we need to do this.

     

    It's very possible that she'll continue to improve with time. I wouldn't give up hope on that. We are praying that this is the case.  I've tried to get her to see how much she has improved in so many areas after over 2 years of treatment, but unfortunately, she only sees where she is "lacking".  Thank you for your thoughtful & helpful responses!

     

    • Like 1
  7. :grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

     

    I don't have any specific tried and true method to help her that I would be able to recommend, but has she had neurological testing?  I would consider the possibility of getting neuropsychological testing to see where she is at, not just strictly at what level she is at academically.  With official testing, depending on the results, you might have better answers for where her brain function is specifically still off (and have a better idea then of what she might need to help her through) plus she might be able to get accommodations on the SAT/ACT and in college.  Prior to this school-year, we were mainly concerned with getting her physically healthy again, and just seeing what she was capable of doing.  Once she started reading again, and seemed to be improving cognitively, we just went with it.  :sad:  Obviously, I'm second-guessing every decision, now.  I would like her to get tested, but haven't explored anything yet.  Where do I start???  I feel like we've been to every kind of specialist (gastro, rhumotologist, physical therapist, nutritionist, homeopath, psychologist) for all of her other stuff, but now am in the dark.

     

    Also, is she willing to take more time to get her diploma?  It may be very unrealistic to try and cram in all the things necessary to graduate High School on a standard time line.  Is she amenable to taking an extra year? I have been trying to convince her to take one more year, and she's adamantly against it.  She feels so "different" already, she hates to be considered "behind".  I've talked about it over & over with her, but still no go.  I did convince her that doing 1 year of Community College would be the best thing for her, so I feel that some of the pressure has been relieved academically.

     

    How much scaffolding are you providing herr?  Do you read the material with her?  Does she try to plow through large amounts or could she do shorter segments?  Do you and she discuss the material afterwards?  Work as a team to come up with ways to remember the content?  Or is she just plopping herself in front of a text book, reading through it all and hoping to remember afterwards?  (FWIW I never learned well that way).  Would she do better if the material were being presented both through auditory input and visually?  As in, would reading the material on a Kindle while it also is read to her help?  Does she do better with video explanations than text based?  Do you help her create ways to review the material in very tiny chunks that are gone over often?  Maybe with Quizzlet and other resources? For years, we have struggled when it came to my "teaching" or "helping" her.  Due to her learning difficulties, she hates school and wants to just get it done.  She prefers as much independent learning as possible, so I have attempted to put together curriculum that enables her to do that.  The EIW & EIL both have short dvd lessons, and easy to follow workbooks, TT isn't ideal, but she's used to it & seems to get through it.  Physical Science (which she is just finishing up) was a big struggle-all of the reading.  Quizzlet is a good idea.  

     

    Have you looked at the resources through AGS or Walsh Power Basics?  AGS and Power Basics tend to have bigger print, cover material in more broken down pieces, cut it all down to more of the needed material and less of the "extras", use more basic wording, etc.  I am linking a site that has a lot of material designed for students that have academic struggles, including AGS and Power Basics textbooks.  What is helpful with this site is that you can look inside the books and see how the books present the information to determine if something along these lines might be a better fit.  I would suggest you try to find used copies through Amazon if you do decide to try this route, though.  That site charges a pretty penny for their materials (because schools buy from them).  She would probably want the Alternative version for AGS texts.  There is a Foundational version but I don't think she would need to go that basic.  The first link below is the overall site.  The second is an example of an AGS textbook. I'm not familiar with either AGS or Power Basics.  Thanks for the links.

     

    https://www.wiesereducational.com/spages/textbook-choices.htm

    https://www.wiesereducational.com/products/biology-cycles-of-life-mm8081.htm

     

    Also, for science Conceptual Academy has a really good system.   Small segments of reading followed by a short video and a short quiz to reinforce the material just read.  The voice of the presenter is very soft and pleasant.  The videos are very informative but not long at all.  I did just discover Conceptual Academy this year, and was considering them for Biology next year.  I talked her into doing the Ornithology course this year, because she is passionate about birding, and reads field guides like they were novels.  And the info. seems to be the one thing she is able to remember-she can identify any bird out there!  There is quite a lot of reading, however.  I wasn't aware of it until after we received the book.

     

    https://conceptualacademy.com/

    Thanks so much for your reply; I've been trying to fix everything for so long and feel like nothings helping.

  8. (I originally posted this on the high school board, but think this one might be a better place)

     

    I feel so discouraged & need help.  My dd has chronic Lyme disease, which I've discussed here previously.  Due to this (and not knowing she had it for so many years) her studies have suffered and have been extremely sporadic and all over the place.  She has gotten treatment, and physically is doing so much better, for which I am so thankful.  She also went from not being able to do any school, or even reading (had to keep reading the same page over & over to try and comprehend anything) to be able to handle a regular schedule.  She does read and enjoys it now.  She loves music, and started guitar last year.  

     

    I thought she had greatly improved cognitively, but hadn't realized until now how much everything is still a huge struggle for her.  She is able to read novels and enjoys them, but it seems like anything else (science, geography, writing) doesn't stick.  She tells me she is able to read & understand the information, but almost immediately forgets the content, so her long-term memory isn't good.  Whenever she does quizes or tests, she has to look in the materials for the answers.  I am not pushing her at all, but she is concerned about the future, going to college, graduating "on-schedule".  She is very worried about how she will take tests in college and just function there, period.

     

    Last year, I searched to resources to help, and found a program used by Bridgeway Academy, "LD Hope".  http://ldhope.org/ .  It is an educational therapy, and she's been using it for 7mos.  She does it for approx. 45min a day, and hasn't seen much progress.  It specifically was supposed to help with her long-term memory.  Since this hasn't seemed to have worked, we are both so discouraged.  I am heartbroken for her, because she feels she won't ever be "normal". (Her words)  

     

    At this point, I am looking for anything else anyone can recommend we try, and also am wondering what kind of testing we can do to see where she's at.  Maybe it isn't as bad as she thinks-I just don't know.  I hate to see this constant, constant struggle.  She basically hates school, but spends most of her time doing it, because she feels she has to, and it's hard to get her to do fun things.  I keep telling her she needs to have fun and experience life, but she always says she can't, she doesn't have time, etc...

     

    Please, please help with any suggestions.

     

    Tammi

  9. I feel so discouraged & need help.  My dd has chronic Lyme disease, which I've discussed here previously.  Due to this (and not knowing she had it for so many years) her studies have suffered and have been extremely sporadic and all over the place.  She has gotten treatment, and physically is doing so much better, for which I am so thankful.  She also went from not being able to do any school, or even reading (had to keep reading the same page over & over to try and comprehend anything) to be able to handle a regular schedule.  She does read and enjoys it now.  She loves music, and started guitar last year.  

     

    I thought she had greatly improved cognitively, but hadn't realized until now how much everything is still a huge struggle for her.  She is able to read novels and enjoys them, but it seems like anything else (science, geography, writing) doesn't stick.  She tells me she is able to read & understand the information, but almost immediately forgets the content, so her long-term memory isn't good.  Whenever she does quizes or tests, she has to look in the materials for the answers.  I am not pushing her at all, but she is concerned about the future, going to college, graduating "on-schedule".  She is very worried about how she will take tests in college and just function there, period.

     

    Last year, I searched to resources to help, and found a program used by Bridgeway Academy, "LD Hope".  http://ldhope.org/ .  It is an educational therapy, and she's been using it for 7mos.  She does it for approx. 45min a day, and hasn't seen much progress.  It specifically was supposed to help with her long-term memory.  Since this hasn't seemed to have worked, we are both so discouraged.  I am heartbroken for her, because she feels she won't ever be "normal". (Her words)  

     

    At this point, I am looking for anything else anyone can recommend we try, and also am wondering what kind of testing we can do to see where she's at.  Maybe it isn't as bad as she thinks-I just don't know.  I hate to see this constant, constant struggle.  She basically hates school, but spends most of her time doing it, because she feels she has to, and it's hard to get her to do fun things.  I keep telling her she needs to have fun and experience life, but she always says she can't, she doesn't have time, etc...

     

    Please, please help with any suggestions.

     

    Tammi

  10. Videotext, maybe? I haven't used it, but I've heard that it does explain the principles behind the methods pretty clearly.

     

    Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

    That is another I was looking at, as well as Math Relief.  No matter which one I choose, I think it would be wise for us to start with some type of tutoring, also.  I want to make sure she understands from the get go!

  11. I am still desperately trying to find an Algebra curriculum for dd & ds for next year.  We've been using TT and dd especially doesn't feel there is enough explanation in the pre-algebra, so we are searching.  A good friend recommended Math Help; mathhelp.com .  I can't seem to find much info. on it, except Cathy Duffy did give it an excellent review in 2016.  It used to be called "Algebra Classmate" as well as "Your Teacher".  Anyway, I am leaning towards this, but wanted more feedback from the Hive.

     

    Or any other recommendations, please.  Dd is not strong in math, and before TT we used MUS.  She thought MUS went way too much into the reasons of how you got to the answer, and the why's behind everything, yet as I said, with TT she feels like they don't go over the concepts super well, or explain why you should use a certain formula for a certain problem, etc...  We don't need anything super rigorous but I want something that will give her the solid foundation so that she doesn't end up floundering, especially when she gets to Algebra II.  She will only be taking Alg., Geometry, and Alg.II.  

     

    Please help!

     

    (Also, text book only isn't great, a combo. would be best)

     

    Tammi

  12. I'm not familiar with that particular one, but I see it only has 30 lectures. That's less than one a week. If you're really going to flesh that out with extra reading it could work. I think that's the first GC course I've seen listed with no bibliography. GC's A Brief History of the World only has 36 lectures and gobs of book recommendations. My rising 8th is going to use their Food: A Cultural Culinary History for her history spine this year. 36 lectures again, so I'll add extra reading and time in the kitchen.

     

    Crash Course has a free world history video set and a new curriculum to go with it. That might be worth a look.

     

    Or some of the Big History stuff.

     

    If you want a simple get 'er done textbook to go with it the Glencoe Mcgraw Hill one with King Tut on the cover gets the job done. The Oak Meadow world history guide goes along with it if you want assignments.

    Linwood is entertaining, so we thought his course would be a perfect spine.  I new I'd have to add to it, but didn't want to make everything super complicated, which is what I always do, then it all never gets done. :001_smile:  The one you're going to use looks really interesting!  If dd wasn't such a picky eater, I'd consider adding it to ours, and having it be part home ec, too!

     

    There are so many options, I just need to take the time to research.  Crash Course looks good, too.  I briefly looked at the curriculum, but will examine it more, later.  Thanks!

  13. I'm trying to plan ds's history for next year.  He wants to do World History, and he saw the GC description of "World History: The Fertile Crescent to the American Revolution" and wants to use that along with-whatever.  Any other Great Courses you might suggest, or specific booklists?  We've used Notgrass American History & Uncle Sam and we liked them, but after looking at samples of their World History, it seemed pretty dry.  If we could have a specific spine or 2 plus a bunch of living books, that would be ideal, but I'm open.  He is a voracious reader, so I had been considering SL W but I want this to count towards a credit for 9th grade, and a lot of the books look too light.  He would be fine with it, but I'm just not sure.... Of course, if we did the SL core, we probably wouldn't add the GC.

     

    I don't know, I'm all over the place!  Help!

  14. is their Lit anything like Window to the World or Teaching the classics. We are doing those next semester after an epic Illuminating Lit first semester fail. WTW looks great/intense from where we came.

     

    Also, do they include writing assignments with the Lit or only with Comp?

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    EIL so far isn't what I would call intense.  It's perfect for my dd, because it was a great intro. to analyzing lit., and the person I spoke with at EIW said using their writing & lit. course would count as her full credit for 9th grade (even though it's level 8) but level 8 of the lit. at least isn't super rigorous.  We'll see how it is next year.  They suggested having her possibly skip 9 & move on to 10, so I'll have to see.

    • Like 2
  15. I'm sorry you feel panicked. My sr was incredibly ill for the end of 10th, through the summer and the first semester of 11th.  My dd is also extremely motivated.  We tried multiple different approaches until we found one that worked for her.  She stopped trying to do every subject every day.  When she was in deep brain fog, it was easier for her to stay focused on what she was doing vs. constantly changing subjects.  Some days she might dig in and work on just 2 or 3 subjects all day long and keep with those the next.  Then she might shift her focus to another subject and work on it all day the next day.  We made whatever her brain was capable of coping with the focus of the day.  She was able to accomplish a tremendous amt that way.  

     

    Let summers be your anti-stress.  Your dd is only a 9th grader.  There is no reason she can't complete a subject over the summer as a way to catch up/maintain/finish or whatever else needs to happen.  You don't need to panic.  Just create realistic goals and take them one day at a time.

    Thanks for the encouragement.  I like the idea of her only focusing on a few subjects each day, and think it would make a big difference.  I know it would help her anxiety, especially on days when she isn't 100%, instead of looking at a mile long list, she would have something achievable. 

    • Like 1
  16. I think I am partially in denial, so that I don't full on panic!  :crying:   My dd suffered from anxiety & ocd for years, then we found out she had Lyme disease, so for all of last year & part of the year before, she wasn't able to do much.  She had a lot of pain and fatigue, plus brain fog.  Her health has greatly improved, which is the biggest blessing, so maybe that's also why I'm not stressing.  But.....  she is behind, and also because I'm still not certain what she is truly capable of (I don't think she is , either), it's a struggle.  She's doing the basic of basics when it comes to curriculum.  She is extremely motivated, because she wants to graduate when she's 18, and she is college bound.  I hope I'll have a better idea as the months go on where she'll fit next year, but I know to some it will seem like ??? you haven't done xyz, haven't been preparing for the ACT/SATs, etc....  I know I'm going to have to give her a reality check at some point, and let her know that she might have to either do on-line college for a year or 2, or tech. college for the 1st couple, just so that she can get into-whereever.  It's unreal to me that we are at this point, and me, the big planner and researcher has no idea of what we're doing next.  Maybe that's MY reality check.  So, the moral is, you are not alone!

    • Like 1
  17. we started using EIW after failing at several other programs...and we LOVE it.  It is very easy to do and follow.  My kids basically do it on their own...and the company is great to answer any questions you might have. 

    We had the same experiences!  We've never found a writing curriculum that we've been actually able to complete, especially without constant complaining!  I talked to someone from the company at length and they were very helpful.  We also started using Excellence in Literature.  My dd wants to do everything independently, if possible, so both of these courses have made it easy for us.

    • Like 1
  18. Hi Friend,

     

    I do understand the challenge of teaching a child with a physical condition, my prayers will be with you and your daughter.

     

    I agree with the above comments about Physical science, and skipping general. If you wanted to: you could add in some extra hands on astronomy to the apologia physical science - and rename it Earth Science with lab. In my state, this fit the description for high school earth science credit since our state decided it no longer called physical science a high school level course. You may want to check your state and/or the college to which your girls wants to apply to see if that matters. Master books also has some sets that cover physical science content. It might be worth checking out. I personally have only used their astronomy. Memoria also has some 9th grade science options.

    http://www.masterbooks.com/homeschool-curriculum/create-a-bundle

    https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science

     

    About history options: Beautiful feet might be a consideration as it is a literature based history program. If you daughter is not feeling well some days, she might still be able to "hack" some of the easier reading in these courses.

    http://bfbooks.com/Study-Guides

    Thanks for your advice, and especially your prayers.  I just saw this now; we were out of town.

     

    Anyway, I think we've got a plan:

     

    Math: Skip TT7 (if she struggles with 8 & we have to cover certain concepts more, I've already got 7, so we're prepared)

    English:  Essentials in Writing, level 8 and Essentials in Literature Level 8  

    Soc. Studies:  Abeka World Geography 9 (Sem 1) either Abeka Health 9 or Liberty On-line Health (Sem 2)

    Science: Apologia Physical Science (Honestly, what I'm dreading most, since there is so much reading, plus the experiements. When she tried Gen Science the prev. year, it took her over an hour every day, not including experiments)

    Misc:  Great Courses: How to Become a Superstar Student

    4-h: theater group, Ambassador's (gives presentations on recycling, etc...) lots of opportunities for speeches/demos

    Music: piano, guitar & voice lessons

    Art: misc. local classes every couple of months

     

    I am just praying that she is physically & mentally up to it, and that she gives herself a break.  

    • Like 2
  19.  

     

     

     

     

    - read through vol. 2, 3, and 4 of SWB's Story of the World -- you would have to come up with some sort of output

    - Complete Idiot's Guide to World History, or, World History for Dummies -- for both, approximately  350 pages, first 75 are on ancients -- you would have to come up with some sort of output

     

    re: Notgrass

    If you do all of Notgrass as written, it is meant to be 3 credits: 1 each for Bible, History, and Literature. We've only done Notgrass American History (not the World History). I thought both the Bible and Literature elements were quite weak, so we just used the History portion. All that to say, if you want to JUST use the History portion (with the primary source document book, but skipping the novels and biographies that are meant for the Lit. portion), that would be plenty for a History credit. And you'll be using EiW for your English credit, so that's taken care of. As far as how dry is Notgrass… not familiar with the World History. We liked the American History, but then, it was more engaging to us because we were coming off of 2 years of high school history with Spielvogel's very textbook-y textbook… ;)

     

     

     

     

    Lori:

     

    I am feeling so much better after reading all of this-I might actually sleep through the night without waking in a panic!

     

    So, for history.  I just noticed you put SOTW in there, and that was honestly my original thought.  Since each volume has around 40 or so chaps. what if she did all 4 this year, along with the chap ques. & unit quizes?  I called TWTM & asked about beefing it up, and she said it says you can beef it up for 8th, and that's just using 1 volume.  I could also add in mapping.  This would be my top choice, because of the way SOTW is written-not dry.  What do you think?  Otherwise I'd lean towards Notgrass without the literature but I still think the writing is drier.  But I want it to look like she's doing 9th grade work.  I know, I seem hung up on that, but the Clonlara advisor made me nervous. :)

     

    This is really my last question, I promise!  (For a while, at least)

  20. How about a nice World Geography course for 9th grade?

    We used a glencoe book and DD colored in countries on each continent and filled in capitals and so forth. We added in a bunch of National Geographic-type documentaries from Netflix and regional cooking from each continent. It made for a really interesting year.

     

    Here is the book we used.

    https://www.amazon.com/Glencoe-Geography-Student-McGraw-Hill-Education/dp/0078606993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471653177&sr=8-1&keywords=Glencoe+world+geography

     

    ETA we did it 8th grade but this is a high school level course.

    I was thinking of her doing a geography course during high school, so this might be the way to go.

  21. Lori:

     

    First of all, You ROCK!!  You don't know how much it means to me that you took the time to give me the information that you did!  THIS is what I've been waiting for!  We have actually been working with a Clonlara advisor, who is nice, but this is her first year, so I haven't gotten much back, yet.  I know I've probably overwhelmed her with questions, but still.... YOU should get paid for this!

     

    Regarding this:

     

     

    2. Taking an extra year (either as bonus middle school year or a 5th year of high school) will:

    - give DD an extra year of participation in all of her 4-H and any other extracurriculars

    - give DD extra time for doing time-intensive Music and Theater credits she'll be doing in high school

    - allow DD a more gentle year physically/energy-wise to completely recover

    - allow DD more time to spread out credits at her pace, and to have more room in the schedule for additional credits of her personal interest

    - allow DD the ability to transition gently into high school -- start some gentle high school level English and History if DD is ready for that

    - make her more competitive for college admissions and scholarships, as she won't have any remedial math and science credits on the high school transcript, and have had the extra time to do some additional credits rather than just "bare bones"

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I would love to do either, but my ds is 12.5 and starting 8th grade this year.  Dd already feels completely inadequate, has little self-confidence, etc... And she still suffers from OCD & anxiety, so having her younger brother pass her up, especially this year would be too much for her.  At this point, her brain would not see the logic of staying back a year.  I am hoping by the time we get to 12th grade, that will change and we can possibly convince her that taking an extra year to get some college classes under her belt and extra experience in theater & music will be to her benefit.  But until then....I am very concerned about her health and relapse, also.  If she does, we will have to have her re-assess things.

     

    I am definitely going to take everyone's advice and have her do Physical Science instead of General.  She did start General 2 years ago & HATED it.  But, she thinks she has to do it all in chronological order, can't miss something.  Having her skip TT7 will probably freak her out, too, but I see the widsom there.  

     

    One other thing regarding soc. sciences/history.  This year, I want her to have a gentle introduction to-something.  She did American History last year (I feel like we've only ever done American & Ancient history, we seem to keep repeating those 2 but only get so far) so I wanted something different this year.  She is very much a get it over, get it done kid, and so she doesn't want a lot of literature to flesh everything out.  When we get to American History, I was going to have her do "For the Record: A Documentary History of America: From First Contact through Reconstruction", by David E. Shi and Holly A. Mayer and "America, A Narrative History" by George Brown Tindall.  But for this year, I'm not sure.  I was hoping to have her do Notgrass but she's opposed to them because she thinks there are a lot of other lit. books added.  There really aren't, but this year is going to be tough to find something not totally dry but not overwhelming.  Suggestions?  I am trying to see if I can use Essentials in Writing level 8 & Essentials in Literature level 8 and hope together they will count for 1 credit for 9th grade.  I spoke with someone at EIW & they suggested she do that for 9th grade and if she does well, have her skip level 9 and do 10-12 the remaining years.  They said if she did that, she'd be ready for college level writing.  

     

    Thanks again for all of your help!

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  22. (My siggy isn't updated, so don't go by that)

     

    My dd will be starting 9th this year, and has had a lot of health challenges that have put her behind.  She's got chronic Lyme disease, and so the last year or more, she has only done sporadic work.  For a while, she wasn't even able to read.  Because of this, she's super behind.  She still wants to be a 9th grader, though.  So here are my questions.  She needs to graduate (to get into her "choice" college-hopefully) having completed 3 years math, 2 lab-based science, 2 soc. science, 4 years english.  At this point, she won't take biology & chemistry til she's a jr & sr.  She wants to do Apologia Gen. Science this year & Physical science the following. (Her idea, she wants to do them all in order)

     

    Obviously, those aren't considered 9th & 10th grade level science classes, but is it still okay for her to do them?  If the end result is what "they" want/require, what do I put on the transcripts for the 1st 2 years that won't hurt her chances?  The same goes for history.  We are doing it really light this year, to get her back into the swing.  She is reading & doing some writing now, but there is no way we can do what most 9th graders (at least most 9th grade homeschooler's) would be doing.

     

    The math is TT, she is 3/4 through 6, is planning on excellerating through 7 & hopefully getting part way through pre-algebra.  Hopefully.  I know we will have to have a tutor at some point & there will be summer school, but again, as long as she gets the algebra, geometry & al. II, does it matter when?  

     

    Also, she is also heavily involved in 4H, is a 4H Ambassador, is part of a 4H theater group, does recycling presentations for 4H, etc... 

     

    She isn't going into a career that requires more math or science. She is planning on a music major, drama minor.  She's taking piano, guitar & voice.  

     

    I've been so focused on getting her healthy, and now that she is (hopefully) getting better, we are all floundering a bit, thinking about the future.

     

    Thanks for the help,

    Tammi

  23. I've been researching my brains out, and finally decided to just start a thread (because I'm too lazy to keep searching)!

     

    My ds, 12 is currently doing TT6, and has done MUS through Delta.  He's behind, due to my constant switching, as well as lots of upheaval due to his sister's medical issues.  Anyway, I always knew he was mathy, but when he told me he does all of the TT problems in his head-ALL of them-I decided maybe I needed to find something more challenging & rigorous for him.  If we can find some online self paced program, that he can accelerate when he needs to, etc... he will hopefully get to where he needs to be, quicker. 

     

    Thanks for the input!

  24. I've been to DC numerous times, but I've never paid for a tour.  Just to warn you, walking from end to end of the mall is a hike.  It's father than it looks on the map, IMO.

     

    I've been to both museums that you mentioned, so if you have questions about those I might be able to help.  I saw in your signature that your ds is learning Astronomy.  Air and Space has a planetarium, so if your dd needs a break from all of the walking, that might be helpful.  They also have an IMAX.

     

    Sorry that you're going to DC for a doctor's appt., but I hope that you have a good visit!

    It looks like my dd picked the Nat. History Museum.  We're going to have to go the day we arrive, so we can only hit the highlights.  I'm going to have the kids look over the website & pick out the things they want to see the most, because we will probably only have about 4 hours, tops.  Which is all my dd could probably handle (if that) due to fatigue.

     

    Any tips/must sees, there?

  25. If you want to go to the top of the monument you have to be in line an hour and a half before they open to get tickets. Tickets are free, but limited.  About three blocks down you can get similar tickets for the printing and engraving tour; also free but limited.

     

    Stefanie

    Ugh, why did I not forsee this?  I know the one tour is supposed to include going up to the top, so I wonder if we would bypass the whole line thing that way.  I hate lines & crowds; I guess I'm so used to being able to do everything on off days & off season, because of hsing.

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