[Memory Work 101]

We use(d) IEW's poetry, CC memory work, Living Memory, Timeline cards, drama and Shakespeare camps and Poetry Outloud,

 

 

 

[What worked well this year, and/or what are you changing for next year?]

Wins: Foundations and Essentials (Classical Conversations)

Bridgeway Academy Learning Labs ;

First Form Latin

Grammar of Poetry

TeenPact

Shakespeare Camp

 

What didn't work. Being too busy- not enough chillaxed time together.

[Tess Holiday, Plus size model]

As a plus size woman with genetic issues I have had to come to terms with my body- size, height, genetic coding and all. Thankfully, my dh imprinted on my younger, far more beautiful body, so it's all good,   :001_cool: . 

 

So, yeah, you've got to embrace what you've got. Howevah, there are several issues with this chick that have my therapist radar going off.

 

Like, goldberry said, Not diggin' it. 

[If you don't use literature guides for elementary lit what do you do for lit?]

Read voraciously to them, books on tape, private reading, etc. . Have the kids narrate and copy if you want. Usually they narrate or read long sections out-loud just for fun. 

I have used a few MP lit guides but as they get older, for stuff I'd like a bit of support with- The Trojan War, Dante, etc.

[long hair for a 50 year old woman]

Clips. I occasionally wear a low ponytail but mostly clips- usually all summer long. When fall hits and I wear my hair down again everyone comments on how long it is.

[What are your very favorite cleaning tools, sprays, materials?]

Norwex for dusting and bathrooms. LOVE norwex rags. 

 

[Notgrass question]

Notgrass is written by Chareen Notgrass. We are using the American History. You can add or delete the religious material as you see fit. The texts are full of color pics, great maps, really great for visual learners. The add-ons are terrific! I wrote a review here.

[Aside from localharvest.org, how do you find local, organically-farmed food?]

Do you have a food coop near you? I would start there and talk to the manager. 

[What we will be doing over the summer]

My kids will do drama camp and Shakespeare Camp. They'll also be memorizing the grammr from CC's cycles 1-2, continuing 2nd FL.

[What are your favorite comfort shoes?]

Birkenstocks and Allegria. I have a knee injury so it's tennis shoes or these. 

[can we talk about late to launch kids]

Um-- look around. We know TONS Of kids who were public schooled who are sortakinda going to college, working vague and stoopid jobs and living at home, just like some homeschoolers. We know homeschool and public school kids who went IVY, military, missionary, etc. etc.

All 3 of our older kids lived at home into their 20's. All of them launched debt free, too.

Our current live at home 20 yr goes to college full time, works at a living wage job, goes to the capital to work with certain Policy councils and is getting through U debt free.

 

Dependent, lazy, unmotivated, passive? Maybe. Or maybe they just know a good thing when they see it. Our older kids loved their childhood and rather resented the harsh realties of the adult world when they got into it. 

 

[Who else is planning for next year now?]

Definitely. We are still in the thick of it all- just finished our One Act Play, going right into TEenPact, taking 3 on-line classes, but I still can't wait for next year to roll around! 

 

[Does anyone do Classical Conversations at home?]

Still getting views from this thread so I thought I'd update. We joined a CC community this year- foundations and essentials and it's been great. I have regular posts about CC. I'm tutoring Foundations and plan to tutor Challenge A in the fall. 

It's been a great fit for us this year as I've been working from home. It's part of my support system for getting it all done. 

[What are your thoughts about speed reading instruction?]

I am a speed reader through no fault or training of my own. This has allowed me to get through a couple fo grad programs while homeschooling. I can also read pleasure books quickly. It's not so great when I'm super busy or too tired. and need to know the info. I have  to concentrate to turn it off. 

Iow, it's a double edge sword, imho,. My dh reads slow but has incredbile comprehension. 

 

[Science Ideas Clustered around Dolphins and Marine Mammals]

Bridgeway Academy has a 10 Learning Lab (live, interactive on-line) class on Marine Biology

[Tell me what you know about MS]

My sister had MS and, sadly, died 5 years ago. She was happily married and  had  3 kids and worked, swam daily, traveled extensively- so she lived a full and rich life, even though she got the diagnosis in her twenties and was told to not have kids or work, but just rest and take it easy. 

I would do every alternative health thing you could- elimination diet- orgranic meats and hormone free dairy, etc. Start taking barley green or dynamic greens and organo gold green tea. Find a good functional medicine doc (chiropractor on steroids) and research like crazy. Also, a gym memership- swimming/biking regularly. There is lots of info on how dental work can trigger MS. I think my sisters back surgeries (Harrington Rod) really had a lot of do with her dx. 

 

MS is not easily nailed down. It is a neruological illness so it depends on how it manifests. My sister was serious about a super strict diet and working out and that allowed her to live better for a way longer than the docs told her she would. My sister and family did move to a 1 story house so that she could get around better- stairs got more difficult. She did not get a wheel chair for decades and traveled on differnt continents. 

 

I encourage you to be proactive with your dh's healthcare and cultivate your spiritual life together. Contact your local MS chapter. Trials like this need support on all fronts. 

[How would you put a great memory to its best use in a 9YO boy?]

Get a timeline and memorize it - CC's or VP's, Art and Science cards from CC. Get the CC foundations guide and pick a subject. I hate time wasters as well, and while I dont' think CC is perfect, I don't see it as a time waster either. Either way, the guide has lists of 7 subject areas with a boat load of memory work. If he did all of the grammar for all 3 cycles, he'd be a step ahead. The Old Grammar of Poetry had long poems in the back- great ones. Get MP's Horatius at the Bridge and memorize the entire poem- Latin Highlands does it in 5th grade as the "Churchill Challenge." 

[What is with the trend of misspelled names??]

I have a kid in  a class whose name is Elin. (A lynn). None ever gets it right. The kid is bugged by it. The other kids actually say to her regularly, "HOW do you say your name!"

[What do you think of this email?]

I would say, but only to myself, "And this is why I don't even come over when you're not home and rarely when you are." And roll my eyes. I think I wouldn't bother replying.

 

DH is right. His mother, if she wouldn't comment on a smudge of dirt and two improperly positioned toys, is a normal grandma.

I wish my kids had a normal grandma.

[Are you and your spouse/partner intellectual equals? How important is intellectual compatibility?]

Yeah, I'm surprised by all the posters who know their and their husband's IQs.  I have no idea what mine is.  My husband may or may not know his - it has never come up in conversation.  

My mom was getting an M.S. in Ed when I was in high school so we were her guinnea pigs. Dh had an I.Q test in grad school as part of the program. He also wrote his dissertaion on Intelligence and I.Q. testing  and I work in Ed where the kids are tested twice a year-so its a topic of occaisional discussion around here. 

 

Our kids, however, have never been tested. I do belive our oldest is doubly gifted and having known this 20 yrs ago might have changed a lot of things. 

[Are you and your spouse/partner intellectual equals? How important is intellectual compatibility?]

My dh is far more intellectual than me, but he is also gifted. That being said, I'm a good solid smart, have a unique understanding and interest in the two fields of his study (psych and Christian theology) and bring a lot to the table as an artistic, global thinker who reads voraciously and is more than willing to push him to explain better or actually put words to his thoughts. 

 

We both have multiple advanced degrees and are both continually learning, seeking info and passionatly curious about many things- in that we are quite equal. 

 

I don't think it's a necessity to be intellectual equals in order to have a successful relationship but I did hear years ago that having more than an earned degree between you causes strain- but I think the relational "contract" needs to be clear up front- we know several couples where the wife is a "trophy" (and even one or two where the guy was a younger "cougar catch") and as long as everyone was clear up front and willing to comply with the original contract, it seemed to work out. 

 

 

[Do you remember being taught to write? Composition, not penmanship.]

No. I remember no writing instruction but a lot of demanding writing assignments. I was always rather lost. I got by because I read early and voraciously and am an intuitive learner. That's one of the reasons I love simple stuff like IEW- it spells it out and makes it do-able. 

[On-line schools in MN?]

Bridgeway Academy- they offer a full on-line program. 

[SWB's History books for YOU?]

We've used them as read-alouds after we've exhausted SOTW. My kids LOVE them and I learn a ton as we go- they all have a wider and deeper grasp of history than me, no doubt.

[Share your favorite go-to Mary Kay product?]

Love Satin Hands but use dry skin cleanser almost nightly- takes off eye make-up extremely well and leaves my skin moisturiezed and clean.