tm_burriss
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Posts posted by tm_burriss
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I have a syllabus that shows what to read for each week of Cycle 1 in SOTW. If anyone can tell me how to share it I will be glad too. One of my friends is a tutor and when she found out we were thinking of doing CC she sent it to me so I could see how it would work.
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In case you, like me, would find taking the summer off draining and anxiety-provoking, I would focus on the biology and geology around you. I'd do Hawaiian history, too, with field trips and some library books.
I'd read a book a week with each kid (either read aloud or both of you read) and discuss it some. Each child could write a little something each week, e.g."Our trip to the volcano" or "My favorite Hawaiian Food", etc. This will give you an idea about strengths and weaknesses in writing, spelling, etc.
If you've decided on math, give them placement tests.
You should plan out your year and get yourself going on the math your eldest will be doing. Read Liping Ma's short book and get yourself unscared of Elementary Mathematics.
All this could be done in 2 or 3 field trips a week (and you could then bring along a satchel of things you need to research and read and study, while they play at a nearby park or beach), some kids-with-noses-in-a-novel time, and two half days a week of book work. Easily.
I think you have more to do than they do, and being psyched, prepped, equipped, scheduled, and READY will be the best thing for the summer.
HTH. This is just what I would do. I don't like long stretches of no school.
I don't like long stretches without school either. Even in PS we do some learning activities throughout the summer. We read all the time anyway but I may make that more focused through the summer and use it as a spring board to learn more about the area.
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Well, I agree with what people have already written.
But also, I think it could be useful to have some workbook type things for time in motel rooms, or airports, or whatever.
To let the transition be a fun one, you could let the children help choose what area they want to work on for the summer, and then pick one thing each that will be part of upcoming work. Could be 3R type work, or could be, art or history or whatever is of interest...though I suppose it would be best if it is something transportable and not requiring many supplies. And then there is always reading and so on that can use up hotel time.
Singapore math has Challenging Word Problems which could be fun for you--I find them so--as well as for your children, and they are not very heavy books for travel. If you have a laptop/notebook computer that will go with you, you could look at The Happy Scientist website which is also fun. You might want to read Joy Hakim's The Story of Science as a family read aloud, and or Life of Fred books, which tend to be good for those of us who particularly love math/science and for those of us who are more literary/historical minded.
Khan Academy available on line, and BBC learning both have much in math and science areas that could help you feel more comfortable, and or be things your children might like. But don't worry about being able to handle the math and science, just take one thing at a time and enjoy!
Thanks! My kids love math workbooks, especially things like word and logic problems. The Happy Scientist website looks neat too. Thanks for the great ideas!
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We are in a similar situation. My kids are 11, 9 and 4 and we will be hsing for the first time this summer--no moving though, thankfully for us. Both of the older girls are good students, but I don't think enough has been expected of them. DD9 is more than likely gifted, but she prefers to sit back and do nothing to get her A's. My plan is to challenge them. DS, he's a whole different deal. He still has another year to go before he would be kindergaren ags, but he's close to reading. I'll just keep following his interests and see where that takes us.
I would also take off the summer and explore your new digs. I plan on doing the girls together for history/geography and science. STOW Volume 1 for history and Apologia Astronomy for Science. They will each being doing their own level of Saxon math and we'll use the library for additional reading, art appreciation, etc. I, too, am an English major. I will be using primary sources to teach grammar and writing. Spelling will come from age appropriate lists from the internet and words from what we are studying. HTH
I look forward to hearing about your journey. Good luck with the move.
Thanks and good luck to you too. Maybe once everything settles and we actually have an address we could team up so the kids could do pen pals.
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Hello, and welcome!
Most curricula designed for the homeschool market is perfectly suitable for "starting in the middle". Many if not most homeschoolers do start in the middle, and the writers of such programs know it. Many math programs have placement tests on their websites, and history programs will often have a FAQ that answers questions like, "What level should we start with if we've never studied ancient history before but are the right age for medieval?"
Don't worry too much about math and science. There are folks who LOVE math and science and understand it very well, and write well, and will pass on their understanding and their joy directly to your children. Life of Fred comes to mind for mathematics right away, or The Art of Problem Solving, especially since you mention your children are gifted. I think The Happy Scientist or the Nebel books for science would meet those criteria, also.
Our children are the same ages. Mine were born 7/00, 1/03, and 10/05. The oldest is quick but not accelerated. The middle is accelerated. The youngest is normal. I'll tell you what I plan to do next year for the older two, since it doesn't sound like our youngest are working at the same level.
For my seventh grader --
Science - The MakerShed Ultimate Microcontroller Pack
Math - Art of Problem-Solving Intro to Algebra
Composition - Institute for Excellence in Writing's Student Writing Intensive B
Visual Arts -- drafting with the resources from Complete-A-Sketch
Foreign Language - probably Spanish with Power Glide but we are still negotiating about Latin and Greek (which we've always done before)
For history and literature, he'll be reading from a fairly long list of books on and from ancient times, similar to the list found in The Well-Trained Mind.
My nine-year-old will be doing all of the same things, except that he'll doing his own stuff for science instead of working through the microcontroller kit. I haven't decided exactly what that will be yet, though. I may just throw some Thames & Kosmos kits at him, like this one, see what my library has that's related, like this, and call it good.
I hope that helps some. This forum will answer any question with all the possible answers and a couple you would've thought improbable. You've come to the right place.
Thanks! It was good to see someone else doing Latin and Greek. My husband has been slowly teaching Greek to our kids for a while and I was hoping we could continue that with the Latin. Science may be something we just do when we can this first year while I focus on the Rs and learn what works for us. My kids are pretty flexible so they may enjoy figuring it all out with me ;o)
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Good suggestions so far - I agree with them all! Take some time off, do a lot of reading aloud.
Math Mammoth is an excellent math choice for your situation. In addition to all that has been mentioned, all of its flexibility and extra features make it a great program for figuring out where your kids are at, and jumping in to fill their holes and/or move them forward. For example, when I brought my dd9 home for school after 2 months of 4th grade, I did the MM placement tests, identified her weak areas, and was able to use the free downloadable worksheets to fill in her holes before starting right up at grade level. If you feel determined to do some "school" this summer, this might be a good place to start: placement tests and worksheets to fill in weak areas, while waiting to start "officially" till you are settled into your new place.
For Language Arts, you might want to check out Michael Clay Thompson's language arts programs. It is a *very* different, non-workbooky type of LA that was designed for gifted kids. It includes grammar, vocabulary, poetics and writing (although many here use and additional writing program) and it's really engaging for very languagy, wordy, story loving kids.
Welcome! Enjoy the journey! You will get lots of great advice here, but remember the key thing is to figure out *your* kids, and yourself, and what works for your family, and don't worry too much what the rest of us are doing!! ;)
Thanks! There are so many curriculum choices that it definitely can get overwhelming. I will check out the LA curriculum you suggested too. Someone else had recommended that same one to me.
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There are so many great products out there. I would start by reading a copy of " The Well Trained Mind" bearing in mind the 3 rd edition is the most detailed in regard to curriculum suggestions. It has helped so many people decide how to do home ed.
When we moved the kids kept a journal with pictures of the new things they did each day. I also read tons of books aloud to keep entertained. A kindle might be handy. Maybe a math workbook. Your days will be full exploring.
Checking the regulations in Hawaii is vital before you order anything.
I would also keep looking at this forum. The people here are very helpful and have lots of great ideas.
A journal is a great idea. I have already read TWTM. It was the absolute first book I picked up when we decided to homeschool. I have checked the regulations and they don't seem too overwhelming so hopefully we are good there.
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My first suggestion is to forget about schooling this summer. You will be moving, the stress involved in that alone will make you near crazy. I wouldn't add the additional burden of learning to homeschool. What I would do is enjoy your children. Get to know their individual learning style "in depth". This will make you a better teacher. Do lots of research on different programs and teaching philosophies. Weed through things that fit and those that don't.
Now to answer the question you asked:
Math Mammoth is great and somewhat independent too. Also PDF so no heavy books to be packed into suitcases or waiting forever for long shipping times.
This is our plan but I know we are going to be spending 30-60 days living in a hotel while waiting on our house. We plan to spend a lot of time exploring and learning the area but I know there will be days when we just need something to occupy busy hands and minds. I may pick up some books on local history and the geography/geology of the area and go from there. I agree with just spending some time watching and learning from the kids too. Thanks!
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I am interested in the replies to this one too :lurk5:
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I know these questions have been asked a hundred times and I am looking through the old posts but I wanted to ask again anyway for my specific situation.
We are brand new to homeschooling, actually won't start until they finish this year of public school, and I am having a hard time trying to decide which curriculum to use where. I have 3 kids ages 11, 9, and 6. All are currently performing above grade level and in gifted programs. I don't know that they would be considered advanced but they do tend to grasp concepts fairly easily. I want them challenged and not bored with homeschooling and am planning to do summer schooling too. What are some curriculums for any subject that works well with students that will be starting them in the middle? My degrees are in English and History so those are subjects I am very comfortable with but Math and Science not so much. I am capable in those areas but they are not subjects I love. I understand them but I don't know that I will be able to teach what I understand. Does that make sense?
Too make it even more interesting we will be moving from Texas to Hawaii. We will be spending a good part of the summer in a hotel room so I think it is the perfect opportunity to brush up on some skills. What are some good workbooks/programs for this?
Any other suggestions or ideas to help us make the transition would be greatly appreciated. We are all super excited about giving homeschooling a try.
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We are moving from Texas to Hawaii in June so any summer schooling will be learning more about our new home ;o)
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First of all let me say that we do not begin completely homeschooling until next year so I am super new to all of this. My dh has been teaching our children Greek and Hebrew for a year or so now. He wants to continue to teach them these languages. I know that Latin is a big part of a "classical" education and I was wondering how important you feel it would be to include Latin along with Greek and Hebrew. Thanks!
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I don't think there is enough writing in public school.
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Wanted to add also, that many times, no matter how many times you receive a vax, your body will never produce the antibodies. I have been vaccinated for Rubella many times and still test as non immune. After my second pregnancey I refused to be vaccinated for it anymore as obviously my body will not produce those antibodies. So some of these cases of things like pertussis very well may be like me and although vaccinated, for some reason their body simply does not produce the antibodies.
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It doesn't matter if others think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. It is your child and your decision. I would, at the very least, file a complaint with the hospital on as many levels as possible including local and regional managers.
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I paid my sitters 10 per hour for the first child and 5 per hour for each additional child when they were little (under 5). Now that they are older I pay a flat 10 per hour. If it is an all day thing (over 5 hours) I usually pay 50 for the day.
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Anyone here that lives on Oahu? We are moving there in June.
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Visual/Kinesthetic Learners
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Hello! I am brand new to homeschooling and am trying to figure out what curriculums to use with my kids. The are all 3 visual/kinesthetic learners leaning toward visual. I need some recommendations for all subjects. We are going to be doing Classical Conversations for this first year and then after that reevaluate but I would still like recommendations for any and all subjects. My kids are currently in K, 3, and 5th grades and are all on or above grade level. Thanks for any and all help you can give. I am open to all suggestions and advice.