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Country Girl

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Posts posted by Country Girl

    Wilson Hill Academy and Veritas Press Scholars

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I need to find an accredited Geometry course for my daughter and have found these two options for live classes.  However, I can’t find much info on either, especially the VPSA.  I’d love feedback on ANY classes you’ve taken from either provider, how easy is the administration to work with, what is the teaching format like, how are the classes structured, how easy is the technology to use, how accessible are the teachers, etc?  If you have experience with a specific Geometry teacher, that would be great too.

    Accredited Online English Courses

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    JHU CTY has accredited English classes. My son took Crafting the Essay. It was an ok experience. I don't think it is the best product on the market, but it is accredited, while the ones I would recommend otherwise, aren't.

     

    Good luck!

     

    Thanks! I agree, the programs that I really wish he could take and feel he'd get something out of, aren't accredited.

    Accredited Online English Courses

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My oldest is no longer homeschooled, but because of the unique curriculum path he took prior to high school and the willingness and flexibility of his current private school, we are in the position of searching for an online English course for him to take. The only catch is that the course must be accredited. Does anyone have a recommendation? He is open to lit or composition. It just needs to fulfill an English credit and be accredited. He typically does well in his English courses and likes a challenge, but he is going to be taking 3 AP courses and a college course this year, so an easy class that doesn't push him too hard would be ok too;).

    Equine Science

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Does anyone have a recommendation for an Equine Science program for an upcoming 6th grader who spends her every spare moment at the horse barn where she takes riding lessons? She is learning a lot through hands on experience at the barn, but she has a desire to learn everything she can on the topic. I'd love to take advantage of that passion and try to center her science curriculum this year around her interests. She is a strong reader and has read a lot of the books on the market geared toward elementary and middle school aged kids, so she might be ready to move up to something more meaty and more science focused.

     

    Also, I'm going to be completely transparent here and say that I'm not good at pulling things together on my own. So something with a schedule or a suggestion for a text with chapter questions and quizzes would be ideal.

     

    Finally, I know that Winter Promise has a program, but I can't get a great feel for the quality of the content from their website. She's read most of the books that go with the program, so I'm wondering if buying the package would add much value to what she has picked up on her own reading of the books? I'd love to hear about your experience if you used this program.

    Accredited pre algebra program? Algebra?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Does anyone have a recommendation for an accredited, online pre algebra program? Or even an algebra program as I look to next year? My ds is going to be attending a local private school next year, and they aren't going to give him credit for the Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 he has completed because they were homeschooled classes and not from an accredited source. As I look ahead to the possibility of my daughter doing the same in a few years, I'm thinking switching her to an accredited, online class might make the transition easier. Does anyone have a suggestion?

     

    Thanks!

    EiW Level 8 or 9

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Thanks Merry. How would you compare their coverage of the research paper? Also, help with including sentence variety, verb choice, etc?

     

    They are pretty similar, but 8 is slightly more incremental, and the first section (sentences) is easier (they correct sentences they are given instead of having to find their own sentences as in level 9).

     

    You really can't go wrong with either one.

    X-Posted: Jump In, Power in Your Hands, or EiW?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by Country Girl

    Thanks! I did see your post in the other thread as well and really appreciate the information. Still trying to narrow things down, but your post was very helpful. Can you expand a little on why it was such a good fit for your daughter who dislikes brainstorming and prewriting?

     

    Thanks!

     

    I am currently using TPIYH and we love it. I don't have time to type right now very much, Did you see the thread from a couple days ago about this writing program?

     

    The structure is clear, pace is reasonable. I am adapting the writing assignments to apply to other content areas. Sharon Watson's website has a couple chapters available to download. This helped me. It teaches not only structure, but some style and a little psychology thrown in. It works well for my daughter who has such a distaste for brainstorming and prewriting. The book is written to the student, rather than an instruction manual for the teacher to communicate. I just read it aloud with my student, and we discuss it together. I am so thankful for a solid resource that is easy to understand and teach!

     

    Check out the other thread, my comments there are more complete than here due to time.

    Jump In, Power in Your Hands, or EiW

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Thanks everyone for the feedback. I didn't originally mention my son's grade level (and the signature is old) because it is one of those things that is hard to pinpoint. He is 12 1/2, officially going to be in 7th grade, but is typically working a few grades ahead in most subjects. It is really hard for me to gauge his writing level though; I just know it isn't where his brother was at the same age and I don't feel like I'm seeing much improvement with WWS, which is why I'm looking to change.

    X-Posted: Jump In, Power in Your Hands, or EiW?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I can't address Jump In or The Power in Your Hands - I tried to use Jump In years ago with my son, but we didn't get very far. Not sure why. Power in Your Hands I will be using with dd this coming year so no experience yet. It looks good from just skimming through it. We have used two years of EIW Years 8 and 10. This program does fit your description of not being cutesy, but is focused on academic writing. Mr. Stephens begins by going over sentences, then moves to paragraphs, then to essays and a final research paper. All very incremental with examples and good grading rubics. It is a good program and dd did well with it. She really improved in her writing. HTH

    Blessings,

    Pat

    Thanks Pat, that is very helpful! I know you said you haven't used PiYH yet, but since you are planning to and have experience with EiW, would you be able to give me an idea of which level PiYH would seem to fit in compared to EiW? Also, does one program or another break down the writing process more incrementally?

     

    Thanks!

    X-Posted: Jump In, Power in Your Hands, or EiW?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I'm considering using either Jump In or Power in Your Hands with my ds who is currently halfway through WWS2. He is not a motivated writer, and has a hard time expressing his thoughts (both verbally and written). His take on life is: why use an entire paragraph to express your thoughts when a simple "fine" works just as well:). He also needs something that is very incremental, otherwise he gets frustrated with writing since it isn't something that comes naturally to him.

     

    He may only be at home another year or two before he goes to a private high school, and I want to make sure he has a strong writing foundation (because I don't think he'll get it in the high school). The Jump In book looks a little "cutesy", and that is a big turn off to him, but I'm worried a program that is geared for high schoolers could be too much for a reluctant middle schooler. Since he doesn't like writing, I'm looking for something that will give a solid background in academic writing without adding in other types of writing that might be enjoyable and fun for some, but would be torture for this kid. He knows he needs to improve his writing skills because they are a necessary component of being successful in his future goals, but that is his only purpose for writing. PiYH seems like it would fit the bill of being a strong, yet straight forward, incremental program that would get the job done.....if it isn't so hard that it is frustrating. Any thoughts on doing it with a younger, reluctant writer?

     

    The other thought is to go with one of the EiW programs. But again, I need something that isn't cutesy and has a focus on academic writing. Any comparison of the EiW programs, and the Jump In/PiYH books? Any suggestions for which level to start him in?

     

    Thanks!

    Jump In, Power in Your Hands, or EiW

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I'm considering using either Jump In or Power in Your Hands with my ds who is currently halfway through WWS2. He is not a motivated writer, and has a hard time expressing his thoughts (both verbally and written). His take on life is: why use an entire paragraph to express your thoughts when a simple "fine" works just as well:). He also needs something that is very incremental, otherwise he gets frustrated with writing since it isn't something that comes naturally to him.

     

    He may only be at home another year or two before he goes to a private high school, and I want to make sure he has a strong writing foundation (because I don't think he'll get it in the high school). The Jump In book looks a little "cutesy", and that is a big turn off to him, but I'm worried a program that is geared for high schoolers could be too much for a reluctant middle schooler. Since he doesn't like writing, I'm looking for something that will give a solid background in academic writing without adding in other types of writing that might be enjoyable and fun for some, but would be torture for this kid. He knows he needs to improve his writing skills because they are a necessary component of being successful in his future goals, but that is his only purpose for writing. PiYH seems like it would fit the bill of being a strong, yet straight forward, incremental program that would get the job done.....if it isn't so hard that it is frustrating. Any thoughts on doing it with a younger, reluctant writer?

     

    The other thought is to go with one of the EiW programs. But again, I need something that isn't cutesy and has a focus on academic writing. Any comparison of the EiW programs, and the Jump In/PiYH books? Any suggestions for which level to start him in?

     

    Thanks!

    Alternative to WWS2

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I used WWS 1 and and half of WWS 2 with ds1, and though he didn't love the program, I saw a huge improvement in his writing and he is thanking me now that he is in high school at a private school. Since *I* love the WWS series so much because of the results we saw, I've been using it with ds2 as well. Unfortunately, I'm thinking I may need to rethink that plan. With both boys, we worked through the books much slower than the recommended pacing (which is why ds1 didn't finish WWS2....he went to private school before we finished). DS2 has finished WWS1 and is about half way through WWS2, but I'm not seeing the same progress that I saw with DS1. There has definitely been some improvement, but he doesn't seem to be internalizing the lessons that WWS is trying to teach. He is a boy of very few words, and it comes across in his writing as well. He is trying to give me what I want and improve, but it just doesn't seem to be happening. He knows the program is good (because his brother has been singing it's praises) and doesn't want to give up on it, but I'm thinking it might be time to move on. He has a very analytical mind but is also very creative (loves to build and tweak all sorts of mechanical contraptions and solve design problems). So does anyone have a suggestion of a writing program that might be a good fit for him and still prepare him as well for for high school/college writing as WWS (especially research papers, position papers etc.). We aren't interested in a creative writing program.

     

    Thanks!

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