Christy B
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Posts posted by Christy B
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A college age friend has asked my help in preparing portfolios for college scholarship application. Sounds intriguing, and since my own dd is a rising 10th grader, I figure helping now will put me ahead of the game when it's her turn! WHERE do I start? I am familiar with 4H project record books, which was what prompted my young friend to ask for my help, she said that looked like what she thought she needed. Any ideas, suggestions?
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We found Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings and Applications of Grammar (from Christian Liberty Press) to be a good fit. NOT a rigorous language arts program, but just right for my math- and science- oriented student.
We did end up dropping the composition portion of Applications of Grammar and using Jump In instead; however, my dd is unusually weak in composition. I think for the average student, the composition in Applications of Grammar would have been just fine.
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We got our d.s. a Nikon CoolpixL100 for Christmas. It takes the BEST pictures! I think I paid $160 for it. I want one myself. The only problem is that it isn't small and I want mine to fit easily in a pocket. It seems the cameras with the nicer zooms are all bigger. So, for now, I use my son's camera!!
Hmm, I would rather have the better zoom and carry a tote bag. Maybe a smaller camera, down the road, for true portability.
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I've heard good things about the Canon ELPH, any other ideas? My dh loves his Nikon from work, but that is probably out of my price range. I will most likely try to buy used, as I'd much rather have a great quality used camera than what I could afford new.
The two things that are a really big deal to me are the zoom, and that the camera take the darn picture when I push the button -- none of this two second delay stuff. I am sick of missing shots, like I did yesterday at a graduation -- the graduates were *ambling* down the aisle, and still, by the time the stupid camera actually took the picture, they were a blur.
Specific name and model number would be very helpful, thanks!
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But you're not paying "per lesson." You're paying to enroll in the studio for a session. If you divide the session by however many months, that's how much the monthly payment is.
As a private music teacher, I am not charging you "per lesson." I'm charging you to be a student in the studio ... for me to research and buy music for your child, to plan recitals, type up programs, secure a venue, write lesson plans, etc, etc. That's all part of the package.
When you take a college course, do you ask a refund for the week of spring break (or whatever)?
Jenny
Exactly. You are paying for music education (and it sounds like quality instruction, from what you've described). Group lessons such what is being offered are invaluable in preparing a student for serious music education. If your child has any potential or thought whatsoever to studying music at the college level, he or she will be woefully unprepared without group study.
I put in many hours of work for each student beyond their private lesson. In addition to the recital and other planning Jenny mentioned, I spend COUNTLESS hours in e-mail and phone correspondence with parents (much of it, sadly, in simply trying to reschedule lessons missed for any number of reasons . . . as in, "We thought we would take this week off to bake a cake and smell the sunshine, and just make up the lesson next week, SINCE THAT'S YOUR WEEK OFF . . . ")
There's also the constant piano tuning, the repairs to the pedal that is broken repeatedly by clumsy little feet, the carpet spray to remove the mud tracked into my house, the toilet paper, hand soap, tissues, and hand sanitizer because EVERYONE has to tinkle, and during cold season they have to blow or wipe their runny noses.
All of this to say, I don't find the teacher's policy unreasonable. However, if it's just too much for your budget, or if you are just really uncomfortable with the structure of the studio, I'm sure you could find a teacher who did more traditional weekly private lessons. There's nothing wrong with deciding you need to make a change to find what works best for your family.
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Can you - supposing you are a woman - imagine going on duty on a sub that is deployed for months at a time with 50 or however many (?) other men you don't know?
Absolutely.
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. . . it also feels like we've instituted a lot of requirements that are not specifically called for in Scripture.
. . . Please don't misunderstand me, I love the catechism, and I have no desire to rebel, or "buck the system", but I'm having this inward struggle with understanding and accepting our use of the catechism vs. Scripture, and the process. Can anyone make me understand where I'm thinking wrongly about this? I'd dearly love to be at peace & in agreement with dh and our church...
Sorry, I can't help you understand where you're thinking wrongly, because I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I was raised Reformed; I was catechized and studied Berkhof and the whole nine yards, and on a theology test, I could probably hold my own with many seminary students.
Somewhere in the midst of all of that, I never -- NEVER -- understood that God loved me. That He really and truly forgave me of my sins. That the word "grace" meant more than "undeserved".
I agree -- there's nothing wrong with catechism. But I'm living proof that you can get it all just right and still miss the whole point, really.
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Given her desired major, I would check out Mary Baldwin in Staunton.
It is small, true, but it seems very connected to other schools, and it "thinks big", if that makes any sense. There's a sort of global emphasis . . . I'm not explaining it very well.
The campus is GORGEOUS and there are so many opportunities for leadership, semesters abroad, etc.
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Dd would be in 6th grade this year, and is definitely working at 6th - 7th grade level in all subjects except for math.
I would like to find a program that has a diagnostic test that will pinpoint her weakness and start there, as opposed to going over the same scope and sequence over and over again.
She has (barely) mastered her basic facts but got completely lost and confused moving into fractions (we were using Saxon at the time, there just wasn't much by way of teaching or explanation). LoF Fractions is way over her head.
I've looked at Aleks and will probably try the three hour trial today. The only programs I know of that start with a diagnostic test are ACE and Christian Light. I'm not opposed to using those, just curious as to if there are more to choose from. A web-based program that does grading and teaching would be most, most welcome here.
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Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings might work. I am using it with my math- and science- oriented dd. In fact, we are splitting it into two years. This year, we did the first third of the book and then the rest of the year will be all about grammar and composition. Next year, we plan to finish the book.
I was an English major and I am impressed with the scope and sequence of the book, the selections included (the program includes lots of literature, not just LOTR), the vocabulary, etc. Splitting it up definitely lowered the intensity, although dd could have completed the program in one year.
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Tolkein as an environmentalist.
There is an excellent book on the subject that could give him some ideas. I don't have it in front of me but I believe the title is Ents, Elves and Eridor. I plan to have my dd do a paper on this topic next year; we're studying Environmental Science and the second two thirds of LLfLOTR; I thought this would be a great way to tie science and literature together.
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I have not read the other replies because these threads are difficult for me. But, I really wanted to give you my thoughts - as a birthmother.
The adoption I arranged was totally open. When I was living in the same state the child's mother (some would say adoptive mother, but in my mind she is just "mother" and I'm something other) and I would travel about once a year for visits. The last time was prior to my cross-country move 11 years ago when the child was 10. So, it has been an open and positive experience for all. We still are in mail contact (mostly xmas cards, periodic updates, etc.). The child is now a well adjusted young adult.
So with that background, let me say this: You know your daughter and it is your duty to do what is best for her. You are under no obligation to facilitate a meeting. I think it would be perfectly acceptable to decline the meeting and send the letter. Perhaps continue the letter exchange through the agency, but pre-read the letters until you have a pretty good handle on the birthmother. You do run the risk of hurting the birthmother's feelings, but it is important for you to understand that your daughter's feelings/wellbeing/emotional development are paramount. You must also understand that whatever choice you make now will probably need to be explained later (for example, when your daughter asks, "why didn't you let me meet her sooner" etc.) but that explanation can be "I did what I thought was best at the time." Isn't that what all good parents do? What we feel is best at the time?
Good luck to you. Your daughter is fortunate to have such a loving mother.
As an adoptee, :iagree:
:grouphug: for all; adoption is wonderful and complicated and overwhelming.
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http://www.paradisepost.com/news/ci_14378467
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_14371777
http://www.chicoer.com/ci_14388171?source=most_viewed
The reason I included adopted in the subject line is that adopted kids are more at risk. They are at risk because of the increase chance of behavioral issues (stemming from organic, emotional or RAD issues) and because parents using an extreme discipline philosophy on challenging adopted kids run the risk of harm. Indeed, what the Pearls' type of parenting offers is completely counter to good parenting of adopted kids *especially*.
All parents in this scenario, the murderers and torturers and those who offer the written fuel for it, should be brought to justice.
:iagree:
It was chilling to read in the article that they are being charged with murder and *torture*.
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Thank you so much!
Some books...Prentice Hall Science Explorer: Environmental Science
Environmental Science (Fair) Projects using Water, Feathers, Balloons, etc.
Ecosystem Science (Fair) Projects using Worms, Leaves, etc.
Other stuff....
FOSS Environmental Studies Module (which looks pretty cool!)
Oak Meadow also offers Environmental Science at a (high) 5th grade level, which might work. To see what it covers, look on pages 7-8 here.
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Any suggestions? We do best with textbooks and workbooks, with videos, projects, etc thrown in when we have time.
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No, the term does not offend me in the least (and I am a Christian).
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"And I was much further out than you thought, and not waving but drowning. "
It was a powerful reminder to me not to assume that everyone is really "fine" just because they say they are. And it was strangely comforting to know that I was not the only person much too far out.
from this poem:
Not Waving but Drowning
Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.
Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.
Stevie Smith
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The conversation began with my mentioning that I feel somewhat uncomfortable with the attention I sometimes get being the wife of an elder. I don't know, like I am somehow....different. And how I just don't like attention. This person knows me very well, and already knows this about me as we've talked about this before. She, on the other hand, is somewhat flashy and has no problem wearing things to draw attention to herself. No biggie, that's just her personality. It's not me, but I don't judge her for it being her, KWIM?
She then said that an elder in her church has forced his dd to play piano for people because he believes she has a fear of man and is sinning. This dd likes to play piano, but has no desire to play for anyone. She doesn't like the attention it draws, doesn't want to draw attention to herself. Her and I are very much alike. If I knew how to play piano, I would play for family and that's about it. I don't think I would want to play for my church worship team or any such thing. I just wouldn't. :confused: I don't feel "called" to perform. So, it came back to me....and the fact that I, too, do not like to draw attention to myself.
Yes, I can see that if God has/had given me a specific gift and I was not exercising it for His glory, then I would be in sin. Thankfully I truly don't have any type of "attention" gifts. My gifts really are in administrative and service areas, not the up front center stage kind.
Melissa, I didn't read further than this post, but I think the person who said this to you has 1) come under some false teaching and 2) is trying to apply that false teaching to you.
There's no polite and modest way to put this on a message board, so I'll have to be blunt -- I'm a really gifted pianist and if I had to (continue) to play for church I think I would curl up and die. I did play, for a long time, and then stuff happened, and now I can't. And yes, there have been a couple of people who have come at me with the whole "fear of man" angle, but thankfully, for once in my life, I have not let other people's opinions manipulate me into changing who I am and what I believe God has called me to do -- or not do.
*That*, to me, is what the fear of man really is: letting other people manipulate you into being something other than what God calls you to be.
And as far as your specific situation goes, I've had *enough* already of elder's wives who are "front-people". As an elder's wife, your number one responsibility is to support your husband. I can't think of any woman *more* in need of a meek and quiet spirit than the wife of an elder. You will probably be entrusted with all manner of sensitive and private information, how appropriate that you are NOT a flashy, center-of-attention person. Those people are needed for getting kids to sing at VBS. They have their role. ;)
There is an excellent, excellent book on the subject (perhaps another poster has already recommended it, but just in case): When People are Big and God is Small. I would highly recommend that book for your reading. I think it will settle your conscience on the issue one way or another.
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Is her friend, who also has the summer birthday, moving up to the new SS class? Seems to me there's a difference between age-related moves and academics. SS is an age-peer thing.
If she's been doing 5th gr work this year, you'd probably be wise to do the 5th gr test. Since you did the 4th gr testing two years in a row, was there a significant change in her scores? I'm not sure how you can say she would have been in 6th gr in school this year, since you said she did poorly on the placement test at the school and would have been placed in 5th. Not trying to quibble, just observing.
I think your long-term track is the big issue here. When do you want her to graduate? I'd sit down and talk with your dh (or whomever) about those more significant issues and come to some conclusion that you can live with. I don't see why it has to be all one way or the other. She can stay with her peers in Sunday School and still be called the lower grade. She tests for what she studied for. You don't cram, because cramming accomplishes nothing. Any dc, working every day, most of the months, will accomplish more than one grade level of material just fine, with no pressure at all.
The other thing you could do is to call her a half grade. Seriously. Let her start calling herself that next grade up in January of each year. That gives her the emotional thing, but it's not so horribly binding. If you get to the end and need that extra year of high school, you have it. If you get there and don't, she just goes to the cc full-time and graduates early. If all you're needing is to help her emotionally, pick a new date for your year to start and use it. :)
Yes, the move up to the new SS class is strictly age based. We have quite a few homeschoolers in our church, so they (wisely, imo) made a hard and fast age/date cut off for SS promotion. It matters not one whit, except where dd's feelings are concerned (which matters quite a lot to me, but you get my point).
She did poorly on her testing (in math only -- all other subjects were at or well above grade level) in the spring of 2007. We "adjusted" her grade level for the 2008-2009 school year. She did quite well in her testing in the spring of 2008, and at the time, I was inclined to think that meant that repeating 4th was a good move.
In hindsight, I think what it meant was that one year, she had a bad testing experience in math, and by the next year, she had made up the difference. I'm starting to wonder how much the school situation factored into the whole deal (I'm starting to think we were being manipulated into trying to fill that small class). In other words, had it been strictly a homeschool decision, or had she been in a typical public school, I doubt very much that we would have felt it necessary to repeat an entire grade level for the sake of one poor math score.
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I didn't understand the comment that it is "it is convenient to have the girls exactly four grade levels apart as far as staying on topic together in history". My older kids were a year a part and we stayed on topic together for history/etc. and my younger kids are 3 years a part and when the younger gets old enough we will stay on topic together for history/etc.
Convenient, in that we do a four year history rotation, ala WTM. So, 5th and 9th being Ancient, 6th and 10th being Middle Ages, etc . . . worked out very neatly.
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I am firm in my opinion that when it's necessary to specify a grade level, it should be the one the dc would be in if they were in school. That includes ordering standardized tests. Those tests compare children in the same grade level to a normed group of children, all of whom would have been different ages--some "young" for their grade and some not, some working at grade level, some not. If you order a different grade level, based on your own subjective thoughts about where your dd might or might not be instead of just going with her "official" grade level, you won't get a fair comparison. And that's the point of standardized tests.
I say this as someone with a July birthday, BTW. I never heard that a summer birthday made anyone "young" for her grade until I started posting on this forum.:)
So, we tested at 4th grade for 2007-2008, and 4th grade again for 2008-2009. What grade level should I order for 2009-2010? 5th or 6th? How odd will it look to have two 4th grade tests and no 5th grade test?
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If dd were in school, she would be in 6th grade this year, 7th grade next year. It seemed right at the time to have her repeat 4th grade, but now I'm questioning our reasons and how it happened. We "held her back" largely due to poor math scores (which I now question, because I think the testing environment was the biggest problem -- she tested for the first time at a school, one that we were contemplating sending her to, and she was completely stressed) and wanted to line her up for a particular class at that school (a very small class; the class she "should" have gone in to was large and already had the reputation as a problem class). As it turns out, we ended up homeschooling and have no plans to send her to that school.
The other delay was the sickness that followed in her "second year" of 4th grade; that was unfortunate but honestly, I'm not sure it warranted repeating the year.
Now that her math skills are up to grade level, I honestly think she's working at a 6th grade level. She is not excelling in math, but she is at grade level (I think -- gracious, how can you tell when there are such huge differences from one publisher to the next!?!) Math will never be her best or favorite subject, kwim? But certainly she is on track to complete LoF Fractions, then Decimals and Percents, by the end of the next school year. Which means she could use the new Pre-Algebra in 8th grade, and do Algebra I in 9th. The only "advantage" to keeping her a grade level behind is that she would do Algebra I in 8th grade but that is NOT a big deal to me, as she is very unlikely to pursue math or science. I don't question that all of her other work is at a 6th grade level. Goodness, her reading and vocabulary are probably easily already 7th/8th grade (we won't talk about spelling).
Her friends her age are in 6th grade. Her Sunday school age is 6th grade (she has been in a combined 5th/6th grade class in SS, which is why the delay hasn't bothered her, until she started thinking about moving up in the fall). She does have one very close friend, a September birthday, who is also a year "behind" -- that's one reason I haven't really noticed or thought about dd being behind -- she wasn't alone. But I think her friend is also starting to -- resent? notice? be bothered by? -- the grade level.
So, I think I'm talking myself into getting her "at grade level". The question is, do I order a 5th or 6th grade test this year? Surely the adjustment needs to be made well before 9th grade.
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In the spring of 2008, dd's math test scores (testing at 4th grade) were rather dismal. That, coupled with the fact that we wanted to hold her back in order to enroll in a particular class at the local Christian school (which never happened!), led us to decide to have her "repeat" fourth grade for the 2008-2010. Which was a good thing, since she was seriously ill from Thanksgiving to Easter during that school year.
She started this year as a 5th grader. She started the year in Saxon 65, but is now working in LoF Fractions and doing well. We also started the year with Hake Grammar 5, but it became so overwhelming to her that we have set it aside (it's an impressive program, to be sure, and imo well above "typical" 5th grade level work; it's also dry as dust and the lessons take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to complete). I plan to finish out the rest of the year using the writing lessons from Hake Grammar 5 and some printable grammar worksheets I've found online.
History, science, and literature are at a solid 6th grade level (if not higher).
Just in the last month, she has started expressing frustration at being a grade "behind" in school. Now, mind you, she has an August birthday, and is rather small for her age. Also, being the younger child in the family, SHE IS MY BABY and I am in no hurry for her to grow up. ;) There were definite advantages, IMO, to having her a year "behind"; I think her test scores will improve, it is convenient to have the girls exactly four grade levels apart as far as staying on topic together in history, and -- perhaps most importantly -- it's going to give her an extra year of eligibility for dual enrollment in community college. That said, I don't want to discourage her or frustrate her in being "behind" (I'm afriad she's starting to think of herself as being not as smart as the other kids). She's especially sensitive to the fact that she is moving up to the 7th/8th grade Sunday school and youth group next year; it seems important to her to really *be* in 7th grade.
I think that we could easily complete a 6th grade grammar workbook before the end of the year, and perhaps a 6th grade test prep workbook as well. So I guess I'm kind of leaning toward doing that and testing at a 6th grade level this year, and "promoting" her to 7th grade next year. ::sniff, sniff:: She just seems to young to be a 7th grader!
Or should I just keep her grade level as-is, take advantage of the extra year of community college, and tell her to get over worrying about being behind? I'm afraid that is going to set up a BIG problem come senior year, when most of her friends are graduating.
Or should I test at 5th grade this year, and then next year decide whether to test at 6th grade or 7th grade?:confused:
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Dd has thoroughly enjoyed DIVE Biology w/ BJUP this year. We have put as much time and energy into biology as possible, and she is also using Total Health and we are adding lots of video lectures, etc.
I was thinking of using the DIVE CLEP prep and having dd take the CLEP test. Any comments on the DIVE CLEP prep? Are there other CLEP prep programs you would recommend?
Three semesters of geography -- how to list on transcript?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Dd will complete three, half-credit studies on geography:
9th -- Africa and the Middle East
10th -- Europe and Asia
11th -- The Americas
We study geography that roughly complements our history study (9th Ancient; 10th Middle Ages to Modern; 11th American).
How should I list this on her transcript? A .5 Geography credit each year might look odd. Should I just name them a bit creatively and list them as electives?
Global Studies: Africa and the Middle East
Cultural Geography: Europe and Asia
Western Hemisphere Geography