Hoot
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Posts posted by Hoot
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Thanks so much for the input guys; I really appreciate it. I must admit, I'm really happy with the feedback that she gave me and I think this is going to go well.
I've always been very involved in DS's schoolwork, homework and then we always afterschooled and summerschooled so being involved with this class is a given. I'm excited to see her syllabus and I'm so glad that she'll be taking things slow instead of trying to plow through and cram everything in (which I personally have a tendency to do :tongue_smilie:).
On another note, we totally started WWS today and it went REALLY well. I think we're going to get a LOT out of it.
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That is pretty common for his age. I would tell him to take a good look at the letter and really think before naming it. Some kids just need a little more processing time.
When I taught spec. ed. I taught my kids that the "b" has a belly. If this were an older child still struggling I might tell them that the "d" has a derriere, but at your ds's age I wouldn't bother.
On a slightly inappropriate note, one of my older kids shot back one day, "yeah and the "B" is like sideways boobs. :eek:
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That Morning Basket idea so inspired me that I put one together this morning with a schedule for each of our 4 terms. I've attached the print-out of each term's items if anyone else is interested. :001_smile:
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Everyone has one. Tell us about it.
I have many weird things. The one that comes most to mind currently since I'm doing laundry is that towels have to be folded right-side out. Yes, I know it is a towel. Still the hems have to be together when it is folded.
Yours?
I am SO like that. I can't stand for the towels to be folded any other way.
I have many...um...idiosyncrasies. One is that the tag on a blanket has to be face down and at the bottom.Ooooh me too. I have a blanket that I put on just my side every night and DH used to look at me like I was crazy when I would search for the "correct" end before laying it down.
I also lock my closet doors when I close them. It's just a push button lock but it's a habit that most people find to be weird.
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I am RIDICULOUSLY excited. This is our first year since way back in kindergarten and I can't wait. By the way, I LOVE that morning basket idea and will be incorporating it here too. I think it would be a great way to get in all of those little things that tend to fall by the wayside. DS and I are both very early risers so it would be perfect first thing in the morning.
So. Excited.
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I think I found the link! Give this a try: http://pc.ctc.edu/get_file.aspx?id=2872. Otherwise I just have a hard copy.
That's awesome!
Thank you.
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In case anyone else has questions about the same thing later, I went ahead and emailed my concerns about DS13 being new to IEW and starting out with U.S. History Based Writing Lessons and this was their response:
Hi Crissy,I think if you have him first do the Student Writing Intensive Level B DVD workshop, he will have a much easier time with the U. S History-Based Writing Lessons.
Student Writing Intensive Level B presumes your middle school student has had no previous experience with our writing method. Mr. Pudewa will introduce some of the nine units to the class on the DVDs, working through lessons with examples. The assignments he gives the class are included in the packet for your son, as well as detailed lesson plans for you and reinforcement exercises for added practice between the DVD assignments. This course will give your son a good basic foundation in our writing method before he begins the U. S. History-Based lessons with the co-op. In watching the DVD lessons with your son, you will also learn some IEW basics that will enable you to better assist him in completion of his writing assignments.
You can find additional information, video excerpt and sample lessons on .pdf on our website here:
http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/sid-b
We also have a free shipping promotion going on now through July 4 for online orders. Just go to our home page and find the American Flag and the link for the Freedomship Promotion. You'll be provided a coupon code you can use during online checkout to receive free shipping.
Please let me know if you need any further assistance.
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Thank you,
Lori Brians
Accounts Manager
Institute for Excellence in Writing
8799 N. 387 Rd.
Locust Grove, OK 74352
FAX: (603)925-5123
However, I then emailed the teacher of the co-op class to see if she makes any modifications for new students and her response was:
Crissy,Hi! Thank you for your question and I understand your concern. I have been teaching the IEW method for several years and have used a variety of their curricula at different levels, and I believe an 8th grader would have no problem keeping up with the pace I am planning. We will generally cover one lesson per week -- writing only an average of about 3 paragraphs per assignment. I am not planning to complete the entire text, so the pace will be steady but not overwhelming. I have taught the program IEW referred you to -- I incorporate those principles into whatever curriculum I am using, so your son will not be at a major disadvantage since he is new to it. I anticipate that I may have other students who will be 'first-timers' as well.
I encourage you to keep your son in the class. I have witnessed this program work wonders in my students' writing. It seems to work especially well for struggling writers because it gives them specific tools, techniques, and even the content to help them improve their writing. It is especially effective when there is some parental involvement with writing assignments at home. If you're willing to spend some time guiding your son at home, he should have no trouble completing the work and excelling. I will be sending out information later this summer helping parents to understand the philosophy behind IEW's program and offering suggestions for helping your student to succeed.
I hope this helps ease your concerns. Please let me know if you have any further questions!
So, I'm thinking it just depends on the teacher and how they plan to present the material. We're going to keep him in for now and potentially use WWS to supplement since it seems like her writing lessons will not be overwhelming.
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I don't even remember when DS learned to ride a bike but he was never graceful at it. Now, at 13 he STILL isn't good at it and actually hates to ride. He CAN ride, he just doesn't like to and isn't very good at it. No amount of trying has made him capable of stopping properly though. :001_huh: The poor child just kind of jumps off mid-roll and hopes for the best. It is a complete mystery to DH because he can't fathom a 13 yr. old boy that doesn't LIVE on his bike like he did.
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This is VERY helpful!!!
Thanks so much.
Is this the website you were talking about, by the way? I poked around on the board a bit and came across it.
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I've taught IEW at a co-op (SWI-A and SICC-B) and I don't know how the theme writing programs are set up, but I thought you needed to at least have already taken the SWI material before going to another level. I could be wrong. If we had students that wanted to jump into a second year IEW course we had them do the SWI first as a week intensive, which is the way Mr. Pudewa did the class on the DVDs. I'd ask the teacher if the US History theme starts over teaching all the dress ups, sentence openers, and units from the beginning or if it is a continuation course. You may also find this information on the IEW website.
My dc had IEW for two years as 4th/5th graders and 5th/6th and it was a great introduction to writing. They had not done any writing practically and it was so painless and they even had fun. This was the SWI-A and SICC-A material. We're doing WWS next year.
That is a good question, Michelle. I couldn't find the answer on the website but I sent them an email. Hopefully they'll get back to me soon. I hadn't even thought that he might possibly need to have taken another class previously only because I didn't see a "prerequisite" listed in the course description. Thanks for bringing that up though.
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I'm looking at using Destinos for myself but I'm finding the website to be incredibly confusing. For those of you who have used it before, can you explain to me how it works and what I would need to purchase. I know there are companion books, a faculty guide, textbook, coordinated workbook/study guide but figuring out exactly what I NEED is proving to be very confusing.
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My 11yo took an IEW class at our co-op last year. It was his first writing class and really, his first exposure to writing. Before that we had mostly done narrations because he was a late reader. I thought the class was great and the teacher did a wonderful job. He learned a lot and his writing improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year.
Is yours set up as a beginning writing class? Ours was, so the expectations were quite clear and the instructor kept her comments positive. You may need to help him in the beginning so sitting in on the class or at least pre-reading the homework assignment to make sure he knows the expectations could be necessary.
It is set up as an intermediate writing class.
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I went ahead and bought WWS and I feel such peace about it. I'm not entirely sure whether we'll try to do both or if I'll figure out some way to drop IEW. Secretly I'm hoping that too many people signed up for the class and he gets bumped. That would make my job really easy. :lol: I've also decided to give KISS Grammar a try. We're doing Easy Grammar Ultimate right now as just a review over the summer and I'm seeing some areas where he could use a little more reinforcement.
Thanks for all your input!
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Maybe if we all call/write/fax the publisher?
Good idea!
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Because today I told my kids they are going to have to hire their own babysitter if they complain about running errands anymore with me. :lol:
DS13 is a homebody AND his personality is such that he needs to know the order in which we are doing things while we're out or it stresses him. So yes, he does complain about having to run errands. He's to the age now though that he is able to stay home when it's just a short trip.
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What about doing WWS at half-speed? That would make the workload more manageable.
That is not a bad idea at all. Ideally we will start WWS before the IEW co-op class anyway and continue to work through next summer so going slower wouldn't be an issue.
Now, do you think he would have a problem hanging with the IEW class if he isn't the strongest of writers to begin with?
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I think you could do it but it would be serious work for a 13 yo- it would mean 2 papers a week many weeks. The programs are dissimilar enough that its not like the content would be redundant. You could do some of the WWS orally.
I would set a time once a week for an hour and go over the weeks work, white board at your side and try to knock out most of the WWS that can be done together-orally. You could get 1-3 days done together each week.
How long is the IEW class- will they be doing KWO in class? How much of their papers will they do as a group?
Is there any way that you could go every other week- a paper for WWS, a paper for IEW?
I really don't know how the co-op is structured and what they will cover in class. This is our first year there and I won't get the syllabus until August.
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Wow what a beautiful and moving tribute to the man you love. I'm new here so I don't know any of your details, but I am truly sorry that you are going through this. My heart breaks for you but at the same time, those memories that you just shared are yours forever. :grouphug:
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What my dd has been asking to do (also creative and an out of the box person) is to make a timeline with parallel lines running for each culture/continent. That way you can see what was going on in China while stuff was going on in Europe, etc.
I love that idea! My uber-organizational and very visual self can see each continent being color coded as well. :D
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For language arts DS13 is supposed to be doing:
~U.S. History Based Writing Lessons (in a co-op)
~Total Language Plus Lit. Guide - The Hobbit for the first half of the year and another guide for the second half (mostly focusing on the vocab., spelling, grammar and enrichment but we'll do the writing portions orally as discussion questions)
~Word Roots & Vocabulary Vine
Would it be complete overkill if I added in Writing With Skill? I LOVE the format and I think he would really benefit from the methodical focus since he's not the strongest of writers. However, I'm afraid of overwhelming him. Honestly, if I could drop the U.S. History Based Writing Lessons I would, but DH is pretty determined that he be accountable to someone other than just me for writing since it can be such a subjective subject. Unfortunately, this is the only writing class that is available for his grade level.
What are your thoughts?
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How bizarre.
DS13 is a VERY auditory learner so the discs have been PERFECT for him. I can't even tell you how many times he's listened to all of the SOTW volumes. He can practically parrot them back. Being in middle school now, these new books would be a bit more ideal. Oh well.
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I'm a Raw Vegan so... none of the above. :tongue_smilie:
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Anyone know why SWB's History of the Medieval World is on audio CD but History of the Ancient World isn't? I would understand if it were the other way around but that just seems odd.
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For us, we just have one child with no plans or desires for more. I went through a brief period several years ago where I thought I might want another child, but then I realized that I didn't necessarily want a SECOND child but the chance to do it all over again the "right" way with my FIRST. I'm a perfectionist at heart so I tend to have an all or nothing, right or wrong kind of personality. It's a petty and silly reason to have another child, which is why I'm glad I realized it before we did. I grew up as one of four children in a blended family and I hated it. Life was always noisy and chaotic and there was never any privacy. Having just one child has allowed me to feel a little more in control and to give him the more calm and peaceful childhood that I wanted. At the same time though, with an only, I do sometimes wonder if he would be better off with siblings. Of course, after experiencing his toddler cousin he's said that he's very happy to be an only. :D
Like farrarwilliams said though, I definitely DO get the "grass is greener" syndrome about some things, however for me, family size is just not one of them.
Outsourcing is OK! Do not be ashamed! What are you outsourcing next year?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
This is our first year and we are outsourcing a lot at DH's and DS's request. DH wanted to make sure that we were staying on some sort of schedule so as not to fall behind. And, coming out of a school environment after 7 yrs., DS wanted to still have that school experience with peers one day a week so he asked to be in several co-op classes. All of the classes meet on Thursday's back to back so it's actually really convenient while still freeing up the rest of our week to work independently.
Math - TT at home but also going to a co-op once a week to make sure he's really getting the concepts and can get help if need be.
Science - Co-op once a week for labs.
History - Co-op once a week for group projects, games etc. All of the teaching is at home though.
Writing - Co-op once a week for IEW's U.S. History Based Writing Lessons at a slow pace. I wanted to make sure he is accountable to someone who can be more objective. We're also doing WWS at home, also at a slow pace.
Bible - Co-op once a week.
Karate - DS13 is up to get his 2nd degree black belt in Korean Martial Arts so this has always been farmed out.
Photography - Elective class that he wanted to take at co-op for fun.
Drama - An elective class that he wanted to take at co-op for fun.