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mamamindy

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Everything posted by mamamindy

  1. Sorry, I totally dropped out of this thread.... I have tried my best to keep up with the replies... Soror- I am going through a some similar issues as you are emotionally, physically. I am sorry you're health is not well, but I appreciate you sharing how you're dealing with everything - gives me some ideas. Sahamamama - You're human. Everyone snaps sometimes. ;) I cannot imagine having DH around here all the time during the day. I wouldn't be able to get anything done. When he is home, all I want to do is chat with him and help him with projects. We don't co-parent well during middle-of-the-day hours. Oops. Maize - yay- so glad for you that your baby is nearly here!! I have always been top notch productive those last few days before baby. Hope you get lots of rest and fun times with your others before they have a new sibling. :)
  2. I have seen you mention how you stay organized. I love the simplicity - I'm intrigued. Wish I could let myself try something simple. I go crazy making things more difficult than they need be.
  3. What sorts of things to you use your iPad for for your homeschool? I know the possibilities will probably floor me. I have not even allowed myself to consider the options (an iPad was out of my price range) until DH got me one for Christmas. :001_wub: Thus far we've used the LoE app to do our phonogram review (we previously did it on a very old iPod) and I have one, yes one, e-book that's for "school". My children are young, and we're not a "techy" family, so I think we'll probably use it minimally. So far I use it the most to hide somewhere in my house and read this forum!! :lol: ps. FREE resources are best. ;)
  4. I finally had a chance to read through this thread. What a wealth of wisdom! :hurray: I am in the midst of a huge revelation to ME - I am not super-human!! WHY oh WHY do I expect so much of myself?? No, of course you can't do it ALL. But I haven't ever stopped trying. But I want to stop trying so hard because it's just killing me and sucking all the JOY out of our lives. Thank you, thank you, so much to all who shared how you are NOT doing it all. :grouphug:
  5. I think what you're doing right now is great. If it were me, I would just add in narrations from whatever else you are reading, and have her copy part of her narration. That would be a good start. :)
  6. We had a similar problem. My daughter is also a perfectionist. So I am. It's painful. We dropped it and just used the TB instead. Unless you really want it, I wouldn't run out and buy it just yet. Sounds like you've listened to SWB's lectures, and that's the most important info in the book IMO. So, for the rest of the year we chose copywork/dictation from whatever we were reading, and also did narrations from what we were reading. For me, I had to really RELAX. My DD felt like she was being tested with those scripted questions and specific narrations. That is an anxiety producing situation for a perfectionist. Summary style narrations are a skill that require a lot of time to develop. (Like you mentioned above - it's probably hard for YOU to do it. It is for me, especially if I'm not engaged with the material.) I think SWB herself would tell you to drop it (for the time being) because if it makes your DD (or you!) cry, then it's just not the right fit. HTH
  7. We've used Singapore from the beginning - Primary Math, Standards Edition - but *I* am having trouble explaining some of these mental math strategies to DD. I could use extra steps, I guess. We're at the beginning of 3A, using mental math strategies for addition and subtraction, like when a number is close to 100, or 10. An example of a problem: 970 - 97 We're to subtract 100, and then add back in the 3 ones, for a two step mental process: 970 - 100 + 3. The problem is, just a page before we were doing the same thing with addition, 970 + 97 = 970 + 100 - 3, and my DD is getting frustrated remembering whether to add or subtract the 3 ones. I mean, I get it, but even I fumble (especially in math!) when doing it quickly...and have a fuzzy moment. (If it's not obvious already, I'll just say, I'm not a math person, but I have really appreciated SM - I love it - and I'm learning a lot.) Just wondering what sorts of tricks you use to make this SUPER CLEAR when teaching these sorts of strategies? While writing this out I realized that I could just first illustrate - very concretely - that 97 is the same as 100-3. FTR we use rods with our lessons and I always make sure she can use them if she needs them. Then maybe when we write it out on the white board I can re-clarify, in a different color or something....
  8. We love our, and the toner cartridge that initially comes with has way less "output" than a new one, if that makes sense. Also, mine will say "toner low" before it really is. (Especially so on my computer "control center" where the software isn't 100% compatible with my iMac.) I always wait until it won't even print anymore (or looks like it's out in on the printed page) before replacing. FWIW I found a cartridge on Amazon WAY less than our local office supply store. HTH!
  9. I have one in the bag of "returns" since it didn't fit on my (old) closet door...I will have to see how this would work in our school/play room. Thanks for the idea. :)
  10. The closest we've come to music appreciation is listening to the Classical Hour on HPPR during lunch, Classical Kids CDs (LOVE these) and Beethoven's Wig during clean up/dinner prep. My kids are young - we have lots of time. ;) I would like to concentrate & study on a specific composer...but I must be interested myself or it just won't happen. I didn't appreciate classical music myself until college when I took a 19th Century music class (that was mostly required for graduation) and I just fell in love. It was the story behind the composers that did it for me. I am sorry, I cannot find any narratives on Montverdi in my resource books. Good luck!
  11. We have used this, and am about to start some with another child. I think this is a wonderfully economical purchase since you can choose the font and reuse for each child. My oldest prefers a slant cursive (learned ZB, but the slant in HLTL is very close) and my second DD uses an upright. I also like that the phonograms are included for practice since we usually just work on them orally during our spelling time. HTH!
  12. I will just say that my oldest found it boring at first. I think she was just too young because she LOVES history now. I just thought I'd mention that in case it was your youngers who are nodding off. ;)
  13. Now that I have an iPad, the digital material available may really affect how I homeschool. I only own one ebook so far, and that's the DeVore's Botony book mentioned, but I'm always in need of more reading material than we can get our hands on. And I have a crew of kids! However, I don't know if it's even possible for me to be loosey goosey (not for lack of trying, though!)
  14. We do a lot of the Bravewriter lifestyle stuff - and I totally suggest doing that, for free, and you have a lot of time to add or use any of the programs she sells. Sometimes adding (good) stuff, for us anyway, takes away something that is more important for right now. KWIM? Have fun! :)
  15. Another who thinks it looks great, but we're just not at the right spot to take advantage. Also, I don't know how I'd do following someone else's plan... I have trouble following my own. I would love it if someone has done the homework and priced the individual components would pretty please let me know. :) :) I'm mostly curious. We are pretty low budget here, just buying the core and using lots of library books.
  16. That would be awesome! I would definitely sign up for that. :laugh:
  17. Do you know what you want for spelling? We use Reading Lessons through Literature (same author) as our spelling program for my two oldest together. DS can also join in on phonogram review or any games we play (we use the LoE game book sometimes) but I chose to use something else to teach him to read. Our lessons are very short: phonogram review (either with flashcards or play a game) and then I dictate spelling words. Sometimes I give a spelling "quiz" where I say the phonogram and my girls write them on a small, lap-size white board. Some days we even just review the phonograms, no words. I find this pretty easy to do in a group setting. I want my girls to know the phonograms and spelling rules so that they can analyze the spelling of almost any word they come across. This program fits the bill. It's easy to use, and very affordable. Hope this helps.
  18. Absolutely. I have before at 3 different libraries/cities - once before we even had children! - the other times before we'd even started homeschooling. We're crazy about the library.
  19. Although I have used FLL with my children together, if you are looking for something different, we are really enjoying English Lessons through Literature. I think it would lend itself well to a Morning Time since you could read the literature on one morning, and then do the (short) lesson on the next morning, alternating. (The lessons are meant to be 3x week.) Also, during the lesson there is poetry and a fable, so I think that's nice during Morning Time. The only written work in the lowest levels is copy work, which we do at another time of day anyway. Now spelling, I'm not sure of. I would say we're "relaxed" with spelling here (my girls only seem to need minimal direct instruction). With ELTL, the author has her children do prepared dictation for spelling in levels 3 and up. (We're only in level 2.) She has her children analyze words from their copywork. Maybe you could just look at some words in whatever you're reading during your Morning Time and analyze them then with a whiteboard nearby. I would love to have a Morning Time like this, but with my 1 & 3 yos, it's a scramble in the morning. :lol:
  20. This whole thread has reminded me to just remember that I am HUMAN. Everyday I feel like I need to be in about 7 places AT ONE TIME. I find myself repeating (to my kids who can count), "How many kids are there? And how many mommies do you see?" At the same time, I'm reminding myself to be content where we are. Thanks a million. :)
  21. OP, I have one DC with excellent cursive penmanship, and another that...needs some improvement. ;) I hesitate to judge hers yet as she's only 7.5yo. But thus far, my oldest has a DESIRE to have nice handwriting, and she will spend a lot of her own time practicing. DD2 could really care less. So I appreciate you starting this thread! I would like to encourage her to have better handwriting. I think penmanship is important, even in this digital world. I really like the suggestion to keep it positive. For young ones in our house, I've kept handwriting instruction short, but focus on quality. And include the fun stuff like sugar-writing and writing in shaving cream. :)
  22. It does seem like a lot of practice will result in nice handwriting. I have always hated writing in a WB myself. Often I choose to journal on loose paper (as much as I hate loose paper lying all around) or getting journals that are spiral so they can lie flat. I have made my own workbooks for my children - to combat all that darn loose paper! - and I get it spiral bound for the same reason. Of course when they're first learning letter formation i still use just a piece of paper. Makes such a big difference. For DD2 I have to have to make sure NOTHING inhibits her moving her paper into a comfortable position, she doesn't have to press too hard with pencil, etc.
  23. Thanks, that really helps. After some issues with transitioning to cursive (at her request) I had her choose her next handwriting book, but now I realize we/she needs to set some specific goals - like having uniform loops, etc. I like the idea of having her evaluate her work. We were doing something like that in which she will circle her favorite "y" or whatever. I have forgotten about that and we should pick it back up. Some other things: I will often ask her if she would rather tell me about the story (this is how we narrate) or draw me a picture. Lately she'll choose to draw a picture, and slap something down in about 30 seconds flat, rather than go through the effort of re-telling. Normally I would be fine with a picture re-telling, but I feel like she's just being sloppy/distracted. She hasn't always been like this...maybe she's bored? Another example, DH (artist) will often draw them pictures (at their request) to color in at church. This last time he went to great effort to include little details that she would like, and hopefully keep her interested. Nope, she shows him her coloring less than a minute later. I don't get it. I try not to get offended when she doesn't meet my expectations...however, this time DH explained to her that he put a lot of effort into his drawing and would like it if she would put effort into her coloring it in. He wasn't criticizing her. She just got upset. :( eta: I feel like I was complaining above. Apologies. I greatly appreciate all the encouragement.
  24. At one time I had three children 3yo and under. I kept hearing, "Oh, it'll get easier." Thing is, it didn't! Of course I kept adding babies. And I kept thinking, oh, it'll get easier. Thing is, I didn't keep in mind that it would take some time. I just know, as it's already happened for some things, that one day I'll wake up and realize that it has gotten easier. I handle some situations better now - let's say, potty training - simply because I've been through them a few times, even if it's not actually any easier. For me anyway, it's all been about expectations. I have been disappointed when I have unrealistic expectations about things getting easier. My 5th baby has NOT been an easy baby. And I kept thinking, gosh, I thought this was supposed to be easier. Now I'm giving myself until youngest at age 5. Maybe THEN things will be easier. ;) After typing that I realize it may not have been encouraging... I'm sorry! It's helped me to define what easier for ME is. And then to realize that it may be quite a while until things are easier. But anytime you have a baby (and to me that's anyone under age 3) it's going to be a little tough.
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