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foofoobunny

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Posts posted by foofoobunny

    Biblioplan- yes or no? Looking for updated reviews

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    Did you use another spine for when they were older? the Companion? or just the book list?

     

    Mine are younger than yours.  If you were to use it again now that yours are older, what would you use?

     

    What are you using now?  And how do you compare it to BP?

     

    (Hope you don't mind me picking your brain so!   :001_smile: )

     

    Pam

     

    I used SOTW with the Companion when they were younger (late elementary/early middle school).

    Just the Companion when they were older (sometimes added Mystery of History).  

    I never used the literature suggestions - separate English curriculum.

    We are finishing our 4th year of Biblioplan.  Next year, for 10th grade we are doing Read with the Best & Write with the Best with American History - adding The History of US by Joy Hakum.

    We could actually use it again, but we've done it for 4 years and need a change.  I think it is excellent and would recommend it to anyone.

    Oh, and we also used the Maps and Cool History Questions!!

    The last 2 years we added the Europe study and Africa study from BP too :)

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    • Like 2

    Saxon Algebra I and II over 3 years?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    Saxon Algebra 1, Saxon Algebra 2, and the first 60 lessons of Saxon Advanced Math = 

    1 credit Algebra 1

    1 credit Algebra 2

    1 credit Geometry with Advanced Algebra

     

    My daughter started and completed Saxon Algebra 1 in 8th grade.  We reviewed the last half of Algebra 1 (lessons 60+) the first part of 9th grade because I felt that she didn't grasp it well enough.  We are in Algebra 2 right now.  We are taking 2 days for each lesson.  We go over the lesson the first day and she does the even problems.  We go over the lesson again the next day and she does the odd problems.  So, yes, we are doing Algebra 1 & 2 in 3 years.

     

    • Like 1

    Practice test for gifted - Grade 7?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I would. Do you know which tests they are giving? Our local middle school gives the Iowa with the Cogat, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the practice booklets and spend a few days prepping.

     

    I do think that gifted placement in middle school matters if it determines her placement for core classes in 8th grade and/or her placement for classes in high school. I would ask a lot of questions about placement or go poking around on the district website (as well as the ms & hs websites) since that information is often online. If you can't find the information online, then it's worth making a phone call to ask. Here gifted placement matters for determining core classes in 8th grade, because they group the gifted kids together into a single "team"; however, it doesn't matter for high school. High school placement is based only on the grades earned in 8th. Earn good grades and you have a spot on the Honors/AP track.

     

     

    Yes, it does seem like there is an "honors" team and I would like her to be on that team :)

     

    I saw some practice tests for Cogat, but they only went up to 6th grade.

    Practice test for gifted - Grade 7?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    What test is she taking?

     

    Practice:  just make sure she knows how to fill in bubbles.  Usually, one doesn't prep for an ability test.  If she hasn't taken standardized tests recently, try a test prep book for SSAT or ISEE, if there isn't a book for the test.  If the test is the ACT or in the ACT family of tests, there are books for that.

     

    Words of wisdom:

     

    (1) if she's taking the CogAT, it probably misses as many gifted kids as it catches.  If her scores don't seem to accurately reflect her ability level, don't worry about it, because:

     

    (2) in my experience, in late middle and high school, gifted programming is *virtually meaningless*.  What matters in high school is access to honors and AP and appropriate math placement.  If access to honors/AP or advanced math courses are somehow limited to gifted students, that is the only situation I can think of where the gifted label matters.

     

    Find out how your middle and high schools handle honors/AP and math placement.

     

     

    Thank you!  I have no idea what test she's taking.  That is a good idea about the bubbles!  

     

    That is good to know about the gifted testing.  There is a "Gifted Honors" English class in 8th grade that I'd like her to take, otherwise we wouldn't bother with the testing.  I don't believe any of the other classes are limited to gifted students.  

    Practice test for gifted - Grade 7?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    My daughter is going back to public school for 8th grade in the fall and will be tested for the gifted program in a few weeks.  Should I get some practice tests so that she knows what to expect?  She will take a math section, reading section, and cognitive section.   Any advice to what practice test I should get?  Any other words of wisdom?

    French 2 for 9th grader

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    Thank you foofoobunny. We switched from Latin and started French 1 at the start of the 2016-2017 year with a tutor and found it a wonderful change too. I like the WTMA French class because it is 1h 15 mins twice a week but it is in the late afternoon and will block 2 afternoons in our schedule. I like morning online classes so my DD can do them while I am at work in the mornings. Barstow's class is 12:30 to 1:30 EST and only once a week so the flexibility is nice. On the other hand, I hope it is rigorous enough for one high school language credit . So many things to consider. Planning high school is totally different from middle school  :confused1: . Thanks again, Ann. 

     

    Yes, one time per week is not ideal; hence, the added 45 minute conversation class at a different time.  I wonder if she will add that again next year.  I suspect she will.  It is definitely rigorous enough for a high school credit.  I had talked with her before enrolling my daughter in the class.  I told her that I was searching for an online French 1 course that was an equivalent to a public high school French class.  We had gotten so bogged down with Latin that it was taking time from other classes, and I told her that I did not want that to happen with French.  What is great about Madame Barstow is that she teaches/taught high school French classes locally in her area so she is well aware of what is expected for a credit.  I am pretty strict with credits, and I have no qualms about giving a high school credit for this course.  Hope this helps.  

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    French 2 for 9th grader

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    My daughter is taking French 1 from AIM/Debra Bell academy this year.  It meets one day per week, and she has 4-5 homework assignments due the following week.  The teacher just recently added a 45 minute conversational class (not graded) for speaking practice.  I enjoy Madame Barstow.  She's very laid-back and the class has been a refreshing change from the outrageous workload of Latin.   We will take French 2 in the fall.

     

    Where would you place your 9th grader in IEW (some experience)?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    Just wanted to clarify if you have EVER done Student Writing Intensive, you wouldn't do it again. So if you did SWI-A then your next step would normally be Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course (SICC)-A. Since you skipped some years they might say SICC-C would be an option.   Otherwise, I agree with the pp about doing Windows to the World with Elegant Essay or there is also a Writing Research Papers book. 

     

    They also have a new Narnia book coming out this summer that looks pretty cool.  http://iew.com/search/site/narnia

     

    Thank you for clarifying.  We already did Intensive so we would do Continuation.  

     

     

    In our co-op all 9th graders start with The Elegant Essay (first semester) and then end with Windows to the World (second semester).

     

    Thank you.  I like this idea for 9th grade.  That would satisfy the English 1 credit, correct?

    Where would you place your 9th grader in IEW (some experience)?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    My dd is doing Windows to the World in 8th with her older brother. It's more literary analysis, not technical writing skills. I plan to have her start Student Writing Intensive Level C in 9th then work through Continuation in 10th.

     

    Thank you so much for your input.  Windows is only a 1/2 credit though, right?  So, maybe put Elegant Essay with it?

     

    She doesn't need C before Windows. Particularly b/c she has some essay (intro and conclusions) work, including essay work in lit analysis through WWS 1 and 2. She will be fine in Windows, if that's what you want to do (I love it!)

     

    Ds is doing Intensive C this year. He did Windows last year with no problem. (He had had intensive B, Lost Tools of Writing and some WWS1).

     

    Thanks so much! Sounds like a plan!

    Where would you place your 9th grader in IEW (some experience)?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My daughter is finishing up 8th grade.  We completed WWS 1 in 6-7th grade, IEW Student Intensive B first semester 8th grade, and now we are on the 8th week of WWS 2.   I've been on the IEW site, trying to figure where I would place her for 9th grade, but I'm not sure.  

     

    I really like the idea of Windows to the World, but it looks like she should have Student Intensive C or Elegant Essay before that....

     

    Thank you for any input.

    Middle-of-the-Road online French class

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    If you don't mind a Christian school, Madame S. at the Potter's school is terrific. My daughter has taken several years of French with her.

    I've looked into Potter's School, but it looked pretty intense.  I don't want her spending anymore than an hour per day on language.

     

    Potters school

    Aim Academy/Debra bell ( we took French 2 there)

    WTMA academy ( we are considering this for German 1--I like that it meets more than once a week)

     

     

    It sounds as if the French classes through Debra Bell's Aim Academy would work for you. My dd has been taking French through Aim the last two years, and my rising 9th grade ds will be in their French I class next year.

    Thanks, I will look into Aim Academy.  Can you tell me how long your dd spend on French each day?  

    Middle-of-the-Road online French class

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by foofoobunny

    I'm in search for an online French 1 class that is what I would call middle-of-the-road for my 9th grader.  I don't want a super intense class that takes up all of our time, but on the other hand, I don't want a cake-class either.  I'd be happy with an online class that is comparable to a public school French 1 high school class.  Thank you for any suggestions!  

     

    p.s. My youngest daughter (6th grade) takes French 2 with Mr. G of Currclick.  He is fantastic and she loves the class, but I wouldn't consider it hard enough for my 9th grader without supplements (am I right?)

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