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JoyfulMama

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Everything posted by JoyfulMama

  1. Many in the education world would recommend STARTING boys a year later as well (way back in K, 1). But you looked at your son as an individual and started him because HE was ready. One of the benefits of homeschooling is that you don't HAVE to stick with the traditional schedule. Some finish HS early, some take extra time. He can take more time with those subjects he needs to, add in some subjects he wouldn't be able to fit in in a traditional school. If that means he takes an extra year until he's ready for higher education, then why is that a problem? There is no RULE that you must have EXACTLY 4 years of HS, nor is there a RULE that you must go directly to higher education. Many students benefit greatly from working (or hiking) for some time between HS and college - it allows them to see the benefits that the higher degree can have, which then allows them to be more focused. How many HS students go to college for a reason OTHER than an education????? I know this doesn't exactly answer your question. I think I would say 11th grade for now, and see how it goes. GL!
  2. If a person (and more specifically a child) is listening to a book which is at or above their reading level, it has a tremendous positive impact on their reading skills. 1) Listening is a vital skill which must be mastered in order to learn to read. 2) Hearing a book read on tape helps one see how the words on the page can come alive in a fluid, expressive way. You can then focus on the sounds of words read without interruption and provides a model of fluent reading. 3) Many books on tape have interesting sound effects, music, and multiple narrators that are especially motivating and fun for young children. They emphasize reading as a source of pleasure rather than a skill, and make children eager to learn how to read.
  3. Thanks for all the recommendations - since I have staples at hand, I used them - works great!!! I left the glue spots on, so it's snug against the wall as well.
  4. I realized long ago that my week goes smoother if I don't have to think about meals. I loved the idea of meal planning, but not the drudgery - do I have to do it EVERY week? So, I took a short-cut. I wrote down the meals my family likes best. Then I chose from those to make the first week. Next week, I took the same list, and chose a second set of meals. I have three great menus, which I can rotate easily. I also have a leftover night each week (with spaghetti as a standby for any time I need it). And if I make a substitution, then so be it - at least I didn't have to replan the whole week!!! Broke up the task, by not having to do a whole month at a time - besides, I can't always plan that far ahead! Now I'm working on trying to get more meals into the freezer - to accomodate schedule needs for this year. Today I'm slicing up a whole loin of pork (for boneless chops easy to broil or bake).
  5. I purchased a fantastic lamintated world map yesterday ($9 at Sam's Club), brought it home, and excitedly hung it up over DS's bed (new house, bare walls). Unfortunately, it won't stay on the wall... it wants to be a quilt. :glare: I used Glue Dots - Poster Adhesive Dots (1/2inch). Spaced every 4 inches or so across the top, and fewer on the sides and bottom. Still falling from the top down. Walls were painted within the last year - semi-gloss??? How did you hang up your wall posters so that they stay on the walls???
  6. We just moved here about 6 months ago, so I can tell you what I have found so far - but there is so much more available for homeschooling than I'm used to! First, let me say that I moved from one of the most restricted homeschooling states, to NE, which is on the opposite side of the spectrum! I had to complete a questionaire (mostly about me and my education, my experience teaching), and have a couple forms notarized (saying that yes, my DH and I want to homeschool, and that I am 'the principal'), as well as provide some basic information about hours/curriculum. But I have nothing else to submit - no portfolio nor any required testing. There are two options for homeschooling - one is a religious exemption, the other is a non-religious exemption. There is a very large Christian homeschool population here - some churches have their own groups. Omaha HEN (see above post) is the largest Christian group - and is community wide. There is also a secular group - Nebraska Secular Home Educators (NESHE). There is also a separate Homeschool High School group. Many homeschool-specific opportunities in and around the city - band, orchestra, theatre, sports, Boy Scouts, American Heritage Girls, 4-H,... Also lots of great learning opportunities here as well - fantasic zoo, children's museum, local/area history museum, botanical garden, great hiking in state parks, lots of local parks/playgrounds/pools, HUGE library system.... Hope this helps! If there is something specific you'd like to know, I'd be happy to try to answer!
  7. We just moved - in the period of less than three months DH accepted a new job, moved half-way across the country, we bought a new house, sold ours, and moved three kids and three cats. My kids were 7, 3, and just 2 at that time. I had purchased a unit study for my eldest, anticipating for her to be more independent with a 'box kit' for a couple months. Unfortunately, she was just as anxious about the move, and having life disrupted, and change, that we ended up taking an unschooling approach. We continued with her daily devotions (as she loves them). Beyond that, we packed it all up! We used library books (had two big baskets) and did lots of reading - was great to just sit all together and snuggle with books. She had lots of opportunity to learn along the way, which I am grateful for. We have since unpacked all the school stuff we were working on, and picked up from there. I didn't worry about not finishing books by June 30, as many have been carried over into this school year. Good luck to you - hope you find what works best for your family!
  8. Used to drive me crazy when my oldest would not take a time out 'seriously.' But then I realized that the point of the time out was to create a separation from external stimuli, with the learning happening in the discussion at the end of the time out. Just because *I* was angry, didn't mean my child had to be angry. So, do I let my children sing/laugh/ in a time out? At 2 - yes. My 2 yo can count to ten, and then can come talk to me. Fully effective all of the time? Well, it creates a separation from other stimuli, gives us time to speak about behavior (and she can repeat back to me "No hit" or "No grab). And it faciliates a redirection of her activity, which is the best at this age anyway. (It's also practice for later timeouts.)
  9. We moved six months ago - new part of the country, new (to us) house, new people. Our old routine: Dining room housed our daily school needs, and table was primary work space for writing. (But other activities were free for any floor or flat seating surface.) No eat-in kitchen, so it was hard to have to stop a project and clear space for lunch. Often times we'd throw a blanket on the floor or in the yard for a picnic. Basement housed majority of play space, including additional school stuff. New routine: Eat in kitchen with separate DR. Kitchen table is used some, but we now have more room, which allows for a more dedicated 'school/play room'. This space houses the majority of the things we use for school, including a small height and regular height table for writing. We do try to do some work down there, but all painting and 'messy' art and science is still done in kitchen. And any floor/seating is still open for games.activities. And, of course, the favorite reading spot here is in the backyard under the shade of the trees!
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