Mom2pandc
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Posts posted by Mom2pandc
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I've been having a hard time finding something that will work for my 3rd grader. I think I've looked at every curricula out there. I tried journaling with prompts...ha! Not feeling the love. Then I tried a book from the teaching store that used prompts and graphic organizers and an outline of how to get the ball rolling. Not as bad, but I felt like it took a lot of MY time to get him to write. So I went with Writing with Ease. I bought level 1 for my dd6 and level 2 for ds9. I felt it was a good starting place and if it proved too easy, we'd skip ahead a bit as needed. Well, shut the kid down! He crosses his arms, puts his head down and just freezes up. Totally out of character for him. After 5 weeks of this I'm ready to throw in the towel. It's making him miserable and making me miserable too. (My 1st grader however is thriving with it, so it's not a loss by any means)
So my last resort yesterday was I made up 5 questions about Legos. When and by whom they were invented, where are they manufactured, what is your favorite and why?
My expectations were he write the answers in complete sentences and it make sense to anyone who didn't know what the questions were.
Lo and behold it worked. He jumped on his laptop and googled the answers. He brought me his notebook with 5 complete and grammatically correct sentences. I knew he could write, and he's very strong at grammar.
Today I gave him 5 questions on shel Silverstein. He again went and found the answers and wrote a paragraph.
So how can I build on this to improve his writing? More questions? Have him help write the questions eventually? I have to take advantage of this opportunity since its the only thing that has worked so far. I never noticed a problem with this when he was in public school, so he either faked it, or I'm not doing something right.
Thanks for any suggestions!
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We did art today too! I bought the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade DVDs and started with 1st today for my 1st and 3rd grader both. They did fantastic paper roller coasters. Dd6 stuck close to the example, but dd9 used tape as well to make columns, banked turns, and loops so his whole track connected. It was great to see them both enjoy the same project, yet do different levels of work!
And it was super easy for me to execute. While they were watching the lesson, I got the table and supplies ready.
Love it!
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I'm using this blog's resources as a staring point
http://www.homeschoolcreations.com/Geography.html
I'm also adding in continent maps before we start individual countries.
I get a couple library books on each country to use in addition to the online resources and printables on that site.
Plus, since it doesn't cover every country, I found printables on many of the others here
http://www.worksheetworks.com/geography.html
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Well I don't have much advice, but it is probably legal. If there is a complaint, CPS has to investigate. Not that it may be in this case, but they would interview the child alone so the parent/accused isn't there to coach or intimidate the child into answering favorably.
Based on the rest, I imagine she should find a lawyer. And start gathering doctor records if any for the absences.
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Anxiously waiting for mine too. I was hoping to start next week with it as well when we start a few other new things. Fingers crossed!
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My dd6 is an xcel silver, but her team is quite big and spans the ages. My personal opinion is no keyhole. It just looks strange to me. Haha. No real reason, I just prefer the clean and simple look. I like the front of the leos though. I personally would skip the embroidery all together. Having them wearing the same leos will unify them. The name could be distracting and take away from the polished look. I think logos and/or names should be reserved for warm ups.
Just my two cents worth :)
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Iche.org (illinois christian home educators) it is just outside of Chicago the beginning of June. I live in north central Indiana and went to the iche last year. It was a nice sized convention and had lots of seminars on a variety of topics. There is also one in Fort Wayne Indiana, I think it's in April or may. I've never been to that one ough as the dates didn't work for me last year.
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I use Donna young as well. I use the generic 3 column by 9 row forms for each subject to plan out about a months worth of lessons. Then I use the 5 column forms to compile the weekly lessons on. I take the next lesson from each of the individual subjects and fill them in on the planner. Easy as pie and if we don't get to a lesson, I just adjest it accordingly the next week when I fill out my weekly plan.
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What I've found with spiral vs mastery is, once they learn something do they want to keep doing it to review, or do they want to move on to something new. We use MM now after using teaching textbooks, which is spiral. With TT, they would teach a new concept, say multiply by 2. Then in the problem set that followed, you did maybe 4 or 5 problems on times 2, and the remaining 20 problems were addition and subtraction review problems. My ds9 hated it because he had already mastered addition and subtraction, so it felt like busy work. With mastery, you stay on the topic only as long as it takes to master it. Many times that only means 1 or 2 lessons per topic. then they move on to the next topic within that category. For example, measuring for 3rd grade would start with measuring to the 1/4 inch, then by cm, then move onto weight and then volume....its all measuring, but its just a lesson or two on each. MM has built in mixed review at the end of each chapter to make sure they haven't forgotten previous chapters.
Don't let mastery deceive you into thinking its drill and kill, I've found it to be quite the opposite.
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I'm relieved I'm not the only one who has breakage issues. We have a bunch of crayola ones and my son laughs uncontrollably when I try to sharpen them. Sometimes he pushes hard just so I have to try and sharpen them. Stinker.
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The advanced spelling lists match the lesson number in the book...advanced 1 follows the rules laid out in lesson 1.
It takes me about 30 minutes with my daughter (1 lesson a week) and I spent somewhere between 30-40 minutes with my son. I tried a number of things to not stretch the day out to all day with other subjects.
Here were the options I used...
Math - I use Math Mammoth, and for the most part after I get the kids started, they can work through the lesson alone. If they have a problem they don't understand they skip it until I'm done with LOE with the other.
Math games on iPad or computer. Usually this keeps the other out of my hair until we are done...LOL
What seemed to work the best was we started the day with handwriting, then math, then they each got their turn with LOE with me. It was the other's morning break. They were not to interupt the other's time. (this didn't always work as my daughter always came up with something that just couldn't wait :glare: ) For the most part this worked best for us.
I'm not sure about lit. We do read alouds and discuss those. They also read independently based on their levels. Perhaps you could make the off time for each kid independent reading time and then when you're done with LOE have them do a narration of what they read? We also use WWE for both kids for dictation and narration practice.
The grammar in LOE is definitely enough. When my young first grader is editing direct quotation sentences correctly in lesson 17, I'm sold. There is exposure to every part of speech and enough spiral practice that it is reinforced. Every 5 chapters are review chapters so that gives extra practice for weak areas.
I really like the look of MCT, but am unsure of where to place the kids after doing LOE and I'm not needing anything right now since I already own Easy Grammar 4 for my son. I have been looking at Growing With Grammar for next year for my daughter, but probably skipping the second grade book.
ETA: Every other subject we combine. Math, WWE, and LOE are the only things they do seperately.
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I am currently using LOE with a first and third grader. My son (3rd grade) is a fantastic reader, very quick learner, etc. but he wasn't taught the rules, multiple phonogram sounds, and grammar was limited in public school. My daughter had stalled out on reading her entire kindergarten year....so when we decided to homeschool, I researched and found LOE.
I love it and so do my kids! My daughter is reading way better and is grasping the grammar, which isn't easy, very well. I'm actually stewing over what to use next year for grammar since second grade stuff appears to be too easy if she keeps it up.
All this being said, I used the program for both, but I did them separately. With my son we did a lesson every one or two days. For my daughter we do one lesson a week. Although my daughter is surely learning more from it, my son has learned a great amount and I don't regret having him do it at an older age, although we did skip some things in the workbook like the dictation and composition since he was getting those things elsewhere. But for spelling and grammar rules, it was definitely worth it.
Going forward, since he finished the last lesson last week, I will be using a mix of easy grammar 4, reading, and I'm also going to include the advanced spelling lists that are being released weekly by LOE. I kind of wish I could have used them the first time through since he didn't gain much from the ones in the book other than seeing the rules being applied and they weren't challenging for him at all. But the lists weren't out then, so it obviously wasn't an option. I'm okay with that though and the advanced lists will give us a chance to review the rules at the same time he learns some more difficult spelling words.
I hope that helps, and I hope there isn't a huge amount of errors as I'm mobile typing this :)
I highly recommend LOE.
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I didn't read all of the replies, but this hospital is somewhat local to me...I've worked as an X-ray tech at a competing hospital for over 10 years and have a few former classmates who work at Goshen.
The thing that has me up in arms is, not everyone who refused got fired. Some people were granted the religious and medical exceptions. These 8 were not granted their requests and were not given a substantial reason as to why.
The flu vaccine is only about 60% effective in any given year, and just because you've had a shot doesn't make the flu less communicable between a nurses patients through contact. Hand washing and standard precautions would be much more effective than a shot to protect the nurse.
The nurses also weren't given substantial medical evidence to back up the hospitals mandate of the flu shot.
I think it's sad, and completely biased for them to grant some exceptions, but saying for others, a religious belief is not enough to exempt them. The area in question for this hospital is also highly Amish and Mennonite. I highly doubt 100% of the patients and visitors have had the flu vaccine.
I understand the hospital is making en effort to curb the spread of the flu, but there are other ways to prevent the spread of all viruses, not just a shot.
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I have a Dyson, but I've had others too. I just bought a minwax microfiber mop for in between spot cleanings. I've used the minwax hardwood floor cleaner before and liked that, but I haven't tried the mop yet. With a dog and two kids, I doubt my floor will ever be clean. Lol. The dog hair is unbelievable from one dog no matter how much I vacuum. We also live in the middle of a woods, so dirt and dust are imminent.
I generally use a washcloth for the "spots" as I see them, otherwise, I've just decided even if they look dusty, carpet must surely be dirtier since dust and dirt gets down in the fibers where you can't see it :).
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FYI, the homeschool buyers co-op is having a deal on the downloads at the end of the month :)
I purchased it last time and just print them and spiral bind them. I have a decent printer so it didn't take a ton of ink. I did skip printing a couple chapters that I didn't think my kids needed more practice on. I tried to print double sided...however I made an error on my sons and it printed single sided....whoops. By time I noticed, it wasn't worth redoing.
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I second the need to see an explanation of benefits from your insurance company before ou pay anything. Generally there will be excess not allowed by insurer part (basically this is your discount for having insurance with an agreement with the provider). Then there will be an "allowable" amount. This is what you will pay if you have not met your deductible.
I've frequently gotten statement notices from the hospital saying we have billed your insurance company $x, if they don't pay anything, it will be your responsibility. Generally doctor "discounts" are lower than hospital "discounts". I only get about 10% of the doctor bill that is not allowed by insurance (I have a very high deductible) but the hospital is generally 1/3 to 1/2 knocked off. Our hospital bills for doctor and hospital charges as one bill and when my daughter got 8 chin stitches last year, it was billed at $900ish, but I only had to pay $500ish with the insurance paying $0.
Basically despite you having to pay a deductible, your total should only be what your insurance company would have to pay if you already met the deductible and they were paying 100%
You might not get anywhere with the hospital just yet...I'd call my insurance and ask for the EOB if you haven't gotten it and then if the results are the same, call the hospital and try to negotiate a cash price that might be a little less.
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I don't think I'd get a steam mop. The peel and stick tile would scare me, and I've read many many things that say not to use one on real wood floors. The steam forces between the cracks and swells the wood over time. I would be especially worried if it was older wood and more so that its needing refinishing in spots.
That's just my opinion, I know a lot of people love them, and I was seriously considering one. But we built our home ourselves (physically built it, not paid someone) and I know how much work went into laying a houseful of hardwoods. I don't want to risk ruining them.
ETA: I use vinegar and water and a big ol shop mop. It's heavy, but it does the job. I don't mop all that often. I'm more of a vacuum it frequently and spot clean in between kind of girl.
I'm wanting to get a steam mop but don't even know where to start. I know there are so many. I think one of my top features is being able to adjust the steam - light cleaning to heavy cleaning.
Our house is a mix of floors - older wood that need refinished but aren't "bare", peel'n stick tile, laminate.
Anyone have one they'd recommend? Or avoid?
I'm hoping to find one under $100 but don't know if it's possible.
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We had a half week before Christmas and then after being off all week last week my ds9 asked if we could do school, he was bored. So we did school yesterday and went to the Chicago Field museum today. The rest of the week will be off since due to my error, dd6 not only has gymnastics camp for the next three days, she has team practice Thursday night and Saturday morning and a meet on Sunday. Thursday could potentially be a 6 hour gymnastics day. Hahaha. Whoops. I sincerely thought practice was off this week so I signed her up for camp since there was a meet this weekend and she was off last week for Christmas. I also had planned on school at least a couple of days this week before or after camp; but now, not so much.
So I will take the time to get to the library, lesson plan, and be ready to get back on track Monday.
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Last time through the co-op I got the download for grades 1-6 of the light blue series for really inexpensive. ($60 or so). Great price for so much!
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My DH and kids got me dry erase markers and an eraser
1. I just bought some new liquid ones and an eraser which they all know.
2. They didn't just get one package. They bought 4 packages. Broad (I never use), skinny, and two identical packages of retractable ones.
Seriously we use the marker boards a fair amount. But who needs 35 dry erase markers? Apparently I do.
35 new fancy pens I would have loved though ;). I love pens. But alas I have more dry erase markers than I will ever be able to use.
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Ugh, I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I have too in the past. I finally blew up at my in laws over this subject and many more, and we didn't talk to them for two years. However that doesn't help the hurt feelings of the left out child. Even now that we are trying to be civil with them, they "act" more favorable to dd6 than ds9. She's more outgoing and crazy. He's very quiet and internal. I would just try my best to be honest yet gentle in saying to ds11, for whatever reason, they felt like buying him more. There is nothing we can do to change their behavior, but you need to be the bigger person and be gracious for the thing they did get you. Maybe it's because ds6 is younger and they feel he's more likely to only get hand me downs, maybe there is no real reason.
I feel for you. The last Christmas, before we cut them out. My son was only 6 I think and his sister got an explosion if pink everything. He got very few items including games he already had and a kids tool set that THEY bought him the year before. I understand if they don't know what I or others have bought the kids, but they should know what they got him!
It doesn't get much better, sadly. This year it appeared more even, but since harping on me since Halloween that she needed a Christmas list, I gave her a whole catalog with things circled and I told her different things the kids would like, crossed out things they had or similar. She got precisely zero of those items.
So as to if you should say something to them, it's up to you to decide if its worth it. It probably won't change much and will only give them more nasty thins to say to you. If anything, I'd maybe just say next year that the kids have a lot of stuff, could you only get them one or two items, we are trying to tone down the amount of stuff. You'll probably end up with 10 gifts per kid if they really like spitting you though ;)
Good luck, it's delicate.
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You don't have to register with the state. Just go to the admin building or wherever they do records and say they want to transfer them to their homeschool. If they want the school records transferred to them, they can. My kids were so young I didn't care about the so called records. The school might say you have to register the kids, but that's not true. I did register because I didn't know the truth was its optional.
I'm not against registering though, because quite frankly I don't care if the state knows...essentially they would either way if you're pulling them from a public school and saying "I'm homeschooling now"
Just make sure she makes the school aware she is transferring the children. Not withdrawing and don't just not show up. They don't want any alleged truancy.
It really should be easy.
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I have to agree with another poster...I wonder if its a seasonal "collar" for that crazy looking dog statue.
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Homeschool for free has a Facebook page and usually has a set of links every couple days with a ton of free kindle books. I find it to be a good resource.
Writing, ugh!
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Forgive my ignorance, but what is PLL? :)