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3 Only Children

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    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

     

     

    3 ONLY CHILDREN---do you have a resource that helped you come up with your process?

     

    This year I decided to focus on writing.  Like you I have tried different programs.  

    1)  Journal writing - using a notebook I have him write for a certain amount of time every day.  I set a timer and he can write whatever he wants during that time.  I don't look at what he wrote and told him that I will never grade it.  He keeps a binder clip at the top of the notebook, as a way of keeping it "secret."  This seems to be helping to  free him from worrying about following all the "rules" and give him practice on just putting his thoughts down on paper.  Every couple of weeks I up the time a little ( I started with 8 minutes)

     

    2) Jump In - We are working very slowly on the first assignment of writing an opinion paper.   I like the way they break it  down.

    First you always brainstorm before you write.   This is a step that I think is very important and one that needed to be stressed. 

    We use a whiteboard and put down the reasons/ thoughts for his opinion - just a list really, doesn't have to be complete sentences.

    We pick 3 of the strongest reasons. Then we brain storm again, one reason at a time.  Reason #1  and again make a list of his thoughts about this reason.

    Then we take those thoughts and turn them into sentences.  The idea is that each reason will eventually become a paragraph.

    After that we come up with an opening paragraph - something that will catch the readers attention - ask a question, state a fact, tell a short story...

    Conclusion paragraph is next - a few sentences that sum it all up.  

     

    3) IEW - I have SWI-B -  I pulled that out again and we reviewed the Keyword Outlining process.  Very helpful in my opinion.

    Read a short story /fable and then  go back over it one sentence at a time,  pick out the 3 main words that will help you to remember the essence of the sentence.  In other words so that you can retell it, in your own words.   Number each sentence and pick out the keywords for each one to the end of the story. So #1 refers to the first sentence - write your 3 words  - it helps to look for the noun and the verb.   At the end of making the keyword list, Andrew instructs them to look at the 3 keywords, think of a sentence to say and then look up and say them back to your teacher.   He then has then write these sentences following the rules of double spacing all lines so that they can edit them later.  This method is helpful as he is learning how to "dress up" sentences, as Andrew teaches, but he is not having to come up with what to write about at the same time.    Plus I think it is helpful  for them to be reading good stories / literature to get a feel for how it is done.  It makes sense, beginning artists often start by trying to paint a copy of masterpieces.

     

    4)  The Lively Art of Writing - Had some very helpful chapters about  what an essay is and how to think about what to write.  This is an very inexpensive little book. 

     

       I can also tell you that I think really what is working this year, is that he is more mature and finally ready to write.   So it is not always a matter of finding the "right" program as just working with him at the stage he is at.     Don't worry it will happen. 

     

     

    deleted

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I would look up some videos by Andrew Pudewa  (IEW) on you tube.  He really seems to understand boys and writing.  

    I like that at the beginning of his teaching in the Student Writing Intensive's he is having them re-write a short story. 

    Half the problem is coming up with something to write about for my son and this takes care of that but is still teaching him how to write.

    .

    He has them use only pens, double space the lines (so they can make editing marks easier).

      No erasing, don't worry about being neat for these drafts and other helpful things that help my son get to the writing part.

    The DVD's walk them through the steps as Andrew is teaching a class so you get the idea of what is expected.  

    Also I think learning to type is valuable too.  

    You are not a failure, this is probably not one of his strengths.        Hang in there.

     

    Grammar woes

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I second Winston Grammar. I've tried others and this one is our favorite!   The  cards  really helps to solidify it for my ds.

     

    I just have the teachers manual for the basic set.  We go through the lesson and then I write out the sentences on the white board.

    First he uses the cards under each word in the sentence and then he marks them. 

     

    A good supplement is Warriner's  First Course book Grammar and Composition.

    Both of these are older so can be found used at low cost.

    Whiteboards...Are They Necessary?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I would say Yes, it has been the best investment . It has saved me hunting for paper every time I want to demonstrate something. 

    I now have 2 (big ones) as I found a second one at a garage sale this summer.

     

    One stays on the wall and is where I write anything that we are working on memorizing  - grammar rules, poetry, Bible verses, history dates, spelling, Latin vocab. ...

    The other goes on the table and is used for Math, cursive practice, brain storming for a paper, diagramming sentences...

    It is stored between the bookshelf and wall when not in use.

     

    A variety of colored markers makes demonstrating easier and it is just fun to use!

    I look for sales on the low odor markers as these don't give you a headache.

     

     

     

    Let's not promote balance and happiness

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    When I think of well rounded I think about  their natural talents, those do need to be and should be strengthened.

    But I also think of the areas that don't come naturally to them and try to find ways to help them learn these too.

     

    I  like the idea of teaching  them to help others, to be cheerful givers of their time and talents, from the elderly to the very young or  to anyone they could help.  I want that to be a habit with them by the time they are grown up. 

     

    Also to be truthful, be a person who keeps their word, dependable, kind and all the attributes found in the Bible.

     

    These are some of my goals for home-schooling which we are working towards with God's help.

    Can we make a list of things to do to help our children de-stress when the learning's tough?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I have a  basket of things like  thinking putty or clay, exercise bands,  stress balls, chenille wires (anything they can use with their hands).

    This is kept on the bookshelf and comes out for those times when they need to be "doing" something as they are thinking and seems to help with stress.

     

    Setting the timer for frustrating subjects is good too.... start with a short period and then slowly up the time each week.

     

    Anyone care to explain their user name?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    DD was 15 and DS 9 when along came another DS.  BIG Surprise 14 years ago!

    Their personalities are different too, so it has been  like raising an only child, three times running.

     

    In case you are wondering, Yes, they all have the same father (I've been asked that before).   :001_rolleyes:

     

     

     

     

     

    Do you have tips for scaffolding a reluctant reader into a strong reader during middle school?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    You could try audio books and maybe he could follow along with the book.  

     

    If there is a book that my son is not sure that he may like, I say let me just read you the first couple of chapters. 

    More often than not he will get interested and we will finish the book. 

     

    Another idea is read the book first before you watch the movie of the same name.  The movie is the reward. 

    Need reading suggestions for 9yo girl

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Some of my daughter's favorites:

     

     

    The Search for Delicious - Natalie Babbit

    A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears - Jules Feiffer

    A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle

     

    Strawberry Girl - Lois Lenski

    The Saturdays - Elizabeth Enright

    Ellen Tebbits - Beverly Clearly

     

    The Moffats   - Eleanor Estes

    Caddie Woodlawn - Carol Ryrie Brink

    All-Of-A-Kind Family -  Sidney Taylor

     

    Regarding the Fountain - Kate Klise

    Little Women - Louisa M Alcott

    Mrs. Piggle Wiggle - Betty MacDonald

    What are your favorite picture books?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Some of our Favorites.

     

    Tuesday - David Wiesner

    Mrs. Armitage on Wheels - Quentin Blake

    The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip - George Saunders

     

    If I Were a Lion - Sarah Weeks

    Manners Can Be Fun - Munro Leaf

    Miss Twiggley's Tree - Dorothea Warren Fox

     

    The King Who Rained - Fred Gwynne

     Anno's Journey, - Anno  Mitsumasa  -

    Ruth Heller World of Language Books . - gorgeous illustrations.

     

    The Napping House - Don & Audrey Wood

    Rain -Peter Spier

    Pelle's  New Suit - Elsa Beskow

     

    The Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook - Shirley Hughes

    Andrew Henry's Meadow - Doris Burn

    Zin! Zin!  Zin!  A Violin - Lloyd Moss

     

     

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