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Surfside Academy

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Posts posted by Surfside Academy

    Wow...As if our current state of educational affairs isn't bad enough?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I just had a friend (PTA president, in charge of fundraising for the school) call me this week asking about homeschooling because she is so worried about her oldest son who is moving up to Junior High. She is a single mother who lives in a "strong" school district. She also has a 1st grade son who is floundering in school. He's been tested but doesn't fall into range for a "diagnosis." He isn't reading yet, is having behavioral issues and is falling behind. Yet, she was told that he can't receive any additional help until he is a full 2 years behind! This poor kid is only in 1st grade and is already being set up for failure! How can he ever catch up after falling 2 years behind in school. Again, it's mind-boggling.

    Wow...As if our current state of educational affairs isn't bad enough?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    The state of education in California is a joke. I've lived here all my life so I have seen firsthand the decline. I can't tell you how many "unsolicited" times I've heard from actual teachers that they won't put their own kids in CA public schools. My son has friends who equate their junior high with being in jail. It's very sad!

     

    They're putting 35-40 kids in each elementary class even though voters mandated a maximum of 20. $$ is being spent on cultural awareness and how to go green instead of on the 3 R's. I live in what's considered on of the best school districts in San Diego but yet, science is only taught if the parents pony up more $$ to pay for an outside teacher! The teacher's hands are tied with useless curriculum that must be taught so the kids can score highly on the ever-important standardized tests. Real learning is secondary...Yet in the midst of this crisis, the CA Teacher's Union feels it's important to spend time officially supporting the release of a convicted cop killer. It's mind-boggling...:confused:

    Looking for a book title...

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I'm looking for a non-fiction book. A writer (possibly McDowell??) researched many people who were great successes in their respective fields. Some were athletes (I know hockey specifically), musicians and business leaders (Bill Gates & Steve Jobs were specifically studied.) His basic conclusions were that the most talented in a specific area weren't guaranteed success. It was the ones who put in all the extra work. I think 10,000 hours was the magic number. I thought the author's name was Malcolm McDowell but I'm not having having any luck. Sound familiar to anyone?

     

    I think it was a 2 word title. Possible "The....."

    Ugh..Math question again, MUS, MM or TT

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We really like MUS for the foundational years. I tried Singapore and TT with both kids, but they each hit walls with those programs. I found Math U See 2 years ago and it has been excellent for them both. It gives an excellent understanding of math - better than anything else I've seen. My kids are two very different learners - one is great with calculations and has a hard time with concepts, the other has calculation issues and excels at concepts. MUS has been great for them both. One has gone all the way through pre-algebra with it, the other is finishing Gamma. She may move back to TT after one more year with MUS, but I will know that she has an excellent foundation.

     

    HTH!

     

    :iagree: MUS has given my boys a very strong foundation in math. I purchased TT to use as a supplement (just wanted them to see math presented in another way) but we've had mixed results. My oldest is almost finished with Episilon and tested into TT6. My middle is almost through Gamma and tested into TT 4. My oldest doesn't like TT at all. My middle enjoys it but is flying through it. He can do it on his own so it's not a total bust but we're definitely sticking with MUS.

     

    I will add however that we have friends using TT and they absolutely love it!

    s/o Amazon thread..Should he get a GED?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I'm not quite here yet but I'm thinking about the future. Wouldn't joining an ISP (Independent Study Program) through a school which gives diplomas solve the GED problem? We have private schools here in CA where I can enroll my (future) HS student. They take care of all his paperwork and issue a diploma when he graduates. I still choose his curriculum, etc. but I would need to show samples of work completed once a semester (which is the trade-off.)

    S/o math thread on k-8 board (and let's all play nice please))

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by Surfside Academy

    I deeply regret doing that with my oldest. If I could go back, instead of switching programs and trusting he would eventually level out,I would have say him down in fourth grade and flat-out focused on bring him up to level then. Waiting it out in the hopes that it would click was a huge mistake and has created YEARS of math frustration. I didn't really start to worry until 6th grade. I so wish I hadn't listened to all the soothing voices that told me not to stress and worry. All it did was prolong the problems. And it sure didn't save me future stress and worry.

     

    I don't advocate worry.

     

    I advocate "so what are you going to do about it?"

     

    If a child is behind, whatever that might mean, then to ME at that point the only question is what needs to be done. It MIGHT be to give them some time to develop, especially below 4th grade, but I wouldn't assume that is the case.

     

    Martha,

     

    I think I didn't express myself well. I wasn't trying to say that you shouldn't worry until in 5th or 6th grade. I was trying to refer back to the original article that started the discussion which mentioned 18 year-olds counting with their fingers. The point I was trying to make was that kids who are finishing the elementary grades really need that strong mathematical foundation to succeed in later grades. I guess I was just trying to say (but not very well) is that as a parent, I want to make sure any problems are addressed long before the elementary years end, not when they're 18.

    For All Who Freak Out About Math...Including Myself :)

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Darlasowders: I think you're assessment is correct.

     

    I'm not sure even saying the are "behind" is correct though. I would say that there are concepts that just haven't been introduced yet. Just because another curriculum introduces fractions in first grade and a child can write the fraction 1/2 by looking at a circle partly shaded doesn't mean they "know" fractions. There are still many more concepts to be introduced over the following years. MUS just chooses to introduce most of the concepts in one year.

     

    I liken it to California history. In our state, it has been tradition for many years that CA history is taught in 4th grade...no rhyme or reason...that's just the way it's always been. Just because I choose to wait till 5th grade doesn't make my children "behind". They'll eventually get it during their elementary years, I just chose a different sequence...much like MUS.

    looking for 50/50 bread recipe

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    This is Honey Rock Whole Wheat Bread from Honey Rock camp in Wisconsin

     

    1 pkg active dry yeast

    1/4 cu warm water

    2 1/2 cup hot water

    1/2 cup brown sugar (honey works too)

    3 t salt

    1/4 vegetable oil

    3 cups stirred whole wheat flour

    5c sifted all purpose white flour

     

    Soften yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

    combine hot water sugar salt and oil; cool to lukewarm

    stir in ww flour and 1 c white flour, beat well

    stir in softened yeast. add enough of remaining flour to make moderately stiff dough.

    turn on floured surface and knead until smooth (10-12 min)

    shape into a ball, place in lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. covera nd let rise in waerm place til double (1 1/2 hrs). Punch down and cut into 2 portions. shape each into smooth ball, cover and let rest 10 min. shape into loaves, place in 8.5x4.5x2.5 loaf pans. let rise until double (1 1/4 hrs) bake at 375 for 25 min. cover w/foil last 20 min if necessary

     

    Thanks! This looks good. I wonder if I should add any vital wheat gluten to it? Maybe I'll try it as written first.

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