Michelle in MO
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Posts posted by Michelle in MO
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Here's the link:
http://www.rodandstaff.info/samples/english/
It looks like if you click on a particular book, it will show you some sample pages. HTH!
:)
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Try this one:
This at least gives an idea of the scope & sequence. I'll see if I can find a page with samples.
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(and we use Abeka) but I would say that most likely Rod & Staff is probably more rigorous than Easy Grammar. Depending on what exposure your 10th grade son has had to grammar, you could start him with an earlier grade of R&S. I would try to check out a website for samples of R&S grammar before placing him. R&S is very rigorous, and their 9th/10th grade book covers more grammar than many English majors in college encounter. I'll see if I can locate a website to link to you that would have samples.
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Also, if they don't have an attorney who is licensed to practice in your state, they can only advise and send letters. They do not pay for a local attorney.
I'm not sure if this information comes from HSLDA's website or other available information; if it does, I'd sure like to see it. Unless I misunderstood the "behind the scenes" events, I don't think this statement is accurate, and here's why:
My best friend is a lawyer here in our state, and she was contacted and hired by HSLDA to represent a homeschooling family further north of us. She was self-employed at the time and was not associated with HSLDA. Nevertheless, they contacted her and had her represent this family and paid for all of the legal expenses. HSLDA flew out at least one legal expert to assist her in preparing her defense. She won the case, although homeschooling law was not her forte.
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especially if you're in a homeschool-friendly area. We live in a state where it's essentially homeschool-friendly, but our school district isn't always the "kindest" towards homeschoolers. We've heard of not-so-good things sometimes happening with homeschoolers. So---we're members.
I look at it this way: even if I never need their services (which is extremely likely I wouldn't need them, ever), I can think of the money as sort of a "donation" (loose use of that word, here) towards the legal fees of some family that might really need them.
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although for the most part I think they provide a valuable service to the homeschooling community. In a sense, a membership with HSLDA is like an insurance policy, and probably a very helpful one at that for some people. My husband is a lawyer, and although he could represent us if we encountered a legal problem with homeschooling, he is not specifically trained to deal with homeschool laws. He would be the first to advise people that lawyers should not represent themselves. Thus, we have a membership as a family.
Also, the fee for HSLDA generally runs around $100.00 (give or take a few dollars) per year, and for many people, especially homeschooling families that might not have a lot of money, that's extremely inexpensive for legal representation that might run into many hours' worth of work for a lawyer.
I'm not saying that members should agree with all of HSLDA's positions; I believe that HSLDA will represent any member, regardless of personal beliefs or persuasions. I just think it's a good insurance policy, personally.
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(or rather, almost every day!) I still wonder often, "Am I really doing enough? Or, am I driving my kids batty by expecting too much?" I still don't always have a good handle on challenging them as much as possible without making them hate what they're doing. Sometimes, when I read the posts discussing certain pros and cons of various curricula (especially ones that I'm using) that makes me feel even more insecure! However, every once in a while I catch a "glimpse" of where I'm at---sometimes it's a reality check, for instance, when I see for myself what the kids at various schools are doing. Other times, it's an instance where I see that my kids are doing really pretty well, overall, and then it encourages me. I think Tracy made a good point about the public schools doing a very good job of what they were designed to do. I haven't read the book yet, but her comments reminded me of what I once heard Andrew Pudewa (of IEW) when he spoke about the book A Thomas Jefferson Education (if I've gotten the title right). Basically, I think one of the premises of that book was that very same point. Leadership education requires more.
I think my first year of homeschooling I had the most questions and concerns about how my kids were doing, but there were a couple of instances that happened that year that I felt like God showed me we were on the right track. The main one was when my second grader made a huge leap in her reading ability. That really encouraged me! So, sometimes it helps when we think back on those times of encouragement.
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which is very helpful. I think it's under "Supplemental Resources" or something like that. You can print out their sample schedule and try to follow that. We did most of the Primary Reading and some of the Secondary Reading, but not all of it. However, from the comments that others have made, it's very "do-able"!
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plus with the stormy weather, it's not a good idea to be driving. Just reschedule it for next month around the right time, and try not to worry about it! We'll keep praying for you, for a good result! Blessings to you today! :)
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nervousness, but it really doesn't hurt that much, and I'll pray for you for a clean bill of health! God bless!
:)
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Both of my older girls were over 3 years old before they were potty-trained! My youngest was the easiest to potty-train, but that was probably because she had the other two to follow after! :D
Probably 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 is fairly normal.
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I assume that you mean Omnibus? If I'm wrong, I'm sorry!
We have used Omnibus for two years now, so we've done parts of Omnibus I and more of Omnibus II. We honestly didn't get nearly as much done with Omnibus I as I would have liked, because of a large homeschooling project our homeschool group did in the fall. Also, it was the first year my two older girls (then in 9th and 7th grades) had ever done a small-group discussion (of course, it was just the three of us! :) ) and at first they were kind of like little "dead-heads"! It was very frustrating! However, I remember something that Jeff Baldwin said on his Great Books website: to keep at it. So, we did, and this year they're doing much better with discussions.
This year we're doing Omnibus II and it's going much better. We're doing essentially the Primary Reading books, plus a few of the secondary reading books (mostly the Shakespeare ones) and we seem to be keeping pace a lot better with VP's recommended schedule.
The book is beautiful, and I really like the discussions. I can always "branch off" from the recommended discussion in the book, or bring out additional points I want to remember, or tell them when I disagree with a certain point. There is plenty of writing material in Omnibus, as well. Generally speaking, I've had them do some type of evaluation with each book: with the historical books, I've had them take the evaluation (on the Teacher's CD, at the back of the Teacher's Edition book); with the literature books, I've had them write an essay. Now we're doing Macbeth, so they'll be writing an essay.
For our family, I find doing mostly the Primary Reading books is plenty, and we're using Spielvogel's World History: A Human Odyssey. We're just reading it straight through and using the Practice Tests as our tests for that. Human Odyssey was a better fit for my 7th grader (last year) than Western Civilization, so we went with that. Next year my oldest could easily jump into Western Civilization, if we still do Omnibus. I also think reading whole chapters in either Western Civilization or Human Odyssey is better. Omnibus recommends sections of the readings, but honestly I think the kids can read whole chapters and keep straight in their minds the flow of history, even if it doesn't pertain exactly to what they're reading in the Primary or Secondary Reading books.
I hope this helps! Julie on these boards is the wife of Bruce Etter, who teaches the online courses for Omnibus I (and possibly Omnibus II) and she is also very helpful. You might find her on the K-8 Curriculum board, because I think her dc are younger.
Blessings! :)
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I remember getting a book, I believe it was called "Touchpoints" by Dr. T. Brazelton (I think that's the name), and I remember he also discussed the topic of sleep cycles. Essentially, a newborn's sleep cycle lasts from about 30-45 minutes, then they tend to "stir" and then fall back asleep again. I think that's mostly where Babywise helped me out---recognizing that "midpoint" of their nap and allowing them to settle back down. I'm not saying that Dr. Brazelton advocated a strict 3-hour schedule; I'm just saying that he is a well-respected pediatrician and he recognized this issue regarding sleep cycles. I'm not certain, but I think the newer editions of Babywise may recommend a shorter "schedule" of sorts---perhaps 2-1/2 hours (but, correct me if I'm wrong).
Anyway, I thought I'd throw that in, for what it's worth! :)
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I have three girls; two of them are teenagers. They can be wonderful, but drive me crazy at the same time! Today my older two were upset because their schoolwork took them so long (although part of it was their own fault). We seem to have a good two weeks a month where no one around our house is "hormonal", shall we say? ;) I'm really glad my husband is so easy-going, because he's the rock in our family that helps keep all these hormonal outbursts at bay!
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I have had two kids get into "elite" schools with no biology labs whatsoever.
My kids did both do physics labs, and one did chemistry labs (though one didn't), but no biology labs here.
My next child will be doing biology next year. We are not planning on doing any labs, but he will look at some online dissections.
I know you're very gifted in science, and I don't know what curriculum you used for h.s. science, but it's a relief to hear a science-minded mom say this! My oldest did Apologia Biology last year, and I was so concerned that we do as many labs as possible. She did two of the dissections while I took photos, to prove that we'd done them!
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Thanks also for the helpful information on how the process works! I'm printing out your post!
Congrats again! :D
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the elder Mrs. Bennett has to be one of the most annoying characters in all of film-making history, a close second to Jar-Jar Binks in Star Wars (Episodes I-III)!
Keep watching and don't give up! This version of Pride and Prejudice is much better (in my opinion) and more complete and true to the novel than the more recent version with Keira Knightley (sp?)
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Babywise can be a good tool, if you follow it with flexibility. I used it with all three of our daughters, but I had to learn to not be a "legalist" and be flexible. The schedule is yours and the baby's servant, not your master! That's the key!
I started my oldest when she was 4 months old (because that's when I first heard about it), thinking it was the stupidest program I'd ever heard of, but thought I'd give it a try. She slept through the night within a week! I started the other two on it right away. I learned to "listen" to their cries and think carefully, "Are they hungry? Could they be wet? Just tired or fussy?" It's a tool to help you think before just reacting.
It's hard to say that there's a definitive way to apply the principles, because all babies are so different, but I would say---keep yourself well-rested, and keep up your milk supply! Eat well, drink lots of wholesome liquids. When your baby wakes up, nurse him or her on both sides, do the usual burping them, changing them, etc. Getting them to stay awake after feeding is a process; it doesn't happen overnight! Newborns are naturally sleepy. You just have to keep trying, but don't get too hung up on the time frame. They will eventually learn to stay awake better after nursing, and then they will gradually learn to fall asleep on their own. I did find it very helpful for my own girls to not get into a habit of having to rock them or hold them to sleep. That does not mean that I neglected to rock them and hold them! They got plenty of loving---but I tried to let them go to sleep naturally.
Again, remember, think of the "schedule" as a "framework" to help you and the baby along. The "schedule" is your servant, not yours (or the baby's) master. Eventually a rhythm will develop to your day, and the baby will learn to fall asleep. Oh---and don't fail to look for the normal things you should look for to make sure your baby is well-nourished: are they nursing on both sides? are you getting plenty of wet diapers (and the other kind) during the day? are they gaining weight? are they generally contented after eating, or very fussy? Use your common sense and watch for these things.
Blessings to you and your newborn, in learning to apply these principles! Remember---they are general principles, but not hard and fast rules! Maybe not everyone has success with Babywise, but my younger two girls did sleep through the night relatively early (around 7 weeks) and they both gained weight well (90th percentile throughout their first year) and were very happy, contented. If the program doesn't work for you or leaves you feeling very frustrated, try talking to someone close by (if possible) who might be familiar and can help you with your concerns. If it still doesn't work, then find what does work for you, and rest content. Your baby will be fine. :)
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just won the Superbowl, maybe something with a Giants' logo. (He was rooting for the Giants; he's actually a St. Louis Rams' fan, but he rooted for the Giants because they were the underdogs in this past Superbowl.) :D
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I'm looking for a good gift suggestion for my husband. He likes to read, but doesn't get through books very quickly, and he's got quite a "backload" of books to read already. He doesn't fish, hunt, or ski. He likes to watch sports. Any suggestions?
What are you ladies doing for Valentine's Day?
:D
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and noted that HLS also does the same thing (I *think*)! I wish sometimes schools could be more efficient with their time and assign less homework!
Your ideas sound good!
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We may be doing the same thing with our middle daughter next year. Our oldest doesn't seem interested in the h.s., so she'll start taking classes at the cc, most likely. But, our middle daughter is interested in h.s. We're not sure what to do yet with the youngest.
My husband was diagnosed with an enlarged heart in the fall; he had a defibrillator implanted and is now doing quite well. However, he felt it would be wise (and I agree) for me to get my master's degree and become "employable", just in case. So, I don't think I can manage homeschooling and graduate school. Our lives will most likely be changing, too! Just wish we had better options here!
Glad to have you back!
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perhaps Marie's suggestion of doing a different science next year, such as the Marine Biology or Advanced Biology, would be helpful and give her a bit of a "break", especially since she'll be getting used to coursework at the cc. I guess it isn't mandatory that a student do Biology/Chemistry/Physics in that order.
Jean, I really do agree with you and Marie and appreciate your suggestions; this might be the only time in her life that she gets exposed to concepts in physics, and a physics course would be ideal, both for the exposure and for her transcript and possible entry into a better college. Perhaps it's not necessary that the physics be math or calculus-based (although I understand that that is the ideal). Maybe delaying it for a year wouldn't hurt, especially as far as solidifying the math concepts is concerned. We did Lial's Introductory Algebra and Intermediate Algebra right in the row; the former was a success, but the latter was a real grind (like I mentioned previously, that was my mistake for making her do it when she wasn't quite ready for it! :( ) Before she can be admitted to the cc, she has to take what's called the Compass test, which will place her into the correct spot in math and English. If that shows that she needs to go all the way back to Algebra I, so be it. I'd rather have those concepts firm than have her struggling on a faulty foundation. Besides, the cc uses Lial's, but they do Intro. in one semester and Intermediate in the second semester; so, it would be review for her, but at a much faster pace.
I'm considering all of this, but I do like both of your suggestions. Thank you so much!
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Did your dd take 4 years of science, or 3? I was planning on having all of mine do 4 years of science, which I think is a good thing. What sciences did your daughter take?
I just don't see my oldest as having that keen of an interest in science. She reads enough about it on her own, but she doesn't love the math part about it, and I know that would be essential for any major in any of the sciences.
I suppose I could look into a non-math based Physics, although maybe that wouldn't carry as much "weight" as a calculus or math-based Physics? I've heard of Hewitt's Conceptual Physics, but don't know too much about it.
Anyway, if you have any further ideas or suggestions, I'd definitely be interested! I guess I recognize that my oldest is truly putting forth a full effort into the Chemistry, and she is doing well on the tests, but the math portion truly makes her frustrated and nervous whenever I have to give her a test. Also, whenever she reads science information independently on her own, her natural interests and inclinations always tend towards the direction of biology and marine biology.
Thanks for your input!
What is it that some do not like about HSLDA (spin off)
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
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I would agree with you that these things you're naming are a real problem, and I was not aware of them. If the first incident is true, about the family in Illinois not having representation, that is a real problem. If families register with HSLDA, they should be informed whether or not there is local representation in their area. Really, there should have been some attorney registered in Illinois----Illinois is a big state, and very important politically, as well. What would be the point of being a member of HSLDA if, when the time comes, you do not get the legal counsel you thought you would get?
And, I would certainly agree that if they are meeting with state legislators without first contacting local homeschooling groups, then that is heavy-handed and should not be part of their operative policy. So---these are problems that should be addressed!
Personally, I don't get terribly involved with HSLDA; my husband is an attorney, but we are members "just in case." It seems like, at least in the past, they have done much to help harassed homeschoolers get legal representation, and it would appear that they have done much to draft, for the most part, reasonable homeschooling laws. But, I would agree with you that they should not assume to speak for all homeschoolers; if they are lobbying with state representatives, they should be in touch with as many homeschooling groups as possible and get their feedback.
I hope this helps explain my understanding of their role, and what it should and shouldn't be! :D