Lieutenant Stranger
-
Posts
214 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by Lieutenant Stranger
-
-
You are in a tough season, but it is just that, a season.
What is the #1 thing you want/need to get done for HS? Is it Math? Reading? Writing? Do that first. Some days, that might be the only thing you get done, and that's OK for now.
I would personally start with the bare minimum of MOST IMPORTANT and go from there, adding a little in as you can. I think you need try downsizing your schedule in any way you can, and then slowly add back in things. That's what I've had to do (just from getting overwhelmed with life) and I'm FINALLY starting to see how it is all coming together.
-
My kids go to a regional science fair every year. I've spoken to the people in charge of the fair, and our own science fair leader regarding this.
Basically, their rule of thumb- if you can teach your child something and they can UNDERSTAND it (say, you need to teach them how to interpret their results), then it is fine. If your 6-year-old is "doing" complicated equations, uh...no. The director of the regional fair also said this to me- you wouldn't expect for your child to go to a soccer game without someone taking the time to teach/coach him on soccer skills, but people will throw said child into a science fair without any teaching/coaching.
I'm involved with my kids' projects. They will pick their ideas (which can take awhile to discuss) and then we work on getting a good question, etc. We might have to go over conclusion, etc a MILLION times, and I'll read them examples, but their work is their work.
They design their boards, pick colors, everything. We help with the layout of the board (don't put the conclusion at the beginning, etc). Granted, I've seen projects where the parents obviously did everything (a complicated project for a 3-YEAR-OLD comes to mind-- this mother absolutely HATES to lose and will make sure her children "win" at all costs- and they always do), and then those where I doubt the parent even knew the topic. There's definitely a happy medium in between.
-
I hope you've left...get to the ER. Could possibly be mastoiditis, or one heck of an infection. Don't wait-- just go!
-
We take turns. As the younger sister, I didn't ever get to pick first, and I thought it was ridiculous!
My oldest had first pick at our last place (we rented and moved for a couple years) and picked a gigantic bedroom with bathroom. The youngest got to pick first this time and picked the room that gets a lot less son (and therefore, is cooler year round).
-
Things like walking/biking don't really work for my child, unless I make it really strenuous uphill, which really isn't fun for any of us. What has helped is swim team-- lap swimming helped immensely! We had a break in swimming for awhile and I saw it all go downhill so fast-- the inability to fall asleep, staying up until 2am, crying BECAUSE she couldn't fall asleep...I felt so bad for her.
While we still have some stay up late nights (more on the nights when there isn't swim) it has definitely helped. My child never napped either, even as a baby, and would always fight sleep as an infant. (Seriously, a 3-month-old shaking her head back and forth to stay awake!)
-
When you say more exercise-- what did you do? One of my children has insomnia problems- but not this severe.
-
I do not love what my kids love, and personally, I do not have a problem with it. I can be INTERESTED and ask questions, but doubt I will ever *love* things like they do.
Would you expect a spouse/partner to start loving something you do? Your friends? Your own parents? I don't. People are people-- we're all different for a reason and that's what makes the world go round.
Now, I think you can teach yourself to become INTERESTED, I think you can learn to ask pertinent questions so that you learn about it. But I wouldn't expect for you to love it.
-
As someone who had a roommate for 3 of my 4 years in college...there were many times I wished I were alone!
Things change. You might get a different roommate assigned if she decides not to go to your school. On-campus spaces, at least where I went to college, were a premium. They will be filled.
I think, also, it is important to realize that not everyone becomes super besties with their roommates. It is a learning experience, living with a stranger, that can be good, bad, or neutral. I've had all three. You'll meet your suite-mates, you'll meet people in classes, and (most importantly) you should join activities where you can make new friends!
As for decorations-- don't worry-- less is more. Bring a pretty bedspread, perhaps a nice rug or two, but don't go overboard. You have all year to decorate.
I know it is worrying (I totally get it), but it will be OK. If you're really worried, call the school and see if you can talk to someone about it.
-
What are the consequences for her when she's rude to you? To teachers? When she sleeps in late and is abrasive? Sounds like she has everyone tiptoeing around her.
This book - Have a new Kid by Friday -- really changed how I react to my children when they are acting like that. In my house, you don't get to be rude and then expect for us to do fun things later on. It just doesn't happen. While, yes, there are medical reasons for certain things-- sometimes kids can just act snotty. And it should be dealt with in a firm but loving way.
-
We once moved to a house that I thought was "perfect." It was a rental. It had a pool, fruit trees, 2 stories, playroom, homeschool room, fancy shutters, grass in the yard, granite countertops, 2.5 baths, a master closet so big it could be another bedroom...you name it.
Also, turned out it was infested with crickets in the walls (true story). Also, the upstairs would hit 90 degrees easily and the house was never, ever clean due to size. Pool? Always cold and we could never keep the chemicals correct. The great family-friendly neighborhood ended up with several bratty kids and an emerging crime problem.
We left after two years and vowed that was the last time we'd get a "perfect" house like that.
Our house now is much smaller, no pool, 90s dated kitchen and childless neighbors. We're much happier here.
-
1. Add more to our school. Every year, we've added on just a little bit more to our homeschool. In the beginning, (literally) we were doing good if we could get 1 page of math. So, each year, we add on subjects, or more pages, etc. We're FINALLY going to retackle history, and I'm considering adding Latin to it, too. We'll see.
2. While we have a routine (which can get hectic from say, October-March with activities) I STILL don't have a cleaning schedule set for myself. I need a cleaning schedule!
-
My 8-year-old has never read for pleasure beyond comics. Honestly, we knew he could read, but I had never seen pleasure reading.
As an incentive, I set up a summer reading program for the kids. A variety of good books (I chose because I wanted him to read something different) like Newberry award winners. After he finishes a book, I need a small form filled out so I can tell he actually read it. Then, you get to pick a coupon from my envelope.
Sample coupons: 20 extra minutes of Minecraft, bake cookies, skip school and go swimming (we did this yesterday), ice cream for snack, etc. He has a variety of books to choose from -- several Roald Dahls, Henry Huggins, Stone Fox, an abridged Tarzan, etc.
So far...he is reading. I'm hoping if we can keep this up during the summer, he will realize there are actual books out there that he can enjoy, and that picking up a book will become a habit.
Hang in there!
-
I was referred to my local school's club (within my SD), but that's where I ran into communication issues. The coach didn't know the answer, passed me off to district staff, and communication kind of went nowhere. My husband is a scientist, so would obviously have potential ability to coach, but I'm not sure if we can join. They specifically label it "co-curricular" on the district site, and I don't know how that aligns with access in our state to "extracurricular" activities. They couldn't really answer me. I usually don't give up, but I just didn't have it in me to keep going round and round.
You can always start your own group, if bad comes to worse. OM does not have to be through a school. We really did enjoy it-- and they have next year's problems out already. They're pretty good! Could you contact a private school? Don't give up!
-
May I ask why? I don't necessarily think it's a bad idea or anything, I'm just curious if there's a specific reason you want them involved in the life of the public school (as opposed to wanting them to be able to participate in specific activities you can't manage as a home schooler).
We have big public schools here, and both public and private schools pull from various areas, so there is no real tendency for schools and geographic communities to intertwine. Is it different where you live, or are you seeking diversity, or -?
I want my kids involved in school things, too. The homeschooling community here is very, very, very insular and I can't say my kids have made great friends there. You see the same few people over and over. Going to school activities has introduced them to a wide variety of friends-- if they take summer camp classes, there's often someone they know in them. School activities really have broadened their social circles.
Besides, I pay for it. If the kids want to do a lesson or something, I'm all for it. (Especially when it gets to high school time, I'm hoping they'll both be on a sports team.)
-
I follow it.
CONDITION CONDITION CONDITION! I didn't believe it, but it is really true. I use multiple conditioners. I spray my hair before the shower with water, and then put a protein-heavy conditioner (Mane & Tail) on it. Then I rinse it out in the shower (upside down helps my curl formation best). I either use a low-poo or conditioner, followed-up by a spray-in conditioner. Then, an obscene amount of gel.
I never brush or comb my hair-- only finger comb while conditioning. As for conditioner, I mainly use Burts Bees right now.
I have not had luck with just slightly wetting it. I have to give it the full amount for my curls to work.
-
Oh, good! I've noticed similarities between Spanish and French, and I was wondering if Latin might help.
-
SDs must allow HSers to participate in our state, but even then it can be a headache to get them to comply. For example, they use lots of loopholes, like if an extra curric. group ever meets during school time for a rehearsal (think certain musical and choral groups), they use that as a way to say no. Or if an activity is deemed "co curricular" HSers cannot participate. I tried to find out about Odyssey of the Mind from our local SD, and we went round and round, and I finally gave up :/ No one could tell me if it was "extracurricular" or not. They just kept passing me from person to person and avoided committing.
BUMMER! We ended up on an OM team through a school...it was really funny, because all the teachers (and even the principal) were really kind of giving us the side eye. Finally someone looked it up and said they had to let us in. I ended up becoming a coach for one of the teams.
Don't go to the school district for something like OM, if possible. Go to the school. A lot of them have email lists you can join at the beginning of the year, so you can get the emails the parents do. As long as it is legal in your state, show up at the OM (or choir, or whatever) meetings and say it is legally in your right. Also, offering to volunteer helps, too!
-
Move on and come back to it later on.
-
I heart Charlottesville, Virginia. East Coast- but not coastal. Raleigh/Durham or Wilmington, NC could be fun.
-
Your kids are about the same age as my youngest and he has issues listening, too. Wait. Both of my kids have this issue.
#1 Don't compare to school kids. SERIOUSLY. Don't do it. Don't ask what they're doing in school. Just...no.
#2 I always remind myself of where I want my children to be. Look at the big picture. It helps a lot.
You're still new to HS, so it can be hard to see the big picture, and to see how they're growing. I bet, by the end of next year, you're going to be able to say "last year, we were doing this, and now we're here." It helps A LOT to be able to do that.
-
My children take French lessons from a native speaker. They've been off for a few months, but are about to start back up. There is some paper work involved, but most of it is speaking.
I'm looking at having the kids start studying either Latin or root words. Does anyone know if learning one of the two would confuse them while learning French, or would it actually be a help?
Thank you!
-
What sign? You guys are weirding me out here! Are you saying that full-service gas stations are more common than self-service?
There are certain states where pumping your own gas is not allowed-- so they have attendants who do it.
-
I stopped covering for people long ago. I used to always make excuses- and yes, we have some pretty insensitive (though gee, not even that much) people in my family.
Personally, at 20, I was tired of people not telling me the truth all the time and think she is old enough. I guess that is up to you-- since her background might make her more sensitive.
She probably already knows, but might want validation from you.
-
So, could anyone tell me what a daily plan with AAS would entail? Like, what would I do for one lesson? How much pre-prep would need to be involved?
How many hours or how many percent of your dc's end of year science project or any project are you involved in?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I tell my kids that they can never do something to "win," because it just might not happen. I ask that they do their BEST-- that whether or not they get that prize, they can honestly tell themselves "I did my best, and I learned something interesting."