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Shelly in VA

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Everything posted by Shelly in VA

  1. Good point on statistics. My oldest two children have both had to take that in college. That would be a good class for dd to take as a DE class in high school. You're right, very applicable to many fields!
  2. Working the different courses concurrently is a great idea. I had an "ah-hah!" moment when I read your post - I realized that is exactly what we did when my son took the AoPS CP/NT courses a few years ago. I had forgotten that he did them in addition to his "regular" math curriculum, and it was a good fit. I hadn't actually thought about stretching Precalc/Trig out for more than one year, but that could work well, especially with dd being as young as she is. Starting math over the summer is a good thought, too, although I've never actually done more than "summer bridge" type work in the summer, unless the kids requested it on their own. But I suppose at the high school level, doing something like this is bridgework. Probably more of a mindset issue for me than it will be for dd. :laugh: Thank you for the input!
  3. I cannot decide what the best course of study is for dd who will be a high school sophomore in the fall. She has already finished Algebra 1 and 2 (VideoText) and Geometry (Jacobs). On the one hand, she could go straight to a Trig/Pre-Calc course, which would also give her solid test prep math looking ahead to the PSAT/SAT/ACT. On the other hand, she could take a year to do AoPS courses like Counting and Number Theory. I hesitate a little bit to do that at this point, as she hasn't had computational math for about a year (we did Algebra I/II and followed that with Geometry this year), but I'm probably overthinking it. This is the third child I am homeschooling through high school, so you would think I would know what I was doing! No such luck... haha. :laugh: Any suggestions would be appreciated!
  4. We used Cursive Connections Book A last year when ds was 9, and did a "refresher" this year in 4th grade with Book B. He enjoyed it, and he is very pleased with his ability to write in cursive. Simple to use, inexpensive, and good results.
  5. I got my college kids soft-sided wheeled luggage sets that could nest inside each other empty under their dorm beds, but they also each have at least one duffle bag. So far, so good - the duffles have been good for short trips, and the soft-sided wheeled bags have flown and survived trips to Kenya, Chicago, and TN to date. They do both live driving distance to the schools, though, so the luggage isn't being used at airports all that frequently. I would definitely recommend wheeled bags, if I were to suggest one key feature!
  6. Thanks for all the responses! A few things to clarify, that I didn't word very well in my original post. :001_huh: My concerns are different based on the type of hike that is planned. If we essentially walk for 8 hours, I don't have an issue with stamina but I do have an issue with the purpose of the activity. If we actually spend 8 hours on a challenging hike, I have an issue with the lack of preparation. After giving it more thought, I think my biggest concern is that this activity is being planned/presented as a task or chore, not as a challenge for the girls to rise to. Hiking is something we (dh, kids and I) enjoy, in part because when we do it somewhere scenic it is a great way to spend a few hours, and in part because when there is some challenge to the hike, you know that you accomplished something with your time and effort, if that makes sense. I feel like filling time to check a box goes against that, and goes against the ideals of scouting, too. If we are just walking for 8 hours, then this is a check-the-box activity that may technically result in "earning" the badge, but it will not result in a positive experience for the girls. If they don't feel that they worked to truly earn the badge, then I don't think it is a worthwhile use of their time! 8 hours of repetitive walking in a small area is not challenging the girls to achieve something, it's just filling time. They aren't going to come away from this feeling like they accomplished much; they will have essentially repeated the walk-a-thon fundraisers they do each fall on the church parking lot where the troop meets, but they will have walked circles for a longer period of time. It's a spirit-of-the-badge vs. letter-of-the-badge issue. Unfortunately, I feel like this is what is going on here. As several responses said, this will not result in a love of HIKING. This could even turn the girls off from hiking as an activity. That would be terrible, IMHO - the complete opposite of an activity that could introduce them to something they could enjoy for the rest of their lives. Which reminds me - the park itself. This is NOT a state park with hiking trails. This is a local park with soccer and baseball fields, and 3 wooded trails that are all under 1 mile each. They are not difficult, although they are pretty. They are a place that I take my kids when we are looking for something to do outdoors for an hour or two. You can walk the longest trail down to a small beach area, skip rocks in the river that you come to, and "hike" back up to the start, all in about an hour. A lovely place to have access to locally, and I am very grateful for it, but not a place to spend 8 hours walking in circles! The next point is preparation. Even for a moderate hike (only excluding circles around the local park here), to meet some of the ideals of scouting, the girls should be prepared. My dd is extremely active and fit, but I still feel that preparation (I am including physical prep, but also equipment, skills like orienteering, etc.) is beneficial, if only to add some substance to the activity. But there are no training hikes planned, just the two days of "hiking" so that the badge can be earned before the final badge order of the year is placed. This is not prep for future, more scenic hikes - I've asked. This is strictly and solely to earn this one particular badge. That attitude is part of what makes me think this is being approached as a task, not an experience from which the girls can really learn. As someone mentioned, scouting SHOULD BE about progression, but this is taking the easiest way out of meeting the badge guidelines, which shouldn't be the point! I am certain that the idea behind the "long" hike is for the girls to plan and prep for food, breaks, etc.This is busy work. I should have said that this is an AHG troop, not a Girl Scout troop. The way the AHG badges are set up, each age group can earn each (or at least most) of the badges, but the requirements are increasingly challenging as the girls get older. So this group of girls - middle school and high school - would have to complete some of the younger age requirements, as well as additional and more challenging tasks for their group only. That goes back to the idea of progression, but that seems to be lacking here. Also, regarding the location, I asked and was told that because the leaders have not completed a training course that is only offered certain times of the year, outside activities are limited by the distance from our meeting site. So that results in this local ballfield/playground park. Which is really a shame, because we live in an area that is relatively close to some beautiful state parks as well as some really nice hiking/walking trails that are maintained as part of historical sites. The girls (and adults) are missing the chance to spend a day experiencing nature or interesting scenery/sights. I loved the post where a scout troop hiked in suburban/historical areas! That brings me back to the box-checking attitude - I would be inclined to work on other badge requirements this year, including some nature walks at this local park like the short one we did in the fall with the troop, then plan to meet the longer requirements next year when more scenic venues could be chosen. Finally, the parent requirement. Uggh! This has been an issue for me with this troop on every activity over the past 2 years. I understand the need for adequate adult supervision, I really do. Having just spent 4 hours this past Saturday at a local food bank with a group of teen volunteers from our youth group, but without either of the other adults who were supposed to be there with me, I get it! :lol: But there comes a point when too many parents can result in disruptions during the activity; worse, all that parent presence can diminish the ability of the girls - especially teens - to take on responsibility and leadership roles, or to simply feel a sense of independence. The blanket requirement that each girl must have a parent is excessive, but that is the way the troop is run. My 14yo is not allowed to enter the meeting area without me signing her in, even if I am simply in another part of the building! That is another issue for another post; haha. In many ways, the troop is being run as an organization for younger girls, and the older girls are just sort of added in. It's very frustrating. Again, another post... Thanks for all of the input. I appreciate it!
  7. Not sure how to handle a situation that has come up with dd14's scout troop. The girls (just 3-4 attend the biweekly meetings for her age group) chose to work on a hiking badge, and the leader started discussing that with them at the first meeting in March. The extent of the hiking that they have done to this point is a single 1.5 hour hike one evening in the fall. Apparently, the badge requires two 8-hour hikes, and the leader is asking for dates to complete this by April or May and requiring that each girl have a parent hike with them. To me, this is too much! My dd is very fit, as a result of martial arts training that she does 5-6 hours a week, so it isn't a fear of something physical on my part. But asking junior high and freshman kids to hike for 8 hours, without training/prep/etc., seems both excessive and not a good use of time on anyone's part. I know when we have hiked for 2-3 hours with our kids, it has been more physically demanding than it might seem to be initially. My understanding is that the hikes will have to be local; at the moment a park is being proposed that consists of several short (30-90 min) hiking trails, and walking those through a day to meet the 8 hour requirement. I am not sure how to approach this, but I feel like first, they should work up to an all-day hike by at least trying one moderate hike first, and second, if I am going to spend all day hiking, I would like to do it somewhere worthwhile, not hiking circles at the local park! Almost seems to defeat the purpose of the badge requirement. Am I being overly critical to think that this would be a better experience for the girls if we properly prepare for it and do some interesting hiking, even if it can't be squeezed into the next 8 weeks? Are they any experienced hikers or scout leaders who can help me get a perspective on this? Thank you so much!!
  8. I asked this question, and received the following response from Hoffman Academy: Although the premium features won't be available until Hoffman Academy 2.0 launches in the Fall, those who back us at $250 or more for a lifetime premium subscription will receive their first free unit of downloadable materials when Unit 7 launches in a few weeks, and then we will make arrangements for you to manually receive additional units as needed until the 2.0 launch, making the tracking and unlocking system automatic. Hope that helps!
  9. I did it! Signed up for the lifetime level; hope the outlay of cash will motivate me to use it consistently. :coolgleamA: I did very little music instruction with my older two children, and I regret it. Although they can both read music and play simple piano songs, both wish they had learned a musical instrument more than they did when they were living at home. I am hoping this program will let me add that into our schedule more consistently with my younger children, since I have not managed to do that up to this point!
  10. I am still undecided! Waiting until September for the "premium" membership benefits to start is part of what is throwing me. I could spend $85.50 today for the complete set of materials for lessons 1-120, which would last quite a while as my kids are at a beginning level in their ability. On the other hand, subscribing to the premium membership at a 12-month or lifetime level would add all of the extra benefits, but not for another 6 months. By then, we would [theoretically] have a good system in place without the extra materials. At the same time, buying the supporting materials for all of the lessons that will be ready over the next ~12months would cost nearly the $250. I just don't know!
  11. Does anyone have experience with Hoffman Academy https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/ beyond the free lessons? Ds10 has done a few of the lessons, but I am considering one of the memberships being offered on Kickstarter today and tomorrow. Just not sure if I will follow up on doing the "extras" with him, or if the free lessons are enough for now. I play the piano myself, and we do have some music books at home from older kids who were taught years ago, so I am torn! While the lifetime membership looks appealing, I wonder if a shorter stint with the premium membership would work just as well. Too many choices! Good problem to have, right? Thanks!
  12. Does anyone have experience with Hoffman Academy https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/ beyond the free lessons? Ds10 has done a few of the lessons, but I am considering one of the memberships being offered on Kickstarter today and tomorrow. Just not sure if I will follow up on doing the "extras" with him, or if the free lessons are enough for now. I play the piano myself, and we do have some music books at home from older kids who were taught years ago, so I am torn! While the lifetime membership looks appealing, I wonder if a shorter stint with the premium membership would work just as well. Too many choices! Good problem to have, right? Thanks!
  13. Thank you! A chart on the Memoria Press site listed Level 1 or 2 for students currently taking Third Form Latin, which is what initially made me think that Latin I was the appropriate level. Also the fact that dd tried past exams from the site and didn't know all of the grammar from the Latin II exam, combined with the complete lack of preparation for the exam (again, my fault!) which will put her at a disadvantage on the "Culture and Civilization" sections. Actually, I'm thinking we may need to skip it this year and actually prep for it next year... Thank you so much for the input!!
  14. Question on the National Latin Exam - where do you have a child start? Dd (freshman) is currently in Third Form Latin, but she hasn't taken the NLE before. I actually dropped the ball and entirely forgot about it, after promising her she could take it, and I'm not 100% certain I can still register her for the online test, but the site makes it look like I can, with a late fee; so irritated with myself! Anyway, after taking some practice exams, she feels like either Latin I or Latin II would be the "right" level, but looking at the Memoria Press guidelines it almost seems that you should start with Latin I, then follow it up in future years with increasingly challenging exams. Am I understanding that correctly? Is Latin I even the right level, or should she take the Introductory Latin exam? Or should she take both Latin I and Latin II? Help :confused1: , and thank you so much!!
  15. Had a similar issue with the 4-year university ds is currently attending on a full academic scholarship! Mid-semester, the admissions office decided they needed a new copy of his final transcript. He walked one over, but b/c it wasn't in a sealed envelope with my signature across the seal it wasn't official. A few weeks later, when I was there for parent weekend, he handed me the same copy of the transcript, I stuck it in an envelope and signed it, and the transcript was accepted that week. I got a followup email from the admissions office asking me to send an electronic pdf copy. Bureaucracy!! :glare:
  16. Interesting! Thanks for creating that quiz. My results were: Score for Classical Education: 23 Score for Montessori Education: 15 Score for Charlotte Mason Education: 12 Score for Waldorf Education: 12 Score for Unit Studies Education: 0 Score for Unschooling: -1 Score for Traditional Education: -6 Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: -8 I was surprised that Waldorf was as high as it was (questions about the importance of art and time outside bumped that up, I'm guessing), and that unit studies were so low (probably a reflection of trying to balance kids at such different stages for the past few years - my college bound senior and my 9 yo don't work together much!).
  17. Amending on 4/6/15: Son George Mason University - Honors College - University Scholars Scholarship James Madison University - Honors College - Second Century Scholars Scholarship Hampden Sydney - Honors College - Merit Scholarship University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Merit Scholarship
  18. Ds was waitlisted (I know, not an outright denial, but still disappointing!) at William & Mary and also at Wake Forest. He was also denied at Washington & Lee University. We've decided that "W" schools are not for us. :glare: Even with other acceptances and offers on the table, it's still hard to accept the disappointments. But it's a great life lesson... And ultimately it helps with the decision process!
  19. Amending again! As of 3/27/15: Son George Mason University - Honors College - University Scholars Scholarship James Madison University - Honors College - Merit Scholarship Hampden Sydney - Honors College - Merit Scholarship University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - accepted
  20. :iagree: Homeschooling high school puts a lot of pressure on the homeschooling mom, no matter how hard I try to convince myself that it will be no big deal if I just take a deep breath and relax. I say that to try to temper my you-can-do-this-rah-rah-rah comments a bit. ;) I have homeschooled two through high school at this point. My oldest dd is finishing her 2nd year in an honors program at a 4-year university. Her transcript had PSAT, SAT, ACT, and 4 SAT II test scores. She took just 2 dual enrollment classes at the community college while she was in high school. Other than that, her transcript was a "mommy transcript." Her senior year, she applied to 5 schools and was accepted into all of them, and she was awarded several merit scholarships at various schools. So her transcript had some outside verification (not an enormous amount), but that did not affect her college search in a negative way at all. I think my bp dropped 30 points when her first acceptance letter arrived! :laugh: My second child is graduating this spring. We are in the midst of the college search process, and waiting to hear from the schools that only do regular decision (so we won't get their notifications until ~April 1). He has been accepted into 3 schools so far, and into the honors program at each of those schools; he has also been offered merit scholarship money at each of the schools. His transcript had PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT II scores, and just 1 dual enrollment course. He also took a class through the AoPS online school. So again, mostly a "mommy transcript." But even without hearing from all of the schools, he has options for college, which is a great situation to be in. Also, neither of my kids took any AP exams. That is honestly something I have agonized over, but I mention it because it certainly didn't hurt them when it came to college admissions. While I knew that I wanted college to be an option for my kids, I didn't get serious about specific classes or tests until late in their sophomore years. I made sure we would cover 4 years of math/science/language arts, made sure we were doing lab sciences, and started early on the foreign language requirement. But really they just kept moving forward on the path they were already on, with more emphasis by me on record keeping, until they got a little bit older. Also, fwiw, ds who will graduate this spring is going to major in mathematics, and dd is in a nursing program. So ds has been very STEM heavy, and dd needed a solid background, including math and science, for admission into her nursing program. With respect to a STEM kid and high school, I'm pleased with the things ds has pursued in high school, in part because he has been able to cover much more math than he would have been able to in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting. There are many solid options for high school, obviously, but if you do decide to homeschool, this is a positive that may help you keep going when you feel stressed. ;) Ds has been able to cover discrete math in addition to the regular math sequence and he has done a few programming couses through EdX. He has also been able to do some art and literature study that I'm not sure he would have chosen if he had been in a traditional school that was pushing a STEM focus for him. Hope that helps! You can do this!!
  21. Amending my original post, as ds has now won the University Scholars scholarship at George Mason! Still impatiently waiting for final notices that may not be received until April 1. ;) Son George Mason University - Honors College - University Scholars Scholarship James Madison University - Honors College - Merit Scholarship Hampden Sydney - Honors College - Merit Scholarship
  22. Thanks for this thread! Son George Mason University - Honors College - Merit Scholarship James Madison University - Honors College - Merit Scholarship Hampden Sydney - Honors College - Merit Scholarship Waiting to hear from a few other schools; it's hard to wait! ;)
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