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FrogMom5

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  1. We are in Panama City Beach, so we're squarely in the cone. Tonight's news said Isaac is predicted to be a 2 when it hits us on Monday. So far though, our schools are open for Monday and there has been no talk of evacuating. Personally, we won't ride out a 2 b/c of the kids. It's a wait and see game until Sun. night. You know you're a homeschooler when your main concern is how to bring all of your school supplies. :001_smile: Prayers and blessings to all of you in Isaac's path. Denise
  2. Wow! You all are great. This info. is wonderful. I haven't been able to finish reading everything, we're preparing for the possibility of hurricane Isaac, but I have read most of it. Many of the techniques described here will help my younger ds too. I especially want to check into the ability to move info. between long and short-term memory. I think that may be a piece that I've been missing. yllek, if you don't mind, what is n-back and dual n-back exercises? Is it the letter/digit span work you did w/your ds? The way the brain works is endlessly fascinating to me. If I find anything new during my searches, I'll post it. Thanks for all the great info. Denise
  3. Thanks for the tip on how to better search and the links, llolly. As for the working memory, I think we need visual and auditory. Ds has done VT and Auditory Training-lots. Still, he recently tested very low in working memory and processing on an IQ test. I want to help him bring those up as much as I can before he heads off to college in 2 yrs. I know it's late in the game. We worked on his sensory and health issues for many yrs. And then, I think I was just exhausted and overwhelmed. Well, in the span of 2 yrs., we adopted, had a baby and moved. That's when we stopped doing anything. I just wanted him to live a "normal" life-no dr. appts., therapies, etc. Maybe I wanted to live that life, too. Anyway, ds is doing well but, he works so much harder than he should to get his work done. He has to work very hard to memorize terms (bio., chem.), names, dates and so forth. He's pretty good at math but it does take him longer than average. He is one of those really smart kids who doesn't know the date of Christmas, kwim? He carries his phone number and address w/him b/c he can't always remember them correctly. Thank you all for your help. You ladies are wonderful. Denise
  4. Can someone link or point me to threads on how to work on working memory? I thought I remembered reading about this topic here on this board but, after several searches, I haven't been able to find any threads. Thanks for your help. Denise
  5. :iagree: For both 9th and 10th grade I tried to cover a certain number of novels, a certain number of plays, and so on. What I found is that the amount you complete depends on what you choose and how far you delve into it. This yr. I have a long list of works and we will accomplish what we accomplish. Denise
  6. We used it for about 2 years. It helped ds focus and process more quickly. He was also calmer. But, that was a negative too, b/c he was less animated and energetic than he had been before starting the medicine. He has the non-hyper ADD, so we wanted the energy. He came off the medicine b/c he was working as a camp counselor and was sporadic about taking the medicine. Then he went on a big hiking/camping trip and forgot to take it the whole 10 days. We decided to leave him off the meds. to see how he would do. The gains he made in focus and processing stayed while his more energetic and humorous self reappeared. He still has anxiety, which we currently treat with anxiety meds. and neurofeedback - both are helping a lot. If I had to do it again, I would put him on the Strattera. He may need it again in the future and I do think it helps w/out really bad side affects. HTH Denise
  7. Thank you all for the discussion. The information surprised me. I had to wonder, is it just Illinois State relaxing out-of-state tuition or is this becoming more common among Midwest colleges. Regentrude - Thanks for the info. I will check into MS&T. My ds wants to double major in math and physics. We have a couple of colleges on our definite list but, we need to make a decision on a few more. I do apologize that I posted this thread and then just left it. I caught my dd's cold. Hers turned into pneumonia, mine just put me out of commission for a few days. Summer, right before school colds are the worst. Yuck. Of course, she got it from aspirating water in our community pool, then passed it to dh and I. Anyway, thanks for the interesting discussion. Denise
  8. From my alumni magazine (Illinois State Univ.): "There is a gradual decline in the number of Illinois high school graduates due to changing demographics. Competition for Midwest students is so intense that financial incentives are crucial. The Board of Trustees consequently approved removing the out-of-state tuition differential for selected students." The article goes on to say that the reduction in tuition may be offered to high-achieving students eligible for certain scholarships (they don't specify which ones), "artistically talented students recruited by faculty for specific majors," and students who are recruited by Admissions. The University predicts this program will only impact a small group of out-of-state students but it will build regional diversity on the campus. What do you all think? Is there a decline the number of students entering midwest colleges? If so, does that bode well for those of us from other regions? It's certainly something to watch. Denise
  9. Don't the IEW folks have a book about running a business for teens? Give me a few minutes and I'll try to dig it out for you. Denise Ok, here it is - it's called "Lemonade to Leadership." It says it includes record keeping, marketing, merchandising, writing and implementing a business plan, among other things. It also says each lesson offers an optional writing assignment, so it could do double duty for you! Is this what you are looking for - minus the writing assignments? If I come across anything else, I'll let you know. HTH Denise
  10. 15 and 6 wks. The ps here starts around Aug. 20. Ds has a summer birthday. When he was little, we decided to start him later rather than sooner to give him a bit more maturity. As far as work level, he's ahead in some areas and on level in others. We never accelerated him, just try to go deeper in areas of interest. Denise
  11. I took it for many years to combat mild depression. At 50 mg./day, I had no side effects. It just took the edge off the depression and allowed me to think clearly. Exercise and being out in the sunlight helped too. Without the 5-HTP though, I wouldn't have gotten myself outside at all. You can buy it at Wal-mart now. When I first began using it, I had to order it. Back then, I bought it from Village Green (used to be The Apothecary). I hope it helps you. Denise
  12. This coming school yr.- 10th grade, 5th grade and K. The middle one tries to fly under the radar and not do much work. I have to keep tabs on him all day long. :tongue_smilie: Denise
  13. We did something in between moving ahead and repeating Alg. I. I tested my son using placement tests, then had him work on those sections that he did not ace on the tests plus an area I knew he needed more practice-quadratic equations. It took 3 months but it did solidify his skills. Alg. II has been fairly easy and fun for him this yr. Geometry, well, he doesn't like it but he did well, even with him dragging his feet through it. :glare: Denise
  14. Maybe you need to go a completely different direction and develop your own writing curriculum. You could try brainstorming fun ideas with your kids and then develop something out of those ideas. Here are a few ideas off the top of my head: - write and produce a play based on a good literature piece of their choosing, - make several observations trips to the ocean to study animals or plants and then present a research paper on what they studied, along w/drawings, photos, etc. - choose several places to visit where you live and then research some topic about each area or something that connects the areas and develop a presentation on it. Frankly, I want to travel and then produce my own travel brochure for each place. But, that's for another time in my life. :001_smile: All of this involves researching and writing good papers. If you have them do a presentation, they get public speaking and probably computer skills too. Is this kind of what you're looking for? Or have I completely missed your question? HTH Denise
  15. For those of you who have or are using Write at Home, is there another way to contact them? We get an error message when we try to send a note to the coach. Then, when I try to e-mail the staff, I get screens that want me to set up an account with Internet Connect Wizard. I really don't want to do that, I just need to communicate with them, somehow. Thanks for your help. Denise
  16. Thanks for your help everyone. I haven't formed any specific questions yet, just gathering basic information about it. I will look at the Memoria Press website more closely. They usually have really good materials. Thanks again for responding to my question about SRA Reading. Denise
  17. We use/have used Mind Benders, Mathematical Reasoning series, Math Detective and Building Thinking Skills. They are all really good. After using the Building Thinking Skills and Mathematical Reasoning books, my dd, age 5, finds MEP Math easy. I do think my dc have had their logic and thinking abilities really stretched. Denise
  18. Brenda, Great info. The CD series on Martin Luther looks especially interesting. I'll also check into the teen Bible studies. Thanks. Denise
  19. Have any of you used SRA Reading Program by McGraw-Hill? I did a search on this board but didn't find anything. I'm wondering what you all know about it. The charter school that we're looking at for my dd uses it. They said research shows it's the best reading program available. After that, they said very little about it and that makes me uneasy. Thanks for your help. We're on the fence about sending her to school vs. homeschooling her so any info. we gather is very helpful to us. Denise
  20. I use Our Holy Faith from Our Lady of the Rosary School. Not many people on this board use it but we love it. I found it when my oldest was in 7th grade. He was desperate for something meaty and this series fit the bill. Now, I use it with both my older dc and they both love it. Even my dd stops to listen to her brother's lessons. If you don't want the whole package through OLRS, you can buy just the main text through Neumann Press. I believe Amazon sells them too. I do hope you find a good program for your children. Denise
  21. We used More Mudpies to Magnets 9-10 yrs. ago and had fun with it. It would meet all of your requirements. I don't remember any experiments in which a little one could not participate but, I only had one dc at the time. We also used Developing Critical Thinking Skills Through Science from the Critical Thinking Co. (3 yrs. ago). All the necessary materials were household items and my two little ones were 8 & 3. My 3 yr. old enjoyed it more than her older brother. HTH Denise
  22. We're using Thinkwell for Government. It's pretty comprehensive. It is completely online, though you can buy the notes in book form. Ds enjoys it b/c the instructors are energetic and interesting. They make him think about issues and bring out opposing sides without appearing biased, imho. It's been a fun course for him. I've never used SL so I don't know anything about that one. Denise
  23. Oldest ds works as a Scout camp counselor in the summers. It's not much pay but it is good leadership training and work experience. During the school year, he does volunteer work at our church thrift shop. Denise
  24. My entire family is this way (sigh). It's not carelessness or laziness, imho. But, it does get better. It helped me to know that most boys are like what you describe during the middle-school and early high-school age. One of the moms on the high school board described it as "their brains falling out." My dh is an assistant scout leader and says the same thing. So, your ds's age is part of the problem. I also know that when I get frustrated and reprimand my son a lot, it really hurts him. I've had to learn to back off and let things go. Instead, I try to focus on the areas that will affect his well-being in life (deadlines, keeping track of important papers, grooming). Even then, I'm careful not to let my frustration show. Reducing the pressure I put on him seems to help him relax and function better too. Finally, my dh does many of the behaviors you described. Yet, he's very successful in his career and social life. Yeah, some of the things he forgets/loses frustrates me but I adore him and love him very much. So, I guess I'm trying to say to relax a bit. Yes, help your son w/tools and reminders (those EF books sound good), but enjoy him too. Denise
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