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CAtoVA

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  1. www.lanternenglish.com is enrolling right now.
  2. I would be interested in seeing a link if you will share. I have kind of soured on the comprehensive online English course after my experience with Blue Tent last year. It's just difficult to do all aspects of language arts well in one online class (I am still interested in seeing your plan, Imrich!) Last year both my then 6th and 10th graders had a few live writing classes online with www.hometoteach.com. The classes were quite solid if a bit fast. They cover composition (in various formats) and grammar which I didn't need because I do grammar already with my kids. Each class lasts six weeks and focuses on one type of writing, such as Narrative, Compare/Contrast, Descriptive, or Literary Analysis. The Paragraph class is slightly different in that it focuses on a different type of writing each week. Likely your middle schooler will want to be placed beyond the basic beginner level, so he or she will need to submit a writing sample to be able to do that. It's not difficult.
  3. I use IEW and the progression can be the continuation course next if you have done the 1st level course successfully. So, with my rising 7th grader, we did SWI A and then SIIC A when she was in 5th and 6th along with other, online writing courses from www.hometoteach.com. Next year I will do IEW continuation B with her; SWI B would be redundant. I also use many IEW theme books because she likes them. I plan on also using WWS Level 1 with her the first part of the year because I am waiting for the new 2nd year Level B that should be coming out in early 2021. IEW definitely could be done independently if your daughter has experience with it already. I have not used EIW for literature and only used Jr. Analytical Grammar (last year for 6th) so can't comment on those. I plan on using several different things for literature including novel studies from a list I have compiled, short stories with units from lovinlit on www.teacherspayteachers.com, and poetry with Art of Poetry (Classical Academic Press). I would like to do a Shakespeare study with Tales from Shakespeare and other resources if we can get to it. We used Vocabulary from Classical Roots (Level A) last year for 6th Vocabulary and it was a bust for DD. She really didn't like it, found it confusing, boring, etc. She's a language arts type person so I was surprised but maybe it was too "early" for her. We will switch to Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Level B for next year. I also looked at Vocabulit, which I will use with my 4th grader, but my 7th grader wants to try the Sadlier (her older brother uses Sadlier). For Grammar I will use a mixture of things like Sentence Diagramming by Critical Thinking Press, Analogies for All of Us, Stewart English Program Books 1 & 2, and Easy Grammar Ultimate Workbook Grade 9. I m considering Rod & Staff English 6 or 7 to fill in any gaps.
  4. This is for my DS who has never liked school and has been threatening to quit high school since March. He has agreed, for now anyway, to finish high school but I am trying to lighten his load for next year a bit. I have agreed to let him drop a third year of foreign language (Latin) since a college he may go to is only requiring two years of high school foreign language. He is "ahead" in social sciences/history due to beginning the high school course sequence in 8th grade. He actually really enjoys history! Consequently, I am planning only a semester of social studies for 11th grade. We also allowed him to drop his music (drums) after two years so there will be fewer things he "has" to do overall. English composed of: Grammar: Easy Grammar Ultimate Grade 11; Stewart English books 2 and 3 Vocabulary: Sadlier Oxford Level F (11th grade) Composition: Assignments drawn from Writing with Skill Levels 1, 2, 3; IEW Advanced US History theme book; assorted assignments across the curriculum maybe using The Power in Your Hands and The Writing Revolution; potentially a short online course in writing research papers Literature: Reading and discussing a list of novels and short stories; poetry study (not sure how yet); analysis of some famous speeches Mathematics: Algebra II probably with Math U See. My DS truly dislikes math even though he is good at it. Geometry this year has been agony as he likes Algebra better even though he really doesn't like math at all. Social Studies/History: United States Government (1) semester online with extra readings from me. Possibly an online course about Supreme Court cases in the spring semester. Science: Forensics with lab at co-op (if co-op happens this fall). DS really doesn't like science mainly due to having to write lab reports. I am hoping he finds forensics intriguing. Electives: Health (1 semester credit) Personal Finance (1 semester credit) One more elective but not sure what it will be yet, maybe intermediate logic as he has already had introductory logic. Maybe cinema studies since he likes movies. Not sure. He's had his driving permit since last year and completed the classroom portion of Driver's Ed this last spring. Now, he is finishing with his behind-the-wheel driving hours and is on target to get his driver's license this fall. Currently he works 20 hours per week to save for his car and insurance.
  5. That's funny about fishing poles. My DS was given one this morning.
  6. The hound we can't get anywhere local and for less than $1200 from a far away breeder is a Bassett Hound. After 1 year of searching via my local (multi-state) rescue organization we finally were matched with a Bagle (1/4 Beagle/3/4 Bassett Hound). They very rarely have a pure bred Bassett who isn't in need of major care or about 12 years old. They have mostly mixes and some of them you would be hard pressed to find any Basset at all. Our Bagle is fantastic and we have had him for about 5 years. However, he is about 10-11 and we want another dog to phase into the household. Our local shelter only has large hunting hounds like Foxhounds, Rottweilers, and Pitbulls. Craigslist is a scam and the breeders for anything around here want $1200 or more. If you know of a state/shelter/breeder of Basset Hounds or Dachshund let me know please! I would travel to some extent. This truly is a problem in many areas of the country and I don't know why.
  7. Our co-op is doing a survey of parents and it is 50/50 whether people want all online or all in person. The option of some online and some in person isn't getting much play and probably isn't feasible. If co-op starts up in the fall and is in person my kids likely will attend. If it is Zoom (like classes went to in March) I don't know. I would like them to "attend" but my girls have had it with Zoom classes. Luckily, their classes are mostly extra curricular type of classes. My DS (high school), who has "solids" there like history and science, is not against Zoom co-op classes as much, but I don't know how his labs for science would work out. It may be better for him to do an online science class (with lab) from a provider already experienced with this mode of education. My girls take dance classes which went all online at the end of March. They are so over Zoom dance classes. The dance schools around here mostly are opening up with masks required except when dancing. My state's mask directive has an exemption for "while exercising" that gyms, the YMCA, and most dance schools are using. They are required to distance 10 feet, keep everything very clean, no sharing of stuff, etc. Now, the dance school my girls have attended for years (and that we love) is moving toward requiring masks even while dancing. One of my daughters is pretty high level in dance and suffers from migraines often triggered from heat and feeling overheated. Wearing a mask while dancing (exercising) is a no go for her so if our dance school does not provide at least some non-mask wearing dance classes we will need to look elsewhere. Already this summer she is doing ballet at another school that does not require masks while dancing and she does like it (she's SO happy to get bacK INTO a dance studio). Piano lessons have been Zoom since end of March and my kids have gradually been getting used to them but they would prefer in person again. I think they will stay Zoom for awhile yet as the teacher is 70+. On of my DD attends a church youth group that meets outside with distancing and no masks. If it starts to rain, they move inside distancing with masks. We have had some meet ups with friends for bike riding or berry picking and some of the kids on the street have been over to play outdoors. I've been selectively comfortable with that.
  8. I have been putting off planning DD's 7th grade year with all the changes this spring and not knowing what fall will bring as far as co-op and extracurriculars. Also, my state cancelled our annual homeschool convention with its huge used curriculum sale and exhibit hall so I have not had the opportunity to look over different resources in person or to buy things I know I need at reasonable prices. Some of this is still up in the air. DD likes to mix it up, so we draw from a lot of resources but we don't use everything all at once. Language Arts Literature: A list of novels with discussion/writing, short stories using mostly TpT units, poetry possibly with Art of Poetry (CAP), Shakespeare studies using Tales from Shakespeare and other resources, Prufrock Press Jacob's Ladder Level 4 Spelling: Megawords Books 4 & 5 Vocabulary: Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Level B, Analogies for All of Us Grammar: Easy Grammar Ultimate Grade 9, Sentence Diagramming Levels 1 & 2 (CTP), Stewart English Program Composition: Writing with Skill Level 1, IEW SSS B 2nd Year (when it's released), various writing projects across the curriculum Mathematics Singapore Dimensions Math 7A & 7B Algebra I Concepts and Skills (for reinforcement of select topics) Science History of Science starting with the ancients and probably getting through the Age of Enlightenment using readings and accompanying experiments History Ancient History through Medieval using various resources/books including Project Passports from Homeschool in the Woods Geography World geography and cultures at co-op Fine Arts Choir at co-op, piano lessons, ballet, tap, contemporary, and jazz dance Extracurricular Weekly church youth group
  9. I always print in black and white. The cartoons are still cute even if not in color.
  10. My two cents is yes, pull completely and remediate him yourself. Would you do worse than what he has had, lol? I second making sure he is on board with the change, however. When my 16 yo decides not to work nothing gets done! My DS was hs K-3 and then in private school and our "highly regarded" public schools for 4-6. When he came back home in 7th he couldn't write as well as I would have expected from my other kids who had never been inside a "real" school. His "honors" level 6th grade English class featured reading one novel the entire year and his writing "instruction" was pretty much nil. DS's work mostly consisted of reading 1-2 page paragraph passages and responding to a few comprehension questions. Probably this was all prep for the annual standardized testing. Math was a lot of "stuff," but very little conceptual understanding. In 5th grade when I asked for the curriculum materials being used (so I could support him at home) I was told there were no set materials being used but a little of this and a little of that. He also typically spent 1-2 hours per day on the computer doing some sort of assessment tests in various subjects which he found exhausting and certainly didn't contribute t his learning anything. It took me two years (start of 9th grade) to bring DS to a point in writing I would have expected him to have reached by the end of 6th-7th grade. I think many parents are now realizing the emperor has no clothes and their "highly regarded" and expensive school systems are promulgating dreck in the name of "teaching" students anything rigorous or useful. I have heard similar stories from others in my "real" life. I would definitely pull if your child is willing.
  11. I have been using it all year for my 3rd grader who LOVES dogs. It's been a great hit here! As thorough as I need for our 1st year with formal grammar and it even includes sentence diagramming. I also like that I can print the pages I want/need, three hole punch and make my own grammar "book." We plan to keep using it next year too.
  12. Kate Atkinson's Case Histories (and others in the Jackson Brodie series) The Time Traveler's Wife Second any of Erik Larson's books
  13. I'm having trouble due to our large state homeschool convention being cancelled. I usually purchase about 50% of the books we use at the humungous used curriculum sale there but no convention so no sale. I am relying on bookfinder.com to ferret out the best deals on used books and it is taking me three times as long to plan and purchase as it used to take. Our library has been open since the end of May for curbside pickup, holds and returns. Phase three starts tomorrow and I am not sure what that adds to the library yet. The kids are completely fed up with anything Zoom (so far just dance classes, piano, etc.) and are dreading if co-op classes end up going the Zoom route this fall. As of now, co-op will be in person but that is subject to change. Of course. Like everything else. DS (10th grade) is ready to quit high school all together and in general all the kids are just "down" with parks and rec pools closed, no camps, etc. I will purchase a Y pass for swimming so there's that. < sigh>
  14. Hello, I am interested in level 6. Is there any writing or highlighting on any of the pages? Any missing or ripped pages? Thanks, Joan
  15. DS had this issue start at age 15 last March of 2019. Took him to a dermatologist in June who did lots of blood work (all fine) and ended up diagnosing him with alopecia areata (a benign auto-immune disorder). She said it often runs in families but my DH and I have no family history of this.She thinks being very ill with winter bugs stressed his immune system and made it malfunction. She also said it is very common among children and adolescents and she sees two or more people a week with it. The doc said it usually resolves by itself in 1-2 years but we decided to try treatments. My DS started steroid shots in his scalp/head every 4 weeks (near the bald patches). More hair kept falling out until about December 2019 (6 months of shots) when things started turning around. I adjusted his vitamins adding in Biotin, Zinc and more B vitamins in general. We also did acupuncture once a week for 14 weeks starting in October 2019. Starting in Feb his hair began to to get gorgeously thick, wavy and filled in (was not as wavy or thick before this problem). He still has a few very small spots which are not readily visible due to his now quite thick hair. He stopped getting shots in February 2020. The doc said it could come back especially if he experiences stress but that the shots work for him so that is what he should do. It was a tough year for him as a teenage, self-conscious boy who had several bald spots out of the blue. I was proud of him that he still did most activities and went places, etc., and didn't let it stop him much from doing things. Sometimes he would wear a hat but usually not. The kids at co-op all thought he was having chemo and were kind to him so that helped..
  16. 50% off everything starting Friday morning and ending Sunday morning. Discount code: HalfOff2020. I've got my eye on several items! Enjoy!
  17. My son did the Essay class for grades 8-11 taught by Ms. Eva (I think it was called All About Essays or something like that....) when he was in 9th grade. We have had several online classes with various providers and I would say that Open Tent was well worth the money with LOTS of material that we printed and still use as a reference. Several different types of essays (like maybe 6-7) were featured with about two weeks for each assignment which imo is good pacing for quality work with drafts and editing. There is a LOT of focus on editing and extensive checklists were provided for each assignment. Eva's directions and teaching were very clear and she was available and responsive to emails. She also kept the class on task and moving which I appreciated. The only downside I would say is that Eva has strong opinions about writing in certain ways (a specific way to write a thesis, for example) which were not "bad," but, as a writing teacher myself, I personally didn't always agree with her method. I just used those occasions to explain to my DS that writing is an art and a science and that different teachers have different opinions about ways to go about writing. It's good for him to be exposed to different styles and ideas. I have no experiences with G3 so can't help you there although I am looking at a cinema studies class from G3 as a possibility for my DS next year. HTH!
  18. My rising 11th grade son will study government next year as a semester class. I may have him do econ as a semester as well, but I may wait until 12th for that. Hillsdale College offers free online courses with one on the U.S. Constitution in particular: https://online.hillsdale.edu/ You also may want to look at the Great Courses for government topics. Your library may have several of them like my library does.
  19. I'm looking for some reviews of American Government curriculum, online classes, etc. My DS will be in 11th grade next year and history is his favorite topic; I'm hoping he also will like government. The course could be for a year or for a semester. Thanks!
  20. Was at a Kroger today and almost fell over because they had FLOUR! Like the section was almost 1/2 full and it was "regular" brands like Pillsbury. It's been WEEKS since I have seen that. This Kroger is near the university and the majority of customers normally would be students (not here now) and younger people. This was the Kroger that still had onions and potatoes but absolutely no chips or frozen pizza in March. My theory is that the younger people may not cook from scratch (need onions, fresh produce, etc) and favor easier food like frozen pizza. So, maybe they don't bake either. Was able to get one, three pack of yeast here but it was one of only three packages left. Plenty of spices, vanilla, etc. Also picked up four packages of chicken tenders and some grass fed steak and ground beef. There were about fifteen packages total of the chicken tenders, maybe ten packages of chicken drumsticks and three whole chickens in the case. That was it for chicken. There was plenty of beef but pork was spotty. Fresh fish had been missing for weeks but seems to be back now and in good variety.
  21. Every time I have gone to Wegmans in the last 6 weeks they have been out of meat—I'm not sure what is going on with that.
  22. I heard about meat shortages two weeks ago and stocked up plenty then so I have ground beef, roasts, steak, chicken tenders, pork chops, etc in the freezer, and dozens of eggs in the fridge. Virginia. Whole Foods today was limiting customers to 95 inside. Workers get temperature checked and wear masks and gloves. Social distancing signs everywhere and one way aisles and stickers on the floor. I got inside without waiting in line but when I left about 15 minutes later there was a 12 person line. Many areas in the store with empty shelves including cereal and frozen food. It looked like about 30% of the store shelves were empty. Some vitamins like C and D were back but others (Zinc) empty. Produce/fruit looked full enough. I did not check the meat here. Almost no eggs for weeks. No flour. Signs everywhere limiting everything. Kroger supplies vary depending on when you go and which location. If you get there when the delivery truck gets there there is a lot of chicken and beef. By the end of the day the chicken case is totally empty. Frozen hamburgers are gone and fresh, grassfed organic beef (which I buy) is gone for weeks and then suddenly shows up again. There is grassfed bison and lamb available. No flour for weeks in any location except very pricey brands. Sometimes there are eggs and sometimes not. NO fresh Garlic heads at any location and no explanation for why. Workers are required to wear masks (gloves optional) and there are social distancing stickers on the floor. Stores are limiting customers but it's a lot (like 500+) so I have never had to wait. Walmart pretty much has had no beef for weeks now except a few packs of ground beef. Some chicken (breasts, etc.) No eggs for a few weeks but now eggs are back and limited. Produce seems fine. Dairy is sparse except there is plenty of cheese. Workers are required to wear masks and gloves. There are one way aisles. Definitely shortages due to far more people eating many more meals at home and also meat packing plants having problems. Not sure why there is so little flour anywhere.
  23. Open Tent Academy has one but registration for this session is closed. Oh, I just noticed that you are looking for next year. I don't know if they will be offering the class again but you could look into it.
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