brownie
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Posts posted by brownie
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No. I let my oldest read it at maybe old 11, early 12. It addresses dreams and feelings during puberty and how the govt gives them pills to supress it. You child might miss that...it's kind of subtle for an 8 year old, but what about group discussion?
The whole society he lives in has so many non-christian components, if you are spiritual at all, such as the way they treat marriage. It is too much for a young child to process.
It is an awesome book but ds is spiritually mature and had also started puberty. We discussed it together as a requirement of reading it. BTW it's in the YA section of our library. It's intended for middle school.
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Well right now we are wrapping up our first classic read aloud Tom Sawyer. DS11 is reading Cat of Bubastes. This is our 6th week of school so we will probably only get in 6-8 classics. We study short stories in a lit club every 2 weeks. Between fun fiction, historical fiction, and assigned books on scientific and historical topics (most of which are short), he will read over 100 books this year that I will allow to count in our required reading log for the state. He will also re-read many favorites. But he is an incredibly fast reader. For school he spends 30-60 minutes reading a day.
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LOL - I don't know what's bizarre :) It's just the time distribution is fairly similar to what I do. I am aware we are missing a foreign language. I would like to do some logic when things settle down. Those are things I already knew and choices I've already made. There doesn't seem to be a tendency to follow the child's interests into heavily uneven subject distribution just because the kids are so bright and self-motivated.
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Awesome article! Thanks! I am always astonished that my kids whose IQ tests in the 95%ile, come out on talent search in the 99.9+%ile. I think it's the homeschooling. We can meet kids where they are at, maintain their interest, and waste less time. I am astonished to see that our "excellent" ps, which is said to cater only to the gifted 15%, is still not pushing and challenging these kids. They have lots of field trips is all :(
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So it's really as I thought. Nobody is doing anything particularly bizarre :) We are heavy on music and reading, which is intentional. We do no foriegn language which I regret, but we are out of time. We probably actually do more science than my schedule indicates because we do a science coop and ds does robotics 6 hours a week as an extracurricular plus homework for that.
I always worry about math. We are mathy and for me I think it is perhaps the most important subject, and yet it gets 1 hour a day whereas "the language arts" get over 2.5 hours in our house.
hmmm...I always love to reasses where we are and rethink things. As we wrap up our current read aloud, I might try to sneak in some additional math or science enrichment into that time slot, but read alouds are so convenient because when we are behind, they can be done during snack or lunch :)
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I wish I could be a fly on the wall in other people's homeschools. There is so much to learn! So one thing I find myself wondering is how others allocate their time. I chose my 5th grader as the example. Of course, this is just a typical day and almost no day is typical! I chose to post here because I think it makes a difference where the kid is academically. I would spend more time on basics if he wasn't advanced and more time following his lead if he was brilliant.
1 hour+ math
1 hour+ instrument practice/lesson
1 hour assigned reading
30min read aloud
45min vocab/spelling/grammar/handwriting
30min writing (composition)
30min history
30min science
15min religion
We don't do any foreign language. Right now we aren't doing any logic. This adds up to about 6 hours which is just about accurate. Doing this makes me realize how our day differs from public school even though the total time is about the same. We spend more time devoted to music and reading (almost half our day) even though we are science/math people! lol!
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Andrew Pudewa rom IEW has a talk on How to Teach Boys That Would Rather Build Forts al Day :) I've heard it 1.5 times in person but I think he sells it on his website. He talks about the differences in boys and girls brains and studies on single-sex education,etc...
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Trumpet of the Swan read by EB White may be the best audio book ever!
Little House on the prairie will keep you busy a long time. Good Stuff.
We did all the 39 Clues last spring...surprisingly educational but maybe too scary. Reminds me of Magic Tree House for older kids.
We like buying Adventures in Odyssey for trips.
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I wasn't implying 60 was old in my post :) but it does mean she doesn't have young children at home, which is why I estimated her age :) My parents are in their 60's. But there is a certain tendency to get more set in your ways as you age. I've noticed it happening with my parents as well and they seem more inflexible, but not old. It baffles me that my own dad is almost 70. When I was young I thought that was SO old. :( Brownie
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Thank you for the suggested responses. I'm such a nitwit when it comes to responding in situation like this. I just smiled and laughed. No clue how to respond without sounding rude.
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OK - I'm feeling better - thanks :) I especially appreciate thinking about "wild" in a positive way. I don't usually use the word as anything but negative, but it's nice to put a positive spin on it. I AM proud my boys are active and energetic! I wish they would play outside MORE, not less! So I am moving on. I am a bit (lot) hormonal today and dh is traveling :( On edge and hoping to feel a little more confident tomorrow!
Brownie
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I hope it was just a passing comment, but it seemed rude. And I am oversensitive, because I worry about my kids' behavior. I am not content with how my kids behave overall...seriously a work in progress. Which is why I then start wondering if something is off between my perception of my kids and others' perception of my kids.
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I hope it was just a passing comment, but it seemed rude. And I am oversensitive, because I worry about my kids' behavior, which is why I then start wondering if something is off between my perception of my kids and others' perception of my kids.
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We were taking our 9AM scooter ride/walk around the block before we sat down to do math. It helps them settle down for school. We passed a neighbor I sort of know but haven't really spoken to in years. She lives at the opposite end of the street and she is probably 60 years old. She said "You've got some wild kids there." Now meanwhile I had been relishing the giggling and friendship I was hearing between the two boys. It was not any louder than giggling should be. I have been correcting them when they get too loud because it does make me anxious that they're playful yelling would draw neighbors to their windows during school hours. I explain that it is important we help give homeschoolers a good reputation and on our best behavior when out and about during school hours.
At first I just laughed it off, but as I continued walking started getting upset. Wild? If she had said I have my hands full that wouldn't have bothered me. After all, I do feel like I have my hands full. My calling as a mother is a busy one and an important one. But wild rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe she only raised girls. Maybe it was a commentary on the fact that they should have been in school. Maybe she's seen them before and it was a commentary on previous behavior. I don't know but I have been irritable about it the rest of the day, wondering what I did to deserve that comment. I do not often get negative comments about homeschooling so I am not used to it. I did think I heard her say something about school to her companion before she spoke to me, but it may have been my imagination.
I thought about snarky responses about how far ahead my kids are thanks to homeschooling.
I thought about saying at least they are not learning about oral *ex at the 3rd grade lunch table from the other boys (which did happen at our school). The look on her face would be priceless I'm sure.
I thought about pointing out that my kids are successful athletically, musically and socially, as well as academically.
And then I thought about inviting her over to see what we actually do...which filled me with dread and I don't know that I'd ever have the guts to do it because my kids are far from perfect, as is my housekeeping. But it would probably be the appropriate response. Hopefully it doesn't come up because I may not see her again for a year!
But I needed to get my frustration off my chest, and this is the only place I could really do it...so thanks for listening :)
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Well day 2 of the checkmark system and I only had to dole out 1 checkmark (and that was more for childish forgetfulness leading to disobedience) despite 1 child being a bit under the weather. Why can't I ever remember what worked last year! LOL. The exercise also puts everyone in a more joyful, cooperative mood. I actually enjoyed the day. Brownie
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So today was an improvement. We did a 1/2 mile scooter ride before starting and then again 2 hours later. We had tears over spelling again from the little guy and tears over science from the 10 year old. I implemented check marks for disobedience, angry voices, and crying over school work. Three check marks earned them a chore that took about 10 minutes after school, but was not a typical chore (cleaning up the laundry room and cleaning out my van). But wouldn't you know it...the little guy appears to be sick. He's still awake with a sick stomach and a trashcan at his side. Maybe this is partly about fatigue and illness.
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Thanks! I was feeling so discouraged. Now that it's Saturday and i've read all your ideas, I am feeling confident again that I can fix this. The first couple of weeks are always rough, but wow!
I know I clearly need to make some little changes to head off problems. I forgot i had used the little candies with my oldest years ago. I am going to try and split them up when possible, lock away the cat for subjects where their hands aren't occupied, and add in some exercise in the morning (I forgot that last year they would go outside to ride scooters before school started and then after an hour or 2 we took a bike ride!) I also like the idea of using the counter to stand at when I take his chair because that created an issue...it's hard to stand at a little kid's desk and still do your work but I needed another solution!
I know I do need to try harder to figure out how to get through to my little guy's learning style so he's less frustrated. I have an oldest in school who is ADHD so I get it...it's just the oldest sucked up most of my energy in the past where learning issues were concerned. The little guy is just crazy visual. I have to figure out how to help him tap into his strengths cause he's just not figuring it out on his own in subjects like spelling and grammar.
I still need discipline tactics. I will possibly go back to a 3 checkmarks system on the board. I need to enforce doing work in evenings or on weekend if we can't keep up. I find it hard to make them realize school will just take longer if they dilly dally or misbehave bc we don't really have a hard stop time. Sometimes things go faster than i allowed for and that's OK. sometimes they go longer and if the fault there is in my planning, i just extend it to the following day. So I don't feel like that is concrete for them like it would be if they were in school and had to bring homework home, but maybe if I have to stop a subject, I can just say it will get done after 3PM or on Saturday.
Of course, I realized as well after I posted on friday that the little guy was just exhausted :( He almost napped and then slept 12 hours last night, but of course he did not mention being tired until hours after melting down. So sleep is clearly an issue as well.
Thanks! Brownie
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Yes the placement tests. But if she's finished pre-algebra, you are going to be pretty far along. 4A gets pretty intense in my experience and that of others here. It covers order of operations, all 4 operations with fractions, multi-digit multiplication, negative numbers, area and perimeter of composite figures. Brownie
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I am so sad right now because I was really looking forward to this year. We are in year 5 of hsing and it has gone downhill fast this week (week 2). I am schooling a 5th and 3rd grader right now. Both kids have separately thrown complete tantrums today when they did not feel prepared for the day's spelling quiz. When I am talking they get up and leave, play with the cat, talk to one another, and generally are not focussed. I have used timeouts, loss of video games, pushups, delay of lunch until work is on track...I do not known what is going on but we are spiralling out of control.
The problem is mostly the 3rd grader who normally has the sweetest, hardest working disposition but CANNOT seem to sit still for school and is making me crazy! The chair is tipped back at a 45 degree angle, he is kicking against the desk with his foot, he's dying of thirst, he dropped his pencil, he fell out of his seat. Seriously! I can' take it! And before you ask, he is not ADHD...hyperactive and impetuous maybe but not ADHD. He loves to help, do manual labor, is sweet and incredibly organized and observant outside of school time, etc... He IS very visual spatial so maybe school is just draining for him? I don't know.
So my question is, how do you handle correcting behavior issues during homeschool? This is year 5 and I've never had this level of issues before. I've only used behavior charts or checkmarks on the board before and been fine most days.
Brownie
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What do you need to turn in to prove what you've accomplished? If it is just samples, can you speed through some "within scope" stuff and then do what you want the rest of the day? Just enough to convince them you've worked at grade level? Brownie
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Teaching the Classics is not IEW. In fact the 2 "Andrews" often work together on stuff. IEW is writing whereas TTC is literature analysis. Both are wonderful. You need to watch his DVD course. Then I would recommend buying a Ready Reader for the lowest age group to take you through some practice picture books. A kindergartener can certainly pick up on alliteration, rhyme schemes, etc...They can identify characters and setting. I've never done it with just a kid that age, but I guess my youngest was about that age when we started doing it as a family. Knowing the strategy can help you to introduce it as your child is ready in the normal course of doing read alouds.
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I'm looking at Ferret it Out for this year with ds8 and 10. ANyone done this one?
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So I checked out Under the Eagle at the library. I was excited because the reading level would provide an appropriate challenge for my 10 year old. It is an adult book. However, by the end of the first chapter I couldn't even read it. The F-word was rampant in addition to other inappropriate language and references to prostitution. Glad I started pre-reading it first! Brownie
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Gifted is gifted but 1) it gets harder to observe (can you point out which of you adult friends are "gifted"? They probably all read at the same level:) and 2) the issue I've noticed is that DS10's reading level has leveled out in practce(and ds12 before him) due to lack of appropriate popular literature to feed his voracious appetite. Nonetheless, the Explore test indicates he is above the 99.9%ile in reading. It's just not as apparent as when he was carrying around Harry Potter at 6 years old and everyone would comment.
Brownie
Pace to Eagle Scout
in The Chat Board
Posted
I am looking for advice on an appropriate pace toward Eagle Scout. Not the fast route...just appropriate to allow a good chance of success. DS just turned 13 and just earned 1st class. He crossed over 18 months ago. I believe he has 3 merit badges but he is on the cusp of/has completed 3 additional ones and just needs to get signed off. Only 1 of the 6 is a required eagle. By November he will have his 7th, putting him theorietically 1/3 toward the total.
Does this seem to be a safe pace? He has been given a hard time for not participating actively enough in the activities outside of meetings, but he has many other worthwhile activities we are not prepared to give up yet. Is the deadline your 18th birthday? That gives him 5 more years! DH is not optimistic but this seems like a good pace to me.
Thanks! Brownie