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lbell

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Everything posted by lbell

  1. Mr. Althage is a favorite of the students I know. Mr. Bradley, who is teaching Logic 2 next year, is also a favorite. My daughter did Logic 2 (Mr. Vierra), Rhetoric 1 (Mr. Colvin), and Rhetoric 2 with senior thesis (Mr. Vierra) at WHA. All of the classes and teachers were fabulous. I would definitely recommend doing a senior thesis. It was a growing experience that put her ahead of her peers in college. AP Art with Mr. Colvin was also a highlight of her senior year as well as Modern Literature & Thought with Mrs. Crawford.
  2. I've heard great things about Galloway and Tuin for Physics 1.
  3. Has anyone taken Formal Logic at Schole Academy this year with Mr. Schambach, Mr. Bradshaw, or Mr. Quinodoz? I'd love to hear reviews of the class and teachers.
  4. Has anyone taken Geometry at Schole Academy this year with Mr. Bradshaw? I'd love to hear reviews of the class.
  5. This was not our experience at WHA, but my daughter's teacher is no longer teacher there. Mrs. Paul was her teacher for Physics 1 at WHA, and they did an enormous amount of math. She also learned to write amazing lab reports.
  6. My daughter has done all her science classes at WHA. She started in 9th grade with Physics 1. In 10th grade she did Honors Chemistry. This year she is doing AP Biology. The thing I like about doing Physics 1 in 9th grade is the algebra-based math. 9th grade is usually the year of geometry for math, so it helps keep algebra skills sharp. I also like that that Novarre science is mastery based. My daughter still remembers the formulas from Physics 1 and enjoyed it so much that she is choosing to do Physics 2 next year as a senior.
  7. Regarding submitting work, I choose to correct the homework assignments with my son instead of having him self-check. He then makes corrections and highlights any questions he has. Each class begins with a quiz that covers answers they got in the homework and is followed by students questions and review. Students are also involved in working problems during class. The Waucom tablet is recommended, but if you have an iPad it works better because it mirrors the computer screen which my son finds easier to use. The writing is also neater and more ledgible. (My son uses a $10 stylus from Amazon.) I downloaded the app Astropad for $29.99 on the iPad and then downloaded the computer version for the iMac. (Astropad only works with Apple computers.) Duet Display is cheaper and is designed to work with Apple or Windows computers but after a couple hours of troubleshooting, I never had success getting it to work. I need to call the company and get help, but I haven't taken the time. Astropad was more expensive, but I had it downloading and working in minutes. It also allows the iPad to connect wirelessly which is convenient.
  8. Sorry for the delay in responding. I have not been able to log onto this website for some reason... The math load of Math 6 is very manageable. They do a mixture of problems from the textbook and pages in the extra practice book. The word problems are the toughest (and my son's weakness) and the reason I decided to try Math 6 which uses Math in Focus. I thought the 1.5 hr math classes may be too long, but my son stays engaged and never complains. The teacher is encouraging and fun. The only thing I don't like about Math in Focus is that there is only review at the end of a chapter and a cumulative review at the end of each book. I'm used to a spiral curriculum. There are tests at the end of each of each chapter. Sometimes the teacher grades them and sometimes parents do and report the grade to the teacher. Tests are about every 2 weeks and are usually open notes and open book. It has been a good learning experience for my son to search the chapter for help during a test. It's usually the word problems that require him to do so. On his first test, he ignored using his book for help and missed several problems. I let the teacher know and she emailed him the page numbers and problems to look at in the book for each of the problems he got wrong on the test, and she encouraged him to resubmit his test. The teacher is very responsive to emails and encourages the students to contact her with questions.
  9. LA1 is the introductory level in this sequence, typically appropriate for 5th graders or advanced 4th graders. Throughout the year, discussions, debates, and projects will assist the students, and encourage a love of reading as they connect personally to the unique characters and storylines. Poetry, memory work, dictation, and copywork are incorporated weekly, providing opportunities for the students to be involved in the class in a myriad of ways. As biblical truths are discussed and identified within each story and its characters, students are encouraged to share how this impacts their daily lives. The Grammar & Writing curriculum is available as a PDF for downloading. Typical Reading: The Trumpet of the Swan, E. B. White Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster Old Yeller, Fred Gipson Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Robert C. O’Brien Just So Stories, Rudyard Kipling Prince Caspian, CS Lewis The Sign of the Beaver, Elizabeth George Speare There is a grammar test for LA 1, 2 & 3 at WHA. It doesn't make you ineligible to take the class, but it helps parents know what they need to work on during the summer to help prepare for the class they chose, or they can switch to a different class. I have a friend with a gifted 5th grade girl who left private school this year and did LA2. She said LA2 has really challenged her. Regarding LA1, I don't think you need to add more literature. More is not always better and limits the depth you can go into for each book. If you find you need more reading, Veritas Press Self-paced has suggested books that go with the lessons. I don't know what age you are able to start the WHA Fundamentals of Western Civ. They have added some elementary history courses, but I'd do Veritas Press self-paced instead. They are fun and the kids learn so much. For me, history and science are the "candy" of our curriculum. I try to make choices that will be fun at this level. I really focus on reading, writing & math. My son learned to like writing with Writing & Rhetoric. HE doesn't want to stop that curriculum because he loves the stories they read and write about. He still doesn't read for pleasure, but he likes the books and discussions about them in LA3, and I like that dication, copywork, vocabulary, grammar, recitations & writing are all tied to the literature they are reading and woven together. He is doing more in LA2 than I could have ever gotten him to do. I have learned with my high school daughter, to try and do Algebra 1 in 8th grade to be on track for college entrance exams. She ended up doing two maths in one year to get caught up. Many families are more laid back about math, but I don't want to limit college choices because I didn't stress the importance of pursuing high mathematics. If your child isn't developmentally ready, however, you shouldn't push. If they are just lazy...that's another story. My son leans toward lazy. That's why I am so exited about the Pre-Algebra teacher at Schole Academy. Dr. Riley addresses character development and the sin of being slothful. She also celebrates failure because it's the first step to success. She may have some helpful advice on elementary curriculum.https://www.scholeacademy.com/open-house/
  10. Incase anyone is interested in Touch-type Read and Spell. Homeschool buyers Co-op offers it at a significant discount. https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/touchtypereadspell/?source=taf-cp
  11. kelly songer

     

  12. Like your son, I enrolled my son in online classes because he needed to be pushed. My son is in 6th grade this year. He is doing both W&R 3 and LA2 this year. They go so well together. He is also doing Math 6 at WHA and Spanish 2B at Schole Academy. LA at WHA has the literature & grammar I was looking for because my son is a reluctant reader and needed some competition and someone else to be accountable to. The writing is completely different from W&R, but uses some of the same concepts. I was a little concerned about LA being 1.5 hours long, but he is completely engaged and the time flies by. My son is going to continue with LA3 and W&R4 because they are both fabulous and I feel it is beneficial to do more writing. Personally, I'd do both instead of adding online science. My son had Mrs. McGahey this year who is energetic, encouraging, and knowledgeable. One thing I would do different in 6th grade is to enroll my son in Fundamentals of Latin at WHA instead of Spanish 2B. I have heard Kelly Songer is a fun teacher. Veritas Press Self-paced history and Bible are wonderful. My son started them in 3rd grade and did them year round, even on weekends. I just kept buying them during sales and he had them all completed by September 2018. He loved to do them while he was eating breakfast, and I loved listening to them while I cooked and cleaned up. If you are starting in 5th grade, I'd start with his interest. My son's favorite was Old Testament & Ancient Egypt. Julie Etter at WHA teaches Fundamentals of Western Civilization which covers all the VP history levels so if you don't have time for history you can catch up. I have a friend's daughter who is taking it this year in 7th grade and LOVES it. If you think your son will be ready for The Great Conversations 1 in 7th grade, I'd take her class in 6th grade. I'm going to have my son to Omnibus 1 Primary (Veritas Press self-paced) and not add any writing assignments because he is taking two writing classes next year. My daughter is in high school and has taken the high school level The Great Conversations classes and can't fathom doing them self-paced. I just don't know if he's ready and it's cheaper to do Omnibus self-paced for the exposure until he is ready for live. We used an online self-paced science curriculum I highly recommend - Experience Astronomy https://experienceastronomy.com We are going to do https://www.scienceondemand.info with Catie Frates next year. Catie is a creation scientist. She is passionate about science and a lot of fun to listen to. I'm not a fan of Math-u-see, but many parents like it for their children if they are not STEM bound. I know several families that are redoing Algebra 1 & 2 in high school after using Math-U-See. I haven't found any math curriculum I totally love though. Math 6 at WHA has been a challenge for my son, but he needed it and will be well prepared for pre-algebra next year. I am really excited about Pre-Algebra at Schole Academy next year though. Eric Reini at WHA is great, but I like that the Schole Academy class is 3 times a week and I think the teacher will be a good fit. I did not do formal spelling this year. Instead he is doing Touch-type Read and Spell https://www.ttrsonline.com/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fDashboard
  13. My daughter greatly enjoys Mr. Vierra as a teacher, however, she also has Mr. Colvin this year and is really enjoying Rhetoric 1 with him. She is planning to take AP Art History with him next year because she likes his teaching style so well.
  14. Eric Reini at Wilson Hill Academy makes math class fun. I was planning on my son taking pre-algebra with him next year until I attended the open house for Schole Academy. My son is very gifted but lazy. I like how the pre-algebra teacher at Schole Academy addresses sloth, perseverance, learning from mistakes, and the importance of showing work. It also meets 3 times a week for about 1 hour a session rather than twice a week for 1.5 hours.
  15. Anyone have a student take the Programming Harmony class at Schole Academy?
  16. My daughter jumped into TGC in 9th grade and she thinks her younger brother should start in 7th grade. I don't think he is ready to discuss the books in depth, so I'm going to have him do self-paced Omnibus 1. I think the live classes are better for students at the rhetoric level. I'd highly recommend starting with TGC 3 with Mr. Etter. It's not an honors level class and Mr. Etter's passion for literature & learning is infectious, and I think it's good to take it with their writing class. My daughter's favorite year so far has been TGC 5 with Mr. Martin. She will take TGC 6 next year.
  17. Thank you so much giving info about TGC1. It confirms that my son is not ready for the live course. I am going to try Omnibus 1 primary since we can go at our own pace.
  18. Has anyone taken AP Statistics with Mr. Reini? My daughter enjoyed her Alg. 2 class with him, but I want to know if there is good prep for AP test.
  19. WHA does not consider TGC1 a high school level class because they have tailored it to make it more appropriate for MS students. My daughter started with TGC 1+4 in 9th grade. How is TGC1 going? My son will be in 7th grade next year and I'm trying to decided if he should do the live GC1 or the self-paced Omnibus 1. I plan for him to take LA3 at WHA and Latin 1, Writing & Rhetoric 4, and Pre-Algebra at Schole Academy. I fear another online class will be too much. If you think it's a lot better than the self-paced Omnibus 1, however, we can drop Writing & Rhetoric 4.
  20. Here is a description of what LA2 is like: Day 1 - Dictation, go over vocabulary homework, Classroom Connection grammar/capitalizaion/etc. lesson (students finish the lesson for homework) Day 2 - Dictation, discuss the literature, Classroom Connection review & go over writing assignment Homework due on Saturdays at 11:59pm 1. Dictation (done in class) & copywork - Parents checks 2. Practical Practice - open book quiz that has them do exercises that cover grammar/Cap rules learned/reviewed in class. My son does this on Friday 3. Recitation project - they have about 3-4 weeks to memorize a poem. Recitation Project #1: "Lady Moon, Lady Moon" by Lord Houghton due at the end of week 3 Recitation Project #2: "The Secret" Anonymous due at the end of week 6 Recitation Project #3: Psalm 24 (any version) due at the end of week 10 Recitation Project #4: "If" by Rudyard Kipling due at the end of week 17 Recitation Project #5 Part 1: Romans 12:1-8 (any version) due at the end of week 22 Recitation Project #5 Part 2: Romans 12:9-21(any version) due at the end of week 27 Recitation Project #6: "Nobility" by Alice Cary due at the end of week 34 4. Dynamic Discussion - write a response about the literature and respond to a classmate (very specific directions given each week) 5. Writing Project - The writing Projects didn't start until week 5. All the assignments have the students practice concepts being learned in class. There are detailed directions that I did not include. The Dynamic Discussions have students respond to at least one classmate. Weeks 1 - Dynamic Discussion 1 - Write a paragraph about yourself with no help. 2 - Dynamic Discussion 2 - A Wrinkle in Time Chapter Summary 3 - Dynamic Discussion 3 - A Wrinkle in Time - Pick a charter from the story but don't reveal the name. Descript the charter and post. Let classmates guess who it is. 4 - Test #1 5 - Dynamic Discussion 5 - Write a response to the following questions. You must use at least six sentences. Be sure to give evidence from the book to support your answer. Do you feel sorry for Colin or do you think he is just spoiled and selfish? Why do you think Mary can make Colin settle down when nobody else can 5 - Writing Project 1 - Telling & Showing Sentences - Change the provided telling sentences to showing sentences 6 - Dynamic Discussion 6 - Figurative Language - Find a sample from the literature and write a paragraph that answers these questions: 1. What were the two things being compared?2. Why do you think the author chose to compare these two things? 3. What imagery, including appeal to all senses, did this metaphor/simile help create in your mind? 4. What would have been a BORING way of saying the same thing? 7 - Dynamic Discussion - Bandit or Hero -After reading the first two chapters of The Bronze Bow, answer the following prompt/question with no less than 3 thoughtful sentences. 7 - Writing Project 2 - Setting Description First Draft - Choose a picture and write a paragraph describing it. remember to "show" not "tell". 8 - Test #2 8 - Writing Project #2 Final Draft 9 - Writing Project #3- Create your own Character using a planning sheet 9 - Dynamic Discussion #9 - Figurtive Language in the Bronze Bow: Find a sample from the literature and write a paragraph that answers questions listed 10 - Writing Project #3 - Character description paragraph First Draft 10 - Dynamic Discussion #10 - One summary from the Bronze Bow 12 - Writing Project #3 - Character description paragraph Final Draft 12 - Dynamic Discussion #12 - For this discussion, write a 6 to 8 sentence paragraph about the ideas of thankfulness, discontentment, and meditation on scripture. You must also include a Bible verse that relates to the topic in addition to your 6 to 8 sentences. 13 - Dynamic Discussiont #13 - Character Dialogue - Create a dialogue between the character you created and a character from one of the books we have read in class and post it for peer review. First say something that the classmate did well. If you see a way to correct something, you may share that information in a helpful and gracious way. You may only share one or two corrections. 14 - Writing Project #4 - Character Dialogue - Create a dialogue between the character you created and a character from one of the books we have read in class - Final Draft
  21. My 6th grade son is presently in LA2 at WHA. Can anyone give me info of LA3? I'd like to know homework load and what is covered in the class. My son is also taking Writing & Rhetoric at Schole Academy. I'm trying to determine if he should do both writing classes again next year. He will probably do Omnibus Primary 1 self-paced instead of The Great Conversations 1 at WHA if he does the two writing classes. He will also take an online math course and an online Latin course. Has anyone had a child in Fundamentals of Latin at WHA. My son has taken two year of Spanish at Schole Academy, but he hasn't had any Latin yet.
  22. Yes, the Writing Projects and Dynamic Discussions continue all year. Here is a list of the recitation projects. List of Recitation Projects and Due Dates Subject to change. Recitation Project #1: "Lady Moon, Lady Moon" by Lord Houghton due at the end of week 3 Recitation Project #2: "The Secret" Anonymous due at the end of week 6 Recitation Project #3: Psalm 24 (any version) due at the end of week 10 Recitation Project #4: "If" by Rudyard Kipling due at the end of week 17 Recitation Project #5 Part 1: Romans 12:1-8 (any version) due at the end of week 22 Recitation Project #5 Part 2: Romans 12:9-21(any version) due at the end of week 27 Recitation Project #6: "Nobility" by Alice Cary due at the end of week 34
  23. My son ranks W&R above LA2 because LA2 is a lot more work (copy work, dictation, reading, summarizing, writing projects, grammar). It's everything he needs, but he likes the stories in W&R and only having one assignment. I am trying to decide if he will do LA3 at WHA as well as W&R 4 next year. They are very different but go so well together. I'm just not sure if he can handle the addition of The Grear Conversations 1 or Omnibus 1 self-paced with it.
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