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There'sNoPlaceLikeHome

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    Kansas
  1. I am thinking about taking next year to focus primarily on early US history (Colonies to the Gold Rush) with my middle school kids. What world history events and people do I HAVE to make sure to cover so that they are prepared when we go back to world history the following year (US Civil War to the present)? Thank you! :001_smile:
  2. We had the same experience with my twins when they switched to Saxon 5/4. My dd didn't even get through it. But, this year my son went on to 6/5 and had an average test score of 85%. His standardized test scores had gone up significantly after 5/4, but this year he scored at the 99% in the math problem solving section! He actually enjoyed math this year and got his work done much more quickly. We made several changes this year: I stopped making him use the math facts timed tests. (Instead we did online practice.) I stopped making him do the warm-up box and the lesson practice. I had him correct his own daily assignments. All of these were suggestions I read on Art Reed's website for teaching Saxon. They made a huge difference. Also, we use the DIVE instructional videos. You might consider them at least as a back-up to help with lessons they are struggling to understand if you do go back to Saxon. Almost never did my son need to come to me for help with his math this year. The few times he missed a new concept, I discovered that he was distracted during his video. After rewatching it, he got it.
  3. Heidi said: You know, I wouldn't be able to accomplish much if my kids didn't help me out with the house and the babies... Anyway, you've got some helpers there. Train them to help. Yes to this!!! Some of the resources from Titus2.com have been helpful for me. I learned to schedule my life with Managers of Their Homes. I don't follow it exactly now, but I still definitely have a clear schedule. You know what I have found? The older my kids have gotten the more important a schedule is for our family. We have five schooling now and a baby. I can't imagine trying to get school accomplished without a schedule. I am so prone to just skip it or forget it if it isn't in the schedule. If you don't do school in the summer, it is a great time to teach chores, make chore assignments, and make a schedule for next year. We have also grouped our students for teaching times whenever possible. Our second grader listened in to our fifth grade grammar class, did most of the assignments, and scored in the 90%'s on all the tests. History and science can definitely be done together. Using video to teach math has also been a huge time-saver. The question of whether or not you are doing enough is a personal decision, but I think it is better to make that decision before the school year begins, not in the middle of a tiresome day. If you feel you need to add more, then plan when and how you will accomplish it. Even if you don't want to add anything at this time, learning to live by a schedule can help you get more accomplished in less time, and can help everyone feel better. Be realistic in your planning, or you will never follow through. Then figure out how you are going to hold yourself and your dc accountable. Perhaps weekly assignment sheets printed at the beginning of the school year would help. We have assignment sheets with all the daily assignments or lessons written on them and a place for the dc to check them off when they are finished. You might also post the daily schedule in a prominent place. I have also used reminder apps that alarm when it is time for me to move on to the next lesson. It forced me to mark off the lessons as we finished them. A schedule is a tool, not a master, and there are certainly times we have skipped lessons because of life's interruptions (which I believe are really part of God's schedule, anyway). But, we are much more disciplined to accomplish what we intend to accomplish with a schedule.
  4. It is amazing how much of a whiner I can be at times, too- especially if I have a child that is complaining, arguing, or not being diligent in his work. I am so thankful my family is gracious in the way that they respond to my complaining! In our house complainers recite a verse of Scripture: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God." Then, they will name three things they are thankful for loud enough for all those who heard them complaining to hear them thanking the Lord. I am just not always diligent enough to remember to do this before I complain about the complaining!!! As to the motivation issue...we are also praying for one of our sons to begin to care about his work. For us, we ultimately want him to be motivated to do what he does for the glory of God, not for selfish gain and not out of fear of pain. But, as of yet, he does not have that. So, we simply tell him what is expected and keep putting his nose to the grind stone until it is finished. I believe it is the Lord's work to change the heart.
  5. We have used ABeka Testing for the Stanford 10 (SAT) for the last two years. Each student must have his own computer and each grade level must have a separate phone line for the entire test. A proctor administers the test to students over a conference call. It runs M-F mornings, twice per year. ABeka also has Iowa Basics, but we have never used that test.
  6. Yes! That is a great idea! I was just reading about some of the books that SWB recommends in the post mentioned above!
  7. Okay, I am having the same problem... So I will post a few times!
  8. Thank you! I have gotten the middle school lecture and am working my way through it. Great suggestion. :) Jessica from Kansas
  9. Hi! I am Jessica from KS, and this is (sort of) a x-post. I will be starting WWS1 with my dd11, ds11, and dd10 in a few weeks. After scouring the posts about WWS for a while, I have realized that I need to educate myself on 'the big picture' when it comes to writing! I think I need something that will give me a quick overview of the goals, styles, and perspectives on writing and something deeper that may take a while to digest. Jessica from KS
  10. Ruth (and anyone else who cares to jump in), Hi! First, let me just introduce myself-- I am Jessica from KS, and I have posted here a few times several years ago, but have lost my login and no longer have the old e-mail I used to sign up, so I am back with a new name. =) I hope you don't mind me resurrecting this post! Perhaps I need to start a new thread... Anyway, I am about to start WWS1 with my DS11, DD11, and DD10. I love what you said here about giving your kids the big picture. I would love to do the same! However, as of yet, I have no knowledge to pass on to them! Where do I begin? Do you have any suggestions as to what I might read to give me a good overview of "what exactly the goal of expository writing" is, etc.? Perhaps there is a book or website that would give me this background. We will be starting with WWS in just a few weeks, so I would love to find something that would give me a quick overview and then maybe something that I could soak in for a while as we are moving through WWS to get a deeper understanding. THANK YOU!!! Jessica (from Kansas)
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