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SFKC

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  1. Just switched my signature over -- DD9 just returned to PS this month after a year and a half of homeschooling -- our reasons were primarily financial. I don't see us having the ability to homeschool again, anytime soon. They're in our first-choice public school -- ethnically and socio-economically diverse, with a strong community of engaged parents and a strong arts focus. Both girls had been in since K: we had pulled DD9 for third and fourth grade. Continuing the list of hands-down winners from our homeschooling time (see below) is my remedy for the trade-offs of large class sizes and standard curriculum. I look forward to checking into this afterschooling board frequently! Life of Fred Fractions/Decimals, Michael Clay Thompson Town series, Latina Christiana I, SOTW II
  2. ... for the link to history teachers on youtube. I've been viewing these clips with my kid, and haven't stopped laughing for an hour...Fantastic!
  3. For two reasons: We withdrew DD from PS after grade 2, and joined forces with a pretty creative group of moms who were on their second 4-yr rotation through history with their eldest. DD9 (now grade 4) is enjoying learning about the middle ages along with 7 other kids ranging from 7 - 12. Though we're behind the suggested four year rotations, I think the benefits of the group outweigh any costs... If there was not a group option, I still would have started with the ancients. It just makes sense. I may creatively incorporate early modern and modern in her 7th and 8th grade years in some way, but I'll deal with that later!
  4. We're an early start here -- so after morning activities are complete, from 9:00 - 9:30 we toggle: Run around the block together (means mom has her tennies and jog bra at the ready) or yoga and meditation (using an iPhone meditation app and a fabulous poster of positions from "Laughing Lotus Yoga" here in SF) http://sf.laughinglotus.com/ These are LIFESAVERS! Also, frequent snacking. Astounding what a stack of sunflower seeds on hand can produce is this what they call "over share"... ?
  5. I love the Great Scientist Series mentioned above! This may also be useful: Our History co-op has expanded to science and history for this year, and each Wednesday's meeting will toggle between the two: chapters/activities from SOTW II, and Astronomy/Earth Science experiments and field trips. To prep, I picked up VanCleave's Scientists through the Ages, as well as Allaby/Gjertsen's Makers of Science from the library, and noted which scientists were either mentioned or covered in detail. (These are from Ancient Times and Middle Ages only, but they may still be helpful!) Here they are, in list form – including birth/death dates. Apologies for misspellings...! Makers of Science: Allaby/Gjertsen 384-322 BCE, Aristotle 1473-1543, Nicolaus Copernicus 1564-1642, Galileo Galilei 1571-1630, Johannes Kepler 1578-1657, William Harvey 1642-1727, Isaac Newton 1707-1778, Carolus Linnaeus 1743-1794, Antoine Lavoisier Scientists Through the Ages: VanCleave 625?-?546 BCE, Thales 460?-370? BCE, Democritus 450-370 BCE, Leucippus 384-322 BCE, Aristotle 372?-287? BCE, Theophrastus 287-212 BCE, Archimedes 190-120 BCE, Hipparchus 100-170, Claudius Ptolemy 965-1039, Alhazen 1452-1519, Leonardo da Vinci 1473-1543, Nicolaus Copernicus 1544-1603, William Gilbert 1546-1601, Tycho Brahe 1564-1642, Galileo Galilei 1571-1630, Johannes Kepler 1602-1686, Otto von Guericke 1622-1703, Vincenzo Viviani 1623-1662, Blaise Pascal 1627-1691, Robert Boyle 1629-1695, Christiaan Huygens 1632-1723, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek 1635-1682, Johann Becher 1635-1703, Robert Hooke 1642-1727, Sir Isaac Newton 1660-1734, Grorg Stahl 1686-1736, Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit 1701-1744, Anders Celsius
  6. Knowing the program was developed for older kids, I'm still going to try as much as I can with my science lovin’ incoming fourth grader. In terms of cost: I ordered the first two sets of student/teacher quest guides (along with all three main books) at a DEEP discount. Check out this earlier WTM post: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186055&highlight=joy+hakim+science
  7. We combined MCT's Classic Word List, the Princeton Review GRE prep word list, and the occasional "word of the day" calendar entry to make a list of fun words for the year. I redesigned a worksheet I found online and have my daughter fill it out weekly: it requires dictionary look-up, synonym/antonym, "use in a sentence" and BONUS: there's a spot for an illustration. We're doing the Voyage level of MCT this year, and Caesar's English will play a big role. But this is a fun supplemental activity. I can't attach the pdf to this post, but if you want it, pm me your email address. KC
  8. Has anyone actually "scheduled" this? I just want a sense of how to pace it. My 8 year old would do this all day if we didn't have more than a few other items on the to do list... Thanks in advance!
  9. http://www.rfwp.com/3994.htm This is a guide to literary terms, so it's not exactly what you're asking for. But since it covers film studies and media literacy, it may be helpful to you and your group. You can view sample pages and the TOC online. Here is the description on the website: " The authors describe this useful handbook as a 'toolbox' of vocabulary for literary analysis. They list and define hundreds of terms that are used to study and appreciate literature and give wide-ranging examples of where they occur. The sections cover: the forms and genres of literature, an introduction to style, Literary Movements and Periods, film studies and media literacy. There is a comprehensive index making the book an ideal handbook for students of English Literature. Sample pages show you the Table of Contents, Introduction to Style section and the Index to indicate the coverage of the book. "
  10. I agree with above posts -- we're happy with the daily list process too. One thing to add: Once in a while my kid is inspired to write a paragraph using every word in that day's list. These pieces won't win Pulitzers, but I figure they're good spelling reinforcement (and great for a laugh).
  11. Good point, quiverfull (!) Excellent suggestion ElizabethB (!) I sent notes last week to a couple of authors/companies to see if they are planning to produce posters. (Wouldn't want to offend or get into copyright trouble.) If they were not planning to, I hoped to receive permission. They'd receive full credit, no money would change hands ... No word yet. Hearing of Brunner's materials / understanding that they are tied into ABC's and All Their Tricks (by several accounts, a terrific resource!) is exciting. Does anyone own this? Have opinions? KC
  12. A poster like this would fill a bit of a gap around here -- my kids and I aren't built for the rigor of Riggs or SWR. Though we love Spelling Power and MCT, and do an outside writing course, I think we need a more visible reminder of spelling rules and phonograms to round out our LA program. It's funny, my background is in design and I'm ending up creating a lot of the tools we need if I don't see things out there that fit the bill. I'm sure I'm not alone... Give me a bit of time and I'll post a link to a downloadable pdf for y'all in a future reply, fully crediting the source(s), of course! KC
  13. My science-minded fourth grader is going to love this series. And I am impressed with the turnkey Teacher and Student quest guides -- comprehensive, multidisciplinary, easy-to-follow units built around the Aristotle and Newton Hakim chapters. Lesson plans? Check! Aristotle would be great to use in conjunction with (or shortly following) the ancient history year. Our history group used SOTW1 as a spine this past year, so the historical groundwork is laid. Thanks again for the heads up on this sale, Scrapbabe! KC
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