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mamawaabangi

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Posts posted by mamawaabangi

  1. Hey there, I'm trying to get some ideas here... I am pondering if I should start a co-op in our local area... we have many hybrid schooling options (shared school) and a local area CC... but NO independent co-ops. I think there is room and need for one.

     

     

    Some questions I have...

     

    What is covered in your co-op curriculum/subjects?

     

    Are there subjects or classes you wish were covered?

     

    How often do you meet and for how long (hours)?

     

    Do you pay for the service? If so, how much?

     

    Where do you meet? (a church, school. community center?)

     

    Is it a drop off or parent participated program? And what would you prefer?

     

    What is done to manage non-school aged siblings? 

     

    Have you encountered problems while attending? How could those be avoided?

     

    What's the best thing about it in your experience?

     

    Are there other things you think I need to know?

     

     

     

  2. What I like about CC:

    - the opportunity to do things in groups, discussions, debate, just getting to work out social things

    - the curriculum seems very straight forward and do-able

    - the focus on excellence and also how they map out the scope and sequence for credit purposes

     

    I know good education costs something, but we will be paying around $6000 for 5 years in a row (when our 4 who are close in age are all in) ... and I don't want to be a tutor. I have littles at home who need me to teach them too. I know poeple need to be paid for their time, but I just can't fathom on our support raising budget hacking that. 

     

    I am processing what doing a co-op would take... 

    Anyone done this for older kids? If so, what did it look like? Did is cost anything? Who taught/lead?

    Things like:

    - Debate

    - Chess club

    - Literature club

    - Shakespearean reads

     

    Other ideas, please! 

     

    I should add that we live in a place where there is not many (non-school) co-op options other than CC or shared schooling.

     

  3. So, I love the idea of CC's challenge program (love the forum, curriculum and what they do) for my 12 year old. But we are painfully uncomfortable with the cost... especially given that we have 7 children... just punching the numbers makes me nauseous... we are talking like close to $100k by the time we get all of our 7 kids through it. And we don't want to start for one what we can't provide for later ones. 

     

    That said, does anyone know of any similar type programs or have ideas about planning/forming something similar? I don't want to steal or use CC's model, but just trying to find a way to benefit my children, without putting us in the poor house. 

  4. My son really liked Number the Stars and The Breadwinner, both of which surprised me, because the protagonists are girls in both, and I didn't expect him to connect with them.  You never know!

     

    I'm planning on reading The Breadwinner, but some say it's a hard/discouraging read... did you see any evidence of this or did your son act disturbed by it? 

  5. I wanted to leave our book list that we used this year... because I know it takes SO much time to find great books. 

    Sorry, not enough time to put author's names... and MANY of these were hand-me-downs and I used them despite them probably not being my TOP choice... But, I'll mark my favorites with an *

     

    American Pioneers and Patriots

    Pocahontas *

    Jamestown

    The Sword of the Samurai *

    Squanto

    Pilgrim Stories *

    The Village that Vanished *

    If You Lived in Colonial Times

    Rama and Sita *

    The Courage of Sarah Noble *

    Bears on Hemlock Mnt. *

    Three Musketeers

    Grimm Fairytales 

    Diary of Sally Wister - Colonial Quaker Girl *

    Child Life in Colonial Days

    Peter the Great

    Diary of an Early American Boy * (SOOOOO good!)

    Franklin’s Boyhood in Boston

    Sign of the Beaver *

    Paul Revere *

    The Winter at Valley Forge

    Sam the Minuteman

    If You Were There When the Constitution was Signed

    George Washington

    Captains Courageous

    Samantha Learns a Lesson

    Lewis and Clark 

    By Dawn’s Early Light *

    Huckleberry Finn (youth version)

    Harriet Tubman

    The Story of the Alamo

    Davy Crockett

    The Great Horn Spoon*

  6. Here is our current list... but I'm struggling to know where to put things. It seems like many of the chapters cover several location/events/topics and are more chronological... is this true?

    Most of these books I already have, so I'm attempting to fit several of them in... but not having done vol. 4 yet I don't know. 

     

     

    A Little Princess 

    Meet Addy 

    If You Grew Up with Abraham Lincoln

    If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War

    Anne of Green Gables

    Little House on the Prairie

    A Question of Yams (not sure where to put this ... maybe Chapter #11: The Very Far Parts of the World)

    Under the Hawthrone Tree

    If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon

    Thunder Rolling in the Mountains

    Lon Po Po

    The House on Walenska Street (not sure about this, I just have this book and want to fit it in)

    Day of the Blizzard (not sure about this, I just have this book and want to fit it in)

    No Mountain too High - Gladys Aylward or Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime 

    Meet Kit

    Mary on Horseback

    Number the Stars

    Snow Treasure

    The Battle for Iwo Jima

    Unbroken (youth addition)

    Hello Maggie!

    The Year of Miss Agnes

    The Story of Ruby Bridges

    The Breadwinner

    George Washington Carver: The Man who Overcame (not sure about this, I just have this book and want to fit it in)

    Hero Tales

    The Apothecary

     

    Any other books you just LOVE and fit perfectly with a given chapter that you couldn't do with out??? 

     

  7. Yes! Exactly what I'm looking for. I love that it's about reflecting beauty. In her book she calls it a liturgy of love... and that's what I'm looking for. 

     

    I'm thinking of doing a 4-year plan on different topics... next year I've planned poetry and great thoughts (quotes).

    I plan on doing the poetry, English from the Roots Up, our writing/grammar time, a great art masterpiece study and recitation or discussion.

    It will be more of a "humanities" theme. Our worship/bible time we sing and do hymn studies.

     

    I'll look into the Philosophy for Kids! Thanks!

    • Like 1
  8. NO! There is no way we even got close to listening to them all, its just supplemental. Generally, we do our SOTW listening on Mondays and then at lunch time we listen to selected parts of the ones on the list, (or while cleaning up or working around the house).

     

    Sometimes I can't stand the reader, or the kids don't understand the book... so it gets turned off or we move on. BUT, some are wonderful and we really benefit from them. 

    • Like 1
  9. Could you all please share your favorite literature picks for SOTW 4... Victoria thru End of Cold War.

     

    Age levels... 5-11... but targeting the 3rd - 6th grade levels more.

    Most of the time I'll be reading aloud, but it's nice to have some that can be read by my 5th grader and 3rd graders.

     

    Thanks a bunch for sharing!!! 

     

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  10. The book "Boundaries" by Henry Cloud is a very good read.

     

    It isn't your job to please your mom, it is your job to be honest/loving and to do what you know is right. A vacay as a nuclear family is normal. You don't even have to explain yourself in this. Just tell her this is what you've decided to do. "Hey mom, we are going on a trip from x-y. Could you make sure and get the mail in, water the plants, feed the pets for me?" (No more explanation is needed).

     

    If she is offended that isn't your problem, she's got to deal and process that on her own.

     

    There is probably a reason why she hasn't had a relationship in so many years... I wouldn't let that become your burden.

    Hugs and take courage. This may make things better for you all. Sometimes confrontation or events help define things.

     

    • Like 34
  11. I'm beginning picking up pieces of literature to include in our plan for SOTW #3...

     

    I'm pretty set for all the American History portions ... Jamestown, Pocahontas, Pilgrims, George Washington, Revolutionary War, Alamo, Abolitionists.

     

    I just dont have many pieces of literature that  cover or are placed in this time period in the rest of the world...

    I'd particularly like ideas for the following events... not that they need to cover the events, but be pieces of lit that some how are connected or written during the times.

     

    I am looking to keep it interesting for children between 6 and 10 years of age... shorter or chapter books are fine.

     

    - Japan's Greatest Leader or Japan's Isolation

    - The Sun King of France

    - Napoleon

    - Lewis and Clark ... having trouble picking the "best" on this topic

     

    OR any other books you liked REALLY well...

     

    Thanks for the help! 

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