Stacey in MA
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Posts posted by Stacey in MA
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He does it 2x/week, alternating with Latin on the other 2x/week. He does it for about 45 min. a sitting. It has worked nicely, and I noticed over the year that he was naming things in Spanish as we were out and about, at the grocery store, etc.! It also nicely matched up to our Latin studies. As we'd be learning a word in Latin, he often already knew it in Spanish! Very cool....
GL and have fun!
- Stacey
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All of your comments were helpful! (I knew the hive would have something for me! ;-))
FYI, we did have a funeral mass for the funeral, and there were no "charges" for that, the Priest, or the musicians. My MIL waswondering if she was supposed to tip everyone or not! Oh, so confusing, and yet another issue. At my lutheran church there is actually a fee schedule for weddings and funerals and such- most of which have to do with the cost of turning on the utilities and also paying the organist (who's salaried for some things but paid per diem for extra events).
Anyway... MIL says she is comfortable enough w/ the church secretary, and will call or go in to chat some more w/ her (she has already, but she doesn't always "get" it the first time around, KWIM?)
Thanks again everyone!
- stacey
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Hi all -
I can't find this info online anywhere quickly, so I thought all of you wise folkk may have an idea...
My catholic FIL passed away last week. Someone planted the idea into my MIL's head of a memorial gift to the church in his memory. She is so confused about this, and getting aggitated! I think at first she thought it was some type of fee or expense (aiy,aiy!). She sees it as another thing she needs to take care of, but can't find info onit. I have tried to explain that it is voluntary but honestly I don't know what is customary for Caholics. She's embarassed/uncomfortable to ask the priest (she's not Catholic), yet wants to do what is tradtional in general, and specifically for Catholics since FIL was.
So my questions: is it pretty much a given that when a caholic dies, some honorary gift to the church should be made - is that customary? And....(the big one)...How much? She mentioned something about $25, but I'm pretty sure these things are usually bigger - $500? More?
Ugh, sometimes I feel like such a little kid, not knowing things I probably should....
Anyway, any help appreciated. And pls forgive my spelling as I only have Internet on my phone presently! ;-)
- stacey in ma
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We haven't officially started DS11 on Saxon. I have it, and we'll be starting in Sept. I am a little worried, b/c we originally landed on Singapore b/c of the learning style issue - could not tolerate repeitition. He really thrived on Singapore! But I have all kinds of *ME* issues for wanting to switch at this point, so it's gonna happen! lol! I think he's mature enough now to work WITH the curric. instead of fighting it. One thing I know I'll do is not make him do ALL the practice. (yes, I know the whole world, including the Saxon folks, say DON'T skip a single thing! tough...) If he seems to have mastered a topic, I won't make him stay on it. For DD8 (using Saxon for a couple of years now), we often just did 1/2 (one side of) of a worksheet. Maybe something like this will work for my DS? We'll see... The spiraling thing will be new to him though, and I think it's going to get under his skin. But hopefully the maturity thing will kick in and he'll tolerate it? Ah, a mom can hope! haha!
GL! - Stacey
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We have an annual pass to the Boston Museum of Science. It's normally about $21/pp to get in. The annual pass (for 8) is $180 (for 5 $150). So basically, if you take one trip in, it's ALMOST worth it to get the pass. We go about 4 or 5 x per year, and love it! With the extra "people", we can bring anyone we want with us (with the 8 person pass: me, + 4 kids, +3 free guests!). Makes for a fun playdate day to invite friends! AND, they have a HUGE reciprocal list to other science museums. We can go to the local museum in my Mom's town for free on our Boston pass (have done that plenty), many towns we've been to on vacation have museums we can attend for free as well. We have gone to a couple in FL, and a couple in PA - FREE! So that was money well spent IMO.
So I second the vote on local science museums, especially if they have a reciprocal list!
GL! and have fun!
- Stacey
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ETC and MCP Phonics and liked both. I feel that MCP Spelling Workout contains of the phonics rules too. If you do SWO and ETC together (as we did one year), they overlap and it's overkill. So maybe SWO would be enough?
GL and HTH - Stacey
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We used Singapore with her for K, 1, and part of 2. Switched to Saxon 2 (learning style issues w/ Singapore) that year, and it was WAY too easy for her, content-wise. BUT, for her personality, that was OK. She enjoyed doing the work, understanding it clearly, getting it right all the time. (My oldest son HATES that kind of work - it's just spinning his wheels, in his opinion). I was OK with it b/c I knew she wasn't BEHIND, and keeping right at grade level through the Saxon levels was fine by me. She's starting Saxon 5/4 this fall....
So I don't pay too much attention to learning styles EXCEPT for math. I have found it makes a ton of difference for my kids in this area. I would say, if your son is OK with doing work that is easy for him, and enjoys that feeling of mastery, then you might be OK to leave him with the easier work for this year (on grade level). But if he doesn't love busy work, if he needs that math/sciencey challenge, then I'd move him up.
FWIW, I kept my DS11 in Singapore through 6A/6B, and we're switching to Saxon this coming year. Should be interesting!
HTH...
- Stacey in MA
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Just had to say that! lol! They are so concise, and really get to the kernal of things - no fluff (though lots of repetition). Love that! Cut to the chase, right?
FWIW, if I'm remembering right, I found that L4 was "more" and "bigger" content-wise than L3 (ovbiously), but much the same in structure and format as L3. I think the scripting in the teacher's manual IS the lesson really, so you really need it IMO. The student workbook just has a bunch of blank spaces on sentence diagrams (or reprints of the poems to memorize, etc.). But the student needs the EXPLANATION of what goes where and why, which comes from the scripting. If doing without anything, I'd do w/out the STUDENT workbook, get the TEACHER'S manual, and have the student write out the diagram frames himself in a blank notebook.
Also FWIW, I generally loathe scripting, but have made an exception for this series! lol! It has strengthened my lightly learned and poorly remembered grammar, along with teaching my kiddos the hard-core stuff of grammar.
HTH and GL! - Stacey in MA
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Can't remember why, but I didn't care for it. Maybe too dry? Too long ago, sorry. But I wouldn't go back to the series based on that experience....
We may try REAL Earth and Space this year for my other DD. Glad to see so many "yea's" here for it!
GL!
- Stacey in MA
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If so, I didn't use any encyclopedias when going through the series. We used MANY library books though - those recommended in the Activity Guide, as well as others we came across that our library happened to have. We used the AG for some projects, especially in the first 2 years, and also the coloring pages (but by vol 3 and vol 4, both of my older kids were getting tired of coloring though - not big on that). And the MAPS! Oh how I love the easy, but direct map work! Missed that this when we hit Grade 5 and had to hunt down our own map work that would correlate to the sections we were on! But didn't need encyclopedias UNTIL grade 5 (then used it as the "spine").
HTH and GL!
- Stacey in Ma
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We did Meet the Masters last year and **I** liked it well. (The kids mostly liked it.) Each lesson is on a different artist. I like how you first learn about the artist's life, then learn about certain style elements that this artist may have been known for using, you practice them roughly, then copy one of his/her works. Simple, straightforward, fun.
You can find it on Homeschool buyer's co-op online.
Have fun1
- Stacey in Ma
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Can't remember why, but I vaguely remember finding it tedious without depth. The story is just another series-story, but I gave up on it b/c of the style. Yuck. I know I'm outnumbered though - many like it! As far as I'm concerned, the fantansy/magic stuff is OK as long as it's reasonably balanced with other lit.
If you like the magic and fantasy themed stuff, we really enjoyed the Charlie Bone series. We're doing the Garth Nix "Keys to the Kingdom" series now. It's OK, but took a book or two to get captured. The story isn't always "smooth", but still rather clever, so we're sticking it out. How about the Fablehaven series?
:-) Stacey in MA
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No biggie, IMO. We spent gr 2 w/ my DD8 (strong reader/writer/speller) doing mostly manuscript. She adored finding and copying poetry and drawing matching pictures! I let her do that to continue her manuscript practice. In hindsight, it was a wonderful experience! A year of not pressuring her on that subject...kept the "joy" that year! lol! If I had moved forward w/ cursive, she would have missed a lot of (voluntarily learned) poetry that year. Plus, by the end of gr 2, she was ready and asking to start cursive, so we did. I would have started gr 3 with it if she hadn't asked.
GL and HTH! - Stacey
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I like it for the answer key for quick corecting, though. In this house, quick = sanity! lol! I also like the bubble quizes and the pre-test sentences (orally administered) for my spelling-challenged DS. (I don't need them so much for my spelling talented DD though). I find the other "stuff" in the TM's useless though. Much of it is geared for classroom activities and group learning... That being said, I do indeed order them!
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Also, we started in Grade 1. I wouldn't wait. With DS11, I was a bit sloppy about enforcing spelling, and by grade 4 it was obvious he had a spelling problem. I wish I had been more consistent with him regarding formal spelling exercises, and I HAVE been more consistent with my other kids knowing the troubles we had w/ #1.
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I know it gets criticized as being dry and boring, but it really does get the job done. It covers phonics rules so systematically, that I just can't argue! Also, it is layed out in a way my DC can do it on their own, which is a big deal to me since I have 4 kids. The more independent subjects they can do, the more efficient ** I ** am when doing their "together" (with mom) subjects. We are up to Level G for my DS entering grade 6.
My mistake was this... I stopped using it for a year or two around grade 3 b/c it was getting dry (the format/layout is the same through each year). I was hoping to explore other spelling curriculums and get something "better". I never found the time to settle on another one, and DS went without for a good year. His spelling really suffered, since it's not his strength in the first place. So last year we got back on track with SWO, and I remember why I liked it so much in the first place: covers what must be covered, concise, independent. This coming year for him (grade 6), I plan on following SWB's advice about copying the spelling rules that go with each lesson. In the end, DC will have a notebook full of all the important spelling rules for the English language.
I will have a 1st grade,4th grade and 6th grade kiddo using SWO this coming fall. :-)
HTH! GL - Stacey
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We usually eat reheated hot leftovers, and if there's not enough, it's cold sandwiches, scrambled eggs, or soemthing like mac-n-cheese. :-)
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Very funny - both stories! love it! :-)
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....Usually science or history. If it is a day I haven't planned well for one of those subjects (or if we just needed a "lighter" day than normal), then I'd say "Let's watch a video!" lol!
DS11 really enjoys to watch them, so we actually have it planned right in to our history rotation of tasks. After he's completed the readings, the map work, summaries, etc., we find a video related to that week's subject on US. This year (grade 5 for him) we also used it for Human Body learning - lots of videos on the various systems of the body. There is so much to explore!! This end of year, we are finding it great for videos on animals, as that is presently our science topic. I would say we didn't use it much when our topics were physics and chemistry, though! Definitely for history though....
FWIW, I also used it for my little ones to watch Peep, Aurthur, and Magic School Bus! It helped get through the mornings...
I highly recommend it, if it fits into the budget as a supplement. If it's not affordable, don't feel left out. So much of it can be found at libraries and online too. It's just such a convenience!!
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I don't have any magic cure yet (:lurk5:), but one trick that works sometimes is this: Keep having small mileposts through the school day. "When you're done with that math, we'll have a cookie", or "When we finish that spelling worksheet then we can watch a Magic School Bus video!", or something else fun to keep the focus forward. It doesn't always work though. My DD gets distracted by EVERYTHING - things around her on the floor, sounds outside, things she's thinking - everything! so removing the possible distractions is the best solution....just not always possible. For instance, she loves playing with her younger brother. If she passes by him on the way to her book shelf, she ends up touching him or playing with him ALWAYS!! But if he's in a nap, it makes my life (and hers!) much easier...no baby to distraction, no distraction, focus remains! Of course, if she finds an unsharpened pencil on the way to the shelf, I might not see her back at the table for another ten minutes!!! lol! Anyway, I'm not exaggerating when I say that more than 1/2 her day is spent being distracted doing "nothing"....drives me nuts.
Anyway, good luck! - Stacey
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We have used Singapore as well, and in those early years, I was crazed over getting him to write out HOW he came up with the answer. I wanted to make sure he was doing the method properly, so that other problems wouldn't pop up in the future. My husband finally got me to lay off. DS was getting correct answers mostly, so I laid off, mostly. Every now and then I would make him show me in writing that he knew what he was doing. And on all of the problems he got wrong, he'd have to write those steps out. I also have had to harp on him about putting labels on! ;-p But in the end, I think his brain just works quickly past certain steps, and it is painful for him to tediously break it down. This is actually one of the reasons we switched in K from Saxon to Singapore - less busy-work b/c of no spiraling, plus many fewer practice problems.
I think it will matter at some point, but not yet. He's finishing Singapore 6 this year and we're still in that boat of not always requiring it. When he is getting a problem wrong b/c he isn't keeping the steps in his head, that's when I make him write it out. But i WAIT for that to happen from lesson to lesson.
Hope that helps...
GL - Stacey
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My 11yo DS who's pretty strong in math just finishing gr5 did Singapore 6A/6B this year. He did well - it was just the right level for him. However, I personally found a decent sized jump in the level of the material from last year (Singapore 5). I thought that between 4 and 5 too. The first 4 yrs of Singapore seem to roll along predicatably, but when onto 5, I thought there was a big jump in difficulty, and the again from 5 to 6.
Not knowing your daughter, you may need to supplement to give her the "meat" she needs, but I think the content of Singapore 6 is right on and awesome! So many times I would be reviewing his work and think "wow, these writers really know what they're doing!" Can you get some copies and preview it, or just buy it to take a look?
That all said, you could always start what is comfortable and familiar (Singapore), and then shift gears changing books or levels to something different in a few months in if need be. From what I remember reading in TWTM, along with attending her May '09 conference, gr 6 and gr 7 are good years to get a solid idea of how, and with what materials you will approach the high school years. That might mean switching around and trying various things. Once in 8th or 9th grade, DC will need to be "on track" to cover all of the necessaries for taking SAT's, so that won't be the best time to be switching materials/levels/publishers/etc. (That's b/c some publishers cover certain topics at certain grade levels DIFFERENT from others....if you switch between say, 9th and 10th grade, you might actually miss some critical content and skills necessary for the SAT's) So take time now in these couple of years to figure out the best match to move forward...
Just some thoughts! Good luck and have fun!
- Stacey
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This is funny. Yes, there are quite a few, but not sure if I can remember them all right now. Let's see:
"What's next on your list?"
"Stay in your own space!"
"Get to work!"
"Stop bickering!"
"Hold your pencil with three fingers."
"Are you wearing your glasses?"
"Are you using a timer?"
"Socks, and shoes, and in the car!"
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I love it so far! I also had a Razor that I was very done with - never learned to love that thing!
FWIW, I purchased the Droid at Costco. It was only $99! (they recently lowered the price there - instead of buy-one get-one at the Verizon store, they just are selling the individual phone for less) PLUS, you get a Costco instant rebate for $25 (not sure why, and not sure if it was a limited time thing....). Additionally, Costco includes a little "bundle" of complimentary accessories - a car charger, a ear bud set, and a cheap leather-ish case (better than nothing!). So the phone cost was not too bad! I also don't text - at all - so I didn't add that to my monthly contract - just voice and data. Saves money. Anyway, the guy there told me that to buy the phone, people should go to non-corporate stores to get the best deals (like Costco or Best Buy), but then for service or accessories, the corporate stores are the place to go...
Good luck! Love my Droid! (Still figuring it out.... :-) My favorite part so far is it's awesome interfacing to Google (gmail) - calendar, contacts, maps, etc. It automatically (after plugging in my gmail account) loaded my gmail contacts, and the calendar link goes right to my gmail calendar. I didn't have to do anything else to make those connections happen! Oh, and the contacts - they automatically have the profile pics of my Facebook Friends! So cool and easy....
GL and have fun!
- Stacey in MA
If you use Rosetta Stone
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
but close. I can't recall exactly (we're off for the summer), but I'm asking him now and he says he's "almost done". We messed up in the beginning though, and weren't doing the "practices" but only the "core lessons". So somewhere in the middle he started to do more of the work (the practices), so I imagine it would take even longer if we did it properly from the start. And that's just level one. I think we will continue w/ RS level 2 and maybe 3. I wish I had ordered at least L2 at the same time, but I just wasn't sure if it would work for us, and didn't want to waste the money on more than one level if we weren't going to use it. Anyway, by high school we are going to switch to Mandarin though.
We are using RS as exposure to Spanish, but not as an in-depth thorough study. I think it's working well for us, and I never have to pester him to get it done - he seems to enjoy it! That's a big deal in this house....
GL!
- Stacey in MA