Stacey in MA
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Posts posted by Stacey in MA
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I thought we would test last year, and never "got around to it"! So this year I'm feeling the need to see where we are. It's not required, so the results would just be for us.
Thanks for the answers! Happy Monday to all!
- Stacey
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Forgive me if this was already asked....
What do you consider a good standardized test? Has SWB mentioned if she does them and which ones? Where did you get yours and how was it administered?
FWIW, and if it matters, we're in MA.
Thanks!
- Stacey
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Boston, MA area....
:-)
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I say YES, every parent likely has the ability to homeschool in the same way that all people have the ability to exercise and get healthy. Some people don't take it seriously, some people do a little and call it a lot, some people have a lot more weight to lose and muscle to gain before they can function optimally. BUT, yes, they can approach it, attempt it, and be disciplined enought to stick with it....
Just my 2 cents. Off to the gym! ;-)
:-)
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Here's a link to amazon for those books..
See, they aren't by the original Peter Pan author (J.M. Barrie), but someone else's take on how the original story came to be. (Dave Barry and Ridley Scott). Dave Barry has so many books out - he's a comedian normally (though these books are comedic) - and his books are usually SUPER hysterical, dry, cynical humor!
We'll be on to the last one soon!
:-)
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(and some other guy!). Have you read them? They're really fun! They explain (obviously in their own way) how Peter and Tink came to be, and offer more history on their stories before them times with Wendy, Michael and John. Worth a look! We just finished Peter and the Shadow Thieves tonight....
Have fun!
- stacey in MA
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I used to live in that area. Monterey County has a great "home charter program" (or at least used to). It's a program through the public school system to help homeschooling families (if they want). We did it during my son's K year. The best things about it for me were firstly that when I had no clue where to start, I had a "teacher" assigned to me who brought out to the house books and books and more books! All kinds of things to try and start with. It was nice to discuss it with her too. Additionally, they had all kinds of short term classes and groups to get involved with - art classes, science fairs, science classes, writing groups, etc. This helped us meet some other homeschooling families, and allowed my son to try out a bunch of different things for fun. They also have a "resource room" where you can go use their county teacher resources like industrial type "die cutters" for art projects, and such.
Anyway, I would suggest to her to google it and call someone for more info.
Also, i know a lot of homeschoolers don't like the PS involved in their business, but I think this was a nice place to start for us. Eventually I wanted more control over my own schedule and separated from that program (and we moved).
Just an idea...
Good luck to her!
- Stacey in MA
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Meet the Masters program that we bought on homeschool buyer's coop. The kids look forward to it. It doesn't really follow the time period thing, but I like that it follows the classical education tactic of studying the greats by copying them. You listen to (and self-narrate by way of a script) a lesson on the artist, look at some of his/her works, then practice some main element (like texture) of a certain select work of that artist. After you do the "practice", then you do a project that basically copies the piece. There are 3 age levels, and though very similar, are mostly different by level of simplicity of the project. It's the SAME project, just more detailed at the higher age level.
Anyway, we've enjoyed that this year!
Have fun...
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I think younger kids can do PL and LCI, BUT with the understanding that at the younger age, mostly memorization will be happening and not necessarily UNDERSTANDING. Their understanding of Latin construction will depend on their understanding of English grammar first. Especially by LCII, the DC needs to have a deeper understanding of English grammar to make it "work". I am doing FLL4 with my 5th grader presently, along side LCII, and they seem to REALLY compliament each other.
So I think PL and LC can be done (memorized) by 2nd graders, but by LCII, they need to clearly understand the English grammar of:
subject
action verb
direct object
indirect object
possession
tenses (past, present, future)
maybe more (we're only half way through...!)
HTH and GL - Stacey in MA
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I agree with the other poster that I think EB is very different from the rest of the PM program. Don't completely judge the Singapore program from the EB workbooks. (I thought they were very lame! DD5 liked them OK, but went through them last year so quickly it was a joke....) I think EB is not actually put out by Singapore's Ministry of Education (as Primary Math is), but is possibly simply "endorsed" by them (??). So technically, it's not part of their program (if I remember correctly). ANYWAY....
I don't have a good answer for you except to do it "manually".... that is, you can skip things when they get boring and are mastered already. The only way to know when/where is to read ahead in the workbook/text, see what's next, and eliminate what you think DC doesn't need extra work on. A little more labor intensive than I like math to be - I prefer it "open and go". I have never had that problem with Singapore though. (Only Saxon) Since Singapore doesn't really spiral, each lesson/chapter/exercise is necessary, and there's no paring it down - it's already (mostly) bare bones.
HTH! Gl - Stacey
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We switched my DS10 to Singapore when he was 6 for that exact reason - he could not tolerate the repetitiveness of all the other curriculums we tried. He's very engineer/math oriented in his thinking, and once he "gets it" it's done - he doesn't need tons of practice. It's worked for him since then, and we're on 6B presently.
My DD8 could NOT tolerate Singapore b/c it's lack of repetitiveness! So we switched to Saxon for her. At first it was a great match - she loved the succuessful feeling of correctly completing all of the work. FWIW - I don't usually do ALL of the scripted lesson - I just skim it, demonstrate the topics, and move on. We do a lesson on several lessons, once a week, and the rest of the week she flies solo on her worksheets. Sometimes the work IS too repetitive, and if she seems to be "getting it", I have her do only the front sides of the worksheets, skipping side B. This has worked well for us so far.
Singapore is definitely more rigorous though. And it requires more on the teachers part for understanding. I have had to use Home Instructor's Guide often, where they explain how/why the Singapore text worked out problems as they did. I would say this started as an issue somewhere around Sing. 5a/5b.
Anyway, hope that helps! Good luck.... finding the right match can be quite a journey!
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My DH works in Lexington! :-) We live in Billerica though. My kids are B(10), G(7), G(5), and B(2).
I know your post is a year old, but if you're still looking for people, we're out here! Email me if you want to get together some time....
Regards,
Stacey in MA
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I don't love to run to the dr.'s, but breathing problems are definitely a good enough reason for me. I have kids who get mild asthma when sick, but ALSO croup. (My older 2 - they don't get it any more - outgrown). I would want the Dr. to be aware, rule out infection, get an official DX, and then write the kiddo his own RX (yes, doses are different for each age/size). That's just me....
I remember racing around in the middle of the night, waking up to a child struggling with breathing. I feel your pain! The first thing I did was give them a lolly pop. Weird, huh? Well, they'd be so panicy, and that actually aggravates croup and makes it worse. So a lollypop would calm them and keep them from getting their airway tighter. Then it was off to prep the nebulizer b/c I had to get rid of the asthma attack first. Then after that was not as urgent, we'd run outside to deal with the croup. While kiddo was sitting just outside in sight, I'd run in and nuke a cup of hot water to make fast and furious steam. Then kiddo would breathe that in for another few minutes. If we still had serious issues after about 10 min., I'd wake DH to tell him we were going to the ER. Ugh. I don't miss those moments - that was scary.
Hang in there. They do eventually outgrow croup as their bodies grow. My kids' asthmas has been mostly outgrown too (for now - I hear it comes back). Nothing urgent ever happens any more at least. My younger 2 don't have those same problems....
Hope your kiddo feels better soon!
- Stacey in MA
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but I know that all the kids around (including my DS10!) want MP3 players (of course the one of choice would be an iPod - specifically iPod Touch if it's affordable to your family - yikes!) along with gift cards to buy music they want online. We may go this route.
Yes, my DS has a digital camera from Grandma. He has enjoyed that and uses it periodically. DD7 has a cheaper one with no display screen, and she longs for one with a screen, so we may make that HER gift this year. So if you go for a camera, I would suggest one w/ a display screen where you can see the pics you take right afterwards. Also....He is still doing scouting, so he enjoys any camping gear since they go much more than they did when the kids were younger.
I feel the same way as you do about the BB gun. Maybe a marshmallow shooter instead?? hee hee! ;-)
GL and happy shopping!
- Stacey in MA
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By kiddo #3 I have learned that this is a "stage" for us. (I realize a mom has to be aware of physical issues that could be going on, but once that's eliminated, I say it's a stage). I find that they go through it around ages 3 and 4. By 5, they have either already, or are in the process of growing out of it. I used to be more forceful about returning them to bed with #1 and #2, but by #3 I learned my lesson. They will be happy and you will all get sleep if you just accomodate their need and be done with it.
We downgraded from a king to a queen (not recommended!!:-)), and so there was just no room for her. Plus sometimes, #4 (baby) was already in bed with us as it was. So, we set up a portable folding mat on the floor next to our bed. When she came down to get into bed w/ me, I'd just set her up on the floor next to me and all would be well in the world! Sometimes it was every night for a week or two on end! But sometimes she's sleep through in her own bed. Eventually she just stopped coming down, and that was that. FWIW, she does share a room w/ her sister, so they often now sleep together which helps them to feel secure I think.
Anyway, HTH and GL! - Stacey in MA
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I have been having similar trouble. I had asthma as a kid, then is sort of subsided. I would only feel tight when I had a bad cold. Just got over a cold and still have the cough, so I've been having to use my inhaler every day, when I normally use it never. So I can relate to the sudden onset of symptoms.
FWIW, certain coughing IS one symptom of asthma. For some people, that's the only way it will present. They will likely do a breathing test at your dr.'s appt to see what your lung output is. One thing I was told once was that if you are having trouble, and you use the inhaler, and it WORKS (helps), then it was asthma that was causing the problem. And conversely, if it's not asthma, but some other lung issue, an inhaler won't resolve anything, and you'll still be having trouble even after you use it.
Did you just get over a cold?
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I have 4 kids, and so my time is spread so thin during the day. I have to schedule an hour for each of the olders in the morning, then lunch, then another hour with the 2 oldest. That's just for getting lessons done, all the while juggling the 2yo and 5yo. Afternoons are spent on activities like scouts, swimming, and church group. So our routine is that DADDY does the corrections. He comes home from work, eats dinner with us, the kids go up and get ready for bed while Daddy does corrections, they come down and discuss/fix what was wrong, then they can have free time (usually TV) before bed.
Last year, I noticed that things weren't getting corrected as often as they should any more, so I off'ed this responsibility (for the most part) to my DH. It's been really great actually, b/c now he is more aware of what they are working on and more a part of it.
HTH and GL! - STacey in MA
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This is of course just a little anecdotal, but my 4 kids all had the flu this past week, and my girls ended up w/ the super high fever. (My 5yo had a high of 104.8, and my 7yo had a 105!! The 5yo did indeed vomit when I gave her the meds one time.) Those are the highest I have ever dealt with! I called the dr's office and they basically said that these types of temps used to be considered the flu, but now days are considered so "high", and that though they're high, they're not cause for a visit. Just keep them hydrated, were my instructions. I, of course, alternated Ibuprofin / Acetaminphin (overlapping - every 2-3 hrs), which helped some. Used cool wash cloths, light clothes, ice pops, etc. I was so worried, I asked "well, when DO I get worried and actually DO something like come in?"....She said that if the fever stayed up like that for a whole day (so, by the next day), then maybe we should come on in. Wow.
Anyway, we're all over the fevers now. (They started low for several days then shot up for several days, then went away). But we still have aches, and coughs that don't seem to be going away.
GL w/ your young one! I hope she is feeling better soon!
- Stacey in MA
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Just last week I had my car window busted and purse stolen while we were hiking w/ a group (on a weekday). We live near Boston, so sort of more crowded than rural, but still annoying. I am glad we were with a group so that when I got back to my car there was someone with me to wait for the police. I would have been very nervous w/ all 4 kids and no other adult, KNOWING that a criminal could be lurking around.
Anyway, it won't stop me from hiking again, but I won't do it without a group, and next time I will be sure to have EVERYTHING extra out of the car. If he looks in and sees absolutely nothing, then why bother breaking in? (I had my purse in back, under a baby blanket on the floor, near other baby items.)
GL! - Stacey in MA
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We did that experiment this week too! Are you using RS4K Pre-Level1 Chem.? I'm liking the book pretty well so far. My older son gets jealous when he sees we're doing "food experiments"!! ha!
Yes, I cooked 1/2 the cabbage, and have been eating it with my lunch. You could mix it w/ any cooked grains or legumes (lentils, barley, bulgor, etc) and put that in a tortilla w/ lettuce and call it lunch! (I've done that). I also just eat it plain as a side dish, but not a favorite around here. Surprisingly they DO tolerate it raw in cole slaw, so I'll use the other 1/2 for cole slaw - light mayo, rice vinegar, raisins, peanuts - yum!
GL! - Stacey in MA
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We listen in the car ALL the time. A few times a week, we have to drive 30 min. to get to this and that (church, gym class, etc.). It makes getting in the car exciting! :-)
At home, we simply use a portable boom-box style CD player w/ headphones (I think it was about $40), and my daughters CD player alarm clock ($30). Sometimes we play them through the computer too (we have several, as DH's job is related). I listen to adult ones occassionally through a portable CD player we have ($30 from Target). The only thing I don't like about that is that it REALLY eats batteries. I wonder if b/c the player was so cheap, the technology they used in it wasn't as good. Or maybe they are all like that? who knows....
Our library has tons of audiobooks, and a vast inter-library loan system. So we have never been short on material. How's your library? Also, have you tried any of the services online, like audiobooks.com or something? I never have, but have always been curious if they are any good.
FWIW, we haven't graduated to iPods or mp3 players yet...Makes sense as the next transition though.
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There are days when I can really "do spelling", but other days I don't have time (4 kids), and I have to simply say "go do your spelling workbook". KWIM? I don't dislike Spelling Workout, though I've heard great things here on the board about All About Spelling and have considered giving it a try sometime. But what I'm wondering is more about whether or not to push a child who could actually grasp the higher level (though may not have the maturity for the added frustration of something that actually challenges her!), and wondering if I should actually truely put my DS10 down a level or two in spelling, or continue to plug through what we have just making sure he "gets" it from this point on....?
Thanks for the note.....
- Stacey in MA
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Hi all -
Just wondering your opinions on this. My 7yo 3rd grader (young already for grade 3) is an excellent reader, and so working through Spelling Workout C is easy for her. When I quiz her she always get the words right. It seems like it's boring for her too. BUT, she doesn't like the frustration of new material (personality thing), AND I'm afraid that b/c she's such a good reader that she's getting these words b/c of sight memory, or having seen the words and internalized them, but not truely understanding how or why they are spelled that way. For that reason, I am inclined to stick w/ Level C. Still, sometimes it seems like we're spinning our wheels with it. Should I bump her up to D?
And now for my 5th grader. Always has been a poor speller. We took a break from formal spelling program last year (my fault - it slipped and slipped and never got attention). Now I have him in Spelling Workout Level F (as recommended in WTM - supposed to get through F and some of G). But he is struggling. It is painfully obvious to me that he is deficient in spelling. Should I stick with it since it's grade level? or back him up a level or two? I'm just not sure where to go with him. He's right on grade level with most other things, including reading and such. He's done great with math, science, maps, history, etc. I'm not worried "in general" about his learning, but just his horrible spelling. What should I do with him? (FWIW, my husband has an issue "spelling in the air".... I can't spell words for him. He must see them written out. This is a man w/ a PhD in Physics. So perhaps my DS inherited some challenge? Doesn't really matter - we work with what we get, right?)
Thanks for your thoughts!
- Stacey in MA
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I guess if your settings for virus protection/firewall (we have MacAfee) and parental controls (set through Windows) are default, it won't make a difference. But if you've changed things, it matters. There are configuration fixes, and we can run it now, but it's annoying to me that we have to open up holes in order to make it happen....
Anyway, problem solved for now....
:-)
i want a cast iron dutch oven....
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I am going to be WAY pathetic here, and admit that I was given a Pampered Chef dutch oven (well, they call it a "deep covered baker") for Christmas and have not yet used it! I don't know what to do with it, and haven't put a lot of thought into it since (obviously).
What should the beginner try?
(FWIW, we're a family of 6, but younger kids).
Thanks!
- Stacey