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ikuradesuka

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Everything posted by ikuradesuka

  1. There are so many interesting things to discover and learn, but my kids have been bored and frustrated with anything I've found yet. It takes significant work on my part to beef things up enough to hold their interest. I finally decided that middle school science is for filling all those gaps, so we are going to just do that. Even if we are bored, even if it nearly kills us. I'm using Apologia's general, and then physical, science texts for my 10, 8, and 6 year olds. We have already started it, and it is going well. It has still been work for me because I don't feel their conversational tone meets our whole to parts needs very well. I've been reading ahead and reorganizing the material. The year after, we can start on the typical high school science track: biology, chemistry, physics, etc. I imagine we will work through those fairly quickly as well (two books a year? three?), and then on from there in whatever discipline strikes their fancy. We can keep learning interesting things on the side, but I think we would all just like to know we've done something. Personally, finding yet another curriculum that I can make interesting but doesn't give them the tools they need to engage with the material at a higher level seems like a waste of time.
  2. What about spending some time messing around with physics? The math will be of use, and will just sort of take it all in a different direction for a while.
  3. My 0.02. We've lived in an area for several years that is fairly hostile towards accelerated kids. I've had a lot of the op's experience, and it gets really overwhelming after a while. Honestly, I recently realized I was embarrassed to read a book to my two year old in public. I didn't want to deal with the hot-housing comments and such yet AGAIN. So, I stopped. Actually, this all spiraled to be so unhealthy that I've offered very, very little academically to my kids. They are far behind where they could be, and they have learned terrible habits to boot. I'm pretty unhappy about how it's all gone down, and it all started because I tried to be accommodating in the beginning. I should have said that all those people were wrong, when it happened, and in front of my children. My kids really needed that. My eldest dd is recovering confidence after taking a big blow. People who act like the woman in the OP are being bullies. It's hard to see it right off, because they act emotionally needy. So, your natural inclination is to be supportive, but then you are in this cycle that is awful to break. Yes, we should all be nice, all of the time. And no one should be showing off. I'm still working out how to deal with it all, but I think the best thing to do is just act shocked. Flip the emotional issue right back around and make it their problem. I don't know how that works practically. Sorry.
  4. I'm so sorry about this! We had terrible neighbor dog issues last year, and animal control came out repeatedly. Every single time the people got their dogs back! These dogs were aggressive to people and constantly getting off and running around our property! I have several small children, and a newborn at the time. One day, two of the aggressive dogs were out, as well as another dog, who was huge, but dopey. I was speaking to another neighbor, who was nearly bitten and was waiting for animal control, and the big dopey dog ran in my house! I couldn't get him out! He ran upstairs and got on my bed, and was too big for me to make him leave! Did I mention I had a newborn? I was so thankful he was a nice one, at least. So, animal control came and hauled him out of my house. They took him and the two aggressive dogs that were loose, as well as another that stayed in the fence in the backyard. They assured us that we were finally done, and the dogs wouldn't be back. Apparently, they meant the dogs wouldn't be back until the next day. It was ridiculous. My husband called the sheriff, and was told...SSS...in a round about way. It went something like this, "If you ever don't feel safe on your own property..." We didn't ever do it, but I was so thankful when that family moved out! We could finally go outside to play again! I'm sharing my story just to say I know how terrible it feels, and how violating. I also know how helpless it feels when the authorities won't just take care of it. We couldn't find any ordinance that would help in our situation, but maybe there is a two dog rule? Some counties don't allow more than that because of the pack issue. Anyway, I hope you get some peace and resolution soon. It sure is awful.
  5. Wonderful! Thank you! Where do you send him to class? Is it an online thing?
  6. Dd would like to be studying for the JLPT Level 5. She feels it will help her focus what she needs to learn, and is excited to feel she's accomplished something. Those of you who have read my threads from today are probably getting the sense that dd is looking for some tangible goals. She is a very structured sort of person, and has expressed she'd like to be less unschool-y, so I'm trying to oblige. Anyway, has anyone done this? Any advice? I also do not speak Japanese, but I have been studying it for a while on the side, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with it. I'm having trouble weeding through what resources are best?
  7. All these Spanish threads are reminding me I need to figure out dd's next Spanish course. She's almost done with Getting Started with Spanish. Dh has a little high school Spanish, and I never studied it, so we aren't much help. What would be a good text for her next? It needs to be self-taught, not dry, but probably at a high school level. She's 10. Thanks.
  8. Ok, so I could use the texts as the basis of her high school education, but she may not be able to test, or use the tests? How do you, as a homeschooler, access the ap courses? How do you get approval from the College Board? The College Board indicates the child would go through a school counselor?
  9. Thank you! Dd has been struggling with this. I've been telling her to just say she's going into 5th, but the moment of decision comes and she can't answer. I think, like a pp, she feels like she's lying. Then, we wind up with an awkward conversation where I'm trying to explain, "You know, homeschoolers, sometimes we do a little of this and that and aren't really in one grade." Cue the blank stare, and I move the subject away from school. It will be helpful to her to think about WHY they want to know. The most recent time, it was an adult at a new church who was just trying to make conversation with our family. She said, "And what grade are you in?" Dd, "Uh...uh...uh..." I was willing her to remember to just say 5th, but, she didn't....
  10. How does your accelerated and asynchronous learner answer random people when asked, "What grade are you in?"
  11. I've just been introduced the idea of AP classes, and was curious if a child could use them for their high school studies? I see several english options, math, sciences, social studies, foreign language...so, why not? I guess there could be a few other courses that would need to be filled in? Thoughts?
  12. Hello :) I was thinking about doing a portfolio of all dd's work as we finish up elementary school, and thought a big exam might be satisfying to her. I guess that sounds a little funny, but I think she would be really happy to have proof of her accomplishments/what she knows. We don't have a home school group or community to celebrate these sorts of accomplishments, and I think she could use some closure. So, any ideas? Thanks. :)
  13. Thank you so much for your reply! I've been mulling it over, and actually read most of it to dd today. We were able to discuss a lot of things in depth, and I think they were very helpful. It was good to be able to point out that our best supporters (who, unfortunately, live far away) have actually been a family whose children all struggle. Why? Because they understand that ALL children and people should be loved and respected and supported, regardless of their abilities, and that abilities come in many forms. Dd has been on the short end of that around here for a long time, but we've also been talking about how we have to make the environment be what we wish it to be. "The change we wish to see...", if you will. Anyway, dd and I hashed it all out for a few hours (yikes!) today, and I just wanted to say, "Thank you," for the nudge. :)
  14. I've been thinking about this, and I would like to hear more. To clarify, I wasn't meaning that dd should be able to walk around saying, "Guess what? I taught myself four songs on the piano today!" Or, "I finished sixth grade math!" That's just bragging and...awkward. The struggles she has been having are more along the lines of talking with people (even adults!) and she makes an educated reference, and the looks and comments begin. I have tried talking a lot about what other people's strengths are, things dd has in common with them or can learn from them. I also prep things that are more neutral and don't lend themselves to too much self-expression (like crafts). So, with a little more of our background out there, could you elaborate, please? :)
  15. Thank you for all the thoughts and suggestions. I've been mulling them over and looking into various options, and feeling much better overall. :)
  16. Thank you! I'm off to check out those online sources! And, I totally see what you mean about high schoolers. As I thought about it, I realized the only thing they have in common is that they are in the same class. The high schoolers are there because they have to be, so that eliminates the spark. The other methods of finding people/mentors ensure common ground and common goals.
  17. How have you managed your younger children spending so much social time with the older kids? Interest led groups sound like so much fun! How did you go about finding kids to participate? What specific topics have been most successful? Is it worth having her tested? For her age, what would the best method be? What GT online classes would you recommend? Where is a good source to find an online tutor for foreign languages? Or, for anything? Is there some place where I could find lists for goals or sequential curriculum in less traditional subjects? Thanks again! Edited because as I reread today, I was uncomfortable with so much about dd being online.
  18. I'm sorry I've not been able to reply until now. I wound up taking an unexpected road trip, and just now have internet. I was able to read your replies from my phone, however, and I've been thinking them over. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer me! As soon as I have a little more time, I'll reply in depth. Thank you, again!
  19. So, I keep starting to type something like this up, but then change my mind. I was just reading the end of year brag thread, though, and someone mentioned the op used to really want a mentor, and how far her child has come since then. It gave me courage to reach out. I could really use some help. I have several children, but I'm mostly concerned about dd1 for now. She just turned 10, and I feel like I've really messed up with her. We've just been on our own totally for so long that we just sort of gave up. What's exciting about learning when no one cares and you have no where to use it? You can't even talk about it for fear of "bragging". It makes me sad that she has been "hiding" to avoid upsetting people. I so wish she had never realized it. I feel like if I had been a better advocate for her, and more inspiring, she could be doing so much more. I don't want her to be "doing more" because I view it as some sort of challenge, but because it makes HER so happy. I feel like I'm holding her back. I'm open to anything and everything... Thank you...
  20. Wow! Thanks so much! I'll admit to feeling pretty overwhelmed figuring out what to do with dd, and we'll look forward to exploring those ideas! Thanks again!
  21. I'm new around here, and just wanted to say that I've really enjoyed reading through this thread. I've been without support for SO long, and it just makes me so happy to see how you all enjoy and support your children. It makes me feel somewhat normal to read these things, and also bolder at just being what my kids need me to be. Thanks for sharing. :)
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