rwjx2khsmj
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Posts posted by rwjx2khsmj
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We began this year with Around the World in 80 Days as our read aloud. I selected it because I was looking for a good story and thought the tie in with using the map/globe would be fun. I was really unprepared for the vocabulary and writing style. Our previous read alouds had been in the line of C.S. Lewis and such.
It took a bit for my dc to love the style but they loved the story immediately even if they didn't understand every word. I didn't stop and quiz or explain, unless asked, but I did have one of them give me a recap before we read each day. That was fun to listen to because they all focused on the things they liked the best.
We are now reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at the request of the dc. I probably don't even pronounce half of the vocabulary correctly but again, they are loving the story.
I think the response that you'll KNOW when they are not enjoying something was exactly right.
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Thank you everyone such enlightening sharing. I am amazed that such a potentially difficult and emotional topic has been handled so beautifully and with such grace on all fronts. I doubt I've ever been to a message board whose members are so respectful of each other. I've been blessed to read all the points of view and their reasoning. It's a pleasure to hear a well thought argument given and received. I've learned so much reading this thread and have much to consider.
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My ds7 was interested in learning cursive and loves it. His cursive is so much better than his printing and he enjoys it so much more.
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My dd13 is about 5' and weighs about 90lbs. She typically is 00 for jeans and XS in junior sizes.
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I loved the book and the story it told. I felt like I knew Greg when I finished and I was very thankful to have had the opportunity. I also love the concept of three cups of tea. Too often I'm in a rush and don't slow down enough to pay attention to what's really important.
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I plan two weeks at a time using a weekly planner copied front and back. It has blocks to write in for each child and each subject. I fill the blocks in pencil and check them off as each child finishes the assignments. Whatever we don't finish in two weeks gets bumped on to the next planner pages. If we get way off track them I just erase and make changes.
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Reading from my copy of WTM --- Grammar choices for Grade 5 (secular only) are Shurley English: Level 4 and Voyages in English. The recommendation is that both need a separate writing program and an outlining program (Frank Schaffer Note Taking and Outlining and Mary Meuller's Study skills Strategies:Outlining) and diagramming resource ( The First Whole Book of Diagramming or Better Sentence Structure through Diagramming).
I don't know if these are changes or just repeat recommendations. HTH.
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Absolutely! When I do a library search for literature, I start with the titles given and use those key words to find as many titles as possible. Even when I only have a few books to add, SOW + Kingfisher is more than enough to keep us busy.
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I'd say it depends on how determined he is and how he feels about trying and failing and trying again.
My dh is a very successful engineer who took every college math class (from remedial to advanced calculus) twice before achieving a grade that enabled him to move forward in his engineering classes. He loved the engineering - the application of concepts - but the math was always a struggle. He worked harder than anyone I know and succeeded in graduating. He is great at what he does and it has paid off for him.
Most of us take the path of least resistance. I know I did! For those that are really willing to work, despite the obstacles, I think the satisfaction and pay off is worth the effort.
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Our public school is out today due to flooding. I'm getting ready to go get my dc up for school. This is going to make me VERY unpopular here today. Good thing I've won the award for Meanest Mom before!
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Shel Silverstein poetry would be a favorite for my son. He loves to think through the poems and finds them hilarious.
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He is asking great questions and trying to sponge up his environment by doing so. Perhaps your thinking of "sponging" in a small sense like memorizing math facts. While that is sponging, I consider your dc's questions sponging too. He wants to know how things work, so he's gathering information. Sounds like normal processing to me.
:iagree:My ds6 is constantly questioning and talking through his ideas. It's totally his way of learning how things work and why. Definitely a sponge and he remembers EVERYTHING.
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A set of really cool architectural wooden blocks and a bucket of plastic animals. The play possibilities are endless.
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I have wondered that too. I guess where I get so frustrated is when I tell her to take "x" and put it away, why she just simply won't put it in it's proper place, but rather under her bed, in the baby doll crib, on the floor in the corner, a small hole between 2 books on her book shelf...basically anywhere BUT where it is suppose to go...UGH!!! Why is that??? can anyone tell me???
Because she's a child and, to her, any place that gets the toy out of the line of vision quickly so she can get on with whatever she was doing when you so rudely interrupted her by asking her to put it away is good enough.
I've got a few tools I use to keep the clutter down, not just in bedrooms but everywhere. Before watching any t.v. or doing anything other than school really, the kids "take a walk" meaning they go through the house and pick up (and supposedly put away) anything that they played with or anything that belongs to them. We usually do this right before Dad gets home from work also. We also have a "15 minute pick up" a couple times a week where everyone pitches in to straighten and clean the house. Sometimes the pick up includes bedrooms, sometimes not.
For bedrooms, we ask that the room be relatively neat before kids come to school. On weeks when they are letting it slide, I set a day for the room to be put in order from top to bottom and on that day anything that is out of place belongs to me. I usually offer a reminder the day before I go in with my box so they aren't losing too much.
I do have children that will leave things on the floor saying, "I didn't want that." As a result, I now give them a box to hold the things in that they don't want.
I think that defining what a "clean room" is to you is important. And be willing to listen to why your daughter might not want to clean certain things each day. I know my son creates stories with his animals and guys. For me to ask him to put those away daily would be devastating. We compromise with him being able to keep them out as long as there is a path to his bed that I won't step on anything, especially anything hard and plastic. He does have to totally clean his room weekly to vacuum but he doesn't have to pick everything up everyday.
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You'll probably find the weather to be just right for the beach with sweaters in the evening. If you venture to the Chesapeake Bay it might be warm enough to swim. You could probably swim in the ocean if you didn't mind the chill. I know my kids would be there until their lips turned blue!
There are so many great places to visit in that area, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Yorktown, Jamestown, Williamsburg... It's a wonderful area. Historic sites, state parks... it just depends on the ages of your children and your interests.
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Have you talked to the dance studio about options they might offer? Payment plan? Scholarship? Work-study?
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Pop some popcorn and you've got a vegetable to serve as a side dish.
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I love everything about the AG dolls except the price. We bought a doll from the Target line this year for dd's 5th birthday. The quality was significantly less than that of AG but so was the price. For her it was fine and she loves it. For a "collector" or a careful child it might be worth the extra $.
All our AG dolls are well loved and not in the collector category anymore. We've even sent them to the hospital and hair salon.
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We are getting a Wii this year as a gift for everyone. I'm hoping it fits the bill for family togetherness, something we can all enjoy right away and won't take up too much space when not in use.
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We "adopted" a single woman in our church. She has some disabilities and had recently lost both parents. We visit her weekly. Sometimes we just spend time talking or playing games. Sometimes we do more like help put up holiday decorations, run errands or do fix-it stuff around her home. Having a family has made such a difference to her. It's been neat to watch the relationship grow between her and my children. My children have learned that we have responsibility to care for each other and that each of them can make a difference. It's been a great experience.
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We use castille soap or yellow Dial. Everything else seems to give my dc hives.
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We make Christmas ornaments every year for friends and family. It's a fun activity and we look for unique yet easy to mass produce ideas. Family Fun has been a great magazine resource for that kind of craft and they do have a website familyfun.go.com.
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Here's a link to the Glassworks in down town Louisville. They offer tours and for older children/adults blow your own... opportunities. It's a neat place. It's also within easy walking of the Louisville Slugger Museum, Frazier Museum and Science Center.
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We love Spelling Power! I'm using it for three of my dc (13, 10, 7) and all seem to enjoy the format. It's quick paced for the kids and doesn't take any prep on my part. Before beginning the program there is quite a bit of reading but now that we've gotten started it's no planning required for me.
You begin by reading the teacher's guide and placing your children according to the directions. The book is broken down into a series of spelling lists with the accompanying rules. Children are placed according to skill level and then move through the level completing each list to procede to the next level. I found the placement for my dc to be pretty accurate.
Our spelling lesson is about 15 minutes a day. Spelling Power breaks it down like this: 5 minutes testing, 5 minutes studying missed words and 5 minutes in skill building activities. Ours usually is closer to 10 minutes testing, 5 minutes studying missed words and skill building activites on one day for 15-20 minutes. My dc like to finish a list so they are ready to start a new rule and a new list each day. We usually do spelling 3 or 4 days a week. If a dc has difficulty with a particular list (misses more than 5 words) we spend extra time on that list before moving on.
What we like about Spelling Power is that it is structured. We all do it the same way every time we do it. The format is easy to follow and the routine is comfortable. It's quick moving. If your child knows how to spell the word, they only have to spell it once and move on. Missing a word is no big deal, it's just part of learing. The word is added to a list to be retested and at the end of the testing time the child goes through a set of steps to study each word so that they won't missing it the next time. Even if the word is missed again, it's not a big deal, it just gets studied again.
The rules are easy to understand and are demonstrated in the list for the day. My kids love to use a rule to help them "cheat". I keep trying to tell them that using a rule in spelling to spell a word correctly is not cheating, it's learning but I think they like the idea that they are getting away with something.
Having four dc (5, 7, 10, 13) I am always looking for programs that I can use long term and will work for everyone. Spelling Power has been a winner in our school.
Do you let your child decide whether to go to high school?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Thanks for asking the question. I'm eagerly reading and thinking about the answers everyone is giving.
We just began homeschooling for our middle two and really never expected our oldest to be interested in leaving public school. She chose to join us at home this year but is planning to go back to public school next year.
I'd love to have her stay home and continue. I know she's learning more here and benefitting for the experience. I also know that she'll be fine at the public school. We all made a commitment to homeschool this year and we've agreed to hold off discussion and debate about next year until April.