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mama2cntrykids

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Posts posted by mama2cntrykids

  1. We live in a suburb of St. Paul, Mn.  We recently moved from a much more rural area where we were paying a lot less for housing then we're paying currently.  So, to me, the cost of living here is high.  We went from a 1700 sq. ft house with 5 bed/2 baths on acreage, to a 1300 sq. ft. house with 3 bed/2 baths in a suburb and we almost doubled our rent payment.  Granted, there is MUCH more to get out and do/see here, so I'm not complaining.

    • Like 1
  2. You're right there...I do really like the curriculum and have been using it since 2006.  You have some good ideas there.  I did happen to find a used TM for $55, just waiting to hear back from the person selling it.  Then, I thought I would buy the books used when they're needed (probably do a three month buy).

    Since you really liked the MFW (and have for a LONG time, iirc from your posts!), would you be able to afford the tm at least?  A lot of the rest you could find as ebooks or get through the library for free.  I have the Writers Inc I would send you.   But a LOT of them you could get through the library or overdrive or amazon for free.  I'm just assuming you're looking at the MFW 10th world history and lit.  Is that what you're wanting?  The tm is $99.50.  Maybe you could find just that used on ebay and then assemble the books?  Do you already have timeline figures?

     

    • Like 1
  3. Thank you so much, Lori!  This beyond helpful and very kind of you to walk me through.  I've been going through a lot of big changes over the last few months (dh lost his job, found another 4 hours away, moved to the suburbs when we're used to living a very rural lifestyle).  So, to say that I really appreciate your kindness, I mean it. Now, with having to work outside the home while hsing...WHEW.  Sorry to go on and on...

     

     

     

    Most 1 semester dual enrollment courses (PSEO) count as 1 year of high school credit. So if your student takes mostly dual enrollment courses in 11th and 12th grades, he will easily meet all of the college admission requirements AND the pre-requisites needed for becoming a dental hygienist. Also, by taking the general ed. requirements through DE, if your DS changes his mind about becoming a Dental Hygienist, the credits would still be VERY usable and transferable to either a different Associate's degree program, or to a 4-year university Bachelor's degree program.

     

    Tips for For doing dual enrollment (DE):

    I strongly suggest starting SLOW and gently -- 1 class the first semester, and in an area that is NOT a weak area for the student. If DS wants to take DE this coming fall semester, you need to get in NOW and enroll as a student, which takes several steps:

    - fill out the admission application / DE paperwork

    - take the new student placement assessment tests in math and reading

    - set up the student page on the college website, for access to student records, classes, financials, etc.

    - register for classes

     

    How to decide which classes to take as DE:

    I'd go for double and triple dipping -- take courses that not only fill out potential high school requirements (in case for some reason DS ends up needing/wanting to attend local public/private high school, but also to be competitive with public/private high school students), but also fill out credits typically required for university admission, AND are required general ed. courses for the Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene that DS is interested in. :)

     

    That means looking at the school's website, and find Dental Hygiene program list of course requirements. For example, our local community college offers an AAS degree in Dental Hygiene. Here are the requirements:

     

    GENERAL ED. CREDITS

    - Writing 101

    - Writing 102

    - Speech 102: Intro to Oral Communication

    - Sociology 101: Intro to Sociology 

    - Psychology 101: Intro to Psychology

    - choice of course in Humanities/Social Science (things like History, Foreign Language, etc.)

     

    PROGRAM PRE-REQUISITES

    - Math 122 (Intermediate Algebra) or Math 151 (College Algebra)

    - Biology 201: Human Anatomy & Physiology I

    - Biology 202: Human Anatomy & Physiology II

    - Chemistry 130: pre-requisitiste to Fundamental Organic & Biochemistry

    - Chemistry 140: Fundamental Organic & Biochemistry

     

    CORE COURSES

    - 17 specific courses in Dental Health/Hygiene

    ______________________________

     

    So your DS could knock out those General Ed. requirements and almost all of them would fulfill typical high school graduation requirements AND are typical requirements for other Associate degrees or for university 4-year degrees. Example of how you could gentle schedule these credits in such a way as to not overload your student:

     

    9th GRADE

    1 credit = English

    1 credit = Math: Algebra 1

    1 credit = Science: Physical Science

    1 credit = Social Science: Ancient History

    1 credit = Elective

    5 credits = total

     

    10th GRADE

    fall semester

    0.5 credit = English

    0.5 credit = Math: Geometry

    0.5 credit = Science: Biology

    0.5 credit = Social Science: Economics & Personal Finance

    1 credit = Foreign Language (1 semester of dual enrollment)

    spring semester

    0.5 credit = English

    0.5 credit = Math: Geometry

    0.5 credit = Science: Biology

    0.5 credit = Social Science: Government

    1 credit = Foreign Language (1 semester of DE)

    6 credits = total

     

    11th GRADE

    fall semester

    1 credit = English (1 semester DE: WRT101)

    0.5 credit = Math: Algebra 2

    0.5 credit = Science: Chemistry

    0.5 credit = Fine Arts

    0.5 credit = Elective: PE (or personal interest…)

    spring semester

    1 credit = English (1 semester dual enrollment: WRT102)

    0.5 credit = Math: Algebra 2

    0.5 credit = Science: Chemistry

    0.5 credit = Fine Arts

    0.5 credit = Elective: PE (or personal interest…)

    6 credits = total

     

    12th GRADE

    fall semester

    1 credit = Math (1 semester DE -- gen. ed. college Math requirement for AAS in Dental Hygiene)

    1 credit = Social Science: American History (1 semester DE -- also needed as a gen. ed. in Humanities for AAS in Dental Hygiene)

    1 credit = Social Science: Psychology (1 semester DE -- needed as a gen. ed. for AAS in Dental Hygiene)

     

    spring semester

    1 credit = Social Science: Sociology  (1 semester DE -- needed as a gen. ed. for AAS in Dental Hygiene)

    1 credit = Elective: Speech  (1 semester DE -- gen. ed. requirement for AAS in Dental Hygiene -- ex: Communications 100)

    1 credit = Elective: Computer (1 semester DE -- gen. ed. requirement for AAS in Dental Hygiene -- ex: Computer 100)

    6 credits = total

     

     

    This would yield a total of 23 credits, meet the standard university admission requirements in case DS changes his mind during or after high school, AND knocks out 10 college general ed. courses through DE that DS would need towards his AAS in Dental Hygiene, and would shave a year off of working towards earning that AAS... OR, those DE courses could be used toward a different AAS... OR those DE courses could be used towards a 4-year degree at a university if DS changes his mind about what he wants to do for a career. :)

     

    Here's the break-down of those suggested credits from above:

    4 credits = English (with 2 DE classes required for the AAS in Dental Hygiene)

    4 credits = Math (up through Alg 2., and with a college level DE math class required for the AAS in Dental Hygiene)

    3 credits = Science

    5 credits = Social Science (includes typically required American History, Econ, Gov't, and with 3 DE classes required for the AAS in Dental Hygiene)

    2 credits = Foreign Language (2 DE classes that can be used for gen. ed. requirements)

    1 credit = Fine Arts

    4 credits = Electives (with 2 DE classes required for the AAS in Dental Hygiene)

     

     

     

    BEST of luck as your family plans for the next years of high school and for the future! :)

     

    • Like 2
  4. Another thing that I'm looking at is, my ds wants to do PSEO after this year.  So, he could very well end up taking PSEO classes and the rest of the classes that he needs to graduate.  He is thinking of being a dental hygenist and looking at the college where he'd go to get his certificate, he will need to take some biology, chemistry, and english with his PSEO before he can take the dental hygenist courses.  So, if he goes in that direction, I take it he'll be doing those prerequisites along with the courses he needs to graduate high school.  I think I got that right anyway!

    • Like 1
  5. No, unless you state has specific graduation requirements for homeschoolers, you get to decide and do not need to fulfill the requirements for public schools.

    It may, however, be prudent to orient yourself on those requirements or the admissions requirements of colleges your kids are looking at, which are usually higher than the ps graduation requirements.

     

    I was slightly dumbfounded reading that we don't have to go by the public schools credits to graduate.  It's a whole new concept to me.  It also helps us, because, with MFW, he has credit for ancient history from last year and *if* we continue with MFW this year, he will have a world history credit too.  But, if he does PSEO (which he's intending to do), we wouldn't have the US history credit that the ps system says that he needs to graduate.

  6. I was wondering if it has any merit.  It basically says that we, as homeschoolers, determine what credits our high schoolers need to graduate, not the public school system.  Here's the link....https://homeschoolers.org/homeschooling-info/teens/

     

    Look under the Graduation heading.  Obviously, colleges require certain credits, but is it true that we don't have to follow specifically what the public schoolers need to graduate?

  7. My oldest ds will be a 10th grader this year.  We have always used MFW, but this year it doesn't look like we'll have the funds for the next level (it's $442 new).  

     

    Not sure what to do next.  I know that Easy Peasy has a high school level and I've looked at it, but I'm not sure it's for us.  I know he could do free public school on-line, but I've heard horrible things about it.  We have math taken care of and I can probably swing money for a used Apologia book, but I'm at a loss for history.  Last year he did Ancient history with MFW.  He will continue to take German on duolingo.

     

    Looks like I'm really looking for social studies (American history, economics, gov't, or geography) and language arts.  Ideas?  Thanks!!

  8. We moved to the area one month ago and really want to meet other hsing families!  There's a co-op that meets not to far from us, but my kids want to find friends to hang out with.  So, anyone out there that would be willing to meet at a park or something to hang out once every couple of weeks or so?  

     

    I have four kids, two boys (15 and 13 years old) and two girls (almost 10 and almost 5 years old).  The boys are the ones that are having a harder time finding other teens to connect with.  Don't get me wrong, the girls would love to meet more kids too!  

     

    If no one wants to or can meet up, do you know of others that might?  I would appreciate any heads up!

     

    Thank you!

  9. Oh boy!  I've been dealing with prolapses for years.  To make a long story short, I ended up with severe rectal, uterine, and bladder prolapses.  I used a pessary for three years before it started making me bleed when I was at all active.  So, surgery was next on the list.  I basically had everything put back in place with sutures.  I had the surgery mid Jan of this year and so far, so good.  It was a pretty good recovery period, but I'm feeling like myself now.

     

    Living with prolapses is no quality of life, that's for sure.  Take care of yourself.  Remember, it doesn't hurt to at least try a pessary first.  Yes, it takes some getting used to at first (with putting it in and taking it out), but once you're used to it, it's not a big deal.

     

    Hope I helped a little!

  10. My (in a week) 10 year old daughter is playing softball.  We just moved to the area, so we're still searching for other things, but for now, it's ok.  We've also gone to many parks, many walks, practiced catching the softball.  She's been playing with her sister a lot too.  There are a lot of summer rec things to do, BUT they all cost, most of them cost quite a bit.

  11. He's never been strong in math and it only seems to be getting tougher for him.  We really can not afford a tutor (dh is laid off for the winter) and the only person that I know who I would even think of approaching for free help would be my mom, but she's going through chemo, so that's usually out.

     

    That being said, I've been looking into different programs with my ds today.  He really likes the text/workbook ones that lay everything out (like CLP and APlus).  We might be going in that direction.  We were doing Teaching Textbooks until this year, then he hit a wall, so we tried Khan.  I'm thinking part of the problem might be the style (video lecture) that he struggles with.  It's probably only a small part, but if something else works better, I'm all for it.

     

    He's given much consideration (already) about his future and he's come to two conclusions.  He wants to stay away from a traditional 4 year college to keep his debit down.  He also wants to keep the math that he'll need to take to a minimum.  Basically, he's looking at getting a certificate or two year degree at the local community college.  

     

    I really appreciate all of your thoughts and suggestions.  If anyone has anything else to add, please feel free!

  12. My 9th grader is using Khan Academy for Algebra 1.  It's a big struggle with him and I'm NO help.  I didn't even finish algebra in high school.  The thing that's keeping him from progressing is the fact that he can't remember all the steps in the problems.  Is there somewhere on line that I could print something off that would lay out the different problems step-by-step?

  13. Ok, we're from MN, but this summer we'll be traveling to the Grand Canyon in AZ and the southern California coastline (Long Beach maybe?  Need help with where exactly).  We only plan on spending a day at the Canyon, so I want to make it count.  From there, we'll be going to Cali and spending a couple of days there.

     

    I am at a loss as to what part of the Canyon to go see.  I also am up in the air about WHERE on the southern Cali coastline to visit and what is a must see/do while we're there.  We're on a budget, so no Disney or Seaworld for us!

     

    Suggestions?

  14. Today was my kids' first full day of school (we started doing math/writing two weeks ago).  It was great!  They were done before lunch, and after lunch they looked up drawing tuts on youtube, read about how the government works, and did a made up science exp.  All of it on their own accord, no prompting from me.  Now to me, *that's* magical!  I love seeing how they learn all the time.  To them it's a life style and they DON'T hate it :).

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