Hilary in MI
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Posts posted by Hilary in MI
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My best friend's DD is a great reader, but can't spell worth a flip. She has dyslexia, but it only affects her spelling. Her brain can't put the letters in the right order. So no, this is not universally true.
So true, Rhonda in TX!
There is no guaranteed link whatsoever. It's a common myth that good readers automatically and naturally are good spellers!
An advanced reader can have great difficulties with spelling. In fact, Eide and Eide, in The Mislabeled Child, refer to such difficulties in their definition of "stealth dyslexia."
http://mislabeledchild.com/html/Library/DyslexiaReading/Stealth_dyslexia.htm
More information about spelling and dyslexia:
http://www.dyslexia-ncbida.org/articles/feb02/basicspell.html
Here's an article by a journalist who struggles with spelling:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A27074-2005Feb15?language=printer
My oldest ds is a highly advanced reader with huge spelling struggles. We're remediating with an Orton-Gillingham-based program (AAS; and I also have SWR). Basically, I've discovered that the actual diagnosis doesn't matter; whether it's dyslexia or some other learning difference, he needs the same kind of systematic approach to encoding (spelling/writing) that works for children learning decoding skills (reading).
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I noticed that you said there are no tutors in your area. I agree that having a tutor or native speaker with whom to converse is a great advantage. However, if you have a good ear and are willing to put in the time practicing with an audio component, Chinese really is no harder than other languages. Every language has its pronunciation pitfalls, and many people self-study lots of different languages.
We're using Discovering Chinese from Better Chinese. It's set up for either self study or study with a tutor. I was fluent at one time, so it's been a blast to get back into Mandarin. We’ll also practice with a native speaker.
I chose Better Chinese because its programs are geared to the US education system, from preschool through SAT2 and then AP levels. Numerous US school systems use Better Chinese.
Before I made my final choice, I signed up for the free one-month trial of the on-line program. It's excellent.
The "where should I begin?" link on the homepage will help you choose your series.
http://www.betterchinese.com/Home.html
BTW, we ordered the text and workbook for each student and will sign up for the on-line materials for level 1 in the fall, since our school year is wrapping up. I may also purchase the supplementary on-line Beginner Story Library. According to the nice fellow at Better Chinese, the teacher book is in Chinese.
Check your library, too. We were surprised to find several "learn Chinese" videos, audio tapes and story books with CD's. Follow Jade is a nice set of videos, and although it’s geared toward younger kids I enjoyed it! It starts with exactly the same vocabulary as my college course (colors, etc.) and it’s nice to see the speaker’s mouth as you get started. I’m sure there are other videos somewhere for older kids.
http://www.followjade.com/index.shtml
Finally, DK's Get Talking Mandarin (comes with a CD) is a surprisingly complete introduction to the language (including an excellent introduction to tones, with audio practice), and very affordable. Get Talking Chinese, along with a free month from Better Chinese, might be an inexpensive way to dip your toes as you survey your options:
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Talking-Chinese-DK-Publishing/dp/0756629020
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I just had to post. Her letter is just adorable. What a treasure. :)
You asked about other ideas for writing. Many kids your dd's age love to "spy," walking around with a clipboard and recording what's going on (Noting on the clipboard something like "Dad is reading and Mom is playing the piano. Bobby is feeding the fish."). For some reason they love the word "spy."
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Last year (fifth grade), we did science as a read aloud and ds orally answered the questions. We also did the labs, and made posters and diagrams (parts of the cell, etc.). And, we supplement with United Streaming videos, on average one video a week (they are 15-20 minutes long).
This year ds (12-6th grade) did the same AND started reading sections to himself and answering questions in writing, including the chapter end questions. He easily was able to complete a section a day. Once or twice a week, we read the sections together; those days he reads to himself we discuss the section after he's written the answers.
Next year, we'll do the same AND do the online quizzes AND start taking reading notes. Basically, each year we're working on new study skills to prepare for high school: reading for comprehension, writing complete short answers, test-taking, and note-taking.
At this pace, he completes 3-4 books a year. The labs have been simple to set up and quick to complete. He really likes them and they add a great deal to comprehension as well.
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Both agree that a child who wishes to pursue collegiate level (and beyond) sciences must meet what the scientific community as a whole has decided is the minimum acceptable knowledge base. And, quite often, that minimum is in conflict with what many people are comfortable with teaching/presenting to their homeschooled children (for whatever reason).
I have read 10-15 posts on 4 different message boards just in the last week from parents who are perplexed as to why their child did not do well on this test or that class in regards to science, when they had completed a full course of either Apologia or BJU science. I find this to be incredibly sad, as there are excellent science programs available to parents.
Parents are strong in their convictions: they can certainly express their family's views to their children regardless of what a book says, and allow a child to have the information he or she needs to be able to operate in a scientific environment while maintaining personal beliefs.
Very well put, Asta.
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Chalk Dust now starts at the third-grade level:
https://secure.chalkdust.com/ssl/stuform.html
My kids are older (next year doing Algebra 1 and 2, respectively), so I haven't looked at the new materials for younger kids.
We are very happy with Chalk Dust. Also, the program is complete and college-prep, and it can take a student through Calculus.
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for the link about Dr. Campbell. Also, if you do look into the differences between the latest editions of Campbell and Reece, could you post about your results? Even though we have our book, I'd be really interested (and I'm sure others would, too). :) Hilary
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Ours has a dark green cover and black spine. I know that the 8th edition has a black cover. It came out in December 2007. I just popped over to Amazon, where there are used copies listed for around $60. As college classes end, more copies will probably be available, maybe for cheaper prices, on Amazon, ebay or one of the college text resale sites.
Anyway, ours is Campbell and Reece, Biology, 6th edition, 2002.
The ISBN is 0-8053-6624-5.
This year our local high school AP class used the seventh edition and I was able to compare the 6th and 7th, finding only very minor changes. As my ds is only 13 and this is a replacement for an honors level book (rather than AP or college level), the sixth ed. is okay.
Now that the 8th has been published, if I were looking I'd try to find out which edition colleges are using now (I usually google the subject name and syllabus), what changes have been made, and then buy an 8th or 7th edition, depending on what I found out. Good luck!
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We are using the Campbell AP book.
We are going to do both virtual and hands-on labs. We'll use the virtual labs that the PA Homeschooler AP bio. class uses. And, I'm currently researching hands-on labs (we just started bio. and will continue it through next year).
I was able to find the Campbell text and Student Study Guide on Amazon for about $30 and $20, respectively, plus shipping.
The Homeschool Buyers Co-op just had a group purchase, with Thinkwell Biology at around $60. Great deal. I just checked, and they are having another group purchase probably later this week, which may include Biology:
https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_epp_offer&Itemid=576
Apologia is not an option for us. I only use secular science. Here's my soapbox--science is science, regardless of ones' personal "world view" or religious background.
I gave my son the option of using the Holt book or the Campbell book. After looking at copies of both, he begged to use Campbell, so here we are!
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I'm sorry for not responding; I didn't see your email until tonight.
He's does the activities, quizzes, etc., through Campbell and Reece. They are excellent. He hasn't done the activities through Thinkwell, so I'm afraid I'm not much help!
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Thinkwell is excellent for the lecture portion of a course.
My son started biology last month. He's using Campbell and Reece Biology (along with activities on the CD and website) and Thinkwell Biology for the lectures. We'll add in labs as well.
We used Thinkwell for algebra lectures as well. I've been very happy with the quality of the lecturers.
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You are welcome. I just popped over to the site and couldn't watch the intro. video. Apparently I don't have RealPlayer, which is downloadable free (click on the Katie Curic video in Section 1 of Webisode 1 and the link to the download will pop up).
I'm not getting the audio clips (quotations, etc.) in the text, either. Perhaps the download will allow the audio-only to play as well.
As an aside, isn't it a cool site? I really like the links to document and image pop-ups that are right in the text.
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I haven’t used the guides, but have used and wanted to let you know about free on-line lesson plans, ideas and print-outs from the companion website for Freedom: A History of US, based on Hakim’s History of US series. Johns Hopkins also developed the on-line site and teaching guides.
Here’s the teacher page:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/teachers/
And the free teaching guides, by subject:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/...rs/guides.html
We've also supplemented with map work (using blackline maps), activity books from the library, history pockets (Evan Moor), hand-on history books (Scholastic), United Streaming and library videos, historical fiction, etc. I find that the questions in the text itself lead to good discussions. We generally read the texts together and discuss, but are making the transition to more formal written work.
We’re completing the series in two years (this year we'll complete through the Civil War; I printed the k12 course objectives). At this point, we plan that both boys will do “Advanced US History†work later in high school, covering the topic in one year.
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My ds is in CD Geometry. He starts by watching the lecture and then does the even problems (or their equivalent number if there are multi-part problems). We later go over any problems missed.
Generally, he does one section per day, unless the lecture is longer than around 20 minutes or there is an abnormally large number of problems.
He also spends a day on each mid-chapter review, chapter self test and, sometimes, the chapter review.
He spends an hour each morning on math and, if necessary, finishes in the evening ("homework").
The pre-algebra book is organized quite differently than the geometry book.
For pre-algebra, I ended up splitting each chapter section into its sub-parts (the objectives: A, B, C, etc.) and doing about one each day (watching just that snippet of the lecture and then doing the problems).
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United Streaming is a wonderful supplement. It is a huge library of on-demand educational streaming videos, on average about 20 minutes long (but some are up to an hour long).
When I plan, I search our up-coming topics, preview videos and note them in my lesson plans. For example, our current American history topic is nineteenth century arts and literature. We are watching videos on Longfellow, Thoreau, Melville, Audubon, etc., after reading their works and excepts.
In addition to history, we also use it in science and grammar, and I plan to use it for art history. We may do the Elementary Spanish program.
I keep finding new things on the site. It's been an excellent resource.
BTW, someone told me that you can get a large discount if you sign up through Homeschool Co-op (I'm not sure if that's the right name, but it's close).
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My ds1 is doing CD Geometry as well.
It sounds like it was a one-time thing and not a pattern, so she was probably just under the weather. I'd have her finish up tomorrow (or whenever she's better) and go on to Chapter 9 the day after.
BTW, I'm finding that with homeschooling the kids will start work even though they are under the weather, and not really tell me how they are feeling. Then, the day will fall apart, of course. They are more apt to try it out than if they had to go out to school, which is great but can lead to them trying to work when they really should be taking it easy.
Hey! It's great to hear that you all are around where we are in the book, too.
I hope that she is feeling better soon!
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. . . and (if the kids are younger) "bracelets" made of masking tape, sticky side out, onto which they can stick finds from the ground (pine needles, little pine cones, etc.).
. . . and a guide book for plants and animals (including info. about identifying tracks and scat).
(and water and snacks and a thermos of cocoa and a change of clothes and first aid kit and . . . have a great time!)
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Prentice Hall Science Explorer. It's an excellent, solid program.
You can check out previous discussions by using the forum's search function.
(Holt Science and Technology series is very similar, but there are many more PH SE books available used).
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Thanks for posting this. Absolutely funny! Dh is going to share it with his high school seniors, many of whom are awaiting word from colleges (and for whom he's written recommendations)--it'll definitely give the kids a laugh. :D
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This was a fascinating news story. It's nice to have scientific validation for the importance of play, something that seems obvious but that too many schools are cutting.
Another good reason to homeschool.
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My oldest started using the TI-84 graphing calculator in Algebra I; my youngest started part-way through this year, in Pre-algebra (same reasons as Jean in Wisc, above).
At the beginning levels the kids are not graphing, but they get comfortable with the keys, etc. I also think the screens are fantastic--we can easily see any typos.
My dc must show their work in detail, writing each step. This shows that they know why they are pushing the buttons and, more importantly, helps them develop mathematical reasoning.
In the beginning they protest that they can do some problems in their heads, so I explain that they not only are learning the concepts but developing habits essential to success in higher math (taking it step by step, writing neatly in columns, showing work, etc.).
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DS1 Chalk Dust Geometry
Background: He did UCSMP Transitions and Algebra (with Thinkwell Beginning Algebra). We switched from Thinkwell to Chalk Dust for the video component because CD already is coordinated with a test.
DS2 UCSMP Transitions. He prefers reading the text with me rather than watching an instructor on video. He’ll do UCSMP Algebra next year.
Miquon
DS2 started hsing in third grade. He did Miquon that year, right from the first book. Of course, he skipped through the first few, as they start at the beginning kindergarten level. But, it really helped solidify math concepts. We really liked Miquon.
We've always supplemented with lots of math games. Our current fav is Equate, which is a board game similar to Scrabble.
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How about:
Swallows and Amazons (and the rest of the series) by Arthur Ransome
Enid Blyton's books
Peggy Parish's kids and mysteries books, like Pirate Island Adventure, The Ghosts of Cougar Island, etc.
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Another BIG thank you!!
My ds and the dentist today
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted
Wonderful! I'll bet he's proud of himself! :thumbup: