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lauracolumbus

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Posts posted by lauracolumbus

  1. Math: probably too young for an online program like Kinetic Books.  Maybe Khan?  I remember someone mentioning an online Singapore program, but it was pricey.

    LA:  Analytical Grammar or Jr.  One grain of rice game for vocab (forget the actual name), lots of reading in whatever subject you're covering in history.  Writing will be hard.  Maybe just follow the WTM suggestions and review when you can.

    Latin: First Form

    Geography: Drawing the World with Art

    Science: Science Fusion or Plato with nature studies

    History:  Skip timeline this year, unless you feel he can do it alone.  History Odyssey or Human Odyssey, supplement with videos.

    Art: Meet the Masters or Mark Kistler

     

    You can try Discovery Streaming through the Homeschool Buyers Co-op through 8/31.  Might be a great way to fill in some days.

     

    I am so sorry to hear about your health issues.  I have a friend with MS and she uses Classical Conversations.

    Prayers,

    Laura

  2. I do not believe in such a thing as "math potential" or "math ceiling" if that is supposed to mean that a student who is initially good at math will reach a point in which she is incapable of progressing further. And to be honest: there really is not that much to calculus - she will be taught in a systematic manner and go through all the classes that lead there, and she will be fine.

    Those of my college students who struggle with math all have troubles with prealgebra and algebra, not with the calculus part. If she mastered algebra at her age without great difficulty, I am confident that she'll have the intrinsic ability to learn calculus.

     

     

    Regentrude, thanks so much. This is the sort of validation I have been looking for. It seems like the kids that I know who are this advanced in math tend to reside in a different world than my dd (she's great in Latin/English/logic/history). Her passion lies with sports, not activities like the Math Olympiad.

     

    Given the lack of advanced math in my background, it's difficult for me to judge what will be required of her and whether or not she will be able to meet it. You've really put my mind at rest. We will keep on keeping on....

     

     

    Laura

  3. Thanks everyone. It's hard for me not 'to borrow trouble.' It seems to be my nature for homeschooling. All of the 'what ifs.' If she takes geometry as a freshman instead of Alg. II, she'll still make it to calculus. I just have no idea what's involved in Calc BC (or AP Calc). Nor do I know what my dd's math potential is. I don't even know what discrete math is. Fortunately we do have access to great tutors and a decent university.

     

    I wish there were a test that could judge high school level math aptitude rather than math achievement. She's taken the ACT (we should get our results back next week) and the WJIII, which indicated high math scores, but that was more on what she knew.

     

    I just checked the College Conf. bd, and the typical math sequence there is w/Alg. I in 7th grade. I know those kids aren't typical, but they are typical for the top tier schools. Around here, you're doing great if you start high school with geometry.

     

    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mathematics-computer-science/754825-what-accelerated-math-course-sequence-your-high-school.html

     

    Thanks again everyone.

     

    Laura

  4. :iagree: Especially for service academy applications. The vast majority of candidates I see and definitely those who have successful applications are those who started on algebra before high school. It's not like there are candidates who get only four math credits, counting two from middle school and then are good candidates for USNA (not with it's focus on math, science and engineering courses - even for humanities majors).

     

     

     

    Thanks for replying. I'm not sleeping b/c of this issue! I knew I couldn't leave two years of math off of her transcript. I'm just trying to figure out how to fill in the last year, esp. if it turns out she can't handle stats or AP Calc. Honestly, is this something you can tell in a newly minted 8th grader? It's difficult for me to plan for her later years not knowing what her strengths are.

     

    I know that even for some math types, stats is even more difficult.

     

    Last night I started wondering if I had her spend 8th grade solidifying her algebra and possibly revisiting number theory, that I could postpone geometry til freshman year and then follow a typical sequence. Do you think this would be enough to make her competitive for more elite programs? I'm also concerned that I'm wrong about her mathiness and that if I slow her down, I will also be doing her a disservice. I guess this is part of my frustration of why we can't put high school level work done in 8th grade on their transcripts.

     

    Thanks for all of your help.

    Laura

  5. What do you consider a "math ceiling"? There is plenty of math, and you won't "run out". After calculus, you can have multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, statistics, number theory, probability theory.....

     

    What will be important is not to stop math at four credits when the kid has started in middle school - THAT looks bad. Colleges will expect your student to take math every year through high school.

     

    I'm not worried about running out; I'm more worried about her topping out at her skill level. She's advanced, but I have no idea if she's 'mathy.' My inkling is that she's not. Theoretically, she'd take Alg. II as a freshman. She is doing geometry with Jann in TX next year for 8th grade. For 9th grade, I plan on sending her to the local high school for math and science. She wants to play sports, and I really don't want to be responsible for those two subjects. If she takes Alg. II as a freshman, she will be in either stats or Calc. BC as a senior (which is only offered at the uni). I don't see her being that advanced. Ideally, I could use a subject transcript and put 4 maths down and be done. And it's unfair b/c that's exactly what one of her ps friends will be doing. Around here they give credit for both Alg. I and geometry taken in middle school, so it gets my goat that my dd will be penalized for being a homeschooler. I suspect my dd's ACT scores (we should get them soon) will eventually back up her math situation by demonstrating that she is good at it.

     

    I'm trying to figure out my options right now, and one of them will be for her to repeat geometry (advanced) at the high school her freshman year. I suspect Jann's class will be more advanced than the high school's, and it will be a 'waste' of a credit for dd. Esp. since she's not a fan of geometry. She much prefers Alg. I had her try AoPS' Number Theory class, and she didn't like it. If I had her do math at home, I could be more creative I think, as we have access to tutors, but I have no idea what that would look like. Her goal is to go to the USNA, which requires a decent stem background, but I think Calc AB would be enough. I'm just started to feel the squeeze of needing a math plan in place ASAP.

     

    BTW, I was one of those kids who tested well on the ACT (high enough to skip math as a humanities major), but went to a school like Creekland's, so my math teaching skills are pretty tragic.

     

    Laura

  6. I'm surprised it's controversial that one should give high school credit to an 8th grader for doing high school work. As many mentioned, it certainly is not controversial in brick and mortar schools. And colleges don't find it suspicious when college credit is given to high schoolers. While some colleges might not choose to accept those credits, many other schools do. In fact there's a huge push in many states to essentially have college classes actually taught in high school for college credit. If it's college work done in high school and college credit is given, the same should apply to high school work completed in middle school.

     

    My dd will have 3 high school Latin credits from Lukeion before she gets to high school. She will have 3 very high A's, which will be significant for validation of the rest of her mommy grades. She will also be taking geometry with outside validation as a middle schooler. I do worry about her reaching her math ceiling before she graduates and how we'll get the 4 requisite math credits in for college.

     

    As for Algebra as an 8th grade class, here in Ohio it is still a typical 9th grade class. At my ds' private high school, 9th grade Algebra and physical science is the norm, though this trend is changing. He had a handful of freshman in his geom. class. Yet, many kids from his school go on to Ivies, the academies, NMSFs etc. It might be b/c it is the school norm and adcoms recognize that. With physical science as the course for all freshman, the STEM kids do double up for AP classes in later years, but the same doesn't happen in math.

     

    Laura

  7. We only use WW b/c we are also studying Latin. I spend half the year using Spelling Workout (which is more of a vocab program as it progresses) and the other half using WW. I like WW b/c the lessons are broken into very small bite sized pieces for days when we're busy. Other times, I'll assign 4 days worth so that we can use both programs. It's very workbooky, but there are many times when I like that aspect. I thinking the reading comp is the most important part as it somewhat mimics standardized testing. My dd9 does not mind doing it at all.

     

    I remember looking at VfCR and thought it was too difficult for whatever age my older kids were at the time (probably 4th or 5th).

     

    Laura

  8. When we did Challenge B, I handled the math, and we did an outside Latin class on another day. The Latin class was cheap for me though, and my younger one also took a class at that time. We found Challenge B to be pretty easy. Mine was done by noon on most days except for during Mock Trial. And there is some history during the "History of Science" class, and ours did a timeline with the other subjects. Then Challenge I was the same. I did the math, and we did an online Latin class. And he was usually done at noon with the Challenge work.

     

    This year I had one in Challenge, and one not in Challenge, and frankly the one in Challenge did a lot more academically. I don't regret our Challenge years, but doing a custom mix for high school works better for us.

     

     

    Thanks so much for responding. I suspected this was the case, but it helps greatly to hear confirmation before I pluck down the $$$. Can you tell me how your dc did with the logic portion? That's the only part that gives me pause, besides the time issue.

     

    And as was mentioned, I think the issue with Challenge B is a maturity issue more than an academic issue. The topic in Mock Trial will be about domestic violence.

     

    Laura

  9. Math: Saxon. We jumped around a lot with MM, BA, LoF, SCM, but with Saxon, I could teach her best. We compact a lot and should finish 7/6 over the summer. Decisions on pre-Algebra will be difficult. I have Saxon 1/2 with Reed's dvds. Again, it's what I can teach, but I feel like I'm doing her a disservice.

     

    Quit WWE4, the sentences were crazy long. Like Paragraph Town, not so thrilled with Island level. I like WW for vocabulary.

     

    History: SoTW and HO.

     

    Science: Tried a lot, but with Plato it's finally getting done every day with her older sister.

     

    LCI: Not too exciting, but we're progressing. She loved I Speak Latin, but we didn't get it done consistently. Right now, she's not a fan of Minimus.

     

    Reading. She'd read every waking moment if I let her. Right now she's hooked on the Warrior series, which I wouldn't have thought would appeal to her, but one of her friends got her started and now she's obsessed. Still sneaking quality literature in there hasn't been a problem.

     

    Classical Conversations. She learns a lot, retains a lot, but next year we're doing it on our own with friends. We're also doing SoTW next year with our co-op and a Shakespeare study.

     

    Requiring her to write a paragraph every day on something she studies--usually biographies. She loves this and is very creative with it b/c she's in control.

     

    Laura

  10. I'm going through Jr. AG now with my 3d grader. It's too easy. We're doing a couple of lessons/day, mostly for review. If I remember correctly, the later part of AG is where it gets more difficult. My 6th grader did the whole program in a year. I think if they've already been exposed to grammar (we've done some FLL, MCT and Grammar Town), plus read a lot, it's not that difficult.

     

    I haven't tried the Jr. AG punctuation program yet though.

  11. We are looking at Challenge B for my rising 8th grader. She will opt out of the math and Latin, but we are still expected to pay for it. I think in years past they didn't require payment. She is doing Lukeion Latin 3 and geometry with Jann in TX. So, I'm paying almost $1k just for those 2 classes and then will need to pay the full amount for CCB. I am mostly doing it for the reasons mentioned above by PP: the social environment, the weekly motivation, and the accountability to someone else. My dd will also do a co-op science class (Kolbe's Physical Science), Zaccaro's Real World Algebra and a Shakespeare class. I'm a bit worried about the workload b/c Lukeion is a butt-kicker. The Challenge work seems light (except for the logic), but I didn't realize until the other day that she'd only have 3.5 days to get all of her work done b/c of the full day at CC and half day at co-op. I'm also surprised b/c the history seems non-existent--esp. for a classical program. My daughter is super motivated to do this b/c she likes the kids a lot--some have been in our previous co-op and will be in our upcoming co-op. I'm really on the fence about signing her up b/c to me the workload looks particularly light, but her other classes will not be light.

     

    Would love to hear more from those who have been through Ch. B.

     

    Laura

  12. If a Shi'ite Muslim is persecuted in a Sunni stronghold in Iraq, they could move to the Shi'ite stronghold. However, they can also seek asylum in the US. It was originally a requirement of the law that you had to demonstrate that you could not be safe in other areas of your country. However, this requirement has been effectively eroded by case law (and possibly statutory law). Requiring this family to relocate to another EU country is analogous. A Salvadoran asylee need not demonstrate that they could have stayed legally in Mexico (in all likelihood they could), which they traversed through on their way to seeking asylum in the US. This would not be a grounds for denying them asylum.

     

    In China, the one child law applies to everyone. People were fined for having a second child. We granted asylum to families with more than one child. The right to determine family size was viewed as a fundamental right by the US. I would hope that the right to educate your child would be considered a fundamental right by our government.

  13. Ok, first off it is extremely difficult to get a green card w/o a close relative sponsoring you. It likely would have been impossible for this family.

    Second, the reason that the yield rate for asylees is low is because many use it as a last ditch claim to stay in this country.

    Third, an immigration judge granted asylum in this case. It is uncommon to have these decisions appealed to the Board of Immig. Appeals. The judge usually is given great deference.

    Fourth, if a whole group is being threatened under a law, it doesn't matter that the asylum seeker is not being treated differently. For example, under the one chiLd policy in China it was irrelevant that a family was not being treated differently than any other law breakers. What mattered was the fundamental right at stake.

     

    It seems like a lot of the opinions here are based on an intense dislike of HLSDA. I get that.

     

    I think the two weakest parts of the case is the EU relocation aspect (was it clearly demonstrated that this was a possibility). and what the persecution would have been--if they hadn't complied would they have lost access to their children?

  14. Actually it's not a good legal decision. The definition of a "particular social group" has been amorphous and used to grant asylum in cases in which a social group has been persecuted, eg women subjected to female genital mutilation or to homosexuals. Asylum seekers did not have to demonstrate that the law only applied to them and not others within their group. I don't think it's a stretch to call homeschoolers in Germany a discrete group.

    Laura

  15. There are a lot more online programs now than just a couple of years ago. So much of it you can farm out piecemeal or the entire 4 years. Kolbe is starting a new online program. MP has jumped into the game. Then there's the Ron Paul program, which I know nothing about, except that it's free.

     

    Some suggestions:

    Lukeion for Latin

    Jann in Tx for math

    Athena Academy for biology

    Teaching Co. dvds for lit and history

    Brave Writer for writing

     

    Bam, you're done.

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