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TX Native

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Everything posted by TX Native

  1. There is an MEP Facebook group that is fairly active.
  2. I’m finding the same thing. Only we hadn’t used MUS until ds enrolled in a 1 day/week tutorial that uses it this year. He has always caught onto new math concepts well, but not MUS Algebra. He watches the video, I read the lessons and TRY to help if needed, and sometimes I still have to resort to YouTube for extra teaching on the content because I don’t remember all of Algebra 1. I am having him do the bare minimum assigned for the tutorial and working slowly with him a couple days/week through CLE. He is able to understand the CLE lessons without watching a video or having a teacher one day/week or needing too much help from me. We like CLE Algebra 1 so much better, but that might be because we’ve used it the past 4 years. Ds just doesn’t have time to do CLE to its fullest and MUS tutorial homework along with his other schoolwork. I was going to give ds an Alg 1 credit for 8th grade, but instead I am just having him get through this tutorial class and planning to do Algebra 1 at honor’s level his 9th grade year (not using MUS). Kind of bummed because I suspect ds to choose a math related major in college, but I think it will all work out well in the end. BTW, he is getting a B- in his Algebra tutorial class and if I were grading the CLE work, he’d probably be getting a low A.
  3. THANK YOU everyone! You all have been so very helpful! I did get a call from the doctor’s nurse today reporting the low result (not knowing I already checked everything thru the online portal) and asking me to supplement with 1000 IU/day. I went to the natural food store and there were so many supplement options it was overwhelming. I’m not sure I got the “best” option, but I got a dissolvable D3 with K2 (since one of you suggested K2). Figured I can research which options are better than others over the next days, but for now I just want to get replacement started ASAP. I am thinking to start with 1/day to make sure she adjusts to that and can sleep at night, and then up it to 2/day. To answer some questions from this thread.....thyroid, celiac, autoimmune, anemia, and other issues have all been tested and ruled out as issues over the past year. I wish B12 was one of the tests now that I know VitD is low, but I will ask for that test whenever the Vit D level gets retested. Thanks again for all the reassurance and advice!
  4. I haven’t posted here in a long while, but still lurk mostly on the education boards. Just curious, without going into too many details (since I don’t want to say too much about my child), would a low vit d level of 18 be enough to make a child pretty much feel crappy a good bit of the time? Would it build up over time? Even if child does still have enough energy to happily play with friends and energized to do just sheer fun stuff? Although, there’s starting to be a little less endurance there too maybe. I know it isn’t a critical value, but the doc hasn’t called since I read the result online 2 days ago. All other labs were normal. Thanks in advance for any insight.
  5. Probably chicken haystacks (rice topped with chopped chicken/broth and various toppings) or taco salad bar. a go-to funeral meal I try to pull together last minute when church members pass away is spiral ham, freshly fried chicken ordered from a local grocery store’s deli, and meatballs warmed in the crockpot with BBQ sauce. I ask other church members to bring southern-style green beans, a potato dish or mac & cheese, veggie tray, fruit platter, rolls, desserts, and maybe a large green salad if the family is the type to like hearty salads. I need to come up with a new go-to meal because almost every family of our elderly members has had that funeral meal atleast once. I’m a bit worried about what to feed the same families when the now surviving spouse passes away.
  6. For a mom with a child about to complete CLE Math 805 and would like to start Algebra 1 in August, this is a helpful perspective. Thank you!
  7. The Apple Pencil is like a stylus, but writes onto the screen exactly like a pen or pencil, more precise than a stylus. I use it in combo with the notability app when needing to fill out and sign forms for the kids and email the pdf to someone. I think artists can do some pretty detailed drawings via the Apple Pencil vs a stylus. For the iPad and homeschool.....it’s like a teacher assistant to me. I keep track of my records, test scores, books read lists, attendance, and such mostly through files on the Notability app. I keep quite a bit in the calendar and do all my online umbrella school reporting via the iPad. We use YouTube a lot to pull up supplemental videos for science, history, art, etc... I save maps and artist prints to photos and pull those up as needed. My kids watch quite a bit of drawing and how to videos on the iPad. My youngest does BJU history videos, The kids use the metronome app when practicing music. The kids also get links via email from their music teachers as practice helps. I look up anything I am unsure about that comes up as a question from them. If we still did MEP math, I would have dc use their interactive math pages online. When we are learning hymns, we pull up a video with lyrics and sing along. I have the larger screen version so all our iBooks read like a full textbook page. I had used the free Mr Q life science download and taught it reading off the screen. Oh, and the kids ask Siri random stuff like “Why are fire trucks red?” (you should ask Siri that....it’s quite an interesting answer) . Other apps that come in handy are the calculator, Khan Academy, stop motion videos, math speed drills, geography games, and Sudoku puzzles (for when I’m just waiting to work with one child or for someone to finish up a subject for me to check here and there) ETA: also, audiobooks
  8. For me, "the long haul" would mean using CLE as the main spine for math over at least several years, or through the completion of the levels. As of right now, my son is wanting to do CLE Algebra next year instead of taking the Algebra class using a different program at his weekly tutorial. As long as it is working for him, I don't plan to switch it up. I doubt the revised Sunrise Edition Geometry will be ready the year after next, so he will likely do Geometry at the tutorial or with me using a different program. I think he is in CLE "for the long haul" (returning to CLE if the revised Algebra 2 is out in 2 1/2 years), but know things can change. I don't foresee my daughter using it after level 6. She will likely do better taking math as a tutorial class with a teacher or see a tutor 1-2 times/week. If those options aren't available to her, she will likely comple te CLE through level 6 before 8th grade and switch to something like Math U See or Teaching Textbooks for pre-Algebra. So for her, I doubt we're in it "for the long haul". For her, we're doing it for the foundation and to keep tears away from schooltime as much as possible. However, I think if she stuck with CLE through all completed levels, it isn't lacking that much. My guess is EVERY math program has something lacking, but as long as the program lays a great foundation for the student to understand and show competency in most essential math concepts it will be fine. I define essential math concepts as things needed to succeed in everyday day consumer and problem solving "life" encounters at a minimum, and (beyond that) things needed to do well in career related math course requirements. I don't think any math program could cover everything possible and not have any gaps. I just think math program,publishers can only hope to set the student up to be as successful as possible in math. Then when there are gaps, hope their program laid a solid enough foundation for the student to figure out how to fill in those gaps when needed for real life or career training.
  9. I think CLE can be independent if needed for a child that has a natural ability to understand math, but I agree that parent involvement with teaching and going through missed problems with the child helps. Also, we haven't done the flash cards part of CLE, because my oldest didn't need them. I wish I had done CLE with the flashcard practice as instructed in the workbooks with my youngest, because she needed remediation work with simple math facts.
  10. My oldest completed MEP years 1-4a and then CLE 405-710 ( he just started the 800 books). MEP was very hands on, deep, conceptual, and interesting. CLE is straight forward and do the next thing with lots of spiral review. People say the CLE word problems are weak, and they are light compared to MEP, but I have not supplemented with anything additional since we switched to CLE. A few months ago, my oldest took his 1st ever standardized test and scored years 12 and 13 respectively on the mathematical calculations and reasoning sections. My youngest did MEP years 1-2 and then CLE 205-407 (407 is her current workbook number). She is over a year "behind" average for her grade level. The only supplementing is a math tutor this year since math is a struggle. She also took her 1st ever standardized test a few months ago "cold" (no prep) and scored just 5 months "below" her grade level in mathematical computation and 2 years "ahead" grade level in mathematical reasoning. IMO, CLE is more than sufficient for the long haul, but I believe that is only for a child that does well with workbooks, spiral approach, and learning mostly from the written instruction at the start of each lesson. However, it is great if the teacher is able to walk the student through the new material.
  11. It doesn't take long at all, BUT this is only because he isn't doing the program to its fullest. He reads a chapter twice/week (about 15-20 min) and does a lab once/week (about 30-45 min from start to finish including set up, clean up, and answering the lab book questions). He does the lab write-up and we talk about the results (the teacher's guide is very helpful for this). Ideally, he would spend a longer time on each reading assignment, we would discuss the questions in depth, I would make sure he understand it all to mastery, and I would do the test at the end of each section. If we did the latter, I would guess he would spend about 45-60 min/day 3 x/week. We haven't been that formal or gone in depth for content mastery in science yet. Most of his science in the past has been nature readers, documentaries or educational shows, some living books about scientists (he's a big reader), going to science museums, and reading through some of the Mr. Q elementary science series. I am just using the Rainbow Science for my son to be familiar with the science terms, have a more compact overview of how science "stuff" works, and do some straightforward, practical labs. He watches videos on the topics every now and then. If we do the year 2 biology and applied science sections next year, I'm planning to require more work and demonstrate more mastery. Still deciding if I'm going to repeat Physical Science with a high school text for credit in 8th grade OR if I'm going to have him finish the Rainbow Science program without an early high school credit.
  12. I agree that doing it all in one year is very doable, especially for an 8th grader. We are doing year 1 for my 7th grader, but it isn't a priority subject so it is taking the whole year to do year 1. Glancing through year 2, I do not think it is enough as a high school biology credit without a large amount of supplementing. The biology portion is one of 4 sections of the entire book and is meant to take up one semester of the 2 year plan. Take this with a grain of salt since I am 2 years out from planning a high school biology course, but I can see the biology section being a good spine if you want to round it out with videos, extra reading on each topic, and some higher level labs. I am just not sure how much you would need to beef up since I haven't planned out high school science yet.
  13. We only have the sick kid stay home unless there isn't an option for someone else to be with the sick kid or take the well kid to/from the activity. My oldest was sick last week on a day both my kids had the same extracurricular classes. The teachers were fine my well child came. In fact, she missed part of her classes because I had to work around my mom's schedule for someone to come check on my oldest while I was out for a couple hours. The teachers would have preferred she had come to all the classes, but understood the situation. They all asked about ds and said they hoped he felt better soon. No worries on their end or their classmates end about getting sick from the sibling that was well.
  14. Sherry and Jan, thanks for your your input as well, I was thinking about, typing, and submitting my response to Farrar before I was able to read your posts. You both gave great explanations of how it is likely working in our school system. My son would be in the same school system as his friend, just his friend is one grade level ahead. ETA: I do miss all the statistics covered in MEP, even in the early years. My son is highly likely to go into a career field heavy on statistics. His mind is just wired that way. My main reason for wanting him to have one high school math credit in 8th grade is so he can take statistics his senior year if he continues to be obsessed with population growths/declines around the world, percentages on everything from fantasy football to how likely is one to get struck by lightening, cost of living, work wages, etc.....
  15. This is such helpful advice. I looked through the MEP material for years 7-9 more closely and found that quite a bit would be review for him, but there is enough new material to not skip those years. My son says he likes CLE a lot and was looking forward to continuing on with their Algebra. Being familiar with MEP from the early years, he would like that as a 2nd option if I made him switch programs, but he would prefer to stick with CLE. Your advice to cover some geometry through another program is a good idea. He currently enjoys watching Khan Academy videos as a supplement to history and science, so I think he would be on board with covering some geometry through Khan as "homework." I can either ask to look at the table of contents of his friend's textbook or call the school for a S&S list for Integrated Math 1. After reviewing that, I can decide if I want him to do all of the Algebra 1 with a light geometry supplement, or just cover what the school covers in their textbook. Thanks for taking time to give input, especially a heads up that MEP's S&S is likely way off from our school system's S&S even though they are both an integrated approach to high school level math.
  16. My son is planning to do CLE Algebra 1 next school year. He will be in 8th grade. I was reading about integrated math on some other threads. I believe our public schools are going to this. I haven't yet asked officially, but his friend is taking integrated math 1 in 8th grade for high school credit. I didn't know what his friend meant by integrated math, but after reading a few threads asking for high school math advice, I now understand. There is about a 25% possibility my son will try public high school starting in 9th grade. Our plan is to consider several options for high school and look more seriously into each option next fall. If it is true that the public schools are doing integrated math vs standard Alg 1/Geo/Alg 2 sequence, I really need to rethink my plan to teach Algebra 1 next school year. MEP is the only math program that is integrated (I think) and I feel comfortable jumping into after using CLE the past 3 years. We started with MEP, but switched to CLE around 4th-5th grade. The material was fine and we liked it, but I needed something more student independent for awhile and stuck with CLE longer than intended, because we both liked it as well. I understand the MEP website and how to use the materials. I will be overwhelmed with the thought of starting fresh with an unfamiliar program at this late in the ballgame, I briefly looked over MEP years 7, 8, and 9. If we switch back to MEP, I want to be at a place that would be considered high school Integrated Math 1 by September or October. My son is about to start the CLE 802 book and will likely finish through 804 by mid-May. My plan before the possible Integrated Math need happened was for ds to work on book 805 during the summer and go through a pre-Algebra video series for review (like Chalkdust) before starting Algebra 1 in September. Would MEP be a better plan if the high schools are doing integrated math (I will verify that is the case before switching gears)? If so, what year of MEP would be similar in rigor to what a high school would consider Integrated Math 1? If switch is needed, I could ditch my current summer plan, and my son could briefly go quickly go through any new/missed material in MEP year 7 this summer, start with MEP year 8 iin September (but move through some of it quickly since some of it was covered in CLE), and start year 9 after Christmas. I'm not sure how far into MEP year 9 we will need to be to give him an Integrated Math 1 high school credit. Anyone experienced with MEP placement for Integrated Math 1? ETA: I wonder how Integrated Math vs. standard sequence wil work with reporting to an umbrella school. Our umbrella school requires 4 years of high math to include Alg 1/Geo/Alg 2. If I switch to integrated math1, 2, and 3 instead to align credits with area public schools, will this go over well with an umbrella school that recommends the traditional high school math credits? Of course, I will ask the umbrella school directly if I switch to integrated math, but want to be "okay" with the math route I choose regardless of if we continue homeschooling or do public school for high school.
  17. Now the search feature isn't working for me. Off to start a thread that probably already answers my question.
  18. I couldn't log in for a couple of weeks. I usually only log in if I find something helpful to contribute or want to ask a question. I'm so bummed that one poster purchased a TM manual she asked about after waiting a day or two for replies. Fortunately, it wasn't an expensive purchase and will likely be helpful, but I was going to state that the answer key (a few dollars less) is sufficient IMHO. Oh well! I thought the problem was with my computer or internet. browser.
  19. A newer one we LOVED is Julie Andrew's Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies. It has a sweet CD with it as well. We absulely loved the ones you mentioned in OP!
  20. Math-CLE 500 series+tutoring if necessary English- Easy Grammar 6 or R&S 5 (we have R&S and she can view EG beforehand...I'll let her choose), lit reading assigningments and family read alouds TBD (I like MP lists for her), intro to written narrations (we are a year "behind" with this, but she is competent at oral narrations now and has done okay with creative writing this year), R&S Spelling 6. I liked R&S 6 for older ds, but I think it will overwhelm her. I may save R&S 6 for her 7th grade year. She is doing BJU DL Heritage Studies 5 this year and loves the teacher. So next year she will likely do BJU DL Science 5 just because it has the same teacher and she liked the sample video. We just couldn't squeeze in a full science video course in addition to the online history course this year being out and about quite a bit. Typing-DanceMat typing followed by typing.com Music-private lessons and band Art is her hobby...she follows along with lots of online videos. I kind of wonder if she is going to get on the Bob Ross bandwagon soon and try to follow along with him. I would love to get her private art lessons or enroll her in a small group class with top notch instruction, but there is only so much time and money. Lots of odd and end outside the home stuff-a one day/week full day enrichment program that lightly covers some core subjects and fine arts, regular volunteer at a community program, a community nature program, church activities, etc..... if only there were time and energy to add in Latin and organized sports!
  21. Maybe that is why my Goodwill was so well stocked with nice clothes the last time I went! I was in shock. I rounded out my entire summer wardrobe for $25 since most warm weather stuff was tagged 99 cents. They were all good quality, no stains, and not stretched/faded items.
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