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babysparkler

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Posts posted by babysparkler

    Would you hold back a gifted summer-birthday 6yo for these reasons?

    in Accelerated Learner Board

    Posted

    We have been homeschooling our children for 8 years after a really bad experience with our public school.  Homeschooling was a wonderful journey, but we are starting the transition to public school again now that we moved into a better district.  Two of our four kids have already made the transition and it has been WONDERFUL and we have decided to start at least one of the remaining two next year.  Our youngest one is the difficult one to decide on.

     

     

    Our youngest (6yo) is gifted, and pretty well advanced (2nd-to-3rd grade math and reading, but Kinder-First grade writing).  He is a July birthday kid, so though he fits in more socially as a kindergartener because of younger age, he technically would be considered a first grader this year.

     

    Here is our dilemma... There is a magnet (Montessori) school we want to apply for, but it is only a possibility for entering first graders because it is highly competitive to get into and they never have openings after that first year.  If he doesn't get in there, we wouldn't have a good option for him until he enters 4th grade and can apply to the gifted magnet.

     

    Our options are this:

     

    (1) Continue to homeschool two more years (2nd and 3rd) then apply for the gifted middle school for 4th grade.

     

    (2) Hold him back this upcoming year and place him into the 1st grade again into the magnet Montessori program. 

     

    I am going to visit the Montessori school to see how much they could accommodate an "advanced first grader" next year.  In the meantime, do you think we would be making a huge mistake holding him back just so that he could go into this particular school?

    ITBS Testing - Form A vs. Form C

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I've been home testing the ITBS for many years using ITBS Form C.  When I just went to order our new set for the Fall, I learned that Form C is "embargoed" because I just moved into the Dallas ISD area... so I will need to use Form A.  Does anyone have experience with these different forms enough to tell me what the difference is?  Is it a difference of the formatting of the answer key, test results printout, or test itself... or something else? 

     

    This is all I found from BJU:

    The Iowa Tests®(ITBS®/ITED®) Form C

    If you live in New York or Dallas ISD, you will not be able to receive the Form C tests because of the publisher’s agreement with your state (areas subject to change). Form A is available for customers in these areas. If you are a South Carolina resident ordering Level 7, please call our Customer Service department (800.845.5731) for options.

     

     

    reading at 3.5

    in Accelerated Learner Board

    Posted

    I totally think it's nuts that people think teaching your child to read is stealing his/her childhood. I have a little one who just turned 4 and is reading at least a first grade level or higher. He's loving every minute of being able to pick up a book and read it himself. Now he can enjoy a book whenver he wants not just when there is someone available to read to him. What part of childhood is being stolen???

     

    I wouldn't worry what others think. If your little one is ready and willing go for it.

     

    I agree. I think early reading enhances their childhood by opening them up to worlds of knowledge they can easily access on their own :)

    Are we crazy to move for High School choice?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by babysparkler

    Here is my dilemma... please let me know if you think we are crazy...

     

    (1) Our 7th grader is highly gifted, which is why I am homeschooling in the first place. Our current district is terrible and was forcing him to "conform" with their low standards and refused to allow him to work ahead at his level. He has been homeschooling from 2nd-7th grade and is doing beautifully... though, he is starting to need more of a challenge than we both feel I am able to give.

     

    (2) A neighboring district has a magnet school that has consistently rated in the top 3 highschools in the nation for years, and is specifically a "gifted" magnet. I hear it is highly competitive to get into as a resident, and even more so as a non-resident since they take in-district first and all others get placed onto a waiting list.... but I am nearly certain that he will be accepted if he is living within the district. He would need to be already living there to be considered a resident at the time of application.

     

    (3) My son has been asking to go to this neighboring district magnet school and has his heart set on it after seeing the course plan, and because it will be "all gifted kids"... he really, really, really craves being around "likeminded" kids.

     

    (4) The freshman class is the time to enter, since it is rare that spots open up after the first year, so the option of waiting until later isn't good.

     

    (5) My husband actually works on that side of town, so it would simplify his commute and centralize our "world". (This also happens to be our church, so it would make ministry opportunities within our church more feasible.)

     

    Here is THE NEGATIVE:

     

    (1) The cost for a house MUCH SMALLER would be more than TWICE what our current home is worth. (Though a nicer neighborhood)

     

    (2) Moving... UGH!

     

    (3) Possibility he still won't get in (though unlikely, it is still a possibility)

     

    (4) We are pretty firmly rooted in this part of town... soccer teams, friends, etc., etc. This is our world, and it would be so hard to leave :(

    Khan Academy now supports accounts for your children under 13

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I got this email today :party:

    _____________________________________

    Khan Academy now supports accounts for your children under 13.

    If you sign into your Khan Academy account today, you can now create an account for your child, even if they don't have an e-mail address, Google, or Facebook account.

    You'll automatically be registered as a coach for your child and get access to all of their progress at Khan Academy. For more information on child accounts, visit our help page.

    Cheers,

    Sal and the Khan Academy Team

    So, who's starting tomorrow?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    We are :D in theory. But the school room is a total wreck, and I've been super busy with Ramadan & Girl Scouts for the last 2 weeks and haven't even looked at our new materials yet.

     

    Dd is ready to start back though, she is ready to start 2nd grade and Brownie work.

     

    Same here... I feel like summer was way too short because I spent all of June sick with Pneumonia. I want to start late, and wish the kids felt the same way, but they are all gung-ho about starting tomorrow:001_huh:. I think I need to get in the mood before tomorrow! Maybe I should go smell some crayons or sharpen some of our new pencils :D.

    Six week school modules followed by a week break?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I know there are a few out there who do something similar- six weeks school, followed by a week break for kids (planning time for mom). Do you have any tips or tricks for this? I think it sounds like a good method to reduce the risk of burnout.

     

    Is the break totally school free, or do you still do math and reading? Or do you use the week maybe for field trips or messier projects?

     

    We do this. During our week breaks we have visits from their Grandparents. The GP are always asking to come visit, so I set the school schedule the Spring before the school year starts, and they have plenty of time to find good deals on plane tickets for those weeks. The kids don't do any work when they are here... They pretty much play lots of board games and read books with the GP all week while I get some cleaning or planning done without much distraction :) It works well for all of us.

    CC... Wanted: Book about how to let God's love heal you from past hurts/abandonment

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by babysparkler

     

    Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody was a book that my (Christian) counselor recommended to me... not an outwardly Christian book, but one that definitely honors the role of the Lord in the healing process. It really changed my whole outlook and understanding of myself. I had a similar past as yours, from what it sounds. Feel free to PM me anytime. :grouphug:

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