JeanM
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Posts posted by JeanM
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I think it depends on the plans for your dc in the future. For example, if they want to graduate early, like after completing high school math, you would want to make sure that they completed high school science on the same schedule. :001_smile:
Jean
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I picked up LOF fractions a year ago (I think). DS tried it some last year and liked it, but it got packed away and I forgot about it. I pulled it out this spring after he finished his Singapore book and he had fun with it. I don't think he learned much from it, but he had fun with it anyway, and it was a good way for him to keep up with his math skills.
I don't know how well it would work as a primary program. I know there have been some threads about it on the high school board, you could search there and see what has been said.
Jean
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I think I'm convinced - I'll let them both see their scores. I do like the idea of putting it away fairly quickly so they don't dwell on them, thanks Abbey. And I really like the idea of doing a little study on statistics and percentiles first. We haven't even sent the tests in yet, so we have plenty of time for that.
Thanks everyone!
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I'm giving my two dss (ages 9 and 6) the ITBS this week. I'm sure they'll both get really high scores, except maybe older ds and spelling. My older ds took the ITBS in 1st grade, two years ago, and I think I told him afterwards that he did well, but didn't go into detail on the actual scores.
Do most people show their kids the score results? I'm a little worried that it might lead to laziness, because they are doing so well why should they work hard. I'm also worried that it could lead to bragging, especially if they look at how their scores compare to the national norms. OTOH, it is the truth and this is what they have achieved.
Jean
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I used "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" with both of my boys. It is great for blending and the lessons are pretty short and they thought the stories were funny. It starts out pretty slow, you can go pretty quickly through the beginning parts if your dc already knows that stuff. I skipped all the writing for my dc, but they had "issues" with writing. It is cheap too.:001_smile:
My younger ds likes ETC too, but I don't think it is as good at teaching your child to blend sounds.
Jean
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I agree too. Changing times always messes up both of my dc.
Jean
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I also used "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" with both of my dc. I liked the book and would definitely use it again if I had another child. If you decide to use this book, I'd recommend skipping the writing parts. And with my older ds, we often had to "take breaks" for a few weeks because he just wasn't getting it. I'd try again later and he'd say it was easy. My dc are now 8 and 6. They both read well and enjoy it.
My other main piece of advice is to continue reading to your dc, even when they learn to read!
Have fun,
Jean
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I found one which is similar though:
http://www.sengifted.org/articles_counseling/Lind_BeforeReferringAGiftedChildForADD.shtml
I hope that works, I'm not sure how to do links on these boards.
Jean
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I can't find it, can you post the link please?
Thanks,
Jean
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I love Ikea stuff, and we have quite a bit of it. My dc sleep in an Ikea bunk bed every night. It is true that some of their stuff is veneer over particle board, but some of it is solid wood (and some is metal like my dc's bunk bed). If you prefer solid wood, make sure you look for that.
My comment though, is that if you are driving a long way to the Ikea, make sure you check the stuff before you leave the store. More than once I've opened a package to find a corner of something chipped and once a broken board. In fact the computer desk I'm sitting at has a little chip off the top that was there when we bought it. We bought it at an Ikea near my sister's house which was a 5 hour drive away, so we never returned it.
They recently opened an Ikea near to us, about a 20 minute drive. When I returned a damaged item that I bought there, the woman at the return desk recommended that I open the replacement item and check it before I left. She pointed out that they actually have an area past check-out that is designed for people who want to open their boxes and make sure that everything looks ok inside. The tough part is getting everything back in the box when you are done.:)
Also, make sure you don't buy more than will fit in your car or van.
Jean
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For instance, if his grammar book has 239 pages, than that would work out to be about 7 pages a week. It sounds like he could do that in about 20 minutes. You then need to decide if you consider that adequate grammar. Personally, I'd call it enough, but try to reinforce in other ways.
Math, on the other hand, I would probably require more than 5 minutes per day, even if that means he would finish the book before the end of the school year.
I'm thinking about changing the way I do things for next year, and trying Erica's "menu" method.
Jean
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I personally would not recommend doing the workbook, IP, CWP and Miquon for a child who is "getting it" easily the first time. That really sounds like overkill. I've never looked at the more advanced books of Miquon (started the first book with one son), so I really can't comment on its value.
I guess if money is not a big issue, get all the Singapore books (text, wb, IP, CWP), BUT don't make her do every problem in every book. If the concepts come easily, I often skip half the problems for my ds. If money is really tight, I'd make a choice and either get wb or IP, but not both. I've never bought the IP books so I can't really comment on those either.
Good luck,
Jean
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I have to say though, how long it takes really depends on the department you are in and your mentor. My department (Cellular and Molecular Biology) had a goal of trying to get people through in about 5 years. I would have finished in 5 years, but my oldest ds was born that last year. I finished in 5.5 years. My department didn't make a huge deal out of prelims, I finished that the end of 2nd year. I have no regrets about getting my PhD, even though I'm not working now.
DH's department is much less student-friendly and most students take much longer to get their degrees. He is in engineering and it took him way too long (over 10 years) to finish.
And on a cheerier note, I know a guy who wrote up his dissertation in less than a month. He had finished all of his research and had a job lined up. He was unmarried and really motivated to finish.
I am so with you on the "tired of living this lifestyle." We are still there since my DH is doing a post-doc.
Jean
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I have a BA in biology, with a minor in music. Also a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology.
Jean
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It was cold and clear here. I'm not sure if my 6 yo will remember it in the morning, he was pretty sleepy.
Jean
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Well we are working on impulse control with my two boys here, but it is an uphill battle. "Raising your spirited child" by Mary Kurcinka is a great book (not positive if I got the title exactly right).
Good luck,
Jean
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Sorry your week is going badly, Cleo. Unfortunately I'm afraid it is contagious. My oldest (almost 9 yo) has just been downright cranky all week, and I'm getting near the end of my rope.
Jean
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I would definitely have him take the placement test.
- Should she have him take the placement test? Or is there a general level recommended to start?
I guess it depends on what she is trying to achieve. If she just wants to challenge him, she could just buy the challenging word problems. If she is trying to teach him new material to pique his interest, she could buy the text and workbook. I've never bought the instructor's guides myself, but some people seem to love them.
- What should she buy? Text, workbook, and teacher's guide?
Jean
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Sorry you are struggling, I'm in the same boat. My ds also has severe "output problems". I guess I'm not in the same boat since homeschooling is definitely legal here!
No brilliant ideas, but deep sympathy here.
Jean
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By spring break, do you mean in March? Just a warning that there will probably be lots of snow and some roads are closed. My extended family went out there for a week two years ago, but we went in May. We loved Crystal Cave, but I don't think that is open earlier in spring. There are lots of hiking trails. We didn't hike very far due to the age spread (2 yo to 82 yo) of our group. We ended up spending more time in the car than I was imagining, just because a lot of the sites are far apart.
My kids are still asking when we can go back, they really loved it there. I'd love to go, but we live in Michigan so it would be quite a trip.
Jean
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My boys loved "The Pushcart War" by Jean Merrill and the "Story of Dr. Doolittle" by Hugh Lofting. I have to second the recommendation for the Freddy the Pig series, by Walter Brooks. There are a lot of them, which I consider a good thing, and my older son just adores them. He has read them all and re-read quite a few.
A few on my up-coming list that I'm pretty sure will be hits are "Twenty One Balloons" by William Pene DuBois and "The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles" by Julie Andrews.
Also, this is a great list of books:
http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html
Happy reading,
Jean
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I asked this recently on the high school/self-education board. This is a link to the thread there.
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We're reading "Coot Club" at bedtime (a Swallows and Amazons book) and Dragonrider during the day. We also have the CD version of "Prince Caspian" from the library, but alas the CD stopped working and I need to figure out where we are in the book in order to transition to the next CD.
Jean
Please help me decide what to do...
in Accelerated Learner Board
Posted
First of all, I definitely don't think it is short-changing your 4 yo if you don't spend a lot of money buying him new workbooks. Honestly, using lots and lots of library books, and stuff that you have from your older two should be plenty to keep him busy.
A former person from this board used to recommend this book strongly:
http://www.amazon.com/Developing-Your-Child-Success-Kenneth/dp/1878145002
It has vision and other exercises that you can do at home. I bought it, but never really used it because my ds's issues seemed to mostly resolve on their own. I don't know if that would help you or not.
Good luck,
Jean