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Heather in VA

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Posts posted by Heather in VA

    New grade guide/sequence for Beautiful Feet is so much better

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    The thing I'm confused about is that it looks like the same spines are used in both the intermediate/jr. high and high school levels of ancients and medieval.  Are the kids really supposed to cover the same material twice like that?  Anyone know?

     

    Thanks,

    Kathy

     

    I haven't used them but this is what i've been told because I was wondering the same thing. The Medieval guides have been redone so they have different spines. Int/Jr. high uses the European World and High school uses National Geography Medieval World. Ancients hasn't been redone so it has a lot more of the same stuff.

    DD is not applying to the only state flagship that I *know* we can swing...

    in The College Board

    Posted

    I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who mentioned UAH on this thread.  We are deep in the throes of applications with my second son, and just tonight (because of this thread!) I mentioned that UAH sounded like a very good possibility, since he wants to major in engineering, and he would be guaranteed a 100% scholarship.  I have fond memories of Huntsville, and we almost were stationed there--we turned down an assignment there to come here to Chantilly--and I think he'd like it too.  He looked into it a bit more, and now it's on his list!  Yay--a safety!!

     

    Hey! We live in Vienna! I don't know about UAH, but UA actively recruits in Fairfax County and has lots of open house nights etc. in the area so you might want to keep your eye out for that. 

    • Like 1

    Tell me all about MCT Language Arts...

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    It really is as simple to use as the other posters mention.  However, we didn't have time to do 2 grammar programs and so we had to ditch it because there was virtually no lessons/teaching on mechanics and DD needed that,  It's a wonderful rgammar program if a kid doesn't need attention to mechanics.  Also, the writing leaves alot to be desired, IMO.

     

    This worries me. I really don't want to have to do two things, actually 3 since we already have a writing program, and she needs mechanics. 

     

    What did you switch to when you left MCT?

    DD is not applying to the only state flagship that I *know* we can swing...

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Since it was over double our FAFSA EFC (per kid) I thought at first that they'd forgotten to take into account that we had twins.  Nope.  And of course the third kid who will be attending in just another two years is also not taken into account.  The magic tuition fairy will apparently pay for her when it's her turn?

     

    I did not bother with a formal appeal at that school.  They were so unsympathetic on the phone when I went over this verbally - no encouragement; they seemed to think more than doubling our EFC and completely impoverishing us in our later years was completely reasonable.  And an extra $10K off would still have made them one of the most expensive net costs on her list.  I do not know what they were smoking.

     

    We did appeal at another school that gave her another $5K in grants and brought us within just a few K of EFC.  We told her that she could go there, but that package also included the standard loans, and she ended up choosing the state school, as she could go there debt-free.

     

    They are smoking the 'ego weed' and we are all supposed to be partaking. No matter how many articles are published about the horrors of extreme college debt or how many countless people go on to fulfilling and excellent careers without the benefit of the uber-elite degree, we are all still supposed to drink the kool-aid that good parents sacrifice everything and incur any debt necessary to send their student off to that amazing university that everyone says is the 'best'. 

    • Like 3

    DD is not applying to the only state flagship that I *know* we can swing...

    in The College Board

    Posted

    I do know that private schools can be cheaper because of merit aid. The packages both of my girls got from private schools were half-tuition or more. I've just never heard of kids going to somewhere like Rice on a full ride because of need. The OP was saying the "lesser" schools were financially out of reach but with the stats to get into Rice-type schools there would be plenty of excellent options who would offer full rides so 'full tuition' seems within reach. Also, does the full need stuff cover room and board? Those tend to be quite pricey at the more exclusive schools and the OP is saying that some schools she's talked to would cover everything but food and books. That's tough to beat so I'm not sure how that can be out of reach but Rice wouldn't be even with need covered. I don't think anyone has a 0 EFC.  I was just confused by the different comments. 

     

    Of course if she loves Rice, they can afford Rice, and she gets in - the more power to her. That's fantastic. The posts just seemed to me to say that a reason for avoiding having a safety school was that they couldn't find one they could afford and that confused me in light of the other posts. 

    • Like 1

    DD is not applying to the only state flagship that I *know* we can swing...

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Seriously???  You all completely failed to just go with this and comfort me  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

     

    I apologize if I left the wrong impression.  I wasn't saying that she is only applying to schools with such low admittance rates.  What I was trying to say was that the only schools we are sure she can afford are schools with low admission's rates.  It seems like there are schools where she will get in and schools we can afford and not many schools fall into both categories at once.  She is applying to four schools where she should get in without a problem.  I just can't guarantee them financially for her.  She is well above the stats for 3 of them so they anticipate she will get nice merit aid.  

     

    It's the bolded part I don't get. If I am reading this correctly you are saying that if she gets into Rice (or others like that) you will be able to afford if but if she gets into a more safety school you won't? How does that work? There will be little to no merit aid with these exclusive schools. But highly qualified students applying to state schools or other schools with more favorable admission rates are much more likely to get large merit aid packages and will have smaller initial price tags as well. 

    Tell me all about MCT Language Arts...

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    No - seriously - how do you use it LOL??? That's really all there is to it? And this works? With which book would you recommend starting? My daughter is 13. She is currently using Winston Grammar. We will be done in November. She isn't gifted. I know this is a gifted program, but she's a "different" learner for lack of a better term and I think she'd do well with this kind of approach. Winston has been very good but grammar programs before with a traditional 'do a bunch of sentences' were just pointless for her. Diagramming is frustrating for her so I prefer something that doesn't require lots of drawing of lines. My understanding is that MCT is more analysis and less (or no) diagramming. 

    Tell me all about MCT Language Arts...

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I can't figure it out from the online samples. I've looked at it occasionally over the years but have never been able to wrap my mind around exactly how it works, day to day. I have seen people make comments about it being discussion-based/socratic which is good for my daughter so I'm trying to figure it out in my head. 

     

    If my primary purpose in using it would be grammar, what would I need? How do the lessons look? Which book would I start with? Are there any written grammar lessons (like a workbook) or is it all discussion? Can you use it without all 5 books? 

     

    Thanks!

    DD is not applying to the only state flagship that I *know* we can swing...

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Yes to what all of these lovely ladies said. And if I were you, I'd be just as brutally honest with your daughter. Tell her flat out that no matter how amazing she is, when the admissions stats are like they are at these schools there is absolutely no guarantee she will get into any of them. It's not a slam on her. It's the cold, hard truth. 

     

    Tell her she needs to choose somewhere else to apply that is she can be comfortable with that has a more reasonable acceptance rate and good financial aid. I couldn't tell from the post if you will be able to afford to send her to Rice or Emory etc if she gets in, but if you are hoping for merit aid at those schools, they are very selective amongst the very select kids who were accepted. 

     

    So even if money isn't an issue, she needs to apply somewhere much more guaranteed to get in. And if money is an issue, then she needs several options where both acceptance and merit aid are in the comfortable range.

    • Like 8

    6th grade math

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I agree with OneStep that I wouldn't just change her to another independent program without first figuring out what it is about math that is causing so much stress. Is she frustrated because she doesn't understand? Is she bored? Is it truly an attitude issue? Is she placed too high or too low? Does she need a program with less problems per day? There are lots of curriculum options with many approaches but you will have more success matching her to a program if you understand a little more about what is causing the stress. 

     

     

    • Like 1

    PSA for kids who like Manga...

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I hope you like it. We've been using it as our main book/spine and sprouting off from there. Some of the stuff is really complex and beyond what she needs to know so for each chapter I create a worksheet that she fills in and it lets her know that is the information I want her to know and understand. Yesterday we found a video series that is free if you have Amazon Prime. It's called Anatomy for Beginners. We watched the episode called 'Circulation' because the first two chapters in the Manga book are the circulatory and respiratory systems. It was absolutely fascinating but I will warn you to look at it before you let your child watch. It is done by the same people who did the 'Body Exhibit' a while ago. In the video they cut open a real dead person and show you the heart and lungs. They introduce artificial blood so you can see the vascular nature of organs like the intestines (to appreciate the work the heart does) and they pump air into the lungs so you can see them breathe, the diaphragm contract and expand. It was amazing. They also have other specimens and a live person on whom an anatomical artist draws the circulatory system so you can see it move as she breathes. She is nude. It was done with respect and completely professionally. My daughter was fine with it but I know not everyone would be. But if your daughter can handle it, it was truly fascinating. Just be prepared that one of the doctors is Polish and his German accent is very thick :-). 

    • Like 2

    What curriculum are you loving and hating this year?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by Heather in VA

    This is my first year with just one to homeschool. We are doing well with just about everything.

     

    First a HUGE love - my daughter is in love with Manga Guide to Physiology as our spine for a human body study. It is packed with info. 

     

    Like:

    Derek Owens Pre-Algebra - well I really like it - she says she hates it but it's the first math program that hasn't made her cry every day. In fact she doesn't cry at all so that's a win in my book

    Winston Grammar 

    Biblioplan Ancients with Mills books

    Hand-made world geography 

    W&R Narrative II (will do Chreia as well)

    Co-op - this is our first time doing a co-op. Mostly enrichment (cooking, cross-fit, and cellular biology). I don't adore it but it's nice and my daughter likes it. 

     

    Miss -

     

    Cottage Press Bards and Poets - I put this under miss rather than hate because we both like this but she just wasn't ready. So it's on the shelf for later. She loved CP Fable and Song. We are doing W&R in the meantime.

    PSA for kids who like Manga...

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I just wanted to say that my daughter and I are having a terrific time with The Manga Guide to Physiology as part of our human body study. I originally got it because I thought she'd find it fun fluff and spark her interest in the subject, but these books are not fluff at all. She is learning so much. Who knew??? Just wanted to share in case there are others out there with Manga loving kids. 

    • Like 6

    Getting Nowhere With History

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I wonder if part of it is that SOTW 3 covers the time period with American history but isn't truly American history. I have seen lots of people end up down never ending rabbit trails trying to add full American history to SOTW 3 and it can end up taking forever. Maybe you would be better off with a program that combines World and US for you so you aren't feeling the need to keep adding. After all, you can always add something else when it comes to history. I use Biblioplan, but there are other options as well. 

    • Like 2
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