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enlarsh

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Posts posted by enlarsh

  1. We have used the McGuffey readers everyday this year. My ds completed American Language Series for Kindergarten and I felt like the McG readers were a good extension to that curriculum.

     

    We skipped the Primer and started in Book 1. We read one lesson each day. We go over the new words (phonics) at the beginning of the story. If he does not know what a word means, I have him define it in his dictionary notebook (vocabulary and copywork). Then he reads the story for fluency and I will ask some comprehension questions. As we progressed into the second reader, we started doing some simple sentence diagramming.

     

    This works for us. I've been pleased with his progress in fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. We just finished the second reader and I'd like to find more ways to integrate these into our second grade plans next year.

  2. I am looking for some guidance here. We have our Wii set up with Netflix and everything is working properly. However, I'm not seeing a really great selection of educational stuff that everyone is talking about. I mean I can see a few National Geographic shows, lots of Veggie Tales, among other cartoon things, but I feel like I'm missing something.

     

    How do you all use your Netflix with your Wii for homeschooling purposes? We don't watch a lot of tv, so any suggestions are appreciated.

  3. As a former elementary school teacher, I have to say that the most helpful aspect is feeling so comfortable with our decision to homeschool b/c of what I experienced as a ps teacher. Homeschooling is like fishing: I know that even on a pretty bad day of homeschooling, it is still better than a good day at ps. Not to say that ps is my standard, it is definitely not--It just seems that many homeschool moms are in a state of "What if?" and constantly second-guessing themselves. That could also be my personality though--my husband and I will pray about something, make a decision, and then pretty much run with it until it's clear that we need to move in another direction.

     

    The hindrance to me was when I learned about classical education. Everything about it is contrary to what I was taught while earning my teaching degree; thus, I had to get rid of all of my preconceptions so I could fully embrace classical education. Though in reality, it wasn't too hard to do since I had witnessed the overall poor results of today's modern educational system.

  4. I grew up as an only child and I crave QUIET, but amazingly my kids' noise doesn't bother me at all (except whining, but that's another topic).

     

    My dh and I went out to dinner last night and I almost went into sensory overload with the NOISE! First, we waited outside for seating and had two trains pass within 50 yards. Then we were seated right next to the extremely squeaky front door, and then the background noise from all the talking, plus people's cell phones ringing, plus dishes dropping...(I could go on and on.) I really was a wreck by the end of the evening. I find it extremely difficult to relax in situations like that. I wish I could handle it better!

  5. Thanks for the help! Would love more ideas. I am trying to decide whether to move the piano in the schoolroom. I love it in the living room, but the room is so small it would give us much needed space. The kids would miss being able to play it for people and have us listen as much while they practice.

     

    I'm so excited, I think our year will run much more smoothly with a dedicated area.

     

    Since you are converting the garage, you may want to consider the humidity levels before you place your piano in there. Temp changes of even a few degrees can warp the piano's sound board and/or increase how often you have to have it professionally tuned.

  6. I was having similar trouble with my 3 yo. I had tried everything else and was at my wits end too! A friend told me about a book she read and I can't remember the name of it, and some folks may think it's absolutely horrible, but it worked for us.

     

    Plan to stay home for several days. This WILL NOT work while shopping at Target. Remind your child every 30 min to go potty. Set a timer so you don't forget. The strong-willed child WILL have an accident. At that point, the child is to do the correct thing 10 times in a row. That is walk from where they were playing, take pants down, sit on toilet, pull pants up, then go back to play area. Yes, 10 times in a row. By the fourth time, they are mad as anything but you just have to stick with it.

     

    We had to do this twice...then POOF! potty training done. Good luck...maybe this will help you.

  7. I think it depends on what area of the country (or world) you live in. Here in the sunny South, homeschooling is almost viewed with as favorably as most private schools. Sure, there are nay-sayers in every area, but there is a large hs population here and I've never felt really "weird" about it at all.

     

    I am amazed at how homeschooling began as an educational choice, but has quickly turned into a lifestyle. My family tends to gravitate towards other families that homeschool simply because we have so much more to talk about and our kids seem to get along so much better.

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