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jeri

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Posts posted by jeri

    What do you do for YOU?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I was driving my kids to the children's program and watching and they were sort of lukewarm to it. I looked into adult classes, went and fell in love with this sport! Now I'm super-flexible, feeling really strong, have advanced a bunch of belt colors, have competed in a tournament, etc. I'm out of the house 2 nights a week and I LOVE IT!

     

    jeri

    Need suggestions for Manuscript program for older child

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    When my son was in K/1st, he kept reversing his letters, using a mix of caps/lower case, etc. So, we used Cursive First and now he is in 2nd and has beautiful handwriting! So, what's the problem? When he reverts to printing he still does the same thing. Any suggestions for a manuscript program? Since I have other kids, I don't particularly want to create my own. Also, since he's older he needs narrow lines--not your typically wide K lines. Finally, I do not want to use Getty Dubay or HWOT.

     

    Thanks.

     

    jeri

    Do you think R&S math-concepts vs memorization

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I have four kids and except for one, all seem to shine with Singapore. But one dd was just not getting the Asian math thing. i tried regressing her with Rightstart, tried SM, then finally just had her use R&S. This actually worked really well, even though it sort of drives me crazy since I'm a math "purist." It was pure memory, but if that is what it takes, I'm happy.

     

    jeri

    Is CW Homer A as hard as it appears?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    for both mom and student. My 5th grader finished Homer A around Christmas and we started on Homer B with the new year. She is doing very well, but it *is* a lot of work and I must say that she doesn't *like* it. Also, I think the idea is that you do a lesson every week. Well, with all the other subjects she does in addition to Homer, we have been doing it over two weeks. Anyway, this Jan she did the first lesson in Homer B and I told her to stop. She was very behind in history, really wanted to spend more time in science, and we have some huge family changes coming up next month. I knew that for us both to put the time and energy into this was not going to happen, so I think we have shelved it until the fall.

     

    Well, that said, I do think it's very doable for a 6th grader. You really need to focus on dwelling in the minute with this curriculum though. As a teacher, you have to really understand where you are going and why you are going there. It has taken me a long time to understand CW, but I think it is this: In Aesop, you are focusing on primary grammar--words, sentences, paragraphs, as well as spellling and organizing thoughts sequentially. In Homer, the student takes each part of speech and really works on them so that s/he knows them inside and out. There is a huge emphasis on writing with an eye to including all the important details (Theon;s components), understanding what is essential and what is not needed (but adds to) a story, and writing from different perspectives in time (from the future looking back, starting in the middle of things,etc.). As others said, it is important that you, the mom, really work on the core manual. I have read it through at least 3 times over the past year or so, and I preread each section when we get there.

     

    As for my dd, she does already have a good handle on grammar. She also can type pretty quickly (very important in rewrites!), and she's a hard worker. She doesn't require a lot of hand holding, but I believe I am shortchanging her if I don't spend time with her each day with Homer.

     

    However, I do think that this is a very worthwhile program. I do intend to use it with my next children.

     

    I would suggest you try it! But please take it very slowly in the beginning. Go to the CW boards adn ask questions. Reread and reread the manual. Just do the best you can! I really believe that there is a huge reward in this program.

     

    Blessings,

    jeri

    Anyone raise chickens? Doran, are you there?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    but we have a dozen laying hens who are sort of like pets. I thinkn that they do need real chicken food since unless they are amazing foragers, they won't get enough of what they need. Right now, in rainy, gloomy New England we still let our chickens out during the day for a couple of hours, and I can't imagine what they find to snack on since all the bugs are hibernating. Although my kids did say that they thought one of them ate a fieldmouse who was out during the day . . . Chicken feed is about $11 a bag (40 lbs?) so that's a small price to pay for our fine feathered friends.

     

    jeri

     

    PS. If you ever decide to fill your freezer with red meat again, I have a great source!

    History Odyssey users,

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My 5th grade dd is a pretty good writer, and rather diligent as well. She did Ancients level 2 last year, but we both noticed that MA is a pretty good leap from Ancients ! I think it is because of the sheer number of lessons in MA. I only have my dd do HO twice a week and I really think it would take 4 times a week to do a thorough job. That said, I have edited some of the projects and reduced the number/amount of work the author proposes. Also, I don't think we are going to get thruoght HO for the year. She is almost done with MA for Europe, but I think we will skip the rest of the world and go right into the Renaissance. (Now I feel so ethnocentric!) So, you might choose to take it on, but be prepared to edit.

     

    jeri

    Why would one use other grammar programs if they plan to use AG for middle?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    you are also getting a good dose of grammar already! My 5th grader has done LfC A and LfC B, and is now halfway through LBO. We just added Latin Prep. She amazes me with her knowledge of grammar! I actually have the entire series of R&S English up to 6th, and we only occasionally check something out. So, I have since reconsidered my original ideas on grammar and am now going to just have her do AG.

     

    jeri

    Is Son of Charlemagne worth ordering??

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    that she liked the story itself, but since the reading is sort of "old-fashioned" it is difficult to read. However, the plot/story was good.

     

    (Mom's comment: I think she enjoyed the story itself, but kind of struggled with some of the words. BTW, she had just turned 10 when she read it, and even though she is a strong reader, it definitely challenged her. But if you were doing this as a read aloud . . . )

     

    jeri

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