Michelle T Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I find that the longer I homeschool, the less inclined I am to teach various subjects/topics that neither I nor my DS are interested in. Things like magnetism/electricity, or writing poetry. Stuff that is usually included in K-6 scope/sequences, but doesn't seem that critical to me. Anyone else like this, or am I just being lazy or bad? I do plan on covering all science topics in high school, but just can't bring myself to make DS hate schooling even further by insisting on covering stuff he doesn't care about anyway. Michelle T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Things like poetry I find important, whether the kids think I should teach it or not, an appreciation and understanding of poetry is something I want for my kids. For things like science topics, there is just too many to possibly cover everything I want to especially before grade 6, so I can see missing topics in that in the K-6 timeframe, I just aim to cover them at some point before they graduate. There is many subjects the kids just aren't interested in like grammar and math but they do not have a choice in learning those things. They simply don't know what is best for their educations at this point in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 For me, the only that either I or DS doesn't love is spelling. Actually, the only one that DS doesn't love is spelling! :-) I'm convinced of its importance, so we slog through, regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I find that the longer I homeschool, the less inclined I am to teach various subjects/topics that neither I nor my DS are interested in. Things like magnetism/electricity, or writing poetry. Stuff that is usually included in K-6 scope/sequences, but doesn't seem that critical to me. You're the mom, so unless the dad has a different vote then it sounds like a decision has been made.:D Science is a survey subject. Your ds will never learn all there is to learn about science. However, if you very relaxed, as far as totally skipping science topics, then you might want to consider using a good general science curriculum in JrHigh prior to starting high school science. If there are subject areas that are totally foreign in high school science, then he will have to work harder than if he has had some previous exposure. I wouldn't worry so much about writing poetry, but why not copy poetry and use it to teach literary devices. Poetry is crammed full of literary devices. It is an easy way to learn about literary devices prior to having to use them for analysis in high school. HTH- Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteB Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 For me, the only that either I or DS doesn't love is spelling. Actually, the only one that DS doesn't love is spelling! :-) I'm convinced of its importance, so we slog through, regardless. Do you mean irregardless?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friederike in Persia Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 To learn to think scientifically is way more important than to have covered all the topics. So I wouldn't worry too much. I did science at university and had covered a lot less than all my follow students (I had come from another country, but for some reason the university accepted me anyway, even though I'd done a lot of history and French up to that point). It took a bit more study time, but within half a year I was caught up. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vettechmomof2 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Do you mean irregardless?? Sorry for cutting and and please do not take this in a mean way but it drives my husband crazy if I do not mention it. ( I hate having to write that as I always feel wrong right away):blush: Irregardless is not "always' considered a proper word and there is much controversy over it. I posted a little tidbit about it below if you are interested. Again, mainly I am writing it because my hubby has it drilled into my brain about it.:tongue_smilie: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless As for staying on topic, I am always more inclined to teach the subjects that I enjoy. I do drudge through certain others anyway but we do focus heavily on life sciences in my house and history, languages and reading. We get the rest done but unless hubby is pushing for something specific(he normally does it then for me) then I do not stress over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Well, the dilemma in my house is that science and math are my least favorites/weakest areas. DD7's favorite subject is science and dd5's favorite subject is math so I have to find it in me somewhere. I am considering doing away with an actual "spelling" program though. My dd7 is a natural speller and I believe dd5 is following along that path as well. Right now, spelling seems to end up being more a handwriting exercise alone because she automatically knows how to spell the words. I think I am going to continue with Wordly Wise and make those words her spelling words as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteB Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm thinking that this may be one of those regional things that I picked up from my parents? We enjoy studying words and expressions. On the West Coast we pronounce the "l" in "palm" and the good people at BJU list it as a silent letter. On the subject of teaching what we don't enjoy....I rush through diacritical marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Because ds started in ps, then private, then home in middle school, there are some holes that I didn't always catch. Poetry is one of them. Sure, we read poetry, but we never really studied it, learned about it, created it. Ds is now in highschool and is really, really struggling in his poetry unit. His is gifted in language skills but there is so much to poetry, with the different literary terms that he feels like he is really doing some major catch up right now. I don't think you have to spend an immense amount of time on it, but I would at least touch the subject as it comes up in curriculum, or do a small poetry unit each year to introduce the literary terms. Science topics are the same. I don't have a problem waiting to start science, but if you skip a topic in elementary school then make sure you touch on it in middle school, so when they get to high school it isn't too much to learn in such a short period of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Do you mean irregardless?? You're kidding, right? :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm thinking that this may be one of those regional things that I picked up from my parents? We enjoy studying words and expressions. On the West Coast we pronounce the "l" in "palm" and the good people at BJU list it as a silent letter. On the subject of teaching what we don't enjoy....I rush through diacritical marks. Not regional. I strongly recommend not using it in speech or writing. To many, it is a class shibboleth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 On the West Coast we pronounce the "l" in "palm" and the good people at BJU list it as a silent letter. I pronounce "palm" with the "l" too. Thanks for the heads up about BJU's pronounciation of it. I don't agree with that. At the very least, it seems like it should sound almost-there, even if you don't clearly enunciate the "l". Back to your regular programming..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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