Obviously, I'm not doing too well with the blogging. I had all of these high hopes involving my posting with regularity. No matter. I have an excuse.
After my last post, in which I detailed how I aim to remain productive while sick, I found that I just didn't get better. After more than ten days of being sick, I started to cough up blood, and I finally decided to go to a doctor. Thankfully, it wasn't anything too serious. I just had been coughing for so long, that my throat was irritated. In any case, I went to see the doctor, who kindheartedly chided me for not having come in earlier, and I went on my way with a diagnosis of bronchitis, a throat infection, and an eye infection. After about three days, I started to feel human again.
Then, if that wasn't enough to deal with, I've been fairly concerned over my 14yo daughter, E. She was diagnosed with episcleritis several months ago. This is a fancy name for eye redness and inflammation. It only seems to effect her right eye. Well, we took her to the eye doctor a while ago, and he wasn't too concerned about it. He prescribed anti-inflammatory eye drops and it cleared up, but then he told us that if it came back again, to make sure that she gets checked to rule out any underlying issues. Well, it came back. Twice. And for the last few weeks, the redness has been a constant, sometimes getting better or worse at varying times of the day. I still wasn't worrying, but decided to call her pediatrician to ask if he could take a look at her. He suggested we take her to a pediatric rheumatologist instead, as there was only so much he could do before sending me to a specialist anyway. He figured he'd save us time, and he referred us to a pediatric rheumatology group in a nearby town. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there are only seven pediatric rheumatologists in our whole state, and four of them work together so close to us. In any case, having to see a specialist for something I had initially thought would be innocuous, was a bit frightening. Strike that, I'm lying. It was more than a bit frightening. And of course, it didn't help that I spent countless hours reading stuff online that did little to temper my anxiety. But the rheumatology appointment came and went without a hitch. The doctor, who we loved, told us that there was no outward, physical sign of systemic disease, and I felt like I could draw breath again. Of course, to be completely certain that my daughter didn't have any of the auto-immune disease markers, we'd have to take her to Labcorp for bloodwork. We did that last week, and I still don't have the results. And yeah, I'm frustrated with the wait, and am still anxious about all of this.
Well, I was getting increasingly frustrated with feeling completely impotent with regard to all of this, so I continued to research auto-immune issues, and how diet, particularly a gluten-free diet, can help in some cases. I figured it wouldn't hurt to be proactive, and just make some adjustments. Tangentially related, my son, age 10, has had ongoing (more like on and off) intestinal/bowel issues over the years. I had discussed this with his doctor, but he didn't feel it was a serious issue, as my son seemed well overall. He was thriving it seemed. In any case, the more I read about the gluten-free diet, the more I wanted to try it. I figured I could put the family on an elimination diet, and then after a while, reintroduce gluten and see what happens. I wrote out a detailed menu, made a few trips to the store and farmer's market, and we were set.
Immediately, I saw a difference in myself (no more bloating!) and in my son. I didn't see a difference at all with my husband or my daughters. But the changes, particularly for my son, were eye-opening. I noticed that my son was much more relaxed. He's a very restless sleeper, and in fact, just getting him to bed is difficult. It's like he has difficulty winding down. I think I may have written before how he is very active during our homeschooling. He gets up, walks around, sits down, gets up again, etc. I just assumed that this was the normal state of things for him. I just felt that he needed to move to think. But immediately after putting him on the gluten free diet, he was much less fidgety, and far more focused. Yes, it was *that* noticeable. He was also happier, and just generally more pleasant to be around. I figured his increasing testiness was just due to his age. But apparently it wasn't! More startling yet, was that his intestinal/bowel issues were no more. This was very encouraging, if not overwhelming in a way. This was really just an experiment of sorts, and here I was, faced with the very real possibility that this may be how we'll have to eat from now on. I didn't bristle at this fact for me, but rather for my son. He loves his bread, cakes, and pizzas, and I want to make sure he still has access to safe variations of these. But I'm not a baker, nor am I especially gifted in the kitchen, so I have a lot of learning to do.
Despite all of the changes I saw with the elimination of gluten, I still felt it necessary to reintroduce it. I figured it would provide me with the proof that we were going about things the right way. Thankfully, my family is very good about trying out new things, so I was met with absolutely no argument. This past Saturday, we were going to the grand opening celebration of our Kung Fu school's sister school, and I knew that there would be food there. I figured that I wouldn't make a big deal about it, and let the kids have some of the food there. Again, I saw no difference in my daughters or in my husband. I immediately felt "off." I don't know how else to describe it. I didn't have too much, but what I did have just felt heavy, and made me feel sluggish. My son's reaction was much more startling. By the time we left the celebration, he was very testy and argumentative. He also seemed a bit jittery and even twitchy to me. By the time we got home, it only got worse, and then came the intestinal/bowel issue again, after over a week of no problems. He had a terrible time settling to sleep that night as well. There was a lot of fidgeting, and even a twinge of anxiety. As I said, it was startling.
So now we're eating gluten-free. I don't know whether my son has a sensitivity or an allergy to wheat or gluten, but I know that not having him deal with the restlessness, anxiety, and bowel issues is infinitely better than the alternative. I don't even know if it's worth seeking a firm diagnosis, or if I'm just better off moving forward without a diagnosis. I do find that I'm hyper-focused on food now, more than I ever have been. My 14yo daughter has had food allergies her whole life (peanuts and nuts primarily, with very mild sensitivities to eggs and dairy), but gluten is a different beast altogether. It's everywhere.
In closing, for any of you out there that may be reading this, we'd appreciate your prayers. Really, I'm very concerned over my daughter and her eye issue. My husband thinks there's nothing to worry about, and I certainly hope he's right. Things have been so screwy lately, and there have been a lot of changes in our home. I don't fare too well with change, so a prayer for my peace of mind wouldn't hurt either. Thanks!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Long Time No Writey or Staying Productive While Sick
Egads, I feel awful about not having come on here to write a post in so long. I've been occupied with loads of other things. Some school related, some not.
Let's see...here's a quick update.
We've all been sick on and off. Just when one of us gets better, another one of us gets sick, and the bug makes its rounds again. But we're working through it as best we can. I can't wait for the spring. The milder weather would surely help us stay healthy.
I feel rotten, too, because we've all missed a few kung fu, kali, tai chi, and kickboxing classes. I'm going to pay dearly for this later. I find that whenever I miss a class, I get extra achey when I start up again. Yikes. And we're doing so many cool things, too! Stuff like Wing Chun, Ba Bu Chuan, and some Jeet Kune Do kicks. :)
Because everyone has been either sick or borderline sick for weeks, we've lightened up on schooling load. Despite the lightening of the load, we've probably been more productive than usual. Weird, isn't it? I've come to realize, particularly within the past few weeks, that we do a fair bit of learning via discussion, or just plain conversation. What usually happens, is that something will be brought up, or overheard on the news, or in a read-aloud session. Often, the kids' curiosity is sparked, and that's all it takes. In the past few weeks, as the kids were exposed to new ideas, we've discussed, researched, and read about all of the following: Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Hathorne, the Salem witch trials, puritans, plate tectonics, natural disasters, tsunamis, Chernobyl, clean energy, the history of kung fu, the recognition and interpretation of different traditional Chinese characters, some words in Mandarin, and contact juggling. And those are just the things I can remember right now, as I sit here and type this.
When I first started homeschooling, I stressed over whether or not I could provide my children with a gap-free education. Several years later, I've come to the conclusion that a gap-free education is really a myth. Over the years, I've thrown together our curriculum, picking books and materials from a number of sources, and while I find what I use enriching, what I'll think back on fondly when the kids are grown and no longer homeschooling, are all of the times we've spent on discussion, often while cuddling together on the couch, or hovering around a computer monitor, with mouths agape in wonder, as they read or watch material that fascinates them.
Offering up prayers for all of those effected by the horrible earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant explosions in Japan. You are all in our hearts!
Let's see...here's a quick update.
We've all been sick on and off. Just when one of us gets better, another one of us gets sick, and the bug makes its rounds again. But we're working through it as best we can. I can't wait for the spring. The milder weather would surely help us stay healthy.
I feel rotten, too, because we've all missed a few kung fu, kali, tai chi, and kickboxing classes. I'm going to pay dearly for this later. I find that whenever I miss a class, I get extra achey when I start up again. Yikes. And we're doing so many cool things, too! Stuff like Wing Chun, Ba Bu Chuan, and some Jeet Kune Do kicks. :)
Because everyone has been either sick or borderline sick for weeks, we've lightened up on schooling load. Despite the lightening of the load, we've probably been more productive than usual. Weird, isn't it? I've come to realize, particularly within the past few weeks, that we do a fair bit of learning via discussion, or just plain conversation. What usually happens, is that something will be brought up, or overheard on the news, or in a read-aloud session. Often, the kids' curiosity is sparked, and that's all it takes. In the past few weeks, as the kids were exposed to new ideas, we've discussed, researched, and read about all of the following: Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Hathorne, the Salem witch trials, puritans, plate tectonics, natural disasters, tsunamis, Chernobyl, clean energy, the history of kung fu, the recognition and interpretation of different traditional Chinese characters, some words in Mandarin, and contact juggling. And those are just the things I can remember right now, as I sit here and type this.
When I first started homeschooling, I stressed over whether or not I could provide my children with a gap-free education. Several years later, I've come to the conclusion that a gap-free education is really a myth. Over the years, I've thrown together our curriculum, picking books and materials from a number of sources, and while I find what I use enriching, what I'll think back on fondly when the kids are grown and no longer homeschooling, are all of the times we've spent on discussion, often while cuddling together on the couch, or hovering around a computer monitor, with mouths agape in wonder, as they read or watch material that fascinates them.
Offering up prayers for all of those effected by the horrible earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant explosions in Japan. You are all in our hearts!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Anytime Schooling
There are a great many things that I love about homeschooling. So many things in fact, that I'm hard-pressed to come up with a short answer to questions from people who ask why we chose this path, or why we have decided to continue for this long. I don't think on my feet very well, and find that my usual canned answers, just don't do my real reasons any justice. Rather than go on and rattle off a long list of reasons all at once, I'll just focus on one at a time.
My first reason: Learning All the Time
Midnight chats, often on world events, past and present, without worry about missing bedtimes, or needing to wake up early.
Discussing renewable energy sources during a cross-country trip when school is usually in session.
Seeing how unstructured, unscheduled time often leads to the discovery of new interests.
Stopping what we're doing to accommodate interest-driven learning.
Easy chats over tea, usually time spent brainstorming new and interesting things to do.
Answering all of the children's questions, to the best of my ability, while assuring them that I am not the font of all knowledge. Also related to this, is showing them how to seek answers on their own.
Allowing time to observe my children, and keeping myself from stepping in too readily during the learning process. This is often easier said than done, and I still struggle with this at times! There's something to be said for allowing a child to struggle and get a bit frustrated at times.
Actively participate in their learning process, seeking to understand and appreciate their interests, even when it's hard to do so.
Taking time to play games.
Allowing room for organic learning.
Acknowledging that education is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.
Now, as I write all this, it all sounds like unschooling to me. Of course, I'm not an unschooler as my prior posts have already illustrated. This is not to say that I don't see value in the method or the lifestyle. I certainly do. I like to have my cake and eat it, too. And combining a somewhat relaxed, traditional approach to education, with lots of down time and wiggle room for all of the above, has worked well for us.
My first reason: Learning All the Time
Midnight chats, often on world events, past and present, without worry about missing bedtimes, or needing to wake up early.
Discussing renewable energy sources during a cross-country trip when school is usually in session.
Seeing how unstructured, unscheduled time often leads to the discovery of new interests.
Stopping what we're doing to accommodate interest-driven learning.
Easy chats over tea, usually time spent brainstorming new and interesting things to do.
Answering all of the children's questions, to the best of my ability, while assuring them that I am not the font of all knowledge. Also related to this, is showing them how to seek answers on their own.
Allowing time to observe my children, and keeping myself from stepping in too readily during the learning process. This is often easier said than done, and I still struggle with this at times! There's something to be said for allowing a child to struggle and get a bit frustrated at times.
Actively participate in their learning process, seeking to understand and appreciate their interests, even when it's hard to do so.
Taking time to play games.
Allowing room for organic learning.
Acknowledging that education is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.
Now, as I write all this, it all sounds like unschooling to me. Of course, I'm not an unschooler as my prior posts have already illustrated. This is not to say that I don't see value in the method or the lifestyle. I certainly do. I like to have my cake and eat it, too. And combining a somewhat relaxed, traditional approach to education, with lots of down time and wiggle room for all of the above, has worked well for us.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
I've Discovered the Retro Camera App
Yes, I'm still s-l-o-w-l-y figuring out what's available for the iPod touch. And this app is so cool! There were others, but this was the free one.
This is the poinsettia that has seen better days, but you can barely tell its sorry state from the picture.
We spent a day in Chinatown this weekend, and this little guy came home with us.
My son bought the dragon pictured above, we watched the parade, made it onto the news for Chinese audiences (for like a nanosecond anyway), my husband added to his kung fu film collection, the kids all bought Chinese slippers, my oldest bought a Jay Chou DVD she's been wanting for ages, and I bought some Dit Da Jow, i.e., Chinese liniment, for my Mom. All around, it was a fun day spent shopping and eating.
As you can probably tell from the photographs, I'm sort of drawn to the reds. I did take other shots, but I'm still trying to figure out the most efficient way to get these off of my iPod. The app gives me the option of sharing on Twitter, Facebook, and E-mail, so I opted for E-mail. But then when I tried to send myself the email with the attachment, the Qwerty keyboard on the screen was obstructing my way to the "Send" button. I had to save the messages (one per photo) as drafts. In any case, it wasn't as efficient as I would have liked, but at least these made it.
This is the poinsettia that has seen better days, but you can barely tell its sorry state from the picture.
We spent a day in Chinatown this weekend, and this little guy came home with us.
My son bought the dragon pictured above, we watched the parade, made it onto the news for Chinese audiences (for like a nanosecond anyway), my husband added to his kung fu film collection, the kids all bought Chinese slippers, my oldest bought a Jay Chou DVD she's been wanting for ages, and I bought some Dit Da Jow, i.e., Chinese liniment, for my Mom. All around, it was a fun day spent shopping and eating.
As you can probably tell from the photographs, I'm sort of drawn to the reds. I did take other shots, but I'm still trying to figure out the most efficient way to get these off of my iPod. The app gives me the option of sharing on Twitter, Facebook, and E-mail, so I opted for E-mail. But then when I tried to send myself the email with the attachment, the Qwerty keyboard on the screen was obstructing my way to the "Send" button. I had to save the messages (one per photo) as drafts. In any case, it wasn't as efficient as I would have liked, but at least these made it.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Fitting In, or Oh No You Didn't
Here's an amalgam of like a dozen conversations I've had over the past several years.
Neighbor/Acquaintance (N/A): "I just have to tell you what a delight your children are!"
Me: "Oh, thank you!"
N/A: "Yes, they're so sweet and mature. You are very blessed."
Me: "Thank you. I really can't complain."
N/A: "They are so courteous, really. So different from most kids out there."
Me: {Smile} - By now I start feeling a bit uncomfortable with all of the adulation, and start to think I'm being set up. Okay, so I'm a bit paranoid.
N/A: "But you know, I'm concerned about them."
Me: {Here goes...} "Really? In what sense?"
N/A: "Well, how well do they relate to other children? Do they have any friends?"
Me: {Deep sigh...) "Very well, I guess. And yes, they do."
N/A: "Do they fit in?"
Me: "I think so."
N/A: "Oh, that's nice."
Sigh...
It often feels like other people are more concerned about my kids fitting in than we are.
Yes, My kids relate well and fit in well with the kids that they count among as friends. That's no different than how it is for adults. We have friends, and we have acquaintances. It is up to us to discern the difference between them.
Ultimately, I think these comments betray how some people really feel about homeschooling. There are just so many misconceptions about it, and about socialization in general. Most people opt to soften their delivery, by dropping compliments as a lead up to the criticism. Some other veiled criticisms are preceded with praise for me.
"Wow, you are amazing. I could never homeschool my kids."
To be fair, criticism doesn't always follow these compliments, but things do tend to go that way in a number of cases.
For the record, my children are completely "normal." Yes, I am their mother, and I teach them, but last time I checked, I was fairly normal, too. They have their good days and their bad days. Some days, they're irritatingly irrational and immature, and on other days, they're so darn angelic, I can't keep myself from gushing over them. Thankfully, they do tend to be very well-behaved when we're out and about, and reserve most of the "acting up" for when we're home. Often, my husband and I are the only witnesses to those episodes.
There's a lot that annoys me about this sort of conversation.
-It assumes that good behavior and maturity are an obstacle to fitting in or making friends. An absolutely ridiculous assumption!
-It reveals a very negative view of kids today--a view that I don't share. There are a great number of children that are pleasures to be around, regardless of how and where they're educated.
-It suggests that being well-behaved and mature is only a problem in a social sense, if you're a "misfit" homeschooler. An adult in a child's body, unable to relate to other children. Conversely, if you're a homeschooler and you're misbehaved and immature, then it's because you're home educated and don't know any better.
-It suggests that by "fitting in" we mean "uniformity." If that's the case, and I don't believe it is, then who wants to fit in anyway?
Imagine hearing the following from your boss...
"Yeah, you're super reliable, well-adjusted, and punctual, but well, how are ya gonna fare with the water cooler crowd?"
It all seems a bit silly, doesn't it? Especially as it assumes that the entirety of your life, at least in terms of social acceptability, revolves around the workplace, or the school, as in the sample conversation above.
Note to self: The next time this conversation comes up, I think I'll do like the Madagascar penguins, and just smile and wave.
Neighbor/Acquaintance (N/A): "I just have to tell you what a delight your children are!"
Me: "Oh, thank you!"
N/A: "Yes, they're so sweet and mature. You are very blessed."
Me: "Thank you. I really can't complain."
N/A: "They are so courteous, really. So different from most kids out there."
Me: {Smile} - By now I start feeling a bit uncomfortable with all of the adulation, and start to think I'm being set up. Okay, so I'm a bit paranoid.
N/A: "But you know, I'm concerned about them."
Me: {Here goes...} "Really? In what sense?"
N/A: "Well, how well do they relate to other children? Do they have any friends?"
Me: {Deep sigh...) "Very well, I guess. And yes, they do."
N/A: "Do they fit in?"
Me: "I think so."
N/A: "Oh, that's nice."
Sigh...
It often feels like other people are more concerned about my kids fitting in than we are.
Yes, My kids relate well and fit in well with the kids that they count among as friends. That's no different than how it is for adults. We have friends, and we have acquaintances. It is up to us to discern the difference between them.
Ultimately, I think these comments betray how some people really feel about homeschooling. There are just so many misconceptions about it, and about socialization in general. Most people opt to soften their delivery, by dropping compliments as a lead up to the criticism. Some other veiled criticisms are preceded with praise for me.
"Wow, you are amazing. I could never homeschool my kids."
To be fair, criticism doesn't always follow these compliments, but things do tend to go that way in a number of cases.
For the record, my children are completely "normal." Yes, I am their mother, and I teach them, but last time I checked, I was fairly normal, too. They have their good days and their bad days. Some days, they're irritatingly irrational and immature, and on other days, they're so darn angelic, I can't keep myself from gushing over them. Thankfully, they do tend to be very well-behaved when we're out and about, and reserve most of the "acting up" for when we're home. Often, my husband and I are the only witnesses to those episodes.
There's a lot that annoys me about this sort of conversation.
-It assumes that good behavior and maturity are an obstacle to fitting in or making friends. An absolutely ridiculous assumption!
-It reveals a very negative view of kids today--a view that I don't share. There are a great number of children that are pleasures to be around, regardless of how and where they're educated.
-It suggests that being well-behaved and mature is only a problem in a social sense, if you're a "misfit" homeschooler. An adult in a child's body, unable to relate to other children. Conversely, if you're a homeschooler and you're misbehaved and immature, then it's because you're home educated and don't know any better.
-It suggests that by "fitting in" we mean "uniformity." If that's the case, and I don't believe it is, then who wants to fit in anyway?
Imagine hearing the following from your boss...
"Yeah, you're super reliable, well-adjusted, and punctual, but well, how are ya gonna fare with the water cooler crowd?"
It all seems a bit silly, doesn't it? Especially as it assumes that the entirety of your life, at least in terms of social acceptability, revolves around the workplace, or the school, as in the sample conversation above.
Note to self: The next time this conversation comes up, I think I'll do like the Madagascar penguins, and just smile and wave.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
iPod Touch, How I Love Thee
This thing is cool. Darn cool. How did I live without it for so long?
In addition to all of those game apps I've developed addictions to, I've discovered that it's just a totally awesome addition to our homeschooling.
Just yesterday, I was able to lecture at our whiteboard, with it in hand. I was lecturing about J.D. Salinger, in this case, about Catcher in the Rye being a Bildungsroman, and other details like publication dates, controversies, and biographical info on Salinger.
Sure, I could have just used my computer, but to have the convenience of all of that info being available on such a tiny, nearly weightless hand-held device was just heavenly! This meant there was no need to traipse back and forth from the computer screen to the whiteboard for the little details I'm wont to forget.
Later on, while giving a timed drill...yep, I used my iPod with a most excellent free timer app. I'm clearly smitten.
And then of course, there are all of the little extras I use practically every day...the calendar, the calculator, all kinds of conversion charts, maps, voice memos, video capability, etc. The list is endless! This little device is a homeschooler's dream come true!
Unrelated to homeschooling, but to life in general, when I couldn't find a flashlight to check for something deep under the bed this past weekend, the iPod worked its magic yet again, with a flashlight app!
And it even helps me stay focused during the rosary. In Latin.
Sigh.
Off to go pet my iPod.
Number of songs currently on said device: Still zero.
In addition to all of those game apps I've developed addictions to, I've discovered that it's just a totally awesome addition to our homeschooling.
Just yesterday, I was able to lecture at our whiteboard, with it in hand. I was lecturing about J.D. Salinger, in this case, about Catcher in the Rye being a Bildungsroman, and other details like publication dates, controversies, and biographical info on Salinger.
Sure, I could have just used my computer, but to have the convenience of all of that info being available on such a tiny, nearly weightless hand-held device was just heavenly! This meant there was no need to traipse back and forth from the computer screen to the whiteboard for the little details I'm wont to forget.
Later on, while giving a timed drill...yep, I used my iPod with a most excellent free timer app. I'm clearly smitten.
And then of course, there are all of the little extras I use practically every day...the calendar, the calculator, all kinds of conversion charts, maps, voice memos, video capability, etc. The list is endless! This little device is a homeschooler's dream come true!
Unrelated to homeschooling, but to life in general, when I couldn't find a flashlight to check for something deep under the bed this past weekend, the iPod worked its magic yet again, with a flashlight app!
And it even helps me stay focused during the rosary. In Latin.
Sigh.
Off to go pet my iPod.
Number of songs currently on said device: Still zero.
The Joys of a Productive Day
While I love the holidays, it often takes us a bit longer than most to get fully back into the swing of things. But I'm glad to report, that we're officially back in business. Yesterday was possibly one of the most productive days we've had in weeks. Not only did I manage to keep everyone on task, but I managed to keep the apartment in order, make healthy (vs quick) meals, do three loads of laundry, and start planning for next year.
In other news, my 14 year old daughter, who had been considering trying high school last year, recently informed me that she no longer wants to go at all. I'd be jumping up and down with excitement, except she's been known to change her mind easily. And frankly, this propensity of hers to change her mind so readily, has been the biggest sticking point for me, in "allowing" her to go to school. "Allow" is not even the correct word to use here, as I've always maintained what I feel is an open-door policy with regard to where my children are educated. It's just that as a Mom, I could tell she was just thinking out loud regarding the going to school thing, perhaps even feeling me out on the issue. I want for her to understand that if she does go, she has to stick with it, for at least a year. If she was younger, I'd likely not have the "try-for-a-year" requirement, but at her age, and in high school, I think more time to test the waters would be more fitting. She has assured me (this week) that she feels that she no longer needs school, as her schedule is fairly busy now as it is. Last year, her schedule was much lighter, with only about 2-3 outside activities per week, and she felt a bit of a void of sorts. Now, that's not the case. So, I'm planning on her school stuff for next year, but between you and me, I'm not purchasing anything until August, just in case she changes her mind again--a likely scenario.
Tangentially related to the whole high school thing...
I just wanted to rave again about our Algebra program! Parents out there struggling over your Algebra options, I'd strongly encourage you to check out Foerster's Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Applications. Not only did it receive high marks at the Mathematically Correct site, but it can be done independently with the help of some really great supplements, such as David Chandler's Home Study Companion CD (available through Math Without Borders), and a very helpful full solutions manual you can purchase through Pearson. If the Mathematically Correct review doesn't sway you, I don't know what will, especially when you see how it ranks in relation to other programs in use out there! In general, I have my daughter watch the CD for the day's lesson, and then she goes on and does the corresponding exercise. I usually have her do just the evenly numbered problems, as several of the lessons are very lengthy, and save the odd numbered problems for use in quizzes. All I can say is that I am so very appreciative that these materials are out there. I certainly hope that I'm as fortunate in finding a Geometry program that works just as well for us.
Speaking of Geometry, I wonder if it is necessary to do Geometry first before jumping into Algebra II? I'm assuming that what is learned in Geometry may aid in understanding the material in Algebra II, but I cannot say for certain if that is the case. I'll have to add that to my list of things to research for next year.
Happy homeschooling, everyone!
In other news, my 14 year old daughter, who had been considering trying high school last year, recently informed me that she no longer wants to go at all. I'd be jumping up and down with excitement, except she's been known to change her mind easily. And frankly, this propensity of hers to change her mind so readily, has been the biggest sticking point for me, in "allowing" her to go to school. "Allow" is not even the correct word to use here, as I've always maintained what I feel is an open-door policy with regard to where my children are educated. It's just that as a Mom, I could tell she was just thinking out loud regarding the going to school thing, perhaps even feeling me out on the issue. I want for her to understand that if she does go, she has to stick with it, for at least a year. If she was younger, I'd likely not have the "try-for-a-year" requirement, but at her age, and in high school, I think more time to test the waters would be more fitting. She has assured me (this week) that she feels that she no longer needs school, as her schedule is fairly busy now as it is. Last year, her schedule was much lighter, with only about 2-3 outside activities per week, and she felt a bit of a void of sorts. Now, that's not the case. So, I'm planning on her school stuff for next year, but between you and me, I'm not purchasing anything until August, just in case she changes her mind again--a likely scenario.
Tangentially related to the whole high school thing...
I just wanted to rave again about our Algebra program! Parents out there struggling over your Algebra options, I'd strongly encourage you to check out Foerster's Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Applications. Not only did it receive high marks at the Mathematically Correct site, but it can be done independently with the help of some really great supplements, such as David Chandler's Home Study Companion CD (available through Math Without Borders), and a very helpful full solutions manual you can purchase through Pearson. If the Mathematically Correct review doesn't sway you, I don't know what will, especially when you see how it ranks in relation to other programs in use out there! In general, I have my daughter watch the CD for the day's lesson, and then she goes on and does the corresponding exercise. I usually have her do just the evenly numbered problems, as several of the lessons are very lengthy, and save the odd numbered problems for use in quizzes. All I can say is that I am so very appreciative that these materials are out there. I certainly hope that I'm as fortunate in finding a Geometry program that works just as well for us.
Speaking of Geometry, I wonder if it is necessary to do Geometry first before jumping into Algebra II? I'm assuming that what is learned in Geometry may aid in understanding the material in Algebra II, but I cannot say for certain if that is the case. I'll have to add that to my list of things to research for next year.
Happy homeschooling, everyone!
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