Home school / unschool?

[muttleynfelix]

But spelling doesn't help you any when you use the wrong word.

I'm giving a presentation today that was written by someone else. In the presentation he uses the word levies instead of levees. There is a big difference between. Levying your taxes and building a levee for flood protection.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I disagree on learning calculations is obsolete.  You have to know the calculation if something goes wrong.   I screwed up analyzing my ELISA last week.   Excel can do all the number crunching for me but if I am not using the right calculation then it doesn't matter how well excel did the basics for me.

I knew it was wrong based on my ability to evaluate the information, but I had to know the proper calculation format to fix the problem.

I was trying to solve for Y when I really wanted to solve for X.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I have it memorized b/c I stared at it constantly for five years doing HPLC.  I don't think i could un-forget it now if I tried.

I learned it originally in calculus.

It's y= mx+b.   Excel or whatever software I am using gives me B.   I have to figure out either X or Y.

[yogiii]

Jan 20, 2016 13:00:31 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

y= mx+b.  

Plotting a line, you're bringing me back to kindergarten!

[MJ2.0]

Jan 20, 2016 14:37:10 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Jan 20, 2016 13:00:31 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

y= mx+b.  

Plotting a line, you're bringing me back to kindergarten!

You were plotting lines in Kindergarten? My school must have been bottom of the barrel!

[muttleynfelix]

In college, my physics professor never gave tests with numbers because you could luck into the right number. By using letters, we had to go through process and the steps to get there.

There is a lot to be said for learning the critical thinking skills. My sister's oldest 2 kids were really rushed through at the highest level math courses in JH and then struggled when they got to Geometry in HS. Maybe it was not learning, maybe it was maturity, maybe it was their brain not developed enough to make the jump to geometry. Whatever the case, they backed off and tried again later and did better.

[yogiii]

Jan 20, 2016 15:02:35 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Jan 20, 2016 14:37:10 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Plotting a line, you're bringing me back to kindergarten!

You were plotting lines in Kindergarten? My school must have been bottom of the barrel!

Did you miss the wink?  I'm pretty sure I was mostly playing King and Queen at that point (true story).

[Deleted]

I'm one of those who look at the 'new math' and think, finally... Moms ask me for advice on lots of things, but while I can often point them towards math curriculum, I can't help a lot, I never did multiplication memory, carrying, borrowing...

[sbcalimom]

We've really lucked out with K and 1st with DD1. Her K teacher was amazing and just the right temperament for her. She had monthly homework so we didn't have to do it every night and a lot of her assignments were things like "tell your parents what song we did in class today." Even the written assignments took less than 10 minutes. They did a ton of activities throughout the day so they rarely sat for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. I think they had one long and one short recess but they also had a K-only playground so I know the teacher took them outside extra sometimes. They also had rest/nap time for the entire year. Some kids continued to nap for most of the year while some only rested.

This year in 1st grade we also hit the jackpot. She's at a fine arts focus school and so she has art, music, and drama in addition to library, computers, and PE. Her teacher has brain and body breaks throughout the day where they get up and "get the wiggles out" for a few minutes in between activities so even though she only has one long and one short recess, they are moving around all day in the classroom. The reading and math expectations seem a bit high to me but the teacher is also very nurturing so it's not a stressful situation for them.

DD2 is in state funded pre-K this year and what she's learning through mostly play is crazy. We were very concerned about DD1 learning her letters but we've been pretty lax about DD2. Then, the other day, I asked her about the alphabet and she knew just about every upper and lower case letter. Same thing with 1-12ish. She also has "homework" but it's optional and we rarely do it or turn it in but she always wants to do her workbooks when sister is doing homework.

We are likely moving to Germany this summer so I've already started agonizing over schools and now have to decide between English-only, bilingual, or German-only on top of picking an education philosophy. 

[chen35]

Jan 20, 2016 20:02:00 GMT -5 oped said:

I'm one of those who look at the 'new math' and think, finally... Moms ask me for advice on lots of things, but while I can often point them towards math curriculum, I can't help a lot, I never did multiplication memory, carrying, borrowing...

I am really good at memorization, and the 'old' way of doing math. Even I can see that the new math teaches kids to actually understand math better than the old way. Even though I'm glad I didn't have to do it because it seems like a lot more work!

[Deleted]

No, much less work!

I'm guessing this is a perspective thing we won't necessarily agree on

[Sam_2.0]

Jan 20, 2016 20:05:16 GMT -5 sbcalimom said:

We are likely moving to Germany this summer so I've already started agonizing over schools and now have to decide between English-only, bilingual, or German-only on top of picking an education philosophy. 

Woah, you need to fill us in!!!

[taz157]

Jan 20, 2016 20:26:51 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Jan 20, 2016 20:05:16 GMT -5 sbcalimom said:

We are likely moving to Germany this summer so I've already started agonizing over schools and now have to decide between English-only, bilingual, or German-only on top of picking an education philosophy. 

Woah, you need to fill us in!!!

Yeah that! <nerd eyes>

[muttleynfelix]

Jan 20, 2016 20:02:00 GMT -5 oped said:

I'm one of those who look at the 'new math' and think, finally... Moms ask me for advice on lots of things, but while I can often point them towards math curriculum, I can't help a lot, I never did multiplication memory, carrying, borrowing...

while I did all the memorization, from what I've seen of new math, it is actually how I would explain math to my class mates. I am just fortunate enough that I understand math several different ways, but I find my way was easier to do.

[Deleted]

The thing is too, I rarely approach any two problems the same way. I find it fun too

[raeoflyte]

oped -- I am always so happy with your suggestions.  Last night we were discussing ds' homework and that he is getting tired of the constant coloring so we're going to try using stamps instead.  

[sbcalimom]

DH was offered a position in Germany that is really beneficial for his career and is a great opportunity for us as a family. We've reconciled so we're planning to move together when it's time to start the job. We're all very excited about the possibility of living abroad even if it's a bit daunting at the same time. He has another potential job offer still pending so it isn't definite quite yet but according to him it's about 99% Germany. The other position is very good as well but it's unlikely to beat out Germany if he makes the last cut.

[Sam_2.0]

That's awesome news, sbcalimom!

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 19, 2016 15:59:53 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Oped has a background in teaching and is passionate about what she does. I fully support people like Oped homeschooling and believe their children are better for it.

 OTOH, I gave birth to two kids and I still have two but only because I never tried to homeschool. I just don't have the right temperament for it. Even making sure homework was completed could lead to WWIII. So to avoid bloodshed, prison terms, and ugly orange jump suits for me, off to regular school they went.  I am just very glad that kindergarden at that time still meant kindergarden, not first grade with homework added in in disguise.

  times a million. I once tried explaining some basic music stuff to my oldest before he started band classes in school and after my 3rd attempt he looked at me and said "It's a good thing you don't homeschool us, we'd be stupid."  

[Lizard Queen]

DS has kindergarten 8:20-3:30 4 days a week and early out at 2 on Mondays.  On the long days, he gets 3 recesses, plus snack time, story time and rest time.  One extra thing each day per week: PE, music, library, etc.  On Monday s, he gets 2 recesses plus PE, and again, story time, snack time and rest time.  I suppose in between, the kids sit at their tables doing worksheets.  My DS loves it.  He loves the structure and all the friends he's made.  I wanted to switch him to an arts charter next year, but he wants to stay at the current school with the friends he has made.  The longer days when he stays at latchkey are tiring for him, but he loves it and wants to stay longer.

He gets one sheet (front and back) of homework each week.  It's divided into 4 sections to be completed M-TH, and each section takes about 5 minutes.  He'll often do the whole sheet at once to get it out of the way.

I like how the kids get so much free time and rest time.  I don't like that they only get music 1/day per week.  From what I gather, each school is very different in these daily schedules.  If you think your school has a decent daily schedule, and she seems sort of ready, I'd just go ahead and try it for a few weeks.  Pull her out if it is too much.

[Sam_2.0]

Jan 22, 2016 13:23:37 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

 If you think your school has a decent daily schedule, and she seems sort of ready, I'd just go ahead and try it for a few weeks.  Pull her out if it is too much.

This is DH's take on it. We have K preview coming up on the 2nd They've been doing K prep at preschool & she's passing those assessments with flying colors.

[NastyWoman]

Jan 21, 2016 23:42:48 GMT -5 sbcalimom said:

DH was offered a position in Germany that is really beneficial for his career and is a great opportunity for us as a family. We've reconciled so we're planning to move together when it's time to start the job. We're all very excited about the possibility of living abroad even if it's a bit daunting at the same time. He has another potential job offer still pending so it isn't definite quite yet but according to him it's about 99% Germany. The other position is very good as well but it's unlikely to beat out Germany if he makes the last cut.

sbcalimom I was an expat mom for 20 years (saw both kids off to college before settling down). And I know from experience that this can be a wonderful opportunity.  But please talk to anyone you know personally who has done this before jumping in, since this can also be very tough on a marriage.  For instance, you may not be able to get a work permit or you may find that other expats spouses are far more interested in playing bridge or shopping than you ever will be.  If you can find something to make your life feel meaningful (for me it was boat loads of volunteer work) and you are not very shy, it can be the best thing you will ever do.  If you don't get that felling it could also turn into the loneliest time of your life, especially since both your kids will be going to school. I've seen it too often

I really don't want to rain on your parade and I wish you well so I hope that you research and prepare well for this opportunity.
JMO

ETA: I also love studying so I used my time to get another degree. Can you say "three-continental-degree" since I received credits for latest degree on three continents

[sbcalimom]

Jan 22, 2016 20:33:49 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Jan 21, 2016 23:42:48 GMT -5 sbcalimom said:

DH was offered a position in Germany that is really beneficial for his career and is a great opportunity for us as a family. We've reconciled so we're planning to move together when it's time to start the job. We're all very excited about the possibility of living abroad even if it's a bit daunting at the same time. He has another potential job offer still pending so it isn't definite quite yet but according to him it's about 99% Germany. The other position is very good as well but it's unlikely to beat out Germany if he makes the last cut.

sbcalimom I was an expat mom for 20 years (saw both kids off to college before settling down). And I know from experience that this can be a wonderful opportunity.  But please talk to anyone you know personally who has done this before jumping in, since this can also be very tough on a marriage.  For instance, you may not be able to get a work permit or you may find that other expats spouses are far more interested in playing bridge or shopping than you ever will be.  If you can find something to make your life feel meaningful (for me it was boat loads of volunteer work) and you are not very shy, it can be the best thing you will ever do.  If you don't get that felling it could also turn into the loneliest time of your life, especially since both your kids will be going to school. I've seen it too often

I really don't want to rain on your parade and I wish you well so I hope that you research and prepare well for this opportunity.
JMO

ETA: I also love studying so I used my time to get another degree. Can you say "three-continental-degree" since I received credits for latest degree on three continents

Thanks Lenten Rose. I work remotely so I'll be able to continue my job as is. We have to figure out the tax treatment of my income but since I'll be working for a US company remotely I won't need a work permit or anything. I'm hoping that I'll be able to drop the consulting I do on the side since the cost of living is a bit lower even with education costs for the girls so I'll have more time to spend with the girls and on my own non-work pursuits. I do worry about how our relationship will handle it given our recent difficulties but I know a lot of the people/families that would be in our built in community and should have some connections. And honestly, I'm pretty introverted anyways and used to being on my own a lot since I have worked from home for 3+ years so hopefully that will help a bit. I think it will also help that he will be so much happier in a new position away from the hell that this job has become and a large part of our difficulties came from him feeling so unhappy and unfulfilled professionally.

[plugginaway22]

We held DD2 an extra year in pre-school so she started Kind at age 6.  She was 12 days away from the cut-off. Best decision for her ever.
Her pre-school was also awesome, all fun dress-up, painting, building forts, field trips.  It just gave her (and us) an extra year to mature.