tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post6847542175263899989..comments2024-03-26T04:19:38.862-07:00Comments on kitchen table math, the sequel: cheap private schools - ?Catherine Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-41585881339017238362014-09-05T04:59:04.852-07:002014-09-05T04:59:04.852-07:00Its first wish of every student to get good marks ...Its first wish of every student to get good marks in SAT test but problems is that which books are <br />Good for test preparation and helpful for getting good grades. And some perfect books give the <br />Best results.<br />free sat classeshttp://prodigypreptutoring.com/free-sat-prep-classes/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-9202321034101573982010-03-30T17:20:13.853-07:002010-03-30T17:20:13.853-07:00academics aren't the only thing for me, but th...<i>academics aren't the only thing for me, but they are by far the most important. If I had to choose between a school with no playground that used Singapore math and taught writing skills in isolation versus a school with a playground that focussed on journaling and "teaching the whole child", I'd choose the first one in a heartbeat.</i><br /><br />Right - and that's exactly why I brought it up. There are many things I would happily give up in order not to have to have Trailblazers & character education.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-23330934848094625772010-03-30T17:03:44.499-07:002010-03-30T17:03:44.499-07:00This reminds me of the time I learned that "p...This reminds me of the time I learned that "peruse" did not mean "skim."Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-36785437122973857762010-03-30T17:03:26.404-07:002010-03-30T17:03:26.404-07:00Poring over "Pore" and "Pour"<a href="http://www.dailywritingtips.com/poring-over-pore-and-pour/" rel="nofollow">Poring over "Pore" and "Pour"</a>Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-44334286518287621982010-03-30T17:01:52.469-07:002010-03-30T17:01:52.469-07:00It's 'pore'?
Not 'pour'?
I a...It's 'pore'?<br /><br />Not 'pour'?<br /><br />I am gobsmacked.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-69501565400821486572010-03-30T12:44:36.922-07:002010-03-30T12:44:36.922-07:00In calculating the costs of homeschooling, you sho...<i>In calculating the costs of homeschooling, you should consider the loss of an adult salary to the household. Thus, you don't start at 0, you start at -(after-tax and expenses wage). For example, if that number's $21,000, if you homeschool 3 children, your cost's already $7,000 per child.</i><br /><br />No, *sometimes* you should consider that. But in other cases it's not applicable. Our family's plan was always that I would be a sahm so long as we had children who were not of school age. We have a wide age spread between youngest and oldest, so we had children below the age of six for 21 years. Then we became unofficial foster parents for two little boys whose mother prefers to leave them with us more than she wants them with her, and that service is important to us. So we've lost no salary from me being at home homeschooling our kids. Other parents do manage somehow to combine jobs with homeschooling. I think this would be too hard for me, but it's apparently not impossible for a good number of people.<br /><br />I've also been astonished at what our friends with kids in public schools spend on back to school clothes, supplies, schoolbooks (they are not free in our state), field trip fees, and other school related costs. We also managed with only one car for years because I was at home, nor did I need the same work wardrobe. There are hidden expenses to homeschooling, but there are, I find, more hidden expenses that people miss from having kids in public schools and working an away from home job. <br /><br />Homeschool co-ops: I know of co-ops in several states- including one state with heavy restrictions, one with almost no restrictions. There are nearly always ways to have them no matter what the school laws are- what? If a group of ten families wish to get together to study math or dissect frogs, the state will interfere? How can they?<br /><br /> There are programs much as VickyS describes in Washington state.<br />In other states parents do volunteer all the time to help teach certain courses. The co-ops can be formal or loosely organized. Some people use church buildings. Smaller groups meet in people's homes. My local homeschool group pays an art teacher for art instruction classes in a room at the local library once a week.Headmistress, zookeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14071449326819510530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-39704110262598977842010-03-30T07:07:32.777-07:002010-03-30T07:07:32.777-07:00VickyS,that sounds like the YMCA except that paren...VickyS,that sounds like the YMCA except that parent has replaced teacher for certain subjects and it would be available during the day.<br /><br />The basic problem is that many public elementary schools refuse to group by instructional need. A secondary problem is that sufficient competent instructors really aren't available in the core subjects of math and writing. Until that political problem is solved, there's no point in attending, unless the child happens to be both in the favored group and the luck of the draw puts him with a competent teacher.lgmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-52586565641963498522010-03-29T20:39:13.047-07:002010-03-29T20:39:13.047-07:00Here is my idea for the homeschooling community: a...Here is my idea for the homeschooling community: a homeschool center that operates during the day, say 8-5. Combination day care, tutoring center, homework help, community center, play date venue, library, computer access, exercise space, study hall, group project staging area...everything under one roof. Parent stays 100% in charge of homeschooling, but can make use of facilities, work a PT job or get to a doctor's appt. Can pay by the hour or the day, drop in or regular. You're not a school, and the government is not involved--but you provide some infrastructure that allows homeschooling to flourish in your community.VickyShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01379636377049707525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-66867406931264943282010-03-29T20:36:33.189-07:002010-03-29T20:36:33.189-07:00Even loss of an income, if it comes to that, is so...Even loss of an income, if it comes to that, is sometimes not as significant it may seem to be at first blush. Many incomes barely offset the combined cost of childcare, transportion, business clothing, take out meals and the like.VickyShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01379636377049707525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-72511643348116817512010-03-29T20:32:59.678-07:002010-03-29T20:32:59.678-07:00Coming late to the discussion, as usual, but in an...Coming late to the discussion, as usual, but in answer to Beth's question -- academics aren't the only thing for me, but they are by far the most important. If I had to choose between a school with no playground that used Singapore math and taught writing skills in isolation versus a school with a playground that focussed on journaling and "teaching the whole child", I'd choose the first one in a heartbeat. <br /><br />In fact, that's exactly what we're planning to do, except that there is no school like that near us, so we're planning to homeschool instead. We're also the odd case that Allison is talking about -- two parents with flexible jobs. I recognize that we are very lucky, but we are also increasingly common.ChemProfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-69327472148280899332010-03-29T16:53:53.835-07:002010-03-29T16:53:53.835-07:00And some homeschooling parents work full time. Phy...And some homeschooling parents work full time. Physicist Dave comes to mind.<br /><br />Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. It's a bogus argument that I need to take into account the loss of income I'd supposedly suffer to homeschool in comparing homeschooling to the cost of public or private school. That's because for many, they don't lose that income--either they don't have that income to lose, or they are working anyway. If you're going to be home anyway, if you're out of work independent of the choice to homeschool, if you're working, then in all of the above, I don't need to count the money that I am supposedly giving up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-21066434292991042232010-03-29T11:07:58.563-07:002010-03-29T11:07:58.563-07:00Beth-
Many of the homeschooling parents in my area...Beth-<br />Many of the homeschooling parents in my area work in flexible or part-time jobs. In my local support group there are moms (and a few dads) who work in IT, law, sales, architecture, psychology/counseling, interior design, landscape design, massage therapy, and a bunch who tutor or work as "educational specialists" for the local virtual charter school.Crimson Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254830856234479999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-36100596620819053562010-03-29T09:31:50.736-07:002010-03-29T09:31:50.736-07:00I had remembered reading that VDA used Singapore a...I had remembered reading that VDA used Singapore as the math curriculum about a year ago and tried to cite something when I posted, but of course I couldn't. When listening to some of the youtube videos from Van Damme Academy my understanding was re-confirmed beause there are a couple of references to Singapore Math during the VDA Writing Curriculum youtube videos. <br /><br />In response to a question from a parent about advancing children by ability, Lisa Van Damme talks about using Singapore with her own daughter (with the assumption being that Singapore Math is the curriculum they use at VDA).<br /><br />See: VDA Writing Curriculum part 7 (6:15)<br /><br />Then again, in VDA Writing Curriculum part 8 (right at the beginning), she says that all of their 8th graduates have completed algebra or geometry and 25% have completed pre-calculus. This isn't surprising if these kids are learning math from the get-go, under the tutelage of a skilled math teacher, using Singapore Math. What I don't know is what curricula they use after Singapore Math 6 a/b.concernedCTparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755180042426047454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-35771338301185426642010-03-29T09:27:26.557-07:002010-03-29T09:27:26.557-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.concernedCTparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755180042426047454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-36202753989360157682010-03-29T09:03:01.744-07:002010-03-29T09:03:01.744-07:00Regarding VanDamme Academy's math program: It ...Regarding VanDamme Academy's math program: It *does* sound like Saxon.<br /><br />concernedCTparent said:<br />"Nope. Singapore Math"<br /><br />I'm curious, how do you know this?<br /><br />I have always been intrigued by Ms VanDamme and her ideas on education, but, frankly, her use of what I assumed to be Saxon math made me question her judgement in other areas. If she is actually using Singapore math, I'll have to rethink my...er...thoughts.<br /><br />At one point I saw on her website that they were thinking of doing something like offering franchising opportunities, so that others could set up VanDamme-like schools in other areas. Our area could sure use one. Especially if they use Singapore math!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-40360197090832957972010-03-29T07:31:35.565-07:002010-03-29T07:31:35.565-07:00Allison, maybe your household didn't lose a sa...Allison, maybe your household didn't lose a salary because of homeschooling, but that doesn't mean it's a "bogus calculation". For many households, the loss of an adult salary is a very real consideration. I would think it's especially an issue now, with many men losing well-paid jobs and unable to find a new one.FedUpMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00951858601020687242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-54008446700705542492010-03-28T19:06:53.672-07:002010-03-28T19:06:53.672-07:00--In calculating the costs of homeschooling, you s...--In calculating the costs of homeschooling, you should consider the loss of an adult salary to the household.<br /><br />No, that's a bogus calculation. I'm already at home. I didn't quit to homeschool, and if there are other children in the home who are too young to be in school then I couldn't "go back to work" until the last one is of school age anyway. For even-slightly-large families, that's easily a decade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-42675877388885222632010-03-28T16:21:55.072-07:002010-03-28T16:21:55.072-07:00>>If you're renting in a good school dis...>>If you're renting in a good school district, moving to a less affluent community may make the move to an inexpensive private school affordable.<br /><br />The sol'n for me is to move to a more affluent community where the public school has more choice. I was shocked to find out that the district that offers topnotch math and science here is not taxing any more than mine, which offers nothing in the way of honors math or science and is likely to go Title I. They even have fine arts. The sticker price on a house is higher, but the taxes are not b/c the district has more businesses in the community. Local conditions vary so highly.lgmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-53555265901086224142010-03-28T16:13:07.002-07:002010-03-28T16:13:07.002-07:00PE...lol. The make-up (for excused absences) for g...PE...lol. The make-up (for excused absences) for gym class here is 'run a mile on the track' after school. Anyone in a jv or varsity sport can't use the sport practice as a makeup. So..my kiddo on the V CC team had the choice of running a mile to makeup gym class plus being denied participation in the next CC meet, or running up to 13 miles at the CC team practice and losing points on his PE grade. Only one missed class can be made up per day; so no running 5 miles and maing them all up at once. Defintely a political choice.lgmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-65268114519865206872010-03-28T13:35:27.965-07:002010-03-28T13:35:27.965-07:00On the question of marginal cost per child. One ...On the question of marginal cost per child. One strength of a private school which can fill its classes is the ability to control class sizes over time. Parents' willingness to enroll their child at your school imposes a limit on the class size. If the local school's at 24 per class, you could offer a classroom size of 20. You can't offer a classroom size of 28, unless you have something to tip the scales in your favor, such as a religion.<br /><br />Being able to set class sizes, and keep to them, is a huge strength. You don't have to move teachers around to deal with last minute increases in enrollment. You don't have to fire teachers when enrollment plunges. You can find the curriculum which works best with your staff. Life is more predictable, so you can find out what works best.<br /><br />If all the costs are covered with 50 students, but you have 51 students enrolled, should you drop tuition by $137? Maybe. What happens if a student's family moves to another city, and you can't fill that spot? You shouldn't be one enrolled student away from closing the school.Cranberrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-79796429926846302782010-03-28T13:04:51.380-07:002010-03-28T13:04:51.380-07:00"Nope. Singapore Math."
oh! they should..."Nope. Singapore Math."<br /><br />oh! they should say so!<br />I found this:<br />http://www.vandammeacademy.com/pdf/Reclaiming_Education.pdf<br /><br />It seems she was once in favor of Saxon but rejected it.<br /><br />ari-freeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-37236161733173652802010-03-28T13:01:01.586-07:002010-03-28T13:01:01.586-07:00"What I would like to see and what would save...<i>"What I would like to see and what would save money is to waive required PE, at all levels, for kids who either play a school sport (1 sports season=1 PE semester)or who can document regular participation in a non-school sponsored sport."</i><br /><br />Absolutely. Ironically, schools in my area seem to be pretty inflexible about the PE requirement. One of the high school students at my daughter's pre-pro ballet school is actually having to take a double-session of PE this year because her school won't let her graduate without doing this. This despite the fact that she trains 5 hours a day, 6 days a week in a rigorous classical ballet program. I've heard similar stories from other districts as well. <br /><br />A day has only so many hours and athletic students shouldn't have to choose between a rigorous, academic course of study that requires a significant investment to time for homework and the need to train consistently for a certain number of hours under intense conditions. It's just ridiculous.<br /><br />A huge problem aside from being a waste of time for these particular students, is that they risk suffering injuries during PE that jeopardize opportunities for scholarships and/or careers.concernedCTparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755180042426047454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-60594338791370824492010-03-28T12:55:52.301-07:002010-03-28T12:55:52.301-07:00BASIS Scottsdale is another school that would fit ...BASIS Scottsdale is another school that would fit the profile. It's an offshoot of BASIS Tucson - showing the idea of a rigorous curriculum and excellent teaching can be replicated in another place, besides Tucson.<br /><br />Bob Compton made a movie about BASIS Tucson if anyone is interested - previews can be seen on his website <a rel="nofollow">http://www.2mminutes.com/</a> The link to 21st Century Solution is about BASIS Tucson.<br /><br />Additionally both are charter schools, meaning you don't have to "pay" to attend, they are publicly funded. Though there is always a waiting list.Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-33927110657159212042010-03-28T12:41:40.874-07:002010-03-28T12:41:40.874-07:00Cranberry, I have no interest in supporting a star...Cranberry, I have no interest in supporting a star system in school sports, either. My experience has been that stars are created in the clubs because it takes years of high-level training to learn the skills and tactics. One coach, whose school team had just won its third consecutive state championship, said that all any school coach could do was to help with teamwork, since there wasn't time to teach skills. His championships were won by the kids who had played on the two most successful club teams in the state. BTW, I've not met any kid who plays at that level who has any interest in spending school time on rec-level PE-sport activity. What I would like to see and what would save money is to waive required PE, at all levels, for kids who either play a school sport (1 sports season=1 PE semester)or who can document regular participation in a non-school sponsored sport. I once publicly suggested that; resulting in a chorus of horror "But that would mean cutting PE teachers!" <br /><br />lgm: You have a valid point re. costs. I was thinking more about use of outdoor fields, for which no charge was made. Still, I think it is possible (at least in non-union areas) to find a way to make use of indoor facilities affordable, if there is a real desire to do so. I have certainly heard of small schools allowing free use of classrooms, with parent/community sponsorship (including clean-up). Right now, the overall desire seems to let/make the schools do everything themselves; I just don't agree with it.momof4noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-4498776656308588182010-03-28T12:21:23.787-07:002010-03-28T12:21:23.787-07:00In calculating the costs of homeschooling, you sho...In calculating the costs of homeschooling, you should consider the loss of an adult salary to the household. Thus, you don't start at 0, you start at -(after-tax and expenses wage). For example, if that number's $21,000, if you homeschool 3 children, your cost's already $7,000 per child.<br /><br />I assume the magic number will vary with the local cost of living. The costs will be higher on the coasts than the midwest.<br /><br />Even if you enroll your child in a public school, you may be spending a significant amount on education. There's also the cost of afterschooling. Tutors in our area are reputed to be able to charge $80 to $100. I don't know what Sylvan, etc, are charging, but there's enough demand to keep multiple tutoring chains and private tutors in business. Our public schools charge fees for transportation and extracurricular activities. <br /><br />If bus service costs $400 per child, and tutoring costs $1600 each year, and sports and chorus participation cost $350 per year, the difference between public and private isn't $7000. It's $4650. If you're renting in a <i>good school district</i>, moving to a less affluent community may make the move to an inexpensive private school affordable.Cranberrynoreply@blogger.com