From: Louise Donahue <nedela@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: NASA QUEST
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 12:44:52 +0100
Hi,Sheila. Thanks for your message. Reagarding curriculum: We use a variety of things and grade levels (5-8) plus lots of supplemental things for enriched math (he does grade 7, but we "play" with grade 5-7), science (main text is Silver-Burdett-Ginn new series grade 5, science by mail, JASON, Discovery, watches surgery on TV, National Geographic, anything he can get his hands on--has attended numerous camps in palentology, computers, aeronautics), history/geography (Grade 6, History Channel, Biography, lots of supplements--this is another "love" of his--cultures, anthropology, geology--we have maps everywhere!), language (grade 5--he dislikes this subject intensly, but does well with it. Would like to find a more interesting approach then his text. We do have supplements like Wordly Wise, Vocabulary building, Editor-in-Chief--writing and being able to express himself has been a little "painful", but he does well with any assignment), reading (6th grade, supplements in vocabulary & usage & comprehension--also finishing Hooked on Phonics SRA power reading--He wanted this course at age 4--saw it on TV--we began using it in 1st grade, was extremely frustrated in 1st grade at the "baby books" he was expected to read--just shut down--so teachers thought he didn't know how to read, and kept giving him even more remedial books--it was a nightmare!), Art and music: various camps, classes, and I am a piano teacher. He recently won a state competition for his music composition. Even tho he is very bright and high level thinking, we have tried to take care not to "push," (that's why we waited on the Phonics, even tho he begged for it) but instead to "allow" him to learn--which is why we are homeschooling. Public School not only did not allow that, but he--plus our entire family--became extremely frustrated by trying to have him in school. As a family, we enjoy his interests: Astonomy club, paleontolgy, numismatics--you name it! I see a need to seek out a more suitable science program--class--tutor--for him. Doesn't look like our fair city can accomodate. He is becoming quite bored with what we have to offer, even tho he gets very inventive using any available resource. Would love to hear what you have to offer.. Louise