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Kathryn
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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Ok, so I've prob. said this on other threads but quick recap:
1st yr homeschoolers fully enrolled in Seton and took a good 6 weeks to even get started, worked diligently till Christmas for about 10 weeks or so.
January rolls along and of course took a little slow getting back in the groove but were steadily working and end of January came and found out w/in 2 days that I was preggo w/ #4 and my step-dad had a terminal illness of which he passed away mid-March. Sooo, a solid 2 months of hardly ANY work.
Back together by mid-April, called Seton about how to finish the year, gave advice for the core subjects and we've been working on those pretty steadily.
My PLAN was to finish by end of June and start the "new" year 1st of August to complete 1 full quarter before the new baby comes. I desperately need a schooling break and wanted July to relax, refresh, plan, nest without anything but Math on their school schedules. The June month has been sporadic as we also balance Boy Scout camp and VBS and Art Camp but we are still plugging away.
My dilemma is that I was hoping to still get them a report card from Seton but unless we do ALL the work in each subject, it would average a zero. For example, 25% for 2 exercises, 25% for qrter test and 25% for book report. Well, we've not done book reports so it would show as a zero in their final grade and therefore, average. We're in TX so we don't need it for anything except gratification of saying "congrats, you've finished 3rd and 5th grade." I WANT (NEED) TO BE DONE WITH THIS YEAR!!! I don't even want to stop part way thru a book just to pick it back up in August. I want to start fresh and new and I know we're not doing Seton full enrollment but my son is just finishing 2nd grade English so I'd like to just move to 3rd grade English although technically he hasn't done all their "book reports". I *KNOW* the guy says they're easy and don't take time but when you've only done 1 out of 4, I can't finish 3 in the next 10 days. Same for my daughter.
Should I just make my own report card for them even tho we didn't complete what Seton requires? I've looked so much at what they would "lag" by closing the year on these books and I know that even if my son doesn't master the wording and phrasing of every verb and adverb, it will be repeated next year. I know that even if I try to cram their 2nd grade book reviews in the next couple of weeks, it's not going to help him THAT much in the long-term be a better writer. I know that if my daughter doesn't complete the other book reports considered for 5th grade, her life isn't going to be that dramatically altered. She can read a book and comprehend and retell it better than I can so I know she understands and I know this gets more detailed as she gets older but I don't think we need to stay with 5th grade English just to complete things like this.
Soo, am I wrong for wanting to move ahead when I feel like they understand "enough" of a given subject at a given grade level? My son still prob. knows more than he would have had he stayed at the parish school but his memory is still so weak. If I had to spend time working with him in July, I'd much rather it be on his language and memory skills, not grammar and writing and phonics that take sooo much energy from us both. I guess some don't worry so much about the grade level and I understand that but I need a beginning, a middle and an end.
I never intend to write a novel when I post but can you tell I'm sooo frustrated?! I've bolded my main 2 questions so you can weed thru it.
Thanks!!!!!
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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imcatholic
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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It's OK to move on - Do you know the parent assignment grades are optional? - I would just move on. Just being honest we have never actually finished a whole year of Seton. If you feel the kids need some sort of recognition make them a completion of ___ grade certificate.
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Erin
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 4:05pm | IP Logged
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Kathryn
Trust in yourself  Reading your post I can see you have an intuitive understanding of your children and their needs, in fact I venture to say you have already answered your own question. Write a report card focusing on what they have learnt, on their strengths. If you like, jot down the areas they need to work on, such as you mention with your son. Focus on the skills not the material.
Kathryn wrote:
Soo, am I wrong for wanting to move ahead when I feel like they understand "enough" of a given subject at a given grade level? |
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Not wrong at all, remember any books, materials, programs are aids, tools, meant to help us, not make us slaves to 'finishing' the book.
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Erin
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ekbell
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 4:35pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Kathryn
Trust in yourself Reading your post I can see you have an intuitive understanding of your children and their needs, in fact I venture to say you have already answered your own question. Write a report card focusing on what they have learnt, on their strengths. If you like, jot down the areas they need to work on, such as you mention with your son. Focus on the skills not the material.
[QUOTE=Kathryn]
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This is what I do to fulfil the end-of-year reporting requirement where I live and it's been acceptable to the local authorities every time. 
And as a bonus, the process of making the notes can be an useful way to sort out what that particular child needs and enjoys.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 6:46pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Not wrong at all, remember any books, materials, programs are aids, tools, meant to help us, not make us slaves to 'finishing' the book. |
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YES! This is exactly it! YOU are the teacher; the children are in YOUR care, not a book's care, not a curriculum's care, not even Seton's care despite the cost of tuition
These things/books/guides/curricula are *tools* to reach the goals you set for your children.
And I agree with an above response: you've answered your own questions, you were really just looking for a "go-ahead" sign. 
Go-ahead - finish the things you deem the most important; take that month off focusing on what your family needs. And don't worry about it. If your children need extra help with something in the next grade up, you'll be right there helping them.
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Kathryn
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| Posted: June 23 2010 at 6:13pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much! I just hear that "everything builds on each other" so I have a hard time discerning what's ok to leave behind...for now.
I will make them something listing strengths and areas to improve and just list successful or needs improvement on each subject as opposed to even an A, B, C etc.
I'm not sure who's more ready to close the books on this school year...them or me!
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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Alcat
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| Posted: June 23 2010 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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I've used Seton for my oldest (now 12) off and on. The last time we did it we didn't get a report card because we didn't do the book reports (I hate them). I just made my own records of the grades to keep on file here at home and they are still on file at Seton.
Do your children care about the report card? If the answer is no, then it's just for your satisfaction. Don't worry if you don't finish, Seton won't hold it against you.
Move on if your cool with that.
Blessings,
Alison
(whose oldest will be enrolled with Seton this year *sigh*)
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mom to ds15, dd13 ,ds11, dd8, dd6, ds4, & dd18mos
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Help--trying to finish this year!
