Great Tips from ESs to ESs

Curriculum Ideas:

v An Algebra 1 book titled, The Survival Guide to Algebra is a great book for someone struggling with algebra. 

v Calvert Spelling CD is a great alternative to spelling drill books. Parents and students alike enjoy it.

v Evan Moor pocket books (available through Bluestocking Press) have nice thematic studies for younger students. They also have kits for doll making,

v American Girl series is a good choice for American history units.

v The Department of Education has many helps at this link: http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml, including a recommended reading list by age group.

v Steck-Vaughn Science workbooks (includes text, comprehension, easy experiment ideas and supplemental reading suggestions). They are leveled by grade and cover the three main branches of science. It’s cheap too.

v Calliope Magazine subscription for Ancient History and Cobblestone Mag for US History

v Rummy Roots game for teaching Latin and Greek roots

v For Music Appreciation, try Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery CDs with teaching guides

v Science in a nutshell kits (also available from Delta)

v Cosmeo.com is a math tutoring program (all grades). It is very useful and has many worksheets and lessons

v Diveintomath.com is a great resource for those who have high school aged students and the parent is intimidated by the subject mater content. For $50 you can purchase the entire set of lectures for a subject CD-ROM, which can be played anytime, replayed for review, and is college prep. Math goes from Algebra through Calculus. Note: The “non-religious version” that must be specified in the order process.

Organization Ideas:

v Carbon paper notebook.  The writes down the assignments and grades on it and has the students sign their name and keep a copy.  That way they both have a copy of the assignments/grades with the student's signature. 

v Use an external hard drive back-up every week for your computer files.

v A palm pilot makes keeping track of appointments and deadlines easier.

v Make copies of everything –hard copies and/or save in computer.

v Have parents sign 2 exactly the same rollsheets each month and 2 Student Agreement forms in case one is lost in the mail.

v Create master checklists to keep track of samples collected for all students.

v Create checklists to keep track of meeting dates, roll sheets mailed, and LRs written.

v E-mail our advisor when we put roll sheets or other timely documents in the mail to her so that she will know they are coming and can look out for them.

v Printing mailing labels (to the school) saves time.

v Set clear expectations to parent/student at first meeting, discuss study habits, support structure, accountability, and the work required to earn 10 credits in a high school class.