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I am considering Core 100 for my 8th dd next year. I have no experience with it at all. My dd is an avid reader, so the amount is no problem. Here are some of my questions.

 

1) Do you have to stick to the schedule on chapters read? If she is really interested in a book, she does not like to read one or two chapters a day. If she reads ahead, will it conflict with other aspects of the program?

 

2) Is the LA all writing assignments? I do see options on vocabulary and spelling, but nothing reviewing grammar and mechanics. I might would want to add in a daily practice book or something. Does anyone else do this?

 

3) Can this be done in 4 days? I am directing a new co-op here, and it is going well. I am also comfortable not doing absolutely everything if that would help it happen.

 

4) What is the bible like? Is it just doing the reading assignments, or are there discussion guides included for those books as well? Are they a basic Christian doctrine, or slanted toward any one denomination?

 

5) Is this a sufficient program for a 9th grader (friend of mine)? She is a serious ballet student and has many hours a week in that, plus piano.

 

Thanks for any help.

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I am considering Core 100 for my 8th dd next year. I have no experience with it at all. My dd is an avid reader, so the amount is no problem. Here are some of my questions.

 

I used SL in the early years, but I used to spend a lot of time on the choosing forum. I can answer best as I can from what I learned from the long term users there.

 

1) Do you have to stick to the schedule on chapters read? If she is really interested in a book, she does not like to read one or two chapters a day. If she reads ahead, will it conflict with other aspects of the program?

 

You can, but often SL will use 2-3 books to cover one topic, often to show different points of view. This is going to be more rich if you do it as scheduled. With the Literature it might be easier to do, as it does tie in, but she can get away with reading the whole book, then just waiting till she gets to the point where the next book is scheduled. In the mean time she can read something for fun.

 

2) Is the LA all writing assignments? I do see options on vocabulary and spelling, but nothing reviewing grammar and mechanics. I might would want to add in a daily practice book or something. Does anyone else do this?

 

SL is purposely light on grammar. It is based on Ruth Beechick philosophy, and she recommends only covering grammar once in Jr. High and once in High School. Thus SL offers grammar workbooks, but they aren't always scheduled. If you ask the gals over on the choosing forum they can tell you which years and which books they have grammar texts scheduled.

 

3) Can this be done in 4 days? I am directing a new co-op here, and it is going well. I am also comfortable not doing absolutely everything if that would help it happen.

 

Depends on the child. SL is a high level of reading. You might have a child that can rise up to that level, or it might be just a bit too much.

 

4) What is the bible like? Is it just doing the reading assignments, or are there discussion guides included for those books as well? Are they a basic Christian doctrine, or slanted toward any one denomination?

 

No clue

 

5) Is this a sufficient program for a 9th grader (friend of mine)? She is a serious ballet student and has many hours a week in that, plus piano.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

It is better than my PS High School education, but I know some homeschoolers think SL is light, specifically that they use too many lower level reading books because they pick books to be interesting (engage the child) rather than for reading level. IMO it is history, it doesn't have to be over the top.

 

There are also people who find the Literature Analysis lacking. That would be a bigger problem in my mind. I would suggest you ask on the choosing forums, because the gals there may have good a work around for this.

 

BTW you can use a separate LA if you choose.

 

Heather

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Hi

I did this with an 11th, 8th and 6th grader a few years ago. Although SL designs it to match up with the readers etc, I know one of my kids friends always has had a hard time just reading the bit he was supposed to - and it seemed to work fine for him.

THe other poster answered the LA question - SL does suggest Vocab for Classical Roots A, whatever Worldy Wise matches their grade and Winston Grammar.

We do co op one day a week and still do the SL 5 day program - we do some before and after co op and we just squeeze it in - would hate to miss out on anything. LOL.

Bible is mainly reading - when my kids got to high school I used SL Bible but added Starting Points by David Quine spread over 4 years so that they could do questions / answers. SL Bible is not slanted towards any one denomination.

As I said, my 11th grade very academic dd did this course - and then she wrote the AP US History exam and scored a 5!!! So, no, I don't think it is 'light'. It is easy and enjoyable as opposed to big fat textbooks with few illustrations - but that just means the kids enjoy and remember.

Literature ANalysis - I find SL to be grade appropriate. In SL 100 they read reasonably easy books - just a few classics and the questions are mainly contexual, butthey do ask for theme and things like that.

In the higher cores there is plenty of analysis. My 11th grade dd did SL 400 US Lit with core 100 as the core 100 lit would have been too easy for her. She wrote the AP Lit in 12th grade after core 530 and also scored a 5 on that. The only thing she used other than SL was the Princeton review book - so I would definitely recommend Sonlight.

Meryl

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Thanks for the replies. I have an opportunity to buy almost all the books, including Hakim, for a really good price. I would still need the IG and a some of the Bible books.

 

I have a rising second grader I want to do American history with, but I felt that core 3+4 would be above him and beneath my dd.

 

Meryl: If I understand right, your 8th and 6th graders did core 100 as it is. Only your 11th grader did lit from another core. Is that right? Did you feel that your 8th and 6th graders needed more than what LA was in the core 100?

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Just wanted to throw out some options for your rising 2nd grader (I'm currently researching Am history options for younger kids): Heart of Dakota does American history for most of its younger grades, MFW Adventures is American history in 1 year for 2nd-3rd graders, and WP has American Story 1 and 2. I've used the WP programs before and they are good for younger children, but the program is spread over two years - you could just select books from them.

 

Hope that helps a little,

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Just wanted to throw out some options for your rising 2nd grader (I'm currently researching Am history options for younger kids): Heart of Dakota does American history for most of its younger grades, MFW Adventures is American history in 1 year for 2nd-3rd graders, and WP has American Story 1 and 2. I've used the WP programs before and they are good for younger children, but the program is spread over two years - you could just select books from them.

 

Hope that helps a little,

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I just saw the program from My Father's World today. I have a close friend who wants to do American history next year as well. We did MOH 1 together last year, and had a blast with fun group activities. She will have kids in 9th, 3rd, and K. I am actually considering writing my own schedule for the 3 younger kids, and planning out the activities and such. She hates planning, but I love it.

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