JenneinCA Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Calvert called me this morning. And for my son they told be pretty much what I expect to hear. They suggested Calvert 3 with Math 5. His writing was a major problem. He just doesn't like doing it and it showed. Their guess at math is slightly lower than I guessed, but I understand that he wrote some numbers backwards and that he didn't remember to reduce his fractions. I am okay with this placement. He would be alright here. But for my daughter it is different. They recommended Calvert 5 with Math 6. I am very much not sure this is a good fit. Actually I think it might be a good fit, for about a month and then it is going to be easy. Very easy. They were concerned that she didn't do complicated enough sentences and didn't include enough details. She can do that. But she needs to be reminded and I didn't do any reminding. And the math... she forgot everything about percents she ever knew. I could teach her percents in less than a week, but I didn't prep her for the test because I wanted it to be hers. And apparently percents are a make-or-break item. So now I am re-thinking the school in a box idea. My son might be alright. But my daughter probably not. I have a week before we leave on vacation to figure out a plan. The Rainbow catalog and I are going to get together.... wish us luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetreasurs Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 :grouphug: Good luck - I hope you are able to find what you need. There are many great resources out there! School in a box can be great if the kids fit right in, if not, planning your own curriculum can end up being less work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Just as an observation, can't you start where they say, proceed through the easy stuff faster, and begin the next level of math mid-year? I mean surely they aren't expecting you to stick to one book an entire year... On the sentences in her writing, if you're having to remind her, then it's a skill she doesn't do herself yet. Have you looked at IEW or WT2? Either one would cover that, if you decide you want to go ecclectically. I know your dc are way gifted, much more gifted than anybody in my house, lol, but sometimes the virtue is in just getting it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 The issue is that after I spend the big bucks on Calvert I won't have the option of buying a new book part way through. I am totally stuck with the box of stuff. Including the one math book for the year. And you are absolutely correct about the fact that if I need to remind her, she doesn't really know it. She needs more practice and more help than I can easily give her. IEW looked good until I realized that it was very very teacher oriented. I am not capable of that right now. I am not sure what WT2 is. But we unless things change again (not likely) we are going to use WriteGuide, which should give her lots of practice and lots of feedback about how to write and I don't need to be the bad guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetreasurs Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I used Writeguide with my son (through Regina Coeli) and it was a marvelous experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 The issue is that after I spend the big bucks on Calvert I won't have the option of buying a new book part way through. I am totally stuck with the box of stuff. Including the one math book for the year. And you are absolutely correct about the fact that if I need to remind her, she doesn't really know it. She needs more practice and more help than I can easily give her. IEW looked good until I realized that it was very very teacher oriented. I am not capable of that right now. I am not sure what WT2 is. But we unless things change again (not likely) we are going to use WriteGuide, which should give her lots of practice and lots of feedback about how to write and I don't need to be the bad guy. Did you try applying for financial aid? Maybe it could save you enough that buying another math grade ($95) mid-year will be doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 We don't look like we need financial aid on paper. And I suppose compared to some we don't at all, but I have a limited amount to spend on homeschooling and I just can't justify to myself paying for all of Calvert just to skip big chunks. If I am going to spend that amount of money I want to feel I got my money's worth. So instead I will buy individual items and if I need to adjust part way through I won't feel as bad. As a happy accident both kids placed into the same level of math for Teaching Textbooks (Math 7). So my costs there just shrunk. If I need to buy my daughter the next level sooner rather than later, I will still have the money I would have spent on her math waiting. (I have read the posts about why Teaching Textbooks is not ideal. For me, right now, it is looking pretty dog-gone good. For us, for now, it is right.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Have you considered doing Calvert without math, and then doing the Teaching Textbooks level they both tested into for math? I think you may find the history, geography and science in Calvert 5 works well for your dd. The language arts may not be terribly challenging, but the writing assignments are good, as are the books that they read. My ds especially loves Hillyer's History of Painting (though I know some kids don't care for Hillyer's slightly old-fashioned style). But perhaps that would be a good compromise between Calvert-in-a-box and the math that you think is more appropriate for both kids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 I did think about that. I know she would like it. I just can't bear to spend the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Hi! I am new here, but thought I would share my Calvert experience. We are using Calvert this year for my son who is going into 4th grade. He is smart - tested into "gifted" classes in ps before we took him out, etc. but when we did our tests for Calvert, they put him in 3rd grade with 5th grade math. Ha! No way. So, as his mom and knowing him better than any test ever could, I said to heck with their plan. I put him in 4th grade Calvert and actually backed him up to 4th grade math. He didn't have as strong a handle on his math facts as I wanted before he moves on. Anyway, as the momma, you make the ultimate decision. We obviously couldn't use the ATS service, but we hadn't planned to anyway so it was fine. IMO, place your children where you feel they fit. Calvert is a great curriculum and I think they do know their stuff or I wouldn't own two of those expensive things *LOL* BUT, you are mom and you know your kids better than any one test can represent them. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testimony Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 place your children where you feel they fit. Calvert is a great curriculum and I think they do know their stuff or I wouldn't own two of those expensive things *LOL* BUT, you are mom and you know your kids better than any one test can represent them. :) :iagree: Blessings, Karen http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kailuamom Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Just adding my .02 late -- for two years we did Calvert without the math. We did Calvert everything else and did the math of our choosing. Good luck with your decisions. I know it can be difficult and stressful. Calvert does really save a lot of time as far as planning each day. I am doing my own stuff this year instead of Calvert (which we did for the past 3 years) and it is stressing me out! lol BUT, it all works out in the end (I had put stuff together before we started Calvert three years ago). I am sure it will for you, too. BTW: I have been seeing a lot of TT for sale on the sale/swap boards. You may be able to get it there for cheaper and still do the reast with Calvert. And as far as it getting mixed reviews here, I read all that, too, and still got it for this year. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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