My3girls Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I have been using Story of the World and Intelligo this year. I have nothing against either. The problem is they just are not getting done regularly. I'm looking at Moving Beyond the Page and Book Shark as a replacement. I want something engaging with activities that I don't have to spend a ton of time preparing for. If you've used either, please, let me know your thoughts. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I think I'd first look at why the others didn't get done. Was it a scheduling issue? The content? Age appropriateness? With the why it would be easier to make good suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3girls Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 The girls found Sotw boring, and I didn't like Intelligo being 100% on the computer, but I couldn't just turn it over to them, either. Plus, some of the activities are for classrooms and not easily adaptable to homeschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedarling Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I, too, found Intellego interesting, but I was never sure how much they were doing/getting out of it with them working on it independently on the computer. We also tried MBTP, which my youngest loved the 8-10 level (all with me), but it was a lot to get done sometimes...if you're already struggling to get stuff done. You need to be able to pick and choose, and not feel you must do everything. My dd at 12 hated MBTP 11-13 when she tried it (I've since learned it was likely just the first semester...2nd semester is perhaps better but we didn't make it that far.) Perhaps you should just add occasional activities to a workbook approach like ACE, Starline, AOP Lifepacs, or even CLE? From MBTP 11-13, my dd12 did Starline, and I added to it by writing in crash course video links, books, etc. into the book for each day. This approach worked well because it got done...she liked the videos and short reading assignments, and tests allowed me to see what she was learning since I wasn't working with her all the time. I'll agree that MBTP has great activities, but if you've struggled to get stuff done already, I think you're setting yourself up for more of the same. Perhaps you're trying to do too much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Book Shark is going to be a lot of reading without many activities, I think. It's probably not what you're looking for. What are you looking to study in social studies? Geography? World History? US History? Government/Civics? If you could be more specific about what you're interested in, it would be easier to recommend a program. MBtP does take a lot of time, but DD enjoyed the activities when we used it, though she found the content really challenging. (We did parts of 5-7, 6-8 and 7-9.) You might like Trail Guide to Learning, KONOS in a Box, or Home School in the Woods Project Passports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3girls Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 It's not a matter of time. It's a matter of keeping them interested, and some of it being independent. I'd like to do the lesson and then set them to doing an activity or reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 For history, I would look at the Veritas Press Self Paced classes. It's a blast and it's self directed. My kids loved it. I would consider 12 the upper end for it, though. You could add the lit packages and be done. We also love Sonlight, but I have some hard core readers. Mystery of History also has supplemental projects, but I think it's a lot like SOTW in terms of: read, narrate, map, etc. Kind of dry... For science, I would have to split them up. In lower elementary we used some Apologia, some self directed, some "lots of reading and going to local nature things". We used BJU from grades 6 - which really stepped it up in content and expectation. We do the online and up and my kids LOVE it. I do have science nerds, though...and their sale just passed... so it might not be a good time for this year. My BFF loved NOEO which is a little pricey but has everything you need for a full science. If I did that and combined I'd require more advanced or supplemental reading and writing reports from the 6th grader. Another option would be self directed and a couple of kits from Academy of Science for Kids. Their kids are AMAZING and really do have everything but water. They're expensive - but they actually get done at my house so I think that's worth it. Hope that helps!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Seconding VP self-paced history. Science is our weakest spot so I have no wisdom to offer you there. We keep it ultra simple and read zillions of library books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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