Anyone Used Moving Beyond the Page 10-12?

[Chrysalis Academy]

I would really love feedback from anyone who has used MBTP in upper elementary. I'm specifically looking at the 10-12 level for my 6th grader. Pros & Cons? Likes & Hates?

 

TIA!

Edited July 6, 2017 by Chrysalis Academy

[EmilyGF]

I tried using it (a slightly lower level) but it had the problems of most boxed curriculum: somethings way too hard, some way too easy. There is a lot of writing without a lot of instruction, IMO. My oldest isn't a natural writer so this didn't work for us. The science books are, IMO, pretty twaddly. I wasn't disciplined enough to do things where I couldn't see the point. Also, I have five kids and it wasn't efficient enough. 

 

But I think with fewer kids and more willingness to do projects, it might be better. I was frustrated that the reading level was low and the writing level high (in the 8-10 year level). I prefer it the other way around because that fits my kiddo better. 

 

I would try one unit, see how it goes, and then decide based on that. I much prefer the Sabbath Mood Homeschool middle school science modules; they are what I wished the MBtP modules would be.

​Emily

[prairiewindmomma]

We used it. We loved the book selection, the worksheets were hit and miss. There was a wide variety, but the level of writing requires was inconsistent. In addition, this is not a logical/sequential program. In many ways, it's what you make of it in terms of discussion, etc.

[MotherGoose]

I tried using it with my dd (cells, for ages 10-12), and found that it made too many assumptions about her level of scientific understanding. She was young, fifth grade. I also have used other units and also found the assignments all over the place. Perhaps if we had used it consistently from the beginning this wouldn't be a problem?

[Chrysalis Academy]

bump

[HomeAgain]

We used parts of it.  I have considered the entire program every year, but the cons outweigh the pros for me:

-every subject the same format

-expensive, especially adding in the copying of workbook pages (it's one manual with teacher and student work)

-time consuming.

 

Please do not get me wrong.  We absolutely loved the literature units we did.  The worksheets are often set up to have two levels for each worksheet.  The first will be geared toward the younger part of the age span, the second for the older/more advanced.  You pick either one for your child.  We loved most of the projects and ways of looking at the stories along with the weaving in of literary elements, vocabulary, and creative writing.  It never felt like just busy work.  But it is a big chunk of every day.  Each lesson has reading, 1-2 worksheets, and a project.  We split that over 3 days, and then gave a week for the final project.  Having jumped ship from LLATL, MBTP was a breath of fresh air.  It did what LLATL was supposed to do and failed at: teaching language arts through literature.

 

Yes, we'll absolutely use units again.  But I don't think I'd use the full program.  It would make the day rather monotonous.  I'd pick one subject and buy the individual units through the site or Rainbow Resource.

[strawberries]

We used four of the 10-12 literature units as well as one 12-14 unit (Animal Farm) during DS's 6th grade year, and plan to keep using MBtP lit in 7th. It is the first literature curric we have hit on that he really enjoys. It is secular, which is important for our family. DS likes that there are a variety of activities and some hands-on projects; it is not all just writing. There are "student choice" options where he has some control. He takes a writing class at our co-op so I mainly want these units as a way for him to think about, dig deeper into, and discuss the books, not so much for writing instruction.  When I encountered a dead link in one of the units, I posted on the MBtP forums and they responded within the day. 

 

I have never considered using the full program so I can't comment on that.