countrymum
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Posts posted by countrymum
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I'll have to check on those R and S books. My 3rd grade dd loves spanish and thise would be right up her ally. I'm looking to continue it over summer with her. She loves song school, little pim....anything. That sounds great. I speak a bit of Spanish....not fluent, but not too bad.
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She did All about reading 1-4. I had it for my oldest. It was much easier than doing it on my own with my orton gillingham tutoring materials. (Daily with babies in tow is different than paid tutoring lessons....;)) I almost waited on level 4 (she did it in 1st grade...pretty easily). She still knows most rules and hears her brothers All About Spelling lessons with the rule recitation.
12 minutes ago, medawyn said:As a natural speller, a very early reader, and probably a whole word learner, an OG crash course in spelling was AWESOME when I was about 10. It solidified all the rules I had intuited and taught me some of the "why's" about what I was already using. I didn't need it, per se, and I don't think I would have learned as much earlier. I needed to be a tiny bit older to appreciate the intricacies of what I was learning.
To that end, my oldest is only 8, and he was an early reader and is apparently a natural speller. For now, his only spelling is through copywork and dictation. I'll most likely run him through an intense OG based spelling course in 4th or 5th grade.
I think my next is going to need systematic OG based spelling from and earlier age, and my next two are too young to know. I do teach reading through phonics, but not with any specific curriculum.
A 1 yr crash course may be helpful later....any ideas on what to use?
I am kind of leaning toward using Spelling Wisdom for now.
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Perhaps she's more average....I'm not sure I'd know. I'm a terrible speller and ds is just as bad;)
I am all for OG spelling. I'm trained in it too. I used it to teach both kids to read (and starting again x3...), and oldest totally needs it for reading and spelling! I honestly thought I'd never use anything else, but dd really learned to read more by sight (Dick and Jane really clicked for her...), though I made sure to teach her through phonics as well. Her spelling is visual memory too, I truely think. She is challenging my OG only philosophy;) while ds is cementing it....hahaha
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For a natural speller, would you do traditional spelling lists or studied dictation? Why? Give me reasons, research, thoughts, and opnions;)
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1 hour ago, seemesew said:
You both have made some very good reading about math programs! After years of struggle with math I have come to similar conclusions and math simply doesn't worry me anymore, I may still wonder about details in a book but I have learned its more about what I'm willing and able to teach than it is about which program is best. I really loved reading both your insights!
Yes, thank you both so much. In many ways it's freeing. I am finding my trial with Horizons for my older 2 going well this spring. (I switched both kids when 4th grade really didn't fit as I didn't really like the 2nd grade level the first time through and didn't like it any better this time. Also, this student works really well with something that has some independence built in. )
I think I'm going to keep both of them in Horizons. I will let my kindy kid be a seperate decision. Thanks
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2 hours ago, 8filltheheart said:
I wouldn't go as far and say that what you use for kids without issues doesn't matter at all. Even bright kids without LDs may need more concentrated practice (mastery) or more review of older concepts (spiral). What makes or breaks the scenario when the student is in the opposite program is the teacher.
I have kids all over the place in ability. I have some super gifted kids. I have some completely avg kids. I have a granddaughter whose mom has a serious math disabiity and it has shown itself in my granddaughter. Horizons has been a successful approach for all of them bc I taught/teach all of them. I don't hand them the textbook and expect it to be all they need. I might have to spend time writing down math problems on a dry erase board until the light bulb clicks or give them extra practice sheets (which the TM includes....I have only had to do this a couple of times.)
The biggest difference in math outcomes in kids with normal ability is going to be teacher involvement in ensuring that the student understands math concepts. Curriculum is only a tool. That said, the success of the tool relies on the ability of the user. Some approaches fit a teacher better than others. For example, I really do not like the bar diagram model of teaching. I'd rather teach my kids via simple algebra. The Singapore model would have lead to poorer outcomes for my students bc I would not be as good of a teacher with it. It might be considered a superior methodology, but if I can't teach it when they aren't connecting, it is simply reduced to words on a page.
I am a firm believer that children need teachers. So the program is less important than what you are able to successfully use. I find Horizons very easy to teach. It doesn't make leaps that kids haven't been exposed to. It doesn't only teach algorithms. The concepts are in the books and they progressively integrate the concepts into operations. But, as a teacher, I have to be able to understand the significance of what they are doing. For example, someone once posted that Horizons has kids borrowing in subtraction without ever explaining what they were doing and that is pure algorithm. That is a huge disconnect between what the students had been learning for weeks and teacher understanding. In the student textbook, the student had been regrouping with 10 and 1 rods for an extended period (32 with 3 ten rods and 2 one rods to 2 ten rods and 12 one rods, etc). The entire point of the exercises was to help the student understand how to regroup when subtracting. If the teacher cannot recognize a concept that has been worked on repeatedly, it is obviously not a good tool for that particular teacher. That teacher needs everything in 1 single spot that immediately goes from that concept to borrowing so that she can make the connection in order to teach it.
Yes. To needing a teacher. I like teaching math and fully expect to teach it whatever I use. I actually like to horizons manual better. I am better at adding then subtracting from curriculum.... I have several things I add in when needed (kate snow facts that stick, montessori stuff, calculadders, strayer upton....)
Also RightStarthits really hard on place value but my 2nd grader has now encountered that 3 tens and 7 ones equals 2 tens and ____ones in horizons. She totally needed my base 10 blocks to do lots of them.....It was a different way of looking at it for her.
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43 minutes ago, Enigma6 said:
Adding to 8fillstheheart (whom I respect highly and would never consciously insult): Horizons, if done from the start, does teach all the concepts well. If you jump in the middle after a concept has been explictly taught, it assumes this fact so doesn't give any review helps anywhere. The 2 programs are very different. As already pointed out, Horizons is spiral and BJU is mastery. It depends on which method works for your child and you as a teacher.
Yes, I can totally believe that, but how do I figure that out?;) I think I could probably make either work, so perhaps I should just pick one and go on? I would like to stick with whatever it is for everybody if I can😉
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My 9.5 yr old does this too. My in law is a teacher and said it's not uncommon. I'm interested in wht others say.
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4 hours ago, Lori D. said:
So awesome! Maybe she'd like one of those special journals that have the top half of the page blank and the bottom lined, or lined page alternating with blank page, so she can start her own bound volume of stories. 😄 I'm also thinking that at some point (maybe later, in 4th/5th grade), she might enjoy creating a family newspaper or newsletter, or have a blog and write regular blog articles (it could be a restricted blog where only a very people who you send the password to could see it -- a few friends and family members).
When DSs were in middle school, the year we substituted World Cultures/Geography for History was awesome. One of the things DSs did was to create 2, sometimes 3, pages a week to add to our own "atlas". Each page was one country. I printed out a small blank outline map for them to label a few key landmarks / cities, and they added a sticker of the flag, listed the capital, population, major language(s), major religion(s), and a few major products of that country, and then after reading about the country, wrote up a short paragraph of things that stood out to them about that country. That's way more than I would expect from a 3rd grader, but maybe spend a week per atlas page, adding just a little at a time might work...
I have 1 of those journals; I think I'll try it 1x a week for her. Thanks for the idea.
I also like the atlas page it would be good for her and 5th grader. Perhaps I'll assign 1 per week. I think it'd be great. I just bought some uncle Josh outline maps. 5th grader burns out on writing really fast!
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8 hours ago, Lori D. said:
BJU, Abeka, etc. are going to be pretty traditional/formal textbook/workbook-based instruction for writing.
Then for this year/this summer, you'll probably want a delicate balance of something to help improve writing (combining sentences, paragraph structure) + proof-editing practice, and lots of opportunities for her to do her creative writing with a variety of interesting writing assignments -- journalism (news/feature stories), blog entries, short stories, journal writing from a prompt, letters, posters, book (or movie) reviews, etc.
I'm teaching a "foundations in high school" writing course online to my homeschool group's co-op this year, and I have TWO students who are very strongly interested in creative writing. Where I can, I've allowed them to do the assignment, but get to invent the content (like, for the "how to" (process) essay, or the descriptive essay, etc.) However some of the assignments have to stick to reality and facts (informational essay with citations, argumentative essay from a prompt). One student is a bit older, and she is able to make the jump in exploring the different types of essays we need to accomplish over the course of the year. The other student is younger, and he is struggling whenever the assignment can't be about his invented creative writing ideas.All that to say, your DD's natural writing "bent" is not totally uncommon. I am finding that what helps with these older students is a gentle shepherding of "here's what the structure needs to include and in that order, but let's see where the content of those sentences can be creative writing based." So if over the next few years, you can do a gentle balance of working your DD into solid sentence structure, a variety of sentence types, solid paragraph structure, ability to proof-edit, and eventually in late middle school, move into how to come up with an "opinion" or "claim" and then build an argument of support for it, I think she'll be fine.
She just is going to need to be able to express herself creatively in assignments. For example, instead of always a factual history report, perhaps write a journal in the voice of a person living in those times. Or dress in the clothing of the time and give a dramatic oral presentation. Lots of ways to go about it... 😉
Thanks for these ideas, Lori. I don't think that my own writing is all that great. I like grammar and can write a decent college paper, but I am pretty formulaic and unimaginative;) Thats why I was looking at WriteShop D. Do you have any ideas of resources to help me help her? I am not afraid to come up with my own curriculum, but writing is not my strong suit, so I'd at least like to borrow from others.
Thanks for the history report ideas. I can add some of those ideas to the world geography and cultures course I'm making for my kids for next year. Also, we don't homeschool over summer, instead we farm and garden.
And yes, I know that there are other students like her- I`m glad. Then, others can give ideas;)
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I have been thinking about this child more. She strongly dislikes narrating and world rather make up her own story. She is artsy and creative. She just wrote a 1 page story today about a dog. This amount of output is new, but not suprising to me. I want to encourage her creativity. Does this help anything? Any different recommendations or thoughts? What about BJU? Perhaps more grammar, but it is more creative writing....She likes her own ideas not someone elses....
Now my son just wrote a good solid long paragraph changing a fable today, but they 2 are very different students.....
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Kind of a spin off of another thread.
How long does it take you to teach a BJU math lesson for middle/late elementary? What books do you use? Would it work for a bigger family?
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Another thought, this child really dislikes narration. She will do it and has gotten better at it this year, but she doesn't like it. She does like to write, though she doesn't write alot.
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I know writing strands should be used more often. 1x a week is what we can do with grandmama who has successfully taught it 5 times already;)
I am looking to do stuff to augment it. I am just not sure that language lessons for today is what I want for this child. It is what I have used for a different child.
I just remembered that I have cottage press primer 2. Anyone have any thoughts on it? Is it any more than language lessons for today? Does nobody like writeshop? I glanced at writing tales. It may work too. I don't want a lot of grammer now. Hitting it in middle school with analytic grammer is my plan. Also her spanish has some as needed.
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I am doing withTeaching Writing Through Guided Analysis with my 5th grade son next year. I haven't gotten it printed yet. Would you do it with 2 kids 22 months apart?
Ok by academic i mean non fiction. Like reports ectra...
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My daughter is using MFW language lessons for today 3 this year. Last year she did level 2 (She's using it a grade ahead. I don't consider her a grade ahead though. It's just this curriculum.). I am looking to add in more writing for next year. She will be in 8 and in "3rd" grade in the fall. I don't think I want something as formulaic as Institute for Excellence in writing. I have looked at and wondered about the masterboooks writing strands (but I have the older ones, and Grandmama will do them with her about 1x a week starting soon. Are they really that different?) I have also looked at WriteShop. I am open to all ideas.
My goals:
I want her to write good paragraphs and perhaps a short report.
I am interested in both academic and creative writing.
I want grammer included and applied to writing.
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Ok, I am looking at BJU as a possible switch from RS. My biggest concern is not being able to do Algebra in 8th. I also am looking at miquon for my kindy student, so this is mostly older levels (3rd and 5th) questions.
Looking at manuals BJU looks about 1/2 year behind where RS is for 3rd and 5th. How do you place?
And like I said my husband who is an engineer wants algebra 1 in 8th.
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For history, I'd check out beautiful feet. They have around the world with picture books and Early American for 1st. You pick 1. We are working on early American now, and love it. There are nice longer meaty picture books to read and copywork or coloring to do and some oral questions. I really like it for lower elementay.
WWE is scripted, so if you like that you could go that route. You could also "just do copywork" and "oral narration" on your own. Simply Charlotte Mason has a book called hearing, relling reading, and writing that guides you with that. I also think that Baur has an older book, perharps still has it, that is a "make your own" WWE like thing.
I wouldn't really add in grammar till 2nd or 3rd grade. My plan is light grammar till Middle school then do analytic grammar. There are lots of routes here-lots of personal preference. I also like MFW language lessons for today. It starts in 2nd too. It has copywork, narration, oral composition, some written composition, light grammar... Another on to check might be cottage press primer 1, but probably not till 2nd grade.
I would continue AAR over the summer and some math, perhaps just finish RS a then start fresh in the fall. Its more exciting and everyone needs a break;) Add in lots of outdoor nature study and art projects and enjoy having a little!
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On 2/23/2021 at 9:24 PM, countrymum said:
March modifications bolded
My 3rd kindergartener
Horizons math K (mostly workbook only?)and miquon for exploration and Montessori manipulatives for teaching
All About Reading 1 with montessori pink and blue series stuff (into 2??)
Beautiful Feet Around the World with Picture Books combined with MFW countries and cultures plus anything I add from various sources;) with older sister
Study animals and ecosystems around the world for science, and nature study
D'nealian moving from tracing sandpaper letters to slate to copybook at his speed
Spanish listen in with sister on Songschool Spanish 2 and little Pim with little sister
Read Bible together and weekly memory verse
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But he's only in 4th now. Would you ever jump "ahead" in BJU?
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Janeway, could you elaborate?
He is going to be in "5th" next year. Also, I have the 5th grade manual for bju (4th edition). With RightStart we have already covered through chapter 11. How would I place him?
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I have only used Horizons (4th) with 1 child for a few weeks. He is getting division down finally. So in that sense its "working". I think I'll probably keep it for him at least. They have a nice long (like 12 +) lessons focused on division. He understood it just fine going in, but was terribly s l o w. It seems less sprial that RightStart honestly now...
I like RS B, but not A or C so much.... So I was thinking of switching all the way down... I am just not sure that I won't "mess up" I guess... I worry about this way more than likely is necessary;)
Aboit a cd of extras... I like having it all in the book, but even Horizons has extra sheets in the tm that I can copy if needed.
Thanks for your thoughts
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I am planning a countries and cultures study for next year. I am pulling from severa. Sources including My Fathers World. Does anyone know what is in the student sheets other than Bible verse coloring pages and outline maps. I'm just wondering if they'd help us?
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Thanks for the thoughts. I like to teach math, but 15-20 min each oer day is more what I can do than 45...
Mostly the games for drill bogged us down. The kids didn't like them and didn't want to do them and i didn't have time to teach and then drill x2 or 3.
Peterpan, how long does it take to teach a lesson? Is there enough drill and practice? My son usderstood division and coild do it, but until we switched into horizons, he was painfully slow. He is starting to pick up speed now.
Past 6th grade or perhaps prealgebra doesn't really concern me. I plan to use Foersner Algebra.
Writing with lighter grammer for "3rd" grade+ studied dictation vs lists
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted · Edited by countrymum
Spelling....my nemis
Same rising 3rd grader. I have a thought. What ya think of the combination below?
When I asked her, her only response was whatever took the least time...;)