Michelle My Bell
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Posts posted by Michelle My Bell
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I have an insane schedule this fall with college for me plus homeschooling the kids. I need to be seriously organized and meals are my top priority. My kids will be preparing breakfast and lunch so I am looking for some neat blogs with ideas not only for meals, but for food prep. Any suggestions?
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Morning crowd?
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As our family is gearing up for another year of school, I have been getting excited for the year ahead by pouring over inspiring pinterest posts. It is so amazing how many creative ideas the internet has to offer. So in the spirit of inspiration, I would love it if you post a favorite pin (or two) that makes you say, "I totally need to rush out and do that!" or "That is so brilliant!" or "What a resource!". Of course the theme should be something related to homeschooling. Oh, and if you want to post a favorite website, go ahead! :lol: Here are mine:
Favorite Website: Seriously! My son hated every phonics website I showed him EXCEPT this one.
http://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
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I love CLE. We used this: http://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/math/singapore-math/essential-math-kindergarten?event=Homeschool for kindergarten before starting 1st grade.
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I wasn't really thinking price. I was thinking more about my son feeling the shapes of the letters to facilitate kinesthetic learning. I can see how these could not work for every lesson because of the special tiles. I might get a set just to mix things up in addition to the tiles. The colors are the same.
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Is their any reason why I couldn't use these instead of the tiles should I decide to go with this program?
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Ok, here's a better idea: Use ABeka (or BJUP) for something other than phonics/reading; you teach reading when you get home. Pick something good--Alpha Phonics, Phonics Pathways, Victory Drill Book, OPGTR, Spalding/one of its spin-offs--and do it faithfully, consistently, every.single.day, no matter what.
Well, I see your idea but it won't work for me to do that. I am not big into textbooks except for Language Arts and Math. Since he isn't reading well yet, we aren't doing a lot of extra subjects. He does Christian Light Math and I won't change that as I believe 100% in that program and we will be doing GuestHollow American History combined. But it is a decent idea. I am already planning on doing some games/reading with him when I get home but I want something really systematic EVERY day. Going to college full time makes EVERY day difficult as some days could be chaotic. I don't mind dropping history for the day if I have to and he is already ahead in math.
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Have you looked at BJU DVDs? -
http://vimeopro.com/bjupress/grade-1-distance-learning-sample-videos/video/58544559
Yes, I am now leaning towards that. Have you used it before? Thoughts?
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From my understanding CLE isn't similar to Abeka at all other than they are both a traditional program. I have a very, very wiggly kinesthetic learner and CLE is actually a good fit for her. I also like BJU math, but for a child that is easily distracted and likes to move CLE has been a better fit.
I actually tried hand writing without tears also and it wasn't a good fit. It sounds good on paper, but it just so long and she would get too wiggly during the lesson, etc. I'd rather use a salt tray, sand, whiteboard, etc to liven up the handwriting lessons. We like FLL and WWE because they're quick and no workbook which is a huge bonus for my wiggly kid.
Great idea! Use the salt tray, or sand to liven up Pentime handwriting. https://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=9&category=2002
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CL math looks very similar to the Abeka math we are doing right now...which isn't working for us. I could be wrong? Are you saying to not do any grammar yet, even though it's light? What's in FLL isn't in AAS. Again, I could be wrong!
School is very stressful right now because he can't handle all the boring/basic work in Abeka. I do my best to make it fun but what we're using right now isn't working. It's a lot harder for me to adjust each lesson (scrapping Abekas plans for that day and finding my own each week/night ahead of time) to fit his learning style than it would be to just use something more geared towards his style that already has the ideas/suggestions/tools right there for me. No, it's not entirely too hard for me yo do that but with two other kids (one who is a very curious 19 month old!) I find that every minute of my downtime goes to lesson planning. I'm exhausted.
Right, I am saying skip the grammar. You can start that very easily when they are older. But that is my own personal belief so if you feel strongly about it, then go ahead. I am just trying to help your sanity and have you focus on what would be most beneficial at this age.
Christian Light is an excellent math program that saved my homeschool and many others as well so I always recommend it. If you add enough interesting things in other areas of your homeschool, then a little book work won't hurt a kid. You can also add manipulatives to CL very easily. What I would do though is add math games a couple times a week (either bought or homemade or this one) and keep a systematic math program as your base.
I am just saying Right Start Math is REALLY different and difficult to implement well. I used it for a year so I am speaking from my own experience.
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Not the OP, but curious why FLL or AAS?? One is a spelling program and one is a grammar program?? I don't understand why someone would want to drop one of those subjects.
Well, this is my own feelings on the matter, but I think that grammar would be unnecessary at this point. But if you wanted to keep the grammar, then I would drop AAS and just do dictation which would take about 5 minutes. Technically, you could drop both if you did dictation.
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I am starting Tuesday and would like to do something fun also.
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If you can keep up with all those very teacher intensive subjects, that is great. I personally would meet your kids half-way and require a mix. Choose a few to add the extras to and keep the rest simple and combine.
I would skip RS Math and go with Christian Light.
I would skip HWT and go with Pentime.
I would do either FLL or AAS but not both.
Go ahead and do Story of the World w/ activities.
Keep science simple and read books from the library, get some fun kits, watch videos like magic schoolbus.
Addition: Try adding in Art. How about this? https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/home-art-studio/
We used it last year. Oh and buy 1 level, not individual levels for both students.
Extra bonus: school will be a lot cheaper and less stressful.
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I would suggest you try the entire first grade Abeka DVD program since you are in school. I use it as a working parent to teach and instruct my child in addition to the DVD for classroom programs you get the books and an over the phone tutor for your child. It may be the help that you need at this time that you have limited time to actually teach your child. And it will cover all his classes. There is a Facebook group for Abeka Academy users that can give you more answers and tips. Since I use it for my kids (started at 4th grade) you can pm me with more questions. Also, as the above person stated they do not sell the Academy dvd program as individual courses and the dvds are leased for the school year so you have to mail them back.
Maybe it is new this year, but Abeka is offering a Language Arts / Bible combo this year. https://www.abekaacademy.org/Homeschool/FinancialInfo/VideoCost.aspx
But at this point I think I am going to go with Bob Jones Distance for Language Arts for my son. After watching the Abeka sample, I felt the teacher spoke way too fast and was very confusing even for me. The BJU teacher was much more calm and conversational.
As for having him do a full grade, I don't want him to have to do a full day of videos and I really love homeschooling. I have been doing it since 1998. I just need something for him to get him reading that is consistent and high quality.
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THANK YOU!!! I am strongly considering this program. I have looked at EVERY option out there and I keep coming back to this.
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Need input from those who have used BJU Distant Learning 1st grade Reading/Phonics. Any thoughts on what you liked, didn't like would be great. I am considering it for my son who needs reading instruction.
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Well, it looks to me as if you have done several different methods in a relatively short amount of time, rather than sticking with one thing, KWIM? That he is not reading as well as you might have hoped is understandable under those circumstances. I think he's old enough now that you can pick *something* and *stick with it,* and he'll be fine.
ABeka's phonics instruction is good, but I'm just wondering how successful the DVD will be under these circumstances. Can you get just one DVD at a time, to see how it goes?
Sometimes that was true but other times it wasn't. This was from ages 5-just turned 8. I don't think I can get just one DVD.
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I guess my big thing is I just don't know WHAT to use. I need a systematic program that is easy to use, and has written work and plenty of practice so he can finally get past this point. That is why I was thinking Abeka. I could have my daughter work with him IF I had a plan. I just don't. I am super frustrated.
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Will your older dc be with him while you're gone? Will they be able to keep him focused on the DVD? Will there be written work, and if so, will your older dc be able to help him with that, as well?
Yes, all my other kids will be here including my college aged daughter. She doesn't have classes until 11:00am. I am not sure how long the DVD's will be. Since he is only doing the Language Arts portion, I expect it won't be longer than an hour.
I don't know... Should I just do Phonics Pathways and Explode the Code or Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons in the afternoons? It just seems like we've been doing this sort of thing for so long. For Kindergarten he did AAR Pre-level and learned his sounds. Tried AAR Level 1 and it was too much. Then we started with Dancing Bears and were doing well then we hit a roadblock so I switched to Phonics Pathways & ETC. We never got very far into that. He can read simple sentences S-L-O-W-L-Y, but I am ready for him to really be reading. I believe he is ready he just needs some push.
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I have been looking for something to help my son work on his reading skills in the mornings while I am at college M-Th 9-12:30. He is doing well in every other subject but just hasn't stepped over that hill into "reader". Everything I have looked at (websites: Starfall, Easy Peasy, workbooks) seem lacking or they need someone to teach him directly. I even asked someone local to work with him but she is in the process of moving so that won't work.
I just feel like I won't be able to give him 100% in Language Arts and also do math/history/geography etc... in the afternoons with him and my daughter. Going to school is so exhausting but I need to and want to keep going.
I also need to closely monitor the progress of my older girls. What is nice about my girls is they all can work on independent work while I am at school. My son really needs a teacher still at this point. My thoughts are that the Abeka Language Arts (only) DVD's would be a perfect solution. Of course I would still have him reading to me when I get home and I'll help him with mistakes on his written work and such, but this could be something he could do in the morning. So I need some thoughts? Do you all think this is a good idea or not?
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Besides Explode the Code, what workbooks would you recommend for written phonics practice?
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Check out Heart of Dakota. TOG is really intense for a newbie and MOH lacks some on its own. Heart of Dakota uses MOH one year as well in their program.
Looking for a FREE Birchbark Canoe Craft
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
I would like either a Birchbark Canoe printable or some other craft my 11 & 8 year old can do. I can't find any online. Anyone know of a website?