monalisa
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Posts posted by monalisa
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Thanks for the input & ideas. All very helpful! It didn't occur to me until today that I could do the SOTW books AND a sonlight core (duh)!
I had no idea there were kits for activities! This is something I could handle I think :)
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Have you looked at Math U See? I haven't used it but have considered it. It is more hands on than typical workbook math programs. It does have some workbook element, however. I have also looked at RS Math, and what you described is what I'd be afraid of for me if I used it. I have also seen people refer to Miquon Math which is also non-traditional & hands on, but I can't figure out how it works. Too left brained I guess.
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I have created an insatiable history buff in dd7. We used SOTW 1 this year, which she adored. Didn't do many projects (my problem, not good about planning them) which she would have liked. Did use the AG and did the questions/narrations, coloring pages maps. Didn't use the book lists as much as I could have (again my problem about planning ahead and getting overwhelmed w/ library books). So I feel in a way like we missed some things because toward the last 1/3 of the year (or maybe earlier) almost all we did was read SOTW and use the AG.
I've now let her start listening to the CDs for SOTW 2, and she's on disc 7 after a few days!!! Because I feel like SOTW on its own, while really good, was missing something for us (like I would like more Biblical/church history incorporated, and some overall variety). I should have used the book lists and projects more in the AG, but got overwhelmed w/ the library and projects probably aren't my thing unless they are planned FOR me on when to do them.
I've looked at TOG -- too much for me (overwhelming, and cost too much and I just have 1 kid) so that is out at least at this age. I just discovered Biblioplan, and that is very appealing. And then there is always Sonlight, that I drool over probably because I like the idea of having everything planned out for me, plus having readers too. However, I doubt that I'd stay w/ SL past core 4.
If we really love SOTW, but just want more (in addition to using the AG more extensively), would I be happier with Biblioplan with SOTW2 or trying SL Core 2 and doing SOTW 2 along w/ it (lightly)? (Doing Core 3 & 4 along w/ SOTW 3 & 4 before going back to a second rotation of history is appealing to me too; I like the idea of more in depth Am. history in grade school years). We are leaning toward a classical type of homeschooling, but not hard core. I would probably make SL more classical in flavor. I'm wondering if Biblioplan is easy to use, and to find the books (I'd probably buy a lot of them) esp. in comparison to SL Core 2.
BTW, I already own all the SOTW 2 resources.
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I just started using 1a for the summer, and I've been doing the exercises orally with my dd. We used to do calculadder which was an unmitigated DISASTER for her and me; oral practice seems to be GREAT.
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Sing'n Learn has some good math facts to music CD's. I ordered the classical music version (I think its called Classical Math) and my dd likes them (she likes classical music). The same company makes another version. You can hear samples on sing'n learn.com I believe. Twin Sisters also has CDs (I think you can hear samples of them on CBD.com).
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This year I had my 1st grader read aloud to me for about 10-15 minutes per day. We used the BJU 1st grade readers, a few very short illustrated chapter books from the library at her reading level, readers from the library (using Sonlight catalog lists & similar resources) at her reading level, and lately she's been reading the Christian Liberty Nature Reader 1. I don't do any comprehension or narration with it -- just have her read for fluency. I make sure she doesn't skip words or guess at words, make her slow down (she reads like a speed demon), pronounce words audibly and correctly. I've seen good results with this for her, and plan to continue it for 2nd grade and up. I don't assign her extra silent reading because she does it on her own (I practically have to discourage her from reading TOO much actually so she'll do other things, which I guess is a good problem to have).
For read alouds, I've chosen books from catalogs such Sonlight, Veritas, Honey for a Child's Heart, Writing With Ease 1 etc. (I usually get them from the library) and just read about a chapter per day all year long. We are just now finishing Heidi, which is by far the longest book I've read aloud, and we've REALLY enjoyed it. The Writing With Ease workbooks all have great booklists that the passages are taken from.
I didn't make any lists at the beginning of the year, but that's a good idea. Planning isn't my strong suit :)
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It's OK, don't beat yourself up for having a meltdown -- I have the SAME conversations with DD 7 who went to private Christian school for K and loved it. Now she prefers homeschool, but I get the SAME attitude sometimes. I was muuuuch worse in the first 6 or so months. There were a couple of times that I actually cried in front of her because I was so frustrated. However, it has gotten A LOT better. I think a lot of it has to do with your ds adjusting to mom as his teacher for one thing. That is part of my dd's problem for sure. I still tell her that if she can't cooperate with me as a teacher, she will learn to cooperate with someone even if it means going to school.
For my dd, it works best if we are consistent from day to day on what time we start (usually about 9), generally how we organize the day, (starting with Bible, then reading, then math, etc.). I would pick what works for you, and go with it and be firm. If he pitches a fit, so be it. It will just take him that much longer to get through his day. If he were in PS or private school, he wouldn't get to choose when school starts. I'm all for some adjustments to kids' preferences since we are homeschooling and not in an institution, but you deserve as the teacher to have his respect and you do get to make the rules.
I also started using a technique when lack of cooperation occurs called "taking a break" which is kind of like a timeout, where you have them go sit in a designated spot (the bottom step for us) but the child dictates when they're done and ready to cooperate have a happy heart. Then they come back to you and discuss what they did wrong and what they will do next time. It is from a book called Parenting from the Heart (and others by Turansky and Miller). This has worked well for her/us.
I feel for you. Back in Nov./Dec. I was ready to quit because DD wouldn't cooperate most days for at least some of the time. Now its maybe once 1 every couple of weeks that she gets a little mini lecture ("homeschooling is a privilege, not a right!") and has a talk with daddy when he gets home. I really think it has a lot to do with adjusting to being at home for school.
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I just bought my daughter a great Patagonia rash guard shirt. It was at a nature center where we were on vacation. Not sure where you can get them online, but Patagonia is a popular brand.
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Just one more thing...from using Singapore just a few weeks, after using BJU for a year, I think I would supplement Singapore heavily with drill/review worksheets or activities if I used it for my main curriculum. It doesn't have nearly the review and fact review built in that BJU did (not that it is the perfect curriculum by any stretch, but it has some similarities to Singapore in how they teach things conceptually. It isn't heavy on the mental math like Singapore is though). I know it is in the HIG's to do certain activities for review and drill, but I like having printed things to have my dd do as "homework" or extra practice. I've read somewhere that Singapore assumes you will do fact drill separately. This is just what I would do, and I thought I'd mention it since you said there wasn't daily review of facts.
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I wasn't trying to be argumentative, just clarifying. I have seen Singapore listed on Mastery vs. Spiral lists along w/ BJU and MUS many times. Abeka, Saxon et al do a lot of very different things in EVERY LESSON (like addition, shapes, time, weights etc), so in some way they are incremental or spiral. This is completely different than what Singapore does (or BJU). They devote a chapter to a topic -- not so for Abeka, Saxon etc. Every lesson is one basically one thing. It doesn't matter to me what the labels are. MUS is in a mastery class by itself, imo.
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Actually, Singapore is a mastery program and so is MUS. However, MUS is much more mastery than Singapore because it stays on one operation the entire year (from what I understand; I have looked at it extensively, but not used it). I am now using Singapore for summer math, having used BJU during the school year. Both BJU and Singapore are mastery, meaning they spend entire chapters on one topic (like addition or multiplication or time for example). They do include regular review of previous concepts (BJU much more than Singapore, from what I've seen so far). Horizons, Abeka, Saxon and I believe CLE are all spiral -- in each lesson, they take a tiny new bite of a concept, but then have problems from a whole bunch of previously covered concepts. So you don't have a chapter just on two-digit addition for example. Look at samples of those curriculum and you'll see what I mean. Spiral works for some kids better than mastery. Personally, I cannot teach spiral math; it makes me crazy to have it so broken up. Fortunately, my dd does well with mastery too.
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Having just used it this year, and starting w/ BJU, OPGTR is extremely simple and easy (BJU was too slow and complicated for me and dd, who was already reading when we started). Some kids apparently don't like the look of the B&W pages and all the print on it. For my dd it has been no issue; she thinks the little stories are hilarious. You don't need additional manipulatives really, but you do need index cards sometimes to do the games and sight words. A magnetic board with magnetic letters is nice, but not mandatory. We love it and would use it again!
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For foundations, get the audio CDs, and foundations guide, the VP history cards, a tin whistle for each kid plus yourself (wish I had one for me). I also wished I had the resource CD's because all the maps and extra stuff are right there on the CD's for easy access (though I'm not doing cycle 2 in a group I ordered all the materials to do at home, including the resource CD and now wish I'd had it for cycle 1). I didn't like the online C3 which is by subscription at a 90% discount if you join CC (you'll get a discount code from your director). For me, it was difficult and time consuming to search for things on C3 that are all on the resource CD. I didn't think the flashcards were worth the money, but you might like them. We're not a flash card family I've realized.
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I agree that it is great. The only downside for me has been that I've swapped many of my own more expensive books (hardbacks that go for $20 or more), and mostly have gotten cheaper books mainly because the more expensive things I have wanted aren't on there or else there is a humongous waiting list. On the other hand, I have gotten some out-of-print things (like the Cathy Duffy older curriculum guides) that I couldn't find anywhere else. But it is better than just giving your books away and getting nothing in return. And probably definitely better than the pittance you get selling your used books to Half Priced Book stores!
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What is a Homeworks consultant?
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I think you get free shipping from the display, and you definitely do at a convention. I don't recall that you got any discount, however. Also, check CBD if you're willing to order indirectly. I know last year when I ordered some BJU curriculum from CBD, the shipping was free on those specific items (they were full sets, like math, phonics & english, reading, so they were all around $100 or more, which is probably why the shipping was free).
By the way - not sure what grade you're looking for, but I have some first grade BJU curriculum (some barely used) posted on the For Sale board.
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It isn't mandatory to do the same thing. I did CC cycle one, but did my own science curriculum that didn't correspond which worked out fine for us. CC moves so quickly, it would be difficult to keep up imo (that is one of my dislikes of cc, honestly). If I was going to try to do something corresponding, I'd pick just a small portion of what CC was doing. You could do the Apologia Astronomy book, for example. You could also just check library books out that go along with the topics that are covered each week.
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The writing is too small, and there is too much on one page for my ds7.
I agree with this...way too small of spaces for the age its directed at IMO. If you look at other early elementary math, they usually have much more writing space it seems. I bought the addition & subtraction as a supplement, but it is sitting on the shelf. Not as wonderful a fit for dd as I'd hoped.
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They are just the little round, flat, plastic counters that you can buy as math manipulatives. I can't remember how many came with AAS, but it was just a few. There is nothing magic about them -- you could use Cheerios, M&Ms or beans just as easily. Anything that you have the child move as they segment the sounds would work.
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I started dd on both WWE 1 and FLL 1 at the beginning of first grade. She was reading at about a 2nd grade level at the time. I've also gone through OPGTR with her this year, though, (starting well into the book), to hit all the phonics since I wasn't exactly sure what was covered in her private K. I think you are fine to start them whenver you want, esp. if he is reading at 2nd grade level.
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My dd 7 got it quickly in 1st grade, but on the other hand she doesn't have her addition & subtraction facts down cold. I like how BJU teaches it -- they do not call it carrying, but instead call it renaming. They teach it soon after teaching place value and it makes complete sense to me. They rename 10 ones as one ten. I really like how they teach place value too -- with blocks, versus bundles of sticks, bunches of grapes, etc. So you have separate blocks for the ones, sticks of 10 for the tens, squares of 100 for the hundreds, etc. I think this is similar to how MUS does it. I think that teaching place value this way made it easy for dd to get "carrying" or renaming.
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For first grade, we used AAS 1 and 2 (we're on step 9), FLL 1, Writing With Ease Workbook 1, and Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading for Phonics. They all work very well together!
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There's something called Phonogram Fun Packet by Beall's learning games that MIGHT be similar. I have never seen in person. It is related to the Spell to Write & Read curriculum. I have Giggle Facts too, and my daughter loves it. I seem to remember reading about a phonics game program in Cathy Duffy's curriculum book -- might check her website.
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I have OPG and PP sitting in front of me and can't decide which to keep and which to sell. Is OPG more thorough than PP? That may be a deciding factor for me. Otherwise, I'm leaning towards PP because it just clicks with me more as I've read through them both.
I had PP and sent it back because it didn't click with me or my dd. What I liked about OPG was that it was scripted. It makes sense on how to use it. I wasn't sure quite HOW to use PP. If you read the first edition of WTM, they recommend PP because OPG wasn't written yet. SWB used PP at least with her oldest. I think its pretty thorough.
s/o on the early reader post: does my almost 5 yo need phonics?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
My dd who is now 7, was in similiar spot. She is reading now a much higher than 2nd grade level (5th or 6th? not sure). She had even gone to private K and had some of the single letter sound phonics, but I went ahead and went through OPGTR with her (starting wherever it is that single letter sounds end). She had started reading on her own, with no prep or help from me, prior to K as a sight reader (I still rarely hear her sound out a word). We went through OPGTR relatively quickly, sometimes doing several lessons a day (I'd just have her read the passages sometimes). I am very glad I did it with her. I did hit things now and then that were stumbling blocks for her, especially toward the end of the book. It didn't take much time out of the day at all (5 or 10 min at most). I've also used AAS with her, and we're part way through level 2. I now have her doing 1 page per day of MCP Plaid phonics level B. It takes her 5 minutes. I feel like I want to make sure she has all the phonics covered so she doesn't hit any wall later.