monalisa
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Posts posted by monalisa
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I sit with my 1st grader the whole time. I'd say we spend 30 - 45 minutes average, sometimes an hour or more. Probably 15 - 20 minutes is instruction, 15 - 30 minutes is worksheets and drill sheets, and flashcards. We're using BJU 1st Grade, and it requires teacher presentation. The workbook is just practice.
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I wouldn't say the material is overwhelming. I totally agree with kls126s that 15-20 minutes a day is adequate. Even just listening to the CD's in the car can provide enough review.
What can feel overwhelming to me is devoting an entire day every week for 24 weeks to attending the group. Makes it hard to card out library or field trip days. If you like having that set co-op type of day, though, it won't be an issue for you.
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We will EITHER do Classical Conversations or something like Sonlight or MFW. We are looking at the Classical Conversations to get in our history, geography, science, art, etc.... (with adding related books from the library for the rest of the week....kind of like book basket in MFW)
If through the rest of the week, I did: math, WWE, FLL, spelling, handwriting, Latin, CC memory work, keep a read-aloud going and keep my dd's reading (chapter books for older and phonics for the younger)...........is that a full curriculum?
I honestly can't justify using CC and another full curriculum. And I can't commit that I would do a huge amount of history, science, geography, etc... outside of the CC classes.
We have done CC this year, with a 1st grader. I think you will find the history and science to not be enough (and for me, the art and music aren't enough either). I am doing SOTW 1 at home (reading the text, along the with narrations and activity pages in the AG). The science experiments are OK, but they seem really disconnected (and most of the time not explained what they are supposed to be learning). The geography is pretty good because it goes along with the history sentence you learn that week.
Really, CC foundations is JUST memorization. And realize, it takes an entire day out of your week by the time you get home at 1:30 or 2:00, so at least for us we can't accomplish anything else that day. The art is so/so (the first 6 weeks were a waste IMHO, based on Drawing With Children, and our tutor did a poor job with it); the 6 weeks of tin whistle are marginal (too much music theory crammed into too short of a time taught by a tutor who doesn't know much about music!). The art we're doing now is pretty good (from the Great Artists book).
I know a lot of people love this program, but I can't say that I do. It's a lot of $ for what you get, IMHO. I spent $ for a full curriculum in addition to the $600+ required for CC.
My daughter has learned a lot of history facts, and we do enjoy the CD's. But to give an entire day to it is a tough pill for me to swallow. I spend the rest of the week feeling "behind", and have found I haven't done the fun things with my dd that I thought I would in our first year of HS because I have felt like I don't have time. Also, your experience will hinge very much on how good your tutor is; my dd had an inexperienced tutor for the first 16 weeks and most of the fall I was ready to drop out. She now has a 2nd year tutor who is alot better (they switched kids around 3 weeks ago because new kids joined the campus). Unfortunately, you usually have no idea who the tutor will be ahead of time. Just be sure you want to do it before you commit; you can't get your money back mid year.
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AAS, SWR, WRTR etc. are all based on spelling by learning the rules. It makes spelling (mostly) logical, versus memorizing lists of words. Go to the AAS website and read the reasoning behind approaching spelling this way, and it will help.
The beauty of AAS is that you can do it without much or any writing for a while. My dd is getting better with writing (and prefers it to the tiles now actually), but this was a big reason why I chose AAS vs. a workbook program like SWO. The other big plus for AAS is that it is "open and go", which isn't true of SWR or WRTR (although people who have done those for a while probably get to that point).
If your dd is upset at writing spelling words, then I would ditch the workbook approach (which is what most traditional spelling programs are from what I understand).
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We've used HWT for 2 years. I started my dd7 in the K book when she was in private Kindergarten because she was having MAJOR issues with the curriculum they used at her school. Now for 1st grade homeschool she's in the Grade 2 book.
There are multisensory activities mentioned in the teacher's manuals. I would recommend buying at least one grade of the TM, because it does have a lot of tips and ideas plus you also get a code that gives you access to things on the HWT website online. I went to a HWT seminar, and everything they taught came out of those manuals! I would recommend getting the slates, the workbook, and the teacher's manual (It's only $8 I think). They really stress the wet-dry-try idea where you use a tiny piece of wet sponge on the slate, then trace w/ finger, then write with chalk -- this did my dd who has had major writing issues.
One thing to note is that what REALLY helped her writing was when I went to the smaller line size -- we skipped the first grade book and went into the 2nd grade book. It is an amazing improvement. It can be hard for some kids on those HUGE lines because they then tend to "draw" the letters vs. writing them (like what is in the K HWT book, or the WWE 1 book); for copy work, I have her writing on 1/2" paper which is 3rd Grade Zaner Bloser paper, and it is a huge help for her.
Another thing that has helped my dd is that I photocopied the pages showing the lower & uppercase letters, and the numbers and had them laminated. Those stay on the worktable while we do school, and it helps her to have something to refer to (she sometimes still reverses letters like b, d, p & q).
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I checked out the Ancients from the library over Christmas break. It is good & I enjoyed reading (though I couldnt' finish it -- its HUGE) -- I can see it being used for High School. It gave me more insight in things we'd covered in SOTW 1.
A book that REALLY helped me understand Roman history (and was quicker reading) was Augustus Caesar's world by Genevieve Foster.
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Here are a couple of ideas for you:
Christine Field has a book called Life Skills for Kids. I've checked it out from the library and plan to buy it sometime soon. She's a homeschooling mom & author/speaker.
I own a book called Why Motor Skills Matter by Tara Losquadro Liddle. I bought it after adopting our dd, and haven't looked at it in a couple years. It addresses some of those things. There are 3 subtitles on the cover: Activities for the Motor & Sensory Systems, Development Benchmarks and common concerns, Checklists for keeping your child on track from birth to age 5.
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I'm not sure you need a second set of cards. I'm only using it for one child, but I have a friend who has used it for two. She has only one set of cards. The older child who moved through Level 1 quickly she just used the book for the wordlists (I actually do that sometimes too; I actually forget about the word cards!). So she marked his placed in the book with a bookmark & notes (and you could do his review words from the book too, by just marking them). My friend does have 2 sets of letter tiles though, because each child has their own magnetic workboard setup. You will only be working with one child at a time, so I don't think you need more than 1 set of phonogram cards either (again, keep track of the older child on a note page -- there aren't many phonograms beyond the alphabet in level 1, so you could just copy the page that shows the phonograms and mark them off). I honestly do not think I'd spend the $ to buy a 2nd set of anything if it was me (we just completed level 1, so that's my opinion after having gone through it). Someone who is using it with 2 kids might disagree with me though.
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I'm using AAS with OPGTR now. I don't think using it with ETC would be overkill. You could minimize the amount of writing in AAS, and do most of it with the tiles. I think they would compliment each other actually.
Level 1 of AAS is quite easy, so it probably wouldn't be difficult at all for him. The only downside is that it is teacher intensive. I don't think there's any great benefit to starting now vs. waiting to the fall, however. If it were me, I'd finish out the year with OPGTR and ETC 1, and let AAS take the place of OPGTR for 1st grade.
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I started using it with my dd7 because I thought cursive would be better for her than printing since she was having a lot of trouble with printing. We just did a few pages of this. After using HWT, I found the instruction in it not as good (with HWT, I got used the a "script" describing how to form each letter). However, my main problem with it is that it is on the regular 1st grade sized lines. I discovered after buying it that my dd really needed to stick with printing on much smaller lines (3/8" or 3rd grade lines made a huge difference), instead of switching to cursive. So she's now in the 2nd grade HWT book, and then will do the cursive HWT book in 2nd grade.
It is spiral bound, not stapled like HWT, so it makes for a bit of an awkard and thick writing surface in my opinion. The mascot, Mr. Meerkat, is cute (my daughter liked him). It is a bit overpriced in my opinion. I do like the font, however. If you like the large sized lines, this is a decent cursive book to use.
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We're in CC this year, but I'm contemplating not doing it next year and just doing the memory work at home. I'm not convinced its a good use of a whole day honestly (for a 1st grader that is) and then I spend the whole week feeling "behind". Part of it is that I use CC as a supplement, not the core of my curriculum.
I would buy the foundations guide, the VP cards, the Audio CD's (it DEFINITELY helps to be able to listen to these in the car!!!) and the Resource CD. If you don't want to spend that much $, don't get the Resource CD. I think you'd miss the Foundations guide, because that shows you what you're doing week by week. You can subscribe to the online community, C3, but I think it is pretty expensive.
I have all of the above except the resource CD, and if I do it at home next year for Cycle 2, I will buy it. I wouldn't recommend the flash cards unless you are a flash card loving family, or like to play jeopardy type games with these sorts of things (we aren't/don't so that was a waste of $ for me).
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The books about Charlotte Mason-type homeschooling by Karen Andreola and others (I'm not a true CM'er but it makes me think differently). I'll give a second reco for Ruth Beechik & Cathy Duffy books also. How about the Paul & Gena Suarez book about Homeschooling Methods (not sure if this is the title) that looks at a variety of ways to school at home. Other ideas: The Christian Homeschool by Gregg Harris (this is old, but pretty good), and titles by Christine Field.
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I'm wondering...do some kids need to be in the classroom to excel - to respond to that peer pressure? At the same time, I'm not sure it's good for him to see himself as superior to everyone else when he 'does/behaves better' than them. We're definitely homeschooling for the next couple of years, so how can I give him what he needs/enjoys at home? And, I want him to like homeschooling. Of course he has to do it b/c we said so, but I would also like to make these years fun.
I've had the same questions this year w/ my dd7 who went to private K last year. Same attitude/respect issues too. However, I don't think she misses it as much as your ds does; she's an "only" who is used to being alone and and a homebody. But I've wondered about the positive peer pressure.
I've gotten advice from other HS'ing friends that it takes time to adjust (the attitude & hard work thing), and I've seen improvement. And I've made sure to add in group things and fun things (we do Classical Conversations which is weekly, and is much like a school class - may do something different next year), plus schedule weekly playdates for her. Also, I remind her of the benefits of homeschooling as they occur -- like studying things because we want to, going on super cool field trips, shorter school days etc.
Hope that helps a little.
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It is mastery, but it has a lot of review if you use all of the program (the TM, the Reviews book, the regular workbook). Plus there are fact drills on the CD that comes w/ the TM, that you could use as timed. If you just needed timed fact drills, you could use something like Calculadder as a supplement if you weren't happy w/ it.
We're using BJU 1, and I've looked at about everything (and bought Saxon & then sold it to a friend because I couldn't stand to teach it), and for me it seems to have a good balance of mastery with built in review. I'm pretty sure I'll stick with it for the next few years.
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I am using AAS with my DD7, although in my heart I WANT to use WRTR. However, like others, I haven't quite figured it out for us. What I don't like about AAS is that in Level 1 it is very slow. My dd7 doesn't like the tiles (she prefers to write), but she is learning to spell. I have Level 2, and after that I may switch to WRTR or SWR.
One note -- I would NOT recommend the Spalding Manuals. I was all geared up to switch to WRTR in the fall, and ordered the 1st grade manual. I sent it back because for $75 or whatever the price was, it was totally NOT helpful (and by the way, they charge a 10% restocking fee!). It is truly written for a classroom. There is nothing in it that is helpful for a homeschooler that isn't in the 5th edition IMHO.
However, since then I came across a resource called How To Start A Spelling Notebook by Mari McAlister (I think I ordered it from a Catholic homeschooling website), that lays it all out for you on how to follow the 5th edition. Its just a short paperback booklet. If I do use WRTR, I'll probably follow her guidelines on how to use the 5th edition.
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I let my DD follow along as I read, but not when I ask the questions.
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I use it pretty much as written, except my dd 7 usually writes her words vs. using the tiles because she doesn't like them. I've been making her do it with the tiles sometimes, though, because of the consonant teams being together on tiles. She writes on the whiteboard mostly, but sometimes on paper.
The one tweak I've made is that at the beginning of a lesson when she gets 10 new words, I have her write them as neatly as possible in a notebook that is devoted just to spelling words. She underlines any multi letter phonograms. This is to sort of do what WRTR or SWR would be doing (which I might switch to later).
We work 15-20 minutes every day, and go as far as that takes us. In Level 1 some of the lessons are really easy, so there are some days we've actually completed a lesson. Usually it takes several days. I do some amount of the review every day like the book recommends.
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Another vote for Signing Time. My dd7 learned ALOT of sign language from these back when she was 1 - 4, and she still remembers much of it. We haven't kept it up, but it was a great thing for her (and fun as a family). We started using it when there were just 3 or 4 DVDs, and now there are lots. You might even be able to find them at your library. At one point PBS had picked it up as a show, but not sure if that's still happening. Check the Signing Time website because I remember they would have great deals on sets.
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If it was me, I would let them go on to volume 2. However, you could just let them listen to volume 2, and go back to volume 1 and do the activity guide as your offical "history lessons" for the rest of the school year (and read aloud or listen to the CD's as you go). Why not let them listen to vol. 2 as a leisure activity? I wouldn't squelch their interest if they want to keep on with Vol. 2. My dd7 spends literal hours per week listening to books on CD (she's on a Magic Tree House Kick now), and I've contemplated getting the SOTW 1 CDs for her to listen to for fun. I know people who read the chapters to their kids while they "Do History", and then let them listen to the CDs for free time, while doing art, in the car etc. I don't think you have to box yourself in on this.
Don't beat yourself up for "getting behind" on history; at their ages it is really just exposure. I think the WTM sets the bar really high on what to cover, for how long per week, and what resources to use (for example, I have done very few of the Activity Guide activities because they are TOO COMPLICATED, but have used the library book lists; also, I'm not personally interested in a 1st grader reading The Iliad or many of the other lists of books recommended in WTM for history). Don't make this complicated and stressful for yourself. Its not that important for a 2nd & 4th grader to be making a detailed timeline in my opinion; what IS important is that they are getting a flavor and love for history, which is what most of us never got! They WILL get another chance to go through this again -- LOTS of chances in fact, so don't worry about not covering everything now (you couldn't if you tried!).
Another way to cover more of the Ancients now would be to get A Child's History of the World by Hillyer and just read that to them (you can skip the first part if you don't like the evolutionary flavor of how the world began) -- It goes along nicely w/ SOTW (you can order it from Sonlight or Veritas).
Just my 2 cents as 1 first time HS'er to another :)
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I know you said you'll stick w/ ZB, but just in case some one else read this thread I'll post my opinion:
I ordered NAC 1 for my dd 7 but it didn't really work for us. I realized later that it would just be better to move her to the HWT Grade 2 book and have all her copy work be on 3/8" paper (and stay with manuscript for a while longer). I'll then use the HWT Cursive probably (since I own it already)
The NAC 1 Book is nice quality, but it is on big 1st grade lines (1/2" I think) which is just too big at least for my dd (even for manuscript). Also, having a spiral bound book isn't a great idea, because it makes it akward to have that spiral in the middle to put your arm across when writing on the left hand page. I much prefer the HWT thinner stapled workbooks.
And you are correct that it was expensive - I believe it is quite overpriced compared to other penmanship programs (I think they spent too much on the binding & cover honestly). I am planning to sell it and use HWT or maybe ZB for cursive.
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I would not use AAS for phonics. I know some people on this board & the AAS board have, but I would not if I was starting with a new reader because it moves too slow. It is even a little too slow for spelling in my opinion at least in book 1 (but I do like it overall). We are almost done with the first level, but my dd7 was a fluent reader when we started it.
I have gone through OPGTR with her even though she was reading pretty well, and would use that if I had another new reader to teach.
I don't think I'd worry about rule memorization at that age. What you could do is combine AAS and OPGTR like I did, and then you're coming at both angles (and kind of compensating for AAS being slow in phonics). And if she doesn't like reading out of the OPGTR book, you can always write the words/sentences on a whiteboard like others have suggested here. OPGTR is a relatively inexpensive book, and you might find it at your library (mine has it).
By the way, I tried Phonics Pathways too, and neither dd or I liked it.
I think your dd sounds like a normal 5 year old. My dd's K classmates were all over the spectrum -- my dd & a few others were reading beginner books already, but some of her friends barely knew letter sounds, and some were starting to read 3 letter words.
And you aren't doing something wrong!!!!! Give yourself a break! Learning to read is a mammoth skill, and every kid is on their own timetable.
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I think for your kids ages you should go with SOTW. I am using it now with a 1st grader (vol. 1) & love it. I plan to use MOH for the second cycle when my dd is older. I have looked at it -- its not written for little kids, but older elementary. I have friends using it now who say this also. I have heard that it is great, and one of my friends is reading it for fun. But SOTW is written for younger kids -- its story like. I think I might wait until 1st grade, but have heard people using it younger. The activity guide probably would not be worth using with a K'er.
I didn't HS for K, but if I had I would not have done history. I don't think it is time well spent at that age (I think that goes along w/ WTM), when the very brief school time needs to be spent on phonics, lots of reading, basic math, and learning to write letters. If you are dying to start on history, however, you could just use SOTW 1 as a read aloud.
You might be aware, however, that SOTW doesn't include the amount of Christian history that MOH does. It does include some, but MOH is written from the Christian perspective, from what I understand.
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Modern day Authors (all Calvinist to some extent, though not all of these agree on all points; definitely considered Reformed):
R. C. Sproul
John MacArthur (tons of stuff on his website gty.org, and its free)
John Piper
James Montgomery Boice
Sorry, I don't have any reco's for Arminianism specifically.
You could also read things on reformed church websites, like the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church USA.
Calvinism is also known as Reformed Theology, so you could use that in a google search too. I used to have some good bookmarks, but I lost them in a computer problem a while back.
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Thanks OhElizabeth!!!! I appreciate your perspective, because BJU isn't a "popular" math program around here or with any HS'ers I personally know (in my area, many use MUS or RS), and its interesting to hear your experience w/ Horizons etc. compared to BJU.
HWT -- Teacher's Manual Question
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
I have both. We skipped the 1st grade book and went to the 2nd grade book when I discovered my dd did so much better on much smaller lines.
That said, the K book was very helpful to me. I practically read it cover to cover. I then went to a HWT training, and found it was a waste of $ because the TM had taught me everything they were teaching (except there were some hands on things that were somewhat helpful).
I haven't really looked much at the 1st or 2nd grade books, to be honest. You might just feel like after using the K TM that you don't need the following TM's. I would recommend getting the one when it changes to cursive though. However, they are quite cheap ($7 I think?), so it can't really hurt to have them. I got them all when I attended the training, and its nice to have them in case I need them.
P.S. I assume you're ordering individual slates for each child -- my friend just told me her kids who are close in age fight over the slate (they only have one) and I'm giving her my extra.