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homeschoolally

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Posts posted by homeschoolally

    Math targeted toward ACT only?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

    If he's really solid for before high school, he should have ample time to actually learn everything needed. What does solid before high school mean? 

    He was in a better academic environment before high school. I could have worded that better. He has a good foundation through Pre-Algebra-- the gaps start in Algebra 1. Having used Saxon with my own kids, I'm having a hard time with the idea of consolidating so much high school math in less than two years! Thanks for your input 😃

    Math targeted toward ACT only?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I'd like to help out a student with a weak math background (solid before high school but has fallen off since) and would really appreciate suggestions on remedial math options that will help him get up to speed for the ACT independently. This kid will be spending his free time on it,  so I want to get the most efficient, no nonsense option for him.  

    Traditional ACT prep books seem to assume a stronger foundation than this student has and I don't like the idea of jumping back and forth between texts filling in gaps and making it complicated.  We have 18-20 months and he's willing to work hard, is there any traditional curriculum that I could have him work through that would zero in on only those concepts? I'm essentially looking for something that teaches to the test, but from the ground up.  

    Thanks in advance for any input!

    Alternative to CLE Reading that's similar format? Middle School

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Hello, I love CLE's reading curriculum and my older kids used it with great success. I love the content, the workbook format, and that it is somewhat self guided. Unfortunately it's been a battle from the start with my youngest and I need something more contemporary. He just can't overlook the stories being old fashioned and I'm throwing in the towel on this one.

    My ideal curriculum would be the exact same format but with more modern stories. Does this exist or are there any alternatives you'd recommend? 

    Thanks!

    Writing curriculum like Jump In but with less interaction with me?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    I’m working with a middle schooler on remedial writing skills, trying to do a short-term intensive to get him up to speed.

    After researching here I got the “Jump In” curriculum and the format/pace/content is perfect (minus a couple worldview things, but academically it’s good enough for me to overlook those) but I am learning this student would do better with something less interactive with me. 

    I’d really appreciate any curriculum suggestions, would prefer something self paced if possible. I know I’ll need to read and grade the writing assignments, I’m comfortable with that, just would like something where I’m not having to give feedback so frequently bc that’s where we are butting heads.

    Thanks in advance!

    Suggestions for Most Streamlined Math Option for season of unschooling?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    Thanks so much OK Bud, I checked it out and Teaching Textbooks online is exactly what I had in mind. It was only available as a disk last time I looked into it. Thanks so much for suggesting it. I have been homeschooling close to 20 years and have a pretty good handle on it, but there are always new things out there and only so much time in the day to investigate them all. Thanks again!

    Suggestions for Most Streamlined Math Option for season of unschooling?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, sweet2ndchance said:

    I agree with OKbud, you can't have it both ways. You said you are fine without gaining much but then in the next paragraph you are lamenting about him not getting much out of doing his regular math at a slower pace.

    Math Mammoth dark blue, the topical books rather than the grade level books, would be a good way to target weak areas like Okbud mentioned. And a studious and self-disciplined student could make reasonable progress in 20 minutes a day working on their own.

    If what you are wanting as a more hands off approach to math during a difficult time in life where you are needing to trim school down to the bare essentials, I would think that Math Mammoth, ALEKS or even something like Khan Academy (it goes all the way down to kindergarten math now) or Prodigy Math would suffice for a season.

    But I wouldn't necessarily call any of that "unschooling" or "student-led".  An unschooling approach would be to let the child decide when and what kind of math they need to learn even if that means they learn all of middle school math in a few months as a teenager because another interest requires that they learn algebra so they need the middle school math to learn the algebra. A "student-led" approach would be similar but I think of student-led more as we will do math everyday but we will follow the student's interests I would design the lessons to intertwine with other interests such as science or history topics.

     

    We are unschooling in every area except math. I wouldn't say I was lamenting, lol, more that it doesn't seem very productive. Thanks for the ideas!

    Suggestions for Most Streamlined Math Option for season of unschooling?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    Sorry I ha I haven't posted here in a while and can't find the button to reply directly.

    Square 25:

    My son is a perfectionist and very driven. He prefers to do math on his own using curricula that teaches to the student because he says I make it take too long and/or confuse him. He's a good student and has always been able to work above grade level in math so I've decided to keep letting him work independently as long as it keeps working.

    OK Bud:

    Great idea with TT, I'd forgotten about that one and agree that might be a good direction to go long term! I love CLE, my older children used it through middle school and there isn't much about it I would change. This particular kid is maybe better suited for something like TT in this situation. Thanks for the suggestion!
     

    Suggestions for Most Streamlined Math Option for season of unschooling?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally
    clarification

    We're doing a short season of unschooling right now because we school year-round.  I want to ensure that we don't lose any ground in math--I'm fine with not gaining much, but want to use the time to review and target any weak areas. Want DS (5th grade) to have 20 minutes of math a day that is streamlined and productive.

    We've always used CLE math and will return to it when we're back full-time. He tried doing just one or two pages a day of CLE but it doesn't seem like he's getting much out of it. We've tried some online options (Beast Academy, Scootpad Math, Manga High, Elephant Math) but feels like he is doing a lot of random math without clear focus on progress.

    I used Aleks many years ago with one of his siblings and I'm thinking about returning to that so he can track his progress and also brush up on any weak areas. Before I purchase it I'd  like to make sure there aren't any newer/less expensive options that we should look into. This will be completely student led, so immediate feedback on incorrect answers is important as well as some instruction he can read himself. Fine with workbook or computer/ipad, as long as it makes the most out of his 20 minutes.

    Thanks in advance!

    Copy work with beautiful old writing style?? eta Spencerian

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by homeschoolally

    DD saw the style of writing on an old copybook and fell in love with it. Trying to find something similar and haven't had any luck. I don't know how to put a photo here, but if you google "Gods of the Copybook Headings" it comes up with text saying "good nature like a bee, collects honey from every herb"

    It is simple, yet elegant writing. Would love to know if anyone has seen copywork with this style, either as a curriculum or something I could print from the web.

    Thanks in advance!

    Where to find super high quality children's keepsake books?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I am looking to spend about $50 on a book or books for a baptism gift for a 1 year old girl. I'd like to get something super nice, the kind you'd save and pass down to your kids. When I look at Amazon it is hard to tell the quality of the books, and I'd prefer to get something more unique than you'd find on the shelf at Barnes and Noble.

    Can anyone recommend a resource or publisher to point me in the right direction?

    Thanks!

    No Fluff Algebra 2 and/or Pre-Cal?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Hello Hive,

     

    My oldest is spending WAY too much time on math. He's going into a non-math related field, and I'm at the point that I just want him to keep progressing, but put math on the back burner for a little bit. He's ahead so he can afford to slow it down so he can devote more time to other subjects. Right now he's really showing some self-motivation in some other subjects and I'd like to allow him more time for them.

     

    He's been doing Saxon Algebra 2. When we've tried to slow it down, say do 30-45 minutes a day, he's getting 5-7 problems done, tops. He's about halfway through the book, and honestly the difficulty level is just higher than what we need now.

     

    I'd like to find something where he can cover some more ground in that 30-45 minutes. I'd love to hear recommendations of a few "get 'er done" higher math options.

     

    His ultimate goal in math is to do well on the ACT/SAT and know enough to handle college chemistry/physics. Precalculus is as far as I think he'll go with it.

     

    Thanks so much for your thoughts.

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