sarahv
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Everything posted by sarahv
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Hello, WTM Friends! Four years ago I posted an announcement here on WTM for the beta for our online violin program, Practice Monkeys. Over the past 14 years, this community has always been my go-to for homeschooling classically for our home. As families join our classes, I am always delighted to hear when someone was recommended from these forums. These forums are like my home-town in homeschooling. 🙂 My little violin classes have expanded very nicely and our families wanted other programs, so that now we have program offerings in Piano, Guitar, Cello, and Self-Defense, as well as a Great Books High-School Humanities program that is in beta testing this semester. Our music programs are based on the Suzuki Philosophy of music education and our piano program is developed from Haruka Kataoka’s original style of teaching the Suzuki Piano curriculum specifically. Our Self-Defense program is based on Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, and so they are classes in wrestling with the aim of defending oneself against a larger opponent. The Great Books Conversation Humanities Program is based on Mortimer Adler’s study of the Great Books of the Western World entitled: The Great Ideas Program. This semester we are offering an introductory deal for our programs: 50% off for the first two months of tuition. The deal will extend through St. Patrick’s Day, the 17th of March. Please email me with any questions you may have. We look forward to serving more of our community here. Sarah Van Kleeck www.practicemonkeys.com practicemonkeys@gmail.comNO VALUE SPECIFIED
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I have Living Memory and Grammar Recitations by Cheryl Lowe and some of the MP instructors manuals for grades K-4. I just didn't like all the Greek myth memory. Seemed like a waste of time to devote that much memory to myths, when there was little to no history and science memory. So I just bought the Classical Conversations Foundations manual and it's all there for me. I'm not in love with the skip-counting, but everything else is great, and laid out very well. It's working well for us, and surprisingly, not as difficult as I thought all that rote memory would be. My 1st grader is doing great, and I'm seeing connections in their thought patterns regarding the integration into other studies already. It was a good switch for us.
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I have an inkjet printer, Canon MX410. It is an all-in-one, so I am able to copy and all that, but all the ink just comes out of the cartridges, so I guess I am assuming that copying is the same price as printing. I'll look up the difference between inkjet and laser, though. That's something I had not considered. Thanks also for the comment about the drum having to be changed on some copiers. I can see how that would really rack up the price. Also, I'd want decent quality, which might not be available in cheaper copiers. I do print and copy alot, though, as many of our workbooks are now ebooks, and I find myself really liking the format of having printable materials. Soooooo, this brings me to the place where I have to consider how economically I can print. I have six children, going on seven. I have lots of material to print out! :) Thanks for your recommendations!
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What are the differences? Is toner cheaper? For a family that prints/copies alot, would a copier be cheaper to run than a printer per sheet? I have to add that I already have a printer, and really like it, but we do go through quite a bit of ink. I was just playing around with the idea of getting a copier next time around. Anyone have experience?
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You can add Professor B to the list.
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I just found out that Professor B has a new pricing schedule, along with a 30 day trial. They do have a monthly payment type of plan, but it is much more expensive than their new price, which is $100 for three years of one level. They just don't have it up and published on their website yet. You have to call to set it up. I was so glad for this deal, as it makes the program the price of the CD again. One level covers three grades, with the printable workbook included. Just wanted to spread the word - I found out through a review on a blog, called, and took advantage of the deal. It's nice not to have a monthly math bill. :) I really value the program, but the price was always a draw back.
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History...need advice for elementary and middle grades
sarahv posted a topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
I'm looking for a solid history program for the next few years, and I need some help in thinking this through... I'll give a little insight into what I'm trying to accomplish this year. I'd like to start with ancient history this year with my three kiddos (4th, 3rd, and 1st). I'm not concerned about a 3, 4, or 5 year cycle. I want it to be fairly easy to implement, effective, and hopefully come with a solid memory program. I was hoping to not have to come up with the memory sentences on my own, but am not scared of doing that if I have to. I'm considering: VP online self-paced courses, HOD, CM style reading and forming a timeline or book of centuries, LCC style or MP style. Picture cards are a plus. I've considered CC's materials, too. I don't like SL, TOG, or AO (for history selections). One aspect I must have is a memory sentence schedule(even if I have to make up my own in this regard), and reading real books. Ideally I would like a book list to include books the kids can read and some read alouds. I need a program, though, as I am not going to piece it together myself. Any ideas or thoughts from those who've experienced these programs? I apologize it is so broad. History is not my thing. :p -
Large Families come here. I need help with grammar.
sarahv replied to mom2agang's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
For grammar, I like the ACE English PACE's. It tackles grammar really thoroughly between 4th and 8th grades in a non-taxing way for me. I like it because it does diagramming and word usage and covers verb forms, regular and irregular, as well as all the other bells and whistles you can imagine come with our non-simple, fraught-with-exceptions English language. For a work-text type, it's quite good. Very teacher friendly because it's meant to be an student-led kind of curriculum. I've been happy with it. It's a subject I don't have to plan. Whew! Now onto other planning... ;). Like writing, history, math, science, Latin and Greek... -
I love WTM '99 edition. I really learned alot about strategies for evaluating curriculum from that edition. I keep it close at hand for a good refresher every now and then. As for PHP products, I've tried several of them and the presentation of the material just don't fit me or my kids. Doesn't stop me from achieving a WTM education, though.:)
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My 7yo son does this. But he an exceptional reader. At first I tried to get him to stop skipping words by telling him he was skipping words, but that just frustrated him. So when I realized he was skipping words because he just read so fast, I required less reading aloud from him, but when I do listen to him read aloud (which is every couple of days now), I just ask him to slow down and speak clearly, as opposed to pointing out that he's skipping words. It's honestly just a different way of saying the same thing, but he responds to it better. In fact, he usually corrects his skipped words now on his own without me saying anything. Just one experience, anyway. HTH. :)
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This is an interesting topic. I've been wondering how to use HOD as a supplement really. I really like her content, greatly dislike her visual presentation of the organization, and want to cover the history in 1 or 2 days instead of doing it every day. Ya'll are giving me lots of confidence to tear it apart at will. A big thank you! :)
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Cool. Thank for you thoughts, Ladies. I so appreciate it. :)
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I noticed that two of you have a 5 year old working in AAR level 2. This interests me. Have you been able to finish AAR 1 and go on in the same year to level 2, or did you start AAR 1 with a 4 year old? I did AAR Pre-1 with my 4 year old, and she would have been able to go on to AAR 1 in the same year, I felt. And, I feel quite certain that my 3 year old twins could pretty comfortably do the Pre-reading program even now. Can you add your thoughts on covering more than one level in one year for the average kid?
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Could you explain this a little more? In what way do you feel it doesn't move from K to 1st to 2nd? Have you been happy with the reading level for AAR 2? How do you feel about your son's transition to reading other literature outside of the phonics program? Also, as a side note, I was originally drawn to MP because of the level of literature they are tackling by 1st grade, but was surprised at how simple the phonics approach (scope and sequence was not as advanced by end of K that I thought it should be in order to be reading the books introduced in 1st grade) and their integration of sight words bothered me. I really prefer to keep sight words at the absolute bare minimum. Does AAR use sight words?
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I need suggestions for a good geography curriculum for a once-a-week schedule. I have Galloping the Globe, but am wondering about the Trail Guide series. I also really like Holling C Holling books, so if anyone knows of a good schedule/manual for using those, that would be nice. However, I really want solid presentation of materials in order to help retention of material and material more appropriate for 4th-8th grade learners, too. I want curriculum that has lots of map/globe work as well. History combined is great, but not necessary. Suggestions anyone?? :)
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I'd like to hear some opinions on users of AAR levels 1 and 2. Especially as how it compares organizationally and content-wise to other programs, if possible. Do you like the scope and sequence? What concepts does it cover over the 2 years? Does it flow for you? Is the teacher's manual fairly easy to follow and teach open and go? I loved Pre-AAR level organizationally and for ease of use. I love her books and poems and the crafts were easy to do and fun. So my experience has been good. I switched to MP K for this year, and like much of the approach, but am unhappy enough with the phonics portion that I am wanting to switch back to AAR for the rest of the year. Please give opinions! Thank you!
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Professor B (Profb.com)
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I'm considering IEW for writing, mostly because it seems to be integrated and thorough. Those who've had experience with programs from Pudewa, can you comment on your experiences? I'm not sure where to start in his writing programs. At what age, and with what program did you start? Is it a stand alone, or is it easily integrated with other material? How did you use it? Did you tweak? And how about his poetry memorization program? Did you feel it was worth the money you paid? It looks really simple for $60... Thanks in advance for your input! Sarah
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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (math help wanted)
sarahv replied to ChicoryChick's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
Let me throw Professor B into your mix! It is "asianish" in it's approach, interactive, DVD style. Always keeps my kids interest. I made word documents for all the charts, and have ordered the manipulatives he likes to use in connection with his teaching (from RR). They are basically base ten blocks. I bought RS twice, and just really dislike her organization of the material. And except for the beginning, I really don't feel it is strongly asian in approach. (ducking!) I like Prof B because the way he teaches makes sense to me. Very logical. You could subscribe monthly to see if you like it without committing to buying the program. Oh, and Prof B is mastery for sure. No spiral there. Good luck in your search! I've been round the block a few times myself. It's a bit maddening! :) -
Do we have any hits or misses for this year yet?
sarahv replied to mama25angels's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
Hits: 1. Memoria Press K program. Love every part of it. 2. MP lit guides for all the grades. Easily done independently with good discussion. 3. Prof B blended with ACE math PACE's. Finally found what works. 4. ACE Word Building after 6 months of trying to make AAS work. Now, thankfully, I hardly have to think about spelling at all. Just give a test every couple of weeks, and great spelling. Whew. 5. Apologia Astronomy. The boys are loving their space studies. 6. Extra reading from HOD. Her book choices are well loved here. Verdict still out: Ray's Arithmetic for mental math work. I think this is going to be good, but haven't been able to work with it much yet. Also, I'm trying the HOD preschool program, and there's something about it that I just don't love. I'm not sure what it is yet. Misses: 1. RS for the second time. I was trying to be really open minded but RS and I just have no future together beyond the AL Abacus. Prof B was a much better fit for us. -
Thanks! These are all great suggestions.
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I'm looking for any kind of curriculum resources for an Earth Science study. Unit studies, books on the subject, etc. Any ideas would be good. Oh, and for older age - like middle school age. Thanks!!
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:iagree: I haven't even read the other editions.
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:iagree: Yes. That's totally what I was trying to say. :001_smile: Thanks for the ideas ladies!
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The art is so nice, and the color is calm. I'd like to frame them for the wall, since I'm not really into just sticking posters on the wall. However, I can't find a premade frame. I was hoping Ikea... but, can't find one yet. Where did you go to get yours laminated? That sounds like an idea I might try. Thanks!
