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JEJE

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Posts posted by JEJE

  1. We used the Freshman TTG book last year and liked it a lot. I saw a definite improvement in my dd's writing!

     

    There are exercises, but no tests in the student book. It is a worktext, but I had my dd write on a separate piece of paper, because I plan to re-sell to help fund next year's books :)

     

    You have to contact the publisher to buy a Teacher's Manual. Honestly, I didn't get one for the Freshman book, and never needed it.

     

    When I first started the program, I thought it was too easy -- no tests, very gentle. *But* my dd's writing improved, and her end of grade test scores this year were awesome! We will be continuing with this series next year :D

  2. I see on the Life of Fred website that the author reccomends doing Advanced Algebra before Geometry. Would there be a problem with switching those books and doing Geometry first?

     

    My dd completed the Beginning Algebra book this year, and would love an algebra break. But, are there going to be topics in Geometry she doesn't understand because she needs the background of Advanced Algebra first? Or, is Geometry more of a stand alone course?

     

    Thank you :)

  3. Thank you for the suggestions!

     

    I had forgotten about the Portraits of American Girlhood. I think I owned an old version of that one years and years ago! LLLoTR is also definitely going on the list.

     

     

    I tend to do this myself, so I have not really looked much for curricula that do it for you. For instance: we studied Julius Caesar, and then looked at JC's life and times, and also that of Shakespeare, as part of the whole thing. Then we put it into context with Luke 2 (since JC's heir was Caesar Augustus). Or we studied "The Diamond in the Window" and tied in the Trancendentalists, the antebellum reform movements, and the concepts of civil disobedience as applied to the American Revolution, slavery, and the civil rights movement. (I should add, we did this at a 7th grade level. It was less sophisticated than it probably sounds.)

     

    See, this is what I would love to do - but I think you must be a lot smarter than I am! Those sound like wonderful unit studies :)

  4. I do like Ruth Beechick :) I like how this program combines so many subjects, but I wonder if the books are incorporated as springboards for the activities, or just as read alouds. Definitely something to look into - thank you for your suggestion!

     

    These guides sound interesting:

     

    http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/phonics_reading/literature-units.htm

     

    The review says "Activities for each grouping range across the curriculum (whole language approach) including writing, vocabulary, geography, art, music, math, science, and social studies." These might be a possibility :)

  5. I have not been able to find what I am looking for, but please direct me in the right direction if this question has already been asked :)

     

    What is available in the way of unit studies based on literature? I am thinking specifically of guides that cover the historical context of a book, and suggest projects or topics for further research (& rabbit trails) in art, science etc. Literary analysis (figurative language, plot etc.) and writing ideas would be a plus. I am not necessarily looking for a year long program - individual novel guides would be great :)

     

    There seem to be quite a few programs that take a topic (say history) and use multiple pieces of literature to research that topic, but what about programs that start with a book and branch out?

     

    Is there a list that already exists? These are the programs I've come up with:

     

    Beyond FIAR

    Prairie Primer

    Further Up and Further In

    Where the Brook and River Meet

     

    TIA!!

  6. We will also have our first high school student this year! My oldest dd will be turning 14 soon (Wow!) and has already started the first units of her geography and science courses. I wanted her to gently get her feet wet before we jump in full steam at the end of July.

     

    She'll be doing a World Geography/World Lit/World Religion course, Integrated Science (which will give her a 1/2 credit for physical science, and full credits for conceptual chemistry, intro to physics, and honors biology at the end of three years - then she'll take an advanced chemistry course), Geometry (assuming she can finish algebra 1 soon!), Spanish 1, and she's finishing up a Child Development elective that will count towards next year's credits.

     

    I've gone from *very* nervous to *very* excited about high school!

  7. I am looking for a grammar program (can cover other parts of language arts, but doesn't have to) that uses excerpts from "living" books in their examples. I know of LLATL and KISS. Any others I haven't stumbled upon yet?

     

    This would be for my 6th grader who has not had *formal* grammar yet. I've been trying to point out grammar in his copywork and dictation paragraphs, but I would really like a program that is all laid out for me!

     

    TIA!

  8. Hi :)

     

    I am creating a two year integrated science course for my daughter. I have textbook, lab, and living book components chosen, but I would like to add some videos as well.

     

    I am not looking for a "complete" course necessarily, but I don't mind picking and choosing what segments we watch. I'd love videos that are interesting, maybe funny, show demonstrations and/or experiments - like Billy Nye but for older children.

     

    I researched the DIVE cds, and while the right price, they aren't the engaging media I am looking for. Physics in Your Life (TTC) looks promising. My daughter will be doing an upper level chemistry course at the community college in a few years, and she'll be taking geometry, so I am not looking for heavy math based videos.

     

    The other requirement is that these be actual hard copy videos or cd-roms. We use a broadband card with limited downloading space per month. Most online videos are too large for us to use on a regular basis.

     

    Any other options I should look into? TIA!!

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