Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

JEJE

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    192

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by JEJE

    Unique High School Courses?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Since High School is looming on the horizon (my oldest is in 8th grade), I've been thinking about our family's homeschooling goals. It is important to me to provide the children with an interesting, unique education -- an education that is different from what they would receive at our local (struggling) High School. I want to capitalize on their interests, strengths, and future goals.

     

    What type of "out of the box" classes have you created for your children? I am looking for unique ideas to get my creative juices flowing. My children are interested in all sorts of things, so all ideas are welcome :)

     

    A few things I am considering for my oldest:

     

    * A Movies as Literature course (+ reading/analyzing/comparing the books)

     

    * A science course in Animal Behavior (she wants to be a therapeutic riding instructor - I took a similar class in college, as did dh in vet school)

    TOG Yr. 4 Redesign Literature?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thank you all so much for the info! I actually don't own Tapestry at all yet. I am a Diana Waring fan :) But, Waring's revision for modern history isn't done yet, so I was thinking of picking up a used TOG classic Yr. 4 for next year. But, if the redesign is that much different I probably won't bother with classic.

     

    Thank you!

    TOG Yr. 4 Redesign Literature?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    A friend and I are considering doing a relaxed, history co-op together next year. She is going to use the TOG Yr. 4 redesign. Would I be able to use the classic Yr. 4 and still be covering the same information?

     

    I gather the history book suggestions are quite different because of books going out of print, but history is history right? What about the literature suggestions? We were thinking of helping our middle school age children through literature book discussions. Is the literature covered in the classic Yr. 4 the same/similar as the literature covered in redesign Yr. 4?

     

    TIA!!!

    Best Teacher's Notes in a History Program?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thank you all so much!! This thread has really helped me clarify my goals/wishes for next year.

     

    The Sonlight Instructor Guides are very thorough, but I don't think they're overwhelming (unless you tried to use every single question for every single book). John Holtzman's notes are insightful and I feel that there's just enough guidance.

     

    This is exactly the kind of info I needed! Online samples are great, but it really helps to hear from someone who has used the program :)

     

    I am going to continue with Biblioplan for the great resource & lit. suggestions and schedule to keep me on track with the 4 yr. cycle.

     

    Biblioplan seems like a wonderful, inexpensive (yay!) resource!

     

    Since TOG's notes are primarily from the World Book Encyclopedia why not just get that and read about your topics there, as you get to them in your studies?

     

    Why didn't I think of that :blushing: I think I even have a World Book CD around here somewhere!

    Best Teacher's Notes in a History Program?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I haven't used it yet, but I'm planning to use Diana Waring's RRR next year. Your oldest two would be the right ages for it. Whatever you choose for the older two you could get SOTW vol.2 cds and Student Pages (coloring pages and maps) for your younger one - then pick something to read aloud to all as little or as much as you have time.

     

    Diana Waring is wonderful! I bought her Ancients program to use this year, but sold it because we were moving, needed $, blah, blah, blah ;) I thought I would just do my own thing, and it has worked out okay considering we've taken off lots of time to move and have a baby. It's been one of those seasons! I definitely need to be more organized next year!

     

    The DW program had some *wonderful* discussion and critical thinking questions that could be used for writing assignments, but no instruction on how to go about completing the assignment. Maybe we could use the WriteSource book I just bought to get ideas on how to write using different forms. My dd's answers to these questions were great, but they were all the same format - one undeveloped paragraph. I am not sure how to move her along from here. But, I *love* the idea of having the children's writing topics come from their history reading!

     

    I haven't used it, but how about http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/MHW-T

     

    Okay, here's one I've never owned lol! I kind of disregarded this program because we don't use IEW. But, I have a friend who owns the videos. Maybe I could borrow them. The scope and sequence look great!

     

    Thank you everyone :)

    Best Teacher's Notes in a History Program?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I was looking at TruthQuest the other day and noticed they also provide teacher notes that go beyond giving instructions. Background information and Christian worldview/perspective is also provided, much like TOG. The tone is kind of on the chatty side.

     

     

    Oh, this is very good to know! We are going to be using TQ Greece starting next week. I had considered using her middle ages and renaissance books for next year, but I really want a writing program for my 8th grader that is tied into our history lessons, and I am feeling inadequate when I think of pulling it all together myself. The TQ thinkwrites are great, and I bought a few other writing resources (History Scribe and a WriteSource handbook), but my dd hasn't had any formal writing instruction (just lots of narrations and independent creative writing) and I'd like to get that started before high school. How did she grow up so fast?!

     

    Thanks!

    Best Teacher's Notes in a History Program?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I've been considering TOG for next year, but cost is an issue. I know TOG's teacher's notes are phenomenal, but I'd have children in three levels. Even with liberal use of the library, I don't think I can swing this program.

     

    So, I am looking for another option. Up to this point I've been putting together my own history/literature/writing program, but I feel like everything is so disjointed. We have a new baby, and I just don't think I can pull everything together by myself this year! I'll have children in 2nd, 5th, and 8th grade + the littles.

     

    What I really need is a literature based history program that includes writing instruction, and has great teacher's notes - not just telling me what to do each day (I can figure that out), but with background info. on the topics covered. I need someone to tie it all together for me. I'd like to combine the 5th and 8th grader, and have the 2nd grader tag along.

     

    I am looking at HOD (RtR), MFW (RtR), and Sonlight (Probably the 2nd half of Core 6, but spread out over the year). Which of these has the best teacher's notes? I am also open to other program suggestions or ideas to make "Do It Yourself" curriculum planning easier :)

     

    TIA!

×
×
  • Create New...