A.M.
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Posts posted by A.M.
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If you want to use WWE then I'd say have a look at level 3. What I really appreciated about WWE is that it taught me how to teach narration skills to my children. At one point we hardly used the book anymore but started using different materials, including whatever they were reading or the McGuffey readers, to cover these foundational writing skills.
Another curriculum that I would highly recommend for reluctant writers is IEW SSS. Level a for the younger and level b for the older child; they both start at the beginning. Or you can start both in level a.
Good luck finding a good curriculum for your dc!
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I second Math Mammoth. It has optional videos on the website, and there are separate review workbooks. We use the review workbook on Fridays, but obviously you can use it in any way you want.
Math Mammoth does really help me explain the math to my children. I do recommend reading the chapter ahead of your child so that you understand how the concepts are developed.
I also recommend taking the placement test.
As for follow-up curriculum, Maria Miller has recommendations on her website.
We love Math Mammoth here 🙂
Good luck finding a good fit for your dc!
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Astrid Lindgren's books
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I like Corbett Maths ( https://corbettmaths.com ) for extra practice. It has videos and practice sheets, all for free. Just note that it is British.
Math Mammoth has videos on simplifying expression on this page: https://www.mathmammoth.com/videos/prealgebra/pre-algebra-videos
MM also has a worktext in the Blue Series that focuses on equations and expression. It is pre-algebra level though, so might be too simple for your dc.
Khan Academy is a favourite here as well.
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Maths: Math Mammoth. We find the explanations, which are addressed to the student, really clear. There are videos on the website too, but we don't use those.
It helps a lot to read the chapter ahead of covering it so I can help if needed.
As for history: I think Story of the World is still fine as a spine for this age. I supplement it with other readings, such as biographies and novels, and we keep a timeline using a 'book of centuries'.
Wishing you a wonderful time homeschooling
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Following...
If the OP doesn't mind, I would be interested in hearing more about pp's experience with Lukeion's rhetoric courses.
What did you appreciate about this course? What age group would you say it is particularly suited for? How did your dc find the homework load and amount of time involved? Any negatives one should be aware of?
Thank you!
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I highly recommend reading the book Hold on to Your Kids, co-authored by Gabor Mate. It discussed the role peers play in a child's life.
I remember that at some point he mentions only children.
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Prophet's biography: The Life of the Prophet Muhammad, Leila Azzam
We love this book.
Arabic: I heard very good reviews of Al Madina Institute's Arabic programme www.almadina.org
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For translated fiction: one of my dc loves books by Tonke Dragt
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If you want her to solidify maths basics, how about having her go through k-8 maths one more time at a fast pace?
Learn Math Fast might be worth considering.
Good luck
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Conference of the Birds by Attar is beautiful, but the beginning might be difficult.
Maybe there are editions for younger children.
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I also wonder how those who have used MEP GCSE to prepare their dc for (I)GCSEs have found it.
Do you feel it offered good preparation? Did you use additional resources?
(we haven't decided on an exam board yet)
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3 hours ago, hollyhock2 said:
Yes, Algebra 1 is plenty in order to begin GCSE. I never use the practice books. I find there are plenty of exercises in the pupil text. I would probably use the practice books as extra practice if needed. However, I have not done the express/special track with my students either, so take that with a grain of salt. 🙂 One thing you could do is look at the lesson plans and see if the practice book questions assigned for express track are the same or different from the ones in the pupil text.
Thanks, that is reassuring to know 🙂
I think I'll take a similar approach and focus on the pupil textbook exercises. If more practice is needed then it's good to have access to extra practice sheets.
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13 hours ago, EmilyGF said:
I tried to use MEP math with my daughter at that level so I'll chime in since you haven't heard back.
My recollection is that Years 7, 8 and 9 were pretty easy compared to the grammar school years. We spent about 3 months trying to figure out the right level and then switched to a mix of American Algebra and Geometry textbooks. I think you can skip them and go straight to year 10.
Emily
Thank you, Emily, for your advice. That was my impression as well; year 9 seems too easy for someone who has covered pre-algebra and algebra 1.
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Would a student who has completed pre-algebra and algebra 1, be OK starting the GCSE material?
I'm also trying to work out how to assign exercises. There are exercises in the pupil text book, and there separate practice books as well.
The pupil text for the GCSE level seems to have plenty of exercises. Would you say adding more exercises from the practice book (expert/special track) is important?
How do people use the practice books at this level? Do you use it only when dc needs extra practice?
Thank you
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IEW SSS level B. This has worked well for one of my children who doesn't naturally produce pages and pages of writing. Within months he was writing on a daily basis, almost painlessly. Towards the end of the first year he was writing letters (inventive writing), and basic essays.
He enjoys the teaching style Mr Pudewa.
I think the website has good sample lessons that you can check with your son.
Good luck finding the right resources!
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The Creative Writer perhaps?
It covers literary skills through writing.
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Would it be an idea to look up the lessons that explain outlining in Writing with Skill, and use just those specific lessons?
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9 hours ago, carrierocha said:
In browsing by topic, I have found the the MEP Jamiaca books have more complete student instructions and these books go a long way at introducing the concepts in ways similar to what the lesson plans do. I may make a doc that aligns the Y9 concepts with these and maybe just use the Jamiacan materials (?) or use the front matter for each concept. https://www.cimt.org.uk/mepjamaica/
Sounds good that you have found these Jamaican materials.
I wonder whether more detailed instructions are needed though.
Maybe others who have used the higher levels, levels 9-11, can comment whether they found the instructions that are directed to the student in the worktext sufficient for their student to work with...
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I have only looked at materials for year 9-11. These are addressed to the student.
Do you think a detailed lesson plan would still be necessary?
Interested to hear what other users think.
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7 minutes ago, EKS said:
I agree with this.
I think that the geometry year actually helps students because it allows what wasn't firmly in mind the first time through to be forgotten while everything else gets consolidated. Then the Algebra 2 year, with its built in review, gives students a change to come at algebra from a more mathematically sophisticated perspective--even if they've forgotten things, it is usually easier to pick up the second time around, because they haven't forgotten completely and because they're older, wiser, and have the experience of learning geometry under their belts.
That makes sense. In a way it might be similar to what I'm trying to put together: first a full exposure to algebra (1&2) in order to be able to tackle science subjects in more depth. Then resume UK integrated maths and go over different maths topics, including algebra, over a longer period in order to consolidate concepts.
Thank you for helping me think this through
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18 minutes ago, Jann in TX said:
I think moving through both in one year (skipping the review) would have little benefit to the student. With Algebra, the first time through students are almost always relying on patterns and short term memory. The break for Geometry lets them 'use' some of their Algebra skills while the brain matures. When they work Algebra 2 their brains are almost 2 years older-- they see the 'review' problems as familiar and they can focus better-- then the expansion of concepts is when most really start to understand math!
When you move through it in one year students rarely move out of the patterning stage...If you work Geometry after that then you have a gap where the student has regressed in Algebra (Geometry does not use Algebra 2) so Pre-Calc tends to be more difficult.... This was MY life-story and I had to drop Pre-Calc and rework Algebra 2 to come up to speed (gain understanding not patterning) before I moved on to college maths.
Most college students who have issues with college maths and sciences are weak in basic Algebra.
That is certainly something to keep in mind. Thank you for sharing. In the UK algebra is studied in a more scattered way, and personally I prefer focusing on the subject for a longer period. Hmm
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2 hours ago, EKS said:
As others have said, VideoText does high school algebra without geometry in the middle, so without what is usually review at the beginning of Algebra 2.
AoPS Introduction to Algebra is essentially Algebra 1 and 2 together.
The Common Core textbooks (at least the ones I've seen) also eliminated that review.
It is also very easy to skip through any review that your student doesn't need, regardless of the resource. This would be my suggestion, since it means that you can choose the resource based on what would be best for your student rather than how it's configured.
That is very helpful, thank you!
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6 hours ago, silver said:
I've never used it, but I think that VideoText Algebra covers both Algebra 1 and 2. It might be a one year course?
Would anyone here know whether Videotext algebra can be done in 1 calendar year by a student who is solid in pre-algebra?
Engaging but to-the-point Language Arts
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
For writing we've found Writing & Rhetoric the most engaging. We enjoy the stories, the discussion and the exercises are working for us too.
It has a little bit of grammar, but we use separate programmes for that.
One of my kids loves Fix It! grammar. Another really enjoyed the grammar part in Rod & Staff. We did many exercises orally.