Teach05
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Posts posted by Teach05
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1 hour ago, Shoeless said:
What exactly do you hate about the co-op? Be really specific. Can you change any part of what you hate to make it more tolerable for you?
Are the friendship opportunities for you or for the kids?
How old are your kids? What other opportunities do you have for the kids to make friends? (Scouts, 4H, art classes, park days, library events, chess club?)
A few things-
The class I’ve been assigned is a lot of prep work.
Some interpersonal drama with teachers
I don’t feel the classes are great.
We tried Scouts and that wasn’t for us. 4H is really disorganized in our area. Our current church doesn’t offer anything for kids. So that’s where I thought of Wild and Free with park days. That said- I know a few people in it have said it’s hard to make friends because participation is so random and the group so large.
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I’m debating trying to move over to a local Wild and Free group, but again- so not my thing. The co op we are currently in has a massive waitlist and so if we would drop we wouldn’t get back in, so it’s one of those things I need to be super sure about. My oldest loves it, so I’m feeling the guilt hard.
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I remember SWB saying years ago that co-ops were more trouble than they’re worth. (I’m paraphrasing HARD here, but that was the gist I got.)
It’s hitting me now that we are in one that she was on to something. My kids like it. Oldest loves it. I HATE it. It is just the worst. There’s no time for me to make mom friends, I have to plan activities (a LOT of busywork), and it cuts so much time out of one of our days. I’m trying to research other options, but how do you decide on co-op vs not? To be clear- we have no real family involvement for the kids and DH and I have always been sort of to ourselves, so I’ve had to work really hard to be mindful of making space for friendships. It’s getting harder the older the kids get. I probably need to shut up and keep my head down with the co-op, but I just totally dread it every single week.
Any advice?
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On 10/4/2023 at 3:18 PM, Clarita said:
Mystery Science recently started to offer kits.
I really wish they offered that as a single order for homeschoolers. :((
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But what’s curious to me in reading through the threads and the lack of SWB’s participation in the forum anymore is that so much of the conversations don’t seem to skew outwardly classical to me. Which is totally fine, but it does make me curious if that’s because products that aren’t as outwardly classical in nature/ are being adapted for use in classical ways, or if it’s because folks are coming to a realization that their child’s unique interests or needs may not always be suited to classical products or styles of teaching.
I say this as a person doing some serious soul searching with regard to whether classical is what I’m really aiming for. I want rigorous and excellent, but I feel as if I’ve become too regimented and too strict. Perhaps an all MP curriculum will do that to a person, but I’ve been on the classical train from the beginning and before using MP.
Sooo, it’s just sort of a, “Where are we with this in 2023?” I do appreciate SWB’s new podcast and she mentioned even classical as we know it is just an imitation of an imitation of classical. (episode 2 Well Trained Mind podcast)
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I’ve read the Well Trained Mind. She provides several examples of programs you can use. I am still that person that begs to ask, “But what did you use with your own kids?” Or perhaps, “But, really. If you were choosing curriculum today which ones would you pick.”
Another question- I wonder if because she publishes Math With Confidence if that’s the math she would choose or if it’s just one that she recognizes as filling a niche in the market.
Anyone ever come across any interviews where she’s given personal opinions?
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2 hours ago, Green Bean said:
I hear you on straight MP sucking the joy and life out of schooling. We have found MP works best for us as a booklist only. I understand your feelings about TGTB, too. We have tried getting on that wagon so many times but just say no and that is okay! I have tried a ton of things over 20 years so my older kids are pretty well-read at this point which makes what we use now work well for us. (My youngest is a whole 'nother story.)
What has worked best for us is BJU Homeschool online courses. I tried without the videos but it just doesn't work well for us. Those vids add a LOT and are worth every penny I pay for 3 kids. The kids like the teaching and I can be more of a facilatator rather than stressing about getting to everyone's lessons. We do NOT use their reading or english at any level. The English is straight school writing at every level which I do not feel is appropriate. I also did not feel they had enough drill for grammar in the old editions. We like that BJU is well-laid out, well-planned daily, has a clear path through high school, is rigorous, and gets done. I'm still involved and can modify assignments as needed. I still grade the writing and projects (love those rubrics!). Yes, the religious bias is there towards anyone not of their religion, including our religion. We have learned to roll our eyes, ignore it, and move on through. My older kids using BJU online are 18 and 15 so at this point they are secure in their beliefs. The BJU Hub is awesome! Love it! It is so easy to use. If you want to order, use a Homeworks consultant as they can save you money. It's a chunk even with the payment plan, but massively less than private Christian school for 3 kids tuition be. The years we use it, I spend less, we stay motivated, we enjoy school, and we progress.
This is what I wrote about it to a friend just pulling her daughter out of school this year:
BJU Press Homeschool Online: www.bjupresshomeschool.com This is the one that has gotten done the most consistently in our house over the years. We use them for heritage studies (history/geog/social studies) and science for the olders now. Little Man is just starting out so also has spelling and math with them. Some materials point out how wrong our and other religions are or silly non-science things. We roll our eyes and ignore. Expensive, but follows a typical school's scope. Well-organized and well-paced. I do NOT use their math for my older kids. It is not explained well for mine. We found the English and Literature boring, but that is just us. Not a thing wrong with it at all. Considered honors level at all grades. The online Hub for the courses is awesome! Easy to navigate and use for Mom and child. Has an accredited diploma program, as well, but you are locked into ONLY using their courses. They also have a standardized testing service, if that matters to you. Order from a HomeWorks consultant to save especially in Aug/Sept. I can give you my person's contact info. Payment plan available.
Yep- I know what I'm saying is offensive to some people here, but honestly, you have to do what is best for you and your family whatever that may be. Not everyone is cut out to hand curate every course for their kids for years. Everyone has different talents. (8, you are AMAZING!!) A box can be a GREAT thing.
Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions about BJU.
Thanks!!
BJU is one I’ve never looked into. Is it Protestant, or what is the religious view? MP has it, but I really like the mostly ecumenical approach.
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I’m pulling my kindergartener away from First Start Reading right now.
My issue is we did Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons last year and First Start starts the year with spending a week on a says “ah”, the second week on m, the third week on s. It goes at that pace. If you follow FSR you will have your child writing A about 100x times before the week is over and so on. It’s SO much writing and I say that as a person who has a child who is excellent at writing. If you have a child who has NO phonics background at all this may be a good fit. Otherwise it’s just too much.
I tried LOE with my oldest and I hated the format. Just personal preference, but so so much going on with the program.
Of your three options I’d choose AAR. I used it when my youngest was three for pre-reading and thought it was good.
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We started pandemic schooling with TGATB for LA and Math U See. I’ve tried a lot of math, but always come back to Math U See because it’s the one math that seems to stick. For language arts I started to lose faith in TGATB because they repeatedly turned over products to roll out new lines and I couldn’t stand their in-house stories used instead of actual children’s books. That led me to MP because I loved the book selections. That led me to a full year of exclusive MP only. This year I have two cores, but I feel the magic of homeschool being sucked out of our house by doing only MP. I need to start bouncing around ideas for other products. What I loved with MP was the literature and book selection. Like, two thumbs up on books. I also loved that the company has a long history and isn’t going to switch things up every two years. I would love to be a K-12 homeschooler and I need a company with a vision for high school.
I would really really love to find some products that are academically rigorous, but maybe infuse a little life back into our homeschool.
Hopefully that makes sense. Any ideas?
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1 hour ago, Miss Hickory said:
I used MP products before their current community culture existed. I've been homeschooling for over 25 years, and am now homeschooling grandchildren. I am fairly familiar with most of what MP has to offer, and extremely familiar with a lot of it, over decades' experience.
It is my firm conviction that there is no essential, planned synergy between the various subjects or components of the day, as laid out in the daily guides. Any strong English language arts will complement formal Latin study (and vice versa). Any logical, developmentally appropriate math will help the child advance in logic. Literature is literature, and MP study guides are not the be-all and end-all; there are lots of ways to talk about books, and many, many excellent resources.
THAT you are deliberately educating your child in history, geography, grammar, effective spelling and phonics, Latin, logic, science, math is the secret ingredient. It's you. It's your home. It's the access to proper pedagogy - no matter where you buy your books or learn how to teach - and your daily diligence. It's your commitment to teaching the child in front of you, to not wasting his time with ineffective busywork or untried pedagogy, to giving him a well-rounded life and wonderful experiences and memories, to protecting his space to follow his own rabbit trails after your formal lessons...
This is the synergy that you need for your success. A functional homeschool and a happy family, and good curriculum. MP designed their year plans to include a developmentally appropriate and academically sound scope and sequence in every subject. Their year plans are not integrated and not unit studies. Each course stands alone, if the child is equally advancing in his other subjects. Whatever they're allowing or encouraging in the culture about "doing it all" or "doing it right," I do not believe Cheryl Lowe ever had in mind anything of the kind! It's bullying, peer pressure, fear and superstition. That perspective is opposite of the goals or fruits of classical education, or of any effective system of education.
That’s incredibly true and encouraging! Thanks so much!
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2 hours ago, Nm. said:
I would screen detox and see how you feel about MP after that.
switching math was simple for me because they were both not time consuming. Doing a time consuming math would have thrown the guide off. I actually have a “fun” math for my daughter but it’s not getting done and I’m probably going to stick with simple since I really value all the read alouds we do.
Maybe look at the math you’re doing and assess whether it’s similar in time it takes to teach. Rod and staff is supposed to be short and sweet, which is why it works with the core.
Another switch for me was a writing program. I switched a simple writing program with another that is simple. She schedules for teacher intensive writing courses in later guides, but she adjusts other things to balance that. If I tried to swap a simple writing course with teacher intensive it would throw the guide off and we’d be stressed.
Really valid point on the math. Hmm
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7 minutes ago, Ting Tang said:
Last year, I used a lot of MP for my two middles. It was so hard. 😞
This school year, I used it for my 2nd grader, and I loved it. I also used a couple of pieces for my middles. I decided for many of the components, I wouldn't buy or use student guides. It really did help. It made me feel as though I could pick and choose.
Next school year, I probably won't use much, if any, at all. I do think the formula is great, but with four kids, it just isn't going to work for us. I am switching to a Charlotte Mason approach. I have bought books so far and no curriculum other than math. BUT piecing together things has been a struggle. I haven't even figured out if we can finish entire books just yet or if we can squeeze in other CM type things. My husband asked what the best boxed curriculum is and if the kids would be okay if I died and they had to do that, LOL. I said yes. Oh, I was so tempted to just return to Abeka---that was where we started!
That’s so interesting! What drew you to MP?
I was so into the community, the podcast, and the professionalism of the whole thing. But now it’s the thing that’s driving me bonkers! When people talk about how to run multiple cores I notice a lot of hemming and hawing around answers. I wonder how many stressed people there are…-
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17 minutes ago, Nm. said:
I haven’t done memoria press, however I do use heart of Dakota. They feel strongly that following the guide as is is best. For awhile I resisted that. I do have our own math, but it’s similar to what they use. Having used it with lots of tweaking and using it without tweaking I can honestly say the beauty in such a program isn’t the individual pieces but the lack of trying to plan and balance things yourself. Are there better, more fun, colorful, etc resources ? Probably . But there are so many resources out there it’s easy to do too much and have school drag out forever. Or to spend way too much time on a content subject and lose time on core subjects. I’m now at a point where I will either use the guide mostly AS IS or switch to something else that’s not all in one (using the pieces that work for me). It’s different if you just take pieces out of a program and use those than trying to bring pieces into an all in one guide to replace things if that makes sense.
Absolutely know what you mean! I did two years of piecing things together and almost burned myself out.
Does it bother you to sub math? I don’t know what it is, but MP’s math is easily their most hotly debated thing and, while I know a lot of people sub it out, I am becoming really paranoid that I’m goofing.
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We used MP2 last year and I loved it. It was nice to just follow a plan and have a big picture. The only thing we swapped was math because we already had a program we loved.
The more time I spent diving into the MP world the more stressed I became with following the cores. There is a mentality in the community that I’ve only seen in places like Classical Conversations with the whole “Follow the process” mantra.
A year later I feel so stressed when I go off the guide. Whenever my kiddo misses problems in math I have this nudging guilt that it’s because we aren’t using Rod and Staff, which MP and Co swear by.
I still genuinely like most pieces, but as I get ready to add another child to the homeschool I am having actual anxiety thinking about how we will get this done with multiple cores.
I know the phrase “Don’t be a slave to the curriculum”, but the MP community culture does make you feel like your child is missing out if you don’t “follow the plan”.
I’ve read old WTM threads and I know it’s not the most popular choice here. I’m also curious because I’ve read old threads where users were so excited about it and then a few years later it sounds like they’re off MP.So those who have used it are you still using it? What are you changing? If you’re an MP enthusiast how do you make it work?
Update: Help! Math is not getting done. :( Mr D Pre-Algebra is no longer working…
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted · Edited by Teach05
I’m not sure if you’ve tried it and, honestly, my kids aren’t as old as yours so I can’t say I’ve used upper levels, but I LOVE with emphasis Math U See. We are in our fourth year of it. We’ve done it from the beginning and while I understand some take issue with the zoomed in focus year by year I think it has made my oldest so confident with math. Easily the favorite subject of our house.
We are a Memoria Press family for the most part, but I have refused to give up MUS especially after trying Rod and Staff for 6 months while I tried to be a “totally MP core person”.
MUS has a program that is for remediation, or you could do the placement tests and figure out where to start. There are video lessons but they are so short. The mastery is everything I think MP is trying to accomplish with Rod and Staff, but, in my opinion, so much more streamlined and with an eye toward taking the curriculum all the way through vs to middle school.
Not sure if it’s one you’ve looked at, but as a person who CRIED for years as a kid having to deal with extreme math issues I wish this curriculum had been available to me back then.