abrightmom
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Posts posted by abrightmom
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I love the journals. It does make it a little easier to have the questions there and then to just answer them right underneath. There is also a section for lab write ups that is well laid out for you.
We do not use any of the tutorials just the multimedia cd which shows some of the experiments and some additional video.
I make my own schedule so I would not need to buy one. There is a schedule in the journal too so you could just follow that if you wanted. Now my dd does the labs at our co-op but this is how I have our schedule laid out. Each module takes 2 weeks.
Week 1: Mon-Thursday read module and do the questions (how many pages depends on the length of the module)Friday labs at co-op
Week 2: Mon, lab write ups and start study guide questions, Tuesday finish study guide, Wed . study, Thursday Module Test, Friday: labs
This is helpful. :) Thanks for showing me how simple laying out a schedule can be.
I'd prefer streamlined and simple (i.e. no tutorials). We don't have a co-op option so would I need to plan a Lab Day at home? Are all of the labs necessary? Are some of them shown on the multimedia cd? That would be nice!
We'd purchase:
Text
Solutions & Test Book
Multimedia cd
Journal
Any thoughts on pre-purchasing a lab kit?
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My rising grader is coming back home for 8th grade (yay!). As this was JUST decided this week I'm furiously pulling together his course of study.
He is adamant about using Apologia Physical Science and I'm a bit stumped as to what we want or need.
These are required:
Text
Solutions & Test Book
Optional:
Notebook. Is this a tidy way to keep his work in one place? Does this replace something (i.e. doing work on notebook paper)? If one doesn't use the notebook then how is the student's work being completed?
Tutorials. I looked at Red Wagon. What is the purpose of this? Is there a lecture he can listen to? Does this give him a schedule of assignments? Does this replace using the notebook? Any advantage to this versus just using the text/notebook?
Schedule. MFW has a schedule. I like how organized it is. Would he use this in lieu of the notebook?
Supply Kits.
Other questions:
How much time must be devoted to this weekly?
Are there other tutorial options besides Red Wagon or Apologia Academy?
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My youngest child and last 1st grader (Can it be?!) .....
My Father's World 1st Grade
HOD's Emerging Readers
As many stories as we can fit in
Nine-Note Recorder (Gardner)
Math Loop: MFW, CLE 1, MM 1 and Education Unboxed :coolgleamA:
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Katrina, I feel your pain. :( Could you keep BJU for one child so you don't lose so much ground? Then you could consider a switch next year. I feel like BJU and MM teach in similar ways in some areas.
Thanks :).
I might keep it for my daughter but I would rather be using something I know I can just stay with. She has been so asynchronous in her math development that it's been rather difficult to land somewhere and stay put. *I* think MM is best but she is pretty upset with me over math right now .... so I'm letting it rest this weekend. She wants to stay with the BJU text and I'm thinking about looking it over and deciding if I'm willing to teach it without the Teacher's Manual. I LOVE the student work texts and the robustness of the BJU program. This is VERY devastating to me; I put so much into this decision and preparations for this. I was SURE it would work great. The teacher's manual completely cripples me and I cannot use it .... I don't have enough confidence to teach without one in 5th grade. Perhaps I can do so in 4th ... it's my third run through 4th.
:crying: Thanks for bearing with me and for the kind words and understanding.
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DS and I picked up with CLE today and it was awesome. I started by opening the BJU TM to teach the next lesson and I decided I would box it up immediately. I put away all of BJU5.
DD9 is a whole other math animal. I think MM is best for her with some drill. She'd like to keep the BJU though .....
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Kathy,
That was a great explanation.
I am dropping BJU. Where to go from here is unknown; I'm devastated. This was an expensive and most time consuming, thought through decision that crashed and burned. Math has been the ONE area that has gone well over the years ..... I shouldn't have strayed. Mid October and starting over with math feels bad because now we can't take math slow and steady; I have to push. My daughter's placement is most difficult because she is asynchronous in her math skills and knowledge.
Sigh.
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Honestly, I found a BJU textbook for 5th grade for my 4th grader for $7 used in perfect condition on Amazon. I have heard that they are one year behind on material, so I bought a grade ahead. I can definitely see that it is true. My daughter is doing great with it.
I have always been very good with math all the way through Algebra, so I don't need an answer key or a teachers manual. But then again, you would be ordering 7th and that could be a whole different animal.
Each lesson is easy to teach and takes me about 15-20 minutes. Most sections include "class work" in addition to the individual work. I believe it's the perfect amount of problems. The chapter reviews are huge and thorough. I really like that. We divide that up to 10 questions a day for 3 days so we can truly "review".
What I like about BJU most is how clear it is in its explanations and how much it focuses on mental math along side solving the problems normally. I've noticed a big change in my daughter's willingness to "do the math" in everyday life instead of asking me to. I'm also surprised at how they're already sneaking in basic algebra in 5th grade and my daughter is doing it without any difficulties.
She used to hate math. Absolutely HATE it. Since the switch to BJU, there is far less stress and although I won't say it's her favorite subject, she no longer dreads the words "get out your math book". I've noticed her performance and confidence with it is much better. It really is very agreeable to children. Whatever it does differently, it does it right!
I'm hooked on BJU at this point. I don't think we will be switching any time soon. I'm definitely planning on starting my son on it when he is old enough (he's two, so I have a few years to go). I wish I had found it sooner for my daughter. She may have actually grown to like math.
I don't plan on buying all the bits and pieces. The textbook alone works just fine for me and my daughter. Maybe the whole kit just over complicates things?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Edited for clarity:
What edition are you using? We are using the 3rd. The student text is really just a workbook. Some of the lessons have some teaching tidbits but some do not. Many of the lessons do require the teacher's guide. I also don't see anything in the student workbook that differentiates class work and individual work. I really think we must be using different editions and I don't know anything about what has changed over the years.
I would not want to correct math without a teacher's guide otherwise I have to calculate the answers!
***** You have heard that BJU is a grade behind on material?????????? I"ve NEVER heard that though I'd love to hear from other BJU families on this. I don't think it's a grade level behind with the editions I am using.
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Katrina thank you for sharing. We were also thinking of switching to BJU. But, I was very worried about the amount of time that it would take to teach 3 levels each day. We use MUS with the BJU math review books. I like MUS and I like how you teach one lesson a week but I feel like we need more review and sometimes it makes jumps in its conceptual teaching before my kids are ready. I threw in the BJU review books to add in certain things that MUS doesn't touch on often... like time and money... and to provide review. But I would really like to find just one program that I can use. We are considering CLE math.. may I ask why you decided to make the switch from CLE. Thanks.
There are other moms who are faring well with BJU and have no problem with the teaching time. If you haven't read this thread in its entirety I encourage you to! I think it's ME who has the problem ....
CLE is awesome and I didn't want to switch. I explained above why I considered it and it was a months long consideration because I personally don't believe that switching solves most math problems (though it CAN solve some). CLE is solid fundamentals but I don't believe it teaches the depth of thinking that I'd like my children to learn. Math Mammoth is wonderful for teaching kids how to problem solve and really think so I'd often trail CLE with some selected MM chapters for my CLE kids. My oldest did use Math Mammoth 1st through 6th and transitioned to a school setting this year. DS11 needed the spiral review of CLE and not as many word problems (math is hard enough for him) but I liked to bring him along in MM a grade level behind. DD9 has used bits and pieces of both CLE and MM and skipped a lot because she picked up new concepts so quickly. She is using BJU 4 and it's a cinch so far.
The way I combine MM and CLE is to use CLE as my spine and use MM in a supplemental way based on what I want my student to learn from MM. It's hard to explain beyond that but I'd take the time to choose the sections or chapters in MM based on what my kiddo needed to study. I didn't use MM for topics such as time and money but I would use MM for word problems, puzzle corners and conceptual presentation of math topics. At times I'd modify CLE lessons by cutting out some of the review for material that had been clearly mastered. I would also do the same with Math Mammoth depending upon the need.
Oh may I ask how you combine CLE with MM. Thank you.
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In lieu of starting a new thread I'd like to give a little update.
I do NOT LIKE TEACHING BJU Math at all. I think it's thorough and challenging; if I was teaching in a classroom I may feel differently about teaching it. ETA: Maybe I am missing the simplicity of using a work text like MM and the short, new bites that CLE requires me to teach. I can't put my finger on it. BJU is so thorough and rich; the lesson length is just right; the color is appealing; there is plenty of review and it's easy to make it fit just what is needed. But, the lesson presentation is a bear for me.
Daily, I dread math and I've always enjoyed it for the most part. Now, there are days we don't even do math because it's so cumbersome to teach. ETA: I am really fighting through this and for now have resigned myself to a slightly longer math block. Some days there is nothing I need to teach because the material isn't new. It's been unpredictable from day to day. But, my student can't get started on math whereas with MM and CLE they could begin without me .... that was so helpful.
I'm going to push through this week but I think I'm going back to CLE/MM combo. While I thought it would simplify things to use BJU the many parts and pieces and scripts have bogged me down.
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We have only just started ..... So early impressions and thoughts.
Hits: MFW ECC is fine so far, CLE LA 300, Hake grammar - the format does fit what I was wanting. We will see about retention. IDK that I'll stay with Hake because I prefer Rod and Staff or will move to AG in middle school. I do think Hake will give DS a comprehensive grammar foundation upon which to build.
Misses: Nothing yet but this may change. We haven't used everything.
Uncertain: BJU Math. I still hate the teachers manual and desperately miss ease of use with CLE and MM. The decision to move to BJU Math was made carefully so I am going to hang in there and see if I adjust. I knew going in that the TM would be a problem for me. The math instruction is excellent despite my distaste for the TM and there are so many wonderful extras that I can give my kids a robust math experience within one program. It is stressful for me and I loved not feeling stressed about teaching math. I miss how they could just get started with MM and CLE ..... Not so just yet with BJU.-
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I chose Hake 5 for my DS11. I am skipping the writing portion based upon what I've heard here. :coolgleamA:
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Unless things have changed since I bought it, the student textbook contains the grammar lessons. The student workbook contains the writing lessons and a few extra grammar practice sheets (which we've never needed or used). This isn't explained clearly in the descriptions. If you don't want the writing lessons, you won't need the workbook.
The TM contains the answer keys and tests.
We only used the textbook and the TM. I treat the textbook as consumable and let DS write in it.
Thanks for clearing this up! The description doesn't make these details clear. I don't want the writing lessons so I'll pass on the workbook for sure.
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Just want to make sure that I'm not missing anything. I intend to place DS 11 in Hake for grammar. CBD sells a kit that includes a student textbook, student workbook and teacher's packet. I assume these are all essential. I do prefer the workbook if it streamlines things for my son.
Here's the kit I'm looking at though I'm not sure if I'll choose 5 or 6. http://www.christianbook.com/hakes-grammar-writing-grade-6-kit/stephen-hake/9781419098376/pd/998376?event=ESRCG
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I'm also choosing BJU for my DD9. :thumbup1: It took me several days of pondering and praying before making the decision. I'm hoping it's a CLE/MM combo in one program and it sounds like it will be. Neither MM or CLE are the ideal fit for my daughter. I LOVE both programs a lot and intended to use them always and forever. My biggest concern with BJU is getting used to that dense TM. Even after reading through the online sample I couldn't like it and felt like I was wading through gobs of text for the tidbits that would help me present the lesson. Hoping that as I grow familiar with it I'll not dread using it.
Worst thing that happens is it's a 100% bust and we run back to CLE/MM which are in my bins. :laugh:
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Have you tried the resources on the official Scratch site, to look through at his own pace rather than getting left behind in a group setting?
Thanks!
This is a great starting point and I'd not investigated as my oldest didn't need my help :tongue_smilie: .
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Here's to us both for switching, and having a super math year! :)
ETA: I only purchased the TM and Student Worktext to soften the financial blow. I'm ok without the tests, but slightly concerned that I didn't buy the manipulative pack. *fingers crossed*
I wish you the best! It takes a lot of perseverance to teach math day in and day out with a kiddo who truly struggles with it. :coolgleamA:
I went ahead with the kit because I DO want to use the manipulatives with my son because he needs them! When I did the math it was the same amount of money if I ordered the kit vs. buying the parts without the tests (which I felt indifferent about). I went ahead with the kit and figure I may use the tests! He liked taking them in CLE and earning rewards for a high score so I'll continue this practice :hurray: .
CBD put their BJU kits on sale today at 15% off. I received the email about the sale AFTER I did my order through Rainbow Resource. Figures!
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American folktales
What are you using for this?
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This morning I went ahead and ordered the BJU Math 5 Homeschool Kit for DS11. It took me a few days to gather the courage to *switch* math programs (I truly love teaching CLE and Math Mammoth) AND fork over what I feel is an absurd amount of money for math. :glare:
However, in applying wisdom to the situation I have observed that my son is not thriving in math at this time and regardless of my long term efforts to work within the programs I have chosen he needs a different approach. BJU seems to fit what I have been looking for and allows me to use ONE math program with him at this time.
:coolgleamA: Here's hoping we have smooth sailing.
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I need to re-boot my thinking on assigned literature for my middlers this year.
What is your system for setting up assigned, independent reading?
What kind of books do you choose?
How much time do you require your kids to read assigned lit each day?
How do you hold your kids accountable for the reading?
Do you allow your child to abandon a book he/she doesn't like or do you have a rule about sticking it out?
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We used the poetry guide this year with DS; we have the student and teacher versions of "Poetry for the Grammar Stage". We love the poetry books and guides; they are much deeper than the literature guides, which I do not like. The poetry book we have covers 3rd through 6th grade, so it is not intended to be completed in one year, or even in two. It starts out with simple poetry, suitable for 3rd graders. Even if you start after 3rd grade, it is a good idea to start with these simple poems, because some of the poetry exercises can be challenging and you get to ramp-up gently by starting with simple poetry. I find the exercises and questions associated with each poem to be appropriately challenging, not too simple and not so difficult as to be un-doable. The teacher guide is a must for me, because I am not an English-major type and know little about poetry. But these guides make it easy to teach. In fact, I've bought the older student's set for middle school DD and I to work through. I highly recommend them!
Do you use these orally or do the written work? Would it be effective to just have an oral discussion using the teacher's guide? I could have my kids share the student guide for referencing the poems. I like the looks of this and I have poetry on the docket for 1-2x a week but I don't want any writing requirement.
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Thanks everybody! You have set my heart at ease.
I am 100% decided on LA 300 for DD9. She will love the format and she is well placed.
I'm torn for my son. He wants to use Rod and Staff and if we stay with it I'll have him finish 4 before picking up with 5. He's had a tough go with CLE Math and Reading(definitely keeping that) so I don't know that the light unit format is ideal. The immediate feedback that he gets when we do a R&S lesson is profitable for him.
😀
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Where do you think a kiddo would be at end of 8th if he/she only finished CLE LA 7? We'd be doing a separate writing curriculum and using CLE LA for grammar/spelling.
DD is a rising 4th grader. This past year she began as a 2nd grader because she was a late bloomer academically. Part way into the school year it became clear that she needed to move ahead in math and other areas. She's really close to 4th grade level now. However, with CLE LA she needs to start with 300 as this is where she places.
DS11 is a rising 5th grader and he places in LA 4. He's pretty upset about that and WANTS me to place him in 5. Would you place him according to the test or do you think I could put him in 5 and just slow down in places he's stuck? Since CLE has a placement test I assume that they really do need to have acquired certain skills from the level before.
Rod & Staff is a bit different and it's easy to just pick up with grade level in the early years and no placement test needed. For my son's sake it may be wisest to use Rod & Staff so he's *on grade level*.
My thoughts are a bit jumbled but I hope you understand what I'm asking :smash:
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I think CLE reading is a hidden gem that gets overlooked because of the "reading" title.
I wholeheartedly agree. It is jam packed with skills and the layout is quite interesting. We use CLE Reading beginning in 4th and I intend to take it through 8th. My rising 7th grader is moving to a private school setting this fall but if he was continuing at home he'd do Reading 7. He wants the reader though as he LOVES the stories.
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Do you have a Microsoft store nearby? My local Microsoft stores are running free scratch programming introduction classes for kids every weekday until just before school starts back. If your local store is not conducting the Scratch class, then the Kodu class and the Sparks class is just as fun.
The Scratch and other programming books by No Starch Press are easy to follow along too.
https://www.nostarch.com/catalog/programming
Look at the sample comprehension passage for reading detective in below link and let him try it. See how he answers.
http://www.criticalthinking.com/reading-detective-a1.html
For assigned chapter books, my oldest did the discussions after every few chapters then did the discussions when he finished the entire book. He just finished the discussion for Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid as assigned reading last month. He finished the Percy Jackson series by the same author.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Pyramid-Kane-Chronicles-Book/dp/1423113454
ETA:
The magazines published by cricket magazine like Odyssey, MUSE, Ask have short articles to read. Then he might want to move on to New Scientist, National Geogaphic, Times magazine, Smithsonian magazine. My kids read these at the library so I don't have to feel bad if they only read one or two articles they like out of each magazine.
My DS9 reads at a slower pace than DS10. He used to envy his brother's reading speed because his brother would laugh while he reads but now DS9 is okay with it. I have to ask DS10 to slow down for assigned reading because he end up missing information. Maybe your child is looking at his siblings enjoyment of reading and wish there are more reading materials he enjoy (just guessing).
Thanks so much for helping me with this!
He really wants to "get" Scratch and told him that I'd figure out a way to help him with it.
8th grade length of school day
in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges
Posted
In your opinion, what is the right number of hours an 8th grader should be spending on focused academics? I'm not counting extras that are chosen for interest/fun or outside time or sports. I'm truly thinking of skill/content based courses where the student is reading, writing, listening to a lecture, hands on labs, etc. Math, Writing, Grammar, History, Science, Literature, etc.