abrightmom
-
Posts
2,768 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by abrightmom
-
-
:iagree:
My oldest used a MM/CLE combo all the way through. It worked for her because she is an incredibly fast worker, we skipped CLE quizzes and tests, and we were also able to skip parts of MM that were review because of CLE or skip parts of CLE that were review because of MM. We will be using a combo of CLE and AoPS next year, fwiw.
If MM/CLE is a combo you would like to try for your son, I think it could work well in 6th grade. A lot of 6th grade MM is review if you are using the old version (IIRC, she mentions which parts are review in the intro). I would place him according to the CLE placement test and use MM as the supplement. This could be done two ways. You could switch days between the two programs. For example, CLE on M/W/F and MM on T/Th or have him do a CLE lesson daily and meet at a separate time to work through MM together. I prefer option 2. He should be able to do CLE independently at this age, so your together time will be to stretch his brain. Skip the parts of MM that he knows and focus on weaknesses during this time. Independent review (CLE) combined with brain stretching time working side by side with me has worked very well here. HTH!
Thanks for sharing this with me. Based on what you are telling me and what Derek is sharing I see my son has new needs in math that are worth addressing. The MM/CLE hybrid is very comfortable for me and you've both given me a way to schedule it out. He did not pass the CLE placement test for 5th grade (I was shocked though I think he gave up on some parts …. with a slight push he would've been fine).
We have been able to work through a grade level of MM only spending 40m a day on math 4 days a week so he has a LOT of time in his schedule for math. I had already told him that 6th grade was going to mean a minimum of 60m daily on math and it may be 75. He's had it pretty easy up to now but he's had other struggles that we've had to address and keeping math to 40m helped the situation. We are doing math through summer with breaks here and there for vacation, camps and day trips. We took off 4 months last year for a move and that was the PITS for all of the kids! I'll never do that again. Summer math is a new reality. They groan. I shrug. Then they do their math. ;)
-
Sequential Spelling!!!
You don't need the revised workbooks. I started using it before it was revised and bought by another company. I've used the workbooks. There's some good ideas in there for vocab and writing, but mainly just pointless if all you want is spelling. All you would need is the teacher guide and a student response book.
http://www.rainbowresource.com/pictures/038474/79c235a4ccc8f12519e1e3c1
This is different than the revised student workbook. You don't need that, You don't need a DVD. You don't need an app. I prefer the old student response book, but you can use a plain notebook.
The teacher guide of the daily lists, three colored dry erase markers, and a white board. All you need.
Each day give the the child the pattern to work on, give the word, use it in a sentence, have the child spell it. They do it correctly...yay. They need help, then use your three colors to spell the word, using a different color for each part of the word, talk about any spelling rules or grammar that you may need to, use the dictionary for unfamiliar words....done.
This is great! Thanks for writing this out. I am in hate with most spelling curricula because I think they're practically useless. SS seems MUCH more useful to me with the patterns but the website gives me hives. =) Why do companies overcomplicate tried and true programs by adding bells, whistles, and useless busy work? I am so old school and vanilla because that stuff WORKS.
-
I'll tell you what I do.
Math
English
(break)
Spelling Power
Writing
(lunch and break)
Science
(break)
Last section:
History (1st half of the year world, 2nd half of the year American)
Lapbook--one piece only (for 2nd, 4th)
Workbooks (5 for each child as listed above--reading comprehension, vocabulary, R&S Spelling, etc.)
Plus One Special:
Mon--Geography
Tues--Studies weekly science
Wed--Studies weekly social studies
Thurs--Art or music (or logic for 6th grader)
non-CC Fri--Art and music
Our school is from 8 am - 3 p.m. with a bunch of breaks.
On CC Fridays (24), we only do CC.
After school in the evening or in the car we practice CC memory work and CC presentations.
How do you get writing done with 3 students in one schedule block? This is impossible here and no matter what I've tried it's a fail. Same with Rod & Staff English. It's teacher intensive for me but maybe I've missed something …
Great schedule! ;)
-
Ah well, since somebody is interested in it...
I wrote a novel of my plan for 6th, 4th, and 2nd. My apologies if it is incomprehensible.
Also--This is not nearly so long as it looks. Many of the items listed are very short and only once per week. Please don't throw tomatoes!
Math—
Horizons
CWP
English—
R&S English
3rd grade and up—IEW Fix It (editing, cursive, and dictionary practice)
Writing—
IEW (either SWI or SICC depending on child--only half of the program)
Alternating with paragraph/other writing program:
6th—School Composition (Maxwell 1902)
4th—Composition: Models and Exercises (First Course) (Wariner)
2nd—Super Sentences and Perfect Paragraphs (Scholastic)
2nd—Cursive practice (HWOT)
Spelling—
R&S Spelling
Spelling Power (mostly just practice the lists)
2nd only—Apples and Pears
Literature—(read aloud and silent reading)
Lists from Core Knowledge K-8 Sequence and VP
Journeys Through Bookland (at least one volume)
Literary Analysis/Reading Comprehension—
Book Reports (3 or 4 per year)
Daily Reading Comprehension (Evan Moor)
6th only—Figuratively Speaking
Vocabulary—
6th—Word Wealth Junior (1/3 of book)
4th, 2nd—Vocabulary Workshop
Science—
BJU Science (using online videos for 6th)
Studies Weekly Science
Studies Weekly Health
2nd—BFSU volume 1
4th, 2nd—3 science lapbooks
World History—
6th—OUP World in Ancient Times (Near Eastern, Greece, Rome)
Plus textbook (McGraw Hill)—Egypt, India, China, Islamic, Americas
Plus Middle Ages reading:
Medieval Days and Ways
Rats, Bulls, and Flying Machines
4th, 2nd—CHOW,
Plus 1 or 2 lapbooks
American History—
6th—Studies Weekly (5th grade New Hampshire)
4th, 2nd—A First Book in American History (Eggleston)
Plus 1 or 2 lapbooks
Civics—
4th, 2nd —Studies Weekly Social Studies
4th, 2nd—one civics lapbook
6th—iCivics (I looooooove this)
6th—Why America Is Free (Hamburger)
Geography—
Maps, Charts and Graphs workbook
Plus:
6th, 4th—Discovery World of Geography workbook
2nd—Complete Book of Maps and Geography workbook
Logic—
6th—Fallacy Detective
4th—Mind Benders, Balance Benders (CTC)
2nd—Building Thinking Skills (CTC)
German—
Duolingo
Planetino
Memory Work—
CC
IEW Poetry
Misc other
Art—
Atelier
How Great Thou Art (Homeschool drawing curriculum DVDs)
6th, 4th—A Child’s History of Art (Painting)
Music—
The Classical Kids Collection CDs (vol. 1, 2, and Christmas)
Tin whistle with CC (Don’t laugh—this is the only instrument my kids will practice)
Public Speaking—
CC
6th—Speech camp and (maybe) club
Computer/Keyboarding skills—
e-learningforkids.org (free)
Type final drafts
Mrs. Twain,
Thank-you. ;) I don't know how you pull this off. I am amazed …..
iCivics looks great! I'm playing with it this weekend …..
-
I agree with boscopup about 5th grade having a lot of new material. One thing we've done which may work for you is to use CLE and MM together. This provides a lot of review and concept reinforcement. Basically we used CLE as the spine 3-4 days a week with MM 1-2 days a week. I find MM to be more challenging and do a bit better job with concept development. So through combining them we've gotten the benefits of both. Next year though I'm actually planning to move them to MM as a spine. In addition we do math through Summer. So there will be doing MM exclusively all Summer for view and added depth.
One concern with CLE that many of use CLE families have and face is what to do beyond 600. Pre-A is actually stretched out over 2 years in 700 & 800. So some skip one which leaves some important Pre-A concepts out entirely. I'm still undecided what to do with our DDs after 600. One option is to move out of CLE entirely after 600 to another Pre-A.
Another thing to do would be to move ahead with MM 6th grade 3-4 days a week and use another 5th grade review 1-2 days a week. That way you can still complete primary math with MM since you only have one year to go. But them come along side with review for reinforcement of those concepts.
We've been using MM for 5 years and CLE for two. I agree Math Mammoth is more challenging and better at conceptual development. For this non-mathy math loving Mama Math Mammoth has been a blessing. :D But, CLE wins for ease of use and laying a strong foundation! My perfect elementary math curriculum would be a blend of MM and CLE …..
We couldn't work through an entire year of MM only doing it two days a week, even year round. How are you doing this with your girls? Are you cherry picking concepts or simply working through in order? Are you cutting the MM work in half or omitting some of the CLE work? If you use Math Mammoth as your spine how does CLE fit in? What is your daily/weekly/yearly routine?
I didn't know that CLE takes two years for Pre-A. Bummer. I have a bit of time to iron out those wrinkles for my middlers though ….
My rising 6th grader has done well with MM but I'm questioning whether or not he should continue. Would it be foolish to "jump ship"? Should I use CLE or Key To for a few months and then evaluate based upon how the "review" goes for him? Mastery worked for him so well in the past but this last school year our math and English (both mastery based) were struggles. He now needs regular review so I'm questioning the approach and seeking to change course if that will keep him moving forward without so much frustration. It works better for me if I can use ONE main program with each student OR have a prepared routine/schedule combining the two. If someone can help me know how to blend CLE and MM for my rising 6th grader that might help. I've been looking at Tabletclass Pre-A and Saxon (and Lial's and Dolciani …. ) for math after elementary school. I have also *gulp* been considering moving my oldest to Saxon and admittedly, it looks good to me.
-
I am done with 6th, 4th, and 2nd, but I don't feel like typing it.
Here is what I got for Mr. Twain to teach for this coming year:
The Way Things Work (David Macaulay)
LOF Elementary Physics :coolgleamA:
Please type it?!? :coolgleamA:
-
Hunter, This thread is AWESOME. Thanks! :coolgleamA:
-
I bought Key to Fractions because we had the exact same experience with MM. I love it so much I ordered Key to Decimals and percentages as well. They really break it down and the workbooks give him back his confidence. I really want him to understand fractions since there is so much more to come.
Where did you purchase these? I did look them over and think that we might like them for Geometry but perhaps Fractions, Decimals and Percentages would be ideal.
ETA: Looks like Rainbow Resource has them! :coolgleamA:
-
Is this normal? Maybe not for every kid but for some?
His retention with 5th grade math is shaky. He has GREAT conceptual understanding but doesn't remember HOW to do much of the new math he learned, especially anything related to decimals or fractions. We worked thoroughly and diligently through MM 5th grade (not Geometry though) and while he understood his work at the time he doesn't remember how to do it now …..
He seems to have outgrown his "fit" with mastery math and now needs something more spiral in nature.
-
Thanks for sharing this list! This is another awesome thread.In the book, What Stories Does My Son Need, the author has these movies listed for the middle school age:
Apollo 13
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Chariots of Fire
The Color Purple
Dances with Wolves
Dead Poets Society
Edward Scissorhands
The Elephant Man
Field of Dreams
Gandhi
Glory
The Grapes of Wrath
High Noon
Hoosiers
Lucas
Mask
Men Don't Leave
Mr. Holland's Opus
Places in the Heart
Rocky
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Silverado
Stand by Me
Vision Quest
White Squall
-
Subbing. My word. :hurray: Lori, what a ministry/service to all of us out here in the trenches! AWESOME stuff!
-
CGE starts diagramming in book 3. It also teaches outlining.
:001_wub: Nice.
What about the composition instruction? It SEEMS straightforward enough for 3rd - 5th grade. I start to get worried right around 6th grade that I'd want to do something ELSE. At that point, though, we could switch to my lovely AG/Jump In or "other writing" plan. Of course, after USING it I'd KNOW if I like it.
Is 3rd grade full of those respellings? I remember feeling miffed at those when I previewed some CtGE manuals awhile back but I don't remember what grades I looked at ….
-
Rod & Staff has become cumbersome and tedious. It's too teacher intensive. FLL is totally teacher intensive. We are moving to something LESS teacher intensive so that we thrive and so that grammar gets DONE most days. :D
My oldest is going to use Analytical Grammar and Jump In for writing. (Unless he doesn't. :001_smile:) I'm 90% sure of the AG/Jump In plan. I don't think I should switch him to CtGE but I'm open to it. I just don't feel like that would be enough in the writing department…
CLE LA looks great for the middlers and it's at the top of my list for this fall. I envision using CLE 3-5 and then shifting to AG for middle school. However, CtGE also looks thorough (and like it is *enough*) and I am fond to the writing lessons. It's also dirt cheap and in one tidy workbook.
Is CtGE missing something? Does CtGE do diagramming? Could I or should I *add* some writing for my 10 year old? I want to use Meaningful Composition 4+ with him and have tentatively planned to run that alongside CLE LA4. However, CtGE looks heavier in the writing department and I want STREAMLINED but THOROUGH and ENOUGH. If we ax CLE then I'd have to add Rod & Staff spelling back in for him. I like that so it's fine.
Anything else you'd like to tell me about CtGE? The font and format aren't lovely (like CLE) but my kids aren't as picky as I am. :thumbup1:
-
We use CLE Reading beginning in 4th grade though we do use all of the readers. My children love them and I have to be a brute and require my oldest NOT to read ahead. My oldest has worked through 4th and 5th; 6th is in the pile for his upcoming school year. As of now I plan to use it 4th - 8th grade for each of my kids. I LOVE CLE Reading because I believe it does what literature/comp guides don't! It asks my son to use his noodle and teaches him useful skills :). CLE Reading covers a wide variety of skills in a streamlined, efficient program. If you look over the Scope & Sequence that may help. My son has clearly benefitted from his work within CLE Reading (and I don't believe there are any of those boring, useless comprehension questions!). :thumbup1: He has learned about literary elements, poetry, critical thinking, study skills, etc.
As CLE Reading 4 and above have only 5 Light Units one could use it two days a week the entire school year or 4 days a week for half a school year. Each story in the reader spans two lessons. There are a couple of quizzes, 1 review called a Self Check, and a final test for each Light Unit. I do have him work through the Self Check and sometimes I give the test but it's flexible. If you administer quizzes and tests you'll need a bit more time than my two days/four days plan.
I've never used the Pathway program.
-
Wowsers! This is such a help to me. Thanks. :)
-
1
-
-
Subbing …. love book list threads and 8th grade is around the corner!
-
Lavender Girl,
I agree with your assessment and this is the writing path I am hoping to follow for my oldest who will be 6th this fall. In my journey to finding something straightforward and doable for ME that won't drive my child to hate writing I narrowed it down to Jump In or Meaningful Composition. I do intend to fit Cover Story in as he's a budding creative writer and I think the 20-24 weeks with Cover Story will be inspiring for him. My greatest desire has been to having something streamlined without bells, whistles or DVDs that I can UNDERSTAND. I LOVE the simplicity of presentation and the low cost.
-
Subbing ….
-
I'd put a 9th grader into WWS done at double pace. BBR is AWESOME, but it's definitely a middle school and lower program. I'd rather adapt it down than go up.
AG is fine. It has way more than we need and just gets mind-numbing. My dc is the kind who needs to do 3-5 with total engagement, not 10-20 where she falls asleep, kwim? But kids just vary and it's not rocket science to trim it. I'm just saying if you hand it to a kid and don't modify to fit the kid, you'll run into trouble. We finally set it aside and we're just going to finish it out together so we can expedite. But that's how we used R&S for the short time we used it as well, so I guess whatever worked for you with R&S will probably happen again with AG.
So you're looking for 9th and 10th? Definitely not BBR, sorry. The AG people have a couple writing programs you can use. They're really formulaic, which is of course the point. We got WWS to work by picking up the pace, and it would be one to consider. WWS is definitely NOT too young. Just pick up the pace on it and skip stuff they don't need. (My dd didn't need the copia exercises, for instance.)
SWB is recommending IEW's Advanced Communication Series (ACS) as a follow-up to WWS3. I got it already, and I think we're going to do ACS this summer and skip WWS3. We'll see, but that's my tune right now. I have a rhetoric book Janice had recommended, and the content of WWS1 and 2 so well covers what was basically the first half of the book, I think we're going to go through the 2nd half and be done with it.
Just in a totally different direction, have you seen the writing program Timberdoodle is selling for high school? I look at it at the convention and thought it was really good in a normal sorta way. Something normal like that would be really practical, if practical is what you need... http://www.timberdoodle.com/The_Power_in_Your_Hands_Writing_Nonfiction_in_High_p/612-612.htm
Great post (as usual).
OhE, why do you say that BtBR is AWESOME?
-
It means in high school, topics are not separated each year (ie. pre-algebra, algebra 1, geometry, etc.). Each year teaches all of these areas.
Thanks Erin.
I'm finding my way around MEP now …. persistence is paying off. :coolgleamA:
-
Pretty independent, yes. Moreso than MM! He hardly ever needs my help. We're using the interactive lessons so I don't print anything (except for when there is a lesson not online, which happens fairly frequently in 8, but not in 7). Oh yeah, I also print the tests and have him write them. The secondary levels of MEP aren't used much on this board (as far as I know) because it's integrated, so there isn't a whole pile of info here, but the MEP Yahoo group is great if you want to check that out.
Erin,
Thanks for recommending the Yahoo Group. My son would enjoy the interactive lessons.
What does it mean that MEP is integrated?
-
I skipped MM6 with my oldest and went straight to MEP 7. It worked great. It repeated quite a few topics that were in MM5 and he has already moved onto MEP 8 at the end of 6th grade. So that is what I am planning to do with my next son, who will be doing MM5 this coming fall. I'm going to relax the pace and not care if it takes more than a year to get through, and then go to MEP 7 after that. So, just an idea: you could take it easy (or easier) with MM5 and then just go straight to pre-algebra.
Erin,
This is a solid course. MEP befuddles me. There are so many links and I don't know what to look at or use. I love the layout but have never been able to make sense of the website. Why can't they put a numbered list that tells me what to read and then what to print? Ack! I'd love to try some of it out.
Is your son independent with his math?
-
I'm having the same issues. We are behind this year and trying to quickly finish up year 5 this summer. I've always avoided the geometry and have read here that others skip it. What do you do instead? Part of me wants to just head over to Saxon! I don't know if I can do another year of MM though I think it is a good curriculum. I will be interested in hearing what you decide. You are planning to do MM Geometry? I don't really have an alternative.
It sounds like MM hasn't been a good fit for you for a long time. Is it that math in general isn't your cuppa or is it truly MM?
I haven't had issues with the Geometry portions of MM at all. We usually hit burnout about the time we GET to that chapter so that is my beef. I did order a small geometry text to try with my son who does need help and practice with the drawing. It's self paced and uses a straightedge and a compass. I will likely use the MM geometry chapter as a "spine", reviewing the main concepts and terminology.
Beast Academy's geometry portions appeal to me but it's costly to buy those books for that purpose. I'm quite tempted to though.
-
What about doing just the odd problems in MM6. If there is an area he flounders, then you can focus on that area? This is what I'm considering. He really got bogged down with MM5 (newest version)
This holds promise. I'd *like* to mix it up and I have a few resources floating around that I'm previewing including Hands on Geometry and a few Zacarro books. Half time MM6 gives us wiggle room. I still intend to look over the Pre-A text TOC and compare it to MM6.
My previously "bright and capable" math student has BOGGED down.
in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges
Posted
Derek,
Thank-you for taking the time to answer my questions and give me wise counsel. I'm so grateful and it is enabling me to make great decisions for my kiddos! Hope has replaced despair and worry ….
As of this moment my plan is to do a MM/CLE hybrid. Based upon his sketchy placement in CLE 6 I intend to purchase 5 and 6 (my middle son will use it so it's not a waste). Using the first LU of 6 will help me to identify those areas in 5 he could or should review. I will also be able to take a look at the LUs and know where to have him jump in. I think I'll assign him straight CLE for our summer break and roll out MM in the fall. I have rarely omitted problems in MM as I have felt that my son needed the practice. There are times when something is obviously too easy for him or he absolutely gets it that we skip ahead. But that is rare. It will take a bit of practice for me to become comfy working between the two and omitting the unnecessary. My ability to judge that is suspect! :D
We are doing math over summer. The kids know I'm determined and have resigned themselves to their fate :001_tt2: . I'm a nice Mom and won't make them take their math books on vacation or to summer camp.