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angela&4boys

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Posts posted by angela&4boys

    I finally decided. MFW Ex to 1850 will be here on Thursday!!!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I am so excited to have finally decided. As much as I love TOG, it is proving to be too much decision making to go along with my full time job and 4 boys at very different levels. From everything I have seen and read, there is so much more to the instructor's guide than meets the eye. I can't wait to actually look through it. Thank you to those of you who have answered my questions and those of other posters that I have enjoyed reading. :001_smile:

     

    Congrats! I love MFW and have used it in the past and their TM's are a dream. I know how good it feels to make a decision too. Hope it's a huge blessing to you and your boys.

    Looking for a good writing LA program

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by angela&4boys

    We have been using R&S English, and it is very heavy on the grammar, but not so much on the creative writing. Dh and I are looking for a LA program that focuses more on writing papers, brainstorming, outlining etc. We feel that those are very important skills to have especially if our dc intend to go on to college. Does anyone know of a good curriculum for this?

     

    Sounds like IEW might fit your criteria. We are using this for our 11yo ds and have been very pleased.

     

    There are quite a few people here that have used it successfully. However, they use different resources. We started with a Student Writing Intensive and will then move to a Theme-Based Writing resource.

    Have you ever thrown all convention out the window to bring back the joy?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    YES!!!

     

    I skimmed the pp, so forgive me if I'm being repetitive.

     

    I know that some subjects just have to be done, but imho, unconventional methods are sometimes best! Winston Grammar is one example and such a refreshing change without compromising academic quality. My 11yo is`also enjoying Life of Fred.

     

    If there's anything that makes school a drag, it's the mundane and after all, aren't we likely to retain more if we enjoy it?

     

    For me, variation is key. I have found that when I mix things up from day-to-day within a subject, my guys are eager to know what's next. For example, in science, I've planned our week to look something like this:

     

     

    • M - Read from Christian Kid's Explore Biology (engaging text) and discuss. (They love to hear themselves talk. ) Write out memory lists on ringed index cards. (11yo only)
    • T - Choose a library book from book basket associated with topic. (Thanks MFW!) and do a related page from Enchanted Learning or other source.
    • W - Read related pages in internet linked encyclopedia and/or search topic on internet
    • Th -Do an experiment or activity.

     

    I have started to implement more delight-directed learning within our homeschool and frankly, it's a happier place for mama and dc. :)

    Do you need WWE if you use FLL?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I opt to skip the narrations in FLL as I feel there is plenty for my ds in WWE since we double-up lesons. FLL 1/2 was written prior to WWE and therefore it is left up to the discretion of the parent.

     

    Some exercises in FLL 3 and 4 are noted as "optional" by design assuming you may be using WWE alongside.

     

    Hth. :)

    DITHOR and Bigger Hearts...

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    :hurray: Yaaaay! I feel your joy!

     

    I wish my boys fit into their history cycle, but we just started the Early Church and Middle Ages. It really is a beautiful program with excellent book selections and Christ-centeredness. It seems very balanced in terms of reading amounts and activities too.

     

    Have a wonderful year and be sure and let us know how it's going. :)

    Can you all suggest a good program for beginnig narration?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by angela&4boys

    Hi Nan,

     

    I don't personally know of a book that covers narration only per se, but I'll share what I think would be the best resources that cover narration in them.

     

    First, SWB's Writing With Ease. This would give the why's and how's as well as help place your ds. I use this with one ds below a traditional grade level and it has done wonders. The hard-cover text would be a good place to start and you could skip the copywork portions and move at a faster clip if you so desired. Imho, it's the easiest to apply resource available.

     

    The other would be Karen Andreola's A Charlotte Mason Companion. She has devoted three full chapters to narration. It's really more of why and how, but does offer some practical help. You may be able to find this at your local library and I've seen used copies here and at homeschoolclassifieds.com .

     

    There is also some help at Ambleside Online and here.

     

    hth,

    Miller's All through the Ages

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Personally, I have done the catalog thing in the past and still do, but I asked for this for Christmas and received it. I love it. It's something you can throw in the library bag and I love that it's historically chronological as well as being broken down by age/reading level. It's also extrememly thorough in that it has books I've never seen listed elsewhere.

     

    I don't think you'd be sorry. :)

    WP Phonics vs A Beka Phonics

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    WP Adv K (I used as 1st grade as Jennifer C pointed out.) is what helped one of my ds's to read. I had used A Beka in the past, but was turned off by the conventional aspect of it and it moved to quickly for my guys.

     

    I like that WP is originally designed by and for the homeschooler. I also prefer the variety in WP. The TM is wonderful along with the all the components. It includes an easy to use schedule along with all the copywork in the back. The flashcards are sweet and useful as well and we loved their choices of ETC workbooks, the readers, and the word family book.

     

    I know some children are unaffected by lots of color and illustrations, but it is distracting to my boys. WP's components are black and white with a few illustrations.

     

    We both have fond memories of WP and I hope to use it with our youngest ds when he is ready.

    Queen's Language Lessons vs. BJU English

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by angela&4boys

    I'll bite. We've used both.

     

    Queen is wonderful... for a season... literally and figuratively. Some lessons are very gentle and can be doubled or even tripled up. It's also a nice break if you've been doing something rigorous. You could really complete a book over the summer. I regret that I used it through an entire year as I feel my boys were set back some in terms of grammar. If your dc retains information easily and with little practice, you may like it.

     

    BJUP has a nice balance. We first used it after my boys came home from a classical school where they used Shurley. I was very pleased with both the grammar and writing portions of BJUP. The writing is very thorough and broken down into very doable steps and the instruction within the student worktext is excellent. It's also very affordable if you order the TM from Christian Liberty Press.

     

    I incorporate many CM methods in our homeschool, but found Queen a little too light for my taste. I know that many are pleased with it, but for me it was not enough. I would look at Ambleside Online for guidance if it's the CM method you desire.

     

    If I had to do it all over again (and I will with my 2yo ;)), I would stick with something like BJUP or the WWE/FLL combo. My 8yo has done very well with FLL and WWE and I don't plan to change. It incorporates many of the CM ideas I love, but has all the searching and thinking out done for me. As far as upper grammar, my 11yo has done very well with IEW and I don't plan to change it either. I do, however, sometimes wish I would have stuck it out with BJU, but became aware of CM during that year and "fell off the traditional wagon" so-to-speak. :tongue_smilie:

     

    My 2 cents,

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