SEGway
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Posts posted by SEGway
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Thank you! I found FIAR in our (ILL) system, so I can at least preview it before buying that one. That should be helpful, if only to rule out possibilities.
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Our plan for the fall includes my dealing well with oldest dd (then 6) in 1st; dd (then 4), dd2, and a brand-new one (due Sept.-ish).
I'm addicting to researching options on this board, and I think I may have narrowed down the choices for our future core now. I really like VP's gentler/longer first world history cycle starting in 2nd. I think our oldest would get the most out of a program that waits just a bit longer (as opposed to SOTW/AG for 1st-4th or any of the other similar choices) as well as being easier to fold in the next two as they are ready for school. Even if we don't do their manuals/tg exactly, I think that pace will work well for us. (I will of course change my mind a million times before we get though junior high. :001_smile: )
VP's 1st grade recommendations are mostly just the 3R's. I plan to focus on these using different resources. FLL/AAS/HWT/WWE (a bit of each, on different days, anyway) instead of Shurley. MM/Miquon (alternating) instead of Saxon. Etc.
This would be fine by itself if I thought it would get done. But, the stark contrast between the parts of our K year (1st half went pretty well; 2nd half ...morning sickness, no energy... fell apart!) tells me that I need some sort of "glue" (i.e. plan written down/scheduled) to keep me accountable to do stuff more consistently.
So, I'm thinking FIAR or HOD for one year to give me a framework/reference and keep me on track so we'll DO something. Obviously the time right around the newbie's arrival will include serious breaks, but I feel like I'd be cheating the oldest to let that slack last for months on end.
FIAR pros- My kids already ask me to read them the same books again and again. It looks to be mostly read-alouds that would also appeal to the second and third child along with the oldest. I think it might be a good fit/style for K for second dd in another year or so. I'll probably try to score a decently priced copy on ebay. If I can, it'll be a fairly inexpensive. We have some of the story books, already, and most of the others are in our library. It includes geography.
FIAR cons- I can't tell enough about it from their site to tell if it's will work for us the way I hope. It may be scattered enough itself that it won't actually help me get the basics done. (Defeating the purpose).
HOD pros- It has much better examples online, and it seems like the cohesive day-at-a-glance that might do what I need it to, even though we'll use different math/LA, etc. It would probably get done. Oldest DD will almost surely like it. (based on reactions to selections in the past)
HOD cons- I've been so excited about doing history as a cohesive journey thought time, that I'm kind of bummed about a year of specifically American history. Also, it would be more expensive to get a whole 'nother curriculum (and I've been buying so many Israel/Egypt/Greece/Rome books for the last year, that it seems like I should really stop doing this at some point. :tongue_smilie:)
Ack! I've written a book. If anyone is still reading, have you any advice? Encouragement? BTDT?
Many thanks in advance!
Sarah
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May I just say, I love your blog! I clicked through to find out what you recommended for 1st grade Egyptian read alouds, and I ended up subscribing to your RSS feed. It's great stuff. :001_smile:
Thank you!
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We had a trial run with K for our oldest this year. Some days I feel like we're even learning something! (I won't tell about the other days.)
For next year
AAS (this is on my wish list, I haven't purchased it)
WWE and/or FLL (we might skip some from these if AAS works the way I hope it will)
Phonics Pathways (This year, we only get to it sporadically, since she can read easy books now and prefers them to a program. Also, it may become redundant if AAS reviews phonics well for her.)
Math Mammoth (we started 1A this year, but haven't gotten very far)
Miquon Red (for breaks when Math Mammoth seems a bit much for the day)
BFSU (I mean to be more intentional about it next year, we didn't get very far at all this year)
SOTW (AG, or maybe Bibioplan using SOTW as the spine? still waffling)
A Child's Geography (haven't purchased this, either, but I think dd would enjoy it)
Drawing with Children (I want to actually do this once a week or a couple times a month. DD keeps asking for art class, and I usually just give them construction paper, markers, scissors, and tape. Our living room looks atrocious (sigh)
AWANA, and Bible/story books
My great idea is to do something from LA, Math, Bible, and The Rest daily. But, The Rest could rotate significantly.
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Also, she thinks cursive is the COOLEST thing ever. Should I just start with cursive and come back to printing when she's gotten the artsy thing out of her system, or at least can express is in a different form?
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DD5 has terrible handwriting. She wants to be all artistic about it, but no one can read it. I didn't start any formal handwriting program with her for K because I didn't plan to make her write much, but she's learning really bad habits by teaching herself. And she reinforces said bad habits a LOT.
She's just starting to take off decoding words. She's actually getting to be a pretty good reader. So.....if I start HWT should I go with all the fun manipulatives for the K-ers? Or just what she actually needs to learn in the 1st grade materials? Cutting costs would be great, but I don't want to start something over and totally miss what she needs to know, again. (If that makes sense.)
Any advice?
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Thank you!
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Would anyone be willing to post the link with previous discussions of PR/AAS? I think I must not be searching correctly. Or, I don't know how to access the archives(?). I am interested in reading through what's already been written.
TIA!
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How do they compare? Has anyone used both programs? Both seem to have a devoted following. :)
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If it's okay, I'd like to hold up my wish list for inspection, too.
We had a trial run with K this year. Some days I feel like we're even learning something! (I won't tell about the other days.)
For next year
AAS (this is on my wish list, I haven't purchased it)
WWE and/or FLL (we might skip both if AAS works the way I hope it will)
Phonics Pathways (This year, we only get to it sporadically, since she can read easy books now and prefers them to a program)
Math Mammoth (we started 1A this year, but haven't gotten very far)
Miquon Red (for breaks when Math Mammoth seems a bit much for the day)
BFSU (I mean to be more intentional about it next year, we didn't get very far at all this year)
SOTW (AG, or maybe Bibioplan using SOTW as the spine? still waffling)
A Child's Geography (haven't purchased this, either, but I think dd would enjoy it)
Drawing with Children (I want to actually do this once a week or a couple times a month. DD keeps asking for art class, and I usually just give them construction paper, markers, scissors, and tape. Our living room looks atrocious (sigh)
AWANA, and Bible/story books
My great idea is to do something from LA, Math, Bible, and The Rest daily. But, The Rest could rotate significantly.
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This probably sounds terribly cheap, but here goes anyway. Can you make your own set of tiles/magnets from craft supply stuff/home printer/laminater? Is there some sort of master list in the level one kit that explains what's in the start up kit? Can you buy one and make the other?
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currclick carries Miquon as ebooks, but the workbooks are SO cheap at RR, that I just buy the workbook.
Thank you! I've been wishing to find these as downloads. I'm very excited. :001_smile:
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I just taught continents and oceans and got the globe out all the time as we read about other places. We occasionally labeled things on a large laminated map as well. That prepared them just fine. I am using A Child's Geography with my 1st-4th graders now. It is wonderfully written (Charlotte Mason style) and gives a comprehensive, in depth overview of geography. We LOVE it!
A Child's Geography also includes a lots of copywork suggestions and many book selections to enhance each chapter.
Is this book by Voskamp or Hillyer? And is it complete by itself? Or does it require other read alouds in order to do the projects? Thanks! I hadn't heard of or seen this one mentioned before. It looks good!
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Thanks! I had seen references to Evan-Moor stuff before, but I didn't realize it could be an e-book. I was reminded to check out the History Pockets while on their site, too.
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I've not been terribly impressed with the reviews of either Legends & Leagues or Galloping the Globe. What have you used that you liked (dd will be in 1st next year)?
Did you just cover the continents without a curriculum? Start local and work toward global? Start far away and work your way home? Only introduce countries that came up in other studies? Introduce map skills as a separate subject?
I'm very curious. :001_smile:
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Whew. Thanks!
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Thank you. That was very helpful! So, having purchased the old book, ag, and audio, if I splurge and add in a digital version of the student pages from php, I should have the best of the changes with the best of the second-hand prices? That sounds great. :)
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Letter Factory is the first in the series, and our favorite.
Some of the reading ones (Word Factory, Code Word Caper, and especially StoryBook Factory) feel like they might be trying to accomplish too much without enough time. But, they're good, too, and you might like them just as much. They might be in your public library if you want to preview before purchasing.
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Is there a place to go to read about the changes made in the second editions of Vol. 1 & 2? Are the first editions still worth using? (I ask after having just bought the book, ag, and audio on these boards....please be gentle :tongue_smilie:)
Is there anything in particular I should add in to make sure we don't miss anything with the older edition?
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Is the TM generally worth the investment? Or do most people prefer to just use the cards/songs as a memorizing tool without it?
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And, what size are they? I can never seem to find that info, either. :bigear:
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Thank you! Anyone else have pros/cons for one approach over the other?
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Or could someone direct me to an older thread that already tackles this? That would work, too. :001_smile:
1st gr.: HOD or FIAR before VP hist. cycle in 2nd? (LONGwinded backgroun!)
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Thanks, Elizabeth. I have been trying to figure out the best way to combine. It's tricky to tell when the littles are still so....little. :)
DD2 (will be 4 in the fall), and DD3 (will be closing in on 3) seem so much closer in age that my head always puts them together instead of the oldest two. (Since they have a HUGE gap of almost 27 mo. :tongue_smilie:).
It seems like we'd almost be skipping any grammar history rotation if I wait for the second and third to catch up enough to start for the first one.
Does it ever work well to teach several different content areas when kids are that close in age? Or will I just be making myself crazy for no reason?
Hmmm.
Still thinking.
Thanks, again!