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kailuamom

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Posts posted by kailuamom

    What are you using next year?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I was asking in a nice way - truly curious if anyone actually reads through all the responses to see what everyone else is doing. And for those who are still deciding, I wonder how a thread such as this helps them to make their own decision. It's a bit different from discussing the pro's and con's of a particular curriculum.

     

    Cyber responses don't come with a smile, frown, or some other facial expression, so they can be misread. Happens all the time. Just have to roll with it - on both ends. :)

     

    As for me: Do I read through all of them? No. Do I skim and maybe stop to view a response that pertains to curriculum used for kids the same age as mine? Sure. Does it sway me? No. But it may give me ideas to look into.

     

    Oh, and do some (most) of the posts sometimes completely impress me and make me feel like "geesh...I have GOT to get my act together"? Oh, yeah! :tongue_smilie:

    OK, so where are the books about the women?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I know it is fairly easy to find books about the famous men of ancient times or the Middle Ages/Renaissance, but do any of you have suggestions on good resources for learning about women of those times? I can see how their may be fewer in the ancient era, but the Middle Ages & Renaissance had its fair share of women leaders, etc. Are there any good compilations out there? Other than SOTW? Age level @ 10 - 12?

     

    TIA! :)

    Jump around in SOTW??

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I am teaching a SOTW: Middle Ages coop and we have more chapters than meetings. Is it ok to skip some chapters? Or do you think it is better to go chapter by chapter and not finish the book? I am thinking that the way the stories are set up -- that the whole books cover the Middle Ages time frame -- that we can skip over some chapters and still get a lot out of the book. Any thoughts???

     

    TIA!

    Joy Hakim Science Books/Teacher Guides 50% off

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Yes, this is true. They just switched publishers. This was the only online form the publishers had, so they had to use it. But they assured me it was okay for homeschoolers, just go ahead and enter your initials.

     

    Smiles,

    Shalynn

     

    Thanks so much! I read back (after I posted -- duh!) and saw that you had contacted them. I ordered 4 of the books yesterday! :)

    Joy Hakim Science Books/Teacher Guides 50% off

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    What did you all do about this:

     

     

    By entering my initials and submitting this order, I attest that all the above information is correct and that

    • I am a faculty member of an accredited college/university OR a K-12 institution.

    It doesn't mention homeschoolers. Are we considered an "institution"??

     

    For those of you that ordered, what did you do?

    ALEKS math program -- is it worth it??

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I started using ALEKS a couple weeks ago. At first my children loved it, but now they do see it as work and often would rather not do it. This isn't a problem for me, since it is, in fact, a serious math program, and yes, that involves work. My older three are entirely self-sufficient with it, able to use the "Explain" button and then do the problems themselves. My just turned 8 year old daughter will still require teaching just because she is little and unwilling to carefully red through the explanation and work the problem along with it. I am perfectly comfortable teaching at her level without a text book, but could probably print and work through the explain with her if I weren't. I love that they get instant feedback, review, and regular reassessment. I could create quizzes or request reassessment anytime I want. I can also see exactly what they have done and how much time they have spent each day in ALEKS and I can change their course as many times as I want to within the subscription period. This frees up some of my time, always a good thing with 4 children to teach. (And, I really hate grading, so it's one less subject to grade.)

     

    I will have my older two work with their Art of Problem Solving textbook for more in depth work on concepts along with ALEKS, but I always use two math programs. However, I found that their skills weren't keeping up with their conceptual understanding when they just used Art of Problem Solving over time since they were not getting continuous practice. I regret letting them talk me into not making them continue NEM along with it the second half of last year. Nonetheless, they are reviewing with ALEKS and then I will increment them to this years course around the official start of our school year since they are on track to finish their review course by then. With ALEKS, I am certain they will be able to complete problems in a reasonable amount of time and happy to let them just enjoy thinking about math with Art of Problem Solving. Actually, the youngers will be using just ALEKS instead of two, because I am comfortable with the drill they will get through QuickTables and won't supplement for drill.

     

    So... yes, I think ALEKS is complete on it's own, but mathy kids might enjoy "Thinking Math" along with it. But children may not love it all the time, since it is a serious math program, not edutainment.

     

    Elizabeth

     

    Thanks so much for your insight! I really appreciate it!

    ALEKS math program -- is it worth it??

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My dc have the opportunity to use the ALEKS math program this year at a discount (through a class). If you are familiar with the program, or have used it, can you tell me what you think of it? We are in the middle of the three hour free trial, but I am not sure if that amount of time will be sufficient in deciding whether or not to use it for the whole year.

     

    If you have used it, did your dc like it? Does it provide enough to be a complete program? Or is it more useful as a supplement? I am looking at it for my 8th, 5th & 2nd/3rd graders.

     

    Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice!

    8th grade---what are you using?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    After a couple of years using Calvert, I am creating my own plan this year. As of today, the schedule for my 8th grader looks like this:

     

    Math - Saxon 8/7 (to cement the basics) with LOF Algebra Beginning Algebra (or maybe something else -- she already completed a pre-algebra class last year with a homeschool group...)

     

    Vocabulary - Vocab from the Classical Roots & English From the Roots Up

     

    Grammar - Magic Lens, followed by the last section of AG

     

    Writing - The Elegant Essay

     

    Poetry - various poems on her own, World of Poetry as a family

     

    Logic - The Art of Argument, Perplexors

     

    History - The History of US (Hakim) with brother & sister

     

    Geography - Trail Guide to US Geography

     

    Science - The Story of Science (Hakim) with brother & sister, Science Explorer Astronomy on her own (followed by Chemical Interactions, Chemical Building Blocks, and maybe Cells & Heredity later in the year)

     

    Latin - Latin Prep

     

    French - possibly Rosetta Stone (she used it last year through co-op), Schaum's Outlines, French Grammar

     

    Literature - she loves to read, and has already read a lot of books recommended for 8th grade, but here is the beginning of our list

    - A Single Shard, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Pearl, Benjamin Franklin bio, Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol, A Separate Peace, Romeo & Juliet

    * Some with lit guides, some just with discussion

     

    I think that's it! She will also play soccer and take an acting class for fun. We hope to find a piano teacher, too.

     

    Good luck!

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