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thegeyser

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Posts posted by thegeyser

  1. I will say that my oldest son took AP Bio and AP Chem at Wilson Hill. He ended up with a 5 on AP Bio and a 3 on AP Chem. He is a biochem major, so his college would have made him repeat chem even if he'd gotten a 5. That said, he is prepared. He ended up getting a 100% on at least one of his exams this past semester. The lab portion was totally fine, despite the fact his only in-person lab was Apologia Biology at a co-op in 8th grade. I don't know anything about physics at WHA though. My next son is likely going to have to take AP Physics at the local high school, and that idea does not thrill me. There are so many better options out there, but he needs to have one in-person class that is not offered at our neighborhood school--and that is it. I would much rather he take it at Wilson Hill! (and this kid took baby bio at the CC and it was SO EASY 😞!) But I have been able to get seats for all my kids AP exams--even AP Latin during COVID (but required driving 50 minutes away to the next county).

     

  2. I have come to peace that this not something we will come close to finishing this year. We are still in the 70s. I feel like this son is learning so much more than my first son did in Analytical Grammar. In fact, what I am learning is helping me help oldest child with his continuation exercises. Thankfully, just as I asked him about something, he said that he had just learned it in Latin. So I think my first-born will be fine. The child in WTM Grammar is finding it helpful in understanding how to write better, so he says. He does not claim to like it though. I think he sees the value, so he doesn't complain too much!

     

     

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  3. I think it explains what I noticed was the big difference when I was was researching last year: cost. Since I was only using one online class, Schole did not have an enrollment fee that I remember. I think WHA was over $100. It has been awhile though. 

    I actually spoke to Bruce Etter today about the GC 1+4 course. I asked him if there were any differences between the two Latin classes, and he said he would have to forward the question to the person who teaches Latin. If we do choose to enroll in the GC class, due to the "school feel" of WHA, it could be advantageous relationally to have both classes under the same umbrella. I wanted to know if there would be any differences. I think the school feel is a positive, but we have been really happy with our CAP experience. From where I sit, neither option would be bad. I really like LA and both use it! Does that help? I am not trying to put one above to other. To my knowledge (based on an open house), that seems to be the one difference I can discern. I really like having options!

  4. I am using it for my son for Latin Alive 2. I plan on using the online academy for Latin Alive 3, and I will probably have my next son enroll in Latin Alive 1 either this next year or the following. My first son and I muddled through LA 1 together, but my 2nd son does not naturally love Latin like the first. The teacher we are using actually wrote the curriculum. He is re-retiring this year though, so we will end up with two different teachers next year. LA was less expensive through CAP than through WHA, despite using the text. WHA functions very much like a school, from what I learned last night at the open house, but you really are just part of an independent class at Schole. 

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  5. I just wanted to add that there is a computer-based application on Thinker's Cap Academy. I think it makes the program a little more doable. Also, I would never recommend it for a 3rd grader. Start out in Song School Latin 1 & 2 if you want to intro Latin then!

  6. My 7th grade son finished up Analytical Grammar recently. I had him work on three sentences/day for the 2nd diagramming section and allowed him to spread it out over the year. I also provided the skeleton for the diagramming, since the provided lines seemed to help him in First Language Lessons and the jump to diagram without them seemed like too much, too soon. So he completed it, but he has some aid in completing the work as it was presented.

    He just wrapped up the mechanics section, and while he had a few errors on the test in each section (he would always maintain the "A"), he seems to have a pretty firm grasp on mechanics.

    Is it okay to do nothing for grammar next year other than editing and discussing errors in his own writing? I am planning on using AG's review sentences perodically in high school, as recommended. I am planning on requiring him to diagram the sentences, and he will have to diagram it from scratch. Should I consider adding Rod & Staff 8 or something similar for next year? Do I need to anything at all? 

    Thanks for your feedback!

  7. Bible: The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study by Starr Meade

    Latin:  Latin Alive 2, Classical Academic Press

    History: Dave Raymond's Modernity, Compass Classroom

    Science: Conceptual Physics (Hewitt)?

    Math: VideoText, Level F and then additional word problems, challenge problems, and more practice 

    Writing: Writing with Skill 2 and possibly continuing the Writing & Rhetoric series (Encomium & Vituperation)

    Literature - TBD

    Extras: Charlotte Mason co-op (art, picture/composer study, geography, Art of Poetry, etc.), piano, and swimming.

    I've decided to wait until 9th or 10th grade for formal logic. We are working through the Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective this year in 7th grade.



     

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  8. I have my 5th grader in SOTW 4 this year, but I opted to take my 2nd grader through the modern era via SCM module 6. It is a much better fit! Today we read a short chapter covering some battles of the Civil War and then read a little bit from D'Aulaire's Buffalo Bill. It is so much more age appropriate. Just FYI. You just schedule in their picture books for grades 1-3. We can return to SOTW down the road. In fact, I can't wait to start at the beginning with her in 3rd grade.

  9. I started my son out in Narrative 1 in the spring of his 4th grade. We had already completed Fable through Classical Writing - Aesop in 3rd grade and IEW SWI-A in 4th. My son was in 5th grade when we completed Narrative 2 and Proverbs/Chreia. While it probably isn't my favorite level, I can see where the exercise in creating an essay based on a person's virtue and sharing examples of that character in action lends itself in writing powerful essays. In fact, after completing Chriea, I notice when an author refers to someone from history (and their relevant character traits) when discussing some modern issue. It is more common than I thought -and quite powerful. When I see it, it makes me think of Chreia. We did Kilgallon orally with selected written exercises the summer before he started. I am not sure if it was the impact of the Kilgallon or the fact my child is an extremely avid reader, but he writes the most complex and interesting sentences for a now 6th grader.  We have continued with CAP now, because that is the writing program he likes best. I had tried to add in some WWS, and he just begged to go back to CAP W&R. Hope that helps!

  10. My last son went RS E> MM 5 plus selections from MM 6 > (1/3) RS G > VT A,B,C (still plugging away).

    I would like to try my next son on AOPS eventually, but I do feel like he needs a transition year as well. If I use RS F next, which level do I enter with BA? I ordered the 5A, but from what I have been reading on here, he may need to back up into 4. Where should I start him if he has finished RS A-E? Someone mentioned something about a placement test, but I would love to hear from folks who have made this transition before.

     

  11. I have been using CAP W&R resources for two of my children. My oldest is at the end of Refutation & Confirmation right now (age 11). He finished up Chreia this year too. My 9 year old is working through Narrative 1 right now after completing 1/2 of WWE3 during the fall semester and Fable last spring.

    I think that 6 "paragraphs" may be overstating the assignment. One or two of those paragraphs are nothing more than a restatement or a sentence or two. It is very formatted, and the program walks them through each step. That said, your child has plenty of time if he/she does not seem ready. I can't imagine my 4th grader using it right now. He is having a hard enough time with the creative elements in Narrative 1.

    My oldest pretty much exclusively uses W&R now, but the first two books in the series weren't published until he was at the end of his 4th grade year (I think). Anyway, he was a WWE dropout. He could not handle the dictation exercises. We moved into Classical Writing Aesop for 3rd grade, and then started 4th grade with a semester of IEW SWI-A. I put him into the Narrative 1 book, because he had already been through a "fable" level of the progym. And then we did a lot of the Kilgallon Sentence Composing book orally over the summer before starting Narrative 2. 

    From what I understand, W&R was developed by a teacher at a public classical school in an urban area of Indiana. They have seen its success with their students at that age group, but that doesn't mean that is when you HAVE to use it. Even SWB has it on a revised writing schedule on this site - used at much later grades than the publisher recommends. 

    FWIW, it is my least favorite level so far, but I also see the power of this writing tool. I've since read well-written articles where the author refers to the character of a historical figure and uses the figure to illustrate his point, and it makes me think of the Chreia assignments in W&R! From my experience, it was very helpful to "Talk About It" and "Dig Deeper" a second time right before he started his actual writing assignments. In the series, the conversation takes the place of written brainstorming/mind mapping, etc. 

    I would tell you to go with your gut! Curriculum is a tool! 

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  12. I am planning on using Simply Charlotte Mason's history module for the modern era for my younger child. You are supposed to be able to use it with the whole family. I haven't used it yet though, so I can't give you a lot of feedback. I will be adding even more picture books to the schedule than what is recommended. The guide has you alternate between a spine covering American history and another spine covering world history. I'll be using SOTW 4 for her brother, but it is quite a leap in content and reading level. SWB does not recommend it for the younger siblings, but I know people on these boards have used it successfully. SOTW3 has been a stretch, so I am going to see how SCM goes! HTH!

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  13. I am on the hunt for next year's history for my current 6th grader. I ordered History Odyssey, Level 2 when Pandia Press hosted their last deep discount, but I think it is too much output still for my speed reader, slow writing middle schooler who is also working through the Writing & Rhetoric program. I would also rather have a Christian perspective. Has anyone used the Roman Road's Media program for middle grades American History? Could this be used over two years if I add more to it (maybe Encyclopedia outlining for some of the world events or adding summaries Van Loon's Story of Mankind and Famous Men of the Modern Era )? What are the four projects like? What kind of output is required? Am I missing some online samples somewhere? Thanks, in advance, for all the input.

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