Jump to content

Menu

MyLittleBears

Members
  • Posts

    2,685
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by MyLittleBears

  1. Could someone please tell me what this stands for. I'm kind of new to blogging.
  2. Can anyone recommend a good quality microscope? There are so many out there and I would hate to get a "kids" one and have to replace it in a few years. I guess what I'm saying is that $50 now for a cheaper model is $50 wasted that could have been used for a better one in a few years. I want something that will take me from elementary science through HS science (most likely apologia) and is not too expensive. It boggles the mind how many there are out there and after doing some research a while, they all start to look the same!!! Not to mention taking a chance with the quality. Thanks!
  3. We love the multiple age flexability of my father's world (2 or 3rd- 8th). It includes history and art, and is very hands on. I have a preschooler and a first grader who love to do the projects with the older one. The only thing I do with the youngers is reading, math and handwriting. The rest is all covered in MFW. I do find that the younger ones retain a lot. We are using the year ECC. I have heard the TOG requires a lot of planning which is great for those who like to do it. MFW is just open and go. Hope this helps you. Sorry I don't have much input on the singapore math. We use MUS. -Candice
  4. You may already know this but MUS does not follow a traditional format. I guess what I'm saying is that I order to get the benefit from it you have to stick with it for the long haul, at least in the elementary years. It works on mastering the basics so that they truly know the material before moving on. Hence, a whole year of add, sub, mult, division, etc.. We love it because of this and it has done wonders for my 4th grader who struggle with Saxon. When we switched, I had to actually go back a few grade levels to reteach the basics. As far as my 1st grader, being able to use the blocks has really helped his understanding. So much so, that I find him just doing the problems in his head.(no issues with dependancy ) I also had found myself second guessing the program and thinking it was incomplete but the more I stuck with it, I saw that it was all there, just not in the places where I would have expected it all to be. A lot of times, certain subject like counting by 5s for example is taught along with counting nickles. This totally made sense. Anyway, there are also other great programs out there. Good luck with your search. -Candice
  5. Thanks for the links ladies. I must have missed them somehow. If I start with the chem level, will my 5th grader be missing something, not having done the life science part. We did RS4kids chem this year and was hoping to do pandia press life science next year. I did use the pre level one, which was definately to simple for my 4th grader, although he seems to have retained a lot. I also have the RS4K pre level bio but I'm reluctant because at a glance it seems to basic even for this year. If I use the pandia press life science, how much "beefing up" would I need to do? Science is a big love for both myself and my children so I want to encourge this a much as I can. There seems to be such an age gap in science between 2nd and 5th grade. (These are the grades they will be in nxt yr.) I was hoping to teach them together.
  6. Has anyone used this? I can't seemed to find review other than on their website. Homeschool reviews does not appear to have it. Considering this for 5th and 2nd graders with K tagging along.
  7. Thanks Heather, I have to admit, I have never tried to ask him that way. It makes sense that it would organize it in his mind. Great Advice! -Candice
  8. I have seen a youtube video of SWB talking about the new editions of FLL for levels 1 and 2. She says that the reason that it was updated was that there is redundancy of the narrations and writings, when the old edition is used in combination with the writing with ease series. She goes on to say that if you use WWE, you should feel free to skip the writing and narration assignments in the first edition of FLL. The new editions have these removed already. Hope this helps.
  9. Can anyone compare the two. I have used WWE 2 and are in WWE 3, but we are hitting a wall. My ds is still having trouble coming up with a cohesive summary. He can summerize in his head as far as I can tell but putting it into words is another thing. Sometimes it's great, but sometimes it's like pulling teeth. Is it better to just have him write it out? I have heard such good things about writing tales... and I must confess I am tempted to try it. The only thing that holds me back is the philosophy on children's writing in the WWE fundamentals book:tongue_smilie:. Any advice? He is in 4th grade and we started homeschooling last year.
  10. Does you library have a reserve option? We have used our regularly. I request the books I need from the MFW book list on the library website. When they are in, I recieve an email and then just go an pick them up. They are ready and waiting when we get there. No need to search or spending any time at the library at all. When we're done we just do drop box. I really saves on sanity, especially with little ones.
  11. We absolutely love math u see. The manipulatives are essential for a child's understanding of the consepts. (This according to many experts) Of coarse, you can use manipulatives with any math coarse you choose.
  12. We actually started off with ordinary parent guide to teaching reading. It blends word from the end to beginning. for example: at plus n,s,p is nat, sat, pat etc.. This really confused my son and the blending was like pulling teeth. So, we switched to sing spell read and write and they blend from the front. ba be bi bo bu and so forth. After he got the blending... I could not stand the format of SSRW (more like loathed it!) so we went back to OPGTR and used bob books. So I guess you could say we did only blending for a while. With my youngest, I started at the beginning of this year( PreK) with The Reading Lesson and it does a wonderful job teaching blending with very short lessons. Perfect for squirmies! In retrospect, if I had started in this book with the older one first, he may not have struggled as much. We also use the bob books for the younger one, but he is definately a faster learner that my 1st grader was at this age. I think when he is done with TRL we will go to OPGTR because it goes beyond second grade reading level and is very thorough. I hope this helps you. I've been where you are and does eventually fall into place.
  13. Another one for My father's world! Love the multiple age flexibilty. Keeps me sane!
  14. The idea is that grammar stage students minds should not be required to write creatively until they are taught and become comfortable with the process of summerizing good liturature passages in their own words. This is done by you first reading them the passage writing down their summary for them and then they will eventually read it and write it for themselves. The philosophy behind it written in SWB's Writing with Ease, Fundamentals' book. The workbooks don't really explain it. Hope this help you.
  15. Not sure at what age this happens, but it is a process. I suspect it is different for every child. The consistent practice of blending does eventually become automatic. Once that happens, reading consistently helps it to become easier and more fluid and eventually the brain remembers by memory. I'll never forget the day my son said "Mom, I didn't read that but I knew what it said." He was as surprised as I was. I started to teach him in kindergarten and this happened about a month ago, in 1st grade. I would say he it about average and it was a little bit of a struggle at first. Another thing that always surprised me was that when we began to get frustrated, we dropped it for a week and when we came back to it with a fresh mind, it seemed to just click. Teaching your child to read is one of the most rewarding experiences in you homeschooling journey! Enjoy your time together!
  16. My 4th grader used Saxon in private school and it was tears for both of us. He is a very bright, right brained, highly distractable, visual learner. We tried Math you see and it has been smooth sailing since. He no longer hates math or thinks he is bad at it. We love it because it seems to cement the concepts with actual understanding of math. My 1st grader loves it also. The pages are very plain which for us is plus because of distractability. I have been tempted many times to switch, but we keep coming to the conclusion that we should stick to what is working. Anyway, those are my two cents. Good luck with your decision.
  17. Hi, I have been through the MUS vs. TT dilema also. My 4th grader used saxon at school fm K-2nd grade and it was tears for the both of us. I got a recommendation for MUS from a friend and what a difference. (of coarse with homeschooling- the 1 on 1 time helped and the fact that he is a very visual learner) This year I considered TT for fourth grade until two other friends, one with a daughter using TT and the other with a son using R&S in the same grade both switched to Chalkdust. The girl using TT had to go down a level and the boy using the R&S stayed at grade level. Both of them are in the 9th grade and equally smart. I am sticking to what works! Also, another friend that is using TT for 5th grade, could not get over how her son did the 1st five lessons in one sitting. Something just does not add up.
  18. Thank you! I appreciate the info/support. I like the idea of having one book for two subjects and no workbooks to purchase. Plus- handing them down to the next child.
  19. I am not sure which grammar program to use with my current 4th grader next year. Obviously he will be in 5th next year. We started homeschooling last year so we flew through FLL 1/2 and are currently on FLL3. I've been looking at FLL4 but it seems it has not been out long enough to be thoroughly tested. My other option was going to be Rod and Staff english 4. Also using Writing with Ease level 3. So we would have one more year of WWE before moving on to the recommend (by well trained mind)writing assigntments in R&S 5. This would eliminate having two separate books for writing and grammar. I know, I know, I like to plan ahead so I know what to expect. Any ideas?
×
×
  • Create New...