wehave8
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Posts posted by wehave8
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This was posted awhile back, too.
It doesn't solve memorizing the 'steps' of long division, but I still think it is quite interesting.
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Edited...chart wouldn't post right.
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Do you think TOPS would be a waste of time?
Pam
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I agree. Love tops here. But it isn't complete. I pair it with a text (also love usborne encyclopedias) and various bios. That has worked very well for us.
(you didn't ask me, but I can link you what we've done tomorrow when I'm at a computer... If you'd like)
Are there certain ones you are looking at? How old are your kids?
I'd like to see what you do. I would be looking at any of the elementary level. My dss are 7, 9, & 11. (I need to work on my siggy!)
Pam
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Systematic? :smilielol5:-- That's me being systematic... I know I said systematic, BUT... :tongue_smilie:
My system is that I pick a topic for each year, with the goal that we will have touched on most things in the Usborne Encyclopedia by the end of 8th grade. Some topics (like chemistry) we have spent 2 years in, while others have had to wait their turn.
I've (mostly) followed the WTM progression of biology - earth science - chemistry - physics. I use the encyclopedia as a spine, have the kids keep a notebook of terms/concept sketches/experiments, and use a variety of sources ( like TOPS, Nova shows, library books, etc.) to make it more interesting. I don't plan too far in advance, or stress over what doesn't get done. I wanted my children to end up in 8th grade with a broad base of general science knowledge and have some fun in the process. So far so good.
I like your plan/goals! Thanks for sharing!
Pam
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TOPS units are nice supplement for hands-on experiments, but they do not contain much of any factual information (or even much explanation about the experiments). Plus, they do not cover every aspect of science (esp. at the elementary grades). So, no, TOPS units would not make a complete elementary science curriculum, IMO.
I could certainly see using some of the TOPS units as part of a science unit, however, along with:
- "living books"
- science magazines
- educational DVDs/videos
- field trips
- coloring/learning pages
- hands-on kits
- time for unstructured exploration/discovery
I guess I meant using TOPS without a 'textbook'. I like your list. :) We do ALL of these and I wasn't even planning them. :) Thanks!
Pam
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My kids and I have greatly enjoyed using various TOPS units, but I don't think it is a complete stand-alone science. I would (and do) add in a systematic tour through a science encyclopedia (I like the Usborne ones) and scientist bios.
Could you share what your 'systematic tour' looks like? :) Thanks!
Pam
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Have you used TOPS Science?I used SOME about 20 years ago, but what would you think of using it for a complete elementary science? What would you have to add to it to make it complete if it's not?Pam
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This is a sample month for us. It usually takes us a 1/2 hr. each morning. I did a Memory Time even before we heard of and used some of CC.
Opening
September 2014
Pledges- American Flag, Christian Flag, Bible
Prayer
ABC Bible Verses- Review A-J
Scripture of the Month- Romans 5:1-12
Patriotic/History Song
or Hymn of the Month- How Firm a Foundation AND When Dragons’ Hearts Were Good
Poem of the Month- "Sphinx" by Susan Altman
CC Memory Work:
English- Prepositions- Weeks 1, 2, 3, & 4
Science- What are some parts of the earth?- Week 13
What are the three kinds of rock?- Week 14
What is each continent’s highest mountain?- Week 15
What are the four kinds of volcanoes?- Week 16
Math- Skip Counting 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, & 8s- Weeks 2-4
Timeline- Weeks 1, 2, 3, & 4
Latin- Noun Cases- Weeks 1 & 2
Noun Endings- Weeks 3 & 4
Pam
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I understand what you're asking, as I struggled with those feelings, myself, when I chose to use R&S. To give a little background, I started doing Apologia with my son when he was in first grade. He's always been extremely bright, but even with that, it seemed it was too much for someone that young. I set it aside, thinking I'd return in later grades. By then, we had been doing R&S Science for some time, with success. When I tried to incorporate Apologia, I found it just took too long for us, with everything else I was doing, and I was much less consistent with implementing it. When I've stuck with R&S, science gets done. I figure a science that gets done is better than a "complete absorbtion" science that only haphazardly gets done. :001_smile: Truth be told, R&S hasn't held him back. I don't put tons of weight on standardized testing, but FWIW, my son has always scored at the 99%ile in science, so I do know he's learning well with R&S Science.
I, personally, like how R&S covers many different areas throughout the year. Although that limits the immersion he receives, it allows him to have a well-rounded science education, ehanced according to his interest. One of the aspects I especially like about R&S is how it gives me the opporturnity to supplement without feeling stressed. Because the lessons are shorter and easier to implement, we have room for adding in a lot of living books. I use all of Heart of Dakota's science book recommendations, as well as many others I've added to our library through the years. Because I use the living books as a supplement, I don't feel the pressure to complete them according to a set time-table. When we have more time, we supplement more; when time is a factor, we stick closer to the text. Down the road, I might end up having him read the Apologia books on his own, not as a complete curriculum, but to add to what he's already learned with R&S.
We visit science museums and our local planetarium when time permits. We've also given our son Thames & Kosmos science sets as gifts, letting him putter on his own. My son loves science, so he frequently spends his spare time reading science books or experimenting. (This is a child who jumped for joy when he received a science encyclopedia for a gift! :001_smile:)
I hope this helps!
WOW!!! Thank you, daybreaking! This is EXACTLY what I needed! My boys are not the best readers, but they love science enough that "jumped for joy when he received a science encyclopedia for a gift!" sounds just like them, also.
I think I am going to print this and put it on my refrigerator to remind myself if I feel doubt sneaking up. :)
Pam
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:hurray:
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I own all of the Apologia Young Explorer's books, but find R&S much easier to implement. I definitely would describe it as a "get-it-done" curriculum. We've been using R&S Science for years and my science-loving son and I thoroughly enjoy the curriculum. I'm amazed, myself, at all have learned from doing it with him. We also love reading living books and find it very easy to add them into to R&S Science. For example, we recently covered a lesson on the nervous system. My son then read Seymour Simon's "The Brain" on his own and we discussed how it connected to what he had just learned in R&S.
daybreaking,
Do you ever feel they are missing a lot by not doing the 'complete immersion' of Apologia?
Pam
edited: changed absorption to immersion. ;)
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My boys LOVE science. They do a lot of their own science, but I don't ever get it written down (we have to keep somewhat of a log). I bought Apologia Astronomy with Notebooks, but I know we are not going to get to them. We did Flying Creatures 2 years ago and they are still bird lovers/experts, but I don't see that there will be the same love for the Astronomy. I need a 'get it done' curriculum. Would R&S fit that bill? And could I pick a 'middle of the road' and do 1 for all?
(Ages 7, 9, & 11. Young Earth. Christians)
Pam
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B--
I'm sorry it's not working out for you this year. I did sell my book, and I'm glad I did.
Thank you for the review!!!
Pam
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We were planning on this as an easy snack when we do our dinosaur theme.
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When I taught in a little one-room, multi-grade school, I used R&S's English. I required my children to write the "Remember boxes" into composition notebooks, in their best handwriting, in cursive, in pen. I think it is better for the dc to have to write them out than to have a pre-printed list to refer to. :-)
Good idea. I can still have the boys read them from their own notebooks in their own handwriting as part of our morning memory time. Thanks!
Pam
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Thanks, JudoMom! I have that book on my shelf. :)
And, SilverMoon, I think I will write these 'boxes' out on note cards. We can add them to our memory time in the mornings. It would be nice if there was a separate list or chart like CLE has. Maybe CLE's is similar enough to R&S. ??
Pam
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Has anyone ever made a list of rules or "Things to Remember" from R&S English? Or do they have a list of their definitions? I don't want to memorize definitions from another program that word things differently if we use R&S.
Pam
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If you use MOH,
1. Do you do their maps?
2. If yes and you are dong CC, do yo do the maps from CC AND MOH?
We are doing MOH1 and some CC memory work, but I am not going to include CC maps skills if we will get enough in MOH.
If you do MOH maps, could you please share how you like them and if they teach much, easy to use, etc.?
Pam
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Maybe. They are really different. Each set has more nonwestern events than VP. There's a thread somewhere that compares the events for each set.
The background information for the event/time period/person is more detailed on the CC cards.
Anyone know which thread this might be?
Pam
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The song is on the new Cycle 1 set of CDs. There is a whole CD in the set dedicated to Timeline, presidents, prepositions, books of the Bible). The VP cards do have a song if you do them in the VP order (I noticed this when we tried out the Self-paced history program last month).
With regards to what other said, I didn't like the fact that there were fewer Biblical events/people, (the events are there all lumped together - Creation AND the Fall, the Flood AND the Tower of Babel, later on in the timeline, you see/hear Israel Exodus AND Desert Wandering, Israel Conquest AND Judges - but the people of the Bible are all taken out; these could easily be added back in as you are studying the timeline cards) but I do love the inclusion of other non Western events in the modern era. We also LOVE LOVE LOVE the song! It's catchy. It gives me goose bumps at the Jesus the Messiah part too! The kids ask for it in the car every day, over and over. I get tired of it before they do.
So if you were to memorize a timeline today , which one would you choose? Looks like you have pros and cons about both. ;)
Pam
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We memorize the cc timeline. However we are not involved in a cc community. We do use their song and their cards. I have also made my own paper based timeline figures for our timeline book based on the cc timeline pegs.
We use SOTW as our main history program. I like that I can take that and make it into MY OWN history program. We add in literature using the ideas from sonlight and the activity book. We also memorize history sentences that relate to our SOTW study.
What are the ages of your dc?
Thanks
Pam
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You really do have a lot to juggle!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Keep it up!
Pam
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Wehave8 have you decided how you're going to memorize your timeline yet?
Not meaning to hijack this thread, but to answer the question...
I have decided (for today at least :) ) to do:
1. MOH1 with their timeline, maps, notebooking, and folder books (we can get a big picture by seeing what is in between the CC timeline cards)
2. Memorize CC Timeline (not the song..we don't like it)
3. Add VP reading recommendations
4. VP Bible Timeline
Pam
ETA: Thank you, OPer. It was because of intently looking into this sale that I was able to make a final decision on our history for this year!
Recommend your favorite board games or card games for 8 year old
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
5ive Straight is our favorite
Checkers and Chess are second favorites
Rack-O
24 Challenge
Skip-Bo
Uno
We like Set, also