Roxy Roller
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Posts posted by Roxy Roller
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...is TWSS the best option? Or is there something better/different out there? We did try IEW Level A a couple of years ago and neither my DD, nor I, were thrilled with it. We didn't get very far.
I am honestly sick and tired of trying writing program after writing program.:tongue_smilie: Nothing seems to click with me - I don't think the problem is my children. The problem is my follow-through on a program. I haven't found anything that I 'love' enough to be truly excited to teach. So I am wondering if I need a course to learn to teach writing.
:bigear:
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I have read some of the prior posts both here and on the high school board, and I am considering BJU Writing and Grammar 4 and 6, for my two oldest.
I am needing to simplify. R&S is good, but I like the idea of doing writing one week and grammar the next. Writing isn't happening beyond WWE, and I just don't feel like it is enough. I like the idea of going back to a workbook.
My DD11 is doing WWE3, and the Remedia Outlining book. I will have her continue these, as well as, move to outlining some history. My DS9 is doing WWE2, which I will continue. If I was to add in the BJU W&G, and drop R&S, will that work? As I look at what I just typed, I am not sure if I will be simplifying.:tongue_smilie:I guess I really want some extra writing that is all laid out for me and covers all of the bases. I would also like something that would possibly take us through to 10th grade or so, and I see that some people on the high school board are still using it.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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For writing papers, I teach it a little differently. Once they can mentally reduce each chapter, essay, etc. to it's basic concepts, I then teach them to write the main points or those ideas they need to have handy when writing their paper, on note cards with the bibliographic information on the back (blank side). They then organize their note cards by topic. We discuss the order of ideas and how to make the paper flow from one topic to another and then they organize their note cards into piles from first topic to last with each stack clipped together so they don't get separated. I have them write the body of the paper first, giving them a list of transition words and examples of transition sentences in order to help them get from point a. to point b. Then I help them write the introductory paragraph and summary last. I think those two paragraphs are the most difficult part of the writing.
Faith
I really like this! Do you use a particular book or curriculum for this process?
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I see that no one has posted on your thread.
I haven't used any of the Narnia guides yet, but I am seriously considering the Veritas Press guide that encompasses all of the Narnia books. The only problem is that I do not think that it is downloadable. Here is the link from VP - http://www.veritaspress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=000727. If you click on the sample, it gives you a great idea of what the guide is about. I like the fact that all of the books are included in one guide for just over $20, and there are other activities listed for variety.
Hopefully someone else will post who has used this guide or another, so that you will have more information.
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We used Write Shop in 6th-7th-8th grade. You may read my review here.
I didn't use it much for across the curriculum then, but now ds uses what he was taught all the time: brainstorm, outline, sloppy copy, 1st revision, final draft; sentence variations; descriptive adjectives; action verbs; etc.
As Tammy said, Appendix B is full of suggestions.
Thank you, Sue. I read your review and I think this may be what I am looking for. I am going to have to take a closer look at it.
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For those of you who use WriteShop, is it easy to use it across the curriculum? Are there any ideas in the manual for using it across the curriculum? I would also appreciate any opinions you might have on it as a program in general.
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BJU Life Science is fabulous!
You can see a sample of the first chapter here:
http://www.bjupress.com/product/228163?samplePage=
I also purchased the DVD that covers all of the labs and it is excellent. It was pricey, but I can use it again with my younger DD.
Thank you, I do not know why I couldn't find the sample before.
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I love BJU's Life Science, but the two are quite different. Apologia is far more independent than BJU. I personally would not/could not use BJU's sciences without the online or DVD classes. Mainly because *I* don't particularly like science. I'm more of a history person. If I had to teach science, it would never get taught...or taught very poorly. So, if I did not own all of the BJU jr. high and high school sciences on DVD (from previously having the BJU HomeSat satellite) I would probably be using Apologia. Not because I think it's better, I actually have used both and I like BJU better, but because I'm a very lazy science teacher. The BJU teachers are NEVER lazy and ALWAYS love their subject. :lol::D
I do not love science. I do not formally teach science until my DC are in 6th Grade. Right now my DD11 is using CLE Science 6, which is a light overview of science. I need something that is pretty independent. Is BJU independent if you use the DVDs? How many hours a week would my DD being spending on science if we use the DVDs?
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I have Apologia General Science on the shelf for next year(7th Grade). I have seen lots of great reviews about BJU Life Science and I am wondering if someone will please compare the two for me. I have checked the BJU website and I can't seem to find a place to view samples of the text.
Thanks
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Will you please compare/contrast these two programs with positive/negative points?
I will be doing the Middle Ages next year with my 5DC- 1st-7th Graders. I really need to keep my kids on the same history cycle(for my own sanity), and we love doing it together. I want to have appropriate literature books for each to read on their own. I will also have my older two outlining. I understand HOD has amazing notebook pages to go with the Middle Ages, but I cannot find a sample anywhere. I really need something that is open and go for history/literature, and I want a program that is doable on a 4 day schedule.
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Will you please compare/contrast these two programs with positive/negative points?
I will be doing the Middle Ages next year with my 5DC- 1st-7th Graders. I really need to keep my kids on the same history cycle(for my own sanity), and we love doing it together. I want to have appropriate literature books for each to read on their own. I will also have my older two outlining. I understand HOD has amazing notebook pages to go with the Middle Ages, but I cannot find a sample anywhere. I really need something that is open and go for history/literature, and I want a program that is doable on a 4 day schedule.
X-Post in K-8
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We have used both a 4 day and a 5 day schedule through the years.
This year we are using a 4 day schedule. I find that for our family, we need the extra day off during the week. We usually make Friday the extra day, but if we have appointments on a different day of the week, then that becomes our day off.
I try to do a rough schedule at the beginning of the year, so that I know how much we have to do every week, then we do it. If I have a curriculum that has 180 lessons, I schedule two lessons for one of the days, and we do one in the morning and one in the afternoon - so that we have the equivalent of 5 days of work. Mind you, doing it this day makes for 4 very long days of school - for us, it is 8am to 4:30pm - 4 days a week(especially for the 6th grader). My DC know that our days are that long, so that they have 3 day weekends. They would much rather that, than 5 shorter days. I also do a light schedule through the summer. Last summer we did 4 weeks of TOG, so that we can take extra time off right now, at Christmas.
I am a perfectionist, and I was finding that it was really hard to do a 5 day schedule, because I would have everything planned out, and then 'life' would get in the way and mess up my schedule - I would get stressed out and then so would the kids.
For next year, I am also considering condensing my year to 32 weeks. In Alberta, we do not have to school for a specific number of days or weeks, so this is a possibility. My only concern is math and science for my 7th grader next year. I am not sure I can fit those into a 32 week schedule.
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Name: Roxanne
age of dc: DD 11, DS 9, twin DSs 8, and DS 5
how long homeschooling?: since the beginning
have you taught these ages/grades before?: No, my DD is my guinea pig.
Do you follow a particular style of education? (WTM, LCC, CM, Electic,): Well, I started out with ABEKA. Then, we moved to CM. Finally, we have landed at classical/eclectic/relaxed.
Do you plan to homeschool high school?: Yes
Any favorite quotes or wisdom that get you through the day?:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
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I decided last year that a lot of Homer was inappropriate for my 6yo. We read The Trojan Horse by Hutton, so he got a taste of the story without all the parts he wasn't ready for yet. HTH
:iagree:I skipped all of Homer, but I did the Step into Reading 'The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War', by Emily Little. It worked for all my age groups, and the story still fascinated my DC. I added in extra content on Troy and some other books with pictures of their versions of the Trojan Horse. I know that next time around, they will be eager to get a little more in depth.
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Thank you, Andrea and Lisa. I am going to have to start searching for the copies listed.
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Anyone?
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Anyone?
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Why not simply add something to help with fractions, etc? My middle one used some of the Key to Fractions books, and my ds has done LOF Fractions.
Personally, I wouldn't choose Saxon (not a good fit here) or TT (same reason plus I prefer math books written by math grads for the most part), but I have had dc who needed extra work in Fractions. There are other math programs with DVDs out there, as well. While Saxon has many review questions, it flits from one topic to the next from chapter to chapter (it's incremental) rather than taking an entire chapter to work on one concept. I also didn't think that it's coverage of fractions was as clear as Key to fractions, LOF or MUS (well, some of MUS we found downright confusing in fractions, but that was at the time, not in recall, so we didn't do it the MUS way there.)
We have MUS, and my middle one did Alpha-Zeta minus Delta, but she did it along with SM and the supplement for fractions. If you choose LOF, you can always read it aloud with her if you think she learns auditorily, or else discuss it with her after she reads it.
I have made a point of being sure that my dc are very strong in fractions before ever getting to Algebra.
We do have LOF Fractions. My DH is supposed to be working through it with my DD, but it hasn't happened as often as I would like. My DD doesn't love it, like I had hoped she might.
I do have the Key to Fractions book in my Rainbow Resources cart, maybe I had just better purchase them and work through them over our Christmas break.
I am also considering ChalkDust Basic Math, but I don't know anything about it. I have posted on the K-8 board, asking questions about it. We have been using Dana Mosely's DVDs for elementary math, and my DD prefers to watch him, but his DVDs don't correlate to MUS at all.
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I think SWB says to outline from other books in WTM2009.
The Remedia outlining books are so easy....but when it comes to "real" material, it is definitely a horse of a different color.
I'm seeing outlining now not as a chronological history note taking, but a way of seeing how paragraphs are constructed. So one day we might outline history, the next science, a history book from a subject DS is interested in.
Capt_Uhura
:iagree:Okay, I did check the outlining section in the new WTM, and it does say to outline from your 'extra' resources. I have the original WTM and I am sure that it said outline from the Kingfisher, so this is why I was a little confused and concerned. I did not want to have my DD outline from just one source/style.
I agree, the Remedia books are easy, and my DD thinks so too. They have been a great start to outlining, and I think my DD will have a confidence to tackle other material. After Christmas, we are going to start using different sources from our TOG Y1, and I will have her start back at one level outlines for a while and then move to two level outlines in a couple of months, so that she will be ready for 3 level outlines by the beginning of 7th Grade.
In the new WTM, SWB also adds in writing facts from the primary text. So this is what I am thinking I will do with my white Kingfisher.
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Can someone please compare these two programs for me? I am looking for a comparison of what is contained in each, how they are taught, DVD lectures, and how rigorous they are.
Thank you
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I am interested in finding out more information on this program. On the ChalkDust website, it says it is for 6th Grade. Is this true? I am looking for something to use for 7th, after MUS Zeta. My DD is not very mathy, and I am hoping that it might be a good review, and precursor to pre-algebra. How rigorous is it? Will she flounder?
I also understand that at one time on the boards, Pongo and others had ISBN's to purchase the sets at a lower price. I tried to do a search, but only found the ISBN's for Pre-Algebra and Algebra. Does anyone have these?
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I suggest maybe Teaching Textbooks for maybe a semester or a year to solidify some of the concepts. I'm currently in 8th grade, but in 7th grade I hit a wall in Saxon Algebra 1 so I switched to teaching textbooks algebra 1 for the second semester. It was easier than saxon algebra but it really helped me understand it and not be afraid of doing Algebra. Now I'm back in Saxon Algebra 1 this year and it is tough but I don't dread sitting down to do Algebra anymore. I don't know if this relates at all to your daughter's situation but I hope this helps a bit!! :)
Thank you, Sarah Kate. I am still considering TT7 for next year. My DD is not extremely mathy, but I would still like her to get on track to do Saxon Algebra 1 and 2 and Advanced Math by the end of 12th. I am just trying to figure out the best way to get her there.
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I'm not sure what to offer other than a :grouphug:. My dd is struggling too. We're using MM and it's challenging for her. I am slowing her down some and consistently working on math facts and checking every single problem for errors. Her mistakes are careless. I also work with her pretty closely so I can say "remember how we solve this step in the problem?" And help her through it. I don't know if a switch in programs is right for your dd or not but I'm sure you will get some good advice.
FWIW, MM6 is basically prealgebra. You can find lots of posts by Jackie (Coraleno) about that. So if you do go with MM you can rest assured she'd get prealgebra topics by the end of 6.
BUT, it's quite a different approach to MUS. I'd be concerned with switching her to a whole new method this late in the game. Do you think she'd be able to do the mental math style?
I don't know if she could do the mental math style. She definitely doesn't like the round-about-way that Mr. Demme teaches. She just wants to be taught how to do something and then go and do it. I have purchased Dana Mosely's DVDs for elementary subjects and she does prefer to watch him. The only problem is that not all of the lessons will correlate.
She is having a tough time realizing that now that she is in 6th Grade, she will be doing more work than all of her brothers. They are finished and off playing, and she is still plugging away for another hour or two. I have told her that she will have even more work in 7th. I was looking at some of the Saxon samples, and she could do the 6/5 work now, but I am not sure that MUS is going to prepare her to do 7/6 next fall. It seems that 7/6 jumps up in difficulty.
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I am not sure what to do. My DD11 is struggling with MUS Zeta. It is not so much the decimals(we are on Lesson 12 of 30), but she doesn't seem to remember how to do any of the fraction work from Epsilon that is in the review work.
I have to be honest here, I am not sure if it is that she can't do the work or that she is being difficult, as we seem to be at 'that' age, and attitude has become a factor.
I think that she is a auditory learner, but I have never found a test that would help me discover exactly how she learns. She is bright and doesn't have any LDs that I know of.
I was really wanting her to go on to Saxon 7/6 next year for 7th grade, but now I am doubting whether or not she can handle it. Do I need to go to something like Teaching Textbooks? Should I switch now, or plug on through the year? Or, do I switch to Saxon 5/4 or Math Mammoth 5 right now, and try to have 5 and 6 completed by the end of 7th Grade. Will that put her behind? Could she go into a Pre-Algebra in 8th Grade after Saxon 6/5 or MM6? I wasn't planning on doing Pre-Algebra before 8th.
Thank you for letting me think out loud. I am not strong in math, and I get a little apprehensive when I think about the high school years.
I need to learn how to teach writing...
in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges
Posted
Yes, at least a half a dozen times. They do resound with me, and I agree with them in theory. I just feel like I need more hand-holding. We are doing WWE. My DD11 has completed the Remedia Beginning Outlining book and is working on the Remedia Outlining book. I want her to start outlining some history as soon as she has completed the book. I guess I still compare my DC to what PS is doing and I feel like they are way behind.