Roxy Roller
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Posts posted by Roxy Roller
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I.give.up. My kids are 5 and 7 yo and I've been giving myself a hard time for rarely making time for history and science.
I know this is heresy to some, but I've decided to let myself of the hook and officially toss formal study of those subjects until they're older.
We'll continue reading library books about a wide variety of people and places. We'll have fun with science and let them follow their interests. But, a curriculum? A schedule? A box to check ... or feel guilty about not checking? :tongue_smilie: No way.
I feel much better now. Thanks for listening. :)
Yah! I have offically decided to say that I unschool science. We have hundreds, if not more, grammar-aged science books on our shelves from library sales that my kids read/look through regularly, and I have decided that until (gasp) sixth grade, that is enough.
I also do not do history until third grade and grammar until the fourth grade.
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Thank you for your help, Leanna!:)
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I think working on paragraphs is an excellent way to advance her writing. After using "The Lost Tools of Writing" I learned to teach 3 different "canons" of writing: Invention (thinking), Arrangement (structure), and Elocution (style, words, expression). "Writer's Guide to Powerful Paragraphs" focuses on structure.
I still think this book can be effective, and you've inspired me to pull mine out again. The short and simple structure of the paragraph will allow you to spend time on the thinking process prior to writing and on the elocution as she revises her paragraphs.
Here's what I would do:
1) Explain the exercise. Read the examples.
2) Decide WHAT she will write about. Sometimes you will make this decision for her, sometimes you can let her decide.
3) Teach her how to plan her writing by either brainstorming, outlining, using graphic organizers or combining all three. This step may require discussion. Many kids just don't know what they want to write. Ask her questions. Help her think through the subject. Model the process for her by writing your own paragraph.
4)Let her write her first draft. Again, she may need some hand-holding at first.
5) In her revision you can address elocution. Help her fine tune her word choices, develop academic language, tone, sentence structure, etc. At first it may be obvious what she needs, but if you need help with elocution, you may want another resource. IEW addresses this with its "dress-ups" and "sentence openers", LTOW discusses "verb errors", "strong subjects", "nominalizations", and "schemes and tropes".
Addressing all of these concepts while concentrating on the paragraph can keep her from becoming overwhelmed. It is much more beneficial to write something well than to write something long. If she's comfortable with the paragraph she will be well prepared for the upper grades.
I am glad that I am on the right track. We did try IEW, last year, but my DD11 said that she didn't like it, and I decided that instead of making her continue, and start to hate writing, we would stop. I may pull IEW out to let her use the 'dress-ups', lists of adverbs and 'sentence openers'. I want to really drill structure this year, so that in the years to come she can think more about style and content when moving to essays.
Would you recommend Lost Tools of Writing as well?
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This book has many exercises which teach the writer how to manipulate the paragraph and write effectively about many different subjects. It is written to a mature student, but I have effectively used this with my 6th and 7th graders.
I usually use these exercises to solidify the paragraph and get the mental muscles ready for the essay. Later, I may use a few of the more difficult exercises even after my students are writing essays. The examples are written at a high school or college level, so it's easy to use with older students, but I find it difficult to use with students younger than 6th grade.
I really like focusing on the paragraph. It makes it easier to hone in on the nuances of writing and address larger problems such as structure while not requiring hours of work. When the student conquers the paragraph, essays are much easier.
Thank you for your response, Leanna. I want to use this book with my DD11, who is in sixth grade. I really want to concentrate on getting her to write amazing paragraphs this year. Will we be able to handle this book if we have not done much for writing in our homeschool? Do you have any tips for using it with an 11YO beginner? We have done copywork and narration, and my daughter will write stories, but I feel like we need to concentrate on structure. I am currently doing Writing Strands 3 with her, because that is where I was told an older beginner should be, but it is not really what I was looking for.
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Has anyone used this? If so, how? :bigear:
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Thank you for all of your help, and for taking the time to reply to my questions, Aime!
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Thank you all for your input. I really like the puzzles that are in MEP, and I have printed out the first six weeks. In reality though, my days are very full with 5 kids in K to 6th Grade, and I am probably kidding myself if I think I am going to use MEP with the TM. I should probably get out my MM (I have the Light Blue Series 1-3) and start on it, maybe adding in the puzzles that would be appropriate. I think my DS5 would rather work independently than wait for me.
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My DS5 is totally bored with MUS Primer and does an entire lesson in a day. I have told him to take a break until I figure out what I want to do with him. I love MUS, but I am wondering if I should start him on MEP1 and move through slowly, or maybe Math Mammoth Level 1. I own the light blue levels 1-3, which I have never used. I could always use MUS through the years if he needs some help, since I have Primer-Zeta.
Thank you
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Because they both follow such a different scope and sequence they are not going to line up perfectly. You have to decide if you want MUS to be the first to introduce a concept or MEP. I you want MUS to be your main program and MEP to be review\reinforcement you could use this sequence: Alpha alone then Beta with MEP1, Gamma with MEP2a, Delta with MEP2b, Epsilon with MEP3 and then Zeta with MEP4 (fractions and decimals are introduced half way through the year).
I will be using this sequence which introduces (more or less) concepts at about the same time. Alpha with MEP1, Beta with MEP 2a, Gamma with MEP2b (even though she will be introduced to division before she gets to Delta), Delta with MEP3 (a full year of MEP since she was introduced to division the previous year; MUS should be partly review this year), Epsilon with MEP4a and Zeta with MEP4b.
So, that's my .02. There may be some here that have it figured out differently but these two schedules seem to make the most sense to me for use with MUS. To save yourself some time though you might want to think about putting your Gamma and Delta dss in MEP2 at the same level. It would save you time and your Delta would still get a lot out of it since it teaches totally different concepts than MUS does. You can always eliminate the lessons on measurement in order to move through the lessons more quickly. Just a thought. Hope that helps.
I was thinking more in full years of MEP, but the way that you have laid this out, Aime, makes so much more sense. Most of all, it feels doable. What are you planning on doing after Zeta/MEP4, Aime? I am unsure as to whether to stick with MUS or move on to TT or Saxon, or onto something else. My DD11 is not that mathematically inclined, but I want to make sure she has what she needs to go to college or university if she chooses.
I don't think that I will eliminate the measurement lessons, because I am in Canada and we follow the metric system.
I may post this question on a new thread. My DS5 is totally bored with MUS Primer and does an entire lesson in a day. I have told him to take a break until I figure out what I want to do with him. I love MUS, but I am wondering if I should start him on MEP1 and move through slowly, or maybe Math Mammoth Level 1. I own the light blue levels 1-3, which I have never used. I could always use MUS through the years if he needs some help, since I have Primer-Zeta.
Thanks for your input!
I would also appreciate any other thoughts...
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Thank you, Aime. Will you tell me which MEP levels you use with the different MUS levels? Is it right to do Gamma with MEP Level 2? I also have a boy in Delta, and I am wondering if he would do alright in MEP Level 3.
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One of my 8YO DSs, is extremely bright. He is very math/science inclined and he gets his schoolwork finished quickly. I am feeling that he needs to be more challenged. He is reading at a late 2nd grade level, and I am fine with that, it is coming along. We are doing MUS Gamma, which I am also happy with, but it is quite easy for him, and of course I am demanding mastery of his times tables as we go. I am wondering if I could add MEP 2. How teacher intensive is it? It is hard to tell from looking at the lesson plans. If you use it, how long do you actually teach? I have 4 other children in the lower grades, so my teaching time is already loaded.
The other thing I have to be sensitive about, is his twin. He is not quite as far along as Jacob, and he has other strengths - he is not a math/science guy. I want to keep them at the same level in MUS, but supplement Jacob.
I know that at some point Jake will pull away from Josh, but I am not sure it needs to be that obvious in 3rd Grade.
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Well we use Classical Writing. I can't tell you how much of a difference it has made over the years developing my oldest into not just an excellent writer, but and excellent thinker. IMHO too may writing programs spend an excess of time on the structure of writing and give very little attention to the content of the writing. And by content I really don't mean can they write a pretty sentence (although that is part of it early on). But when they get to jr and sr high (as well as college) they need to write effective, well-composed arguments. They need to know how to present a well-supported position. CW focuses on teaching them what makes up an effective argument and what kind of information makes the essay work. Structure is easy. The hard part is content. It incorporates logic and rhetoric studies to aid in this process.
Heather
Heather...I have looked at Classical Writing, but I have to admit it intimidates me. I received a mediocre PS education and I am learning alongside my children. Could my DD11 do the Aesop's and Homer for the Older Beginner or would it be too much? She is probably reading at a 5th grade level. I need to teach the structure, but I agree that the structure is meaningless if the content is abysmal.
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I guess I lost my mojo somewhere.
I can relate! I think I hit burnout with all of the assignments I was doing. I occasionally lurk on The Pub, but I haven't posted in over a year or so.
I haven't let my DD take the breaks that are suggested in WS3. Maybe for right now, we will breeze through it and move on to 4.
I have been perusing my Rainbow Resources catalog as well, and nothing is really jumping out at me.
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After processing the ideas and words in WTM and the lectures (an inspirational gift for the cost), my takeaway is a set of writing/study skills that dd needs before high school - the ability to write beautiful sentences, the ability to write a coherent paragraph with clear topic and support, the ability to outline a variety of texts and write from that outline, the ability to take notes from a text (my own requirement not from SWB). I also think it's reasonable to expect simple essays, persuasive and literary, with the expectation that dd will be refining and expanding the essay form throughout high school.
I love the way you have broken this down. Now, if I could just find a writing program that would hold my hand through all of the steps you just outlined.:tongue_smilie:
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In her explanation of outlining in WTM, she uses an excerpt from The Story of Canada, so I am assuming that she expects the student to do more than outline the spine.
Just to clarify, The Story of Canada is a text-type book along the lines of SOTW. A conversational-style text for Canadian history. It would probably be considered a spine by some.
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ETA: i see from your siggie that you already use WWE--do you not like it?
I really like WWE, we are currently using Levels 1, 2 and 3. I love the copywork, narration and dictation all laid out for me. I feel that my 6th grader needs more. I am using WS3, with her this year, because that is where I was told an older student needs to start. It is moving slowly. Maybe I need to just stick it out.
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Thank you for all of the insight!
I am using R&S English a year behind, for the grammar instruction. I feel that the writing is too spread out. Maybe I need to look at it again.
I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks that finding a writing program that fits your homeschool (you, as well as, your kids) is hard. I know there are good ones out there, or parts of ones that are good. I just wish I didn't have to go searching and spending so much money to try to find the elusive one that fits us.
I have looked at MCT and Bravewriter, but I have to be honest, I was a little confused by both. My kids and I really like R&S for grammar, so I will not be looking for grammar instruction, just writing. I will look at them again.
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Wow, Hillary...great to 'see' you! You have moved to Florida? What a change from NYC! Is your husband able to work from there? I thought his job was pretty specialized. Are you still scrapping? I haven't touched a thing since last spring, I stepped down from my design teams, we moved and all of my things are still packed. I will go back to it someday, but right now I am pretty consumed with homeschooling.
I am using WWE. I guess I am looking for something that is probably non-existent.
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I am frustrated. I have tried many programs, but I can't seem to find one that fits me, as a teacher. I want to teach, not have my child watch a DVD(tried EIW). I want a program that teaches great sentences, as well as, paragraphs, moving into essays. We are doing WS3, but I feel it is moving too slowly - can I speed it up? Does it get better? I would really like to be able to use my history and lit to make up my own assignments, but with 5 kids in the grammar stage, I just don't have time. I have listened to SWB's lectures for grammar and logic and I love them, but feel that I need a little more hand-holding.
Is there a program out there for me? Anyone?
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Thank you, Starrbuck12!
Anyone else?
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I am doing some remedial spelling and reading with my DD11 this year and it is going well.
I have Megawords 1 and 2 with teachers manuals and I am thinking about using them next year(7th Grade), but I have a couple of questions.
1) I am a little confused about the S&S. I see the chart on the inside cover, but do I complete one book a year, or do you just keep going into the next book, when you are finished the one before. Megawords 5 & 6 only have 4 lists. Are they huge lists?
2) I like the mastery aspect of the program, but I am not sure how to implement it. I read in the teacher's manual that you could be on one list with accuracy in reading, another list in reading speed and still another in spelling accuracy. How does this work?
Thanks in advance,
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My bias is to learn to draw reasonably well before moving on to CAD.
:iagree:
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Has anyone used this? If so, did/do you like it?
old
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Just a note - I purchased the unabridged audiobook of 'Sign of the Beaver' from www.audible.com. My kids listen to the audiobooks as they 'read' sometimes. I find it really helps with their reading to have an occasional book read to them as they read along. Then I find they listen to them over and over after that.