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jer2911mom

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Everything posted by jer2911mom

  1. Another option you could consider is CLE, which includes diagramming and can be done independently if needed. I go over the instruction with my dd, but it literally takes just a minute or two. It's very quick.
  2. Thank you! That's helpful to know the test answers are in the TE! I do like having the full solutions in BJU, though. We have been doing the extended track in BJU, but you are right, I probably need to cut back on that. It requires all of the C problems, but odds or even on the others. There is also a cumulative review each day that I forgot to mention. They have them do odds or evens on that, too. I'll try cutting back to odds or evens on the C problems. There are also Dominion in Math problems that are mostly engineering applications so far, which I like, but since they are challenging and time-consuming, we have had to start working just one of those together. BJU has told me the same thing, that the tests are meant to be edited by the teacher. I found out their distance learning tests are different than their non-DL paper tests, because the DL teachers make their own tests. From what I gather from the FB group, those seem to be more reasonable. I think I will have to start editing our non-DL ones, which makes it less open and go for me, unfortunately, but I need to do what's best. Some people use the chapter reviews as tests, but I feel like it's good for her to have the review before the test since it's a mastery-based program. Another option would be to purchase DL and go that route, but I like teaching my dd so we can move on through things that she understands well and slow down where she needs more explanation. I'll probably start making some of the test problems extra credit. My dd has still managed to make in the 90s on them for the most part, so she's hanging in there on those; it's just that they frustrate her so because she is a diligent student and when there is something she hasn't seen before at all, it really throws her off and hurts her math confidence. Sometimes she can still figure it out, but even doing the C problems and some of the Dominion through Math problems doesn't prepare her adequately for these tests. I can't imagine what it's like for a child not even trying to do that track. The test is the same no matter what level you are doing. I do like that overall the program requires a lot of critical thinking, and puzzling through hard problems. I think that has been good for her. It's more that we just need to keep it manageable time-wise. Thank you for the suggestion to scale back. I think that is the confirmation I needed that we need to do that!
  3. Hi, We are using BJU Pre-Algebra (current edition) this year, and while the conceptual teaching is very good and the word problems are very challenging, it is taking a long time to complete the lessons, and we are burning out. We are spending 2-3 hours on math each day by the time we teach the lesson (typically very long, covering too many concepts in one lesson), do the work, and correct the lesson. Sometimes there is a quiz, too. We started out not doing those, but felt the need to add them in because the tests often cover problem types not seen in any of the daily work, and sometimes those problem types are covered on the quiz. We are finding the tests unnecessarily complex and sometimes tricky, requiring too many new concepts to be assimilated into solving one problem. My dd will do fine on the chapter review but get frustrated with the tests because she is encountering problem types that she has never seen or worked before. I understand using slightly different problems on tests, but some of these are nothing like what she's done in her daily work, and I feel like no amount of studying would have prepared her for these. Can anyone compare BJU Pre-Algebra to Dolciani? They seem similar in that BJU has A, B, and C problems, with the C problems being the most challenging. BJU also offers minimum, standard, and extended problem sets for the daily work. Is Dolciani any shorter to complete? Does it have tests in the student book? Are there answers in the back for the tests? I don't see a solutions manual available anywhere right now. I don't want to swap out longer BJU lessons for longer checking time due to lack of solutions and answers. Thanks, Kathy
  4. I think CLE tends to introduce things earlier than a lot of homeschool programs, but doesn't go to the same depth of conceptual teaching, especially after the second grade level, and doesn't offer a lot of word problems/critical thinking. We paired it with the Process Skills in Problem Solving books when we used it. It also seems to cover more geometry earlier.
  5. I vote for Megawords as well. I am working through it with my 7th grader, and I feel it is helping her the most out of all that we have tried.
  6. The Homeschool Buyers Co-op had it on sale this month. Not sure if the sale is still going on, but you might check.
  7. We bought a game called Fitivities at convention last year that my kids love. It's easy to use and gets them doing a lot of different activities.
  8. I feel like BJU does this well in the elementary years.
  9. So does Biblioplan have discussion questions?
  10. I've used both, and I prefer BJU for elementary. To me, BJU is more straightforward than MM, and more conceptual than CLE. It's kind of the best of both worlds. BJU also offers daily review, chapter reviews, and cumulative reviews, and if you print the facts sheets from the CD, you can have daily facts practice as well. BJU was also better than MM visually for us. My older dd came back to CLE for 6th grade this year, and we added the FAN Math Process Skills in Problem Solving and Math Express books (which we also add to BJU for my younger dd). Hope this helps, Kathy
  11. We tried just about every math program early on, including Singapore and CLE, and I ultimately decided I like BJU best for conceptual teaching in elementary, but we moved back to CLE for 6th. It has done a nice job of shoring up all of the elementary concepts, in addition to teaching the new 6th grade ones. We also add the FAN math Process Skills in Problem Solving and Math Express books for more challenge in that area. I'm trying to decide if we will continue with CLE going forward, but overall the setup works for us. I do feel sometimes it lacks in conceptual teaching, and if you are willing to find additional instruction (we usually find a Khan Academy or YouTube video), you can make it work. My concern is whether or not I'll always know what is lacking/missing going forward, hence the struggle to determine if we'll stay with it or not. Hope this helps, Kathy
  12. Thanks for the info.! We used parts of Memoria Press for K and 1st and enjoyed it! I really like their recitation and their art cards.
  13. I haven't used any of the levels yet, but it seems like you would be able to skip around and just use the parts you need fairly easy. Since it's free, you're not wasting money to do that. There is a placement test based on how well they read. Have you tried that?
  14. Thanks! I feel like we don't have the time to do Spalding, PR, or SWR. Those three programs all seem overwhelming to figure out. My dd will be in 7th next year and math and science will be ramping up, along with LA. Someone needs to develop a very straight forward OG program that is not cumbersome to use. I hope Megawords will help us.
  15. I don't have an answer as far as the unit progression goes, and I'm curious about that answer, too, but as of right now, only year 1 is written, so you'd have to wait for the other years to come out to be able to do this. Year 2 is due out mid-June. You'd also have to consider if the units you want to do can fit within a year's time frame, too, if that's important to you.
  16. I hope it works out for you! I really like the looks of the LA, too. It seems to pull together all the things I've tried to do eclectically for years now. I'm really hoping it will streamline our day.
  17. Thanks for all the details, Mona! I really appreciate your looking in your books to answer my questions! It's so helpful to know about there not being tests (my dd will love that and hopefully it will help bring some of the joy back), and it's also great to hear that there are comprehension questions every day. The writing sounds just right. Did you ever try Megawords? We are going to give that a go. That's good to know about the time not being as long as she says. I'm hearing that on the FB group, too. So you haven't really seen literary terms/devices covered so far? I'll probably keep up with Fig. Speaking then if it will be that long into the year before we cover that kind of stuff. We may be able to finish it by then anyway. Thanks again for your help!
  18. We just moved from DanceMat to Typing Club and my dds like it. Kathy
  19. Have you considered BJU? It teaches conceptually and really holds your hand. :)
  20. I agree with this. BJU is really good for teaching concepts in elementary math!!
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