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JRmommy

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    From Singapore Primary Mathematics 4B to Beast Academy (which level?)

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We've been doing Singapore Primary Mathematics (standard edition) for the last two years.  I purchased the Beast Academy 3A guide and practice book this year and my son loves it!  He wants to switch, and I've read of others switching to Beast Academy as a stand alone math curriculum.  Should we just keep plugging along to 3B, 3C, 3D, etc. or should we skip to level 4 or 5 after he finishes Singapore 4B?  I'm also open to doing both as we have Singapore 5A and 5B already.  I'd love to hear your experience.  Thanks!

    GO TIGERS!

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    98 with a BS in Civil Engineering, I transferred in, in the spring of 95

    Oh wow! I wish my memory was better. 😃 I'd try to think of some civil engineering students that were younger than me.

    • Like 1

    I'd love your input to combine Beast Academy and Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I know there are so many threads on these two, but I have a specific question.  My 9 year old is using Singapore 4A (Stds. edition).  He is advanced in math, and this is really too easy for him.  We are just using the HIG, TB, and WB.  I started him on Beast Academy 3A, and he loves it.  It definitely makes him think, but I'm thinking the next section on skip counting is going to be easy for him.  I've read all the threads that you should begin at 3A.  I'm considering using both.  I'd love to hear about others that have been in my predicament.  I'm thinking about adding the IP for Singapore and dropping the WB and continuing with Beast Academy 3A, 3B, etc.  I'd also like to hear about schedules using both.  If I were brave enough, I'd just drop Singapore and go with Beast Academy.  Any experiences with that scenario?  I'm especially hesitant because he would be starting with Beast Academy on the 3rd grade level, and Singapore 4A is definitely very easy for him.

     

    I would love your thoughts....

    Encouragement for a new quadriplegic teenager

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    :grouphug: :grouphug:

     

    You may want to check & see if there are any resources on the website for the Shepherd Center (or even contact them to see if they can offer any resources or ideas). They have a very good reputation & do good work.

     

     

    ETA: Under the "News" tab, they have links to publications, videos, & podcasts.

     

    He's at the Shepherd Center now, and they have been wonderful.  He is in a support group there.  His mom is also in one where they talk about the transition back home.  This is what he is most concerned about.  He would rather stay at The Shepherd Center where there are others like him instead of going back home.  

    Encouragement for a new quadriplegic teenager

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I haven't read it, but I have heard good things about a book called "Learning to Live with It" by Kevin Olson. He became a quadriplegic after a diving accident in his teens or maybe early 20s. His younger brother was in my class at school. It is written from a Christian perspective, if they are not Christian, I wouldn't recommend it.

     

    This book sounds great!  I just read the description on Amazon and there are some similarities between Kevin and this teenager (both played basketball).  They are a Christian family, so I will definitely purchase this for him.

    Encouragement for a new quadriplegic teenager

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    A family that we've been friends with for many years is dealing with a big crisis. Their teenage son was in a car accident and is now a quadriplegic. The family is hesitant to go through counseling even though I've mentioned it gracefully. I'd love any recommendations for books (for the son or the parents) to encourage them.

    What are some good CO-OP classes?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I just did a co-op class with Ellen McHenry's book The Elements.  She has others besides that one but I think most of them would be ideal for a co-op setting.  I just wish I'd had a longer time with my class since we there was quite a bit of material and came no where close to finishing it.  Many of the activities in The Elements were well suited to a small group.  

     

    I've taught a lot of co-op classes through the years (12 years homeschooling) and my favorite type of class to teach is STEM related or some type of engineering.  The co-op we are part of right now has primarily fun type classes but I feel the kids learn a lot from building things.  When at home I'm not as likely to do projects like that.  For a class I'm going to teach next session I am using projects I found online.  

    http://www.instructables.com/id/Project-Based-Engineering-for-Kids/

     

    I have an engineering degree so I tend to prefer to teach classes in the sciences.  Other moms feel more comfortable doing art or writing.  I have done both of those type of classes though.  It was fun to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. 

     

    What age range was the co-op class for The Elements?  How many times did your class meet?  I'm considering teaching this class for 4th through 7th graders for a co-op that meets 14 times for the year.  Most of the kids are 4th graders, and I want to make sure this will be a good fit.

     

    Thanks!

    Chemistry book for 4th grader

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Seconding. the Hunting the Elements video.

    We used Ellen McHenry's The Elements last year with a 7 yo. and a 9yo. Needed a bit of adapting, but has games and other fun stuff. My kids still know every word of the bonds song!

     

    Do you think The Elements would work for a co-op class of 9 year olds?  How much adapting would I have to do?  I appreciate any input.

    5th grade: too many parts?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    **Update: after this thread and making a schedule for the year that looked anything but peaceful, restful, or beautiful...I decided to rethink a few things. I am so very pleased with our new plan, and am feeling very peaceful about our approach. 

    Thank you to everyone who contributed and shared their thoughts and ideas! Honestly, I don't think it will take less time to accomplish, but it is much more focused, succinct, and definitely more "multum non multa" -- perhaps not completely, but it is a schedule I am comfortable with for now! :)

     

    New line up!

     

    Morning Basket/circle time: Scripture memory, poetry memorization, catechism, and Bible reading)

    Read aloud (Narnia and a few others - some tying into history),  

    Piano-30 minutes every day

    Math Mammoth 5B and Review topics (using review books and blue series)

    Grammar, writing, and vocabulary from Narnia

    Spelling Phonetic Zoo 

    Reading- 30 minutes a day -- list of a mix of historical fiction and good lit every day

    Reading and Reasoning 2x/week 10-15 minutes

    History- VPNTGR 30 minutes/day

    Science- Science in the Beginning outside class 1x/week 2hr

    Spanish- 30 minutes 3x/week

    Geography --Play 10 Days in Europe on Fridays

    Art- Mark Kistler 1x/week plus monthly class

     

    I'd love to hear what resources you are using for Narnia for grammar, writing, and vocabulary.  Also what are you using for Spanish?  I'm trying to find something for my 4th grader.  Thanks!

    Anyone have experience with The Elements by McHenry in a co-op setting?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I've taught it to 8-13-ish year olds, with the 8 being a bit advanced (for lack of a better word) and the 13 a bit behind (ditto).  I supplemented with a CD of songs about chemistry (most found on the internet), and with a significant number of hands-on activities.  We didn't use much in the way of consumable supplies - balloons, ingredients for cake-making, copies of assorted pages.

     

    I tried to do an activity for every lesson, which stretched the material for us, so that the kids could spend a bit more time on each concept as they were quite young.  I got many of the good activities on the internet; they generally used materials I had on hand (blocks, cardboard) or none at all (acting out shooting electrons to an atom to find the nucleus). 

     

    First grade would be too young for most kids to be able to get much out of it.  The material covers the first bit of a high school chem course - maybe the first chapter or two of a thick high school text; it's best used as an intro to the topic for younger kids.  

     

    I'm the original poster and I'm planning to teach it in a co-op to 9-13 year olds this year.  Do you remember the websites you used to find activities?  Do you happen to have any written plans that you are willing to share?  Also, how many weeks did you teach the class?  Thank you so much!

    • Like 1

    Anyone have experience with The Elements by McHenry in a co-op setting?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thanks for your response! How many classes did it take? Did you just use The Elements alone or did you add to it? I'd love any helpful advice and tips that you have to offer. Thanks so much! I'm considering teaching it to a group of 9-13 year olds.

     

    I taught it to 10-13 year olds. It was really fun! At the same time, my kids were studying chemistry at home using Mr. Q, but the rest of the group wasn't. It was still really fun!

     

    Becky

    Anyone have experience with The Elements by McHenry in a co-op setting?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thanks for your response! How many classes did it take? Did you just use The Elements alone or did you add to it? I'd love any helpful advice and tips that you have to offer. Thanks so much! I'm considering teaching it to a group of 9-13 year olds.

     

    I taught it to 10-13 year olds. It was really fun! At the same time, my kids were studying chemistry at home using Mr. Q, but the rest of the group wasn't. It was still really fun!

     

    Becky

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