TheAutumnOak
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Posts posted by TheAutumnOak
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I'm not bashing Shurley--it works, but my question is based on need. My girls need something a little more intense with grammar as they get bored with Shurley, and I'd prefer doing a text that combines the diagramming (which they've already been doing--diagramming is not new to them) with the grammar as I have to prep all of the diagramming. They both know all parts of speech and can diagram all parts of speech. Would R&S be the choice?
Any ideas?
Rod and Staff would work for you, but I would keep the levels separate...The 6th grade is a jump up, so I would put them in two different levels, the 4th and the 6th...
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Yes I have been looking for something like this for a long time! Wish MP had it for more than just K and 1st. Thanks for the info. So Animals, Animals and A Child's Book of Poems is the poetry part? I guess I thought Animals, Animals was the science part. My next question is I have a dd3, dd4, and ds 6, I was only wanting to buy one guide, would you think the 1st grade one would work for them?
Yes, one guide would definitely work...That is what we are doing...In your shoes, I would start with the K enrichment guide so you don't miss any of the art and just move forward...Even my seventh grader is with us for the art and music parts...The K enrichment guide would be plenty for your 6 year old...
I would not try and do more than one enrichment guide in a year...
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We are using this...MMASC is right about the poetry coming from two books only...I bought them on Amazon...You may be able to find some at your library, but I am buying what I need as I go along...Print the book list and use it to check what your library would have...The art cards they sell is what is used and I love them...The science is one book too, and the guide contains much more than I thought it did...
Even if you don't use every book or do all of the science, etc. the guide is worth it to me for the books you do use and for the art and music background info...It is like a good literature guide that spans a few subjects...
I think those enrichment guides are amomg MP's best products...I think they are a little known gem...
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After re-reading your original post, I would recommend you start with the K and 2nd grade packages for your younger two...Since your middle son is not a lover of language arts and is still working on parts of speech, the 2nd grade package with the 3rd grade math would be a better fit...Prima Latina covers parts of speech where Latina Christiana assumes you know it already...The second grade literature is challenging enough for third grader...My current 3rd grader is doing that now after starting with the 3rd grade package...I felt it would be best to back up a bit...He will do the 3rd grade package for his 4th grade year in the fall, and he will be better prepared for it...
With your oldest, I am not sure...If you decide to start with the 5th, just start with Fable Stage writing and either Latina 1 or First Form Latin...I would start with Latina...
I am not good at keeping track, but I would plan at least a four hour day plus lunch to get everything done with everyone...I have to work with all three of them at some level each day...My oldest can do a lot more on his own, but we have more to discuss...I plan for a 5 hour day so I spend about 1.5hrs with each of them teaching a math lesson or working on something...Someone will get an extra half hour a day it seems, so I expect a 5 hour work day for me...They do what they can independently while I am working with someone else...
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The sketchbook is just a book with space to draw and write...It is not a blank top, more like a big box on a page to contain the sketch...Thank you for the input. By the way, what does the sketchbook like? Is it literally blank on the top half with ruled lines below it? I am trying to figure out if I need the MP branded one? I am looked on the MP web site for the $12 PDF enrichment guide? It looks like that is only the lesson plan, and does not include the actual activities? Do you know if that is correct? I am leaning toward buying only parts of MP, but I am not sure which ones.
The Enrichment Guide is the lesson plans for the read alouds...I love the enrichment guide!...I have the first grade one and it has a lot of valuable information about the books, authors, the art study cards, different aspects of history and science...It is much more than I expected it to be and I am glad I got it...Honestly, the art study cards and the enrichment guides are two of my favorite things MP makes...
As far as being dry and boring, it is hard to answer that question...Everyone has a different idea of what work should be like...It is not boring to us, but I don't really think any school work would really be fun...I would always rather do something else no matter how the material is presented and I am sure my boys would too...Learning is enjoyable, but getting an education is tough work...It is fine for what it is I guess...I think it is engaing as long as you are there to guide and help, as is anything I would think...
As far as writing goes, I do find there is a lot of it once you get to the third grade level...We do some things orally to alleviate some of the writing...I have them write when it makes sense to, and we discuss what we can too...K-2nd is a bit different than the other grades...K-2nd is easier to get done..The third grade package is tough and is a jump from 2nd, but you can modify it to fit your needs, eliminate some things, or slow it down...I do feel it is harder to jump in and start the third grade package with a third grader if you are not use to MP...They are actually planning to offer an alternative 3rd grade package at a slower pace because they know it is too much for many people...
Overall, we like it...All three of my boys want to continue with it in the fall...I am always the one on the fence about it because I like the idea of making my own plans, but my boys would rather do MP :-)...If I ever do piece my stuff together, I would be using everything I could from MP anyway...Their books are eay to use, lightweight, and are easy to store...Not exactly academic reasons, but still a few pros in my book!
Hope this helps...
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Thanks Pam :-)
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What is CtGE and LLATL?...I have been on the forum for a few years now and still have no idea what half the abbreviations mean :-)
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My husband is not really involved in our homeschooling other than working to support us...I talk to him about what I want to do, but he has no clue what I am really talking about more than half of the time...He will also help someone with math if they really don't get it since he is good in math, or step in to discipline someone if he witnesses or hears of them giving me a hard time...
It is pretty much what Ellie said except he might complain if the house is a complete mess ;)...He is much neater than I am and would make a much better house keeper...But he says he would not be a good teacher :p
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If you don't intend to have your child write anything, then maybe you can use the the teacher's manual...I wouldn't buy just the student book...
I use the DVDs and prefer them, but it could be done...
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I had Maypo oatmeal...
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The most unusual things I can think of that I keep in my car is a bag with two blankets and a tote with paper cups, napkins, plates, and cutlery in case we need to eat something outdoors...I will sometime buy a big smoothie or lemonade and divide it up with the cups I have in the tote...Or use the plates for sandwiches or pizza...The tote really comes in handy ;)
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I like this idea, Hunter...I have also been thinking about seasonal goals and plans...I am working on plans to start next week, but am not done yet so don't have much to post :001_smile: ...I have plans to simplify our home and eating habits, finish a book I just started and part 2 of the book, plant some herbs to use during the summer fresh and dry and use during the winter...Those are goals for myself...For the boys, my oldest will continue to work on math, my youngest will continue to work on phonics, and my middle son will work on reading as well...
That is as far as I have gotten...I have been giving a lot of thought to switching to planning for the season (every three months) instead of an entire year at a time...
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Yes...I read it all the way through at least once...I have re-read parts of it many times...I own the 1st and 3rd editions...I read the 3rd edition all the way through and parts of the 1st edition...I read it a few years ago, right before I joined the forums...
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So is he EO? Or something else? I've often wondered and would love to know!!
Yes, Andrew Kern is an Orthodox Christian...This I know...
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Lord have mercy!...Praying for you now...
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Lord have mercy...Praying for you...
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My favorite is Rod and Staff--traditional, visuals instead of manipulatives, sneakily awesome in its scope. :-)
This...We went from MM to Rod & Staff when my middle son was in 1st grade and I like it better...That son is going to 4th in September and we are still using it...My other two are using it as well...
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I have nothing to add...I just wish I was at the convention with you :tongue_smilie:
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Hi LeahMarie...
Welcome to the boards!
I read your post and feel like I understand what you are saying and what you are wanting, please let me know if I am wrong...What I hear you saying is that you never really intended to homeschool but decided to do it because it is what is best for your son...Your son is a really smart boy who is not giving you a problem about doing his work, you just are having a hard time being disciplined enough to make the work happen as consistently as you think it should...You know that his working a couple days a week or less may be okay now because he is still young, but you worry what will happen in the future if this pattern continues...You don't feel like you are good at homeschooling and want something that is planned for you where all you have to do is implement it, thus building in some sort of accountability that is lacking when you make up your own plans using various sources?
Like I said, I may be wrong, but this is what I am hearing so this is what my response will address...
First of all, kuddos to you!...You are doing what you feel is best for your son over what you would have wanted to do, and that is always difficult, but it is a sign of good parenting...Lots of people do what is best for them, not what is best for their children...Second, more kuddos are in order because you are recognizing this potential problem early in the game...It took me YEARS to see how my lack of discipline was affecting my oldest son's education...He is a smart boy who would be farther ahead if I had been more consistent with him, if I was able to "get my act together" while he was still very young...We are doing the best we can now and are moving forward, but I do feel regret over things we did not do in the past that I know I am responsible for...All of the :grouphug: (hugs) in the world won't change that fact...
I can also relate to what you said about not being a homeschooling mom...People homeschool for different reasons and end up here for different reasons...Some knew before they even had children that they would homeschool one day...They read about it, made plans, and started with enthusiasm when their first born was old enough to do anything...Some discovered homeschooling after they already had children...They, like the former, read and made plans and started with enthusiasm...The above mentioned examples are what many people think about when they think of a homeschooling mom, or someone who is "cut out" for this sort of thing...But there are others who homeschool - those who never intended to be doing this, the "accidental homeschoolers" who ended up doing this because a school situation did not work out for their children due to unsafe neighborhoods, school not providing a good or even decent education, bullying issues, children not be challenged enough in that environment, children not doing well or being sick often, developmental issues, and many other reasons...If you fall into one of those categories, then you may not feel like your idea of a "homeschooling mom"...I can understand that, but you can still be successful at it...There are people in all of those situations above and many situations I did not name who have done this successfully...You just have to figure out what works for YOU and your kids, and be disciplined enough to do it...I think a lack of discipline is at the root of many homeschooling attempts that turn out to be unsuccessful...To be successful in my mind means you accomplish what you set out to do...That your goals were realistic and you were able to do it...Since we all want different things, success looks different to all of us...But we all know when we didn't do what we set out to do, and that is what makes us feel like failures...
My advice to you (finally you must be thinking :laugh: ) is to think about what you want to accomplish and work on that...Since your son is young, you can set small goals and work your way up to being as disciplined as you will need to be in the future...For pre-K, you can make a goal of twice a week of school work, on the same two days if possible, and do everything to make it happen...Next year for K, make a goal of three days and do the same thing...Ay first grade you will be up to four days, which is good...You can stay at four days as long as you are able to get the work you set out to do done...Many people only school four days a week even with older kids...The kids may have work to do on the 5th day but you don't...
As far as curriculum goes, if you want an all in one I suggest Memoria Press...They start at pre-K and it is a challenging classical program that includes everything you would need and a schedule...It is christian but can be used secularly if that is what you need...I love making lesson plans, I just don't love making them happen, so this is what we are doing now...It may be difficult at first to follow a schedule, but it could make all the difference for someone who struggles with being disciplined...Making my own plans using various sources is my preferred method of teaching, but I always seem to compromise on my plans during the year...Having what needs to be accomplished etched out for me is really helpful...If Memoria Press is not for you, I still suggest that you find something that lines up with your philosophy in as few curricula books as possible and just do it!...
You are ahead of the game by thinking about this now :hurray: ...Good luck to you and your son and I hope some of this was helpful...
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This thread is from 4 years ago...
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I'm trying to do a Shakespeare summer with DD and bought How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare. I like the author's method and teaches me to how to teach. I will be choosing some of my own passages as DD is 8. Interestingly after I googled the book for reviews, the first one to pop up is our very own SWB, http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323623304579059253562750162. I don't read her blog, so didn't realize she had done a review of the book, and probably many of you already read the article.
The link didn't work for me...It sent me to a page without the info on it...
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Here is the link for the MP Poetry I referenced above...Finally on a real computer :)
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I need a little help figuring out how I feel about lit guides...I listened to SWB's talk about literature and how a guide isn't needed until about high school really, and I have read MP's thoughts about lit guides and even talked with Martin Cothran in person about the whole thing...Trouble is, I am still on the fence about them...Part of me likes the way the lit guides help students understand things and aspects of the story they would have otherwise missed...You cover fewer books, but can glean more info from them...The other part of me just want the boys to read the book like SWB suggests, and discuss the things I feel need to be discussed without having to spend so much time on the same book...I don't really like the "read this then answer questions to make sure you understood what happened" format of lit guides, but then I want to make sure they understood what happened :confused1:
What do you think?...Do you do lit guides?
middle ages literature suggestions
in K-8 Curriculum Board
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I would get the SOTW2 Activity guide...Not only does it have lots of book suggestions, the suggestions are about each topic and are on grade level...No list anyone can give you here will top it...