sandra in va
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Posts posted by sandra in va
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Kim,
PAL is pretty new, so I'm not that familiar with it. I think SL sounds like what you are looking for...you could start with that and try PAL if it doesn't meet your needs. I also take grammar/writing light in 1st and 2nd grades.
Sorry I couldn't be more help.
:)
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This is how we're combining....
my 8th grader will do SL core 100 independently, then sit in on the core D+E RA's. My 6th and 4th (as much as she can) will do D+E together. My 2nd grader will not get much out of that core, so I am going to do a run through of the states will her and the 4th grader using Cantering the Country - very low key and fun. All of them will memorize states, capitals, and presidents. Not really combined in one program - but doing the same time period and memory work. We'll see how it goes!
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Great! So glad to be of help. Sounds like a good year!! :)
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SWI A is very open and go. It comes with a schedule for 15 weeks or so of lesson plans... which you can easily stretch to a whole year. I don't think you will need both All Things F/F and SWI A. Either would be good.
I'm not sure which one I would recommend. We've always used SWI A b/c it is so easy (Andrew teaching, Jill's great lesson plans), but I'm changing things up this time around and trying All tHings with my 4th grader next year. It looks like a lot of fun and easy to implement. I guess it depends on whether you want to do the teaching or just let Andrew do it!
TWSS explains the whole program and shows you how to teach it, but it is not necessary for teaching if you are getting SWI A or All Things F/F. However, I would definitely recommend you get it and watch it at some point if you plan on using IEW for a while.
Hope this helps!
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Two things we're doing...
Online classes for the older kids. For my 2nd-8th graders, returning to SL from a year of TOG.
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Sandra,
Oh my goodnes...I just typed out a long post and clicked something and it is gone.
Thank you for your post!
Okay...this is what the plan "might" be, if you all would see what you think.
For my younger ones, 5 and 7, I was going to do the Sonlight LA (or IEW's PAL Writing), although we already own and are doing ETC and sonlight would schedule that along w/ the reading of readers, which is what I need...THE SCHEDULE!! Then mainly just use the Core Guide for doing some read a loud and Bible stuff....
For my older two do the Core for History/Geography and Bible. I do not think we could do the LA for that core as we don't ever do formal grammar or anything so I don't think they would be able to do the LA. Maybe Grammar Ace? My son is writing phobic, he does NOT like to so he needs some help. My daughter, 3rd grade, writes a lot more as she writes letters to grandma etc... So..not sure what to do for LA for them. I would also like to use the Core Readers. Would that work if I don't use the LA Guide?
Thanks again for helping me work through this!!
Kim (homeschooling mom of 7)
I agree with LisaTheresa - sounds like a good plan! Just be aware that the questions for the readers in the early grades comes in a separate schedule from the LA. I made the mistake the first year and just got the LA. They separate the readers so that you can pick the right level for your child. (in the older cores, 3 and up, the reader questions are included in the main IG)
For your olders, have you considered IEW? I know you have some of the younger kids' materials, but their older theme-based writing courses are really good, easy to implement and perfect for writing-hesitant kids b/c it gives them the source material from which to base their writing. If you are doing core 3 (D) US history - then the US hist. theme-based vol. 1 would go very well. Or you could pick something their "All Things Fun and Fascinating" and do it with both your 3rd and 5th graders. I think 5th grade is perfect for starting a formal grammar, too. I'm not familiar with grammar ace - we use Rod and Staff English. Jr. Analytical Grammar might be a good fit for your 5th grader... http://www.analyticalgrammar.com/junior-analytical-grammar
(This is just one idea, - there are so many grammar options to choose from!)
I think the SL core readers, some type of writing/grammar from above, spelling and handwriting would make a complete LA program.
Hope this helps!
:)
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I think SL sounds like what you are looking for...I would focus on the core for the olders and add in books for the youngers as you are able. You could still get the Core A schedule, but I would be careful not to feel too obliged to follow it to the letter. It can get overwhelming!
There is not a lot of map work in SL. I bought a Knowledge Quest map book of American history to supplement core D+E for next year.
I love that SL has reading comp questions for all the readers and read alouds - so I don't have to pre-read everything to know if they are doing the reading. There are some vocab words, too, for the books. Also, my kids love SL books - I think it may really help your 5th grader to enjoy reading.
I found that with juggling many kids at different levels, it helps sooo much to have the SL IG. I know exactly what pages to read each day. However, as I stated before - it helps to be flexible. If we're behind, I may just give the RA and history books to the kids to read. I give myself permission to skip books. There is so much in the IG - it is hard to do it all, especially in a bigger family.
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Are you talking about the grade 2, 3, and 4-5 reader lists? Here's a link to the grade 3 readers.... http://www.sonlight.com/readers-3.html
These are meant to go with the early cores. Core 3 (D) and up the readers are linked to the history.
Either way - I think it is fine to go with the reader lists and other curricula. We've done that in the past. You have to buy the schedule - about $5, and it contains comprehension questions (not many, but enough to check if they read the material) and the schedule.
Hope this helps!
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Expedition Earth looks good too and fit all the ages:
Yes, this is a great resource. I bought it thinking we were going to do world geography this year. It has info about all the countries of the world with a CD full of lesson plans/worksheets/etc.
If I were doing geography with the ages of your kids - I would probably do Runkle Geography with the oldest (physical geography but with the activity guide, they memorize all the countries of the world). For the younger ones, I would probably do A Child's Geography vol. 1 (also physical geography) while working on memorizing the countries and doing some fun cultural stuff on the side. There are a lot of resources like the Trip Around the World books, cookbooks, and Global Art for hands-on activities. Geomatters, Knowledge Quest, MFW ECC are all great resources for book ideas. (ETA: another idea is to practice drawing the world from memory - The Core by L. Bortins has a chapter on this that is really helpful.)
You were probably looking for an all-in-one, so this is not much help! Maybe something will be of value to you. Sorry SL 5 won't work out for you this year. We really enjoyed it two years ago - hopefully you can add in some of the readers from the library to your geography year!
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I think it looks great! A couple of thoughts, fwiw, if you want copywork from reading - you might want to take a look at Writing With Ease (grade 1 workbook). It has copywork and narrations already scheduled out.
Were you needing suggestions for reading lists or copywork? For reading, you might want to take a look at the Sonlight books - the grade 3 reader lists might work for you. You can buy the schedule/comp questions for about $5 and then pick up the books at the library. It is easy to get copywork from those. Last year, I would have my dd (2nd grade) read the chapter, answer the comp questions and then pick out her own copywork. Here's a link to the grade 3 reader list: http://www.sonlight.com/readers-3.html
I'm not sure how Spelling Power will work for you with a 1st grader. I thought the curriculum was usually recommended for about grade 3 and up. I have used it with an advanced 2nd grader. From my experience, the drill that is required for working with the words might be easier with an older child. Have you looked at some other spelling workbooks - like Spelling Workout or All About Spelling? There are many choices out there.
Finally, have you thought about a handwriting program? I know you mentioned copywork, but I find it helpful to have a program that drills that focuses on correct formation of the letters to be helpful at that age...it is so easy for bad habits to creep in there! You could also start cursive if her print is well established.
Just re-read your post - hands-on animal science..you could take a look at Winter Promise Animals and their Worlds. You may not want to do the whole thing, but there might be a book or two that you would enjoy adding to your study.
Hope something here helps!
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I'm just starting this with my 2nd, 4th, and 6th graders. I bought the journal for the older two. I bought a lapbook CD for the 2nd grader - figuring I'll just do a little of that with her. It probably wasn't necessary - but it is our first time with Apologia elementary and I wanted to try it out.
The journal looks great! There is a schedule - very helpful - as well as lab pages, copywork, and places for folded books, which are in the back of the journal. The little folded books are very nice and full color. (So, I don't think you will need both the lapbook CD and the journal, since there are these little books in the journal itself.)
I think your 13 yo would learn a lot from the program, but I would recommend using one of the junior high Apologia courses instead. They are much fuller and better preparation for high school.
Hope that helps!
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Hi, I'm new around here but I just had to respond :) I'm a homeschool grad and a rising college senior.
I did Starting Points on my own in 8th grade, but I took three years of Composition and Rhetoric from Mrs. Howat, the TPS Starting Points instructor. I live in her city and had the classes live from her. She is an excellent teacher who had a definite impact on my life. She will stretch your students without discouraging them.
Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for the feedback! Unfortunately, I think we are going to pull out of the SP class for next year - my dd's schedule is just too full. However, I am definitely keeping the class on my list for future years.
Thanks again everyone!
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Here's a link to the yahoo group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Galloping-the-Globe/
We're going to do Cantering the Country next year - primarily with my 2nd and 4th graders. I have Galloping the Globe, too. I used it a little with FIAR and other curricula over the years. I think it's a helpful resource to have around.
:)
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Thanks, Michelle! It is great to hear you are enjoying Starting Points and learning so much. Your description is exactly what we are looking for - to learn to question/think about hard topics and to develop a Biblical worldview. :)
Anyone take it with Potter's School?
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I've got my dd signed up for Starting Points at TPS and I am looking for feedback on the class. It is one of the classical track first year courses (though we are not CT). I'm interested in hearing about the workload, as well as how your student felt about the course overall. Thanks for any help you could give!
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A mixture of Galloping the Globe and FIAR would work for what you are looking to do. You could use GTG as your main spine list and fill in FIAR books as they fit. there are many FIAR books listed in the recommended resources for each country in GTG. GTG has other activities for each country, too.
HTH!
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Thanks for sharing your experience, everyone!
My dd has Physical Science with Mrs. Arney right now and really likes her and the class! I'll ask her more about it tomorrow.
She really likes Mrs. Crosby for Algebra (and wants to have her for Geometry next year), even though dd isn't a huge fan of math in general. She also loves Mrs. Tittel for English 2 and Mr. Gray for Logic.
Ds has Writer's Workshop with Ms. Corrin, and we both really like her too.
Hi Profmom -
How is the Logic class? I am looking into that for my rising 8th grade son. What is the workload like?
Could you also tell me about the parents' role for Writer's Workshop? I'm looking into that class for my rising 6th grader. I am worried that it will be too much work for me, but he loves to write and I think he would benefit from the class.
Thanks!
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I have the new Geo set from CD - and the solutions manual is complete (all problems in the student text are worked out). I looked for another text using the ISBN in my student book and nothing came up. What ISBN does your book have?
Fyi - my book is called Geometry Special Second Edition for Chalk Dust by Alexander and Koeberlein.
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I appreciated reading everyone's schedules! Here's what I've got so far for next year....
Math - Geometry
Eng - Adv. Composition (Potter's School)?
Science - Biology (Apologia)
Geo - AP Human Geo (PAH)?
FL - Latin 2
Electives - MS Office (TPS), Missions study?
Extra's piano, voice, dance, musical theater
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[/b]
OK, I'm definitely identifying myself as a hopeless geek right now, but I read that the first time as Continue Klingon, and I thought WOW, that is ambitious! :blink:
And now I'm wondering if anyone has ever taught Klingon in a homeschool setting?
OK, crawling back into my hole now.
:lol: Too funny! I'll identify myself as a hopeless geek right along with you. :D
Here's my rising 4th grader's schedule....
Bible - VP Bible along with MFW
LA - IEW All Things Fun and Fascinating, R/S 4, SWO D, Reason For HW D
Lit - VP lit, Reading Detective
Latin - finish LC 1 and start LC 2
Math - MUS Delta
Hist/Geo/Art - MFW ECC
Science - MFW ECC
Extra's - Piano, Ballet
My hopeful list (always trying to be optimistic here....): Spanish (La Classe Divertida/Rosetta Stone), Logic books (Mindbenders, etc.), IEW Poetry memorization, and Typing
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La Classe Divertida is a fun one with DVD's...I think you could find it used for less than $100.
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Sorry to muddy the waters....but what if you did core 3 for your 4th grader and added some easier American history for your 1st grader OR used preK or K and join your 1st grader and 4 year old together? They are closer in age than your 1st and 4th graders. Also, I found cores 1 and 2 to be advanced - preK or K would work fine for a 1st grader. This way your 4th grader could use the core 3 readers since he used the adv. 2 last year.
I know you were trying to put your 1st and 4th together but I was thinking down the road it might be easier to have your 1st and preK together.
Just some more options...:)
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If you are interested...I am selling the book and the reproducibles CD together for $36 ppd...both are in excellent condition.
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253659
Sorry for the shameless plug...but maybe it will be a help to you!
Question for sonlight users. . .
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
I don't know if this helps....there is a list of books each core uses in the front of the IG - perhaps you could check this with your catalog. Or if you don't have the IG yet, could you ask the person who has it to email you the list?
Another resource is this link - Sonlight lists changes to all their IG's from 1997 to present. http://www.sonlight.com/ig-update-chart.html
Hope this helps!