StartingOver
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Posts posted by StartingOver
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Thank you ALL for your input! The girls are my granddaughters, our daughter's girls. I think the girls are pretty typical, and just need more supervision, and the tasks broken into smaller pieces. But, I have to be careful what I say and I thought a book would be good. Our daughter expects more from the girls, so she's quite often upset when they don't do as she expects.
I am finding it very hard to be a Grandma, when issues like this crop up. I want to make life easier for my children. But I also understand that they have to learn on their own. I really try not to give unsolited advice, and expect even my solicited advice to be written off. ;-)
I know I didn't agree with most of what my mother thought, for many, many years.
I sympathize !!!
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I used Saxon with my older children. Back then we skipped 8/7 and went to Algebra 1/2. They have since upgraded 8/7 ( I guess ), and are now suggesting skipping Algebra 1/2 unless your child needs more practice before moving on. I had one child do both books, the other 3 skipped 8/7 and went to Algebra. So I think the choice is yours, depending on how well your child handles it.
It hase been a few years since we did any of them. I am sure others will have more current opinions.
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I never used grades with my olders. We did a portfolio type record, to show accomplishments to prospective colleges. Anyone can give a child straight A's.
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My son enlisted for the college afterwards. But is taking classes now. He is a hospitalman, transfering to Sea to Air Rescue with the Seals, on his next hitch. He had an injury that prevented it the first time. He was homeschooled all throughout. We had no issues.
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We use real first names. But I own guns !! LOL
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I have a 3 year old doing K and a 18 month old who has to be involved. I do writing work with my son while Emma is down for a nap. Other than that we involved her. I bought a letter mat at Walmart that she traces letters on. She loves the math manipulatives. She has a cheap math workbook. We do all read alouds together. When we are doing phonics work on the white board, she is using chalk on the other side ( Melissa and Doug Easel ). She can do most of his science projects with us, with a little help from me. She has her own P 3/4 from Sonlight. She loves art !! It is a bit messy, but what ever makes her happy so I can work with her brother. We also have tons of educational toys that only come out when we are schooling.
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Even when I had to adhere to grades...... I just used the kids age level, and continued on.
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We homeschool year round and always have. Weekends are lighter though. We play hookie when we wish. Somedays we just need to bake brownies and sit in the yard. I have always just moved on to the next level of what were studying. There is always something else to learn..... the options don't end.
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I'm currently working with my dd 4 (just turned 4 in Aug.) in Saxon K, and we are about 3/4 of the way through. It is defiantly pre-k'ish....so much that I bought Singapore EarlyBird A & B....We sailed through SM EB A in about a month and we have just started SM EB B. As someone else posted, they do not line up. I personally like both approaches. We do Saxon 2 days a week and Singapore 1 or 2 days a week, depending on our week ;) My dd LOVES Saxon...I think because it's all manipulatives. There is a meeting book that you can get, but I didn't use it. Saxon K has the student "act out" the lesson with the manipulatives. For example, there are 5 bears on the playground, one left and went home. How many bears are left on the playground? The concept introduces the child to subtraction. IMO I think Saxon is great!! :thumbup: As alatexan 68 posted, EB B is closer to Saxon 1 and I agree. I recently purchased Saxon Math 1 and EB B is closer to Saxon 1 in some areas. IHTH!
My son is 3.4, we have completed Saxon K, EB A & B and are working through Saxon 1 now. Will be adding Singapore back in soon.
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I have Saxon K and Singapore Early Bird A & B. Saxon moves much slower, very hands on. It has a lot of review. A very gentle introduction. Early bird moves faster by far. It is very colorful.
I think Saxon K is below Early Bird. Earlybird is closer to Saxon 1. I don't see them lining up at all.
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If I recommend only one curriculum, it is Right Start Math. Ds completed levels B through E (he went to public school in K) and has a really deep, conceptual understanding of math and easily manipulates numbers in his head. I always get really excited when I meet someone who is looking for homeschool materials and they are in K or 1st grade, because it is extremely helpful to begin Right Start from the very beginning. I have nothing against Singapore, but Right Start is just brilliant. Don't skip any of the games, though. In the book, they say "play ______ if you have time." Cross out the "if you have time" part, because the games are essential.
Julie
I haven't seen Right Start yet, can you tell me a little more about it. I looked at MUS but I just can't get my head wrapped around "two 10".
Jana
P.S. Where in Alaska, I have lived in Anchorage, Palmer, Wasilla, Houston, Kenai, & Sitka. My ex used to work on the North Slope, we traveled tons.
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Lots of things to think about in the last few posts !! Thanks ladies. I am getting super excited.
I already have SOTW and am collecting Newbery Award books. We are finishing up with P 4/5 in about a month I think. So I am trying to collect really fast. Thanks for the wonderful suggestions, I have been reading more on each and every one.
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WTM since the book came out...here's what I'm using with our bonus package kiddo:
Explode the Code for phonics - we did the "Get Ready" books when she was 4 and now, at 6, she's working on 4
Writing with Ease 1st grade book - I think this is too easy for her & we aren't getting to it anyway (sigh).
Readers: Pathway & McGuffey (2nd grade) and Great Stories for Little Americans (favorite)...we got 1/2 way thru Phonics Pathways last year and will use that only for spelling rules since she's quite the fluent reader now.
Grammar: I'm doing Our Mother Tongue with all 4 kids after breakfast & she's holding her own.
Spelling Workout - she's in level B and the words seem easy, but she's learning to work w/language so good fit.
Getty-Dubay Italic, Level C - which we don't get to consistently, but it's low priority
Math: We combine Math-U-See (beta) and Singapore (1B)
Song School Latin - BIG hit, loves the songs, basic vocabulary
Science - R.E.A.L. Science with Usborne books on the side
History - Story of the World I with Activity Guide
Art - I Can Do All Things
Hope that helps. We'll start her in Rod & Staff 3 next year, probably...if we don't end up with WWE. First Language Lessons seemed really slow to me...but she loves the CD and listens to it a couple of times a month. Also really enjoys the audio CD of Story of the World.
Thanks. I will have to chech out I Can Do All Things, & Our Mothers Tongue, never seen them.
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FYI on WWE: WWE 1 is very slow moving. I don't use the workbook anymore. I am glad I have the main text and I doubt I will buy the workbooks for the future levels.
Thanks that is helpful, I will be sure to look at those locally first ! Although slow may indeed fit the bill for now. Since I want to stretch him wider rather than higher. Hmmmmmm Something else to think about.
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The longer I homeschool, the more I go back to a more pure WTM curriculum.
That said, clipped from The Latin Centered Curriculum (which I would say is VERY classical)
(my bold)
So, if we are playing who is more classical, be prepared for different interpretations.
No not more classical, just which of SBW new suggestions are more liked really.
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Hmm, well my favourites have been:
FLL all of the books,
WWE-the workbooks simplify things so much.:)
Singapore Math
SOTW
Song School Latin
SWO
HWT
Didn't like:
LC-Prima was fine but we lost it with LC
WS-I liked it but dd didn't like it after about 4 lessons
I actually haven't switched curriculums that much as I try to carry on with what we have. Have fun with your research. I know what you mean about having a younger child that wants to learn these things. I think you have the right perspective about going broader and deeper before getting too far into some subjects:).
I sometimes wish for a do over in a few years so I could use some of the curriculum that just doesn't fit my particular children. I think I would love to do WT, CW, Math on the Level, and many others.
Have fun :D
Thanks, I am beginning to see a pattern here. Many people do like SBW's suggestions. Back when mine were young in 1999 many of her suggestions we very hard to find. It seems, beside some of her reading suggestions, most things are pretty darn popular and easily accessed.
I am really excited about another chance !! But who knows what will work with these guys...... always have to be flexible !
Jana
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I got all caught up in the ongoing discussion in this thread about what makes a classical homeschooler and didn’t even answer the question.
What I plan on using the next time around/ this time
Phonics Pathways
Phonics reading books (various Bob books included, LLATL blue books)
Abeka math
Zaner Bloser Handwriting
FLL (some of it)
Mindbenders
WWE (textbook and pulling from our reading)
Wordsmith Apprentice
(maybe some IEW, and or Meaningful Composition…what I like the best is assigning my own writing!)
SOTW
WTM style science
Noeo (possibly, I think we like it so far)
:)
Thanks, many of those I have used before. LLATL, Mind Benders, Wordsmith, Zaner Bloser.
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WTMers for 10 years now. For grammar stage we love:
OPGTTR
FLL
WWE
SOTW
Singapore Math
Spelling Workout
Prima Latina and Latina Christiana
Thanks Luann !
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They have complete homeschooling packages. I suggest including the DIVE CD. That way your DD has two or three shots at the material when necessary--the DIVE, the textbook, and your instruction.
I mgiht suggest a Dive CD if your child is having trouble with the text. But I would never buy one ahead of time. I never needed one till Algebra 2 for my older children.
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You will need the homeschool package. For just one child. It has it all.
Homeschool Math 7/6: Complete Package
I would not purchase from them though, other places have it cheaper. Rainbowresource.com is one.
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I'm wondering if the curriculum suggestions in the WTM were chosen by the author because they taught to her goals AND they fit her children well. What I mean is... perhaps one could still be a WTM-style homeschooler and have the same goals in each subject, but use a different curriculum because it's what fits *your* child best?
If you cover the same topics in the same subjects... could you still be considered a "strict" WTM homeschooler? Or do you have to use the author's actual curriculum suggestions?
There was a time when certain curricula weren't yet reviewed by Susan Wise Bauer, and so were not included in her book. Later they may have been added. Would that mean that the people who used it before the curriculum was recommended weren't "strict" WTMers... but... later they suddenly *were?*
Not sure if I'm communicating this clearly... also not meaning to be snarky.
:D
I know many strict classical homeschooler that find other curricula of the same or similair style. I see nothing wrong with that. But the basis of rigorous latin, history, and literature are what matter to me.
Over the years since TWTM first came out, I have seen more and more people call themselves classical homeschoolers, but don't teach the 4 year rotation, some don't they study latin in any form, some don't read the classics.
I think to call your self classical you have to do those things. If not then you would be more electicly classical ?? I don't know the definition.
Just my two cents !!
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We love Lively Latin here and also Song School Latin. If he needs a new challenge you can start learning Latin vocabulary early on and go back to the grammar when he is ready for it. There really isn't any grammar in SSL though and much of the vocabulary is immediately applicable to the life of the young child. It was a little too easy for my first grader who was reading at the time.
Next time I think I will use SSL for K, and a combination of Minimus and learning LL vocabulary in first and probably part of second grade. When ready we will start LL in earnest to get through the grammar. I am adding in some Ecce Romani for translation work but I don't really know how that is going to pan out.
Thanks, from what I have seen and read about Sing Song I think it would be to young for him. I am really wanting to go with Lively Latin. But might get Minimus too as everyone loves the mouse. ;-)
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Oh yes, some new things you might like to have a look at
Science: REAL Science Odyssey, Elemental Science
If you want a packaged SOTW curriculum with lots of picture books, that is in my sig.
Math: Math Mammoth is said to be a more independent version of Singapore Math. CLE is said to be a more independent version of Saxon.
Spelling: Simply Spelling, Rod and Staff, All About Spelling
I don't know if you have used Sonlight readers before, but we are enjoying the 2 Intermediate (we thought the readers before this level were "baby books" and hated them. lol) She can read above this level, but we have had some problems and are starting over with ramping up the rigor.
Thanks !! Lots to check out here too. We have always used the cores from Sonlight as additional / free reading, although I do rearrange them. Quince is reading through the reg. 2 now.
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These are my recommendations:
Grammar:
K-1st – FLL
2nd – 8th – Rod & Staff
Spelling:
Rod & Staff
Writing:
Early Grades: Writing with Ease
After that: Classical Writing
Phonics:
Abeka Phonics Grade 1
Math:
Grades 1-3: Abeka
Grades 4-8: Rod & Staff
Latin:
Prima Latina
Latina Christiana I
Latina Christiana II
Henle Latin
History:
Grammar Stage: STOW & Activity Book
Logic Stage: Kingfisher serves as our spine, corresponding chapter(s) are read in STOW so all the kids have one book in common, add’l literature and non-fiction books to correspond with the week’s readings
Science:
Grades 1-5: A mix of things that I put together
Grades 6-8: PH Science with supplemental books
Wow ! Thanks ! lots to check out.
Best Boxed K Curriculum??
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
I love Sonlight, I don't use the IG really, at least not in P3/4 & P4/5 but most of the book selections are awesome !!! I did buy both complete cores. I plan to continue to buy the cores, but use them in a WTM kind of way ! By Core I mean just the basic set. I also own everything from TWTM PreK and K suggestions.
I am a literature based mom though. We use Handleonthearts.com to suppliment some hands on activities. And tons of play !!!!