Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

ssexton

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    396

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by ssexton

    Ok, here's what I want...suggestions? long

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    So middle school is more varied--what level are your children?

     

    Really the point of my 'plan' was

    1. Using the best part of the day for each thing. Math and learning to read are HARD, and so it's important during the early years to do those in the morning. Using naptime for reading more complicated stuff aloud is so helpful because you can focus longer at a stretch.

    2. Sort of surfing through the day. You don't have a schedule, but you do have a routine. So you have structure that is easy to keep in mind, but not the anxiety of a 'to the minute' type schedule to make you feel frantic and/or guilty.

    3. Focussing on the oldest while still paying attention to the littles.

     

    For middle school, I think that routines are still helpful but not as crucial. By then kids can learn math at 2PM if necessary. So what I like for middle school is to have a minimum weekly requirement. That means that I chose to feel good if we did:

    5 math lessons

    5 Bible/religion

    4 grammar

    4 writing sessions

    4 literature

    2 science

    1 history

    3 foreign language

    1 art

    1 music

     

    Almost always we did more than that. We were covering three Saxon books in 2 years (long story, but anyway, it worked out), and we usually did writing 5-8 times per week (if you count assigned writing plus some sort of subject area writing), and grammar 5-6 times (if you count grammar and Editor in Chief).

     

    But the good thing about the MWR was that if tickets to a play cropped up, I counted it as literature, and built some writing around it, and maybe also some history and/or science. If a science field trip popped up, I counted it as several sciences, and we always seemed to be ahead enough of the MWR to be able to skip doing much else that day.

     

    This also freed me up not to feel bound to a big massive multi-program, which saved us a lot of money in theory (although I think I ended up buying so many books that it may have been a wash), and also that enabled me to be flexible in making use of great and unexpected opportunities--one of the much touted benefits of homeschooling that I think people tend to lose sight of when they obsess over curricula too much. (I say this as a total curriculum junkie.) I used Writing Strands and other materials to teach writing, and used WTM methods for history, subject area writing, literature, and grammar. This is so much easier for someone like me than checking a million boxes. About twice a year I would stop and think about where we were and what really needed to happen next, and by when, and adjust accordingly. For instance, I decided that public speaking/presentation was lacking at one point, and that helped me to justify participation in a Toastmasters' Junior course that I probably wouldn't have considered otherwise.

     

    Motto: Teach the child, not the curriculum.

     

    This has helped a lot! I've got a 6th and a 7th grader, and I'm really struggling with finding a direction for next year. They have attended a weekly enrichment program throughout their elementary years, and many of their friends will be heading off to expensive 2-day a week tutorials next year. While we will be doing some outsourcing, that level of outsourcing just won't work for us. I'm trying to find the right balance I guess. Your post has given me new ideas and inspiration. I'm going to print it out and mull it over. Thank you!

    Ok, here's what I want...suggestions? long

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Here is a plan for you:

     

    When the kids are breakfasted, read the Bible to all of them together. The littles can play with Kapla blocks quietly while you do this. Focus on the stories--the history narratives and the parables. Use a Bible story book sometimes, but read the actual Bible every day. Sing something seasonal and/or liturgical to them. If you do it every day for a while, they will learn it and start to join in.

     

    After that, teach the 6yo his math lesson. Settle him at a table to do whatever written work he needs to to finish that while you play with the 3 and 4yo's.

     

    Then pull out that big stack of books that you got at the library on your regular Friday trip. Read about 7 of them to the whole group. 4 picture books, 2 science picture books, 2 history picture books. If you are doing FLL, read that aloud at the end, focussing your attention on the 6 yo.

     

    Then do your reading lesson with the 6 yo.

     

    Then give the 6 yo a piece of large-lined paper that you have written some copywork neatly on, if he is ready for copywork. If not, teach him how to write one letter per day and have him practice it. Whatever.

     

    Then have lunch.

     

    Then put the babies down for their naps. Read more to the others. Maybe 45 minutes or so. This is when you read more advanced stuff--choose a chapter book that has no pictures, and read several chapters per day. Each time you start a section of it, tell them what happened so far and what the last thing that happened was--before you know it, they will be doing great summaries if you set that example! Read a little poetry, too. Then send the olders to their rooms for some quiet play time.

     

    When everyone wakes up, go outside with them if the weather is bearable for it. Or let them use some craft materials or blocks to make something inside. Once week, open up an art book to a picture you think is beautiful, and just set it out for them to look at. Talk with them about it. Let them 'help' you make dinner. Sing some more while you're doing this and that.

     

    At bedtime, read aloud again, all cuddled up. This is a great time for picture books. Talk about the day--best thing, worst thing. Pray together.

     

    That's your routine, Monday through Thursday.

     

    Friday is out and about day. Go to a local field trip site in the morning, after breakfast and Bible. This might be a nature walk, a natural history museum, a science museum, a children's museum, a zoo, an aquarium, or something else. Encourage the kids to hunt for 10 new things that they have never known or noticed before. (Join a couple of these places, for best results!) Go home for lunch--everyone will need a nap after this! When you all wake up, go to the library. Take out a ton of books, coordinating some of them with the field trip that morning. Come home and talk about the field trip, read some relevant books aloud, and maybe do an experiment to demonstrate something on the field trip, or assign a drawing of a historical figure or event from it, or something like that. Make dinner, read aloud some more, and then to bed.

     

    Saturdays are for free play, catching up on house and garden work, having the kids start their own garden plots, and seasonal celebrations. Sunday is church and friends day.

     

    Severely limit screen time. None is best at these ages.

     

    There you go! A plan!

     

    Carol, this is genius! I wish I had had that when my two oldest were little, but I'm going to print it out for my youngest!

     

    Do you have a plan for my two middle schoolers? Pretty please?

    Anyone willing to share 7th grade curriculum plan for next year?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    7th grade for dd(12):

     

    Math: CLE 700

    Science: Apologia General Science (through tutorial)

    Latin: Visual Latin and Lingua Latina (local class)

    History: Notgrass America the Beautiful

    Writing: WWS, Killgallon, Creative Writer?

    Literature: LL7, Teaching the Essay

    Grammar: KISS

    Other LA: Reading Detective and Vocabulary Workshop

     

    Extras: American Heritage Girls and Drama (through tutorial)

    Greek for 8th grader

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

     

    Please forgive me for asking this on the HS board, but I know you all have so much knowledge to draw from...

     

    My ds is interested in learning classical Greek next year (he'll be in 8th grade.) We'd like for him to take the NGE and maybe the National Mythology Exam. I'd really like an online class, as he wants to do this somewhat independently. I've been looking at Lukeion, but there's a good chance we'll have a timing conflict with his tutorial. We'd really need a Mon or Wed class. So, can anyone suggest any alternatives to have as a plan B? Or, can you suggest resources to use here at home without an online component that would prepare for the NGE?

     

    Thanks so much!

    Shannon

    Things you love this year!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We are loving:

     

    CLE math for everyone! We just went back to CLE for my two olders, and I wish we had never stopped using it. We also like the AoPS pre-algebra videos.

     

    Apples and Pears spelling for my ds12

     

    WWS for my dd11 (Tried the beta version last year, but she just wasn't ready as a 5th grader. This year she's doing great!)

     

    WTM first grade science recommendations for ds6

     

    GWG

     

    Visual Latin for dd11 and ds12

     

    Beautiful Feet Early American History (jr. high level) for ds12

     

    Pathways Readers for ds6

    when your child simply refuses to do schoolwork?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I would arrange for testing (IQ, LDs, learning style) ASAP; I would bet that you have a gifted, visual/spatial learner on your hands, and treating this as a matter of laziness/defiance is not going to get you very far. Their brains are wired differently, they think and learn in very different ways — it's not just a matter of "thinking in pictures." You say that she's extremely compliant in every other way but just "shuts down" over school — that doesn't sound like disobedience or a power struggle to me, that sounds like a kid whose brain is shutting down because she needs to learn in a different way.

     

    :iagree:

    Can anyone help me salvage this year of math?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    Thanks so much for all of your help!! I think we'll go back to CLE--it's what I know, and I know they do well with it. I appreciate the other resources listed--I think we'll supplement with Alcumus and some story problems from Lial. And, we'll be using videos from AoPS and Khan as needed.

     

    Hedgehog, thanks for sharing your your thoughts on the Art Reed DVDs. Glad to know it's not just us! I really wanted these to work for us.

     

    Karen--loved your quote, "Life's too short to hate your math program." So true!!!!!

     

    3byzaz, I appreciate the heads up on CLE 700 being tough! We'll be careful not to move through too fast.

     

    Thanks again!

    Can anyone help me salvage this year of math?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I'm not clear on the question. What does he need help with---content or not being careless?

     

    Well, let me think this through. He did test into Saxon 87 pretty solidly. He's just finished lesson 30, and he's been making mostly 80% on his tests--generally one or two of the mistakes are careless in nature. I'd feel better if he brought that average up a bit. He also sometimes requests help on one or two problems from the practice set. Since I haven't watched the DVD, I feel like I'm stumbling a bit when I try to help. Which is a bit uncomfortable. :) So, yes, I guess he is needing help with both content and accuracy. But, without watching the videos myself, I'm not confident in helping him with the content.

     

    I'm not opposed to teaching the lessons, though I would have been thrilled if the DVDs had worked out! But, I really don't want to teach Saxon. Saxon doesn't really click for me! If I'm going to teach, I much prefer the organization and explanations provided in CLE. Or, perhaps Lial. And as I think this through, I think my suspicion is that Saxon may not be a good fit for my ds either. Honestly, I don't know--I just feel too far removed from the process to know for sure.

     

    You and the others who have mentioned correcting errors the next day are absolutely right! We did that last year, but since reading that Mr. Reed doesn't emphasize homework, I haven't been diligent about enforcing that. That will change immediately! Thanks for everyone's thoughts!

    Can anyone help me salvage this year of math?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    One thing I'm finding is that I really need to be much more of a hovering parent or even an "at the elbow" parent with math than I need to be with history or language arts. If I don't put that time into supervising and encouraging and assisting, I end up paying triple because we have to redo the lessons.

     

    This! I think this is a part of the discomfort I'm having. I don't watch the DVDs, so I'm not sure what Mr. Reed has covered or how he covers it. So when my son needs help, I feel too far out of the loop. The DVDs really aren't saving me any time--I think I need to either watch them too, or teach the material myself.

     

    Thank you for the other AoPS resources too! I'm going to look at those closely. And, yes, I completely agree with not rushing to algebra before he has solidified his understanding. Thanks for the reminder!!

×
×
  • Create New...