momofabcd
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Posts posted by momofabcd
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Would it be redundant to do Preparing Hearts by HOD, an overview of world history, then use the Brimwood Press materials afterwards? They both look so woderful! Maybe I could use the Brimwood materials along side of Preparing?
Deena
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Bumping. I'm looking at this, too.
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Have you ever heard of Student of the Word curriculum? S.O.W. It's a curriculum completely based around God's Word.
Deena
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I just looked over a friend's materials for core 3/4. The language arts section has various literary terms ie simile, metephor, etc. to match the readers, the readers section has comprehension questions and map work. These were for the independant readers, not the read alouds. So, if you just buy the readers and study guide, you will not get literary analysis because it's found in the LA section.
Deena
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I've been working on blending with my just turned 4 year old dd. I write a word, such as CAT on the white board and put dots under each letter like Teach your Child to Read in 100 easy lessons does. I first run my finger under the sounds to sound ccccaaaatttt, then I tell her to say it fast. Then I have her run her fingers under each sound saying it slowly then I have her say it fast again. She still doesn't quite understand the concept that letters put together make words, but she's beginning to catch on. Maybe you could play the say it fast/say it slow games from 100 Easy Lessons and do them informally throughout the day then incorporate that into written words. I think it's an ingenious way to teach blending.
I am also using 100 Easy Lessons without dd's knowledge. She didn't want to do it anymore after lesson 4, so I use the lessons on a white board without her realizing they are from the book. She loves that white board!
I hope this makes sense,
Deena
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We have the Elson 2nd Reader and Teacher's Guide. It covers only what you would find in a reading curriculum. It includes vocabulary, a review of some phonics, reading comprehension, some literary terms such as onomatopoeia, story elements (what the problem and solution are, character, setting), learning about fact and opinion, synonyms and antonyms, homophones, and some grammar mixed in that would compelment a full grammar program, not replace one. There is no spelling.
Hope this helps,
Deena
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Elizabeth B has online reading lessons www.thephonicspage.org that would work just for what you are looking for, also the Webster's Speller is working well for my ds. She has a video on how to teach it on her site.
Deena
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A good story Bible such as, A Child's Story Bible, Egermier's or The Golden Children's Bible with Big Picture Bible Timeline. The timeline is a bunch of coloring pages that you can put together to make a timeline of Bible events. You can buy it at the Veritas Press website under Kindergarten Bible or I think you can get it from CBD or Amazon, as well. I used it when my dd and ds were around K or 1st grade. They looked forward to coloring and listening to a new story every night.
Deena
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I just finished reading Viking Tales to my 8 and 10 year olds and they enjoyed it very much. I've been considering the book, America First. I also have Children's Plutarch story of the Romans and Greeks. They both look excellent, but I haven't used them yet. I've heard great things about the books by H.A. Guerber. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Did you like using The Picturesque Tale of Progress volumes? They look very interesting and thorough. How does the first book tackle the beginning of time?
Thanks,
Deena
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Deena,
How did you find a behavorial optometrist? I have never heard of one before. !
It looks like you got your question answered:) However, I did a google search for behavioral optometrists in my area. I came to find out that the vision therapist in the office I chose to go to was trained under Dianne Craft, as well as her other credentials. I do have to drive 70 miles, but it has been worth it.;)
Deena
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Instead of an Opthamologist, see a behavioral optometrist. They do a thorough examination of the entire visual system and how it's working with the brain instead of just vision. My dd has perfect vision, but her eyes cross when she reads, her eyes didn't easily focus from one object to another and a couple other things were going on. Once she started vision therapy everything cleared up, except that we are still working on the crossing eyes. Her brain is really fighting this one. :tongue_smilie:
Deena
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I just found this and forgot I posted:eek: Is there anybody else with information?
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If you break the word up and spell it by syllables su-per, then the su is an open syllable, therfore it says its long sound.
Deena
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I'm going to go against all the rave reviews of Headsprout. I used it with my first two dc before I knew much about true phonics vs phoney phonics programs that use whole words. The first 40 lessons are very good at teaching blending, and dc catch on to blending with ease which is the biggest hurdle to overcome when learning how to read. However, the last 40 lesssons rely heavily on word memorization (whole word). Neither of my dc were reading at a 2nd grade level when they were done with the lessons. I went on to teach MFW 1st grade to my dd, who is now a good reader. But my ds went on to use BJU materials in a christian school, which also teaches a lot of sight words. I am having to remediate him now. I'm using Webster's Speller, ElizabethB's online lessons and AAS and it's working wonderfully.
Whatever you choose, choose a program that does not teach any/a lot of sight words. The orton/gillingham based methods are top notch imo.
Deena
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Can anybody tell me the pros and cons of using a traditional Japanese abacus vs a slavonic one (like the one used in Right Start math)?
Thanks,
Deena
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A fun and effective way to learn times tables is a game called Timez Attack. You can download it from the site.
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Hi Melissa,
I'm not using Phonics Road, but have looked it over extensively. I think it looks absolutely wonderful and very complete as Language arts goes, and I'm still considering using it with my two younger dd's when they are ready. I was thinking about using it for my 3rd grader who I pulled out of a christian school a month ago, but I just couldn't justify beginning at level one with him because of the cost of the curriculum.
I am using FLL, WWE, All About Spelling and Noah Websters American Spelling book with him instead. I really like WWE and FLL. They are so gentle in their approach, but meaty at the same time. However, last spring I priced two Language arts avenues I thought would be comparable. When I say comparable, I mean, ease of use from the beginning, content, teaching style and possible outcome. I didn't want anything with a giant learning curve for me. That's why SWR, WRTR were out in my case.
1) WWE, FLL, All About Spelling and Drawn into the Heart of Reading
2)The Phonics Road
and the prices were almost identical when all was said and done. So, I don't think The Phonics Road is all that expensive comparatively. It may come out to be quite a bit more after 4 years, though. I didn't price it that far.
I say stick with it if you think it is going well. I don't think you can go wrong with The Phonics Road. We all get grass is greener syndrome;)
Deena
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I second Viking Tales!
I also recommend King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Retold by Emma Gelders Sterne. It is out of print, but can be found on Amazon. Do a search for Emma Gelders Stern. It says it's a little golden book, but by no means little (like the little golden books) it's an 8 1/2 x 11 hardcover with 140 pages. I bought it over a year ago because it was recommended by TOG at that time. My children very much enjoyed both of the above mentioned.
Deena
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Thank you! Is this the 2-3 or the 3-4 package?
I's the 2-3 package. My 18 month old even loves playing with them. I'm contemplating parts of the 3-4 package as we speak.;)
Deena
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You have gotten great advice for Montessori stuff. So here are my thoughts. I purchased the MFW Preschool package for my 4 year-old dd when she turned two. It has gotten SO MUCH use. She loves playing with everything that came in that package to this day. We actually just used some of the pegs today for a little informal math lesson. It's very worth the money IMO.
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I posted a similar thread a few weeks ago. I just pulled my ds (8) out of a christian school because he was falling behind in 3rd grade. From ElizabethB's response, I decided to go ahead and use the Webster's Speller. I already own Abeka's Handbook for Reading and CLP's Webster's Reading Handbook. Both are supposedly based on Webster's Speller but are completely watered down and nothing close to the original. I have now been using Webster's speller with ds for a couple weeks. We've been working our way through the syllabary, and I've already found weaknesses in his reading. I am also using All About Spelling which is Orton-Gillingham based. Ds is doing really well so far and catching on quickly. Hopefully ElizabethB will chime in again, but I'd encourage you to research Webster's Speller a little more. Although it has only been a couple weeks, I am having great success with it, and I'm finding it very easy to use.
Oh, I just remembered one more thing. Webster's way of teaching reading teaches all the sounds of the each phonogram before the syllabary is begun, at least that's what I gathered from the introduction. It's a lot like Orton-Gillingham's method in that respect. It's really quite complete.
FYI
Go to www.verticalphonics.com and scroll down the left side until you see "more phonics methods" It explains all the different ways of teaching phonics w/ pros and cons. Of course it is biased toward vertical phonics.
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I'm sorry it has taken me so long to reply. First, thank you all for all your good advice.
I decided to go with my option #1, and am glad I did. Although, I'm still tempted by the Phonics Road.
ElizabethB - Your website is so valuable and full of such great information. I decided not to take him through your lessons, but to just begin in the syllabary of Webster's. Right in lesson one, I realized that he didn't even know the c says (s) before e,i,&y. We have spent the last week on the syllabary, doing two lessons/day. He is doing great, and catching on quickly. I chose go get a white board, like you, to work the lessons with him, and he really likes that aspect. Each day before I work on the syllabary with him, I drill him on the AAS phonograms. He has almost mastered the 1st 26. Phonograms like O & Y threw him for a loop with 4 sounds each, but he's catching on. I also just received WWE 2 and FLL 3 in the mail, yesterday. They look gentle, but complete, and right up his ally. He is used to the rigor of Shurley and IEW from private school, so this should be a nice break for him.
I'm excited to see his progress a few months from now. I'm really glad we made the decision to bring him home.
Deena
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Well, you had my head swirling with all your analysis, hehe... I think you'll be fine, whatever you do. Stress about something more important, like how you're going to get the dishes done. :)
My head was swirling just writing the post.:ack2: Believe me, I'm not too stressed, just a little overwhelmed with my options. I have a 10 year old dd that I taught to read with MFW (homeschooled through 2nd grade and is now in classical christian school 4th grade thriving) and an 8 year old ds who learned to read in the christian school with BJUP (which is phoney phonics IMO). I also have a 4 year old dd and a 1 year old dd.
I am pulling the 8 year old out of school because his reading is lagging behind and causing him frustration in all subjects. They switched over to a Classical approach last year, when he was in 2nd grade, then they barely covered phonics with only half of a year of the Spectrum workbooks . So he's really only had a hodge podge of phonics instruction. This year, 3rd grade, the only phonics is in their spelling program Phonetic Zoo, which he isn't really getting much out of. I really don't think he has had a strong foundation layed, and that is why I believe he is falling behind. I'm looking for the best option to get him up to speed, while also thinking of my eager 4 year old for future use.
I don't believe MFW was thorough enough, although I loved the biblical emphasis, and her little bible notebook is priceless. So, that's out of the question for 4 year old.
These are the two options I'm pondering for LA to finish off the year plus however long it takes. I just don't know which route to go:
1. Webster's Speller(for reading only) and AAS, FLL 3 w/ WWE 2, reading books from Sonlight list.
or
2. The Phonics Road from square one. I know, it's expensive, but I like that it's all laid out for me and all inclusive. It seems to be a pretty good deal when looking at it from a complete LA standpoint, and money's not a factor at this point.
As you can see. I'm in a quandry, and I wanted to see your responses.
Thanks,
Deena
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I know there have been many discussions about the various Orton/Gillingham inspired methods, ie SWR, Spalding, AAS, The Phonics Road, etc, to teach reading and spelling, and lots of people like programs like Abeka, Phonics Pathways, MFW who teach reading with beginning blends. Then there's the old Webster's Speller that has gotten a lot of attention lately. Now, from the looks of it, Webster taught all the sounds similar to Orton/Gillingham method, but taught beginning reading through syllabary similar to Abeka, PP, MFW, but better IMO because he taught the vowels as open syllables with their long sounds (ba, be, bi, bo, bu, by) and closed syllables with their short sounds (ab, eb, ib, ob, ub) where as the others teach short vowel sounds first with those open syllables then on to cvc words. So, which produces a better reader, or should I say a more competent reader, in the long run?:confused:
If you have the time, this is a story my 10yo dd wrote...and some questions
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Well, I have a 10 year old dd, as well who loves to write stories. Actually, she has written a series.
Now, I am by no means very knowledgable in this, but your dd's writing is pretty good. She is descriptive, uses adjectives and adverbs and tells the story in an interesting way. Give her a pat on the back!!!:001_smile: I hate to say this, but your dd's writing kind of blows my dd's stories out of the water. I'm also planning on using Preparing next year with my dd and ds (9). If you think you want more writing instruction for her, HOD reccommends Igniting Your Writing or Write with the Best. You might want to try her story with the HOD boards if you already haven't. Carrie might pop in.