Ecclecticmum
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Posts posted by Ecclecticmum
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I've started to get annoyed at the box checker mentality too (and this coming from a planner queen) it just makes everything hard to get through.
I *know* its not exactly what you want (well change the math to living books, and the phonics to any library phonics, and it would be more like it.
My new plan, is no plan, lol.
5-15 minutes a day of phonics from Dancing Bears
15-30+ (depending on games) of Rightstart
So other than those, I have a bunch of 'activity' books in a box, kids can choose what they want to do if we have time that day.
* Oak Meadow 1 (we more concentrate on the crafts, any nature bits, eventually it will work for creative writing prompts etc)
* BFSU & NEE (These plus OM, are a more 'mummy' adds in if theres time, if theres not, who cares. I tend to use slim post-its as bookmarks for wherever we're upto
* Whole bunch of old workbooks that are partially completed (SM etc) for if their "bored'
* Few different open-ended science pre-k "lab" books.
* "Dangerous" Science experiment books (like exploding sandwich bags etc)
* Maryann Kohl Books
* History "do it' books (hands-on part of Hideaways in History, make it yourself activity books, SOTW AB)
* Anti-Colouring Books
* Logic Books
* Out of Sync Child has fun
* A billion other interesting goodies lol
I am hoping *eventually* DH will put up raingutter shelves in the Atelier, and I'll just plop all those books there instead, then kids choose what they want to do. I have other stuff (writers ideas books, bravewriter) that I'll add to that box once the eldest gets past phonics stage.
We either had too much planned and it wasn't getting done, or towards the end I was flying by the seat of my pants, and everything was taking longer. (Oh, I also have books I still have to read in that box like Child of Wonder, Kingdom of Childhood, and my kindle, which has several more books I need to read on it (rest of Simplicity Parenting, 101 reasons why I'm an unschooler, Big Book of Unschooling etc).
Or I was printing out stuff from week to week from the computer. I have a clickman coming, so will just print out that stuff, bind it up, and plop in the box.
But at the end of the day it will be that Phonics & Math is the only thing I concentrate on. Other stuff will be chosen by kids if we've finished those two for the day, and aren't busy. Same as my daughter wants a horse unit study. It will be printed out, and plopped in box, but only done in her free time.
Well, untrue about phonics & maths is all, DS can do phonics if he wants, but I have him on Home Speech Therapy, so that is something else he does, and I cannot drop that. So he really does that instead of phonics.
So if I didn't have any "curriculum" I would just grab a phonics book of some description that we could use, and let the kids play with the manipulatives and use MEP or something (its really hard for me 'not' to use a curriculum for maths, simply for the fact that whilst both DDs would eventually get with a living math program, DS would backslide terribly, he's very picky with books and likes lots of pictures (and doesn't really want you to read it, prefers to let you knew his version of the story).
I just use mostly open and go "activity" books, nothing with a set year on it (except Oak Meadow, which I just use as an expensive glorified ideas book right now). And I just do math & phonics, thats it.
Moral of the Babble: I suppose I'm already doing that....I think?
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Gave up and ordered the set from England. Fudging it is only confusing my poor already befuddled DD!
Unfortunately you deal with things like that when your living outside the US. All the stuff I want is SO cheap there, practically impossible to get here or 3 times the price, but I still save to purchase from US, 'cause with postage to Aus, its twice the price of whatever it is.
e.g. People in America can get a Pro-Click for like $20-25. I have to find a company that is UK (because of needing A4 paper) which the UK version is the GBC Clickman, I've had that on my wishlist for a year, it would of cost me (and US is a little more dollars than my current Aus dollar), $150AU including post. So it got put down the list. I just checked it the other day and it was $80AU incl post (to me an absolutely steal) so I grabbed it.
Nebel's Elementary Education is a book I have wanted for a while. Americans are able to buy it for $19.99, with postage it cost me about $50.
I just suck it up, and choose whats worth that price to me, so am selective of the things I want (but of course, still make billions of mistakes due to the fact I can't go into a store or to a US convention and see whatever it is I am interested in, and things are always different when in hand).
DH also said something to me about one of the books I was interested in may not make it across the border since it involved "weapons" (for knowledge's sake, its a science book. But its about making mini "weapons of mass destruction" following different history periods and learning science through it, stuff like potato cannonballs, harmless projectiles etc).
I can't get science kits of any description (except for some really expensive Ein'O's) in Aus, nor can I order any in, since one item within any kit will breach the import laws (certain chemicals, dirt, seeds etc).
I can't get anything made of wood, because I prefer naturally oiled, natural wood, and if it came through, its more than likely they'll stop it, and give me the option of binning it or paying $60 to put chemicals on it.
Moral of the Ramble: Buying stuff for HS is an annoying pain when overseas.
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Well first of all, sometime around 2yrs ago I wrote a post on Cheap DIY Alternatives to HWOT manipulatives: missedumacated.blogspot.com/2011/08/handwriting-without-tears-cheap.html
So that might help you with cost and deciding what you can get vs making.
What we have is the following:
Student Workbook: http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/MFSB/prek
Wood Pieces Set: http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/WP/prek
Capital Letter Cards: http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/LAM/prek
Mat: http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/MAT/prek
Stamp and See Screen: http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/SAS/prek
Singalong Cd: http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/SING/prek
And the Teachers Guide: http://www.amazon.com/Handwriting-Without-Tears-School-Teachers/dp/1891627562
The TG is linked to amazon, because it seems GSS has updated for Core Standards and changed their teachers guide (I only purchased mine mid last year) so the amazon one is the one I have (which is not spiral bound, just has teachers guide, none of that readiness for learning ______ *fill in blank with cross-curricular subject*
The TG guide I have has a lesson plan near the back, advice for the individual student pages, different activities, and links all the above supplies plus a few more, together.
HTH xxx
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Sometimes I sit out here on the verandah, and use my netbook.
Apparently a couple of weeks ago, I left it outside and it rained :(. The book DH thinks I am talking about was apparently all curled and wet, so DH threw it away. I must of had to go do something for the kids and forgotten about it.
I will probably have to get a new copy :( The last one wasn't new, but second hand, and I managed to nab it from someone in Aus. I'll have to go on a book hunt.
It would be fantastic if she updated it, I tend to have to search out alternatives for anything in there, but its still so useful.
ETA: Found it! :thumbup: Was under the pile of kids projects on the kitchen table (well...where else would it be? :001_rolleyes: rofl.) Wasn't as bad as looking for my magazine and finding it in the fridge (DH didn't realize my magazine was in the veggie bag and just threw the whole bag in the fridge) :o Gotta love my family .
There wasn't much on lower elementary chemistry or horses though (reason I was looking for it) so unfortunately, its another road I'll have to make myself :rolleyes:
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I can't find it! :crying:
I'm afraid I may have donated it when I was in one of my clearing the nest modes. :sad:
Otherwise I don't understand how I can lose it considering its the same size really as my Rainbow Resource catalog (i.e. massively fat phonebook).
Does anyone have maybe an online version of a similar thing? I liked that book. Basically, its great when the kids are interested in a certain area/subject/topic, I can look it up in the book and get ideas of stuff to get/things to do, and it also inspires me to make/create things.
:thumbdown: If it went to charity, I'm blaming hubby :sleep: he should know I need that book. :p
Any alternative ideas? (or maybe your psychic and can tell me where its hiding?)
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Have you tried letting him play minecraft? There is even a Minecraft education site: http://minecraftedu.com/
Minecraft is a wonderful game. You can make skins (characters) for other people, it can involve science, history etc. Having them re-create a certain monument etc (the edu site can explain more than I can right now, my cold has made me all kinds of broken)
All I am saying is you could maybe use his interest in games to move some of his end "tests" to a more project-based learning using stuff like Minecraft to demonstrate his knowledge. Someone even created a replica of the world. The PC version is much easier to use, so it depends upon your computer specs.
My son loves Minecraft, and although his motor control isn't upto par to be able to use the mouse & keyboard, he loves to watch me build things or create skins. Later on down the road I will probably use it for him in the same way mentioned above.
HTH xxx
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I was wondering how you care for/any tips for the day to day life of spiral books?
I hate spiral bound stuff, but have somehow ended up with some. Although the rest of the will be sold, I have Oak Meadow K & 1 (and will eventually have the following years as well).
These are two very thick, wobbily books. I usually lay them down seperately on the shelf, and the back cover and front covers sort of get rubbed against the binding. It takes up loads of space and its still not protecting them anyway. Books that big should not be spiral bound, that or they should figure out how to protect it better.
So any tips/helps, anything????
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As I said previously I am planning on using Rightstart for my DD5 this year. However, just looked at the website and saw that I would need to choose 1st or 2nd edition? Hm. Which one and why?
Thoughts from all of you happy with the program?
The second Edition was just recently released so there isn't going to be many people for a while who are able to review it (and rather less who can compare two in front of them) they will hopefully be getting better samples of the 2nd edition.
Most of the people who have the 1st edition will just keep using it, unless they particularly need exactly all the core standards bits for their state.
The 2nd edition has been in the works for quite a while (pre-standards, so before all the hullabub of the standards changing things) it involves new research Dr Cotter has looked at and is a whole new ball game, its also better laid out to be able to quickly scan the page (before everything was just lots of long paragraphs, now the ojbjectives, materials, actual lesson and notes are all seperated nicely on the page for easier viewing). The content itself was changed to reflect Dr Cotters research and not for the core standards. In order to make it a little easier they moved the "tiniest" bits around, so you can say you "covered" blah-blah-blah that you were meant to (like 1 sheet moved back here, another sheet moved over there) so it wasn't completely higgle-piggled for core standards like everyone seems to think.
The new edition also uses more of the manipulatives sooner, introduces metric earlier (great for canadians or Aussies like me) adds more geometry, weight & measurement, and overall gives it a cleanup and better ordering.
The 1st edition was written many moons ago and then finally published in 2001, and in our world things are constantly changing, more research on child development is coming to light, more fields focus on mathematics, that it did, indeed need an overhaul.
Rightstart 1st Edition pretty much met (and way exceeded) the current standards, apart from a couple of small tidbits here and there, so since Dr Cotter was almost ready to bring out the new version, she (or the company) decided it would be easier for those in affected states to still be able to use Rightstart, and added a sheet or two here, and moved a sheet or two there (I have done this before looking at my standards, it said to address cleanliness/washing of hands. I grabbed a sheet, told her to copy "wash your hands" on it and copy her hands, and plonked it into the binder. core met, set and done :p )
Dr Cotter has still followed "her own way" in the new edition, has based it around the age appropriate child development she is known for, and IMO is better from what I have heard/looked at. BUT should I have had the old one, I would of continued using it, because I have, it works, and don't change something that isn't broken :p I would of also known the lessons and not been so overwhelmed by the page layout.
The new edition, since using most of the manipulatives, has a touch higher lot than the old one, but after that all you have to purchase is the Teachers Guide and Worksheets.
I will never be able to compare one to the other, unless I somehow go on a 4 hour round roadtrip to a lady I know who has the 1st edition (who knows it might happen ;) )
If your wanting to get more of an idea between the editions, go to the Rightstart yahoo group, and once joined type "2nd edition" and another search of "second edition" and browse through.
I was really torn between the two editions (after all US Stds don't affect me here) so I went through the archives, (and BTW lots of people keep re-hashing the same thing, even though Dr Cotter and the reps keep replying) and there was one old post near the beginning of when they advised about the 2nd edition coming out, that was written on behalf of Dr Cotter, that seemed (even though to be repeating what was said later in all the other threads) to be more elaborated, and finally made sense to me, and kicked me into purchasing the 2nd edition (which I now eagerly await).
There is also a AL Abacus app on the ipad, so you can have a digital app too.
I would suggest having an abacus for mom, and the companies suggestion was to also have an abacus for each child regardless of whether they are taught seperately or together (children using RS apparently tend to use them all the time). You can also use something like notability on the ipad, and get e-workbooks instead.
I am unsure as to whether they added extra lessons, or split some of the longer lessons up, but I think there was previously *about* 70 lessons and now theres about 130.
I'm now starting to re-organize my school closet, so its ready for even more manips :p
So the edition just depends on what your after from RS and how fast you'll move through it. And also just researching with an open mind.
I think I covered everything, I seem to have caught a cold or something and am a little foggy :bored:
HTH xxx
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I will say I have only read a couple of replies, but since this has been sitting in my tabs since you started the thread, I'm going to respond now (and hopefully eventually read the rest of the thread).
Unschooling is a LARGE umbrella term, HUGE. There are many, many different sections, and then sub-sections regarding it. To nearly every person unschooling means something different (and is not to be confused, obviously, with deschooling).
I've been a part of an unschooling forum for a long time (recently (about 8 months ago) I had to re-register as I lost the email associated with that account, and couldn't remember my password....that was such a pain. lol) And I love the atmosphere, but what I wanted to say, was nearly every person on that forum is different in the way they apply unschooling to their lives.
In the beginning I registered to research, then for a couple of years, I just used it for the wealth of ideas. Now I'm heading more and more down that path. Obviously on a place like WTM, its going to be hard (if not impossible) to find a die-hard experienced unschooler who can give you the facts and differences.
Whilst I won't say we "unschool" because I haven't firmly plopped both feet in that path (but eventually may end up there), I will say we have both unschooling and radical unschooling tendencies.
Plus the fact is that each child is different. So just because you unschool one child, does not mean you should unschool another. Each child is an individual, and learns best in their own particular ways. If we were going on how my children are *right now* (and we all know my kids are young so learning styles change) Atlas would excel with unschooling, Chaos wouldn't, he requires an extra hand and firm grounding, and Eve could *deal* with it, but she prefers to have stuff laid out for her, thats the excitement of her day is having a fresh workbook, and a school schedule for her (kids.....they are just weird, lol).
Have I seriously considered it? Yes, but if we did eventually go fully down that road, we would probably be in one of the outer subsections. Whilst I am starting to get to the point where I don't mind it, Hubby prefers what we now do (which is sort of a mixture, and isn't really the same as what is in my signature, eventually I'll fix my signature up). What we do right now is Unschooling/Radical Unschooling/Waldorf/Oak Meadow/Project Based/Unit Studies/Child-Led/Natural Learning slash about a billion other things :laugh:
I'll leave it at "We are an ideas school. We follow ideas, whether they come from the parents or the kids".
:closedeyes:
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Get Ruth Beechicks 3 R's book, and call that a K program :p
If you want more than that, get Beechicks Language & Thinking for young Children, have a look at the Mott Media stuff, and perhaps something for Math like Rays Primers (on Mott Media site, the Classic Curriculum workbooks series 1 is to be done before Rays), or FREE programs like MEP or CSMP (for more of a story based maths, with a cool little box calculator that looks intriguing). If you feel for any reason you need to work on listening skills, differences, or notice any areas where something may be amiss, Developing the Early Learner is good too.
You definitely don't need an expensive curricula, lol. It all depends on what particular style you do (Classical, Waldorf, Eclectic, Unit Studies etc) as to what to suggest.
But what your doing is perfect. If she's happy and your happy, and your both learning, thats what matters. :)
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So let me get this right...
To go would be:
*Homosexuals
*Blasphemers
*Heretics
*SN Children (because those who have SN children know sometimes they lash out or mimic words they hear)
*People who hit their thumb instead of a nail (because that becomes colorful language)
* Women who are raped (who were chaste and weren't betrothed.)
*Teens & kids who have had a bad home life/teens who need help
1. There would be hardly anyone left, and those who were would be more like automatons, all thinking the same.
2. Isn't there somewhere that preaches forgiveness and judge not?
3. To me, as long as a person isn't deliberatly hurting another person, people should have the freedom to live their life the way they want. You wouldn't want someone telling you how to live your life, so in return we shouldn't tell others. I think diversity makes life interesting. If every was the same in thinking, many accomplishments wouldn't of been made.
Heres a quote for that:
“Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.â€
4. I honestly am super worried. To create a peaceful world, it has to start with the children, and the children learning acceptance of all. Having a curriculum backed by someone who may believe this is downright scary. People always talk about the hidden/underlying religions in secular curriculums, and that they won't use the products because of the fact that these companies could be subliminly (sp? rofl, must look that up) adding indoctrinate into their childrens education. Well if someone who believes the above must happen is behind creating the curriculum, what sort of biased material may be entered in a way that the parent doesn't figure it out till later? This is supposedly a self-taught curriculum (it looks to me something like Robinson curriculum turned political, and more vague) so the child could be reading the material without the mother realizing the stuff contained within it is political or moral propaganda.
It may be a fine curricula, but the whole vague-ness of the site, plus the FAQs, plus what I have read around the net is a little weird. If I wanted something like that I would go with the Robinson Curriculum. Then again, I am not liberal (or any agenda in political circles at all) so may be I am missing a giant chunk of greatness that flies over my head because of that.
I would just say to anyone wanting to try this curricula, to research it thorough, and also research both North & Paul, plus all of the teachers involved in the area your doing, to make sure their views agree with yours. I would also suggest no matter how self-teaching it is, to go over the courses/products with a fine-tooth comb, pre-read everything to make sure its fine for your children to read & use. Better to spend a bit of extra time doing that, than to find out something that diagrees with your views afterwards.
xxx
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:lol: This thread amused me greatly.
I've never had a problem with Winter Promise. I've emailed a heap of questions, ordered lots of ebooks 2 or 3 times, and never had a problem. Stuff was always sent quickly and emails responded to promptly.
I usually ignore the negative threads about it. I just feel he is getting picked on for very little things, just because there are negative threads, that seems to send people into paranoia mode, and everything is picked apart.
Then again, apart from one "direct" author purchase I made (of which, I now, unfortunately boycott that persons books, even though they are all the rave on here), I've never had a problem with American retailers/publishers/companies. Its the Aussie ones I always find have ridiculous shipping times (in one case I was waiting 2-3months), and really poor customer service (people being blantantly rude, not helping, ignoring questions, not offering shipping services that should be offered etc). I also like Christian Books, and Sonlight (they have been so helpful every time I emailed, plus they track packages properly).
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*Haven't read replies.
Whilst I do have Lollipop Logic (of which we'll continue through that series one at a time, then continue on through other Prufrock series) to me, yes thinking skills are quite important :p But I'll only use Prufrock ones (after Lollipop, I think comes Safari?)
What I think is MORE important (remember, my opinion) is creative thinking skills. I am always keeping an eye out for things that make you think outside of the box. Project-based learning is part of this. So I use Tin Man Press, Anti Coloring Books, and keep an eye out for similar products (I think we also have a book called Mind Sparklers, and last night whilst purchasing a couple of things I needed for C. off Currclick, I purchased another one that reminds me a little of the anticoloring books, but requires more writing, I think it was called Draw & Write. I will probably let A. narrate and I will write it down. I also have a bookmark list of instant challenges and creative problems.
The reason I think Creative Thinking is important is the current state of the world, plus looking toward the future. When my child grows up there is going to be a heavy need for Creative, Outside the Box thinking in the workforce. People who have flexible thinking, and can creatively problem solve or some at something from a completely different angle.
So whilst I, of course, think logic/critical thinking is important, I tend to leave it to one good series we do bit by bit (which will eventually change over to a more formal logic program later on), so I'm not overwhelmed and filled with logic stuff we won't use. I tend to more splerge on Creative Thinking & Problem Solving stuff, which isn't too bad to "splurge" on, as there is not much of it, lol, every now and again, I will come across another one.
JM2C ;)
xxxx
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*From the Diary of a Rambler:
I saw no rentention after a year of ETC, she forgot it. The writing was just TOO much. Getting my daughter to write out her full address 3 times in a sitting, to me was just ridiculous.
I think the Sonlight approach and us are just too different.
For Literature, writing, creative writing and handwriting (so all the little bits apart from Phonics, grammar and the like) we prefer an unschooly/radical unschooling/child-led/natural learning/project/montessori/waldorf/Oak Meadow way. (yep thats a mouthful, lets just call it the "crazy moms way" :p )
I just let my daughter write what she wants, and I tell her how to spell something or write a particular sentence she wants (she then copies it on whatever project shes doing). We use block crayons for school whenever we can for her, and do lots of form drawing. Next year she will change over to stick crayons. Outside of "formal school" (of which we don't have much) she uses whatever supplies she wants, whether its block crayons, pencils or permanent markers.
Whilst doing Sonlight my daughter began to HATE writing/drawing, anything that required putting an implement in her hand, she was frustrated and tired. So I dropped it, and stopped using any sort of writing thing (we did FLL orally for a bit before I realized Atlas was getting the boredoms from that.
Of course, I'm not saying what we do would work for any child, but it works here, since I became more relaxed and started doing more project based stuff, plus adding an atelier for the kids, my two youngest have had their pre-writing skills (i.e. drawing skills) pick up enormously, and my eldest is doing 2 or 3 writing/handwriting projects a day, and they are self-started, and independant.
So stuff that better suit us are things like Eclectic Series (Mott Media), Cosy Grammar, Grammar Land, Bravewriter, Vimala Alphabet/Writing, Enki, Oak Meadow, General Waldorf Resources, Oak Meadows Creative Writing Prompts & bits and pieces. Thats really a list of stuff that intrigues me/what I am inspired by and not neccessarily what I use.
I still use both WTM, and Cathy Duffys books, as well as other books for references and ideas every year. If we had to go back to more worksheet type stuff that is scripted, I would just get PHP stuff.
So the styles just don't mesh together well. It took me a journey to get where I am (I listened too much to others advice, and kept conforming myself to particular curriculas & peoples standards). I can't even put myself in the eclectic box (after researching that extensively when I was stuck in bed sick).
I think Sonlights LA program/kit may work very well for others (I know I definitely love Sonlight the company, and like *most* of the lit they choose) but it didn't work well at all for us. I am using Ruth Beechicks 2 books though (3Rs, teaching young children) sporadically.
HTH xxx
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I know it may not be exactly what your after, but its a two level program meant to teach children the Penny/Tin Whistle. This instrument is great for little kids, and its much better than a recorder (and easier, but JMO).
Its a downloadable ebook, with links to private youtube videos (that are for teacher training, not for the student to view). There is something like 7 teacher lessons on video (for you to learn the penny whistle) and 20 class lessons (how you would teach the kids) plus the ebook detailing the lessons for each ebook there is videos, so I can't remember but the two ebooks would probably be twice that (54 videos, 40 lessons etc). You start off playing certain keys on the whistle, and them just playing (so in the beginning, they don't have a whistle) you do things like follow the leader, musical chairs type stuff, then it works upto teaching the kids to play.
You can learn more about it here: http://homemusicmaking.blogspot.com/p/penny-whistle.html
And purchase it here: http://waldorfessentials.com/blog/store/products/category/music/
xxx
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Thats a young level, so even though he's accelerated, you would still want to keep it developmentally appropriate
science: Real Science for Kids Pre-Level Chemistry, plus check books out from the library on the appropriate subjects.
Geography: Galloping the Globe or Homeschool Creations Geo program
Logic: Critical Thinking Co or Tin Man Press. Anti Coloring Books if he likes drawing too.
Other options people may throw out there:
Science: Elemental Science, BFSU, Critical thinking through Science, Super Science Concoctions, Real Science Odyssey, Noeo
Geography: MFW, Winterpromise, Trail Guide through Geography, Geography through Art
Logic: Other Prufrock Press
HTH xxx
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Well that was either the most brilliant thing I have done, or a big boo-boo. lol.
I was actually on Scholastic's site a couple of days ago, and was thinking "when are they going to have their sale?"
I ended up getting 20 (eek!) items:
2 x Move & Learn (Math Activities & Early Concepts)
3 x Quick and Easy Learning Games (Phonics, Math & Science)
3 x 15 Fun & Easy Games for Young Learners (Favourite Themes, Reading & Math)
3 x Toss and Learn Games (Science, Math & Around the Year)
Money Math Learning Centers
Teaching First Grade: A Practical Guide (looked rather interesting & seemed to have a few useful features I can use)
50 Month by Month Draw & Write Prompts (Atlas will love these)
Day by Day Math Mats (looked to be something interesting I can add in)
Ready to Go Skill-Building Math Packs for Independent Learning (A's been wanting something like this)
50 Fun & Easy Brain Based Activities for Young Learners
Follow the Directions & Draw It all by yourself (all the kids will love these)
Irresistable 1,2,3's
The Big Book of Pre-K Learning Centers (for my younger two)
So....that was fun rofl. At least I culled the list down to stuff I will actually use, and I now have some games all the kids can do.
Remind me that unless the body book goes into another dollar sale, not to look at Scholastic again :p My first and last spree with them (at least till A is in Grade 3, when they do actually seem to have useful everyday stuff)
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The truth? Number 1, I like to homeschool. I like spending time with my kids, and I love seeing the "aha" moment when they get it. I also love tailoring the curriculum to them, not having them in a box where they can't suddenly stop and head off down a trail that interests them, or get told off for doing something non-waldorf, non-montessori, non-traditional, or plain non-normal :p
We did plan to have our eldest go to school back in 2011. I spent 2010 and before homeschooling prek (but she did go to a pre-k program twice a week). Spare time in 2010 was spent researching all the schools within several suburbs (country). And spent going to school interviews, filling out enrolment considerations, attending open days.
The truth is I am picky. I want a school that will teach my child well, pay attention to them, and allow them to do the things they love. Had I been in the capital, there was an amazing school there with a circus group, she would of love to have gone to that school. As it was I came up with 3 school options: One was a strict christian school a couple of suburbs away (this would of caused problems with afterschool etc) but it was full and I would of had to delay her a year to enrol her a year after. Anther school was a beautiful christian-values school, the equipment was brilliant, the rooms were beautiful and everything was enviromentally friendly, we went for two interviews, and although I liked the school, I was not fond of the principal (which also meant I may not have been fond of the teachers either) and some of the rules were weird. My daughter wasn't allowed to have her hair growing past her shoulders, for instance (it was barely passed her shoulders at that time), the principal advised us of this the same time as glaring at my daughters head. There were numerous other requests (a uniform for mom, that had to be worn at all times within the vicinity of the school) it was just too weird, such a shame lol (I did have conservative hair at the time, but I am known to suddely dye it or cut it weirdly. I mean could you imagine their faces if I strolled upto the school in my gothwear and with the rainbow hair I had not too long ago? ROFL). The third was the school we decided upon, which was a public school, the teachers were warm and caring, they had multiple musical groups available from K onwards, there was all sorts of extracurriculars as well. I knew my daughter would fit in there, and it was close enough for DH to drop her off on the way to work, and for me to pick her up each afternoon.
Then....we moved. LOL. A couple of suburbs away into real farmland, middle of nowhere. DH would of had to have gone the wrong way to drop her off at school, then doubled back. Plus she would of probably been at before and after school care, plus needed a babysitter outside of those hours. In other words, she would of never been home, and it would be too long for a child to be stimulated for. There is a tiny school near hubbys work, another few suburbs away, but it has NO GRASS. As far as the eye could see, was concrete....yuk.
So we ended up continuing with HS.
Short version: I'm picky and my kids like hs-ing. Done. :D
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I don't know about what your asking for (apologies :) )
But I came across this and remembered your thread: Teaching with Favourite Tomie DePaola Books (Grades 1-3) at the Scholastic Dollar Deals.
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We use Critical Thinking Press, Prufrock Press, and Tin Man Press. All of these have pictorial workbooks in them somewhere.
What we use/are planning to get/thinking about:
Critical Thinking through Science
Mathematical Reasoning
More of Lollipop Logic
Some more Tin Man Press products.
We are using early elementary though, and there are SO many more choices with these companies once you get up to middle school. I just browse through their entire online catalogs (as well as Rainbow Resource) and download lots of samples of anything that looks remotely interesting, then spend a bit of time going through the samples later.
I also look through currclick, we currently use the Anti-Coloring Series (my daughters favourite resource, she could probably do all of the books in a day if I allowed her, so I slowly pace it between other stuff like the above) and will eventually get some things like Right-Brained Math.
I also keep an eye out for cartoon based maths like Beast Academy. Theres a japenese cartoon series for Algebra etc, and I found "I love Hands-on Math!" which has cartoons in it that remind me a bit of kawaii style.
As for actual serious formal logic, I know a number of programs, but none I can think of that are visually-oriented. I haven't looked at Critical Thinking Co, but I'm pretty sure theres a couple of good logic-based books in the middle grades, and I *think* one is quite pictorial, but not certain, as we are not at that stage yet.
I hope you get a reply thats a bit more helpful than mine!
xxx
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Also, I don't think you'd want to start at that book for your 7 year old. A 7 year old would probably be better off in Fast Track. I started my then-5 year old at Dancing Bears A. I never did the Bearing Away book. It says Bearing Away is for students with "complex learning difficulties". I think that goes beyond just your basic dyslexia and such. Click on the "where to start with reading" link on the top left side of the page to get advice on a starting point. My 5 year old had no trouble with DB A, and he is a bit of a late bloomer (compared to his brothers) and struggled a bit with reading.
Thanks for all your info! :) I appreciate it.
My daughter actually does have problems with reading. We've been through multiple learning to read programs since 2010, I looked at the "where to start" and it was a toss up between Bear Neccessities and Bearing away. I decided it was better to have her "fast track" through Bearing Away if neccessary, than to get BN and realize it was going too fast or she gets lost again.
Our current phonics program is so-so. I love the readers and the software, the word families and following workbooks, but its total of "phonics - learning to read" is very very simple. Its an alphabet workbook, and althought we are working our way slowly through that, I have the feeling its going to go the same way as ETC, no memory of doing it/forgetting it. To me DB seems to be similar to 100ez or OPGTR but more interesting for the child, and hopefully no dramas with the "a" sound or other sounds that are different. We tried both 100ez (lesson went on for too long, took forever and she literally fell asleep rofl, we forged ahead, but it was just frustrating and annoying her) and OPGTR (similar problem as 100ez). I will continue to do the worksheets for our current program (since each "sheet" by itself only takes a few minutes) but would really like a program I can start seeing results on rather than working our way through the letters only to get 3/4 of the way through the year to begin CVC and joining, and realize she's forgotten her letters again, or has problems blending with this program (she had big problems blending at all, she relies on guesses, and most of them are shockingly wayy off.) Our current pre-cvc is just too lax, but there isn't a great amount out there for us. And the program itself is really meant more for schools, not really something (IMO) as a whole program, meant for homeschools (unless you have about 10 kids your teaching at the same time. The lessons are more based around school methods of using other kids to teach other kids, so not everyone being involved, whereas at home you and your child have to interact to do the lesson. )
I figured she needs an intensive program, my son needs a multi-sensory intensive one, and my littles is quite young, therefore BA would suit her. This way they can all do the "same thing" (they are obsessed with doing the same as each other) but work at their own pace through the program, plus have a bit more scheduled one-on-one time with mum each day. And they can each use either the IPAD or computer software part of the current program I use, whilst the third child is doing DB with me (at least thats the plan).
I'm just really starting to see the same things as ETC happening all over again, and its kinda making me paranoid :( I probably would of attached onto DB ages ago if I had been fully aware of what it was. We need something that isn't connected too much with writing, is multi-sensory but not as fiddly or teacher intensive as Happy Phonics (I've said it before, and I'll say it again, that is a rude phrase in my house!) catered to UK/Aus and would suit all my kids for them to at least "start" on the same level.
I wish I knew more about the tiles, I will have to research on them. I have AAS tiles here, but I like the idea of plastic tiles like BambinoLUK/scrabble, which is what they look more like. If I was just hs'ing DS and was American I would probably just chuck in the whole kit and kaboodle and get Sing, Spell, Read and Write (or something along those lines with Singing, jumping madly about, playing 100s of games, reward charts, etc) but I'm teaching 3, and I have limited amount of energy with CFS (plus I'm planning to purchase Rightstart, and apparently have to put together a chemistry science year for A (according to her lol) so thats enough craziness and excitement for me.
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I found Dancing Bears and realized its a UK Programme (We're living in Aus, but DH is UK) I originally thought it was another US programme (i.e. unusable) but found that out, then found out they had an Aussie Store....HOW did I NOT know this? Anyhoo....
1. What I wanted to know from US people is if they know whether their programme is different from the UK programme, or is it just a difference of being printed in the US rather than UK. I'm just wondering if there is any difference between shops (i.e UK/USA/AU).
2. Secondly is regarding Bearing Away. From what I *think* (I.e. am probably completely wrong, rofl) they are consumable workbooks, therefore to teach 3 students, I need three copies of Bearing Away, is that correct?
3. For some really, super annoying reason, the tiles/starter pack for Bearing Away isn't in the Aus store (I mean, really?!!!?) I'm under the impression I only need one set of tiles, since they aren't in the store, where do I get them from??
4. If someone has a link to the Yahoo Group and contact details for the program company (when I go to the contact page, its completely blank and I can't find an email address elsewhere on the site) that would be helpful.
I might of thought of contacting the Aus store person, but she seems to own a whole different, what looks like competing business that shows no mention of the DB/BA, so I would rather ask here or find contact for the Promethean people/DB Owner.
Thank you SO much if you can help at all, if I sound a bit brunt I apologize, I have a little headache, and keep getting interrupted by my dogs lol. Iim very excited to have found this program though. Aus or Aus usable phonics programs are far and few.
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Ecclecticmum, I see Live Ed in your siggy. It looks so beautiful online. I drool when I look at the samples. Is it worth the $ in your opinion? How do you combine it with Oak Meadow? Thanks!
Hi, sorry for the delay. I had to overhaul my sons program and was looking for free online stuff to supplement his subjects until I can get the money to purchase some things for him.
Live-Ed is beautiful, and Rainbow (Rosenbloom) is wonderful, sweet and very understanding.
To me, it is worth the $$$ but it depends HOW you want to use it. I have almost every waldorf and waldorf inspired curriculum, and Live Ed is completely different from the rest.
I'll have to give you a little overview so you can understand.
I LOVE the idea and theory of waldorf education and am thoroughly interested in Mr Steiners works and how it compares to modern day child expert opinions. Surprisingly, a lot of it matches up. Rudolph Steiner was a very, very spiritual man with big opinions, and people who do basic research on him usually find some more weird comments from him and freak out, lol. But I have found that basically everything hes said in regards to education, no matter how spiritual or "weird" the comment may sound, actually adheres to what current day experts believe on the subject. He just comes from a spiritual perspective and the experts side from a mainstream scientific perspective.
There are some aspects that are either not suitable in our lifestyle or that I do not want to do.
Blocks are one of these. Although we may look into block methods later on, for now we prefer a FIAR kind of approach: Monday Math, Tuesday Social Studies, Wednesday Science, Thursday Language Arts, Friday is Kindergarten & Movement day (this can also be a day for field trips, PE, sports, etc. Its a day for focusing on the little ones, and for "moving".) We also do circle time the next morning and revisit the previous' days subject via stories/re-enactments, stuff that gets the kids involved and interested in retelling the lesson (this is a way I found to have them "sleep" on the lesson and re-awaken it the next day, which is one of the concepts behind blocks (another is immersion, which I can't see another way of doing other than block teaching. )
Waldorf also is grounded in anthroposophy (see my above paragraph). This means those that blindly get a waldorf curriculum, may be suddenly stunned by the science or maths somewhere down the road. Anthroposophy translated basically means "human wisdom". Its not a religion, but a spirituality. Although Steiner has opinions on Christianity, and several things do stem from that.
Finally the essential part of Waldorf Education is that the teacher is teaching from herself, not others, hence why its impossible to find a waldorf curriculum that is already setup. The point of waldorf ed is drawing from ones own self, ones own experiences. So curricula that are set-up are not going to be waldorf, I'm afraid to say, no matter how they may advertise it as so.
There are several programs out there, so I will just name a few (there is a point to this post, hang on with me for a minute!):
Alan Whiteheads Spiritual Syllabus: Mr Whitehead has his own strong opinions, and this resource is very esoteric and hard to understand, its also grounded firmly in his beliefs and experiences. I would honestly find it hard to make a curriculum out of this, certain parts are inspiring, but the book is basically random articles/photocopied bits from various times all stuck in together. The result is it reads like listening to your grandfather embellish and waffle on about random subjects before suddenly stopping and going on about a completely different random subject. The Steiner Homeschool book isn't too bad though, and I have been thinking about getting the Primary one as it has a curriculum overview for the primary years (as all I have been using the Syllabus & extra books (crafts, art) for is to write down the titles/headers for blocks for that particular class.
A Little Garden Flower: If I didn't have any maths curriculum and needed an outline on a budget, I would get hers, elsewise its pretty similar with ideas from any other waldorf place. Her grade books are a bit too seasonal in the way that I'm not really seeing much learning happening. It is what it is, lol. Her late to the grade books are good for reading and for an overview of the year. I'm sure, honestly, that her stuff is great, but I have been a little too pampered with researching, reading and other curriculas.
Christopherus: First of all, let me say I LOVE DONNA, and i LOVE her audio talks. Really truly wonderful. She is down to earth, funny, and gets to the root of the problem. As for her syllabus (1st grade) I am not so thrilled with it. Its a great Syllabus (honestly) for anyone who wants to do waldorf, simple and basic, yet thorough, grounded in her good sense, for me it had too little science (but we are science crazy here), and the only thing I liked was the Health curriculum page in the back (which is not a good reason to keep it rofl). There is just no magic to me in this program, its too straightforward, obviously great if your a mum of multiple kids, want waldorf, but don't have any free time to make up your own blocks. Obviously since its pre-setup, is another reason its not true/pure waldorf. Its partially scripted, and is basically "Donna in a box" because its her stories, her lessons etc. Its Waldorf made Simple. I love Donna though, and may buy stuff other than her syllabus over the years, and will definitely be purchasing each grade level audio as I need it.
Enki: I am still saving up for this, but it will be another resource, another way of thinking/looking. Enki is not waldorf. Enki is inspired by Montessori, Waldorf, Scientific Research and the United Nations School. Its basically (to me) waldorf in the mainstream world. Looking out for the childs best interests, grounding itself in research and two wonderful styles, backgrounded in a well known school. Enki is basically your own giant resource library in a box. It gives you the resources (stopping you from having to go to the library to create your blocks) for each grade level. But you still have to create your blocks. It gives you the resources, you have to do the planning. So quite intensive. If I was only h/sing one child, I would start of with Enki and the Internet, because Enki fits in with my views. But I'm not, and using Enki as our curriculum would drive me insane (3 levels of Enki.....ahhhh) So I plan to purchase it for what it is, a giant resource library, plus being a more scientific view on waldorf-inspired ed.
Oak Meadow - Is obviously not waldorf, lol. It was created in part by a waldorf teacher (somehow, my brains a little fuzzy in that area) was waldorf-inspired in the beginning, then changed again in about the 80's to conform more to standards. BUT it has that waldorf flavour, feel and touch of magic, is gentle, laidback, and is not blocked, is 3/4 planned, and allows me to use it in my ala FIAR days. I use this as my "waldorf in a box" having something pre-setup so I don't have to add anything extra if I don't want, and so hubby could just open and teach, if needed. Its also light enough to add on the unit studies and bits my children go through. And I like the program all the way upto highschool.
So I am a mother that is inspired by waldorf, and deeply interested in furthering my understanding of it. Learning about waldorf whilst using a secular curriculum allows me to adapt the bits I like and can use from waldorf, and not have to be "tweaking" my curriculum to pull out unwanted bits. So we have our head lesson in the morning which is OM, heart lessons in the middle of the day (Monday - Baking, Tuesday - Modelling, Wednesday - Painting, Thursday Foreign Language etc), and our hands lessons in the afternoon (handwork, crafts etc). I use waldorf resource books and others to help cement ideas from Oak Meadow.
Live Ed: Live Education! is fantastic. As for making it into a workable curriculum its as much work as any other "proper" waldorf curriculum would be, they are giving you the insight, but you, yourself have to create the curriculum. So its not LE thats intensive, its the fact its waldorf. If you want waldorf, your going to be creating it yourself, one way or the other, as thats the only true waldorf there is. Waldorf teachers can give you examples and the tools, ideas and inspiration, but you must be the one to make it concrete. I have heard some levels/subjects are a little more concrete, but I don't think any of it is pre-setup.
The main reason why I purchase Live Ed, is simply because it is Waldorf Teacher Training in a Box. LE teaches you HOW to teach, gives you the background and knowledge needed to feel comfortable teaching, inspires you, and provides the references needed to help you on your way. Waldorf Teacher Training takes 5 years, then after that there are further specialities/courses like Eurythmy. It means you can't properly teach your children or anyone waldorf for a minimum of 5 years. This way, I can learn from the comfort of my own home, and just for the grades I need right now. I also do book studies of various Steiner books, plus other books.
Waldorf Kindergarten: Seasons books (winter,spring etc) I've found are great for preschool/pre-k before OM, they have ideas/activities/crafts/recipes/holidays etc the Intro Book and First Seven Years books are more of an introduction to waldorf philosophy and the stages. So kindergarten is a little different from the rest of the grades from what I can see.
Waldorf First Grade: Gives introductions, information, background, how tos, whys, and plenty of other info on most of the things covered in OMK/1, it complements nicely because its telling you how to teach subjects you would be teaching in OMK/1.
A fair few people seem to combine Christopherus & Oak Meadow (I was looking at doing this) but to me they cancelled each other out. It was like having copies of the same curriculum, really. One block teaching and donnas stories, striaght forward; and the other more traditional, weekly teaching, and a bit more vague/magical.
All of the above is of course, my opinions & views from my current lifestyle/beliefs, so may not of course, match others opinions.
Hopefully I have answered your question (in a very babbling, round-a-bout way ;) And scuse any grammatical errors or typos, its a long post, and I'm madly typing away before I get interrupted!
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I love to see "a day in the life" with RS A or B, just seeing lessons samples or people raving about how good it is, hasn't really helped, lol. I need to more see it in action, know how a typical lesson goes, how long it takes etc
I'd also like to know the differences between the "new" RS and the old RS, whether its actually better or has been "dumbed down" for standards.
99% of threads I read say they love RS, but the other 1% scare me. I have seen one person say that after a year of Rightstart, the child forgot everything. Considering how teacher intensive RS is supposed to be, this scares me, putting in all that effort only for it to amount to nothing (I suppose it scares me because its happened before, with ETC, everyone raved about it, we used it for a year, and my eldest just didn't remember anything (we were also using the TG, so using full lessons) so I don't want that to happen again.
If anyone knows the comparison between RS A & MUS Primer (is RS A below (or starts below) MUS P?). My son has special needs and whilst he does a fair shot at counting the first lesson of MUS just assumes your child can count, figure out the numbers etc, and jumps crazily from there. I had heard good things about MUS and SN so I was excited about it, its now in storage awaiting the slight possibility of starting it next year. He liked the blocks, but wasn't really engaged with it iykwim?
How good is RS for a very physical, doing boy? How much does it assume the child knows before starting? He's very good at analogies, creative thinking, puzzles, geometry etc. He's more of a right brained learner, and learns from Audio-Visual/Musical and lots of manipulatives. Its a lot of $$$ and we are currently on a tight budget.
Could you do something like RS once a week, and more worksheet/simple things on the other days? I only ask because we order our days ala fiar, so Math is Monday, we do worksheets/more independant work for maths on other days, but Monday is our proper/intensive maths day.
Thanks to anyone who can help!
Which Winter Promise programs are easiest to use as a secular curriculum?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
We have a couple of their programs. Their older programs were much easier to secularize (newer ones tend to use god-centered encyclopedias). But really most of them are easy to make secular. Really easy. Theres a secular WP Yahoo group that can help you out about which resources should be replaced, or just email winter promise and ask which you need to replace for a particular program.
The guide itself is really easy to secularize, I just then look at the resource books they want me to use, look them up and preview them. If they're god-centered (like the animal encyclopedia or student text in the new Animal Worlds is) I either look to see what an older version of the curricula used (I happen to have a really old AW guide, so I just opened that up and saw what they previously used) or I just look around for a suitable substitute that would cover the same things (like Usborne encyclopedia or something). I leave off devotions books. done. lol.
It sounds complicated but it isn't. It takes a few minutes to look at everything and figure it out. Some I replace anyway (my kids don't like colouring books or dot to dots, so I either leave them off, replace with another hands on activity book, or find something else suitable on the web.)
We have Hideaways in History (2011 version, plus newer bits I purchased off them as ebooks like the replacement for the castles book (which I had the castles book, but their own book they made has simpler versions of the hideaways), Animal Worlds (combined, I have a very old guide, and purchased the brand new version as an ebook package last year), and I think I have a few other bits and pieces as well. The hideaways in history exclusive spine is a little christian centered, but, my kids, although liking the characters (and I purchased them "real life" versions of the characters too) the spine was just too long and drawn out for them (they're not at the historical chapter book stage yet, SOTW did the same thing).