Hillcrest Academy
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Posts posted by Hillcrest Academy
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We're traveling for 10 weeks and need to take our curriculum on the road. I just spoke to the TT office (Stacy) who were super helpful, and helped me get it installed without using the CD-ROm, since it doesn't have one.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, she said that the CD's are needed for the lessons, so if I could figure out how to mount them to the hard drive (the've been copied to an external hard drive and will run from there for space sake) then we'd be good to go.
I'm stuck.
Does anyone run TT on a MacBook Air without an external DVD drive? That will be a last resort, but we'd rather not have to use one as it's one less thing to carry around.
Thank you!
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Just a quick update - after much prayer and research through the night last night, and after reading many of the Sonlight vs MFW posts here, I've decided to go with MFW.
The key factor for me is that for our year this year (Sonlight B/C vs. MFW CtG) I want the Bible as a spine, not an add-on (however relevant that add-on may be to the rest of the curriculum) If I don't do one extra activity or craft, and simply read and discuss, I've done what we would be doing in Sonlight. Except with the Bible spine.
I think that's pretty much what 3peasinapod said
I don't know if it's how it is for you, but if you don't like crafts, does it make you "feel bad" to not do the crafty portion of MFW? You don't have to do the crafts. Then you have the parts you love of MFW and add in the SL books. -
I have had the same issues that you have had over the years, and have added Sonlight readers to MFW Curriculum every year. We did MFW Pre-K (don't like it) MFWK (love, love, love it - only so much in hind sight because I realize what a STUNNING, easy, wonderful, fun year we had with each other, with time for learning, and still time for playing and enjoying each other), MFW 1st (don't like it at all for my kids), MFW Adventures (we got bored) and MFW ECC (Just OK for us)
I'm surprised that I kept going back to MFW based on what I just said in the paragraph above, but I think it's the same as what you said - the Bible is core. That is huge. The Hazels are amazing. The curriculum is well-balanced and fun. I think we're the ones with the issues in that we've had a pretty traumatic 5 years and have been running in survival mode most of the time. I don't think we really threw ourselves in.
{*waving* Hi Crystal! LOL }
I am a Martha-wannabe....I am a Mary. Just like you - "much more the intellect who loves Jesus & children, than the traditional picture of a crafty cooking stay at home mom" and I also really appreciate those moms. However, I look at all those lovely, wonderful arty things people do in their home schools, and I want to try.
My daughter (almost 10 yrs old) is a reader. Avid. Devoured the entire set of Sonlight 4th/5th readers over the summer. Yeah. OK. What do I do with her now!? She's also very arty. She could do the whole of Sonlight and the whole of MFW. But she has to work on Math. She hates it. It takes her about as long as everything else does together.
Enter my leftie (right-brained) 8 yr old and he doesn't like to do anything. But once I've forced him to sit and start listening, he loves the Sonlight stuff. Don't ask him to read or write. But he remembers stuff. Numbers etc. He's good.
Enter the speech & language delayed almost-4-yr-old, and no one gets anything done. We have a developmental eval at Children's Hospital in about a month. Two weeks of public school pre-K was a nightmare. We were hoping to get school done while he was gone. But he's home. And I don't know what to do with him.
I personally have to figure out what works for all of us. On top of only having a 4-day week (co-op the other day) and a hubby who works 60 hours a week. And the fact that we're moving to Kenya as soon as we get paperwork etc sorted out (looooong process) I need to make sure that I can carry it out. That I can pull it off with the scenario I'm in now. And I think we as mothers forget that aspect. It's not going to happen if it doesn't work for me, KWIM?
So the curriculum I choose HAS to be something that I can deal with. It means that I have to take something that works for me, and adapt it slightly for each child's needs. In the end, I end up choosing what needs the least adapting. This year, that has meant Sonlight, because it doesn't involve "adapting" what I've been given, but adding in whatever is suitable for each child, since it's a lot less "all-in-one" than MFW.
I did take a peek at MFW again today (we'd be doing Creation to the Greeks first time around) but I'm just so scared to take the plunge in, because BOTH my kids love, love, love the history we're doing now. I do miss having everything in one go, tho.
I am about as torn as you are, I think, in spite of the fact that we're already 3 weeks in to Sonlight B/C (Chose not to do D because we just did Am Hist in MFW Adventures). But I just wanted to share my thought process about evaluating not only what works for the kids - they are all so unique - but what works for me and what I KNOW I'm going to get done, and what I know I'm going to skip over and is going to be a waste. I hope that hasn't confused you, but has just been some other food for thought in the direction you might go.
Please excuse the spelling etc. I've used terrible grammar. I don't teach it to me kids like this, I promise ;)
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And for some reason I'm unable to edit my FS post to show what's sold... something's up with the board! I don't think it's just you ;)
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Has anyone used the LearningSuccess Learning Style Assessment?
I'm about to do it with my daughter but just wanted to make sure it's a quality product before we take the leap.
Thanks!
Caryn
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Ladies, thank you so much for all the wonderful suggestions :) And Hannah - I am SUCH a fan! :D
I would love to get Footprints on our Land, but don't think I can justify the cost for just 3 months, especially considering how much it's costing us to get there! :ack2:
Wendi, Kearsney College is very near where my mom and brother live, so we plan on stopping by there one day. Their grounds are BEAUTIFUL!
Dawn, I have a blog at http://hillcrestacademy.blogspot.com/ but I have been a horrible blogger. You have inspired me to use it to journal our experience! Perhaps I'll start with the fact that we're leaving one week tomorrow and we still don't have two of the South African passports that we need :ack2:
One of my closest friends is a missionary in Mombassa :)
I would appreciate if you all would keep us in prayer as we wait with baited breath for the passports, and as I make decisions regarding our schooling while we're there.
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Thank you so much for the reminder - I'd forgotten about Hannah's HS helps!
Cindy, I'm South African, and left there when I was 23 so we go back every 5 years or so. This is my first time with elementary age kids, and I want to MILK the experience! LOL! My kids can't wait to see the monkeys who go into my mom's house at least 4 times a year, looking for fruit etc. It's only when she forgets to keep the windows closed when she goes out. The other day she was sitting in the living room when a "little brown face popped around the door" :) Too funny! We can't wait!
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I would greatly appreciate any recommendations for resources to study South Africa at a 2nd grade level (my 1st grader will tag along). We're going for 3 months and are dropping our regular curriculum to do an immersion study :D
TIA!
Caryn
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We bought a box of 100 straws from the dollar store, and took a staw and put it in a cup every day. When we had 10 straws, we tied them together with a rubber band. We also had a "100 chart" - a chart with 100 squares. Every day when we put the next straw in the cup, we wrote the next number on the chart. (These are both suggestions in the MFW K curriculum, although I have seen them used elsewhere)
It is very abstract for K, but it's a start and a foundation. Don't expect the numbers 1-100 to be mastered until 1st grade.
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We love it too. We're doing Saxon 1st, and already at this early stage in our HS careers we've tried Singapore, Horizons and Big Book of Math. Saxon is AWESOME!
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Thanks for the answers :)
So I'll find the correct lesson for the beginning of November and do that one, coloring in squares etc on November, but using the first arrow on Septermber's page to fill in lesson 1.
I think ;)
Thanks again!
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We just got our Saxon Math K today, and we're very excited to start. However, I was just wondering what would be the most efficient way to progress in the Calendar, since they start in September, and we're obviously in November :blushing:
We have tried MFW math, MUS, Singapore and Rightstart. My dd is in 1st grade reading on a 5th grade level, and at K level for Math. It's my fault because we've had such a hard time finding a program that we like and we want to be sure to pick the right thing now so we don't have to switch at a later stage and have to deal with filling in holes.
The Saxon K is the first one I've opened up and not been confused on the first page (can you tell I'm not a math major!?) I am very excited to start because I've read quite far into the TM and it looks perfect :) So hence the rather mundane, but important to us, question.
Thank you!
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Thank you so much for all the wonderful advice and ideas. You're right in that I believe she's at a developmentally appropriate level, so I'm not concerned about it. I just want to keep reading a joy for her, and allow her to move forward at her level with quality books.
I will definitely be looking into en electronic form of book (Christmas present? ;) ) and also the library for picture books and larger print. The Baldwin Project also looks super.
Thanks again for all the advice!
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My 1st grader is reading at a 5th grade level as far as vocabulary and most comprehension is concerned. However, she is intimidated by the small size of the print and the large size of the books that you find at that level!
Is there anything anyone can suggest for her to practice reading at this advanced level without being overwhelmed by having to read endless pages of tiny print!? The only thing I can think of is flashcards to practice vocab but she doesn't seem to think that's as fun as reading a book :D
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I agree with this. Across the board, Barack Obama is a big believer in the power of government to positively influence people's lives. Unless he had a clear record of defending and supporting homeschooling (he does not), I see no good reason to assume that he makes an exception to his general philosophy of government oversight for the issue of homeschooling. Being a proponent of government schools as the best option is entirely consistent with his record and with his overall perspective on the role of government. A pro-homeschooling candidate would also not be endorsed as enthusiastically as Obama has been by the NEA, which is firmly *anti* homeschooling. He may be "okay" with homeschooling as an option, at most.
Erica
:iagree: to this and to Jessica's statement. Obama is for govt. mandated decisions in just about everything. He talks about many things that look on the surface like they would be good for Joe the Plumber (sorry, Joe!) but in the end, it comes down to allowing our lives to be run right down to the details by the govt. Whether those details look nice (like, say, deciding whether I must have health insurance or not) ultimately, I don't need the govt deciding anything for me, and neither should any of us.
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I want my kids (all biological) to learn at least one, if not more, foreign language as part of their education. If I had adopted them from overseas and their birth country spoke a different language, I'd probably choose it as their foreign language. Why? Well, 1) Why not? 2) If it were me, I love to travel, and I'd make at least one if not more trips back to see my birth country. It would be pretty handy to know the language! 3) We are Christians, so probably the most important reason for us would be that it would provide an opportunity to go back to that country and share the gospel with them in their native tongue.
Just some thoughts from someone who hasn't adpoted any children (but who plans to, whether they're from the US or not) but who loves foreign language and travel!
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Yes, you can :) Build a frame from wood so that you can hang it and be able to turn it around (have to be able to access both sides).
You'll need to use sandpaper to roughen up the side you want to paint (to make the paint stick) and then prime it. Next comes the magnetic paint.
Works like a charm.
The other option would be to use a piece of plywood (or other wood - don't want it too heavy though) and do the same thing on one side. TO make a white board, prime it, and then paint it with high gloss spray paint. You have to use WET erase markers, though, because dry erase stains.
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People are always looking for something to criticize, and I think the issue for each of us is different.
Nobody knows your family like you do.
And good grief - 2 three hour sessions a week!!!?!?!?!?!? I hope they realized that you are managing to HS your other kiddo the rest of the time that Mr2 is home ;) It's not like he's in a straightjacket when he's not at creche!
Another thing is that different kids have different personalities and needs. I know a few families who HS some kids and not others (or one, and not the other). Not only is it a decision to be made for each family, but it's a decision to be made for each child.
GOOD FOR YOU knowing what each persons needs are - including your own with a house full of little ones :grouphug:
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Chris, I'd love to see these too :) Thank you!
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Thank you so much for all the wonderful ideas! I have an idea of where and how to start.
I compiled the answers as a reference point on my blog and if anyone would like to take a look, you can see it here.
Thanks again!
Caryn
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We have never done memorization before (aside from songs, nursery rhymes and short verses) and I'm wondering how to begin with a 6 yr old and 5 yr old?
What methods do you use?
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I took a break for a while to refocus on "real" life! I thought I'd restart my blogging with a "Wordless Wednesday" post which I've never done before :)
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You could try Cantering the Country by Geomatters (they have a ton of great geography resources) or if you wanted something much more in depth and all inclusive, you could try Adventures for 2nd or 3rd grade by MFW (www.mfwbooks.com)
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My little guy who is now 5 yrs old has always had trouble processing what is being said to him. Today we did our devotion, and I asked him the question, "Was there ever a time where you wanted to tell me a lie, but instead you chose to tell me the truth?" He understand what a lie and truth are, but had no idea what I was asking him and couldn't answer the question.
Is there something age appropriate that would help build his comprehension skills? I can't even begin to figure out what the root problem is. He's 5 yrs old, and a lefty - his thought processes are heavily right-brained.
Anyone using Monarch this year?
in High School and Self-Education Board
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Did you get the answer to this question? Curious as we will probably need to do this.