craftyerin
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Posts posted by craftyerin
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I combine Bible, History, and science with MFW. It does work really well for different learning styles. The appendix has long lists of books for book basket that go with the topics. My oldest avid reader reads & reads and learns a lot that way. I also use HOD & Beautiful Feet books for his book basket reading. My second is hands on and wants to do. The curriculum has plenty of hands on learning for him to do & it increases his learning and enjoyment: he couldn't do work sheets all day at his age or with his personality without really disliking school. MFW has been good for both of them for different reasons.
This is really encouraging! I have been leaning toward MFW for when we're finished with FIAR in another year or so.
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I have very close in age kids (12 months apart) with extreme differences in abilities and temperaments. I do FIAR (literature, history/social studies, science, art) and our Charlotte Masony stuff (picture, composer, and nature study) with all of them combined. I cannot do 3Rs combined. Even in subjects like math and handwriting where they're actually all using the same curriculum and in roughly the same place, to try to teach it to the group makes me completely bonkers. I do FIAR with all, 3Rs with the older, then 3Rs with the twins. That's our general daily routine. And reading is actually split up completely--can't even keep twins totally together for that. I've tried, and it just frustrates us all. We have much more peaceful days when I do separate short lessons with individuals (even if it's the same math lesson twice in a row with different kids) than to try teaching together for kids who learn so differently.
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I have a squirmy just-turned-6yo who hates chapter books. He tolerates some picture books. It's a chore. I have the most success if I don't try to do the snuggle-on-the-couch thing. If I go sit on the floor near blocks or cars and read while he plays or if I sit us all at the table with play doh or coloring, we get WAY more cooperation. Of course, my twin 5yos are happy to cuddle on the couch and read, so sometimes, I just don't make it mandatory and let him skip out. It frustrates me, because I WANT him to like it, but he doesn't. I'm slowly making peace with that.
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Currently it is 92 here, which sounds not bad at all, especially for NOLA in July. But with the humidity, the heat index is 104. Gross. It's been that way for a couple of months how, and we've got a good 3 more to go.
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dp, sorry!
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And I wonder though, does the heat in the south tend to be dry? Here it tends to be extremely humid on top of hot. So it feels like being in a tropical rain forest. And I know that because I went to a zoo that had a tropical rain forest exhibit and that is exactly how it felt! LOL
Not here! It's HOT + HUMID. It's not uncommon for me to step out of an air conditioned building or my car in the summer and have my glasses fog up because of the heat and temp. Ridiculous.
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I'm sure there are southerners with no air conditioning, but I don't personally know any. I can't imagine! We are in New Orleans, and it's HOT!!
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What you're describing is the reason I gave up my dedicated school room. I found that we were just happier in the main part of the house!
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Any of the longer haired dolls, especially the ones with curls, will tangle easily. If you only use a wire bristled brush on it, and brush in sections with a misting of water, you'll be fine. You can always keep it in braids if you find it tangles excessively until she's more confident in dolly hair care. Caroline is a beauty!
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I tried when my twins were 2 and my oldest was 3. We lasted about 3 weeks. It was just too much for me to put together every week at that age, when really, they didn't need anything structured. I had friends who loved it, though. I think it's personality dependent. Can't hurt to see how it works for you!
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There are actually very few FIAR volumes that are out of print, and we are finding no lack of material to cover at least 2 (and likely 3) years of school using FIAR as our core curriculum.
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Yes! IMO, the worksheets for the first 2/3 are nothing special. It's coloring pages for all the uppper case letters in the first third, and then lower case letters in the second third. The last section was more valuable, I thought, when they started working with letter sounds. We loved AAR pre-reading. I hope you do, too!
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When I taught, we used graph paper spiral notebooks, had the students fold them length wise for 2 columns, and it worked out beautifully. It's what I plan to do once we get out of the stage of workbook math.
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Yes, there is a blogger mama who gave an enormous gift of her time and energy to FIAR mamas everywhere by creating this spreadsheet.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050206092624/http://members.aol.com/dwalheim/SeasonFIAR.html
I have referenced this spreadsheet many times! I have a printed copy in my planning binder. Also, at the bottom, there is a "back to FIAR main page" button where she has some other spreadsheets, organized differently, or with different content. This was the one I have found most helpful, though. -
I think the WTM and Charlotte Mason concept of narration is the best way to develop reading (and listening) comprehension in young children.
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This thread is making me have baby fever. I love baby wearing. ;)
:iagree:
the number one thing I miss about my children's infancy!
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Ring slings and ergos were my favorite (I had multiples of both, but I also had multiples--and DH and I both would babywear on outings). My favorite ring slings are these.
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Hello! I'm curious of those of you who have been to both, which you prefer and why? I don't have a BJ's close so that's out. I try to buy staples in bulk but also get processed things too. Big money savers for me at Costco include cheese, deli meat, hot dogs, frozen fish, meat, milk, peanut butter, butter, nuts, boxed juices, ravioli, and sometimes snacks. I also get some fruit while there but not much because of relative cost and quantity. I hear Sam's club has popcorn kernels, which I do go through a bit of from the regular grocery store. I also like Costco's little workbooks and easy readers at the tables, though I don't buy a lot of new books often. One thing I've noticed about Costco is they don't have a lot of "healthier" options (low fat, etc). I haven't been to Sam's so I'm curious what they have.
ETA -- I heard Sam's club is also cheaper for a membership...
Of course, every family's definition of healthier food options varies, but I find Costco's selection of snacks to have far more healthy items than Sam's. We are gluten and dairy free, and they always had more at Costco that worked for us than Sam's does.
We lived in Houston for years and had a choice. I tried both, and VASTLY preferred Costco. We are in New Orleans now, and have only had Sam's. I've used it, but really dislike it. Whoever said above that Sam's feels like a giant Wal-Mart is dead on, IMO. NOLA is getting its first Costco in August and I can't WAIT!! As soon as it opens, I'll never go in Sam's again.
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Interesting. I'll be watching this! WE don't have to report until next year (oldest is 6), but I'm curious!
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I own both. I use Phonics Pathways. My reasons were similar to boscopup's. But as to their content and how far they'll get your reader? Totally comparable. Take your pick. I was able to check both out of the library and compare them. Maybe see if you can do the same?
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Since you both brought up me pushing him into Saxon 1, I would just like to point out that this is the recommended course of study of VP and many others who use Saxon (using it one grade ahead). It's not me willy-nilly trying to push him ahead.
Yes, absolutely. Many people do use Saxon a year ahead, and I think it's doable for some kids, and can be really good. It does sound to me that it may be ahead of where your little guy is right now, though. I also have a newly 6yo and he isn't ready for that.
I taught in a classical private school that used Saxon ahead, but they did the K book and part of the 1st grade book in 1st, and a mixture of the 1st and 2nd grade books in 1st. They were fully a year ahead by 2nd grade, working in book 3, and we did 5/4 in 3rd grade (my class). That seemed to be a gentler approach, if using Saxon ahead is important to you.
If you're committed to staying with Saxon, then backing up is probably your best bet. If not, I might suggest another publisher's first grade book instead. I'm planning to use Math Mammoth. There are many options, though, as I'm sure you're aware.
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What makes our learning space comfortable is that it's the middle of our home. We use our kitchen table, our kitchen bar, our couch. We moved all of the school stuff out of what had been our designated school room about 6 mos ago because we realized that no one wanted to be confined to one room together all day. We were dragging our school stuff out into the middle of the house every day. So, we went with it, rearranged, and love it! No regrets!
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Mine's back up! So thrilled!
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We lived in Houston as newlyweds and spent our first anniversary at an adorable bed and breakfast near Brenham. Sweet couple, lovely location, peaceful weekend. Highly recommend it! http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/texas-washington-brazosbedandbreakfast.html
What planner are you using for this fall?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
DIY paper planner. I just it together this week and I'm excited to try it out!