unity
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Posts posted by unity
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How or why do people list books for one cent? Is the understanding that they will get the 3.99 credit for postage and handling, but the book will not cost that much to ship, so they will make perhaps a couple of dollars on the book sale?
Yes, that's it, I think. If you sell a lot of books and get envelopes really cheaply, you might net a profit of 25 cents to a dollar for a sale, depending on how heavy the book is. Also sometimes I've noticed sellers putting advertising in cheap books, so maybe they hope that the cheap sale will lead to another sale. More than once I've gotten a Bible/Christian tract in with a cheap book, so I suspect that the book sale may be doubling as a ministry.
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Oh, I agree. I actually did a new document for myself one year, using copy and paste and deleting the parts we weren't using, because I was doing the Independent Student assignment myself with a younger student.
That's a good idea! I probably would have done better if I had done something like that. That's pretty much what I do now to make TOG usable for me...I have to type up a weekly assignment from the so-called "buffet." Otherwise I just get overwhelmed feeling like I should be doing everything. Of course, a big part of the appeal of WP is how it is considered to be "open and go." So doing that sort of defeats that. Even if you had to do that extra work, WP still breaks down the assignments, assigns craft and movie and web pages projects, and has a lot going for it.
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You get TWO sets of assignments- the teacher assignments and one for the students' independent work, which you can just hand to them and let them go to town on.
Yeah, but I have to admit it drove me nuts that the parent schedule did not also show me the independent work, and that I had to flip back and forth between two schedules to see all the work assigned in a week. I prefer to have all the week's work on a single page.
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I'm gonna defend WP here, even though their products don't work for my family.
First off, I totally agree that they are a kind company. I emailed them a few years ago with some kind of suggestion/complaint and I remember I got an incredibly long, personal email back from Karyn. Their customer service helped resolve my immediate concern and Karyn answered my more general gripe. Oh—I remember—it was about one of their resources being labeled consumable when it was clearly not consumable as there was essentially nothing to write in it about. I was very annoyed that I had bought multiple copies based on their recommendation. I didn't in the end agree with what Karyn was saying, but I did feel heard and important, if that makes sense.
Regarding prices, when I bought the package for QMA I spent a long time comparing Amazon and WP, and in the end WP was either cheaper or almost the same price as Az. I went ahead and bought from WP, and although some of my products came in multiple shipments, I was ordering at least 6 weeks before the start of my program so it was fine. That said, one item that I guess was from the craft supply kit came a laughably long time after I ordered---like, at least a year and maybe 18 months. I was mystified one day to get an odd package from WP, and this was well after we were finished with the program. It turned out to be about 10 foam boards, which I guess I was entitled to but had never received.
As I said, I have vowed I won't use their products again, but really this is only because they didn't work for my family. I love the catalog and the website and the idea, so I have gotten seduced a few times, and I almost need to be firm with myself about this. But AW and QMA were both not great for us, so I don't want to try a third time. I guess if I had to put my finger on our main complaint it was that it was too much and too Christian. Too much about animals (AW) and too long on the time period (QMA). And I found both of those programs very difficult to secularize. I'm Christian so I don't mind a little Christian flavor to my homeschool but this was too much for us. In AW it was pretty easy to just leave out the Christian books but in QMA the whole flow of the course was influenced by its focus on Christian history.
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My kids largely enjoy SL books (except for my dd, for whom the majority are too emotionally hard-hitting), but they don't seem to make the history connections that they're supposed to make. They retained very little from the 7 SL cores we did. Great books, but not great history learning for our family.
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Also WP is definitely not secular. We didn't like Animal Worlds either. I agree that an animal study would be pretty easy to flesh out with library books or a series of books that you like. If you want something methodical you could just sketch out a vague plan organized by habitat or taxonomy, whichever you think would be more fun. If you use OSS books, you'd probably go by habitat, but if you go with library books, you could study study one animal group per month or so. Easy and very cheap.
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My daughter just quit in December, but it was level 6 compulsory and I was paying $3200/yr tuition plus about $500/yr meet-related expenses.
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I also had my gown turned into baptismal gowns. I got three of them out of my dress, and two of them have already been worn twice. I'm pretty certain that they will be worn again, and I suspect my children will fight over them for their kids. I don't think my wedding gown, unaltered, would have had such a great future.
My gown was somewhat quirky even at the time, and I think my daughters will enjoy picking out their own gowns.
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When my boys were in 4th grade, they were also working at about an 8th-grade level for science, so I used Singapore's Interactive Science curriculum. I bought the lab supplies and did all the labs, so it was very hands-on and very advanced. It sounds like your daughter is probably beyond My Pals Are Here, and the Interactive Science is the next in the series:
http://www.singaporemath.com/Interactive_Science_s/68.htm
It was very challenging for my gifted learners, but exactly what I was looking for. We went through both levels of that program, then did Singapore's O-level Biology, before moving into calculus-based physics. (The boys are now in 7th grade).
For math, I second the AoPS recommendation, assuming she's beyond Singapore Primary Mathematics 5b.
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DVD
Whale Rider
Books
9 True Dolphin Stories
Dolphin Adventure/Treasure/Freedom
Dolphin Diaries Series (think it's OOP)
Dolphins at Daybreak (or whatever; the Magic Tree House book)
Sorry totally can't think of any about whales...
NOT Island of the Blue Dolphins, which really doesn't have much to do with Dolphins. :tongue_smilie:
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No. Way.
I think that curriculum would be torture with a student who doesn't enjoy the LOTR. (We had fun with it! But I would not recommend it in your case.)
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I checked Amazon myself and I am not sure what you were looking at but the new edition of the Guide Pedagogique level 1 is from $38.95. That is a great price. I haven't seen the new edition of Alex & Zoe but assuming they didn't mess things up from the first version, I think it's a great program. I am finally on to level 2 of Alex and Zoe, and having done the first level, I am convinced by the method. I do wish there were more to the workbook, because I did have to make up other opportunities for my daughter to write French, but then again she's on the old side for the program. It took us much longer to get through level 1 than I had thought it would---there's just so much more content than I had thought. When I insisted on full competency on every new topic and vocabulary taught before moving on, well, it took a bit longer than expected.
Great program.
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No rotten tomatoes, please, but that was my experience with Sonlight. All cuddles and great books, until after 5 years I realized that my kids had poor writing skills and almost no memory of the history we had allegedly covered.
I still use most of the literature, but I don't trust it for history and wouldn't go near it for LA.
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dress up (especially tutus). Schleich animals. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn to say please tea set (the only "musical/talking" toy in the house). Play-do. Paint.
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I love that name.
Also fwiw my parents changed my name at a couple months old and I'm so glad they did. I like the name they changed it to much more than the first one.
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"Eventually, he enrolled at California State University, and since it did not have a film school, he majored in English."
I,cc {D,I}
The comma separates the two independent clauses and is placed before the conjunction. The second independent clause (he majored in English) is preceded by a dependent clause, which is set off by a comma. I agree that one could punctuate with a comma after the "and" (with or without the comma before the and), but I prefer this punctuation.
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Very light writing.
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Cool! There's so much good curriculum out there and it's fun to make a custom program. Can be a lot of trial and error, but you can resell some of it if it doesn't work out for you. Not Calvert, of course, so that's a real negative.
For the boys I never went back. I actually was toying with the idea for 8th grade, but the problems from K are still there. The boys are way out there in terms of math and science ability, so the math/science/technology component of Calvert 8 would be useless to them. I doubt the English would challenge them either. I know you can opt out of math, but not science or the rest. I did like the lesson guides and all the suggestions, etc...but I don't think a boxed curriculum will work unless a child is mostly on grade level with all subjects. That hasn't described my older boys since...well, ever.
But, I do still think it's a comprehensive, well-done program, so I check in periodically when planning another year's curriculum for other children. I have thought of using it for my daughter, and particularly might pick it up in 6th grade for her, since I don't like TOG 1 and I know that's the year they do ancients. She is a big box-checker, and I know she would respond well to the IG.
And, as I've said, I'm using Calvert 1 with my 5 yo (afterschooling) but I'm tweaking...for example, I just bought the Maps, Globes book level B off of Amazon when I realized that the level A was far too easy for him. That means, of course, that the IG is no longer useful for Maps, Globes, but I just use it to remind me to work in that book a little with him. It's a drag, but I'd rather do that than waste time with a book that's too easy.
Best of luck finding great curriculum choices for your daughter! Don't forget to have fun with her. :-)
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So what did you decide to do? Just curious.
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I think both of your plans, and those suggested by other posters, are all good. It's kind of hard to mess up Kindergarten, as long as you keep it fun. If she enjoys it and learns some, great!
Calvert and HOP are going to teach reading in very different ways. HOP is just a lot of lists of words, and endless reading/flashcards/etc. Very few workpages. Calvert, otoh, has work pages and activity suggestions and approaches literacy and numeracy in many different ways. Of course it's textbook-based, obviously, but the textbooks aren't the whole picture--as you know from Calvert 4.
I enjoyed Calvert Pre-K enormously oh-so-long ago, and I thought Calvert K was a good program, too. My problem was that it turned out that my oldest boys were way ahead of the curve and the whole K program was far too easy for them. I think they finished it in 3 months. For those boys I had to ditch Calvert. I still think it's a very solid program, and I've picked it up again for my K-er, but now I'm using Calvert 1 with him. I'm more experienced now, so it doesn't freak me out that several portions of it are too easy for him. Instead I just enjoy what works, and am using it to make sure he gets lots and lots of writing practice. I love the little games & activities suggestions.
So I voted Calvert. I've also never been drawn to FIAR, so that influences my vote. I didn't like the samples, and I know the program would drive me nuts. I don't need every activity or learning experience to tie in with a picture book I'm reading. I just like to select my own hodgepodge of reading as I go along!
Good luck!
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Thanks. I checked Amazon but they have only the text and activity book with no way to see any sample pages. I'd ideally like to compare them to other options I'm considering. I do speak/ understand French well enough to about the early high school level, so would not have a problem teaching it (done it before using the French is Fun series from Amsco but thought I'd check around to see what else is available), but would like to see what the books are actually like. I went to the Calvert site too but found it difficult to locate what I wanted. Maybe I'll check there again. However, Breaking the Barrier French is looking like a possibility--less "childish"-looking than Galore Park French.
You can buy the CDs and DVD on Amazon. The audio CDs are currently about $80. What you might consider doing is buying one of the really cheap copies of Discovering French, textbook only, to check it out. Would cost you about $4-5 to have it in your hands to see how the program works. Alternately, I think you might be able to find some sample pages on McDougal-Littel website. There is a significant (free) online component to the program (which is totally optional). You'll have to hunt for that, though.
The CDs:
Low price on the DVD is $285.
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Can one buy the Discovering French program without having to register with Calvert?
Oh, sure! It's a regular textbook for schools. You can get it off Amazon. For the very best experience using it you would want the textbook, activity book, CD set, and DVD. To save money you can buy the level 1 (Bleu) instead of 1a and 1b, and just take 2 years on the one level. You do not need the most recent version, but be aware that if you choose one of the older versions your students will learn how to say words like "walkman" and "boombox"--it's always in the technology that the language programs "age." At that unit, I just taught my kids words like "ipod." :-)
Calvert is not a bad deal, because the CDs are pricey, and you get access to them. Also they schedule it out for you. But you don't get the DVD (which I like but is not strictly necessary). Maybe you get tests, too--I'm not sure. I made up my own schedule and just bought all of it off Amazon. I'm sure I paid more than I would have with Calvert, but I get access to the audio for more than just the one year, and I can resell the components when I'm done.
It is a solid approach to French that introduces grammar in a way that flows naturally with the speaking of it. It doesn't front-load a ton of grammar that kids are expected to memorize before they can use it. Instead, it moves along at a pace that is always demanding a steady amount of work, and introduces grammatical constructs when needed. I don't think novelty in method of instruction is a great thing when you're talking about modern languages, nor do I think it makes sense to treat a living language like a dead one. This kind of textbook program (like a junior version of French in Action) is effective, steady, and moderately fun. French should be one of the fun subjects!
Bleu is equivalent to one year of high-school French. 1a is one year of middle-school French.
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We tried Mathcounts this year and it's been really fun. Actually, we kind of went on a whim to the regional competition; we hadn't prepared at all for the test or anything. But my older boys love math, went to Mathpath last summer (going again this summer), and do Calculus for their math this year. I am not their math teacher, my husband is, but I brought them to the competition.
Anyway, everyone was really nice to me, even as a homeschooler--maybe even especially as a homeschooler. One of the veteran teachers took me up to see the trophies (I didn't know there would be trophies at stake!), and when my boys placed 2nd and 6th individually after the morning tests, when I walked in, the organizer exclaimed, "There she is!" The son who came in 6th overall went on to win the "countdown" round, so we went home loaded with trophies. As I went up to accept the plaque for coach of the 2nd-placed individual, one of the other teachers called out, "Way to go! Nice job, coach!" So I definitely felt welcomed.
The boys both advanced to the state competition (phew!) and now they are studying...now that they realize they might win glory and trophies, not to mention a trip to Orlando if they do well enough! :001_smile:
I'm definitely a fan of Mathcounts now!
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I'd say to just get 1st for your ds and tagalong dd. OM 1 is very easy, and OM in general doesn't start to get challenging for quite a few years down the road. 3 and 4 were still pretty light, whereas 6 involved a lot of writing and surprised me with how challenging it was. Even that, though, could conceivably be done a year ahead.
Anyway, at this point I discourage people from making curriculum choices now based on what they think might happen in 5 years. One thing I've learned is that most people hop around curricula all the time, even if they've planned it out from PreK-12th grade. In a few years, you may have completely different needs. If you think 1st grade OM will work, go for it. It's likely OM 2 and 3 will also work for you (they are not terribly hard or a big jump), and you can figure out the upper grades when you get there.
Have you ever gone back to something that didn't work the first time?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Tapestry of Grace 1 was a bomb here a few years ago. I gave Tapestry another shot again this year (different year plan) and this time I love it. I tweaked how I approach it and also I think I just don't like Year 1, but basically I'm so glad I gave the program another shot. I think in my case it was how I approached the curriculum, not really anything to do with the kids.