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southernmama

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Everything posted by southernmama

  1. My son is dyslexic and getting him to write has been difficult. He seems overwhelmed by the process. I am looking for something to guide us through the process (so as to keep the pressure of planning off me and he seems to respond better to an assignment when it's just the *lesson plan* and not mom's idea! :tongue_smilie: ). We've used WWE through level 2, and it's been mostly okay with exception of the dictation which he just can't handle. I have to give him my own shortened version of the selection or risk him completely breaking down over the assignment. Also, while I think he's very creative, I agree with SWB that children should learn to write from reading great literature and not spend all their time coming up with their own writing. Therefore, I'm not a writers workshop fan. The problem I forsee down the road is the curriculum becoming just too hard for him, since I already see hints of frustration just with the dictation. I don't want to stifle his desire to write. Finally, cost is prohibitive for us, so I can't do something like Bravewriter. While The Write Foundation is $70 for one level, that level can be used for two years so it doesn't seem that bad. What do you all think? Any recommendations? Thoughts on The Write Foundation? He's going in to 5th grade next year and I'm starting to feel the pressure to get him writing more. :confused1:
  2. I am so sorry you have struggled so much. My son is dyslexic and has had a lot of transference from that disability into his math work. In fact, sometimes I think it makes math harder b/c I can't tell where the problems lie as easily. We have tried RightStart as well and while I feel it's an awesome way to learn math, I do believe it is going to be the worst choice for some kids. I know I would have really done well with it myself as a kid (learned a lot as an adult!). BUT, my kid did not get it at all. It was too abstract. (Which you would think would be the opposite with all those manipulatives!) And the need to "picture" things in your head was not working for him. Also, dealing with large numbers (while the explanation was logical and well done) was too much for him. The mere mention of tens, hundreds, thousands was enough to shut him down mentally. And, as I'm sure you know, once the kid is stressed, no learning can take place. Obviously, I have no idea where your dc issues lie, I can say for sure (as a former school teacher) that the right math program can really make the difference. My own child has done well with Abeka math. It is straightforward and the teachers manual is full of helps. It is a little advanced for my child. He is ending 2nd grade and will not finish the level 2 book until mid-fall. However, his learning is progressing well, so I am not worried about being a bit behind. You might look at Abeka. My number one recommendation for you is Saxon though. It is, IMO, the best program for struggling kids. The one downfall is that there is so much review. This is perfect for some kids. For my own child, it made him stop thinking. However, out of a hundred or more kids I taught Saxon to, my kid was the only one who I saw this problem in! Saxon has a manipulative kit and while the worksheets are dull to look at, they are rather short. The front is the lesson and the back is homework. We did the front and then I selected a few of the problems on the back for him to work to verify understanding new concepts or review. Also, the teachers manual is completely scripted. You will no longer need to spend "prep time" to teach a lesson as you do in RS. On other idea is Horizons. I hesitate to suggest it, though, b/c the teacher manual, IMO, is not helpful at all with how to teach difficult concepts. It basically says, teach... with no how-to. The workbook is the selling point. Very colorful and visual. Good for a workbook lover who still needs the manipulative picture. If that makes any sense! I really hope this helps. I think we all look at these fancy programs and hear how this is suppose to be the best, latest and greatest, and we are so tempted to follow the crowd (or the forum, as the case may be!). :001_smile: In the end, you need to pick what you're comfortable teaching and what your child may learn easiest from to create the best environment for the both of you. Let us know how things go! Ashlea mom to Seth, 8 and Caleb, 4
  3. I started with Saxon b/c I taught it in school and knew it was a solid program. It did not work for my child though. He was bored, and frankly the review was making things too easy for him and he stopped thinking. He could complete every worksheet perfectly, but couldn't answer questions I asked him that were "outside the box." We switched to Abeka last year after a short stent with Right Start (which I loved but was not working for his learning style). Abeka has been a great fit. Very spiral, but not so much as Saxon. You must learn to think and the paper is a little different every day. It has been much better. He is learning math and thinking! Just thought you might want another option. I looked at Horizons too and it is truly very similar to Abeka (in scope and sequence). I ended up with Abeka b/c the teachers manual was easier to use for me. Also, it has some game recommendations and Horizons doesn't "walk you through" how to teach some concepts. I appreciated the "helps." ;) ashlea
  4. When I taught second grade, one of the best things we did was start the day with a little review session. I would have a few math concepts/ times tables, a couple of history/science review questions, and always a grammar sentence. The grammar sentence would be completely wrong. No punctuation, no capitals, nothing... might even have a word missing or misspelled. Their job was to copy it on to their paper with all the necessary corrections. I really think it helped train them to think when they wrote their own sentences. I introduced some grammar concepts this way, as well as reviewed all concepts I expected them to know. Daily grams is a similar way to go. I liked this way because I could tailor my reviews to hit what I wanted. Just started doing this with my son. He loves it b/c it's like a puzzle to figure out. ;) Ashlea mom to 2 sweetie pies, 8yo and 4yo
  5. If she's doing MUS already, I'd definitely recommend 1st grade. And yes, it does have a meeting book. Same set up, just with a few additions. Ashlea
  6. RS is awesome. I learned a lot myself. It was really teacher intensive. This from a person who taught Abeka, Saxon, Horizons, and RS. (Some in my teaching career... not at home.) Teacher intensive meaning you sit and go through the whole thing, study a bit beforehand, never leave their side type of intensive. It is a beautifully done curriculum and I loved it. Lots of work. But loooovvvvveeeed it! That said, you must know your kid and that's something a lot of people don't realize with math. Saxon is repetitive. Lots of review. For some kids that's good, for others it's the kiss of death because they stop learning when all problems fit into a nice neat box. RS is learner intensive (as well as teacher!). Your kid must be able to think, visualize in their heads, be a problem solver. That drove my kid insane. Me.. I loved it. If I were a kid, it's the math I would've thrived with. Made my kid hate math. Abeka has hit the right buttons for him. Closer to Saxon in review but changes things up enough to keep him on his toes. Hope you find what your looking for. Ahhh... Rightstart. Miss you. (Still have my abacus and won't let it go!) :lol:
  7. I taught kindergarten at a classical school and have homeschooled my own both with Saxon. Questions to ask: How much is she familiar with number concepts now? Or are you just starting out? Is she holding a pencil, writing any? Or will this be her first school experience and learning to write? Saxon K is very basic. It's a wonderful pre-k program, but can also be a gentle introduction to math for those kindergarteners who have not been exposed to math concepts at all. It has no writing component at all, except for a few optional handwriting masters (learning to write numbers), and is purely a hands on experience with math - all manipulatives. Also, one of the biggest benefits of doing Saxon K is the calendar part. The students learn the calendar and count the days of school, thereby learning to count to 100. This is a huge boost before Saxon 1 for students who need it. Saxon 1 begins by expecting your child to write on day 1. There is a short overview of writing numbers in the first two or three weeks. It is worksheet based. It is solid and you can take it slowly, which I would suggest in kindergarten unless your child is catching on very quickly. There is a front and back to the worksheet. Front is meant to be done in class and the back is a repeat for homework. If you want to take it slowly, you can certainly do a lesson and the front of the page one day and then a short review and the back page the next day. This is what we did for some time in our classical school. After a few years, they wanted the kindergarteners to complete Saxon 1 and be ready for Saxon 2 for first grade and this method was abandoned. It required more from the student and parents to do homework, but most students handled it just fine. In the end, there is so much review in Saxon, it is difficult to say that your child couldn't manage to do Saxon 1. The benefit is that, as you are homeschooling, you can take it at your child's pace and have no fears. Saxon K is a shorter curriculum meant for three days a week. You could certainly do it at a quicker pace and start Saxon 1 after Christmas. I've done it the classical school way with my students and the slower way with Saxon K and my own kid b/c he was a bit behind (heart patient). Now I'm beginning Saxon K with my four year old! Oh, and yes, you can start anytime. You just use a different calendar month and substitute the appropriate wording in the teacher manual as previous post said. Hope this helps! Ashlea mom to 2nd grader and pre-K boys
  8. :grouphug: Wow! That's so funny... and yet, I know it's not so funny for you! All I can say is, if you're kid is anything like my Caleb in this area, you've gotta figure out what will motivate him. I firmly believe in the power of positive re-enforcement and have made some huge parenting mistakes of my own trying to punish or discipline in the potty arena. The best advice I did get from several older ladies (I believe in tapping the resources in those that have BTDT) was to just relax and keep encouraging. The more of an issue you make it, the more difficult it can be. Good luck!!! And let us know how things go! Ashlea
  9. I haven't read the other comments. Just jumped on here for a second. (never a good idea!) Anyway, we tried and tried and tried some more with our youngest. He is the kid that Dr Dobson wrote the books for. Very, very, very stubborn. If it's not his idea, he doesn't want to do it. I tried an m&m for every successful potty trip, I tried suckers for staying clean and dry, I tried a potty in every room, I tried just putting him in underwear so he could feel wet and nasty, I tried, tried, tried ----! I even tried giving up and letting him just want to himself one day. Nothing worked. Get it! :confused: This summer I'd had enough. The boy was 3.7 years old. I prayed and prayed some more. (Hadn't tried that before. Don't know why it's always a last resort.) Anyway, I had a revelation. We went to the store. I let him pick out a toy. (This is not what you think. Wait for it! :001_smile:) Nothing huge. Just a small transformer he wanted. After he made his choice, I put it in the cart and I said, "You can have this when you poop on the potty." He said, "Ok." (Wait. It gets better. It's not what you think, I promise.) He had an accident that day. He was really upset about it. The next day, he pooped in the potty. I screamed. Raised my hands in the air. Clapped and did the "mommy dance!" I got his toy off the shelf and said, "You get to play with Optimus Prime (the transformer) for one hour. Yea! You did so great. Just remember, he must go back on the shelf after one hour." He played and willingly gave it back to me when requested. (I think, first, because he knew it was coming, and second, because he enjoyed the little game we were playing.) The next day, miracle of miracles, he pooped in the potty again. I gave him his toy with instructions he could only have it for two hours. You get the idea now? Each time, he got it for another hour. Until, after 7 days, it was his toy for good. We have NOT had even one poop accident since! :lol: I think this worked for my Caleb for a few reasons. One: he was motivated. Two: he was regularly using the potty, he just didn't poop there. Three: he was just being stubborn and wanting to continue to be the "baby" in some way. Four: he chose a toy himself (so it was something he really, really wanted. And five: we constantly reminded him all day that Optimus Prime was waiting for him to poop. I know this is long, but I hope it helps. I spent months in tears, reading every book, seeking all kinds of advice, and after nothing working, I'm just hoping maybe to pass on what finally, FINALLY, worked for us! I send you hugs and prayers for success! And, as one older lady told me, "Take heart, honey, no one ever went to college in diapers." Happy potty training! Ashlea
  10. :bigear: Struggling with this one too. We used FLL last year, but the oral focus on parts of speech was difficult for him. I'm thinking PLL might be a better fit and we used MFW so extra helps are included in my teacher's guide. Can't wait to hear a response!
  11. SWR is based on Romalda Spalding's work WRTR. I think Wanda was trying to improve the program by making it more explicit, in that the WRTR is a bit vague in spots and hard to implement without training. The fault with SWR is that the author went a bit too far. It is very hard to decipher the process until you've been swimming in the ocean of information contained in SWR. I taught Spalding's phonics in kindergarten and second grade at a classical school before coming home to teach my own kids. It was really complex and had a long learning curve. That said, when it came to teaching my own kids. Spalding's system (laid out anew in SWR) was the one I chose. It's very thorough and rather simple for kids in that it's explicit phonics and there are few exceptions to the rules. (The rules of spelling, that is.) AAS is a very similar program, but it teaches in units where all the spelling words follow a certain rule, the new rule for the unit. Since we don't spell in a box, I felt this was an inferior way to learn. There is quite a bit of information in SWR that could be considered optional. She has a chapter on literature and the like. SWR is actually a complete language arts program. If you eliminate these things and use the spelling program alone, you will find it easier to implement at first anyway. All in all, I think if you can get through the mountain of words in SWR, you'll find in the end it's a great program. If you're kid is a natural speller, however, it would be possible to use something less explicit. My oldest is dyslexic and it is a no brainer to use SWR. One more note, she suggests making your own learning log of spelling words and rules. Many people try to skip this step. Don't. Having done it yourself keeps you two steps ahead and makes it so much easier to teach your child. Hope this helps! :001_smile:
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