Dassah
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Posts posted by Dassah
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What a great help you've been! I have been very pleased with Singapore but it has gotten more challenging this year and I know we need more time and more review. I will research the PSLE to see if that might be a good overall review. I've also been eyeing Singapore's Discovering Mathematics 7a/b but I don't feel confident teaching beyond that level which is where Videotext comes in. Perhaps that would be another option to delay Videotext until mid-7th.
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Janet,
Unless your daughter has done some of Singapore in the past, it may be quite a challenge (more than you are looking for) to jump in after, say, Level 4. I actually think that would be a worthwhile supplement to TT but I don't know that it would accomplish what you are hoping to. I will tell you that after we finished Singapore 6a, my daughter placed in TT Pre-Algebra 2.0. She strongly disliked TT so we are back to the drawing board. It seems we have the problem in reverse (curriculum-wise). Singapore doesn't really give much guidance behind the why's ...it sort of wants the kids to figure it out. I'm sure others can discuss this with more academic accuracy than I but I think Singapore is weak in really "teaching" and strong in the "figure it out logically". My dd thought TT was too rule oriented after leaving Singapore which is why we are struggling for a good fit now. :) I'd love to hear the other responses to this! Hoping you get some.
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I'm contemplating Videotext Algebra after Singapore 6 for a 6th grader and I'm wondering if we would be best served doing a Pre-Algebra text like BJU 7 before jumping into VT? My dd is solid in math but I'd love to give her some growing time.
Any suggestions?
I posted this on the Logic Stage board without response so I'm hoping some High School moms will help me out.
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I'm contemplating Videotext Algebra after Singapore 6 for a 6th grader and I'm wondering if I we would be better served doing a Pre-Algebra text like BJU before jumping into VT?
Any suggestions?
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We use both in the early grades because our library has a poor selection and neither companies have enough for my kids (year around). By 5th grade, we stick with HOD. I trust their choices more although I have to admit that SL often times provides more interesting reads. Because of the genre-specific book choices HOD is careful to select, it inhibits my children from reading the genre they enjoy the most (mystery for one, adventure of the other). So, I tack on SL choices that I'm confident about content-wise but I we don't discuss those. Another consideration is that HOD has less books per grade because they are to be read and savored at a slower pace (especially in the middle school years). I like HOD's pace better.
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I also recommend The Easy French (Le Francais Facile). It is well planned with vocabulary (with audio), semi-immersion dialogue (with audio), Bible Verses (with audio), cultural activities and discussions and French Grammar worktext (fill in the blank but short exercises). Each lesson is between 4-6 pages typically and can be used over 1 or 2 weeks depending on your speed. French 1A covers often used phrases but at the same time teaches verb conjugations. My junior-high daughter really enjoys the program.
LFF is parent friendly and I appreciate it for its ease of use and clear expectations. I do recommend buying the Test Booklets (and answer keys). You can use them for review purposes if you aren't quite at the level where you are keeping grades. The author is very approachable for questions/comments/helps. I think it's one of the best Junior High French programs available to homeschoolers who have little or no French background.
On a side note: We spent time using Memoria Press' French 1 during 5th grade and it became a very painful exercise (the book is very straightfoward but it is dry and leaves out the fun parts that kids enjoy). We made it through a little over half of the book in one year and then decided to put it away and bring it out as review or extra work. I do believe MP French would be a good grammar workbook but when I used it alone, I had to hire a tutor to round out this curriculum. I will say that we did learn a lot but not much was enjoyed. :( If a little more "fluff" or even pictures were added to it, to make it more approachable, I'd recommend it but not before junior high and alongside something like Rosetta Stone.
Rosetta Stone: Not a bad starting place but it's expensive unless you are planning on using it for several years. I really do not like the workbook that comes with it pdf. It's very poorly organized. We use this in early grades (3rd on up) but have struggled with the microphone picking up younger higher pitched voices and it can get frustrating for the child.
BJU French 1: Another organizational nightmare and on par with the Rosetta Stone Worktext. I can't believe so many schools utilize these texts. For a child with a little background in french they are OK but just OK. For the beginning French student, hold on to your seat. Unless you have an EXCELLENT teacher who is very organized and intentional, you'll be in trouble. Not parent friendly. Not recommended.
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Updating to add that we tried TT Pre-Algebra very briefly and it was a bust. We went back and finished 6A but will most likely not complete all of 6B (we've have done and will just continue to do bits and pieces).
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We didn't use them at the same time. When we hit a road block with Singapore, we'd spend some time with MUS. :) For us that was math facts in the early years and we just needed some extra time to grow through the 3's and 4's of Singapore so we'd sometimes do a month on/off when dd would get overwhelmed with Singapore. She thought MUS was a break but really it was helping her to get her facts down and basic arithmetic mastered. Without MUS, this particular child would not have trained her brain to do things like division of fractions or even long division. She needed extra practice. I suppose I could have done this cheaper but I always intended to use MUS for HS levels so kept with it. I know this is child dependent as my younger one now is flying through Singapore with great retention and that is why we aren't supplementing with MUS at all for her.
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We used Singapore as our "core" math and added MUS for help with fact retention. To me, that was ideal. You will get the hang of Singapore if you stick with it. There is a learning curve for the mom (I had never done double digit mental math as a child and that threw me off initially). We are going through Singapore "only" for the second time with our second child (in 2B currently) and I'm really thankful we stuck it out with dd #1who loves math word problems thanks to Singapore. I'm getting ready to drop Singapore, I think, for MUS upper levels, so I am a believer in MUS. I will say that my kids prefer Singapore's workbook pages with the puzzles and pictures to color and short lessons to MUS. We did watch the video and work to mastery with MUS. However, we mastered each level of MUS much more slowly (since it's mastery based :) ). That would have kept my kids from advancing (if we hadn't doubled with Singapore) and would have made them frustrated which is why I prefer Singapore in the younger years.
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Just like any outside class, so much is dependent upon the teacher and their enthusiasm. :glare:
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I totally agree! We have used Singapore all of the way through and I've started, stopped, restarted, and stopped Singapore 6A. I've finally ditched it and we are in limbo with what to do next. I think TT Pre-Algebra will be our next move until I figure out where to go. We've all ready tried several other options without success. Just jumping in here to nod in agreement.
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Has Challenge A been a positive experience for those of you who have been through it? Has the workload been appropriate for a 12 year old or have you had to add on History, etc.?
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yes, yes...I have used R&S Spelling in the past and that's not what I'm after. :tongue_smilie: I am looking for AAS but in workbook form that I can make more hands-on a couple of times a week using letter tiles, etc. I wish I knew what I was looking for...exactly. :confused: Anyone used Building Spelling Skills from Christian Liberty Press? Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary? or How to Spell? Anyone familiar with some of these and can speak to their effectiveness?
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How old is she? Could she be too young?
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The Viking Quest Series! ...unless you are beyond that in your studies.
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Go ahead and throw darts...I'm not an AAS fan. Not because it's not a great program! It is. It's because it's tough to jump in (in my opinion) with an advanced reader in the 3rd grade AND there are too many small pieces.
I loved LLATL Blue Book to teach reading (and that had a lot of work but it all seemed worthwhile, btw). I think AAS is great, especially when starting with a younger child. We've tried Level 1 since August and still can't get into a rhythm. So, what's next. I've got a reader that easily reads 3rd Grade Detectives, the entire Magic TreeHouse Series but cannot spell to save her life.
What are my options? I want a phonics based program. She's got a great memory and quickly memorizes words without their spellings?! :confused: I'm not sure how this is possible but she reads flawlessly.
Please send ideas my way! This child is going to end up needing Spell Check way too often! :glare:
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I'm noticing that the last 3 light units of CLE 6 are very much consumer math focused. Has your experience with CLE 7 been similar to those last units? I'd like to have a better mix. CLE 6 has been a huge blessing here, however. We moved from Singapore 6 to CLE 6 for a gap filler year (well, semester ;)) and it has been an enormous confidence-boosting time. I'd love to stick with CLE for another year for pre-algebra but I've heard all of the warnings to use the Pre-Algebra base with the High School books you plan on using (ie. switching over to TT or MUS at the Pre-Alg level).
I had a chance to review TT Pre-Algebra and nothing was new until Lesson 99 after doing CLE 600's -- and that was dividing exponents. After that, it went back to geometry which we've done a fair amount of. I don't want to move into TT Algebra yet because I'd like to have more review of the basics so I think we'll move forward with CLE 700's and then reconsider which Algebra program to use next year.
Thank you for all your thoughts.
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Can you really jump to Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1 from the end of CLE 600's? :confused:
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Sue, Correct me if I'm wrong but the State Study is optional for HOD Rev to Rev anyway! By all means, make it work for you. We do about half of the suggested writing for science this year in our study. I think one of the most difficult parts of having an inclusive guide to work from is that you feel badly skipping over things or tweaking. HOD is fantastic as long as you give yourself the freedom to do those things. I'd say many people have similar issues who use Sonlight so it's not just for those of us who use HOD who struggle in this perfectly manicured world of curriculum with boxes to check. ;) I'm encouraging you to take a pencil to the State Study box right now and X it out or go ahead and check it with an X so you don't feel guilty that it's an empty square. :)
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aliac,
I'm just thinking aloud here...but have you considered doing most of HOD RtR together? After a tough year with CtC and nearly ditching HOD, we started RtR out at half-pace this year. It's been a whole new experience for us...a very good one. I read most of everything aloud and because we are going at our own pace (now at about 3/4 pace plus math each day) it's not a burden to do so. I did consider MFW RtR this year but we would have needed to skip the first 1/3 of the guide in order to not have major overlaps. I also considered Biblioplan but I love having my days carefully guided including science, etc. We are considering dropping the Philippians study only because my dd loves her current Devotional she started this summer and wants to continue it. The Bible Memory work is wonderful, songs included.
Back to MFW RtR: I did purchase and review it and I really liked what I saw but I was concerned that without the book basket, it lacked excitement. HOD RtR feels like MFW RtR with the books scheduled. A few years back when we did MFW Adventures and LOVED it, I did a really poor job of disciplining myself enough to use the Book Basket so I'm guessing that element would be lacking in our home. That's actually what sent me looking (and moving) to HOD. Sometimes, that strict schedule that defines HOD makes us feel too restricted. Whatever the case, bring the love back into your home and make your days joyful by either making a temporary change or permanent one.
Another thought might be to drop all curriculum for several months besides math/grammar and do an interest-led break. We took a full 3 months off this summer with the exception of math/grammar and it really, really helped. CtC was in-depth with a capital I-D :) but I don't feel the same frustrations at all with RtR. I love the activity choices and book selections. It feels like a completely different publisher to me and much more like HOD's Preparing. I think you might be having a hard time getting over last year (I'm still a little traumatized (lol) and I don't believe I will do HOD CtC again without making some serious history substitutions...I know some love it but it was very tedious for us).
:grouphug::grouphug:
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Have you looked into Christian Light Publications (otherwise known as CLE)? CLE Language Arts covers all of the hot topics you mentioned and comes in an easy workbook format. We use Rod and Staff but I've looked into CLE and believe it to be very thorough and nicely structured. If you are just beginning grammar instruction, I would definitely look at samples to see where your child would fit. It might not correspond to your child's actual "grade" level because of it's spiral methodology.
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Are you asking about Singapore 6A? Well, the biggest issue I can see is that U.S. 5B did not cover Algebra but Standards 5B did. So, you will completely miss out on Algebra as well as a geometry and graphing lesson group. The geometry in US 6A was covered in Standards 5B. We did Standards 5B and I switched to US 6A because I wanted my dd to review what we had learned last semester. I don't think you can really switch at 6A. You need to make a move from US 5B to Standards 5B so you don't miss out on 3 big areas.
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Aomom,
I really can relate! :grouphug: My dd really "gets" Singapore style mathematical thinking but absolutely doesn't retain simple arithmetic without extensive review (outside of Singapore). I really saw this beginning in the 4 series and it wasn't until the 5a/b series that I did something about it. We actually did an entire second math curriculum during 5th (CLE) -- well, about half of each lesson by the time I crossed-off the problems that she had mastered -- which really helped. She is now using CLE as her primary curriculum but is doing Singapore 6a simultaneously (3x/wk). We take it slow and easy but she is no longer frustrated with math.
I do not believe that Singapore AS-IS works for every child. Some need constant review. ;) I feel like Singapore is superior to most other Math programs but I absolutely do not like it's format. I so wish there was a daily 5 or so problems of review on basic maths (fractional division, decimal long division, etc.). This "easy" stuff is what my child wasn't retaining with Singapore. She needed the monotonous, boring practice to remember how to procedurally work those problems. :glare: This is the same child who can easily set up difficult math problems thrown at her through Singapore. So, not every child fits in a perfect box. She needs both the review and the challenge.
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I think this is a good mix of Writing and beginning Logic for the middle school years. My dd begs to use this writing curriculum and although it isn't as specific as, say, IEW, with writing helps, it really draws that child in with prompts for writing. It really is more than just writing as it discusses the fallacy of advertisements (which is why I say it has a good bit of Logic).
We used it last year and are taking a break to have more writing structure this year (with IEW) but not without a lot of complaints. My daughter ENJOYED Write with the World and tolerates writing with pretty much any other program.
Summer time math book to tighten up skills for 6th going to 7th
in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges
Posted
This book has been a great review for us!
http://www.christianbook.com/mastering-essential-skills-expanded-edition-with/richard-fisher/9780982190111/pd/190111?event=CROSSBOX
Mastering Math Essentials: Book 2