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sweetpea3829

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Posts posted by sweetpea3829

    Multiple Math Curriculum Users

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I have so many different maths going on around here...lol.  I'm using Singapore 5 with eldest DS, along with Process Skills and CWP.  He is also using Beast Academy.  

     

    DD is using Singapore 2 alongside her younger brothers (she has math-based LDs and is "behind", but she is right where SHE needs to be). I also have Math Mammoth grade 3 that she is using.  She completed Math U See up through most of Gamma level, so her math skills are around 3rd grade, no division just yet.  (In other words, her procedural math is probably around late 3rd, early 4th, but her conceptual math, or her understanding of math is more like 2nd grade).  

     

    I have MUS Delta on deck when we get to division and may pull it out if she needs it.

     

    The younger boys are using Singapore 2 with Process Skills and CWP.  The more "mathy" of the two will likely add in Beast in another year or two.  

     

     

    I schedule EVERYTHING.  I have to.  If I didn't, stuff would get missed.  Take DS9 for example.  Sometimes, I solely work with him through Singapore and Process Skills.  Sometimes we work solely through Beast (usually over a summer break).  Most of the time, we work through Singapore as our main spine, and I add in Beast every day for enrichment and depth.  So he does both. 

     

    It doesn't confuse my kids because I schedule out half of a school year at a time, pull all of their worksheets and put them in the order in which they'll complete them.  Every week is organized this way, 15 weeks worth.  I make sure I build in a couple of days here and there so we can slow down if the pace I scheduled is too quick. At the start of a new week, I grab that week's work and organize it into their daily folders for the week.   

     

    The downside is if you completely miss in trying to determine a good pace for your kid.  I've had that happen a time or two, but typically it was when the kids were just starting out and I was trying to get a feel for how they would progress.  At this point, I have a pretty good handle on everybody's abilities.  

     

     

    I have no clue how folks get by with just one math program.  I've yet to find one that I feel is 100% complete for any specific child.  They all have different purposes!  

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    Singapore Math Std Test books

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I am using Standards Edition, and I purchase the Textbook (which we use as a guide, rarely do we use it for assignments), the Workbook, the Testbook, the Intensive Practice books, and the Challenging Word Problem Books. Oh, and the Process Skills in Problem Solving.

     

    The testbook is rarely used. Honestly, we have too many workbooks. Pretty much all of the WB is used, along with the entire Process Skills book, most of the CWP and some of the IP books. I *might* pull stuff from the testbook over the summer for review.

     

    *Might*

     

    But...every year, I buy all of those books because I'm psychotic like that and have to have the set. Plus, I like having the option of variety.

    • Like 3

    Best Mechanical Pencils

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Seriously folks...I am SO tired of mechanical pencils that jam, break, the eraser erases to a nub, making it impossible to refill, lead that breaks, etc.

     

    Regular #2 pencils were a colossal pain too, and mechanical has proven to be less of a pain, but still a pain nonetheless.

     

    If you use mechanical pencils, what's your favorite, kid-friendly pencil that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (ie...if it's lost, I'm not out big bucks for a single pencil).

     

     

    What do you wish was out there the most? Update....

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    So many things!

     

    First, I wish we had more answers and insight into the actual true nature of the various LDs. I feel like so many things are labeled dyslexia or dyscalculia, when actually, it's something different that has some symptoms that mirror dyslexia and dyscalculia.

     

    So I wish research was further along and more clear.

     

    Second, I wish there were better interventions for dyscalculia. I know Ronit Bird is out there but her material doesn't address my daughter's needs and there isn't much else out there.

     

    Third, I wish flex schooling was a legal option in every state. I wish I had the option to use the school for certain classes and programs without having to enroll completely.

     

    Fourth, I wish the education world would take a student customization approach for EVERY student in elementary. Imagine how much learning would occur if each and every elementary student had an individualized approach that met their unique needs.

     

    Pipe dreams, I know.

    • Like 6

    Mystery Science...current feedback

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    The experiments/demonstrations? Are they solid, or are they busy work?

     

    I would be using this with two upper elementary kids, one of whom is pretty accelerated in terms of reading and retention ability in math and science. The other is...not. And I would also be adding in my 7 and 8 yr olds.

     

    Previously, I've written up our curriculum myself, creating my own outline and finding whatever resources we needed to learn the content.

     

    But I so need a break from that, lol.

    If You Quit Beast Academy Please Tell Me Why?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Pretty much what Bill said...except, we still use it, lol.  My 5th grader IS outpacing Beast.  But I think he will be able to use all of Beast 5 from the coming spring through next fall/winter.

     

    I would not use Beast as a standalone, even with my mathy kid, for the reasons mentioned above.  There's not enough review, imo***...and while I don't feel it is gimmicky, certain aspects of it are difficult to review/practice as they are methods the student wouldn't typically encounter otherwise. For example, the perfect squares chapter in Beast 3.  

     

    That said, I adore Beast and how they present concepts.  It truly does stretch the student while laying the groundwork for later, more difficult concepts.  The Grade 3 chapter that covered skip counting is a really good example of how Beast stretches while laying groundwork.  

     

     

    ***By review, what I mean is, they don't revisit mastered concepts, which makes it easy for a student to master and then forget.  Kind of like that perfect squares chapter I mentioned above.

    • Like 2

    Anyone not like audiobooks?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I agree with others....the narrator really matters.  We tried Alice in Wonderland once, and I'm not even sure who the narrator was, but none of us could understand a smidge of what they were saying.  Their British accent was so thick.

     

     

    Does anybody have a suggestion one where we can find reviews of the specific narrators?  Otherwise, it's hit or miss, kwim?

    Anyone not like audiobooks?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My kids love them on a car trip! We have listened to most of the Jim Weiss CDs, we're now doing Lamplighter. They also love Jonathan Park, which I know isn't an audible book, but it's similar. But that is all. They don't listen to them anywhere else. But they do like to be read to at home. I just have to do it. :)

     

     

    Krissi,

     

    Is there a source for Lamplighter online, where they are low cost/free?  Our library only has maybe 3 or 4 Lamplighter audiobooks, but my kids LOVE them.  

     

    We are shuttling two of the boys for swim team twice a week, a half hour each way.  We discovered that on Tuesday nights at 7:30, Lamplighter plays on our local Christian radio network.  This is GREAT, and my boys love it.  But it's only the one night.  Would be great it we had a source to listen to for the other swim team drives.  

    What *is* critical thinking?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I agree with what Lori posted up above and her approach is pretty much what we've been doing to develop critical thinking skills in our children.  

     

    I also agree with Whitehawk's post regarding critical thinking in terms of analysis of an argument as well as in terms of literature.  

     

    In a nutshell, to me, critical thinking boils down to reasoning.  And it underlies pretty much our entire educational approach.  I want my kids to use reasoning and critical thinking skills in math as they analyze a problem and develop a solution.  I want them to use critical thinking and reasoning when they read a piece of literature and attempt to understand the author's intent.  I want them to use critical thinking and reasoning in science when they fit scientific pieces together and attempt to understand cause and effect, but also, when they evaluate and develop theories.  

     

    I want them to use critical thinking and reasoning in history and social studies, because again, it will help them to understand the cause and effect of historical events.  

     

    Being strong in the areas of critical thinking and reasoning will contribute to the opinions they form as adults in regards to social issues.  And man alive, one need only take a gander at Facebook to see that critical thinking and reasoning are increasingly underdeveloped skills today.  

     

    This to say...as in any skill, I think critical thinking and reasoning are natural skills for some folks, and very weak skills for others, regardless of instruction.  One of my kids has very poor reasoning...another has successfully used logic to out argue me since he was a toddler.  

     

     

     

     

    • Like 2

    Ignore this thread!

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Hi, Sweetpea!  Welcome back!

     

    I didn't realize Prodigy was a program or anything.  I just thought you have a great bragging-mom signature!

      

     

    I love Prodigy, which is why I promote it. But I got in trouble for that siggie and had to modify it. SWB thought I was making a profit from promoting it. I wish! I tried to make the siggie smaller, but can't.

     

    We missed you so much I had to say it twice!

    😂😂😂😂😂

    • Like 1

    Ignore this thread!

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Driving by to say hello! Life got way too busy to keep up here, 😕, but I do think of you guys!

     

    We are doing well! We haven't started classes yet, but will be on Monday. We were going to start last week, but the older two boys just joined our local ymca swim team and last week was prep camp/assessments. I figured we would be better off holding back on school and I'm glad we did.

     

    So swim team. What the heck have I gotten us into? I figured it would be a fairly inexpensive sport. Heck no! And the pool is a half hour away with meets up in Buffalo, etc. But the boys are excited so....

     

    Anyways, hope you all are well! Slache, I saw you had your baby! Congrats!

     

    Hope everyone has an amazing school year!

    • Like 10

    Favorite free resources?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Prodigy Math is an amazing free math role-playing game.  You can set assignments from a huge list of topics.  It is for grades 1-8.  We use it for spiral review.

     

    Do yourself a favor and find a group buy and pay the $16 year membership.  The free version is fantastic, it really is.  But the premium version gives your player more game options, which makes them want to play even more.  

    • Like 1
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