Niranut
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We also weaned away from a SL-heavy approach, to a more eclectic approach that incorporates what works for us from SL (while also using non-SL things as well). We never did like SL-LA- we use FLL, WWE, Zaner Bloser cursive, AAS, ETC, and SL readers (with whatever reading instruction book works- so far each child has done better with a different book). For all of my kids, we are relaxed in our approach and don't do anything formal until 1st grade (although they usually want to tag along quite a bit so they do some K level materials as desired, and they always sit in on read alouds). So we did SL P3/4 and P4/5 (just reading the books, never bothered with the guides/IG). I did do Core A with my oldest, following the IG and doing SL as it was written and that was a struggle for us. We love SLs readers and read alouds, but some of the history selections and the choppiness of the IG in the early cores was too much. It was a very freeing time for me when I came to the realization that I didn't need the IG-- I could pick and choose what worked for us and not worry about the rest. Getting started on our homeschooling journey, I was thankful for the idea of an IG, but once we got going I realized I didn't really need it. So this is the first year that we have gone off-IG and it's our best year by far. So we use a combo of WTM and non-WTM resources for LA. MM for math. Apologia (with complete kits from CBD) for science. And then we use the Veritas Press self-paced online classes for our history (my 8yo, 7yo, and 6yo all do the same class and they all get it equally well). We add in history books to read aloud which we pull from various lists (SL, SOTW, WTM, VP, etc.) And for certain lessons or areas of history that we are enjoying or want to learn more about, I tap into the SOTW activity guide. We also use the VP self-pace Bible classes and call it a day. Looking ahead to the older years, if VP continues to work for us, once we finish the elementary history cycle, their omnibus history classes for middle and high school are now also available online, too-- which I have read here and elsewhere, are very well done. But honestly, that's what works for us. What works for your kids could look completely different. As others have said, I would encourage you to take time to pick and choose the best resources for your kiddos and go with it. Some may be SL, some may be WTM, and some may be from other sources, as well. The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility to tailor each aspect of the journey to your kids. Have fun!
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We are working on the OTAE right now and we don't have the VP cards. We do have the Bible cards but don't use them all that much. The VP memory work is the event and then its corresponding Bible reference and/or date. Everything in the cards is fully covered in the lessons. Once we got a little further along in the course i did make some cards to help with a little extra practice but we rarely use those. We also supplement with Sonlight history books and readers and it is plenty with SL and VP. If you also have the CC cards or material i don't see any reason to add the VP cards to the mix. For us SL books and the VP class (without cards) is plenty. You can always order the VP cards laterm if you feel you need them.
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We are doing the OTAE self paced course and i did compare with a friend who has the CC cards. Based on a quick perusal the CC cards include way more info. and events. Things that would cover 2 VP cards would be combined on a single CC card. For memorization in the OTAE course the focus is on dates, events, and Bible reference, and much of that memory work is covered in the song which is very easily memorized. I would suggest doing the 2 week trial for the VP course as that gives you a good idea of what its like.
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ISO Boring, non video game phonics online games
Niranut replied to YaelAldrich's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
Sorry, double post. -
ISO Boring, non video game phonics online games
Niranut replied to YaelAldrich's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
We use Click N' Kids. They have regular phonics, Looney Tunes phonics, and spelling. We've had the regular phonics for a few years and its very basic but gets the job done. The Looney Tunes phonics is the same but with cartoon bits as you go along. We got the looney tunes and spelling recently and enjoy them as well. All were purchased through the preschool buyers coop and we got lifetime subscriptions so it was a very good deal. -
Thanks so much for all of the feedback-- all most appreciated! I think I was getting a bit hung up on the whole IG thing, which was making SL history difficult for us. What we've ended up doing is more of our own version of SL History, in that we use the books alongside the VP self paced course, and it's working really well. It's been very freeing for me not to feel tied to the IG-- not an easy thing for me as I'm a lover of checking boxes... Not sure where our homeschooling journey will take us, but we are having our best year this year, so I'm going to continue to go with what is working for us and just know that it may or may not look like what I plan for :) Thanks again!
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When does Veritas self-paced go on sale?
Niranut replied to alisoncooks's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
I got our Bible and History at 50% off at the beginning of September. I called and asked if they were planning to make it an annual thing and they couldn't say for sure but if you sign up further emails you'll know when they do go on sale. Also if you purchase it at full price and it goes on sale within 30 days after your purchase they will give you a refund. They also did 50% in April and something at Christmas last year too. -
Is this curriculum Possible without a Library?
Niranut replied to a topic in General Education Discussion Board
I have lived overseas for the last 15 years and my kids were all born here and have done all their homeschooling. It is definitely possible and more and more easy every year. For us we get most of our books and curriculum from Book Depository and Better World Books, both of which ships for free around the world. But all of the foreign service people i k ow here do most of their shopping thru Amazon and Walmart or wherever as they have APO addresses. As you will have an APO address, you can ordering options are very similar to the U.S. And they also pay to ship your things when you move so however many books you accumulate as you go along can easily be added to you cargo shipment when you move. If you're going to do this overseas, the foreign service is one of the more convenient ways to go :) -
Would Veritas self-paced be a good fit?
Niranut replied to alisoncooks's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
Also agreeing that it sounds like it would be a good fit for what you need right now. But I could not get it to work on an iPad very well-- you need to download an app that will allow you to play the videos, and even then, it is really tricky to do some of the games and such on an iPad. So give it a test run on whatever device(s) you'd be using it on first (there are a couple sample lessons, and then a free 2-week trial). I would also suggest doing the 2 week trial and see how everyone feels. You will know by then if it will be a good fit. This is our first year using the VP self paced history and Bible and my kids are *loving* it. They know their history and Bible without having to try-- you can't not learn it the way the lessons are designed. -
I think we are leaving Sonlight, but would like to share our story and get any feedback from more seasoned homeschoolers on things I may be missing or not considering. We have been with SL since the beginning of our homeschooling journey. We've done P3/4, P4/5, Core A, and are now on Core B. I also bought Core C and have it ready to go, but... We started Core B last year with my oldest, but didn't get too far as we were traveling for half of the year and focused on life experience instead of history. So this year, we pulled out Core B again, and I'm glad this is how things worked out as now my youngest is also able to keep up, so all 3 of my kiddos (ages 6yo, 7yo, and 8yo) are able to share a core for the first time. But... We also added in the Veritas Press online self paced history this year and I am finding it so much more organized and my kids are really retaining and getting history with minimal effort all around-- it's just presented really well, in short lessons, and all 3 of my kids share the class and know the material equally well. The big issues I've had with SL in these early years is that the IG has you go through the books in a kind of convoluted, haphazard way-- skipping around, or reading a short passage every Friday (I really wish the 5-day schedule was a true 5-day schedule and not the 4-day schedule with a few add-ons for the 5th day...). P4/5 was our first "real" IG, and yet we were hopping around the books, when it was just as easy to read through them front to back. Then came Core A-- also hopping and jumping around for our overview of history. We get a little out of it, but not as much as I'd like for the money we spend on the IG's. And now we're in Core B and not really getting to anything exciting history wise until several weeks in. I often read that the SL cores get good a few cores from now. But I don't want to buy a few cores now just to bide our time til we get to the "good ones"... For those with SL experience, when do things get a little more cohesive? For us right now, we do not do SL Bible, as that too just jumps around too much. Memory verses are from here and there. The devotional book in Core B is nice, but we went through that quickly enough. So we added in the VP online Bible course-- and my kids are now really learning (and memorizing) their Bible, from the beginning to the end (we also supplement with materials specific to our denomination). We tried Sonlights language arts at the K level, both before and after its renovation, and were equally unimpressed. So we just work through the ETC books and our handwriting books, and then add in AAS and FFL/WWE when appropriate. I never did give SL Science a try, as I never was able to get a complete materials list from anyone (i.e. what I can buy in the kit AND what I need to provide myself). We live overseas and "common household materials" is very relative. So we ended up with Apologia and their complete experiment kits. And then there's the read alouds, which we love. We always read way more than what is included in the core and are way ahead at all times, which is nice since it allows us to read sequels or other titles. We often pull from the reading lists over at Ambleside and also VP. Which leaves us with SL History. I already have the books and IGs for Cores B & C, and we are reading the books as we go through our VP class. But I find the IG a bit overwhelming in its organization and am having a hard time getting past that. Anyone else out there having similar issues? I feel like I've already made my decision-- go with VP history and supplement with SL books. All other subjects are already non-SL already. But I also feel sad to leave... Am I missing anything? Are there other things I should consider? And when is it in the later SL cores that things begin to mesh a little better? Is there a certain core/cores where people come back when their kids are older? Or maybe we will continue with our love of VP self-paced courses and just stick with them. Thanks for listening. I appreciate any feedback or thoughts.
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There is also a Pixelmon mod pack available through the ATLauncher, which combines Minecraft and Pokemon. You have to download and install the launcher first and then Pixelmon is one of several mod packs you can then setup with that particular launcher.
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We use Veritas Press self paced online history. This is our first year and my kids are loving it learning the basics and remembering things. None of that would happen if it was up to me. We supplement with assorted books from the VP list, Sonlight, and SOTW. But the supplements are not the focus. They do the bulk of learning through the online lessons and we follow with related books as we have time and interest. Im using the Old testament and Ancient Egypt with a 8yo, 7yo, and 6yo. They do offer a free 2 week trial which was a nice way to preview the program.
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RightStart Math- who loves it, who doesn't?
Niranut replied to WriterMommy's topic in K-8 Curriculum Board
We did not love RS. We tried level A for Kindergarten with my oldest and it wasn't a good fit. He didn't mind it, necessarily, but didn't love it or anything. Since he wasn't thrilled, and it was too time intensive for me (and rather costly for us), we put RS aside and gave MUS a try. That also didn't work (tried for about 8 months). Finally we ended up with Math Mammoth which we started in the middle of 1st grade. He doesn't love math any more now but he gets it and it gets done. We use the RS abacus and MUS blocks with the Math Mammoth worksheets and it works well for us. HTH- 30 replies
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Peacehill Press sales/discounts
Niranut replied to craftymama's topic in General Education Discussion Board
Another second for the scratch and dent option. I've also found decent prices over at christianbook.com -
Where in Singapore did you find it? I live in Thailand and occasionally order specialty items like this from Singapore vendors.