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Love Home

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Posts posted by Love Home

    How messy are chalkboards?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I was thinking about buying a free-standing chalkboard/whiteboard. One side is a chalkboard and the other side is whiteboard. My husband thinks we should get the one that is a whiteboard on both sides b/c he thinks that the chalkboard would get chalkdust all over the place. Are they really that messy? I guess I just have fond memories of them from school and thoought that the chalkboard would be fun for my dd (and me :001_smile:) but since we will be using it in the living room I don't want a huge mess either.

    3rd grade plans?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My plan so far for third...

     

    Bible Reading, Hymns

    Math - R&S 3 or CLE (can't make up my mind!)

    English - R&S 3

    Writing - WWE2

    Spelling - R&S 3

    Handwriting - Handwriting Skills Simplified - Learning Cursive

    Reading - R&S 3 and Veritas press book list

    History - MOH

    Science - Apologia Zoology 1

    Home Economics - Pearables

    Holding a pencil correctly

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I used to struggle greatly with my dd’s grip (she also holds the pencil like you described). It caused sooo much tears and frustration as I tried to correct it to the†tripod grip†b/c this was supposed to be the “correct†grip. Well it wasn’t working (even with the little rubber grippy things on the pencil)….it was just war after war and I finally came to realize that this doesn’t have to be the only correct grip. I happened to have the same grip she has and I have done just fine in my writing. I did some research and found that the tripod grip is not considered the only legitimate pencil grip but the†quadropod†grasp (the one you described) is also considered a standard and efficient grip.

    See Handwriting Without Tears (they also recognize it as a legitamate, functional grip: http://www.hwtears.com/files/HoldOnYouHavetoTeachGrip.pdf

    Here is a study shows that "the lateral quadrupod and four-finger pencil grips to be as functional as the dynamic tripod, lateral tripod, and dynamic quadrupod pencil grips."

    http://ajot.aotapress.net/content/57/3/284.abstract

    R&S 3 or FLL 3 - Which one is more gentle?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

     

    The definitions and lists... I don't even have my son memorize the lists. He has memorized the definitions, but R&S has definition memorizing also, doesn't it? I seem to recall that being part of the TM oral review - going over definitions and other such things. I haven't pulled out a R&S TM in a while, so I could be remembering incorrectly. :)

     

    I thought there were lists (like linking verbs) that the dc were to memorize in FLL. In R&S I don't recall the TM having dc memorize definitions.

    R&S 3 or FLL 3 - Which one is more gentle?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My mama always said "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". If what you have is working then leave it :)

    QUOTE]

     

    That's what I was thinking but......maybe I'm suffering from the "grass is greener" syndrome. I just keep hearing how fun FLL is. R&S is not exactly fun. :) I also like the idea of my dd memorizing the definitions and lists. Even though I could implement that on my own using R&S I would prefer to have guidance and direction through that process. What to do, what to do. UH!

    R&S 3 or FLL 3 - Which one is more gentle?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I'm having a hard time deciding on FLL 3 or R&S 3 for my rising third grader (now we are doing R&S 2 for second – doing it orally). R&S is going fine but FLL looks interesting and was I thinking about trying it next year. The thing that concerns me is that FLL 3’s scope seems much more intense than R&S3’s. Also, since my dd didn’t use FLL 1/2, there’s all those definitions and lists my dd would need to learn. My dd gets frustrated and confused very easily and needs something gentle. Which one do you think would be best for her?

    Has WWE helped your dc's writing?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    WWE doesn't expect original writing until the end of 4th grade, so how on earth can you judge how it's working for original writing after only using 1 and 2? :confused:

     

    IMO, you really can't say whether WWE has "worked" until you finish the program, because it works on a set of skills with a specific goal in mind - writing down a summary narration by the end of 4th grade. We're in WWE2 right now, and he's only expected to take his narration from dictation, not do any original writing. So I would NOT expect any difference in his original writing yet - he isn't expected to DO any original writing yet!

     

    So no, it's not going to help traditional-school-style writing (like writing paragraphs in first grade), because that's not the goal. What it will help is getting thoughts onto paper and summarizing content that has been read (which is different from CM style narration, as mentioned above).

     

    To the OP: I highly recommend listening to SWB's lecture on teaching writing in the elementary years so you know exactly what the goal is. This is a program where your child might seem "behind" kids using other programs due to the lack of original writing, BUT once the program is completed, they will likely be better writers than the kids that just wrote and wrote and wrote and had no quality expected of them (as is common in the b&m schools these days). So it's comparing apples and oranges. You might also want to take a look at the WWS samples and the examples of students' work in WWS in the K-8 Writing forum, so you can see the actual results of the program. You won't see brilliant results in the early years of WWE because it's building a foundation rather than zooming ahead to style considerations. The philosophy is so different, that it's hard to compare it until you get to the end of the process. (and no, it's not for every kid - some kids don't need all the work on putting thoughts on paper because they were born with pencil in hand... if your child can already write down a summary narration on their own, this program isn't necessary anymore.)

     

    Do you know where I could listen to the lectures? Are they online? Thanks!

    Has WWE helped your dc's writing?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    No, not for my oldest. We used WWE1-WWE4 currently, week 30 of WWE4. My Winning with Writing came in the mail today, and I'm looking it over.

     

    My son is almost 10, but he is 2E, gifted and special needs with ADHD/bipolar/dysgraphia. He adores the passages, loves reading them in WWE, usually asks for the full books the passages are based on to read in his spare time. His skill set in narration has always been good. He is at the same level in written narration as he was a couple years ago. His memory and understanding of the material is 100%. His writing alone is the problem. But then again he always has and probably always will struggle with organization of his thoughts with his ADHD, and his dysgraphia is a problem in and of itself.

     

    For him, the FLL (we also used FLL1-4) and WWE combination just is not a good one. I like the program myself, and think it is sound. But it failed with this child. We left FLL4 (again week 27 or so) for R&S4. He is doing better with drill, drill and more drill, every day. He could fill out the exercises in FLL4 perfectly, but had no understanding of the concepts at all in another context. He could recite the definitions perfectly, but seemed to forget every single day anew what they meant. We are gaining some ground with R&S. Same with WWE unfortunately. He knows what they are asking about the passage and retains that info but cannot write, and certainly cannot write in other contexts, completely missing the points. Oral summaries were okay, written dismal. Writing in other contexts was beyond bad (if asked to write anything in a lab in science, other history context, other literature context).

     

    Thanks for posting your experience. I wish that we could see ahead a time what would work/not work for our dc. I'm driving myself crazy picking out the curricula for next year!

    Has WWE helped your dc's writing?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thanks for all the replies! I could see how it would be hard to evaluate how well WWE has worked out until one has completed the final level.

    :iagree: I have to admit that I was getting frustrated while my son was doing WWE4 and hearing about fourth graders in our public school writing full essays. But now that he's 3/4 of the way through WWS, I am amazed at how well it is all coming together for him. We had our frustrations with WWE, but it seems to be worth it. I plan to use it for all my children.

     

    This is exactly what I was hoping to hear! I'm glad that it bore good fruit. I just need to hear some "success" stories to build my confidence in "the process". Thanks.

    May switch from R&S to FLL - which level?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I'm thinking about switching from R&S English to FLL next school year for a needed change. We will probably go back to R&S English in a year or two. This year we are using R&S 2 so should I use FLL 2 or FLL 3 next year? I looked at the scope of FLL2 and there are many things that are covered that R&S 2 didn't cover. Does FLL 3 review well what was in FLL 2? I just don't want dc to be lost if we skip FLL 2 and go right to FLL 3. Any advice would help! :001_smile:

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