kaymom
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Posts posted by kaymom
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My 6th grade son has finished LFC A&B. I think that it is an excellent program, but that LFC B was much more difficult than A because of all of the translating and parsing. He liked Dr. Perrin and that's what kept him going when it got hard--plus the fun videos. We have SS Greek, and my younger son has used it to teach himself the Greek alphabet because he's a GT kid and is like that :-) But, I would not want to teach it to him! It isn't anything like English, so part of why you may not have liked the looks of SS Greek is because it's Greek! I just bought SS Latin 2 for my younger son. It will actually be his first exposure to Latin. SS 1 looked too easy and LFC A is too grammar heavy for him just yet. I think the focus of learning Latin for us is to build vocabulary and to master grammar skills.
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I appreciate all of the input and am now going to rethink this whole thing. I want my son to love to read, so I think moving towards the classics is a better way to do that. We are studying American History this year because it ties to what we'll be doing in CC and then will pick up on the history cycle next year. So I will have him read about Ben Franklin and some modern scientists because he already enjoys that type of reading. Now I feel I can move away from history reading and towards classics! I don't know why this didn't occur to me sooner.
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I am just a little confused as to what to use for our reading time now that I've revisited my copy of TWTM. Should we be using books that tie to history or using classic literature? I realize that some books cover both categories, but what should I be using overarchingly? I am used to TOG that almost always uses history for the literature and I know Sonlight is the same, but then when I look at VP or MP and TWTM, it is based more on classics. I am not using TOG this year and have to schedule reading for my 3rd grade reader (who reads above grade level, but isn't convinced he likes to read).
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Is the Peter Pan version abridged? The original jumps out at me as being much higher in difficulty level than the others on the list (assuming that you're using a children's version of Gulliver's Travels). If you wanted to use the unabridged version, it makes a great read aloud.
We love the D'Aulaire books! My kids really enjoy the "you wouldn't want to be" books, also.
Yes, we will use the Classic Starts for the literature! We also like the D'Aulaire books and the "you wouldn't want to..." books!
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Following...also doing Adventures in the Fall. I'm curious...when/how will you assign the reading? I ordered Bookshark's 2nd grade advanced reading schedule and books so that's what we'll be doing. I like how your books tie into the history, but I need a little handholding
Most of the books can be read in a week. A few will take 2. I will assign a certain number of chapters per day to be finished in a week. I just looked at the ADV reading list, Sonlight's reading list, and TOG's reading list for that part of history and mushed it all together according to what we are talking about that week. Some things won't correspond week by week, but fit historically.
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These are the books I am planning on having my son read to himself this fall. We also have others scheduled for reading aloud. I would love input from those either familiar with the books or curriculum. My son is 8 and reads at about the beginning of 5th grade reading level, but does not yet love to read--so I've stuck to shorter stories that he can finish in a week (mostly). MFW Adventures covers highlights of American history. They do not schedule daily reading for the students to do alone, so I've come up with things that seem to tie to the lessons and a few that I'd like him to read at the end. Any glaring omissions? We are reading the Courage of Sarah Noble, Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims, Sarah Whitcher's Story, In Grandma's Attic, Mountain Born and Little House books as read alouds.
Leif the Lucky-D'Aulaire
Pedro's Journal
Pocahontus-D'Aulaire
3 Young Pilgrims
Sea Clocks
Sam the Minuteman
George the Drummer Boy
What's the Big Idea Ben Franklin?
And then What Happened Paul Revere?
Paul Revere's Ride
The Matchlock Gun
Meet Thomas Jefferson
Meet George Washington
George Washington-D'Aulaire
Chocolate by Hershey
Dear Benjamin Banneker
The Amazing Impossible Erie Canal
Finding Providence
Who Was Daniel Boone
Casey Jones (On My Own book)
American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne
You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Lewis & Clark
The Story of Ruby Bridges
A Pocket Full of Goobers
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
Paddle to the Sea
Aesop in California
Favorite Poems for Children (coloring book)
Abraham Lincoln-D'Aulaire
Escape North: The Story of Harriet Tubman
Tornado
Sarah, Plain & Tall
Gulliver's Travels
So You Want to be an Inventor
The Little Prince
Peter Pan
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Which version is the audible.com series?
Mine followed the revised 3rd edition. Hope that helps.
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I have some thoughts to share.
I think if you do ADV and CC that is plenty for an advanced 3rd grader. You'll have time to add in things of interest for him in science fairs, etc. I personally wouldn't change it for ex1850 if you only have the one child. You're already adding in CC. so I'd enjoy ADV and CC. (I'm not saying it's bad or wrong if you exchange it.. I'm just saying what I'd do in similar situation)
I'd like to share my opinon/perspective on the state study section that you mentioned. When I did this... I noticed that in ADV, the state study is started at a point in chronological history study where they go from colonies to being states. So you've been doing age appropriate history to that point and time to summarize a few things on those first sections of state study. I never felt that it was just a coloring sheet with those things. I know there is coloring involved on the front side for state symbols and writing in the city and surrounding state names, but there was interesting stuff on the back. Plenty for that age. plus book basket. and then there were times to add in food and such....It's not meant to be teach them everything possible while still in that transition from lower to upper grammar stage.
But what was really nice? is that those first 13 states are done at a point in the year close to Thanksgiving and Christmas where we were busy enough with life that having less to do in school was a blessing. kwim? It's weeks 12-16, and the study includes Christmas hymn and just recognizes the time of year to balance. ah... I feel a touch of nostalgia.
maybe something radically changed in the schedule from when I did ADV, but having less to do from Thanksgiving to Christmas was nice. Then my manual has the history pick back up around week 16 or 17 ish... while still doing geography/states. maybe it changed radically in the schedule or something but the sample TOC looks same except for typesetting. I guess I don't see it as "1/3 of the year" is just and only state sheets. I sorta understand that as there are 50 states, so that's 50 days of the year... but... not really because it's not 50 consecutive days. anyway.... It's an overview year of US history and geography that is at end of the lower grammar stage for the child.
if you need more science: let your advanced child pick topics and do that in "productive but unstructured time" (ala charlotte mason). If interest is there for science fair, let him do it all on his own. Remember to have him do the lab write ups for the science in ADV (a sample is shown in week 1 or 2 if I recall) and have him read the instructions and do all of the set up. I know looking back over the decade (my oldest just enrolled for college this week and she's an engineering major), one of the things that I'm glad I did for her was not to over do it on too much knowledge in science at this age, but to let her take more responsibility in set up and clean up, and to let her do experiments over and over, and make subtle changes.
hope some of that helps encourages you a bit as you think through your options.
I think you are right, and I haven't opened the student pages as I was trying to keep everything in brand new condition. It's hard to do that and fully grasp what the curriculum is all about. It's funny, here I was thinking because I know my son gets some advanced scientific concepts that he wouldn't find the science books engaging. But, when I showed them to him, he was eager to look at them and do the projects. I think you have given me a better context to the state study. I think after doing TOG, it just seemed like it couldn't be enough history. But there are years and years to discover more :-) I also purchased Elemental Science Biology for the Grammar stage, so that should be enough. He loves science, and we really want to focus more on that anyway. I appreciate your advice, it is exactly what I needed!
Tammy
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We used them with TOG year 2. My son is in 5th grade and we both enjoyed the books. I have to say I feel like she has a good way of bringing US history to life. She gives quite of bit of depth to the people and the times--so that history doesn't feel like fact learning, but understanding who these people were. Yes, there are a few opinions (we only used book 2 and 3), but I never felt that they were totally off kilter, and I am a conservative. And they were usually hidden as questions for the students to think about. I don't know my history well enough to know if the books contain mistakes or not. I love the book series and would highly recommend it. I think that it is perfect for middle school and would be way too detailed for younger children. Sonlight uses the series for late middle school and high school in their Core 100, so that should tell you something. We also had the book from Audible along with the paperback to look at--lots of great artwork and details.
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Alright, I just received MFW Adventures through the mail. I know that no curriculum is perfect (at least I'd want to tweak almost everything because that's how I am). But looking it over, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I love that everything from Bible to science to music and of course history is scheduled in. I love how many hands on things that there are to do. The Bible portion also looks great. My disappointment comes in the part where about 10 weeks are dedicated to state studies and hardly anything else. With so much rich American history available, I don't get that. It looks like the state study is really based on the book basket and a worksheet with hardly anything else to do. There doesn't seem to be a spine to that portion of the curriculum. It just seems kind of weak to be 1/3 of the year. I am debating on whether to keep it or not. I do love the schedule, and after having used TOG for two years, it looks like a breath of fresh air from that perspective. Just trying to figure out if I should send it back. Am I wanting to do too much with a 3rd grader because I have been working with an advanced almost 6th grader and TOG? We will be doing CC too, so will this be enough? I'll only have my rising 3rd grader home next year.
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I also like the hands on activities and the Thinking Cap section. IMO it is just a more complete curriculum overall because it is designed for PS. I did add a daily review of previously learned concepts--I think it is vital especially for 4th and 5th. You can accomplish that with any math review workbook that is grade level appropriate. There are so many new concepts in those years and it's pretty easy to forget something when you've moved on to something totally new.
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I am happily using WWE2 for two of my children, one is in Grade 3 and the other in Grade 5. I find that it still benefits my Grade 5 daughter. (And a bonus is that they both enjoy doing the lessons.)
I think that it is a challenging program, and the WWS 1 could be used for 9th grade...no problem. So, I agree, I think 2 is a good choice for a reluctant writer.
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2. 3 is hard. If 2 is too easy, just double the speed.
Emily
2 it is! We don't need hard.
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I'd start with 2. Since 4 is optional, that doesn't put you "behind," and I think 3 would be difficult to jump into from public school.
I think you are right. Why do we get so caught up in "3" must be for 3rd and if you do 2, you are behind :-)
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Have you looked at the assessments?
Didn't see the assessments. I'll have to go look.
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I have used MIF's 3rd, 4th and am finishing up 5th grade. I have also used SM Standards 1A for summer work for a different child. I only have one home right now. I like MIF the best, think it is easier to follow and that there is much more to it than SM overall. It is more expensive if you need all of the components and about the same if you don't need the TG. I like the TG because I want the break down of the lessons and the answers, but buy it used from Amazon. We have friends using SM and have compared notes, and the S&S are very similar. One thing we did this year was to get MIF through Calvert. It was a little more costly, but totally worth it to me. I love how they have daily practice online and links to BrainPop (membership is included) and other great sites tied to the lessons for new concepts. I received a pretty hefty discount bc my dh is in the military, and we'll use it again next year. We did not use their ATS.
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I would love some advice. I am bringing my younger son home for school next year who is 8 and will be in 3rd grade. He is a gifted student, but a reluctant writer. I have used WWE 4 and WWS 1 for my older son for 4th and 5th and found them quite challenging even for a gifted writer. I really don't want my younger son to hate writing. Should I start him in WWE 2 or WWE 3? Even though I have looked at the samples, I am still at a quandary since I haven't used either.
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I've used R&S for my son for his 4th and 5th grade years--he's going back to ps for 6th. I never used FLL, but did look at it to compare and I didn't like how scripted it was--for him (he would have hated it). My younger son would probably do fine with either program, but since I've already blazed that trail, we are starting R&S for 3rd grade this fall. We used WWE 4 and WWS 1 for writing, so we did not do the writing lessons in R&S. We also do almost all of the program orally and then he does the corresponding worksheet.
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I think Latin Alive is the right fit for a 6th grader who has already had exposure to Latin. We've done LFC A & B for 4th and 5th, and I would start my son in Latin Alive for 6th. Just my 2 cents! LFC A would probably be too easy for her.
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I've used MFW Adv, Sonlight D and E, WP American story 1 and 2, and some of HOD bigger. (not all with the same kid! :)) I think if you are doing this with CC and with a math/science kid, I would use either MFW Adv or Winter Promise American Story 1. Both would probably be easier than you'd like/need, but you can add more to make it more challenging. Adding in extra books for readers, esp since your son is an advanced reader. My kids really enjoyed the Childhood of Famous American biography set. Sonlight has a great book list in cores D and E, and there is the book basket list at the back of the Adv TM, too.
Some pluses for MFW Adv - A lot of MFW Adv is in the state study which would go well with CC - aren't the kids memorizing states and capitals? Also, it covers a little more of American history than WP AS 1 or Sonlight D which are both the first half of a two-year American history course. WP might be too big of a course - with lots of crafts/hands-on activities, MFW seems more stream-lined and easier to complete in a 4 day week.
As an aside, I am also considering CC (specifically Challenge A) for the first time for next year.
Best to you in your decision-making!
Thanks for your detailed review of the programs you've used. You are right, they will memorize states this year in CC. I think I am leaning towards MFW Adv, and we can just add the book basket books to our day. We'll also beef up the science.
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An advanced 3rd grader who is a good reader and enjoys detail would do well with Hakim's History of US series. It has been a "best of" here. There are audio versions on Audible, teacher and student guides available for each book, and/or a syllabus from Hewitt (you could simply assign projects for all 4 quarters instead of the research papers). Since he likes hands-on, you might also look at Time Travelers from Homeschool in the Woods as an add on. Literature is easy to add on, but we've never been formal about lit in the early grades.
I love the Hakim series of books too. TOG uses them and I did use them with my older son and have them on Audible, so we can listen to anything that interests us. I am just afraid that although he's an advanced reader, it may be too much for an 8 year old. It seemed just right for my 11 year old. We've also used Time Travelers with TOG year 2 for Medieval. Loved it too. I do really like the literature to go along with history and don't want to have to put it together myself.
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I think HOD is more than I need or want. I am looking for something that gives us mainly history, literature and Bible. I wouldn't use quite a bit of the program. I wouldn't use someone else's LA because I already love R&S and WWE.
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I think I'd like something that is more preplanned, but I have used the Exploration & Conquest book in that series.
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I have been homeschooling my older 5th grader for the past 2 years using TOG and consider myself a classical homeschooler. He's now going back to school and my younger son, who will be in 3rd grade, is coming home. We are joining Classical Conversations this fall, which I've never done before. I am hesitant to start TOG with my younger son because although I loved TOG, it's a lot of work by itself. I thought I might pick another history program and just cover American history this year since CC is doing cycle 3, and then pick up on ancient history next year.
A little about my son. He's gifted in math, science, and is an advanced reader. He has a harder time with writing. He is very curious and loves detailed explanations about things and hands-on projects.
I have looked at MFW's Adventures and SL's Core D. I've also thought about using SOTW 3, but I think I'd like to just cover American history. Part of me wonders if Adventures is too easy, but then SL D looks like it may be too much for an 8 year old. My older son has just finished many of the books in TOG year 2 that are read aloud books for SL D. They seem topically a little too heavy. I would love some input. I have also tried to find a sample of the MFW book basket list so that I understand how comprehensive the program is, but can't find one. The online samples seem like they are just an overview and are missing much of the lesson?
TWTM Academy Algebra I Reviews
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted · Edited by kaymom
We are considering trying an online math program for Algebra. Looking for reviews of TWTM Academy program. Thanks!