ereks mom
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Posts posted by ereks mom
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Yes, I can relate, and I felt exactly the way the OP feels while my DC we're growing up. And when my firstborn went away to college, I dealt with clinical depression for months. The sweet ladies on the WTM board helped me get through it. Many encouraged me when I would post on the boards, and several sent me PMs just to ask how I was doing or to say they were praying for me. That was almost 8 years ago. My firstborn completed college (honor grad, yea!!), got a job, and got married to a wonderful girl whom we love dearly. They just celebrated their third anniversary last week. :) Now there are hints that they might be starting their own family soon. YEA! GRANDBABIES! My younger/youngest child is in college now and will graduate next May (4.0 cumulative GPA so far). She has lots of friends and a delightful boyfriend, and I expect that they will get engaged within a year from now and marry within a year after that. It's so satisfying when you get to this stage and you're able to look back on all the tough things you went through with them--2:00 AM feedings, potty training, long division, broken bones, broken hearts--and realize that you weathered the storms and not only survived, but THRIVED! From this perspective, you get to see that there were more successes than failures, more good times than bad. And you realize that you had a part in shaping your child into who he/she has become, so you feel PROUD, and also BLESSED. It was hard when I began to realize that my babies weren't babies any more, but now I have (mostly) learned to embrace the changes. They are bittersweet, but they bring new blessings I could never see from the other side of them. I definitely miss my children being babies, toddlers, preschoolers, etc. But I love where they are in life now because our bond has strengthened over the years, and now I'm not just their MOTHER, I am also their FRIEND. Best wishes and many blessings to you OP, as you travel this path.
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I think I've decided that I want to use Apologia Young Explorers Chemistry & Physics with my group of 5 girls who are all working on about 7th grade level. I think this book will be exactly right for their reading abilities, but to enhance their interest, I would like to purchase a fairly inexpensive chemistry set to supplement/substitute with experiments using real chemicals. (Read: They'll be more interested if they get to make something dramatic happen--a flash, a pop, or color change--by mixing some stuff together.) Do you know of adecent quality chemistry set that would pair well with this Apologia text?
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What about Apologia Physical Science? It seems to meet all your requirements, labs, tests, notebooking, etc.
cbd.com has everything, I believe, including a lab kit:
(My dd used this book in classical private school for 8th grade, if that gives you any information as far as difficulty.)
I've used it before and actually still have it on my shelf. I'm thinking it will be too difficult for most of my girls, but I'll keep it on my short list.
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RSO Chemistry from Pandia Press has a lab kit at HST. Secular. No experience using it.
Christian Kids Explore Chemistry fills every requirement but the lab kit, but it uses household items. It was a little light for my strong STEM student in 7th, but it was just the spine we rolled around and he also worked through gobs of living books, the McHenry books, Chem 101, and such.
Friendly Chemistry is one I almost purchased for that 7th grader. Same problem with the lab kit. It says high school but it's considered pretty light. There are games and paper activities built into it.
I'll look at these. Thanks!
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Elemental Science - Chemistry for the Logic stage meets all your requirements. There is even a lab kit to purchase,although you do need to purchase perishables for some of the experiments.
I looked at it, and unfortunately, the chemistry and the physics are separate programs. The grammar stage chemistry looks more on their level than the logic stage chemistry, but they're actually probably somewhere in between. :(
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How about Abeka's 9th grade physical science, Matter and Energy. Physical science is very frequently done in 8th grade (and then Biology in 9th), so this might be a great fit for your wide age spread.
Abeka includes: textbook and kit options, plus optional other materials of: teacher book, answer key, digital teaching aids, test book and test key, quiz book and quiz key, lab manual, teacher lab manual, and a science project guide. Homeschool Classifieds has several up for sale now.
The supply kit to go with Abeka is VERY pricey. You might be able to cut back by substituting for the Abeka labs with several TOPS units and accompanying supply kits -- read through the Abeka lab manual table of contents to see what kinds of labs they cover and roughly match that. If you go with the TOPS units, you might be able to skip purchasing the Abeka lab manual, teacher lab manual, and science project guide...
- Chemistry: Analysis, Solutions, and possibly Cohesion and Adhesion; Oxidation
- Physics: (Motion, Heat, Electricity, and possibly Pendulums, Floating and Sinking, Magnetism
NOTE: AVOID Light, Sound, Pressure, and Kinetic Model -- these had a fairly high "fail rate" for us.
ALSO NOTE: while the TOPS supply kits provide the majority of items, you will still need to find/gather/purchase a handful of more common household items for each kit.
An option for a supply kit/lab for simple machines (levers, pulleys, etc.), might be the K'NEX Intro to Levers and Pulleys. There is also a Gears kit and a Wheels/Axels/Inclined Planes kit.
One other option might be Alpha Omega's grade 8 General Science 2 -- 10 units with 6 units covering physics topics: science and society; structure of matter (pt. 1 & 2); health & nutrition; energy (pt. 1 & 2); machines (pt. 1 & 2); balance in nature; science in technology. Downside is that it is not ALL physical science, as you requested.
Choice of doing the AO LifePacs (10 workbooks, with optional tests, teacher guide and science experiments on DVD (note: this particular item has poor reviews), or the Switched on Schoolhouse version, with CD rom with video tutorial lessons and multi-media. There is a $120 supply kit to accompany the program -- you'll probably want to get 2 sets so the students can get more hands-on time, with sharing in a group of 2 or 3, rather than all 5 with one kit.
One plus is that AO, either LifePac or SOS, is very geared towards independent working, so not a lot of intensive teacher time for you.
Here's a thought: what about getting one set of the SOS for the video lessons/multi-media aspect, and then a set of workbook/texts for each student? That way you get the extra boost with the video lessons.
OR, here's another thought: what about purchasing both grade 8 AND 9, and just have the students do the physical science units from each, and save the other units for another year...
I've never been a fan of ABeka, and I think the 9th grade text will be WAY too much for these girls. One is an 11 year old, technically a 6th grader, but can probably manage 7th grade level with my help. The others are older but also working at about 7th grade level. I will look at the AOP materials you suggested. Thanks!
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Would these work?
The CD in the teacherbook has tests + answers + worksheets + practicums (labs), you can print them as often as need, no lab manual or workbook costs.
The teacherbook has also the answers on the questions in the studentbook.
We do not the extended questions, but you might consider that for the one who want to college if she would choose a science field.
IGCSE is aimed for older then grade 7, but the information might be accessible.
IGCSE books have several editions and I don't like them all equally.
Some have the text in one column, others in 2.
I let dd pick the edition to what made sense to here.
Is there a lab kit, or would I have to buy everything separately?
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For those who don't 'know' me... I have 5 teen & preteen girls (ages, 11-17), all working at about 7th grade level. None of these girls is my own child; they are children of friends and friends-of-friends. Most came to me because they are struggling learners who could not keep up in PS. Only the youngest is likely to go to college, although the others will likely attend vocational-technical school.
I want to do middle school level integrated chemistry and physics. Here are our absolutely must-have requirements for a science program:
- a lab component with a lab supply kit available for purchase at Home Science Tools or a similar company (I do NOT have time to put a kit together myself.)
- chapter or unit tests
- accompanying notebooking & lapbooking resources
- NOT computer-based, although some videos to view during class time would be good
- affordable
- preferably Christian, but will consider secular
Here are some of the programs I've looked at:
- Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry & Physics -- This is the current front-runner. I am somewhat concerned that although it will be perfect as far as difficulty, it will seem a little too juvenile for my oldest students. Also, there are not really tests, but there are What Do You Remember? pages.
- ACS Middle School Chemistry -- It's chemistry only (no physics :(), and I didn't see any quizzes or tests. Also, I would have to search out suppliers in order to put together a lab kit.
- Focus on Middle School Chemistry, Physics -- PRICEY, and I read less-than-glowing reviews about missing topics (states of matter, electron shells, etc).
- Ellen McHenry's Elements -- No tests & no physics :(
- Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum (PAC) Integrated Physics and Chemistry -- No labs :( (And it looks a little dry--and maybe even too 'lite' to me. :ohmy:)
- Rainbow Science -- I tried to use it several years ago with my own child & abandoned it after a couple of chapters. I decided to consider it again for my current students, but I'm not excited about the prospect. :p
- CPO Physical Science -- Lab kit is WAY, WAY too pricey, but the alternative is to put a kit together myself.
- Exploration Education Physical Science -- computer (CD) based
- Conceptual Physical Science: Explorations -- far too difficult for my students
- God's Design for Science -- I used it a few years ago and was NOT impressed. Also, I would have to put together a lab kit.
I'm listening! :bigear: Thanks.
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I finally settled on:
Holt Literature & Language Arts (http://hlla.hrw.com/hlla/chapter.jsp?Grade=6)
supplemented with the Holt Handbook (https://tusd.haikulearning.com/abruner/6corehonors/cms_page/view/11892145). Thanks, everyone, for helping me think this through. :)
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I have used Holt Literature series with my oldest since grade 6. The teacher CD has tons of resources and if you google well you can find online resources, too. I like Holt because it has vocabulary, grammar, audio, and writing supplements as well as 'Media Studies' that help kids make sense of media. The sizeable anthology (cannot read it all in an academic year) has quality short stories, articles, and poetry as well suggestions and excerpt from award winning novels (we read the entire novel as a read aloud). Unfortunately, there seems to be a dearth of resources on eBay and Amazon at the moment. I purchased grades 6-9 when I saw them available (roughly $40-$50 per grade - SE, TE CD, Media Study, Writing Cd, Vocab Cd, etc.). The "Interactive Readers" have the 'essential' stories with a few questions at cheaper price, but not have the grammar, vocab or writing support.
Here are links to some online support.
Level Up Tutorials - short power points on literary concepts: http://my.hrw.com/la_2010/na_lit/nsmedia/levelup/ms_index.html
Class zone - publisher online support: http://www.classzone.com/cz/index.htm : Select State/Literature
Found a copy of the 6th grade Teachers CD on amazon $6 + $4 ship: https://www.amazon.com/McDougal-Literature-Grade-Teacher-DVD-ROM/dp/0547619979
But other publishers might have the same. Good luck.
Thank you for this! I had already saved several PDF files of the Holt materials I found online, and they look good. I already own several levels of the Interactive Readers. I need to get the textbook so I can see the grammar, vocab, and writing, too.
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I will be teaching a group of 5 students, but I plan to purchase only one set of supplies, and we'll all do the labs together, unless there are some labs that would work best if each student had her own supplies. Can you give me a ballpark idea of how much it will cost to buy ALL the lab supplies, including all the common household items? Thank you!
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Good luck with your choice. If you put her in BJU 6, would she do TT Pre-A the following year, assuming she passed the placement test? If so, she'll end up at the same place (TT Pre-A the year after this) as long as you start her in TT7 (which, IMO, is the lowest TT level I'd start her in).
Yes, either way, she would be in TT Pre-Algebra next year. I'm realizing that it would be pointless to put her in BJU for just one year. It seemed like a good idea when it first came to me! ;) But I think that for the sake of continuity, I would rather just start her in TT7 for the upcoming year, since that's what we'll be using beyond that.
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My middle kiddo was similar. She just finished BJU 4. She technically passed the TT 5 placement test, but the answers she got wrong were on the same topic, so we are pulling those topics from TT5 and doing them first and then moving in to TT 6.
Since you plan to switch her to TT anyways, I wouldn't mess with a year of BJU at this point.
I'm thinking along those lines as well. Since I have TT6 and TT7, I am leaning towards starting her in TT7 and referring back to TT6 if she needs extra work on any of the topics. I think that it would work well for her to be a grade ahead, so if we hit any snags along the way, we can move slowly and not "get behind."
Thanks for your input.
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My Abeka kid tested into TT 6 after Abeka 3. I wouldn't go further down than TT7 if you use TT. Did you give the next level up placement test?
I'm no fan of either, but I would probably go BJU if it is the newest edition.
Since she just completed ABeka Arithmetic 5, I first gave her the TT6 placement test. She flew through that and missed 6 problems, all having to do with fractions, decimals, or percents. On two problems she forgot to line up decimals when she added or subtracted. On another problem (3/10 + 6/10 - 2/10), she didn't notice the subtraction sign, so she added (correctly) all three fractions. She didn't know how to write a fraction as a percent or vice-versa, and she had trouble comparing two fractions (<, >, or =).
So I gave her the TT7 placement test, and she again missed 6 problems. Two of those were comparing fractions one was adding fractions, and one was dividing fractions. Of the other two she missed, one was finding the radius of a circle, given the diameter, and the other was a word problem (she multiplied when she should've divided).
I didn't give her the TT Pre-Algebra placement test because I'm not comfortable jumping her TWO years ahead of grade level. There's a lot of good review of basic math in TT7.
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Why not use Abeka? I'm sure you have reasons since you made a point to say the poll is for these three things...but I can't help but think if she's familiar with, excels at, and enjoys Abeka maths... why not abeka, ykwim?
For several reasons (that I won't go into here), I do not like ABeka math except for their 7th grade Basic Mathematics, which I like to use with my high school juniors or seniors who will not be attending college and need a thorough review of math before going to tech school or entering the job market.
Definitely not TT6, in any case. Why is that even on the table if she can do TT7 with ease?
I wasn't sure what it meant that her results on the TT6 and TT7 placement tests were so nearly the same. I was hoping for insight into that from others who might have had the same thing happen.
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Next school year, I will be teaching my 11 year old niece, who just completed 5th grade at the all-ABeka Christian school she has attended since PreK. Math is probably her best/favorite subject, and she has always had A's in math on her report card. I don't want to use the ABeka Math she's already familiar with, and I'm trying to decide whether to use BJU Math or Teaching Textbooks for her. If I use BJU, I'll use Math 6, but I'm not sure which level of Teaching Textbooks would be best. How accurate are the TT placement tests?
I gave her the placement tests for TT Math 6 and TT Math 7, and she completed each one (30 problems, including 2 word problems) very quickly and scored about the same on each. She completed the Math 6 test in under 15 minutes and missed three on Section 1 and three on Section 2. She completed the Math 7 test in about 20 minutes and missed two on Section 1 and four on Section 2. According to the scoring instructions, students are ready for a particular level if they miss no more than 5 on Section 1 and no more than 7 on Section 2 on the placement test.
So if I go with Teaching Textbooks, I'm not sure which way to go! What do you think? TT Math 6 or TT Math 7? Or just go with BJU Math 6? I've narrowed my choices down to these three, and I've included a poll with only those options, so please vote!
FWIW, I already own a set of each: BJU Math 6, TT Math 6, and TT Math 7. I love BJU through grade 6, and I love Teaching Textbooks for grades 7 and up. Since she's right on the cusp, I'm just not sure what to do.
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Next school year, I will be teaching my 11 year old niece, who just completed 5th grade at the all-ABeka Christian school she has attended since PreK. Math is probably her best/favorite subject, and she has always had A's in math on her report card. I don't want to use the ABeka Math she's already familiar with, and I'm trying to decide whether to use BJU Math or Teaching Textbooks for her. If I use BJU, I'll use Math 6, but I'm not sure which level of Teaching Textbooks would be best. How accurate are the TT placement tests?
I gave her the placement tests for TT Math 6 and TT Math 7, and she completed each one (30 problems, including 2 word problems) very quickly and scored about the same on each. She completed the Math 6 test in under 15 minutes and missed three on Section 1 and three on Section 2. She completed the Math 7 test in about 20 minutes and missed two on Section 1 and four on Section 2. According to the scoring instructions, students are ready for a particular level if they miss no more than 5 on Section 1 and no more than 7 on Section 2 on the placement test.
So if I go with Teaching Textbooks, I'm not sure which way to go! What do you think? TT Math 6 or TT Math 7? Or just go with BJU Math 6? I've narrowed my choices down to these three, and I've included a poll with only those options, so please vote!
FWIW, I already own a set of each: BJU Math 6, TT Math 6, and TT Math 7. I love BJU through grade 6, and I love Teaching Textbooks for grades 7 and up. Since she's right on the cusp, I'm just not sure what to do.
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...And I can think of no all-in-one Literature, Grammar, and Writing program, much less one that is workbook-based and independent. :(
Wait! I only read the first paragraph, and I just needed to say that I do NOT want it to be independent!
I will continue to teach every lesson, just as I always have. I just need a different format that is a little less work for me.
Just wanted to clarify that. Now, off to read the rest of your post! :)
Thanks so much for responding!
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Have you looked at MBtP lit units? Written to student, covers all of language arts, the cost is affordable if you choose the online curriculum only option and get your books from the library, and the assignments are broken down by day, step by step. You could put both kids in the Ages 11-13 curriculum. That does have some shorter selections (Greek myths, lives in medieval times) but not the short stories of modern convention.
I've looked at MBtP and it's too pricey for us, and the online component will not be a good fit. I teach 5 girls and computer access would be a problem with so many students. Also, we would have trouble getting enough copies of books from our small town library.
FWIW, my own children are adults, graduated from our homeschool program. Now I teach struggling learners who are the children of friends (and friends of friends). We meet daily at my husband's office and we have school in his conference room/classroom. Anyway, all that to say that I need a textbook program, not an online program. Thanks for the input!
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We've been using living books that go along with our history studies, but now we need something that is less time-intensive for me and more straight-forward for the girls. They are asking for short stories instead of novels, and they like workbooks. So I'm looking for a textbook/anthology + workbook/worksheet format, 6th or 7th grade level. (And we will supplement with a few novels also because I just can't let that go entirely!) I've been googling and looking on Amazon and reading reviews...and my head is spinning! Please help me figure this out!
Here are my must-haves for a textbook literature and language arts program:
- affordable -- I'm actually looking at previous editions so I can get everything cheaper. (Trouble is, sometimes the TE's and workbooks that go with a particular OOP student text aren't easy to find.)
- grammar & vocabulary included in the main textbook (or at least in a supplementary workbook) -- preferably based on the reading selections in the textbook
- MAJOR (primary) emphasis on vocabulary & writing, secondary emphasis on reading skills/literary analysis/elements/devices (theme, setting, character, plot, figurative language, foreshadowing, alliteration, hyperbole, etc.)
- step by step writing instruction with rubrics/checklists for the student
- good quality stories, preferably "classic" short stories or excerpt of literature by well-known authors (think: Ray Bradbury, O. Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, etc.)
I've been looking at the previous editions of these programs: BJU Explorations in Literature, MacMillan-McGraw Hill Treasures, Prentice Hall Timeless Voices Timeless Themes, Holt Elements of Literature, Glencoe Writer's Choice, and others. Which of these would you recommend? Or feel free to suggest another.
ETA: As I am thinking this through, I am realizing that I am not seeking a literature program. I am looking for a writing program that incorporates literature, vocabulary, and grammar.
Also, I do not want an independent program. I will be teaching the lessons each day and assigning some homework to be done independently at home.
For the record, my students are NOT my personal children. They are teen & preteen girls (5 of them), children of friends (or friends of friends). I try to keep costs low because the majority of my students are from single parent homes. Mosdos literature has been suggested, but it is not in our price range.
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We've been using living books that go along with our history studies, but now we need something that is less time-intensive for me and more straight-forward for the girls. They are asking for short stories instead of novels, and they like workbooks. So I'm looking for a textbook/anthology + workbook/worksheet format, 6th or 7th grade level. (And we will supplement with a few novels also because I just can't let that go entirely!) I've been googling and looking on Amazon and reading reviews...and my head is spinning! Please help me figure this out!
Here are my must-haves for a textbook literature and language arts program:
- affordable -- I'm actually looking at previous editions so I can get everything cheaper. (Trouble is, sometimes the TE's and workbooks that go with a particular OOP student text aren't easy to find.)
- grammar & vocabulary included in the main textbook (or at least in a supplementary workbook) -- preferably based on the reading selections in the textbook
- MAJOR (primary) emphasis on vocabulary & writing, secondary emphasis on reading skills/literary analysis/elements/devices (theme, setting, character, plot, figurative language, foreshadowing, alliteration, hyperbole, etc.)
- step by step writing instruction with rubrics/checklists for the student
- good quality stories, preferably "classic" short stories or excerpt of literature by well-known authors (think: Ray Bradbury, O. Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, etc.)
I've been looking at the previous editions of these programs: BJU Explorations in Literature, MacMillan-McGraw Hill Treasures, Prentice Hall Timeless Voices Timeless Themes, Holt Elements of Literature, Glencoe Writer's Choice, and others. Which of these would you recommend? Or feel free to suggest another.
ETA: As I am thinking this through, I am realizing that I am not seeking a literature program. I am looking for a writing program that incorporates literature, vocabulary, and grammar.
Also, I do not want an independent program. I will be teaching the lessons each day and assigning some homework to be done independently at home.
For the record, my students are NOT my personal children. They are teen & preteen girls (5 of them), children of friends (or friends of friends). I try to keep costs low because the majority of my students are from single parent homes. Mosdos literature has been suggested, but it is not in our price range.
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I'm about to be teaching my 6th grade niece also! She lived with us briefly when she was very young, but now lives with my sister (her grandmother). It will be an interesting situation for me when she joins my little class of teenage girls. Fortunately, she's very bright, while they are all struggling learners, so they will be using mostly the same books and materials.
P.S. Since you mentioned that you don't know where to start in assessing her, I would suggest using some of the placement tests at publishers' websites:
http://diagnostics.aceministries.com/
https://www.clp.org/store/by_grade/21
http://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/curriculum/placement-tests/
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Here is a link to Grade 11: http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/workbooks/language_arts/grammar_gr11/la_0028183037_01.pdf
Oops! This is just the TOC. I'll google some more and post when/if I find it.
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I can't get to a specific page that links all of them. I just googled "glencoe grammar and language workbook grade 6 pdf" and came up with this. grade 6 I believe. Part 1, whatever that means.
Here's grade 8. another link in case that one stops working
grade 9 (also a part 1)
Sorry, ran out of time and couldn't find grade 11. I need to get ready for work. Maybe someone else will have better luck.
I poked around on google and found all of the Grade 9 workbook in one place here: https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.net/xF24tbh3sjQs2VX1hb2DnFbM59Wtqv1xPikAwO3FweBC26nw.pdf
and all of the Grade 6 workbook in one place here:
A chemistry set to supplement Apologia Young Explorers Chemistry & Physics???
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
Anyone??