Jump to content

Menu

SA Homeschooler

Members
  • Posts

    193
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by SA Homeschooler

  1. Wow, thanks for all the great reviews everyone!  It is really encouraging to hear since we are also planning on taking it ithis Fall.  Jetta has been super helpful in answering all my questions (laundry list).  I typically ask about many aspects of any class before signing up.  It sounds like it will be a really good fit for ds13.  I guess there will be quite a few of our kids taking it together this Fall.  See you then.  :hurray:  :thumbup:

     

    Derek,

     

    I'm super excited about this class as well!! My ds15 will be taking it in the fall too!!

    • Like 2
  2. We've used Write at Home for the Research Paper module and for a full year class. It gets the job done, but it's very lite on the assignment quality, instruction, and feedback. We do a lot of additional writing and critiquing to supplement. We've had three different writing coaches at this point, and I feel like a common theme among them is far too little specific critique. If you're looking for something basic, not too challenging, and with lots of positive reinforcement then Write at Home might work for you. If, on the other hand, you're looking to push or challenge your child without having to heavily supplement, then I would keep looking.

     

    Contessa, thank you so much for the input.  I really do want him to learn how to write so I suppose I will steer clear of Write@Home.  He needs to be poked and prodded not patted on the back.

    • Like 2
  3. I would really like a comprehensive online writing program [or tutor] that will teach ds the main types of essay writing, as well as some research and technical writing.  He is a STEM student so writing is neither his passion nor his strength.  We did a year of IEW and it was just so formulaic that he was bored.

     

    I have read so many of the online class posts that I just don't know how to choose one.  I also keep reminding myself that some of those post are several years old; so I don't know how applicable they may be.

     

    Your help would be greatly appreciated.

     

     

  4. Can you give a basic idea of how Live Lingual works? How often have YOU chosen to use it? Do you get the same teacher each time? I don't know why, but their website confuses/intimidates me.

     

    Trudence, we get the same teacher each time.  My ds takes two lessons per week.  The lessons are done via Skype and are very reasonably priced.  You can specifically select a teacher from the Latin American country of your choosing.  I have also been able to give my input as to what I would like the class to focus on--for me, conversational Spanish is more important than grammar and verb conjugation.

     

    It was important to me that my son have a Mexican teacher, as that is the dialect and accent that we are accustomed to here in South Texas.  You can get a free lesson so you really have nothing to lose.  I should get them to pay me a referral fee...lol!!

    • Like 1
  5. LiveLingua has been great!!  My son has been assigned to one teacher and she has been wonderful.  She does as much of the class as possible in Spanish.  My son still requires some things explained in English.  She has been very accommodating as far as scheduling.  He has 2 standing classes per week but we have had to postpone on occasion and she has been great!!  Also, since he has the same teacher over and over she has come to have a very clear picture of where he struggles.  The teacher has been providing the materials in pdf format so I am not sure what book they come out of.  She sends the homework after class which he does and presents at the beginning of the next class.  They go over it together and then move on to the next lesson.  Some lessons include watching a short video and then she asks him comprehension questions.  I think that they would be very flexible about using a particular text if so requested.

    • Like 1
  6. Who authored Grammar Made Easy? I'm interested in a sentence combining approach. Is this the resource that takes that angle?

     

    Grammar Made Easy: Writing a Step Above by Connie Schenkelberg:

    http://everyday-education.com/grammar/

     

    That is the one that uses the sentence combining approach.  It has the option to diagram but we just skipped that part as I saw no use for it.  I'm 47 years old and have never had to diagram in my life and I've done just fine.

     

    Killgallon's Story Grammar uses the imitation approach.

     

     

  7. I completely agree with you!!  I really don't like the idea of teaching grammar perse.  Now, my son is only 15 so I don't know how this plays out but for now, we have learned grammar through editing, sentence combining and imitation.  My kiddo is a great writer without ever having diagrammed a sentence.  He scored exceedingly well on his Stanford Achievement Test last year so I presume this approach has not hampered his testing.

     

    Edited to add:  The two grammar programs listed on my signature line teach through sentence combining and imitation.  We used the Critical Thinking Co.'s Language Mechanic for the editing.

  8. Can you share which Live Online Science courses you have loved?  And hated?  My son is a STEM kid but really likes engineering type things and computer science rather than traditional science classes...but I guess we have to satisfy the transcript requirements so I hope you all can point me in the right direction.

     

    I considered using SuperCharged Science because he would enjoy working with his hands but I don't think that the curriculum would go deep enough for STEM prep.

×
×
  • Create New...