Julie in MN
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Posts posted by Julie in MN
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We have used the audios for SOTW 2 & 3. My ds liked the original woman speaker best, but Jim Weiss is good, too. (He has used them at ages 10-12.)
My ds enjoys but does not retain the audios by themselves. He needs to narrate and notebook on the story in order for it to stick. The car would be a fine intro, tho. And sometimes we listen to the same story twice.
Most history I read (we use MFW). But it's really nice for us to have a different method of learning on occasion.
Julie
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I agree with Laura that you *could* teach writing yourself. In fact, no matter what program you use, a majority of it must be teacher-led because there is no way to provide an answer key for each individual.
It seems like everyone is talking about two very different kinds of writing. Reports vs. creative writing. And I'm guessing that the original poster's daughter is doing creative writing -- I had one son who liked to write reports in his free time, but that isn't the norm :o)
So I wanted to add that even in creative writing, some *education* is helpful. We use Writing Strands, which TWTM recommends. I think it adds things the kids may not think of:
* 1st person vs. 3rd person etc
* omniscient narrator vs. limited view
* realizing that two characters don't see the same thing at the same time
* realizing that one character may see something that the other character doesn't realize he sees
* realizing that even a "floor plan" can help make sure you don't confuse the reader when characters pop in and out of a room that's connected at one point and not at another
* etc
Many creative writing programs introduce "writing ideas" such as, "Write 100 words about your favorite place." If your student has lots of ideas, I don't think this is necessary at all. But technique, that can probably be worked on by everyone!
JULIE
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We're a year behind you, but I was sort of thinking of Rainbow Science for 7th. It seems pricey but I guess that comes with the territory in middle grade/high school science. And if I remember correctly it's a two-year course.
I'm going with this again for my 7th grader. The reading is short, so you really need to check that your student gets the main points (using the teacher guide). But in this program, the experiments *always* get done and the reading is not a problem.
Depends on the kid, but dh & I decided to use this again with our upcoming 7th grader.
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I got one, too, and came here to see if it was a spam. Thanks for sharing so we all know what's up.
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You do have to pay tax at convention. If you live in Minnesota, then MACHE has an online form for getting a tax-exempt ID. I'm not sure if other states do this, too. Sometimes the tax and the shipping costs balance out. But I agree with the others -- I want it in my hands AND I want to thank the vendors.
Julie
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We used both of those with My Father's World. Well, actually SOTW-2 and Trial & Triumph -- since those two are of the same time period (as someone else said). And then the following year, we are using the rest of T&T alongside SOTW-3. In the last history year, MFW adds the SOTW Activity Guide, as well.
Julie
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I enjoy buying used so I can "try" lots of different things. I feel like I've tried everything out there over the past 5 yeras.
But when I find something I like & "use it fully," then I feel a personal obligation to purchase something new from that publisher. I know of too many homeschool publishers who can't seem to finish their curriculum because of the used market. We really are a limited market & most materials are reasonably priced, so there is no comparison to major public school or private school publishers.
Also, I talked with the gal at Heart of Wisdom once and she said that she only sells thru Amazon for advertising. She said they gave her only about $1 profit after she took their forced discount, paid shipping, etc. She was willing to give me somewhat of a discount when I bought from her, to compensate for the hugely discounted price I could have gotten at Amazon.
Just my perspective,
Julie
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We like songs & the songs on this CD are very nice. That's the only part we used, and I still felt the price was reasonable. (And our CDs wear out so quickly that new is good for us!)
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Incredible, thanks!
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We have learned many of the literary elements by using Writing Strands. I know everyone doesn't like it, but SWB does. It has very focused lessons on things like first person vs. third person, plot sequencing, characters with negative or positive outlooks on the story, setting description from different character's points of view, and so on.
Julie
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Hi Jeana,
I'm sure we all second-guess ourselves in certain ways. It's hard being "lone rangers" out there by ourselves!
I have done one year of Sonlight & several of MFW. I'm trying to think of how Sonlight would stretch an 11 year old more than MFW. Probably you mean requiring more books? Is that what you're thinking? Sonlight does schedule more required books, tho not all are advanced. And that can also be done with MFW -- in fact, if he is doing book basket and reading time daily, it probably is being done?! And I like how MFW has kids learn in many different ways, instead of relying solely on gleaning information from stories.
RTR is definitely a jump up from ECC. We are just finishing RTR. Both the included books (Augustus Caesar's World, for instance) and the book basket lists (we are reading one by G.A. Henty from the book basket list) include a step up in reading.
Vocabulary is a step up from ECC to RTR, using English from the Roots Up. Science includes basically two complete programs (human body and astronomy). Music and art are classical instead of folksy. Bible covers a lot of ground in the actual New Testament, as well as bringing in resources such as Victor Journey and Trial & Triumph and How the Bible Came to Us.
Well, that's from the point of view of a happy MFW-er. I'm sure a happy Sonlight-er will share, too :o)
Julie
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I love having found a program that someone *else* has set up for *me*! When I found MFW, I knew this was what I was trying to do on my own.
Having gone thru one child with an entire public school education, and another child who has spent 5 years on a homeschooled high school education where I created my own thing, I probably am more enthusiastic about this "great discovery" of a complete curriculum than most LOL!
I have realized only too well how much time I am saving, how much more time I spend with my child rather than in research/preparation, how much more they like it when mom isn't going on forever to make sure they know every single detail that *I* as an adult think is quite interesting, how much more time we have for character and practical skills, and how much further we get in our academics!
That's how it looks from here :o)
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Another vote for MFW. They have extra ideas for 7th & 8th graders, as well, at http://www.mfwbooks.com/ecc_7-8.htm
The core books are included. The library list is extensive and can be tailored towards each child's interests/abilities.
Julie
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My Father's World, which includes SOTW. This is our fourth year and it's going wonderfully.
Julie - first post trying the new boards
Is there a schedule for Joy Hakims A History of Us?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
We used Sonlight just for the Hakim section. At least when I bought it, they sold the student questions for Hakim separately. And the teacher notes were 90 percent Hakim -- you could just take out the small section of reader questions. It was kinda pricey, but it did what I wanted to do that year.
Oxford Press also has teaching books and a test book for Hakim, but I think you are looking for more of a schedule.
Julie