TarynB
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Posts posted by TarynB
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Does Hake 5 follow a similar format? We are planning to use Hake 5 for grammar, but not for writing. Could I order just the student textbook and not the workbook? Approximately what fraction of the grammar instruction would I miss by skipping Hake 5 student workbook? Many thanks.
Yes, Hake 5 follows the same format: grammar lessons (with a small bit of dictation and vocab) in the textbook, writing lessons plus some "more practice" grammar worksheet pages in the workbook. There is no grammar instruction in the workbook. We've never used the workbook because we do something else for writing and my DS gets plenty of grammar practice in the textbook.
Just for reference, the Hake 5 textbook is about 550 pages, containing 112 lessons, all grammar (with some dictation and vocab). The Hake 5 workbook is about 130 pages, approx. 96 pages are writing lessons and approx. 34 pages of extra grammar practice worksheets. The extra grammar practice worksheets go with specific grammar lessons in the textbook and only 28 (out of 112) of the textbook's grammar lessons have extra practice worksheets in the workbook.
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We use Visual Link Spanish too. I originally subscribed to the online version but DS complained that it often loaded very slowly. Recently the download version was on sale for a very low price, and since DS likes the program so much (and uses it daily), I went ahead and bought the downloadable version. He is much happier with the speed/performance now. The problem is probably our DSL speed, rather than an issue with the Visual Link service, but just wanted to mention that for others.
Aside from the speed issue, we haven't noticed any differences between using it online vs. download.
For others who may be reading, if you visit the website (link in my sig) and provide an email address, you'll get a newsletter and notice of when their products go on sale, which can save you quite a lot.
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OP, someone just posted in another thread the website you might have been looking for: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/thegreatcourses.com
Here's the other thread.
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My DS10 (5th grade) did the Student Writing Intensive level B this year and had no trouble at all with the level B requirements. He started out as a reluctant writer too. We followed up the SWI-B with the ancient history theme books, for which there are notes in the teacher's manual on what to expect for level A vs. level B. He easily completed the level B requirements in the theme book too. The IEW website says level A is for up to 5th grade, and level B is for 6th - 8th grade, but I think he would have complained about level A being way too easy for him. So I think you have to take the website's recommendations with a grain of salt.
All that to say, I'd recommend level C for an 8th grader.
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I don't necessarily think she minds review if she can blow through it.
FWIW, during times when the review in Hake gets too tedious for my DS, I let him do every other (or even every third) review question and skip the others. (Not the practice problems over the new material, just the review questions.) The review "spiral" is tight enough, with frequent coverage of all the previous concepts, that this works well for him and he still doesn't miss anything. I like that it is so flexible - review if you need it, easy to skip when you don't. (As opposed to adding review to a program that doesn't include it built-in.) I've seen others say they skip some review questions like this as well.
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I bought some timelines from them once. I didn't have any problems with the transaction.
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I have one of those kids too. Very efficient, loves checklists, never has enjoyed projects or coloring or crafts. I'm just thankful that he likes to read and learns well that way. Great kid, just no tolerance for "nonsense", LOL.
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Bumping for you and :bigear: .
Also wanted to say, I usually have the most luck when searching by googling "forums.welltrainedmind.com" + "(whatever you're searching for)", rather than searching from within the forums.
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I'm glad the email worked and they got back to you so quickly! Thanks for posting that!
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I was going to suggest GWG also.
Can you explain what you mean by "the pattern"? I've heard this before (maybe from you?) and I really don't get what that means.
Sure, I just mean that there wasn't sufficient variety in the way the exercises were written. (Edited to clarify, I'm talking about GWG.) After a while, the pattern was too predictable for us. I'm sorry, I can't remember specifics now, but I wish I could give a page or lesson number to illustrate. For example, a lesson would be asking the student to identify the prepositional phrase, and the sentences mostly all had the pattern of (noun) + (verb) + (prep phrase), instead of mixing up the order and/or offering more complex sentence structure. My DS was good at decoding patterns but couldn't necessarily identify a preposition in another format (for example, in a book he was reading) after completing those lessons. I've seen others mention the same thing, so when I saw it I recognized it. I'm sure GWG works great for others!
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Having many options is one of the strengths of CPO--skill and practice, demonstrations, projects, research, literature selections, etc. This makes it a great program for different kinds of families and students with varying needs/goals.
Thank you for taking the time to post and for writing all that out. We are planning to use CPO next year, and I was starting to doubt my choice. Options are good. Curriculum is a tool - it's all in how you use it, right? Now I'm encouraged again! Thank you!!!
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This is great. Just be sure that none of this is still copyrighted, as very, very, very few composers every make much money composing, and same with many authors. In the case of long dead composer, that's no problem since only editing can be copyrighted and many of us prefer urtexts (music just as written by the composer with no added interpretation by and editory).
Here's another link to a great place for free music http://www.score-on-.../freescores.php .
Agreed! It looks like they have that covered. From their website: "There are no copyrights, no royalties, and no RIAA agents. Donate in one (or both) of two ways: Schools and individual musicians contribute recordings to create what is now the largest and most visited public domain online music library."
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Just sharing, thought someone else might like this too. We're listening now!
This website was shared earlier today by FreelyEducate.com:
"Musopen (www.musopen.org) is a 501c(3) non-profit focused on improving access and exposure to music by creating free resources and educational materials. We provide recordings, sheet music, and textbooks to the public for free, without copyright restrictions. Put simply, our mission is to set music free."
I did a quick search and didn't see anyone else had posted it already, so just wanted to share. It looks organized too! (Bonus! b/c sometimes free means you do a lot of work to make it usable, LOL)
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Another Hake fan here. :thumbup:
We've used Easy Grammar and I liked it, but DS wanted something even more independent with more review, so Hake it is. He does great with it. He's also a visual learner so since he's now learning diagramming in Hake, it helps him "see" the sentence structure. Easy Grammar doesn't teach diagreamming, unfortunately, or else we probably would have stuck with it. They're both great programs, IMO.
The way Growing with Grammar is written it was too easy for him to figure out the pattern and get the right answer without understanding the concept.
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I wouldn't do IEW as a supplement to WWS. I'd do one or the other at a time. Together would be too much and I think you'd lose the best parts of both. We did WWE4 last year, doing IEW this year, and will do WWS next year.
IEW has been wonderful for my previously writing-phobic DS. Amazing turnaround in his attitude, ability and confidence.
I'd recommend IEW's Student Writing Intensive level B, with you watching the DVDs with your student to learn the program. This was how we did it and it worked great for us. (I didn't use the Teaching Writing Structure & Style DVD). After doing this, for just over a hundred bucks retail, you're set for writing across the curriculum on your own. This is where Andrew Pudewa gives the instruction to the student. The DVD viewing time is usually 30 minutes to an hour (not all at once) per lesson, with a lesson usually taking a week or even two to do the writing, depending on which schedule you follow. So the DVD viewing time and the actual writing isn't in huge chunks and it is spaced out.
The Teaching Writing Stucture & Style seminar on DVD for you as the teacher would be nice but not absolutely necessary. I may not know what I'm missing since I didn't use it, but I totally felt like I had a good grip on the program without it. But you could do this instead of the Student Writing Intensive, and then you teach it to your student yourself.
As a follow-up to Student Writing Intensive B, we then did the Ancient History theme books. We didn't need to, just chose to. I wouldn't recommend doing the theme books without having watched the DVDs from either the Student Writing Intensive or Teaching Writing Structure & Style. You could do it, but IMO the teacher's manual for the theme books just doesn't have the depth of what you get from the DVDs.
My DS is doing his narrations using the key word outline and style techniques on his own now. It's second-nature now. It's awesome. :coolgleamA:
The products are pricey if you buy new, but IEW does accept returns at any time, no questions asked, so remember that. I see you have younger kids coming up too, so you can definitely re-use this with them. Or look for it used. That's how I got mine. Re-sale value is excellent in case you do decide to sell it later.
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I don't know the answer either, but here's an email address if you want to try sending it directly instead of through the website.
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We use and like Wordly Wise 3000 workbooks. They go through grade 12 level. From the website, the workbooks include "vocabulary development, reading comprehension, critical thinking, using a dictionary and pronunciation key, word usage, test taking/assessment, context clues, synonyms and antonyms, multiple-meaning words, using word parts to determine meaning (prefixes, suffixes, Greek and Latin roots), homophones, picture clues and captions, analogies, word origins, and repeated exposure in many contexts". It's also very handy for ACT/SAT prep, with words that frequently appears on those tests. The workbooks don't require a ton of physical writing, so the lessons don't take lots of time, but the exercises are effective for us.
You can see samples here. You can see the word lists for each level and the free "reinforcement activities" (word-based games) here. (Click on "students".)
I've looked at many focused "word root" workbooks as well, and the one I like best is Vocabulary from Classical Roots, but there are still things I don't like about it, mainly to do with organization and layout, and lack of practice.
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I have the most luck using google, rather than searching from within the forum. Just google "welltrainedmind.com/forums" + "(whatever you're searching for)".
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Yes and yes! LOL. Best grammar program for us.
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We just watched the first episode this afternoon. The boys loved it, especially when "Romulus gave Remus the ninja kick" LOL
Yeah, my kid loved that part too! He laughed so hard and re-played that part several times, then walked around quoting it the rest of the day. Even if he forgets everything else, I know he'll remember the story of Romulus and Remus!
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Okay..here I am again...geesh. I decided to go with HAKE Grammar because I wanted easier and all in one. I do not like the looks of it and think it would be a disaster for the two children I am wanting to do it with.
I have one more question.... trying to decide between Analytical Grammar, since she has the DVD's to go with it now or Easy Grammar. This is hard because it is for a son who really is reluctant and writing and grammar etc.. He has a hard time concentrating and I have let some things slide but we now NEED to get moving but having him sit down and do HAKE would be a disaster and for my daughter. Not for sure just me looking at it sort of made me want to scream..ha! I really need things simply explained and something we can start out a bit slow etc..
I had actually thought about Junior AG because she has DVD's for those. I also thought about Writing Strands, looked at a sample and found his humor funny and would fit my kids well but...again, I am not proficient in this area at all so..need lots of good instructions, preferrable stuff written to the children etc..
Why is this so hard, too many components to a good LA area, children who are not at grade level in the area of "writing and grammar" , which I don't really care about because those things can be learned, we have time....ALSO...an area I lack much confidence in teaching!!!
ETA - I remember you posting earlier. Is your latest post specifically related to middle school level? Grammar? Or grammar and writing both?
I think in order to help you at this point, we need to know a little more. What level of Hake are you looking at? What specifically do you not like about it and makes you want to scream?
I don't know of many (any?) other middle school grammar programs that fit all your requirements that are more gentle, simple, and thorough, that also provide instruction written to the student with systematic progression, short lessons, and review. Maybe you tried to jump in at too high of a level? Maybe you're searching for something that will be difficult if not impossible to attain with all those requirements. Something's gotta give. But I really hope someone else will chime in with a suggestion.
Did you say earlier you already own Easy Grammar and IEW's SWI? Have you tried them? What worked and didn't work for your kids with those? (Notice, I didn't ask if *you* *liked* them, but what worked/didn't for your kids, LOL.)
Forgive me, but you seem highly overwhelmed. Perhaps you should give your kids a chance with what you already own. At my house, if my attitude is encouraging and optimistic, I have found that it works wonders, regardless of the curriculum choice. Please don't take that the wrong way, I'm just picking up a wee bit of panic in your posts. :grouphug:
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Just wanted to bump for you since I'm :bigear: as well.
Your list of topics looks good to me. I might also add: 1 - basic awareness of vehicle maintenance schedules (how and when to check oil, tire pressure, etc.) and 2 - basic landscape/lawn maintenance, when and how to fertilize, water, etc. These topics are on my mind since my DH works a lot and these things fall into my domain often. :001_smile:
My DS loves to help me in the kitchen and frequently shops for groceries with me, and we are both obsessive list-makers for chores to do around the house (we have a monthly schedule), so lots of these discussions happen naturally for us. I do need to get around to showing him how to sew on a loose button and repair a pants hem.
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I haven't used these, but I have these books on my Amazon wish list. Not strictly home ec, but more along the lines of "life skills". Maybe looking at the tables of contents or the samples will give you some ideas.
Life Skills for Kids: Equipping Your Child for the Real World
The ABCs of Life : Lesson One: The Skills We All Need but Were Never Taught
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I really wish I had something helpful to add, but my DS is only 10, so I haven't been in your shoes with a soon-to-be 7th grader yet. However, if it were me, starting in 7th grade, I'd be thinking about how I want high school to look, and then working backwards from there. Have you considered posting on the high school board to get some been there, done that advice?
Does anyone use Great Courses...
in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges
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Thank you for posting this!