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Surfside Academy

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Posts posted by Surfside Academy

  1. Here's another opinion to muddy the water. :D We were given RSO Chemistry by a friend and while I think it is a good program, it just didn't work for us. Maybe it was the format/layout. We switched over to ES Chemistry and I've been very pleased so far. I like the layout of ES much better. Also, I like that each child is creating their own workbook throughout the year. I would recommend to look at both in depth first though. I'm using ES with an almost 3rd grader & a 4th grader. It might be a stretch for 2nd grade.

  2. We just made the switch from FLL to MCT. My oldest was almost finished with WWE 4 but was grumbling and complaining constantly. He hates diagramming. My middle son was using GWG 2 but didn't seem to be retaining much. I was going to start FLL 3 with him in the fall but decided to it was time to try something different from the traditional workbook approach with both boys.

     

    I can honestly say the change has been amazing! They are engaged in our discussions and totally get into when we analyze the sentences from Sentence Island (we do these orally.) They've actually asked to do additional sentences. They're even tolerating the poetry book, which I was hesitant to begin. I'm discovering that they both really enjoy the interaction that we all having during our reading and discussions when we use MCT.

     

    I still love FLL and will probably work out a combo MCT/FLL for next year but we're definitely loving MCT.

  3. We used PP here, but I reinforced it with frequent reading together (taking turns reading aloud) and ETC workbooks.

     

    :iagree: This has worked very well for us as well. I tried OPTGR with my K'er and he just didn't like it. I switched back over to PP and he's taken off. Kids are funny that way...OPTGR is a great program but it just didn't click with him.

     

    I always like to look at Cathy Duffy's reviews. I use them as a jumping off point for my curriculum research.

  4. We're using Elemental Science Chemistry. It follows the science model written in the WTM and uses the Usborne Internet-linked Encyclopedia as well as Adventures with Atoms & Molecules. It's the first science curriculum that I haven't dreaded pulling together and using every week!

  5. Great post! I have been praying! I was thinking today about how the devil loves what is happening. He loves division. And he loves to attack what we love the most. I do believe that we should stand together in prayer. We can show support for either and/or all parties involved without bashing the others. SWB is doing a beautiful job of that. :001_smile:

     

    :iagree: The divisiveness in the body is extremely disheartening. Praying for grace and healing.

  6. Elemental Science was written as a response to people looking for Classical science curriculum. We've just begun ES Chemistry and we're really enjoying it. The author has a full elementary series for the grammar stage and has just completed Biology for the Logic stage. I've even seen her pop in on these boards from time to time.

  7. again, I state, there are 2 issues here everyone is "lumping" into one. How Ken Ham has handled himself is one (separate) issue. The beliefs that Dr. Enns has presented in his book and his view of the Bible (important to know when someone is writing Bible curriculum) are an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT issue.

     

    I agree with you that there are two issues here.

     

    I can disagree with Dr. Enns (which I do, based on his I + I website postings and SWB's review of that book) but still respect him. I can choose not to use his religion curriculum (which I do so choose) and still consider him a Christian brother (which I also do.)

     

    Actually, even if I thought that his current Bible curriculum for young children was flawless, I would hesitate to use it because of his view of the Bible. I would have to consider whether I was giving too much credence to him in an early, formative stage of my children's education. I would think about how and at what point I would decide that the future curricula would diverge to the point where I couldn't use them anymore, and whether I should even start with them if I could help it. It would have to be extraordinarily outstandingly good for me to start with it, knowing that I probably can't continue with it down the road and that I will have to explain that change. But if he were also, say, an expert on botany, his views on Scripture probably wouldn't stop me from using a botany curriculum that he wrote.

     

    I do this kind of assessment with MANY curricula. I evaluated Omnibus this way, and some of the Christian worldview offerings. I have looked at science curricula this way as well, both Christian and non-Christian. There are trade offs to everything.

     

    I have known for a long time that I don't entirely agree with SWB's theology. And you know what? I still love and respect her and appreciate her work tremendously. I use and promote SOTW avidly. I own every edition of TWTM, and I could probably recite changes between them, LOL. I own TWEM. I flew across the country from the West Coast to attend the WTM anniversary conference. I'm a big fan of SWB and her work...and I can be a big fan of her work without agreeing with her about everything or using all of her materials. Some of them work for me, some don't, so what.

     

    It's good to sort these things out ourselves, for our own families, and doing that makes us better homeschoolers.

    :iagree:

     

    Carol,

     

    You wrote exactly what I've been feeling over past few days during this kerfluffle.

  8. I would have thought that working through MM fractions would have cemented this. Is Keys to...better than MM at this? I have MM fractions 2 I could print out. Or, should LOF help this? He is only on lesson 6 in LOF. I hate to buy something if one of these will work, but I will if necessary.

     

    Poor guy! He got so mad at himself. His words,What's wrong with me? I used to know this!"

     

     

    I love LOF but I think it works well with students who already have a good grasp of the subject or kids who are very intuitive with math. I think it would frustrate a kid who's already struggling with the subject.

     

    I'm not familiar with MM but a friend is using the Keys to series with her son who struggles with math. She said it's been a great success for him.

  9. Anyone in the Southern CA area willing to work with me to plan something? I'm not sure I'm in the best area--N of LA in small town, but I'd be willing to help someone in LA or closer to LA.

     

    I'm in Northern San Diego county. We have some fairly large homeschool groups in the area. We could pull people from L.A., Orange County, San Diego and even Arizona and Nevada to come.

     

    Plus, I'm really close to the beach so SWB could dip her toes into the Pacific while she's here. My husband will even offer free stand-up paddleboard lessons. :D

  10. JFS, now if it meant that Harrison Ford might pick me up in his manly, debonairre, I'll rescue you sweetheart, manner, and carry me away from the snake, then just that once, I'd swallow my phobia, don an evening gown (I'm pretty certain that something frilly would be required for the occasion) and swoon for him! LOL

     

    Tiffany's? Wait, is there some loophole in the law that I haven't heard of that makes it legal to loot and pillage Tiffany's???? Seriously, I'll be there...I may have a shoulder launch bazooka in case of snake sighting, but I'll be there!

     

    Faith

     

    There are always loopholes...especially when it comes to "bling." And did you learn nothing from Harrison Ford?? Snakes hate fire so a flame thrower would be more more effective!

  11. We have used MUS from the beginning. My 4th grader is almost finished with Episilon and my 2nd grader is almost done with Gamma.

     

    I decided to purchase TT to use as a supplement because it would take little additional input on my part. My 4th grader tested in TT 6 and the 2nd grader tested in TT 4. My 2nd grader likes it more than his brother but it has been all review so far for both. TT is ok but I find that MUS is much more challenging. CWP has been a better supplemental fit for us.

  12. Good for you! My daughter seems to really enjoy MCT LA, too. I didn't think we would like Building Language, but that one seems to be her favorite. Go figure! :lol:

     

    I'm not sure about Music of the Hemispheres so I haven't been brave enough to start it yet. I'm shooting for next week and hopefully they will enjoy it as much.

  13. My oldest son was getting tired of "workbook grammar" and wanted to try something different. With some trepidation, I decided to purchase the MCT Island package. It took some getting used to including me yelling to pay attention, stop playing with the dog, stop touching your brother, etc. Well we've just completed Grammar Island so we were working on some 4-level analysis on the white board.

     

    I was shocked but they actually were having fun and even asked to do more sentences (which never happens!) :eek: My oldest hated diagramming, so go figure. They still have issues at times identifying pronouns and adjectives but it does seem to be sinking in.

     

    "Who are these kids and what did you do with my children?" :D

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