Heather in Neverland
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Posts posted by Heather in Neverland
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I bought "The Big Picture Story Bible" for my kids: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Picture-Story-Bible/dp/1581342772/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203476426&sr=8-1
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that science in the grammar years is best left to discovery and fun learning about the world around. They both said this last year at the Cincinnati convention. Dr. Wile said this in his seminar, and SWB said this as well when I was asking her about curriculum. Both of them also said that formal science, studied in a more disciplined way, is good to start in the middle school years.
Neither one advocated not doing any science at all, but both of them really helped *me* not stress about my poor science instruction in the younger years.
If I were you, I wouldn't worry about what lies behind. Just jump in--it'll be just fine.
My dd has enjoyed Apologia's oceanography book. We have also had a good experience with Prentice-Hall Science Explorer. I don't think you need any significant science background to jump into either series. I think PH is a little more in-depth, but have liked both.
That is nice to hear. I think I will stick with the Science-light until 7th grade!
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I would have dumped Saxon math sooner.
I would have streamlined more (we are more LCC-ish now).
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I wonder if volume 2 will be ready shortly after? That's the one I want!
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Ds is in 4th grade. We have "dabbled" in science in the 4 areas (life, earth, physics, chemistry) but we have not done much by way of formal science...mostly living books, videos, etc. It wasn't really planned that way but we just could never seem to fit everything in and when it came time to cut something out for that day or week or month, science has always been the first to go (we lean toward the LCC end of hs philosophy).
My plan now is to start formal science in 7th grade (probably with the apologia series) but I have lingering feelings of guilt for not doing much formal science to that point.
Any sage advice? Have I done grave damage to his education? Will he be unable to handle Apologia General Science in 7th grade without any real prep before it? Should I rethink this and add something formal in for 5th and 6th grade?
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I'm thinking maybe this would be a fun exercise to do with proverbs. In two or three years, I think enough of you should be ready to do this that we could have a little yahoo group working on it :)
That sounds fun!!
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Roflol, If you only knew!... When I was in school, I remember my dad giving me a $10 bill to give my class in lieu of selling wrapping paper or whatever it was. He knew it would give me hives to try. ;) (That said, I feel quite differently about EG than I did about school wrapping paper... And I daresay you've seen me wax on about Latin Prep as well...) :)
So, you are involved with the EG materials? In what way (if you don't mind me asking)? Can you tell me all the wonderful things about them? I am with karenciavo when she says she doesn't like things that are too cutesy. I am the same way. I want academic, systematic instruction that is age-appropriate.
I also dream of a program that would do the English to Latin to Greek and back translation-type exercises after we have a strong grasp of both languages. I know it's weird but that sounds like fun to me (I am a language major in Spanish). :D
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Could you explain the difference please?
I would like to give my kids Greek also at some point. :cool:
I would like to know, too. And when you say "classical" or the "Climbing Parnassus"-style education, are you refering to koine or attic?
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OK, so Alphabeterion is optional and Elementary Greek would come before Homeschool Greek?
Can you tell me what you did not like about Hey Andrew? Any thoughts on the Greek for Children series that is coming out soon?
Can you tell me anythingmore about Machen or Mounce? Even though we are just starting, I like to have the sequence planned out so if one particular text leads into another really well I'd like to know about it.
If I wanted to start slow (since we are pretty heavy into Latin) how would this look:
5th grade- GA
6th grade- EGI
7th grade- EGII
8th grade- EGIII
9th grade- HGI
10th grade- HGII
11th grade- Mounce or Machen
12th grade- Mounce or Machen
Is that the proper sequence? Are there workbooks that go with Mounce and/or Machen?
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We are finishing up LCII and plan to do Henle I next year for Latin. I am also thinking of adding in Greek at some point so I am looking for reviews of programs.
I've looked at Alphabeterion (with copybook), Elementary Greek, Hey Andrew and Greek for Children (which isn't out yet).
Anyone have more that I am not aware of? Any reviews, pros/cons of these programs?
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Relax. Honestly, they are in place to show how well a SCHOOL DISTRICT is doing so the state knows how much money to throw at them the next year. My dh teaches in a ps and that's what he says. They can't ban you from hsing if he "fails". Standardized tests put kids into a cookie cutter mold and expect that all kids at x grade level know y material. It's ridiculous. PA now has a Science portion of the PSSA's for 4th grade and up. So, I wonder, if my 4th grader doesn't cover xyz in Science in 4th grade...will he be hindered for the rest of his school career? NOT! Relax. View it as I do...a necessary evil. AND...from prev. experience...my dd has always been a stellar reader (years ahead of her grade level) but one year she actually "failed" the reading portion of the test! Test also test how well you can take a test. Sure, a good thing when SAT's come, but in 3rd grade? P.L.E.A.S.E. JMHO...others may disagree :)
That's pretty much how I feel about this testing. Why does a student HAVE to learn about the solar system in 3rd grade? Can't they learn about it in 2nd grade or 4th grade? Does it have to be 3rd grade? This test is going to ask a bunch of social studies questions that he may not know but if there were questions on Mesopotamia or Ancient Greece or the Reformation he would ace them, KWIM? I can't wait until it is over. :(
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I am freaking out about state testing.
We moved to NC this year where they require annual state testing (we use to live in Michigan where they require nothing). I do not have to report the results of the testing to anyone and my ds (9yo) will be taking the ITBS in a group setting with a local homeschool group.
I already know he is not going to score well on math because we switched to MUS this year and started from the beginning to cover missed concepts. He has covered Alpha, Beta and Gamma and does well with it but has not had any division or fractions, both of which will be on the test.
Logically, I know that this test doesn't really matter. We are only doing it because we have to and my son will catch up, probably by the end of next year, with math. I know all this.
So why am I a nervous wreck? Am I afraid that this test will show me to be a teaching failure? Am I afraid to compare my ds with other students? Will this be an indictment of my teaching skills or will my son feel like a failure? Should I ditch our regular curriculum for the next 6 weeks and do nothing but test prep?
The mere idea of him coming back with low test scores makes me want to throw up. Why am I freaking out over a test that doesn't really matter? Does anyone else go through this feeling with testing?
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SWB is coming out with a new curriculum for elementary writing "Writing With Ease". It's due in spring.
I love all of her stuff too, so I will definitely take a look at this! Thanks!
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Heather, your son sounds just like my oldest son. We started writing instruction this year (5th grade) with IEW's Ancient History Based Writing Lessons. This curriculum is working very well for my son. In my opinion, it could be taught without investing in the IEW Teaching Writing Structure and Style course.
It's interesting you mentioned that because that is what I am thinking of doing. A friend let me borrow her IEW DVDs to watch and I liked them but I need something laid out for me. We start our 2nd rotation of history next year going back to the ancients so I thought the theme-based Ancient History lessons might work well. Do you have them already? If so, what are they like?
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Ok, I don't know how to set up one of those fancy polls but I would love to know at what grade/age do you start a formal writing curriculum?
My 9yo ds just has no interest whatsoever. We tried WS and CW and both were a flop. He will be in 5th grade next year and I am starting to feel massive pressure because he hasn't had much formal writing yet. I am thinking of trying IEW next year.
He is an excellent reader, a mediocre speller, has great vocabulary and grammar skills. He just HATES to write. So I guess I'm wondering how far behind we are.
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We use MUS.
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I love Prima Latina as a gentle introduction and then right into LCI. The DVDs make it absolutely painless for the mom to teach.
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I was exactly where you are at...Saxon 5/4...struggling...bought the DIVE CDs...not a big help. We switched to MUS and we LOVE it!
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We are using it with much success!
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ditto, ditto and more ditto.....
Plus, it isn't all that outrageous that so many of us are teaching Latin to our kids. When I was in school Latin was a course offering and most kids took it at least for a little while. It's only in the last 20 years that it went "out-of-style". The old ways are still the good ways.
The other day some boys in the neighborhood were talking about some gruesome videogame (that my ds is NOT allowed to play) and they were describing all the disgusting details. One said "Yeah, and this one guy gets decapitated!" My son's response? "That's from the Latin word caput which means head." They just stared blankly. I couldn't have been more proud. :D
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My ds (9yo) had major problems with Saxon. He is also a VS learner and does well with manipulatives. We switched to MUS and it was the best thing we ever did!
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I am leaning more LCC for 5th grade also so my plan is...
DAILY
Latin- LCII, Lingua Angelica
Writing- IEW theme-based lessons (Ancients)
Math- MUS Epsilon and Zeta
Literature- read and discuss various books
ONCE A WEEK
Bible- Answers in Genesis
History- FMOG and FMOR
Science- Education Exploration
Piano and guitar lessons
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We LOVE Easy Grammar!! You would probably use the "Plus" level which is the last one. It has a red cover.
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Gee Heather, you look just like someone from another board that I know! ;)
I wonder how many other FIAR'ers we'll now recognize!
:D
Kristine
HOWDY!!!! That WILL be fun! These are my two favorite boards, FIAR for my little one and WTM for my older one. There are several from the other board on here I think.
MUS questions for those who use it/have used it...
in K-8 Curriculum Board
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I switched from Saxon to MUS and my ds couldn't be happier! He hated Saxon so much he actually asked to burn his Saxon book in the fireplace...and I let him! Math has been so much better since we switched to MUS.