squirtymomma
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Posts posted by squirtymomma
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My husband's just made the switch. I was all for it, but must admit that it was harder on us than I expected.
He was a computer engineer at IBM, and had a good career for 11ish years, but he was getting restless. He always thought architecture sounded interesting. Then he learned about landscape architecture, a field neither of us had heard of. It took us a couple of years, but he applied to multiple schools, and we ended up moving across the country. We had invested well in the real estate bubble. We left without having sold our house. Then, a month after he started grad school, the market crashed. It took us a full year to sell the house. Etc, etc. We were able to do the 3 years of school without any debt, but drained almost all of our savings. His family helped some.
THEN, he graduated, and it's taken him nearly a year to find a job. He's been relentlessly pursuing every firm he can find. We ended up moving back across the country to try in a new area, and he just started a job a couple of weeks ago. In this field, in this economy, everyone starts contract, but he does get full-time hours. We're hoping the work will continue to come in, and it will become permanent.
DH loved school, but it was hard on our family. Unemployment has been hard on him. It'll probably be years before we'll be able to live as comfortably as we did on his engineering salary. We worry about saving for college for the girls.
All that said, I've been supportive all along, and I think in the long-term, we'll be glad we've done it.
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My dd did gymnastics at a non-competitive gym from 3-6. It was a great experience for us. We chose to stop then partly because of finances and partly because she was good enough that moving into competition was inevitable in the not-too-distant future. I was not willing (for our family) to start her in the long hours of practice (and the risk of injury and the all-consuming nature of the sport) that young. It might be different if she were an only child, though.
We've just started martial arts for her. I am a black belt, we've recently moved back to my home town, and she's attending my old school with me. It's much cheaper, much lower pressure, but still challenging and motivating and great exercise for her.
ETA: I don't think there's any harm starting her at a recreational level now and re-evaluating when you get to the point where competition is an option. I think gymnastics is possibly the best first sport for young kids.
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Hmmm... hadn't thought of that. Definitely humid here, but the a/c is running. You're probably right that it had to do with storing it before it cooled. Shoot.
Yes, cream of tartar is optional in the recipe. I think I have used it in the past, but didn't this time.
I wonder if I could cook it again to firm it up?
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What happened? I made the classic flour/salt/oil/water playdoh on the stove with my kids yesterday. It was the perfect consistency. We put it in plastic containers and got it out this morning, and it was terribly sticky and useless. We've made this recipe multiple times and never had this problem. Any ideas? Is it salvageable?
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Your girls are the same spread as mine! I've decided to combine the 2nd grader and kindergartener for content subjects/read-alouds. I didn't think I'd have the time (with the 2 yr old) to do those separately. We're doing SL Core B.
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I've been doing it with my 1st grader this year, and it's been great! The book choices are excellent. My dd has been able to read most of the RA's to herself, which has worked perfectly for us this year. The actual text is good too, and my dd has enjoyed the state pages. The coloring pages are a bit lame, but my dd doesn't complain. Most days, she writes her own sentence about the story and draws a picture to go with it.
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I'm interested in this thread/opinions. I too will begin homeschooling for the first time this fall, with a 2nd grader & a K. Sonlight's catalogue appeals to me a lot rather than putting things together on my own.
My 2nd grader is an advanced reader (he reads at a 6th grade reading level) so I'm also trying to figure out which readers to get.
If we did Sonlight, we would also order Core B. For the first poster, do you plan to combine the K & the 2nd grader in Core B?? I'm curious because some posts on the Sonlight forum sound like the two kids could combine in B while other posters make it seem like I would need 2 different Cores.
I also have a 4 year old and a 1 year old!
We are doing Core B with a 2nd grader and K'er next year. My 2nd grader also reads at a 6th grade level. I was originally planning to get the Grade 4/5 Readers/LA, but I decided to do Grade 3 instead. I think the books will still be interesting to my dd, and it's good to use a lower reading level when learning skills like dictation and narration. My goal for her next year is to learn to write her own narrations. Then I'll be able to use the Grade 4/5 Readers/La with Core C.
As far as whether you should use one or two cores: I don't have a 4 year old waiting in the wings. It might make more sense for you to do one core with your 2nd grader, and another one with your 4yr old and 5yr old. Or, you could combine your older 2 this year, then let your oldest move on to Core C the following year and have your then-5 and 6-yr-old back up to Core A.
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What I think I will end up doing, though, is taking the approach we have been using in WWE and applying it to our readers. We will probably continue to do FLL.
This is my plan too! We'll take what we want of the SL LA, use WWE-style copywork/dictation/narration with the readers, and do FLL2.
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I'm hoping to be able to combine my 2nd grader and K'er for much of our school next year.
History/Science/Geography/Literature/Bible: SL Core B (plus SOTW 1), with Grade 3 Readers, and SL Science B
LA: SL Grade 3 LA modified to fit our needs, with WTM/CM copywork/dictation/narration, maybe use Sentence Family as an into to parts of speech
Math: Singapore 2 w/IP's
Fine Arts: Story of the Orchestra, A Child's Intro to Ballet, Come Look With Me books, Lamb's Shakespeare stories, poetry
Co-op classes: Drawing, Prima Latina, Gadgets and Gizmos
And: Taekwondo
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Betsy Tacy
American Girl
Ramona series
Clyde R. Bulla historical fiction, surprisingly
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We moved mid-year, and we're currently staying with my parents. I'm doubling up on lessons and trying to get a little in daily. I'm hoping we'll be done before the end of June.
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My oldest, who has always had advanced fine-motor skills did it in K. We were using the HWT 1st grade manuscript, and mid-year, she decided she wanted to learn cursive. We didn't have a ton of the manuscript wb left at that point, so I think we did 2 days of one and 2 days of the other (I got the HWT 3rd grade cursive book) each week. She didn't finish the cursive book until mid-way through this year (1st grade), though.
It worked fine for her!
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We've been very happy with CW Primer this year. It's very rich, and yet it gets done.
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I'm planning to do Core B with my 7 year old and 5 year old next year. I'm not sure whether we'd have time (or if mommy would have patience) for both history projects and science experiments. If you had to choose one or the other, which would you choose?
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Thanks for posting this! I need to get my dd started on Nesbit books.
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How strange, I just thought that the kids were supposed to read the books except for the ones that are marked to be read aloud. Isn't that why they are supposed to develop a love of reading? What about all of those cute snapshots in the catalog of kids reading?
I'm doing core D with my eight year old (got it used to try out) and she has no problem reading the books herself. She does have an eighth grade reading comprehension level, so maybe that is why it works for us. But I still don't understand the idea of not having the kids read the books.
I thought I would like the comprehension questions that Sonlight has in the IG (thought I could save some time by not reading the books myself) but over time I have to say that I think that those questions are pretty superficial. Like someone glanced through the chapter and made up one or two questions without reading the chapter. Heck, I can do that! But it is much better to actually read the chapter to come up with some real comprehension questions that actually challenge the child rather than some dull comprehension questions that seem to be designed to merely check if the child actually read (or paid attention to someone else reading, apparently) the chapter.
One poster noted she read aloud to her children because the books contained vocabulary that they would not understand and would skip over and that she read aloud so that she could explain the words. Well, why can't Sonlight have a vocabulary list with each book or each chapter of each book? I find I DO have to read the books myself to find the vocabulary words for my daughter AND to find better comprehension questions. There are curricula out there that actually list the vocabulary FIRST and have the kids look up the words before they read (or are read) the chapter. So, that is now what I have to do, because Sonlight doesn't do that and because my kid actually reads the darn book.
The schedule also doesn't work for us, since my daughter reads faster than she is apparently supposed to. I'm of the opinion that you don't interrupt a reading eight year old, so we have had to make a number of trips to the library to supplement with other fiction novels set in the general time period we are studying. Now that I've seen the light that the kids aren't actually supposed to read the books I understand why the schedule only requires a chapter a day. Unfortunately, it won't work in my house. There is a peculiar mental state that one enters into as one reads that is more conducive to feeling as though one is actually there, that I want my children to experience, and that mental state doesn't happen when I jerk the book out of my child's hands after one chapter.
Overall, I guess I like some of the Sonlight book selections. I think the IG with the comprehension questions and schedule mostly worthless. I have had to do my own schedule and make up my own more challenging comprehension questions, which is even more pathetic since I'm using a core that is considered ahead of grade level for my eight year old daughter. We talk about more than 'what month is the corn planted' and examine character, setting, motivation, and especially interesting or poignant sentences. We talk about vocabulary and why the writer chose a particular word in a particular sentence. Sonlight doesn't even begin to cut it in my house.
I haven't tried their readers (seems like a waste of time after my experience with their core) or their LA (I tend to prefer more rigorous curriculum). So, I won't be ordering from Sonlight. I think of it more as a 'lit-light' than a true literature-based curriculum.
I recommend checking out a number of suggested reading lists and coming up with your own program. I'm currently working on adding my five year old and his reading into our daily schedule. Our days don't end at lunchtime, as seems to be highly desired by many here on the board, but we do enjoy taking the time to really read and enjoy our books.
I know SL isn't perfect... I've heard many similar complaints as yours. I *think* we can make it work for us, but we'll see. I personally don't want to do a lot of lit analysis at this age, though I probably won't use the SL comprehension questions much either. It seems to me that some of the books are really rich and deep and some are lighter and easier, and that is intentional. I feel like I can get too caught up in putting together a rigorous curriculum when I haven't read hardly any of these books. I don't have time to put it all together and still be a mom. Or, that's how it seems right now with a very destructive toddler on the loose. LOL We'll see how this year goes, and we might be changing direction the next year.
It is interesting to hear that you do have your child reading the books herself. I think we can make a plan where we have a mix of me reading aloud and my oldest reading some for herself that will work well for everyone.
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B and C are dire they are soooo drawn out. You'll be heartily sick of Egypt by the time you get thru.
Id do b+c if you must do SL.
Otherwise Id look at Winterpromise, just bc the ages of your kids are so young and SL does sort of presume a level of reading comp by level D that isnt always realistic for a young 8 or a 7 yr old.
I think of the WP programs the one that people like the most is American Story 1 and your kids would be on target for it now.
Thanks for the suggestion, but we've just finished early American history this year.
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The way SL is designed, you read aloud everything except the readers until Core 100, and then it's all handed over to the student. There really isn't a transition period.
I've done cores D-F with my DD, and this year for Core F was the first time I handed a few of the shorter history books to my DD to read to herself. That was strictly a time management decision for me, as I have two cores going at once. But, I plan on doing the same over the next few years as prep for the HS cores.
For your core B-ers, I just want to echo what others have said about utlizing the library big time for readers. I don't even use SL's reader packages for my DS who is finishing up Core B. I never have, because the ideal reader package at the time was still never enough for my DS, and I also felt there were too many he wouldn't care for. So I use the reader booklists up through readers 4/5 and make my own reading list for DS utilizing TONS of library books that are going to challenge his reading more.
It's working well for him, though there is a part of me that would love to be able to use the grade 4/5 readers next year for him, as that would make planning easier on my part. But I don't think he'll enjoy many of them, and since the readers don't tie into the history until Core D, I don't consider them essential.
Ease is what I'm looking for! LOL And, I'd like her to read a variety of books and not just American Girl books! It might be that I could use the Grade 3 readers to really work on her narration skills, since they will be easier for her. She'll always be reading something else as well.
Interesting about mom reading everything aloud until Core 100. I guess I'll just have to figure out how to make that transition myself. It's important to me that they learn to read and understand and not just listen to me (though I look forward to doing the read alouds together as well). That might be one way to make things a bit more challenging for my oldest and not overwhelm my middle one. And, in a few years, I'll have #3 to worry about, so I'll need to older two to be able to do some independently by then.
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I would say to pick SL LA based much more on writing rather than reading level. To tell the truth, most of the dc in SL seem to be early and strong readers, as mine were also. LA 3 teaches how to write paragraphs and LA 4-5 assumes that knowledge. My 2nd grader could have read all the books in Core B, including the read-alouds, but she struggled with LA 3 because her writing was not quite up to that level. It was spot on for my 3rd grader who also could read every book in the Core.
My dc LOVE for me to read aloud, so I still do all of the history, read-alouds and our science (Noeo) even though they are now 12 and 13yo. Since they strongly dislike audio books, I assume (hope?) that they like the interaction with me.
This is all helpful, thanks. My oldest is advanced both in writing and in reading, so it's hard to know what would be best for her. She will write long newspaper articles that she makes up herself with correct grammar, punctuation, etc (most of which she's absorbed and not been explicitly taught). The instruction on paragraph writing in Grade 3 LA would probably be good for her. I could also use the copywork selections as dictations instead. I'll also keep moving her towards writing her own narrations ala WWE.
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At that point, I stopped worrying about challenging my son's reading level. I don't even know what level he is anymore. I know he read Detectives in Togas (grade level 7.3) last summer. The lower core read-alouds are nice for challenging level. But really, my son has switched from learning to read to reading to learn last year, so I don't feel like I need to challenge the reading level anymore. He can read. I have him read to learn now.
He's doing Core D with Advanced Readers right now (we're about 4 weeks in), and he's enjoying it. I agree with the PP that you'll probably want your youngest to be around 8 when you start Core D. My son will be 8 soon enough. ;) My goal is to do D and E over 3 years, though we'll see if that actually happens. It's hard to slow him down! :D
Thank your for sharing your experience. I think our kids are the exact same age spread, so it's helpful to hear how it's going for you. It's hard to know how much to be intentional with challenging my oldest, and how much I can just trust that she'll do it herself with her natural curiosity and drive.
We'll see about Core D when we get there. We've done Adv in America for 1st grade this year, and my 6 year old has done almost all of the reading herself (including those books scheduled as read-alouds). As a result, she's read about half of the Core D readers already. I do think that after a couple of years she won't necessarily remember a lot and she'll get more out of them. But if my second follows suit, I think she'd be able to handle a modified Core D by 2nd grade. Again, we won't know until we get there!
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We are just finishing up Core B with my 7 year old son. He used the Grade 3 readers, but we didn't use the LA. It's about 1 chapter a day to read, which was not much for him, as he's a strong reader. To challenge his reading level, I've just added in other chapter books from our library. I have an assigned reading time when he does his Sonlight readers and a 30 minute free read time during which he reads the library books. I've found this to be a good balance. I agree that it would be a good idea to save the 4/5 Readers for Core C - otherwise you will run out of reader options unless you just do your own thing.
As to the Core Tips CD, it is pretty much a list of links for additional information or a few hands on projects. We've used all the links for the Akebu to Zapotec book, and a few of the others as we went along. I also bought the Handle on the Arts program for Core B, though I confess I didn't use very much of it. I found out we didn't need as much hands-on as I thought we might. I bought the History Pockets Ancient Civilizations too, but it was pretty much just busy work. There were things in both HOTA and History Pockets that we used and liked, but we didn't use a high enough percentage of the materials to justify the cost. Oh, and I did buy an ancient Roman coin kit from Hearts and Hands - that's pretty neat.
We have really loved Core B - there's not been a book my son hasn't liked in either the readers or the read alouds, and he's liked the history selections, too. Hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
Thank you for your input... it's helpful! I was considering the Handle on the Arts supplement as well, mostly as a way to engage my k'er. I already have the SOTW 1 AG, so that may be all I need. It's just nice that the HotA guide already has a weekly activity picked for you!
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Thanks for your help! So, I confess I had planned to use Grade 4/5 Readers/LA because my 2nd-grader-to-be reads at a 6th-7th grade level. The Grade 2 Readers would be a joke for her, but I might be convinced to do the Grade 3 Readers/LA instead. I think the Grade 3 LA might be a better fit. And, that way I'd have the Grade 4/5 Readers/LA for when we do Core C. I'm sure she'd enjoy the grade 3 books, and her comprehension of those would probably be better than more difficult books. But, I also want to continue to challenge her reading level. Any suggestions on how to do that?
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Pretty please?
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I've been putting together my own curricula/plans for the last two years for my oldest dd. Trying to add my second into the mix is just making my brain hurt, and with a destructive toddler, I'm realizing I'm going to need to be more efficient. So, I think I'm going to use Sonlight Core B next year and combine my 2nd grader and K'er (except for Math and LA, obviously).
So, I have a couple of questions. One, who has used the CD-ROM's that come with the cores? What is on them, and do you find them helpful?
Two, if this year goes well, I could see us continuing with SL for a number of years. When/how do kids transition to reading more of the books on their own? I know this year I'll be reading all of the Bible, history/geography, and science books plus the RA's. But, I assume at some point kids will begin doing the reading on their own (except the books scheduled as RA's)? How would that work if two are sharing a core?
continue with handwriting instruction or just copywork
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
My K-er is finishing up the HWT Kinder program. We're also slowly working our way through OPGTR. Next year, I'd like to add WWE/FLL, but having all four of those programs for LA, plus math, is sounding like a lot for her (and for me). I'm wondering if I really need to go on to HWT 1st, or if the copywork in WWE/FLL would be enough if I keep an eye on her to make sure she's still forming letters correctly. What would I miss if I didn't do HWT 1st? I did it with my older, but I don't remember what it was like or how it was different from HWT K.