alisha
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Posts posted by alisha
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My current 5th grader and I have been using Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) all last school year and 2 months into this school year. I've watched the TWSS DVD's (a few times) and then have tried to implement on my own (i.e. without the student watching the DVD in SWI) using their method and stories. It takes SOOOO long to do one story. And while he has learned a couple things, I just don't feel that we're making progress or that this method is working for us. It gets skipped a lot because I just don't want to figure out again how to make it work for him-seems like it's the same old, same old thing each time. I think I have a fairly good understanding of the program-I'm sure I could teach it to someone like myself, but teaching it to someone who doesn't like to write--that's another story. It's just not working for us, so I need to find something different.
I would like something that is not DVD based, I'm fine teaching-because that way I can see what he's learning better. He's behind already, and generally hates writing more than a paragraph at a time, so something maybe starting at a lower grade level. Workbook is fine-great actually, and I think I might like something broken up in small chunks. I really would like something that would teach in small increments, but consistently moving forward, And I want him to learn various types of writing: persuasive, reports, stories, etc. I also generally seem to prefer non-specific-grade-level stuff....but at this point, I would look into anything, really.
Suggestions? Thanks so much!
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My 5th grader is a horrible speller. Well, maybe not horrible, since we only started AAS 3 this year, but definitely not where he should be. We don't mind AAS, however, it doesn't stick. We tried spelling some words orally-repeating them, clapping to them, etc, and after saying it 30 times, he would still get mixed up next time he tried to say it by himself. I'm thinking about trying Apples and Pears, but am still researching.
So, I know there is rules based spelling and morpheme based spelling and memorized spelling (I guess that's what you'd call the traditional school method), but what other methods are there that I should be checking into?
And anyone know of or have any articles that would help me figure out which method might work for us? Or the meaning of the methods?Thanks!
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My child asks to do A&P. I had to modify it slightly in the beginning until she gained confidence and she pushed back at times especially at writing the sentences Now she just dives right in with no complaining.
Susie
DD(10)
I know this is an old thread, but can you tell me how you modified apples and pears? It sounds like it was too much writing at first, and I'm thinking of switching to it with a writing phobic boy (g5-but behind). Thanks!
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It got to a point where it felt more like we were learning how to decode words that were already written, than learning how to spell. We were at level 7 or so when we stopped, and at that point it was almost impossible to know how to spell a word based on the sounds.
Yes! That!
I also feel like quite a few the lessons (in 2 & 3) cover a rule in the "New Teaching" section, but then move onto some other facet and the spelling words have nothing to do with the New Teaching just learned. I guess i would say I have a problem with the way it's organized.
I haven't switched yet, but am seriously thinking of it, though not sure whether soon or wait until the end of the year.
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I have a 10 year old in AAS3 (we started late) who does the same thing, so I'm listening in. Like yours, he does great in the lessons, but isn't able to implement it in other writing.
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We really enjoyed the "Inventions and Discovery" set at timberdoodle.com. They have history ones also.
They are fairly short (4 chapters or so), and not fantasy or whatever else manga are, but It is the graphic novel format which my boys loved.
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6th: Chemistry by Ellen McHenry (Elements & Carbon Chemistry)
7th: Novare Physical Science
8th: Novare Earth Science
(The Novare books were recommended by my physics professor father-in-law)
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stair steps: if the word is today, the child writes t on one line, then underneath it to, then tod, toda, today, (when all the t's are lined up, it makes a stairstep)
shape words: write the letters of the word around the edge (edge can be invisible) of a circle, or other shape-spiral is fun, too.
write it with a dry erase marker on a window or other cleanable surface
type them
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I am in the same boat, so really hoping someone replies to this.
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There's always the apple mummy one. Good for co-op because you do it one week and the next time you meet, you look at it and it should be pretty shriveled.
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I found a Melissa and Doug brand one at a garage sale. It's sturdy and stands on its own, so the child can work the problem easily. I did like how the AL abacus had different colors every 5, and this one didn't, so I fixed that. I took a black sharpie and made a line down the center of the light colored beads the first 5 of the first row, the 2nd 5 of the 2nd row, etc (using a white-out marker (the kind for "erasing" typing or pen) for the dark blue). It has worked great for us for many years and we use it often. We use it for school, for totalling points when playing games, and just to make patterns out of. I also like that it has 100 beads. I think that helps a little with the visual nature of using it-kind of like the base 10 blocks, there's a 1 block, a 10 block and a 100 block--in the abacus, there's the 1 bead, the rows of 10 beads and the whole thing is 10 rows, so the 100 beads. Does any of this even make sense?
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I don't know if these are on the same level, but mine really enjoy Mr Putter and Tabby, Henry and Mudge, Nate the Great, Fly Guy and Elephant and Piggie-though these are easier, but oh, they are silly! They are all series, so have many books in each series.
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1. When we did it, I had one child doing the easiest questions and one doing the middle level. But I had them both do the easiset ones at the same time, and then just added an additional question for the older, so I guess you could do them together.
2. II think you could easily do it in 2 days. We did a whole week's worth of questions in one sitting, then the map another day.
3. There is no memorization involved as it is written, you might be able to add something, though.
I basically see it as an atlas scavenger hunt.We mainly focused on the questions and mapping. And I just found free maps online that would work instead of purchasing the book they suggest.
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If this were me, I would resort back to just classical music exposure.
I would watch youtube videos. Here are some searches that might be fun. "Piano guys" "Classical music kids cartoons" (these are bugs bunny and tom & jerry playing with classical music). Anything to make it funny and maybe a tad fun.
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There's also freetypinggame.net which is more games.
By the way, my 7 year old doesn't have the finger dexterity to type adequately. So, he just plays around with typing. Most of the above games are much too difficult for him to do in the time frame allotted. -
my kids love dancemat typing from bbc. (Just google it and it'll show up.)
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I would have to say the Drawing Around the World, is better for memorizing how to draw. With it, there are lesson plans, where day 1, you trace the country and find some facts about it (capital, climate, etc), then you trace only it on a map of the area, then draw only it in a blank space. Day 2, you trace all the countries you've learned so far, on a map of the area, then draw them all by memory (it does have grid lines). Day 3, is a repeat of day 2. Day 4 you list all learned so far, then draw them without grids or other identifying features (pieces of other continents),
Whereas the Drager book, gives you clues to help you remember the shape, and you draw them on a blank piece of paper, adding as many as you want in 1 day. You could potentially do the whole book in 1 sitting, and keep repeating in order to be able to draw it by memory. We did the USA one, and one page shows and gives text clues where to draw and what for 1-2 states, and you do it on blank paper. Then the next page adds on a couple more states.
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I'm thinking of using both for the middle school science years (3 years). Anyone who has used both know if there would be any repetition between the chemistry RS4K and McHenry's Elements and Carbon Chemistry? Where would you pop in Elements and Carbon Chemistry (before or after which focus on RS4K)?
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Basically, what Jess4879 said. We used it a while ago, but it kept getting put on the back burner. It was good, useful, interesting, just not captivating enough to do consistently for us at that time. With the boys a few years older now, thanks for the reminder, as it is a pretty good poetry study (the parts and types of poems, not the classic poems), so might pick it up again.
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We went with just the student book and CD which worked great. My boys were not writing well enough to use the book as a workbook when we used it, so I used the book more as a teacher guide and we did all the exercises orally. And I really couldn't see having to learn to spell and write in latin at that age, so we skipped that part (we hadn't even gotten to spelling in English yet).
So, I'd say it's pretty flexible on how you want to use it to make it work for you.
I will say we liked it, and are using SSL2 this year. Though I need to figure out how to add a little more review into it.
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I see some kits on Amazon that include ingredients like citric acid & zinc sulfide. I wonder where I can just buy such things, without the kit, so we can tinker at home as we please.
You can get citric acid at most grocery stores either in the bulk section or the canning section.
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I like DK Publishing's Geography of the World. It has 1 page on South Korea, which is about what it has for most countries. Some tiny ones like Singapore, it only has half a page, and bigger ones like Germany has 2 pages. On the South Korea page, it has a small map of it, and a list of facts (captial, currency, etc). Also about a half dozen pictures with captions and a few paragraphs of other information-a little history, a little about the capital.
I wouldn't use it as ALL I would teach about the country, but it sure is a good start with lots of info in one place. The book also has pages on Areas, so a 2 page spread on East Asia with a topographical map which includes South Korea, and a few pictures and major pieces of information on the area. Hmm, I just noticed that this page with the map of East asia has a box titled "Things to Look for on the map" and lists Longest River, Highest POint, Largest Lake, then names them for you to search for on the map.
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My son struggled with both those topics as well. What helped was watching the videos at mathantics.com. There is one on estimating and one on long division. It helped with explaining the why as well as the process.
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You could go with your specific state history. That's a little harder to find stuff for, though.
Need to replace IEW
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Thanks, I've just finished checking it out and will probably do that.
Do you feel that the TM is useful? Or, as oftentimes is the case, it's not needed? Thanks!