My4arrows
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Posts posted by My4arrows
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My biggest mistakes
1 not following enough rabbit trails my kids are interested in, making their education their own and learning more fun.
2 not realizing early on that my kids learning differently and may need different curriculums to meet their specific needs
3 over scheduling and leaving less time to just be and have fun as a family.
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Thanks again for all the suggestions and things to think about. It's been on my mind and I've been observing him more when he has been required to write. I know that he is able to make complete sentences both in his thoughts and verbally. He is an extremely articulate child with a large vocabulary. I know that he doesn't like the physical act of writing, but I am also wondering if some of the issue is that his vocabulary outweighs his spelling ability. When he does dictate things to me they are well thought through and put together as complete thoughts. Maybe writing those out is just overwhelming for him. We'll just continue working with copywork, narrations and taking it at his pace!
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Thank you for the suggestions and words of encouragement! I think I'll continue with Write Shop for next year, but look into Brave Writer and IEW for the year after. I have heard so many great things about IEW and I may just need to get over the cost and take the plunge. This mama may just need to allow him to slow down and do things at his rate! The beauty of hsing, right?
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I need some advice for my ODS. He absolutely hates writing, both the physical act of it and putting down thoughts. I try not to make him do too much, but I feel like at 8 he should be doing some writing on his own whether it be for school or fun. He strugglings putting thoughts into complete sentences (they are usually phrases or run on sentences) and when he writes it's usually phrases or one word answers. We do copy work, we are currently using Write Shop for our writing program, but it requires a lot of help from me. Any suggestions on how to help him in the process of getting his thoughts onto paper?
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I have a 3rd grader to be and preker along with my 1st grader to be for school next year
For math we are using math mammoth for him. And we may be adding in beast academy mid year if he wants. He's advanced in math so he works quickly and ahead in this area.
Our core will be MFW CTG so that will cover Bible, history, science, art, music and some of our read alouds.
I'll also add in HomeArt studios for some extra fun art, who is God for worldview, PE through co-op
They will continue with learning German too
For LA hell continue with FLL2 and 3 supplementing with some scholastic things for hands on. And Writeshop C for writing. We have some extras that we do too like critical thinking and geography. And then whatever classes they are doing for co-op.
My first grader to be is the one who loves learning and is always asking to do more s although this seems like more than enough he is still wanting to do more school!
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What exactly does he hate about spelling? I'm confused about the idea of a set-list? AAS has a set-list for each lesson based on the current rule being taught. If you are just wanting to add a fun-factor, you could try adding Spelling City. If you search, I believe the majority of the AAS lists are already on there.
My understanding of AAS is that you are teaching the rule application not a word list. Yes there is the ten words that you begin with, but there is no application of those words, practice (other than the tiles and writing over and over again), etc. They are also expected to apply that rule to other words and use in dictation. I'm okay with the process and chose it because I feel it's the way spelling should be taught. It works wonderfully for my YDS who has bypassed his older brother. But for the older guy, I think he needs a list (I'd prefer still based on rules) with application of those words in practice. This is probably something I could do with AAS but honestly I don't have the time right now with three in school and younger ones. We didn't find spelling city to be specific enough for us. The games are good, but I think he needs to use the words in sentences, vocabulary, other fun things to pull him in. He also needs that list to study each week. He doesn't like the approach of how AAS is taught...maybe I'm doing it wrong. When he saw horizons his eyes lit up and said I want to do that spelling.
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For memory verses at that age, using Seeds Family Worship or the Rizers is a fun way to do it. The verses are set to song and are categorized by a theme. We still love using those as a family. We also love the Jesus storybook Bible. The stories tend to be longer, but they always point back to Jesus which we have loved. I'm using it for my 4 yo right now and its something he really loves to do with me and talk about afterwards.
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Thanks, I'll look into phonetic zoo. I've never heard of that. I think my DS definitely needs a set list and activities. My YDS though, AAS is perfect for him. I so wanted it to work for both since we have loved AAR!
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Oh I dont have a problem with speakers being vendors at all! I've enjoyed lookng at those materials that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. At the same time many of those speakers aren't curriculum based but rather homeschool, family, housekeeping, mom helps. So they are books, some of which I've purchAsed. But I feel that at my particular convention they have been taking away from where curriculum based companies could have and have been in the past. I guess one of the things I loved about the vendor hall and that kept me there for hours looking at all hte curriculum, making decisions, and buying. I probably will only go once this year to grab what I need maybe look at one or two speaker booths and then I'm out. I understand that it may not be too profitable for the curriculum companies and would rather them not have that cost. But at the same time I'd love a place to be able to see curriculum in its entirety, ask questions, etc. with many of my curriculum choices and desires being pricey I would prefer to see it first.
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Well, even the gHC vendor hall was mediocre, at least at the SC location, and yes, most vendors were speakers. For goodness sake, The Flylady was both a vendor and a speaker. And that one lady....can't remember her name...she has three names...motivational homeschooling mom, sells books....anyhoo...speaker and a vendor. So then you do the major vendors, Sonlight (speaker), BJU, ABeka (speaker) Big Idea Press (speaker), IEW(speaker), Veritas Press (speaker), Classical Academic a Press (speaker), Memoria Press (speaker), Jay Wile (speaker), Apologia (speaker)and in the Rainbow Resource, and the Millers Pads and Papers... And there is a big chunk of the vendor hall. Throw in a few local vendors, a few smaller vendors, SEVERal online curriculum "schools", a handful of colleges, and that's that. Seriously look at the GHC website and compare the speaker to the vendors and notice most are the same.
I wish there were at ours even if they were speakers! At least they'd be there the speakers who are also vendors are more for their own personal books and such. Not really curriculum like I'm wanting to get my hands on!
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Well I guess I'll see if anyone wants to road trip it with me next year to eith TTD or GHC. If I had only known my first year there to really take a good hands on look at everything when all the curriculum companies were there I would have! I just assumed they'd always there. And I wish I had known so I could have taken advantage of some online sales. I had figured I'd wait and buy it at the convention to help support them ther. I guess you live and learn!
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We are currently using AAS level 2 for my 2nd grader. He was doing well but Hates spelling. He gets frustrated easily. I'm wondering if the approach of a set list and activities weekly would help him learn the words and not be frustrated with the process or if I would end up going back to AAS since he wouldn't be able to apply the rules to other words. Any thoughts on what to do? How is horizons or the R&S spelling?
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Are you talking about the ICHE convention in Naperville? They still have a very large vendor hall, but there may be several reasons for the vendors you are looking for not being there. I do believe that GHC conferences do have an effect on other conferences in a multi-state area. It is very expensive to be a vendor at a conference ... travel expenses, booth fees, personnel. And, in this day and age, so many people buy over the internet and not necessarily through that company's website, even if they look through materials at a conference. They just aren't getting as much bang for their buck by exhibiting. So they may have to pare down which conventions they go to. Also, there has been a shift at the ICHE conference to include more patriarchy type speakers. Some of these vendors may be at odds with these speakers and choose to put their efforts elsewhere. Or the people at ICHE don't want them there because of this ideology shift.
Yes ICHE and this is exactly what I was wondering. I was thinking some of this may have been more specific to our convention vs conventions as a whole. I'm thinking I may need to be going somewhere else next year if I am continuing to search for new curriculums to get my hands on first. Thanks for this insight.
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More of a daily or weekly block is what I'm thinking.
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We used HomeArt studios for K and 1 and really liked them. I liked that they were DVDs and she guides them through the projects. The kids enjoy them too. right now they aren't learning anything specifically about art. I guess some perspective, color mixing, etc but they enjoy it. At an early elementary level I feel they are very appropriate. We will probably also get the 2nd grade dvd.
At our co-op they use meet the masters which they learn about the different artists and then I believe learn the techniques and do them. My kids are going to take that next year so I'm not sure of all the details, but it may be something to check into.
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Can someone talk tome about block scheduling for elementary (1 and 3 grades here working together at the same level)? What would it look like? Does it make sense to do if you have a "boxed" curriculum like MFW? Can you block LA (reading, writing, spelling)?
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I'm not too close to any other super large ones. I'm in IL so GHC in Cincy is the closest I'm aware of. And TTD in Sandusky but those are still a drive away (although I'm more than willing at this point to drive that far next year if need be). I'm seriously looking at switching curriculums to meet the needs of my ever different kids and had hoped this year to get a good hands on look at things. BUT there really isn't anything there. It's a christian convention and none of the big names will be there no apologia, Sonlight, MFW, heart of Dakota, big idea press just to name a few. I was wanting to invest is a lot of things, but look at them first! I'm quite frustrated because in the past there had be n all of those and more. I'm wondering if it decision by the organization to allow speaker vendors in first, cost, etc or the companies themselves not going to "smaller" conventions anymore. Trying to get perspective before I make decisions for the future conventions I go to.
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We have actually reused quite a bit so far, but I have never bought with that intention- meaning justifying the price because it'll be reused. My first two children are so very different so I've had to buy some different curriculums for each of them to suit thir needs. One uses MUS for math, the other MM and will transition to using BA the next year, my youngest is beginning with the MUS we have and then we'll see from there where they go. Although it's nice to be able to reuse, I also love that homeschooling also allows us to customize their education!
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I went to my first convention after finishing up my oldest K year and loved it. And the vendor hall was FULLof so many curriculum vendors. It was wonderful to look through things and make purchases there. It seems like this year (and even somewhat last year) after seeing the list of vendors in the hall that there were so few. Most vendors were speakers.this is for my states convention which draws a nice sized crowd (not like any of the mega conventions though). Has anyone else noticed this about the state conventions or is it just mine? I may be looking into a convention that offers a bit more in the future if it's jsut mine.
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We read whatever they are interested in. Typically I choose something above their reading level, but not always. Theres not a suggested reading list, unless I missed it.
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We are struggling in the LA department! I have been using FLL with my two DSs and although I like that its short and to the point in the lessons, they don't really seem to be retaining what they are learning. We are about a 1/4 through FLL 2 and they still aren't able to always pick a noun or verb out of a sentence! For the other parts that make up LA, they seem to be ok (using AAR, AAS and Write Shop). Its just this that has them stuck and me frustrated! Is there a different program that would work better for them (6 and 8)? Any suggestions are welcome! I don't even know where to begin!
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Thanks! I'll have to see if I can maybe buy the tiles separate since that sounds like the only things we'd really need/use.
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We are finishing up AAS2 and will continue onto level 3 in the next few weeks or our next school year. We never use the green cards, so is there a point in getting the student pack? Is there anything else in the pack we would need if we have the first two level's packs and all the reading packs?
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So...you have reading, math and literature-based curriculum for your preschooler.
MUS is manipulative based as I'm sure you noticed.
AAR uses manipulatives too, no?
I'm assuming that you have duplo and blocks, maybe some hotwheels and such already in your home. What about puzzles? A globe?
You really don't need anything else at that age. Perhaps you might like to get some Kumon workbooks for the toddler years--he might enjoy cutting/copying/pasting...
Yes I know that's all more than enough. It's just some of the things I have that could potentially be used. I'm willing to scrap the Sonlight though if there's something that would be a better fit for him. It worked well when we just had 1 or 2 little guys who were schooling. Now with him and the older guys having more difficult work, I'm not sure it's the best fit. I'm willing to just use those books over the next few years as bedtime stories if I can find a better program for him.
What was your favorite homeschool year?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
Mine so far has been when my oldest was in K. We did FIAR and had so much fun. It's the way I always wanted to teach. We "travelled" to different countries, do so much cooking from those countires, lots of field trips, lots of cuddles while reading and the pressure was so low. We all look fondly on that year and it showed me I could do this. We learned while having fun. When I look back at pictures of that year I'm inspired to add more fun to our schooling and reminded that we can learn so much through that fun!