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acabrera0607

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  1. My son has never liked the readers that come with the programs...we tried Horizons set for K last year and I let him read parts of other readers online last month to see if he would like others for this year and he just kept saying, "Mom I don't like these they are boring." Well all except for the Reading Street curriculum. So this year we are combining LOE Foundations (simply because I am teaching him cursive along with my K dd and I figure he could use the review because he detested phonics last year--he learned it but hopefully this will make it more fun) and Reading Street. We will use the stories in Reading Street and also be using our library to let him pick out books on his level so he feels a little more in control of what he reads (it makes it more fun this way to him). So far taking him to the library has worked great for us. He went from hating reading to at least dealing with it better lol. With him it's not a matter of the reading being too hard--he just does not enjoy sitting down to read, especially if it's a huge page full of words. I think that was the problem with Horizons. The first book was full of short stories and he did fine but the second and beyond became longer stories with few pictures on the page. I would have rather had a thicker reader with more pictures to let him enjoy it and feel less intimidated by the page. Long story short.....the best thing so far for us is our library for the reading portion of LA.
  2. I am about to be in the same boat. I have a Kindergarten dd and a 1st grade ds and I am about to be working full-time OUT of the home. Luckily I'm a RN and I will work 4 days a week usually from 5:30A-1P. Our plan is to do at least 3 days of school on my work days (that's the plan for now we will see how it all works). On work days I will be home around 1:30 and we will begin at 2p and get work done. My mother (thank God for that wonderful woman) is going to help with some simple things while I am at work to get them jump-started for the day. Our other 2 days we plan to do on 2 of the 3 days I have off all day. I was extremely nervous about trying to go back to work and continue homeschooling them, but financially we need it at the least for 1 year. Right now that is the timeline we have set is make it through this 1 year then at that point we will re-evaluate and see if I should continue to work or go back to SAHM or possibly see if I can at least go part-time with the company. I know it will be hard and I know it will be exhausting. I have done tons of research on moms who work full-time and homeschool. I recommend reading what others have to say about it simply because you will get some great advice and ideas on how to make things work. Everyone is different and so far I have found I am pulling about 1 or 2 ideas from each person's way of doing things to make it work for our family. I have also found that the biggest determining factor on whether it will work or not is the person's level of commitment to homeschooling and making it work no matter what. Flexibility is definitely key, and isn't that the beauty of homeschooling...that it is flexible. You can do it! You just keep trying until you find what works for your family. Good luck and stay strong!
  3. LOL I hear that JennyCook....it's like buying a car and they start trying to sell you everything lol.
  4. Thanks I will definitely have to look into all of those and see what our options are here in Mississippi. I just want to see at the end of this year where he is and where we need to be going type things...I think it's good plus like ErinE said I want him to have practice with these tests too. Thanks so much once again.
  5. I've noticed people saying things like testing on placement, tested above grade level, etc? Where do you find these tests to test your child and how much do they cost? I am wanting to test my son at end of this 1st grade year just to see where we are after this year, but I have no clue where these tests are or how we get access to them etc... Thanks
  6. I have researched MIF 1 and from what I have seen and understand is that the worksheets are meant to go with the lessons. So you do a lesson then do a worksheet....do a lesson do a worksheet, etc.... I know that is also how it works in PS because my best friend who teaches 2nd grade in PS uses MIF and the student books show doing a lesson then it will tell them "Do worksheet ___" If I am wrong about this let me know but that is my understanding of it after looking at the books and worksheets and reviewing it all online also
  7. I totally agree with the statement, "you'll find that he knows a lot more than his test performance shows." First off, my son always knows way more than he gives himself credit for and he is a perfectionist like his mother so if he doubts he will get it right he would rather just not try in fear of getting it wrong. So encouragement for him is always a good thing. Second, have you taken into consideration a test phobia? I ask this because I still to this day have test phobia. I can know every answer until you put that test in front of me and I go blank. Over many years I learned how to overcome this and I was always very successful in school, but I would take a test and know that I missed at least a few due solely to my nerves and fears because as soon as I turned in the test I remembered the answer. Some kids do well with paper tests other don't for various reasons...test phobias, problem with written material on top of test phobias, etc. Maybe if you read it to him and have him answer that question then go to the next, etc he will show he knows a lot more. And if he has a test phobia try not calling it a test....I could ace anything as long as I thought it was just daily work, but if you put the word test with it I would instantly get panicked and freeze up.
  8. I haven't used MIF yet but that is what we are going to be using this year for first grade. My ds used Horizons last year for K. While he liked it I feel like he needed something different. My suggestion though is maybe do like a discussion type deal at the end of each lesson or a few practice problems with him telling you each step of what he is doing and review each day what you have gone over so far that week. I know this helps my ds a lot and helps me really see what he understood completely. By having him do a practice problem at the end and have him explain each step or the rationale behind it I know if he really understood or if he was just following the motions of the day. Reviewing each day what we have done throughout the week so far really helps too. This is because it lets me see what he retained and if he really understood it and remembers it or if he just learned it long enough to get through the day.....if he doesn't remember we review it before moving on. Hope this helps some.
  9. Hmmm I can't give any favorites because I haven't used them yet but I think that is who publishes the mathematical reasoning books my K dd and 1st grade ds will be using this year....but interested to hear everyone's favs
  10. Yeah, you would have thought if they were going to add in the common core stuff they would have added it to the workbooks too but that just goes to show that textbooks rarely change that much. LOL my husband and I had that discussion today as I was explaining to him that buying curriculum with the books being non-consumable and only the workbook being consumable would save money down the road because our K can use it next year and our 1yr old can eventually use it too....he was worried that a new edition would come out and we would have to buy everything again because of a new edition. I assume I am right on that thinking at least that both our daughters will be able to use the material when they hit that grade level.....I know our K daughter will as she is only a year behind our son but our 1yr old is the only one that I wonder if I will have to change it. I've spoken with a friend who his a school teacher and she says to her understanding real changes very rarely happen that the curriculum stays the same but pictures change and some questions/problems may change but not to a point I should have to worry about it any.....now if anyone disagrees with this or knows otherwise please let me know lol :tongue_smilie:
  11. Abba12 That is exactly what I was saying worked so well with my ds last year...everything else seemed to bother him a little but no long term effects...when I made him sit there all day if necessary until it was done he started straightening up and has done better since.
  12. Thank you so much....I will definitely call and make sure they match up especially if I choose to go with the student pack that does not contain the TM....Being new to homeschool I am amazed how expensive the TM's are lol though I know it's normal after all my research. I had thought about switching math programs because of the price but I want the best for my kiddo's. I did read a review though where it said MIF for K is more designed for a classroom environment and could be hard to use for homeschool with only one child doing it so I have decided to use Earlybird Kindergarten Math for my K dd. From what I read it looks like after that she should have no problems going into MIF 1st grade....if anyone knows differently let me know, but that is what the plan seems to be.
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