quietchapel
-
Posts
352 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by quietchapel
-
-
My sweet husband and I sat down and talked out our various program options for this coming school year and have finally made a decision- together!
I am so relieved and feel like a huge burden has been lifted. I am also very grateful for this forum as it has been the most supportive spot for all things homeschool I have found. Also, for the first time, I using the program as- written with very few additions. And I will not browse curriculum online or open my rainbow cataloug....really. :001_smile:
I hope all of you reach a similar place of peace. School decisions are TOUGH!
Oops...didn't even include what we decided. We used Sonlight for four years, but decided to use cores only as read- alouds and to use Memoria Press instead.
-
What are you moving to?
Memoria Press complete packages. Still using Sonlight for read- alouds. It even has Latin and memory work scheduled in for me! I may take out Christian Studies if it is too much. We are catholic, so we'll add catechism and saint stories, but that is so simple to do. I can just add whatever catechism question they are memorizing to their recitation.
-
My sweet husband and I sat down and talked out our various program options for this coming school year and have finally made a decision- together!
I am so relieved and feel like a huge burden has been lifted. I am also very grateful for this forum as it has been the most supportive spot for all things homeschool I have found. Also, for the first time, I using the program as- written with very few additions. And I will not browse curriculum online or open my rainbow cataloug....really. :001_smile:
I hope all of you reach a similar place of peace. School decisions are TOUGH!
-
I did some more research about the history and science books used and we are definitely not using HOD. I am kind of disappointed as it looks like fun, but my dh and I decided on a different option together, which was great!
-
I am still providing some activities for what we will be doing next, but because it is a program of depth in a few topics rather than TONS of information, it is so much easier for me to do. Just personal preference, I guess, but the curriculum we are starting meets so many of my other concerns with Sonlight that I am feeling much more peaceful!
-
I was curious if MP's Grammar Recitation could be used as a stand alone grammar course without using Latin?
I think you would still need to do some workbook- type activities for practice and maybe diagramming. Grammar Recitation looks pretty fantastic, though. I think simply reading through the book would provide a parent with an excellent background.
We are starting MP's complete curriculum in January, so I can try to remember to post about grammar after we have used it a bit.
-
Our new year starts soon and I am seeking guidance.
I was all ready to use Memoria Press complete curriculum, until I went over our various options with dh today. His vote is for Heart of Dakota because it is all planned out and it appears the children will be doing a variety of activities throughout their days and the year. It looks like a great program, but I am so hesitant as I wonder if the program will be a challenge to adapt.
Here are my questions:
1. Is providential history a main theme throughout the various levels? If yes, would it be possible to avoid that content?
2. If the science component were not used in the upper grades, would the guide still be worth using for other subjects?
3. Is the science in lower grades relatively easy to adapt to an old- earth view?
4. Would it be crazy to do three levels to start?
5. My 4th grader would be in Preparing, according to the placement charts. However, she has already done the spine and many books for that level and has never had American history. Would the 7-9 be ok? This child needs to be challenged.
Looking forward to any responses. I am so desperate for something I can open and do each day. I don't even have to love it at this point, I just want us all to get to the end of the day and think it wasn't so bad! : )
-
Sonlight is what you, the teacher, make it to be. It can be rushed and superficial or it can be deep and engaging.
We have used SL for years. A couple things -
I don't stick to the schedule day by day - I like to give us room at the end of a book or period of history to reflect a bit before moving on to the next one. I often read more than one day's scheduled readings in a sitting. We regularly take field trips or schedule projects that coordinate with what we are reading. I add in many of the Eyewitness nonfiction books that coordinate with the readers and read-alouds. I add in videos.
I don't try to fit a SL core in a 36 week school year. Grammar, math, spelling, Latin, etc. may go on the back burner during the summers but we can continue to suck the marrow out of each Core.
Teaching the Classics is a great literature course that can be applied to any SL book.
Yes, it can be what the teacher makes it. Definitely. We have used SL for years, too. (ok, just four!)
And this teacher is tired of making it be what it is not. I am tired of planning, coordinating, scheduling, and researching. I am tired of adding in books to an already extensive and expensive book list- and I love books!
That's just where we are. As I posted on the SL forum, I am having some odd homeschool- mom grief over realizing it is not going to be our long- term program. : )
-
Sometimes, I feel like it is so so so many books! we will spend 45 weeks on one core... I really want to stretch it out and slow down and take our time interacting with the history.
For the readers, my dd8 writes a summary in her journal daily. If she liked drawing, that would be a great idea.
Oh I like that idea! I can't remember if it was here or on the SL forum that someone also said they had their kids write 1 sentence per grade # for each history reading they did. So, grade 3 would be three sentences. That seemed really doable, too.
I had a few other ideas to get us through the rest of Core C. I looked over History Scribe per someone's suggestion. I think I will wait until the end of the week and have them do all the timeline figures and do a history scribe page. Also, my understanding is that Drawn into the Heart of Reading from Heart of Dakota is a literature study type guide that can work with any book and for numerous grade levels. I thought I could use that with the readers or read- alouds for a bit more depth.
-
I know. The thread title was confusing. But in the MFW thread that Calming Tea started, blessedmom3 posted the following:
"What about HOD? I don't know much about Calvert, but after trying a traditional approach (Abeka) I went with MFW and my ADD brain wasn't happy...too much planning for me,too much freedom,not to mention that I thought my oldest wasn't challenged enough. HOD works,my kids enjoy it,I'm a happy mommy now :) I love the boxes and all the planning done for me. My son (a 5th grader) works mostly independently. The history is interesting, using some easy , student directed hands-onprojects, the writing is excellent,especially combined with Rod&staff grammar. We supplement a little the science,only because my son is hungry for more. The way HOD is planned,leaves plenty of room to supplement.
Plus, with HOD you don't have to jump in a certain history period,just go from where your child places in skills,according to their placement. Sorry,you didn't ask about HOD and I intrude here :) but just thought I'd offer another option as it seems it's not a popular curriculum yet."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I wish I knew how to post a quote in a new thread....sorry) The bolded part above really resonated with me. I find myself loving the idea of planning my own thing, but then I have a hard time staying focused on what I have chosen and sticking with my own plan. Then I try something like HOD and I get irritated with trying to stick with such detailed lesson plans day in and day out. So I swing back to doing my own thing, but I can't seem to get a grip on what is a reasonable amount of material/assignments etc. so I look to a pre-planned curriculum for structure ideas and then just think, "Why not just use that since it's all planned out for me?"
Then I get irritated by the detailed lesson plans.....wash. rinse. repeat. You get the idea. The cycle continues.
Is it an "ADD brain"? or am I just undisciplined? seriously asking.
Basically, I feel hindered by someone else's plan. I love the creativity of choosing my own materials, but can't seem to reign myself in from planning too much or letting something go that we don't have time for.
blessedmom3 made me feel like maybe I wasn't the only one. :)
I don't know the answer to your question, but I understand your feelings! I've realized I have to just plan something and stick with it and not even look at anything else. For me, I think it is both an issue of discipline and ADD brain!
But, I think it may be something else as well (for me at least). I have been thinking recently about homeschool curriculum in general. The question I have been pondering is whether there are, now, too many choices, and whether that gets (some of) us in trouble. I also wonder if some of the things we usually believe as homeschoolers contribute to that choice dilemma. These are general statements, of course, but beliefs such as 'if something doesn't work for you, change what you are using' and, 'find which curriculum fits your child' and 'as homeschoolers, we can decide what and how we teach'. Those are lofty guidelines! I realized this when I was thinking about planning high school. High school was seeming so much easier, but only because I have less freedom to choose what the kids study and there are some things that have to be completed at a certain time, in the prescribed amount, and in the appropriate way. I wonder if there is also an unconscious belief that if we find just the right curriculum, our homeschools will be awesome always. Or at least better. : )
Those beliefs are all potentially great things, but they also might sometimes not be. I wonder if those beliefs and the plethora of options have raised the bar past the sky in terms of what we expect out of our various curricular choices. It seems like so many people- myself included- spend hours and hours and hours researching curricula, use it, find it doesn't match whatever conscious or unconscious expectations we had, and start looking all over again. I've also wondered if much of some of our difficulty comes from not really knowing what, when, or how we are supposed to teach. That's probably not going to be a popular statement, but I have wondered that as I've listened to various people who have said they could use anything to teach phonics (or whatever) because they understood the material so well themselves.
Well, I have rambled on and on and didn't even help, most likely. I guess I would suggest either picking a program you can use in its entirety or using the lesson plans from a program to provide a guide about how much and what kind of work to schedule each day. And then not changing what you are doing unless it becomes a crisis. I also would suggest planning way, way less than what you think you want to. That is so hard for me to do, but less is truly always more for us!
-
For my very creative child, I have found that school is better if done directly and efficiently so she can go do her own creative stuff. "Hand over th glitter and no one gets hurt." YMMV of course. We intend to continue with Singapore Math, and will probably use CAP for writing, at least for fable and narrative levels. We are already using lively latin and will continue with it. So I really am using MP's scope more than their materials. We have access to a nice library, so supplementing broader history is easy and fun. It's nice to know that I can click "buy here" in case of homeschool emergency, though.
That is something I have noticed with my creative kiddo, too, but I thought I was crazy! She gets soooo frustrated if she can't understand the practical application or if she feels like the work is 'busywork'!
And, yes, "hand over the glitter" is exactly how life with her is : )
-
For any of you who are using anything from Logic of English, how is it working in your family? Our learn to read program has resulted in numerous long- term problems, so I am leaning toward using this. I am intimidated to learn a new system and by the cost, though!
Specifically, I am wondering if it relatively easy to use, what type of progress do you see in your children, and what your overall experience of the program has been. Thank you!
-
So do all of you think a reasonable combination would be LoF and MM topical workbooks where needed?
We have used CLE from 1-3, but I knew we would switch after grade 3.
-
I've started having my kids write/draw a short response to a history book and to a science book every day. They need to write 1 sentence per grade (3rd grade = 3 sentences). This gives me a paper trail and lets them both respond at the same time. Narration works, too, but kids need to process, not just listen.
Emily
Thanks, Emily! We are going to finish Core C because we already own it, so I will do that for the rest of the year. Great idea, can't thank you enough. I totally agree they need to process and not just listen.
Also, (and I can't remember who said this now that I am typing, sorry!) I definitely agree about 'dumping'. SL is just soooooo many books. I think I counted 27 readers for one core. Goodness!! It feels like tons of great information, but an inch deep and several miles wide.
-
How do you think the full curriculum would be for a creative child?
We have been slowly transitioning toward Memoria Press, but I do worry that my very creative child will not do well. My husband thinks there is too much 'classical' focus and it is not well- rounded enough (for us). I do realize, though, that whether it feels that way when using the materials is probably dependent upon the implementation and frequency of the classical studies.
I think we would also do our own faith, writing, and math. I just can't quite see the benefit in the classical composition series, but that is probably because I value creative writing. : )
-
I have not used it myself, but have heard that Jensen's Format Writing is an excellent choice. It has a dvd portion as well.
-
I definitely do not agree that SL doesn't encourage higher level thinking skills at least for younger kids. My oldest loved core D (3) and we had the best year ever with it. But I think the thinking skills come out in the discussion you have with your child, not in the curriculum itself.
We definitely wouldn't use SL for high school bc I think they use tripe kids books for high school and Amy, the planner, is clearly inept. She chooses a high school level book one year then takes it out the next bc the uber conservatives react poorly. Also she herself is clearly not a critical thinker. Her posts on the forums over the years make that abundantly clear.
Oh that makes me laugh!! I am pretty sure it is the content by Amy in the IG's that I just cannot stand anymore. I understand the tone in the notes is conversational, but that does not mean sentence fragments are required!
-
We have used SL history and literature only (no LA or Bible) for six years now. In your situation, I would combine the older two into one Core and let the younger tag along. My two older boys have always been combined. Last year, I did two Cores, but this year my 2nd grader is tagging along with my older boys. No big deal. I work part-time so I have to make decisions on what we can fit in and what we cannot fit in.
I love SL for the history and literature. I love that it schedules it for me. I do not use the discussion questions or any other part of the program. I basically use it as a booklist with a schedule, and we have our own discussions which arise very organically. I buy used Cores and then collect used books during the year for the upcoming year, which makes our Cores cost around $150. I will use SL through eighth grade and then move on to a different program.
Long story short (not), if you do what I do, you should have plenty of time for fun activities. My boys aren't into crafts and activities so SL works for them. Another option is Oak Meadow, which is very activity-heavy and might be a better fit.
I already have my oldest two combined, so that won't be a solution, and it wouldn't be appropriate to combine my youngest. What might you use past grade 8?
-
I could have written this! I find I am adding to our cores as well. even if it is as simple as watching videos on YouTube. I love the books. I love the guide, but I'm wondering if we will be leaving them next year.
I am so relieved to hear someone else is experiencing this! Also, I see you are doing Core D, which is what would be next for us. On the SL forum, a poster referred me to an older thread about this topic. One of the comments was something along the lines of, "lacking higher- level thinking skills" When I read this, my reaction was, 'yes, exactly!'
I have looked over samples all the way through core 300 and I just don't see a progression in what is demanded of the student aside from the volume of work to be read and written.
I had an opportunity to look over a syllabus from Mother of Divine Grace for 10th grade Ancient History, Geography, and Literature. It really raised the bar for me. At the same time, I do not think that inherently means it is boring or discourages a love for learning. In fact, I suspect it would do exactly the opposite.
What might you use instead? Would you keep me posted on your plans for next year?
Thanks!
-
I have three children, ages 5, 8, and 9. My concern, which I've posted on the SL forums as well without much success, is that I wonder if Sonlight is too 'passive'. My daughter has said, "All we ever do is read. We never DO anything". Now, we absolutely love Sonlight's books, but I am starting to think my Sonlight cores are the best read- alouds ever but little else. That is not to say that the kids haven't learned from them- they certainly have. I just wonder if it is time to find something that facilitates more interaction with the material. I have tried doing this on my own with SL, and it seems that I end up changing, adding, and adapting so much that my planning time negates the planning SL has done.
One suggestion on the SL forum was to have my daughter go up a core. This sounded like a great solution until I realized it would mean doing three cores, which I cannot do!
So, I have looked over Mother of Divine Grace, Moving Beyond the Page, Oak Meadow, Memoria Press, and Seton. All of those options seem more challenging and/or interactive, but it is hard for me to tell without looking through an entire syllabus or program. I like the creativity that is allowed for in Sonlight's Language Arts, but it is based on Ruth Beechick's philosophy. I don't care for her philosophy, particularly in the older grades. We need something challenging but that allows for creativity, something that I can just stick with for future years if possible, and something that is catholic- friendly. It does not have to BE catholic, just not anti- catholic.
Any thoughts, advice, or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
-
Get this book: "Starting a Spelling Notebook: A Nuts and Bolts Guide to the WRTR".....just get it....TRUST ME! LOL.
http://www.amazon.co...8&condition=new
PM me your email address and I can email you a preview of the inside.
This is soooo important, IMO, if you are going to use WRTR!
Another method that made more sense to me is Logic of English. It is based on Orton Gillingham, like WRTR, but has many significant differences in methodology. You can watch the videos for free (there is a link on the website) and can download the teacher manual file for $15. This is a pretty minor investment in comparison to the whole curriculum, Essentials, which runs from 90-173 at Rainbow.
-
Just saying 'hello'.
We have three children, ages 9,8, and 5. I finally decided to join the forum since it is the place I always go to read about others' experiences and curriculum choices. We don't follow the Well Trained Mind- it did not resonate with me. We do seem to 'lean classical', though, and in general I can most identify with the members on this forum.
Sonlight user- advice needed
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Oh gosh....TOG looks like a great program, but it completely overwhelms me. Plus, I suspect I'd have to do a lot of editing. I looked it over but just could not wrap my mind around using it! : )