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Faithful_Steward

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    5th grade ancients-CM

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    DD 5th will be starting her first history rotation. I would like something Christian or Christian-friendly. CMish but no full programs like HOD, MFW, or Sonlight. We really just want to read and write. I have neither the time nor the patience to pull a bunch of resources together or make this a big deal. Guerber books? All Through the Ages? Truthquest?

     

    Thanks!

     

    Ps...no TOG, MOH, or WTM recs, either. I'm sorry to sound so picky!

    Feedback on these Spanish options

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    DD 5th is highly motivated and skipping Latin, so we have at least an hour a day to devote to Spanish study.

     

    We will be reading familiar picture books and memorizing Bible passages in Spanish. I would appreciate your feedback on the following options:

     

    (top picks)

    Speaking Spanish with Miss Mason and Francois

    Getting Started with Spanish

    Rosetta Stone

    Elementary Spanish on Discovery Streaming (I remember Jennefer at SSA used this and she was a former ps Spanish teacher)

     

    Pimsleur

    Berlitz

    Speedy Spanish

    BJU Pasaporte (expensive and likely difficult to use?)

    Spanish for Children (bad reviews)

    La Clase Divertida (looks cutesy and fun...not sure that is what we need)

     

    I'm not fluent but I can help and learn with her. I had 4 years of Spanish in hs and 3 semesters in college. I quit when the conversational aspect became too difficult for me. I plan to get her a tutor at some point but I'd like to go as far as we can at home first.

     

    Thanks!

     

     

     

     

    Please help. My 4th grader is crying over math.

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Thank you all so much! I feel like I have a good game plan now. We will take a few weeks off and work on math facts and play math games. Today she ONLY did xtramath and spent the rest of her math hour playing chess with her brother and getting in some extra piano practice. (her choice) I didn't realize how much we were both dreading math until I gave myself permission to put the book away.

     

     I think I'll let her spend the rest of this week doing light math facts and then focus a little more on games and living math books next week. When we start Saxon again we will back up and see if that helps. I suspect Saxon will be much easier once her math facts are memorized. I also think fixing my attitude and approaching math again with more enthusiasm and encouragement will work wonders.

     

    I'll keep TT and R&S in mind if it turns out that she just can't move forward with Saxon. I'm also interested in the Knowing Mathematics book for some extra help with mental strategies. Does anyone have an opinion on Zaccaro's Become a Problem Solving Genius for this purpose?

     

    Thanks again for your thoughtful responses!

    Please help. My 4th grader is crying over math.

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My daughter is bright and creative, but she's struggling. She STILL doesn't have her math facts memorized, though I haven't pushed it too hard because she is so reluctant. I've had her do xtramath, Mathrider, flashmaster, chanting, flash cards, and skip counting. I've purchased the MUS skip counting songs, but she hates them because she says they are babyish.

     

    She's in Saxon 5/4 and I feel like I'm dragging her through. I teach the lessons myself and draw pictures or use manipulatives as needed. Manipulatives seem to annoy her, but sometimes those things are just necessary to explain a concept. Sometimes I'll see her eyes light up in understanding, but it seems short-lived. I love the way Saxon develops concepts, but the tight spiral might be part of the problem. She doesn't think mathematically at all. During the mental warm ups she melts down when presented with a problem like 278+300. Even when I give her a strategy to do it mentally, I can tell she's trying to add the ones/tens/hundreds in columns in her head. I naturally think in pictures and patterns, but she looks at me like I'm crazy when I show her how I do it.

     

    I really don't know how to explain this child. Her gifts are in the creative arts and language. I accept that math might be difficult for her, but it shouldn't have to be miserable. I do expect her to follow a college-prep path for math. I don't want her to cry or say she feels stupid.

     

    I've put the math book away for now. I want her to work on her math facts, but not in a way that is drudgery. She does tend towards laziness when something doesn't come easily for her. My son will practice difficult things just for the sheer joy of mastering them, but she avoids the conflict. So basically her problems are a combination of no fact mastery, lack of true understanding, and a lack of perseverance. How should I tackle this?

     

     

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