shburks
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Posts posted by shburks
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DS is heading into 7th grade this fall (some combo of 6th/7th grade). He reads ALL THE TIME. He reads fiction and non-fiction equally (loves space and history). He will read classics if I had it to him and tell him to read it or if it goes along with his history program (Notgrass). He reads quickly but not deeply and will sometimes overlook details on the first read. He certainly isn't able to discuss the book other than the plot-line.
What I am looking for is a literature program that will give him exposure to other types of literature. I want him to do more with poetry and short stories and even plays. I am looking for something that will guide me through early analysis and "thinking deeper" kinds of ideas.
I don't want it to include grammar or writing/composition. I'm strictly looking for literature.
We've tried Total Language Plus (huge bust) and Progeny Press guides (slightly better but not a winner).
Is it too early to do what I'm looking for?
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I have the same question!
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Thanks, everyone. J-rap made a good point, but I do wonder if he would want to refresh prior to Algebra 2. Maybe I'll find somewhere to store it!
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DS finished Jacob's Algebra back in May, and we're moving forward into Jacob's Geometry this fall. Is there any reason to keep the Algebra I book? I'd like to sell it but what if I need it?
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I forgot about Chalkdust.
Epi, I read your other post. If you need something that will instruct and score, I think you might be better off with something different. I'd consider a live online class for your oldest as it sounds like his math skills are all over the place. Picking up some trig online is great, but if he doesn't have a solid math foundation leading into Algebra and past there, it will be a very hard row to how for him.
Derek Owens or Chalkdust might work. Teaching Textbooks isn't my favorite but can be self-grading. Similar options might be Switched on Schoolhouse or even Monarch. However, reading your other post, I have concerns that these might only entertain him for a short time before he's off chasing rabbits on other websites if he has full reign of a computer and no parent oversight.
The younger ones need more one on one instruction. You simply are not going to find a program that will teach your kinder and 2nd grader regardless of how advanced they may be. I understand having one working parent, but to make homeschooling successful, I would think your wife will need to play a more active role. Otherwise, I'm sorry, but this sounds dangerously close to educational neglect.
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Dr Callahan is another DVD option. We are likely moving to Derek Owens for Geometry because I like the Jacobs book while still have some support and the ability to have things graded for me. Geometry is past my level of knowledge!
AoPS didn't work for us
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I asked this same question (similar) last week. The consensus is to test at the grade level where they would be if in school
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Can anyone help me compare/contrast these two? I read some older posts with some information--looking for anything further or more recent.
1. They both use the same edition/same book of Jacob's Geometry.
2. Both use pre-recorded classes (DVD vs online)
3. Derek Owens can do all grading? Or do I have to grade/check daily work?
4. Dr Callahan is available for help if you get stuck on a problem.
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We did ATB first (5th) because we had just moved to VA and I wanted to learn American history in such a historical place! This year we did From Adam to Us and will round out with Uncle Sam for gov/civics during the election year. They are great books with beautiful photos--especially FA2U. Ds is a history person and reads historical nonfiction for fun so some of the sections were easy/perhaps glossed over but I think you can only provide so much depth in a year long study of works history!
We both have enjoyed the books and I can see us moving on to the high school books when we're finished
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Why are you testing? Is it a state requirement, is it just for your information, or are the test scores something you might have to show a school administrator if he enrolls in school in the next year or two?
If it's a state requirement, then I would test at his official grade level. You can use a different test like the Iowa if he already took the 5th grade Stanford last year.
If it's just for your information, then it can be helpful to test at his working level or a grade up in order to get more useful information.
If in doubt, I would go with the 6th grade test. I think it's easier to explain that you had your advanced 5th grader take the 6th grade level of the test than to try and explain why your 6th grader took the 5th grade test. Giving the higher test would give you more wiggle-room later on as you try to decide which grade level is best.
Sorry! I should've said. It is state requirement (VA). I think you're right in regards to taking the 6th grade test.
How old is he? I'd go with the grade level test he'd be taking in public school if it's to meet the state testing requirement.
My HG kid in public school takes his grade level test -- despite not taking classes on grade level. I'm sure it brings the scores up for the grade but then... the kids with LDs and ESL take the on-year test, too. So it balances out.
As the PP said -- if it's for your own info I'd pick the one you think would give you the most useful information (ie. the work level he's doing)
He's 11; he would be in 6th in public school so I guess I'll stick with that.
I would do current official grade level for record keeping, and a higher level only for your information. You may never know how you might need the info down the road.
Good point!
What we did was to go at grade level until DD was eligible for the EXPLORE, and then have used the EXPLORE and ACT since as our annual test. By going at grade level, she clearly had the 95+% scores required to qualify for out of level testing. The out of level tests have enough people using them due to talent search that you can get both what the score means compared to kids their age and compared out of level, and are well enough known to be accepted. The other reason is that the out of level tests are shorter-even the ACT is "drop your kid off, spend a morning shopping or hanging out at the library, come back, go eat lunch". The Terra Nova taken at grade level in 2nd grade was about 3x the length of the EXPLORE DD took at 3rd.
That's a good point...I read several of your posts last night trying to get a feel for testing. We have never been able to do the EXPLORE testing. We lived in DE for four years and now in Virginia and there weren't any testing location anywhere near us. Now that the EXPLORE testing is no more (right?), what is the only other option? Actually doing the ACT?
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I don't even know what grade level to use.
DS did kinder in public school; moved to a private school the next year and grade advance over 1st to 2nd. In 4th, they "math advanced" him up to 5th. Then I brought him home...counted last year as 5th grade and this year, I've started second guessing it (not wanting him to be older/go to college early!) and haven't really considered him 5th or 6th this year.
Do I do the 6th grade test? He did 5th grade Stanford 10 + CogAt last year.
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This would just cover American history, but Memoria Press has 200 Questions About American History. You could just buy the teacher's key and use it.
Thanks! That's a great start! Now I need something similar for World History!
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We are prepping for the middle school/junior high level of the History Bee, and I'm looking for a good book full of trivia questions or something where ds can practice. I'm thinking something like jeopardy type questions/answers but just for history--world, in particular. Any thoughts?
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We are prepping for the middle school/junior high level of the History Bee, and I'm looking for a good book full of trivia questions or something where ds can practice. I'm thinking something like jeopardy type questions/answers but just for history--world, in particular. Any thoughts?
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I just went back to look at the ones for Newton, and I think there is a decent variety of content, certainly more than with the OUP guides. I can see us picking out some of them to work on for each unit but it won't work for us to do them all.
in general, though, we both read the assigned sections and then come together to discuss. We did Aristotle concurrent with ancients, and it worked well, and that's my plan for next year for Renaissance and Early Modern.
I just have one child, and we do science and history daily. I alternated what I counted this towards because we do a lot of both. We finished Aristotle without a problem in a school year including a longish break to focus on neuroscience last year.
Thank you!
You didn't ask, but I just thought I would throw in that the Gifted Homeschool Forum runs a year-long class for each of the first two books in series and they coordinate that with some work from the workbook, weekly lectures (which are great) and fun projects. It's a little pricey, but it's been so worth it to me because the teacher is fabulous and I have to do very little except make sure project materials are available and homework gets turned in.
I didn't know this, so I really appreciate this information! I'm going to check it out!
I have the Student's Quest Guide put out by Johns Hopkins University and the accompanying Teacher's Quest Guide also put out by JHU.
Oh my gosh!! This is marvelous! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain so much in detail! Thank you, thank you! This will actually be an added subject for him as he's flying through our history. We'll outsource science next year and add this as a "fun" subject!
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DS is quite strong in grammar, and we have spent two years working through Easy Grammar because it's so large! He also does Latin and writing through Write Shop and grammar, punctuation, etc. seem pretty solid.
I know there is more we should go over and review, but what are some good options for middle school?
I also have the four Life of Fred language arts books that we could re-do for next year, too.
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I just bought them for next year and I haven't even gone through them yet to plan... I'm still planning out OUP's year (using THEIR guides -- which I really like) and then I'll be moving on to the Quest guide! I bought Newton, as we are just reading through the first book this year. I heard the Quest Guide for the first book isn't nearly as meaty as the second.
Thanks. Did you buy both the student and the teacher guide? Wondering if the teacher guide is necessary!
And what is OUP?
I have the Teacher Quest teacher and student guides for the first two books. We ended up not using them for the first book, but DD was in 5th and very resistant to anything like that. We're going to do Newton next year (7th), and I'm not sure if we'll end up using the guides.
We tend to prefer verbal discussions after we both complete the reading, but I just have one child so it's easy for us to do things like that.
For comparison, we attempted several of the OUP middle ages guides this year, and we quickly grew tired of them. They ended up being as formulaic as every other study guide like this that we've purchased, and we were losing the joy of reading and discussing the material.
So, if I do use the Teacher Quest materials for Newton, I definitely won't be using them in their entirety. My priority for these materials is still on great discussions.
Agh...you both used OUP and I don't know what it is!
I have an only child, too, but he doesn't love to discuss much. I was hoping the guides might at least give us jumping off points for discussion! Do you plan to read a chapter and then just discuss the material?
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I love the Story of Science books! I checked them out for the library to review before we started with them.
BUT has anyone used the NSTA guide or the Johns Hopkins Student and/or Teacher Quest guides?
If so, can you review them? If not, how did you use Story of Science?
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My DD took PreChem through Landry Academy's Summer Intensive (3 weeks in May); she had Mr. Leingang, and his class was great. She is now taking Chemistry through Landry Academy; Mrs. Prieskorn is teaching it. It is another great class. I would recommend both teachers and/or classes.
I know this is an older thread, but I'm wondering how old your dd is/was.
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Should we switch to AoPS? Would you do their Pre-A before going to Algebra since JA might not be as challenging? This is NOT a math lover, which is why I went with JA. If I stick with The Arbor series (Counting Coconuts and Chuckles) what would you suggest as a next step?
Thanks!
We did JA last year for pre-A and it simply wasn't a good fit. DS is very strong in math, but all the chatter and long word problems did not appeal to him at all. We opted not to do more in that series, but AoPS just felt too abstract for him. Based on several recommendations from here, we went with Jacobs Algebra and he has done very well with it. We're about to wrap up the book, and I feel much better about this book than I did for JA.
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Now that I know I can do Algebra 2 or Geometry next, I need recommendations for Algebra 2 or Geometry text/class. I'm probably going to have to outsource these. I've taught Algebra I previously as a school teacher, but I'm reaching my max here!
What should I consider?
Chalkdust
Derek Owens
What other options do I have?
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DS is close to finishing up Jacobs Algebra I and we will break for the summer most likely. I'm thinking to do AoPS Counting & Probability next for a little break. He's done really well with Algebra I for the most part but I think a small break might be good.
After AoPS C&P, do we do Algebra 2 next or Geometry? Seems to be mixed opinions. Or does it just not matter!
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I bought the PDF version for super cheap during a sale.
Me, too!
Here's week one:
Day One: Read Quark Botany chapter 1. Define taxonomy, biped, and symbiotic relationship in your notebook (this is a comp book that she used throughout the year to notebook about history and science). Complete the Pamishan Creatures activity.
Day Two: Read Botany in 8 Lessons chapter 2. Complete a notebook entry on taxonomy. Include what it is who started it, why it was started, and the 7 levels of classification. Copy from the chart of plant classification from Botany in 8 at the bottom of your notebook entry.
Day Three: Read 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names p. 3-8 and complete the editable notebooking page (found on Guest Hollow's website to download at the bottom of this page) on one of the flowers you read about.
Day Four: Complete a notebook entry on symbiotic relationships. Tell what it is, give the example used in Quark Chronicles chapter 1, and give a real life example. Illustrations would be great to show how this relationship works!
Day Five: Read Wicked Plants p. 1-5. Write a one paragraph summary about aconite.
Chilli--This is great!
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Okay, for me this was supposed to be the creme de la creme of science curriculum. It is our first year using it. We are in Week 7 of Chemistry for the Logic Stage. So far our circuit for week 4 did not work at all. we swapped out wires and batteries... no luck.... now for week 7 she not only logged all of the results incorrectly (she was supposed to write sink or float I got responses like "nothing happened" or "it turned maroon") Granted this last experiment I allowed her to do on her own after we added the salt to the colored waters, because I have a toddler and infant also, but I still feel as though something is off. She is my science kid so I feel as though she is not really trying to just get it done with. I think either she or the experiments are the issue and i just need to figure out which it is. Has anyone else had issues or is it just us?
TIA
We tried Astronomy and Earth Sciences Logic Stage last year. I really wanted to like it because I really didn't like Apologia, but it just didn't work for us either. It feels way to dry... We did a couple of experiments but several didn't turn out well either. We just quit doing the experiments and then just quit the whole thing.
Derek Owens Geometry: Parent Grade or DO Grade?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Geometry is not my strong suit. Actually, no math above Algebra I level is good for me so we're using Derek Owens for Geometry this fall. I have a teacher edition with all the answers, so now I'm considering doing the parent grade option but I have a couple of questions.
Does anyone know?
1. If I do parent grade option, do I have to grade the tests, too?
2. Is this pretty easy to do--parent grade?
3. If DS is stuck and/or I can't help explain it, is Derek or a TA still willing to look over work or assist or am I forfeiting that right by doing parent grade?