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pocjets

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    Can someone explain Sonlight Core D to me? LA?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We did Core D last year, though I didn't use the LA (and after looking at the LA in Core E this year, I'm so glad I didn't bother with their LA). The way it's designed to be done is for the child to read just the reader, and you read the history and read-aloud. Now some people do have the child read their history also. It's perfectly fine to do that. They don't really have any "work" to do besides reading and oral discussions with Mom. The discussion questions are mostly comprehension - nothing to write home about. The teacher notes are not that great, and you can't really trust anything written by John Holzmann in there (he seems to hear some historical rumor and run with it without checking facts). So I ended up using it as a book list/schedule. I would have a hard time having any kind of meaningful discussion without reading the books myself.

     

    I did a brief initial review of Core E LA in this post. We used Core E without the LA for about 11 weeks. By then, we were completely burnt out on historical fiction. :tongue_smilie:

     

    We LOVE the Landmark books though! I used the old version, and my son and I both found that to be our favorite part of the core.

     

    Thank you so much for this! I see you've switched to TOG? Do you like it better? I'm having such a hard time deciding on history!! :)

    How do I decide between HOD and MFW?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    After spending a long time deciding between the 2, and after using 1 year of HOD, I went with SCM as well.  I agree with what others have said.  HOD looks so great on paper to me, but I often found myself wondering what the deal was with the projects.  

     

    SCM has been wonderful for us.  So simple to use.  You can easily buy all the books in the package and have them on hand.  After that, it is open and go.  It also has room to add things in if you want, but it is full enough by itself. I have added some books from the HOD list as well as some that I already owned.  It goes from K-12, so you can use it with all of your kids.  

     

    I can't say enough about the breath of fresh air it brought to our homeschool.

     

    OK thanks - off to look at SCM!!! I think they both MFW and HOD look good on paper but I'm worried about implementation. :) Maybe I should just stick with doing my own thing. I'm doing VP history now and while I like it, it's a lot - more history than I think my kids need right now. I don't like SOTW so maybe SCM will be what we need for history.  Thanks!

    How do I decide between HOD and MFW?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Here's some info. I have 6 kids - 3 are school aged and the oldest is currently in 3rd grade. I'm looking at starting next year when the kids will be 4th, 3rd, 1st, 4k, 3, and 1.

     

    I'm not crazy about hands on projects but my kids LOVE them. I don't really have time to go to the library so I prefer to own all the books we will actually "need" for school. I do have some money do buy additional books to avoid the library if needed. :) I'm guessing that it's not a bad investment to buy books because I can use them with all of the kids down the line.

     

    I need open and go!!! 

     

    I know MFW combines 2nd-8th and HOD does not, but my pros and cons lists seems pretty equally between the 2 companies. Is there anyone that has tried both that can weigh in on other factors that I need to consider? If you were me, what would you use?

    Large Families - Curriculum/Independence/Help! :)

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    For us, using streamlined, simple workbooks for individual skill subjects and then SCM to combine everyone for the rest has been the perfect fit!  Our days are so much simpler, and school is getting done!

     

     

    I noticed that your signature says that you do science in the summers. That is a great idea!! How have you liked it? 

     

    Thank all of your for your help and thoughts. I'm taking notes for sure! :)

    Large Families - Curriculum/Independence/Help! :)

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I have 6 children that I will eventually be schooling. Currently, only 3 are in school right (3rd, 2nd,K) and the other 3 are younger. I feel like we are just getting the basics done right now and have little time for history/science. I cannot imagine what it will be like when they are ALL in school! 

     

    Does anyone have any curriculum suggestions that they use that help? I can't figure out if something like HOD would help (no planning at all on my part) or if it's too much?? 

     

    I know for now that TOG is too much. I don't have extra time to plan (and I don't really enjoy that part). Plus, I hate to spend so much time on that when I need to continue to solidify the basics with my kids and teach them to work toward independence. 

     

    Other than TOG, I'm not really opposed to anything (would like a biblical worldview) - workbooks, textbooks, living books, no books. :) Only kidding about the last part. 

     

    If the answer is that it's just going to be hard/busy, no matter what I choose, that will be good to know too!!

     

    Thanks so much

    Can someone explain Veritas Press?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    The website is confusing but the catalog is much easier to understand.

     

    Yes, all children 2nd-6th grade can be combined together.

     

    If you teach the course yourself, you would need to buy the homeschool kit ($44), the primary resources, and the literature pack (if you wanted to use it-it is optional). Most of the books in the literature kit will be geared towards 2nd/3rd graders (not all though) but the catalog will list several other book options for older kids. 

     

    Each card has one weeks worth of material on it. There is a summary and then a few resources listed at the bottom. You pick and choose which of the resources to read during the week. The Teacher's Manual has worksheets (comprehension questions), projects, maps(not all weeks have mapping), and tests for each week. You can also buy the "scripted lesson plans" for $49 if you want to be told exactly what to read for each day. They are not necessary!!

     

    Another option is to buy the self-paced online course. It's $199 per child or both could sit in on the lesson (only 1 child wold be graded though.) If you go that route, you really wouldn't have to buy anything else. The cards ($20) are recommend but you really wouldn't have to get them. You could also add on the lit. pack if you wanted to do that - again, it's optional.

     

    I hope that helps a little!

    HOD - on grade level? Does anyone do this?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I think we are going to switch to HOD next year. I like how everything is planned out and how Christ is at the center of the curriculum. Anyway, I've been reading a lot on this forum and the HOD forums about placing students in a grade level back. I know there is a range but if you started LHFHG in K, kids would progress and do Preparing in 3rd grade, etc. 

    So it got me thinking, does anyone coming into HOD actually start their kids in at "grade level." I want to challenge my kids but I don't want to frustrate them either. I'll have a 4th, 3rd and 1st grader in school next year with a 4,3, and 1 yr old also. Thanks so much!

    VP self-paced ?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    My girls are currently using the free trial of VP self-paced history. They LOVE it and so we are considering buying it. My question for those of you who have used it is, will they still LOVE it at the end of the year or does it become boring? I obviously know you can't predict what my children will think, but what has been your experience? Anyone ever used it for multiple years?? 

     

    Thanks

    Combining in Omnibus?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Is this possible? As I look a few years down the road, I'm wondering if it will be possible to combine children in the Omnibus? I don't think I want to/would be able to teach 4 different levels!

     

    What are some other good options for combing? TOG? Biblioplan? MFW?

    What to use for Writing when you have not idea of your philosophy?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I'm looking for help with selecting a writing program for my 2nd and 3rd grade daughters. The problem is, I have NO idea which direction to go! I've been looking at all of the threads and all of the programs are so different!!! Some emphasize copying and rewriting, others seems to be more classroom like. Some programs include grammar and others do not. I honestly have no idea in which direction to go??

     

    Should I just pick something and try it or do more research on philosophies first? Sometimes, I feel like all of these choices are more of a burden than a benefit to homeschooling!!

     

    Thanks for the help.

    Rigorous non-Singapore Math???

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I've used Singapore and don't like all of the book shuffling, etc. I would like a math that is teacher friendly and still rigorous. Any suggestions?? I'm open to anything but Singapore! :) A traditional textbook is fine!!! My top (only) two requirements are easy to teach and rigorous. :)

     

    Thanks so much

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