[Could LIFEPAC actually have decent LA?]

I've been on the hunt for an all-in-one LA.....today I happened into the homeschool section of a bookstore and was leafing through the LIFEPAC Language Arts for 6th grade. I was kind of impressed! I've always heard LIFEPACs are awful, dry, boring, too easy, etc.....but this truly seemed to be an all-in-one writing/grammar/spelling/vocab and it looked like it was rigorous enough.

 

Am I imagining things? Has anyone used their LA? I'm feeling kinda excited but don't wanna get my hopes up too much yet. :tongue_smilie:

[Winning with Writing (from GWG writers) is out]

Bumping this- I see a bunch of you were starting WWW and GWG in June, wondering if anyone has an update to post?

[What do you like for K math?]

We started with Horizons math for K this year and have just stopped. He and I were both getting frustrated. It has them adding things like 14+3 using a number line, when he hasn't even mastered basic addition facts in single digits. The number line and jump to larger numbers are making us nuts.

 

I did BJU K with DD and loved it.

[I really want/need to be better with memory work]

Another thing my kids love for memory work.....we put the verse/passage/facts on an index card, and slide each card into one of those small vinyl photo albums with the clear plastic sleeves (maybe 4x6 size). That way it's a very portable size, and they can carry it around, in the car, etc. without much trouble and review.

[Is your family supportive of your decision to homeschool?]

My DH's family thinks we're a little crazy, is the vibe I get, and I think they're really shocked we're STILL doing it.....yes, we also get those "are you STILL homeschooling?" comments. :) We don't communicate with them much, though, so it's all good.

 

My parents were NOT fans at first. Just so foreign to the way they did things....."well, if public school was good enough for us...." My dad has been completely converted....he loves all the different books and projects they get into, the quirky words in their vocabulary from being read to from great books, and the ways that they're really close to their siblings and a little different (in a good way) from other kids. My mom is still not a fan- she has basically said flat out that kids are meant to spend most of every day with other kids their own age, so there's no format of homeschooling that would be adequate in her book. Oh well, right? :)

 

That's why it's SOOOO nice to have this board of like-minded friends! :)

[In what ways is LLATL not rigorous enough?]

I'm doing a TON of reading about LLATL....it's the closest thing I can find to an all-in-one LA program. The negative reviews overwhelmingly say that it isn't rigorous enough, and they had to supplement. But, there are a lot of positive reviews too, that say it covers the same stuff, just slower.

 

Can anyone who's used LLATL speak to those issues?

[Looking for my dream LA before I pull my hair out....]

I just really want an all-in-one spelling/grammar/vocab/writing program in a box! That doesn't cost a zillion dollars! I've been doing BJU, which is super schooly/workbooky, but thorough enough I think....then I've been dabbling with ILL, which feels a little too loosey-goosey relaxed.

 

What are your absolute favorites for LA? I just hate that it feels like I have to cobble together four different things for ONE subject!

 

:ack2:

[Queen Language Lessons? ILL? CW Primer?]

CW Primer looks great....how teacher intensive is it?

 

I basically just wish there were a big all-in-one LA program.....spelling, vocab, grammar, writings, etc. I hate trying to piece it together. We've done BJU the last 2 years, but it's SO workbooky/schooly.....I'm wanting to get more classical/CM.

[Queen Language Lessons? ILL? CW Primer?]

Queen Language Lessons? ILL? CW Primer?

 

Anyone used these, have opinions?

[Gifted or Asperger?]

Mrs Lilac, would you willing to help me understand something? I am often told about about the successful adult professionals w/Aspergers and I am left with questions. At what age did your dh seek an evaluation for being on the autistic spectrum and what yr was he formally diagnosed w/Aspergers? What city was he in? (not specific name, but small town or one w/cutting edge mental health professionals?)

 

I would like to hear about the older adult experience w/this.

 

Glad to help in any way I can! My DH was diagnosed at age 50, in 2010. Our son was diagnosed with autism a few years prior....at an autism orientation we went to, DH and I looked at each other and I said, "Um, I kinda think this sounds like YOU." And he agreed. We didn't do much with it then....then later, we were having some marital issues related to communication....he went to the doc to rule out anything physical, doc said he checked out fine and thought it might be Asperger's, which a psychologist then confirmed. We are near Nashville, TN.

 

As far as resources, it's hit and miss- we've sought counseling, but the counselors don't know what to do with an adult with Asperger's. Not finding too much in the way of resources. There seem to be a very few who deal with adults with Asperger's specifically, and we're finding them to be very pricey. So we're still on the quest for answers.

 

I am MORE than happy to answer any other questions or help in any way if I can!

[I am not finding enough activities ...]

Mystery of History has some project packs/links on their site that you could match up with what you're doing.

[Sonlight with CW Primer?]

Maybe slightly off topic, what is CW Primer?

[Curriculum via PDF download]

Currclick has a ZILLION curriculum things to download.

[SOTW or Sonlight]

We just got SOTW volume 1 from the library, and even though it's backtracking through stuff we've already covered, my DD is LOVING it! Constantly asking for more! I wish I hadn't waited this long to take the SOTW leap.

[SOTW first go round and then switch or not?]

Maybe also get the audio versions....then she could listen to the volumes you've already done to her heart's content until you're ready to move on to the next volume. Or get an activity guide used, and let her do some of the activities to stretch out the time it takes to get through a volume.

[What happens if you have cycled through]

I'd probably do either geography/cultures or a year on government & economics.

[Switching to Sonlight- any tips?]

Being reckless and making a mid-semester switch from MOH, etc., to Sonlight Core B.

 

Any tips, tricks, things I need to know, from you experienced Sonlight moms?

[What are your "must dos"?]

We just do a 4-day school week. We have co-op one day a week, and for us, getting our schooling done on top of that is too much. And if we didn't have a co-op, there's at least once a week where -something- would happen that we need that flexible day for. I've tried scheduling schoolwork for co-op days, and it just does.not.happen. I've found I'm much happier if I just accept the reality and go with it, rather than planning for what I "wish" would happen.

 

:)

[Gifted or Asperger?]

They can be both gifted and Asperger's. My husband is a gifted engineer who has Asperger's.

 

-Typically- speech delay/issues is not part of Asperger's, it's more of a straight autism thing.....so you may need to look at that route as well.

 

P.S.- the reason it's called an autism "spectrum" is that people with autism and Asperger's share some common characteristics, but there is such a huge range....you can't say someone is or isn't on the spectrum because they do/don't do that someone ELSE on the spectrum does.....kwim?

 

http://www.autismspeaks.org has great information.

[homework for 3 years old???]

You're not overreacting. That's CRAZY.

 

I have one child in public school K right now...my first child ever in public school. He has autism and we decided we'd try it for the structure. He's in regular K and brings home about a page of homework a day. I absolutely REFUSE to have him do it. I throw it away. It's ridiculous. Are they seriously telling me that they have him 7 hours a day and he can't learn everything he needs to know? People confuse homework with implying a program is rigorous, when really it implies to me poor time management.

 

Yes, I'm not the most popular mom in his class- :) I'm learning most of us homeschoolers like to buck authority. :D

[Are Sonlight's IG's worth the $$?]

If you go to their website, you can download a 3-week sample of ANY of their IGs.....that should definitely help you!

[Favorite books for beginning readers?]

If you go to Amazon.com and type in "Now I'm Reading" a whole series of early readers will pop up. My kids LOVED these....so much more than Bob books. They read them until the covers fell off.

[Do you do nature study?]

My DD is super into nature stuff.....that's not built into our curriculum right now. Does anyone do this as a stand-alone subject? We've done the Christian Nature Readers, and those were fantastic....looking for something to do going forward.

 

Thanks in advance for any feedback! :)

[IS CLE solid for math?]

We are loving it. I love that the speed drills and flash cards are built right into the lesson, because we were never fitting them in otherwise. Simple and solid. Very little work on the teacher's part.

[Living Books Curriculum?]

bumping.....hoping to flush out more LBC users somewhere! :)