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CourtneySue

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Everything posted by CourtneySue

  1. I wanted to let everyone know that this thread has actually clarified things for me. Sometimes thread like this can actually make things more confusing, KWIM? I have realized that I don't have to give up the Right Start method because I have the Activities Book that allows me to use it in a much easier fashion. I also realize that I can use SM as my main curriculum and use manipulatives with that as well. I think one of the reasons my DS was having a hard time with SM was because we went from RS, where I sat with him through each step, to SM, where I was leaving him to do a lot of it on his own. Today I used some manipulatives to introduce the material, then sat with him as he did it. It went great and I didn't hate it!! And I can throw in the Miquon book every so often to mix things up when needed. Thank you!!
  2. I just checked and it actually includes the games, including the instructions on how to play them. It is most likely not exhaustive. The book includes all major math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and a few more. It does not seem to cover fractions, but I guess mastering all the others helps with fractions. It is 'mean and lean' but definitely not a full curriculum, IMO.
  3. After reading how you like to teaching math I definitely don't think you would like the full program. You might like the Activities book though. You'll have to give your opinion when your neighbor gets hers. I do have the app, but hadn't seen the free lessons. Thanks! Those look awesome.
  4. It's good to know I'm not alone. Thanks for your comments. I totally get what you are talking about. If I had just one child, it wouldn't be a question. But at least you can still used the Al Abacus activity book to introduce topics.
  5. I think you have articulated why I would want to stay with it, if I can just get over my issues. What do you like for the older grades?
  6. Lynn, Thank you for your comments. I totally get why it's a good program. And I do get that sense that it's working up to something that *might* payoff. I really just struggle with teaching it. I am in the middle of Level B right now. Hunter, that's so cool! I actually like your approach a lot. I think it's what lead me to buy the Activities for the Abacus. I think it might fit your criteria for 'lean and mean' with some conceptual thrown in. I actually was thinking of using the Activities book as my main curriculum, then I started to feel like I was reinventing the wheel and so went back to RS Level B. But it's only served to remind me that I just don't like teaching it the way they have it scripted out. It nearly drives me batty. So when you are introducing a new concept, do you focus on just *that* for a while? Or do you generally stick with the flow/s&s of the narrow books you use? (I hope my questions make sense).
  7. Thank you to everyone for your very thoughtful responses. You have all given me a lot to think about. I do have the Activities for Abacus book and the Worksheets book that goes with it and it would definitely make a good supplement. I may just go that route. I do like the way RightStart teaches concepts and the Activities for Abacus is much more approachable than their teacher guides. I wish they would make the teacher guides more like it. I can also use it to introduce new concepts when they come up in whatever program I use. Now I'm on the fence between SM Standards and Math in Focus. I'm also interested in the Professor B books, but I know that they too require some supplementation. Hunter, I'm curious what you think? Thanks again!
  8. I seem to have found myself seriously struggling with math this year. We are currently using Right Start. Pros: I like the way Right Start teaches/explain concepts. I think it really makes sense. I think my son "get's it". Cons: I hate teaching it. I hate juggling all the manipulatives. I think manipulatives are key at this point, but with RS, there are a lot to keep track of. And sometimes I find I don't even have what I need. The books are wordy. I wish someone would take this book and make it more accessible (bullet points would be nice). I do think there is a lack of mastery. I am also at the point of adding DD and RS is pretty time consuming and not very independent (at least not yet). At some point I started supplementing with Singapore and Miquon. I threw in the Singapore because I thought he needed extra practice and the Miquon just because it's fun and challenging. I started dropping the RS mid-year and mainly used SM and Miquon. At some point my DS told me that he liked RS and Miquon the best. I think this was because SM was introducing subtraction and that hadn't been introduced in RS yet. Here's my main question: Is it worth sticking it out with RS? Have any of you struggled and stayed with it and were glad in the end? Or should I switch? Is me not liking to teach it enough reason to switch? I'm looking at the SM Standards or Math-in-Focus as alternatives. Or is there something else or combinations that would work better? Thank you for any insights!! They are greatly appreciated!
  9. My "secret" theories apparently are not so secret (pretty much what others have said): 1. The tutorial style of education is key. Kids simply do not fall through the cracks like they do in a classroom of 25+ kids. 2. Individualized education. We think long and hard about what's right for each child. 3. How about the fact that kids that are home schooled are doing more at home than just school: chores, gardening, laundry, nature study, cooking, lots of regular field trips, they get to be around when new babies come into the house, and more. All these things make for very well-rounded individuals. 4. All those books and read alouds can't hurt. 5. The love of learning is not squelched by horrible PS history and English teachers. 6. I don't know if this is true for everyone, but at my house, my kids are genuinely interested in what we study. Today a box of books that I've ordered from Rainbow Resource showed up for next year and my kids started going through them right away. I told my DS that I'm planning to start using them in September. He asked me if we could start in July. What public or private school kid wants school to start in July?!?! My two cents . . .
  10. Is there a version of Mills you prefer? Is the Memoria Press one good? I'm actually thinking that the two could be combined in some way--especially since Mills seems to include a lot more on Egyptian history than Guerber. I do like how Guerber begins with the creation of the world. (Hey, you're on the yahoo group from "the thread" aren't you?)
  11. I was originally going to use Hilyer, but it just doesn't cover enough, IMHO. I do like his style, though. After looking at both the Mills and Guerber books, I think my DS could handle either with me reading aloud. I just need to think now about what/how I want to do this. Thanks for the suggestion!
  12. Did you read version edited by Miller? It still looks like mostly history of the Jewish people, but she says that she's added in additional information about other ancient civilizations. It's just hard to tell to what extent. Thank you for your response! It's funny that you mention Mills. I was actually debating between the two. I was mainly leaning toward Guerber only because it seemed geared toward younger kiddos more than Mills. Do you think Mills would work well for a seven year old? I would, of course, use it as a read aloud. I really appreciate your input. Thanks! :bigear:
  13. I'm very interested in using this book next year for Ancient History. I've always liked the idea of teaching about Ancient Israel in the same vein as I would Ancient Greek history. The thing I'm trying to find out is if there is a sufficient amount of information on Egyptian history in that or if I need to supplement? I was already planning to include Tales of Ancient Egypt by Green and The Pharoah's of Ancient Egypt by Payne. Maybe that will be enough even if what the Guerber book isn't very extensive. Thoughts? I'd appreciate any input I can get. Thanks!
  14. I have been teaching Latin at my co-op for the last few years. I've tried both methods and strongly believe you need both. This is what I would recommend. Get a book that teaches the grammar well (Memoria Press or Classical Academic Press) and also get a book like Minimus that is going to provide a lot of reading practice. My two cents.
  15. I have also greatly benefitted from http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com. Just start going through the links on the left. The nice thing about her, is that for each topic, she will almost always give quotations from Mason herself.
  16. I listened to this last night and something stood out to me: it seems he has different take on the trivium. What I mean is that the modern classical movement, which is largely inspired by Dorothy Sayers speech, "The Lost Tools of Learning", divides the trivium by age/developmental stages. Kern didn't in this talk. In fact, he says you can take each grade level, and uses first grade as an example and says: "What does grammar look like in first grade? What does logic look like in first grade? What does rhetoric look like in first grade?" And then he continues with quadrivium. How do you all understand the trivium?
  17. One*Mom: You could totally read this book. I don't think it's particularly hard to read either, in fact I remember it being a "page-turner". It is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, which at the time that I read it really didn't know anything about. Understanding all the symbolism is quite another thing. And for some reason I've heard several men say they just didn't get, while women seem to love it. I remember when I first read it someone recommended I read this book along with it, though now I don't quite remember why (it's been 12+ years): http://www.amazon.com/She-Understanding-Psychology-Robert-Johnson/dp/0060963972/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1333048535&sr=8-4
  18. Honestly, the whole idea of "readers" seems very contrary to what Spalding taught. She thought kids should be reading "real" books as soon as possible. Just my two cents.
  19. Thanks for posting this. I listened to the whole thing and plan to do so again. I was trying to take notes, but it got a little difficult to do while making dinner.
  20. Mine are similar to others: Miquon-- this is the math my son *wants* to do. I think he likes it because it's always a challenge, but always interesting. I'm still wondering if I can use this exclusively?? WRTR/Spalding-- I seriously convinced myself that I couldn't figure this out, now I see how simple it is (after spending lots of money on other Spalding spin-offs) Ambleside-- I pretty much use all-but-the-history (because I think it's weird), but I love everything else. I've been benefitting from Charlottemasonhelp.com, too. (Maybe some day I'll do the history, too). That's all I can think of for now. :tongue_smilie:
  21. I own this book, but forgot about it until today. I got it at a used booked store, and who knows where or when. I think it's time I actually read it. You know what would be fun on the upcoming Circe Forum is to have a "book club" where we read a chapter a week of a book that we all vote on.
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