Heather in VA
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Posts posted by Heather in VA
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Need some more writing instruction for my 9th grader. She's quite a good writer as far as organization, sentences and paragraph structure, and expository writing. She's done a writing intensive (level C) from IEW and took an expository essay course from Bravewriter. She has also had writing instruction in earlier years but that is what is relevant to this. She did very well in both but really disliked the IEW course because she felt it was dull and easy. I'd really like to move her into more persuasive writing and rhetorical thought. She's written some persuasive essays but I think she needs more work on crafting effective argument. Obviously that is expected from a 9th grader. Anyway, I'm debating between Lost Tools of Writing and Writing with Skill 2 and 3 (which I hear is coming out in the summer but maybe that's wrong). With my oldest we used Classical Writing and Chreia/Maxim and Herodotus were great but she took them as online classes so they were very effective. They don't offer that anymore and I don't feel equipped to teach them myself. I know I have to spend some time teaching the writing but I do want something that can be done rather independently and then I can correct, guide and critique rather than something that has to be done fully interactively. I want something that really focuses on the content of the writing rather than a formula or structure of the essay but she doesn't need something that talks about using stronger words or the basics of 'interesting' writing - if that makes sense.
So do you recommend either LToW or WWS2/WW3 or something else?
Thanks
Heather
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You didn't say what age you are looking for and I think that probably has an effect on the answer. I'm currently using the 9 - 11 level and I think it's quite good. I have also heard that the 11-13 and 12-14 are VERY difficult to the point that it might be too hard. But then again my youngest is thriving with MBTP so we like it all.
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I am currently using Singapore with my 10 year old. It's been going well. She's not up to grade yet and it has taken a while for math to kick in but she's starting to close the gap from her delay. She has her multiplication facts memorized and understands the concept of division in relation to multiplication. She can easily do division problems that are in direct relation to a multiplication problem. i.e. if you ask her 45/5 she knows it's 9 etc. Now we are entering long division. I am anticipating this to be an issue because it highlights a learning issue for her. The steps must be done in order, in organized fashion and the process is multi-step. This can cause issues for her during the learning process. Once she has it down, she'll be fine but I'd like to avoid tears, tantrums and rending of garments (on the part of both of us LOL) during the process. I don't think Singapore is going to be the right program to actually learn the process so I want to take a break from Singapore to learn long division and then go back after she has the process down since the Singapore problems are excellent for her and she loves the word problems.
I am just not sure what to use. Traditional programs have bits and pieces over several years so I'm not sure if they will be the right choice. I know programs like MUS and Right Start are more topical (at least I think so about RS) but I don't know enough about them or if there are other choices. I worry about using manipulatives because I don't want to complicate things but I'm open to it. I'm ok with the price for whatever I need to get this to work.
Recommendations? Ideas?
Thanks
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That is what we are doing.
Some of the language texts are even used for three semesters (DD covered the middle third of the college French text in her French 2 college class)
I have seen syllabi covering Prego! through chapter 6 for Italian 1.
THANK YOU!! I was so hoping you would respond. When I did a search I saw you were doing Prego and I was hoping I'd hear from someone who had used it before. How is it going for you? My middle daughter is adamant about doing a modern language and that it not be a "normal" one. So all the typical programs are out. Since most colleges we dealt with for my oldest who just graduated liked a minimum of 3 but preferred 4 years of language I worry about getting a text and then having no where to go after that. I feel better knowing I can use it for at least a couple of years and then see where we are.
Thanks again
Heather
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Sure. It's definitely fine for a high schooler.
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I am considering using Prego: An Invitation to Italian with my daughter. From what I can tell colleges use the one book for 2 semesters of college Italian. Since typically one year of high school is equivalent to 1 semester of college would it be reasonable to use the text over two years and give two years of high school credit for it?
Thanks
Heather
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We loved First Favorites. I definitely think you could use it in 2nd grade, especially if the books are at her reading level. They also have 'More Favorites' that they use for 2nd graders not quite ready for the more difficult books they use in 2nd grade.
I don't know anything about MP because it wasn't out when my children were that age.
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Thanks so much for the info....
Heather
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I know that about a year ago (or maybe longer) there were samples and a production date for Advanced Language Lessons. Then it was shelved. Does anyone know why or if there is a plan to bring it back?
Thanks
Heather
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Well first let me tell you that you have chosen wisely when it comes to time management. Phonics Road and Right Start are very teacher intensive but those subjects are the key focus of school for the ages you are dealing with. History and Science are very secondary for those ages. For history I would consider the self-paced VP history program. It is fantastic and would also take a bit off your plate. VP starts history in the 2nd grade which I personally think it plenty early. For the youngers you could read them stories of famous people, read about different countries etc.
For science, Elemental Science that has been recommended is terrific. if you'd rather not do something that formal, pick a Magic School Bus episode. Watch it all together. Get some books from the library. Do an experiment (there are lots of experiment books available in the library or on amazon). Rinse and repeat.
Your kids are so young. No need to make school a long and formal process so early. You are taking care of the important things very well with PR and RS. Relax and enjoy it.
Heather
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My rising 5th grader will be doing the logic stage literature from Classical House of Learning and whatever next year's Arrow list is from Bravewriter. She reads the CHOL list independently and we read the Arrow books together.
Heather
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Another possibility would be Excellence in Literature. It's a literature program with analysis and writing assignments.
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I really wouldn't recommend doing Omnibus this way. First of all you have children at the younger end of the spectrum. Omnibus III is for 9th grade - written with the idea that you are at the tail end of the logic stage and transitioning into Rhetoric. So you could use if for both a 9th and 7th as long as you expect different process from the 7th grader than the 9th. But taking books from Omnibus 6 wouldn't be appropriate for either age. That is the last book in the series and written with the expectation that it is being done by seniors in high school with three years of full Rhetoric studies under their belt and getting ready to head off to college. Omnibus isn't just a list of books done in two cycles. The related work steps up each year. It's not interchangeable the way you have it set here.
If you want to use Omnibus for the modern time period with these ages, use Omnibus III. Leave Omnibus VI for late high school.
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To me it's the irony behind the "labs don't matter" comments. With some texts, when you skip the labs you're skipping a serious chunk of the instruction.
I completely agree. It is difficult for me to imagine a complete program without doing labs. After all these are 'lab' sciences. It is through labs that the understanding really gels - the theoretical becomes real.
As far as hating Chemistry... My dad has a PhD in Organic Chemistry so I wasn't allowed to hate Chemistry :-).
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Do you have a way to sit in an visit a class from the actual campus you'd be doing CC? There is a significant variant in the quality of the program dependent on the teacher and the campus. We tried Challenge 1 when my oldest was in 8th grade. I should have listened to my instincts. I didn't think it was going to be enough work or challenging enough so I asked to have her placed in Challenge 1 even though I thought that was a bit light as well. They were very reluctant, telling me it was way to much for someone not in high school. Eventually they relented, we too did math and science at home, but even with a year ahead - it was not nearly enough for any subject. Fortunately it was 8th grade and I didn't have to worry about it being enough for credit and we supplemented everything at home. But for the money - it was not close to worth it and without supplementation I would not have felt comfortable giving high school credit for the work. I have heard people who have not had this experience and it often sounds like different people have different programs depending on what the teacher does - so definitely try the actual campus you will be on. Don't assume they are all the same.
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You might want to check Elemental Science. Their Chemistry Logic stage is supposed to be out this spring thus ready for next year.
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I think I've got my plan set for my 2nd high schooler....
Math - Pre-calculus AoPS
History - Biblioplan Year 1 Ancient History
English - Bravewriter writing/literature, grammar (not sure what yet)
French 2 - BJU French and Rosetta Stone
Chemistry - Quarks and Quirks
Geography - Trail Guide to World Geography high school plan
Computer Science - TeenCoder Java and Andriod
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We were in CC for one year. My middle daughter was the age to do Essentials. I looked at it and went to the introduction meeting and training for it but decided against it. However, I had an older daughter who did Challenge 1 that year. She had done grammar at home and the rest of the class had done Essentials. I can't speak to their writing but I know those students struggled mightily in the Latin class. At one point the tutor asked me what we had done for grammar because my daughter was the only one who understood grammar well enough for the Latin studies. I have no idea what it was about Essentials that made the transition to applying grammar difficult but across the board those kids had trouble.
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How about checking out Bob Jones Math? They have recently redone all the levels and they are quite challenging.
Heather
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I was discussing this with a friend of mine and it's an issue that even after 8 years of homeschooling I still am not sure which I like better. Do you feel that for these ages (say 4th - 7th or 8th) it is better to do the one subject a year as it typical with the classical approach or science with multiple topics?
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I agree. They need to break the list up into 2 categories, one for the lower stats and one for the higher stats. UVA does have Jefferson awards that provide significant merit aid (full tuition I believe, if not full rides), but they, like many top schools, are very competitive. (Technically, the Jefferson awards come from a private group, but they are for use at UVA only, so...) The OP's student would be competitive. Someone with an 1150 M/CR would not.
But the list does give a starting point to find colleges which offer merit aid and have good reps. Then more research is needed for each school they like to see what the specifics are.
WUSTL, U Rochester, Vanderbilt, UVA, USC (CA), Case, Emory, and some others fit the bill for being considered "top schools" offering merit aid for top stats, but not 1150...
I wish they would make the list into two so it could be more accurate.
Yes. I agree. Two lists would have been more helpful - having this list that says these schools give merit aid is pretty deceiving. To me a school like UVA who has a bit of merit aid they give to a few students is not a school that gives merit aid. I knew a girl who got into Harvard who got no merit aid from UVA. Of course I knew another girl who got into 3 ivy league schools with merit assistance who didn't even get into UVA because of the quotas so it's just weird.
Heather
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Consider this list (there are some really good schools on it):
http://www.collegexpress.com/lists/list/where-you-dont-need-to-be-needy-to-get-financial-aid/347/
It's not totally up to date as I know Franklin & Marshall stopped giving out merit aid 2 years ago... but many of the others I see on there do have good competitive merit aid.
This is a very nice list of good schools but I really don't think it's accurate when it comes to aid. UVA for example is almost exclusively need-based aid and the figures they give (1150 SAT and B+ average) would not even be assured of getting accepted let alone getting any merit aid. But they are great schools and some do give merit aid.
Heather
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:001_huh:
My daughter came from public/private school and had no problem jumping into Saxon Math.
It must have worked just fine because she is now back in private school in the Honors math class.
Where did she jump in and where did she jump out? Did you use the new versions or the older ones?
Heather
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Thanks everyone. Sorry it took a few days for me to get back to your responses. So if I'm interpreting the responses correctly the problem with Saxon is that they embed geometry in their books (in the older version) so there could be a problem with sequence. But I was wondering if that would be a problem if she's already had Alg I and Geometry. Also, what if she chose the new Alg 2 book that doesn't have Geometry in it. Would that be better? She has looked at samples and really likes the Saxon approach so I'm trying to figure out if she can make it work.
Heather
Recommendations for US History for a slow reader
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
this sounds really good. How did you decide on the essay topic? I'm not really good at writing essay questions. Did you use the 'You Decide' books as well as the 'Critical Thinking through....'? What books from Sonlight did you add?
Heather