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DaisyMay

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Everything posted by DaisyMay

  1. I’m late to the party, but wanted to ease your mind about spelling. I just retired from teaching first grade for the past ten years (I homeschooled my three kids from 2003-2013 and my oldest is dyslexic). Spelling is not the focus in first grade. The focus is on phonics. That is the key to reading and what she needs most. When I taught first grade, we didn’t do spelling lists or tests. We did phonics and reading. Teach her phonics now and she’ll have an easier time spelling later. UFLI is good, but moves quickly. Explode the Code is a good, easy way to start if she’s reluctant. I used All About Spelling with my son, plus Orton Gillingham methods. It is very time consuming. Have you heard of The Secret Stories? Google that if you haven’t. They have a really great “Better Alphabet Song” that’s really good. My non-readers always learned their letter sounds quickly with that. Gayle
  2. I would love the first grade one. I can't seem to figure out how to find it with the links above.
  3. Our planning meeting was today so I just wanted to give an update about what we chose. I'm very happy to say that we're going with Singapore Primary Math! I think it was a good choice and I'm excited to teach something proven to be effective. Thanks so much for everyone's help and insight! Gayle
  4. That's what I do, too. I have documents on my computer for airplane packing list, toiletries packing list, car packing list, beach packing list, etc. I also have one for the dogs' directions :-) . It makes life so much easier when I don't have to think of everything! Hope you have a wonderful time! Gayle
  5. I've used BJU science from 3rd grade to 8th grade with my kids. The TM is integral to the program, I think. It adds so much depth and fun! It's easy to find it used. The kit might be helpful to you, but I don't recall needing anything that was too hard to get. I guess it depends on if you have time to gather things or want it all put together for you. Gayle
  6. Meshing with the upper grades is a very good point. When I was first given EnVision to look at, I really wanted to like it for the sake of continuity. Once I looked through the program, though, I knew it was not a good choice. Whatever we end up picking we want to make sure the students can transition well to the third grade curriculum. I do think that Singapore Primary Math is probably our best bet, along with various other supplements like the C-rods. We're meeting about the decision on Thursday. Hopefully we'll all like Singapore! Thanks so much! Gayle
  7. Grades 3-4 are going with EnVision. Grades 5-6 are already using that, but grades 7-8 use something different. I think the reasoning behind that is that EnVision is good for the middle grades but not for the early or late grades. I appreciate all of the responses. There were a few programs that I've never heard of but will check out. McRuffy is new to me, but sounds interesting. I love MUS Alpha for how they teach adding and subtracting. I might end up incorporating that, but not use it as the only thing. I think Singapore might be the best choice for the various reasons mentioned. I think parent buy in would be a lot better with this. Miquin might be a good complement. I'll have to get the Liping Ma book. I've not read it before, but it sounds very good. Thank you again for all of the helpful responses! This is such a big decision and I want to make sure we investigate all options before deciding. Gayle
  8. Would love to hear from all the other math gurus out there :-)
  9. Thank you for those suggestions. I've never really looked at Miquon before. Very intriguing. The scope and sequence doesn't show place value or word problems being covered in 1st or 2nd. Do you know if that's the case? MEP looks interesting, too. I'll have to really dig around that site. Many thanks for your thoughtful response. I'd love to hear more about these programs and others, too. :001_smile: Gayle (who sure wishes she could make paragraph breaks! I'll have to use Firefox next time!!)
  10. First a little background: I've homeschooled my children for the past 10 years and will be going back to teaching in the fall. I'll be teaching in a private school that is currently 5th-12th but will be adding 1st-4th in Sept. I'll be teaching a 1st/2nd grade combo class with a maximum of 15 children. Because it's a new program, we are designing the curriculum from the ground up. All the other subjects have been pretty easy to map out and determine materials, but math has been tough! We've looked at several different programs but none seem to be a great fit for what we hope to accomplish. Our goals are to provide a rigorous well-rounded math education which has a good mix of spiral and mastery. We want lots of hands-on and developmentally appropriate games and activities. I'll be utilizing math work stations in which the students work in pairs and groups while I work with small groups. Two curriculum's that we've considered are EnVision and Math in Focus. EnVision seems confusing and disjointed. I like Math in Focus better, but leadership looked at it previously and didn't like it. They're willing to reconsider, though. Bob Jones and Abeka are out. Singapore is a posibility, but I've never taught it. I like the looks of Right Start and may suggest that at our next meeting. What else would be good? I could try to just teach from a scope and sequence, but would rather have a book for guidance and to help keep me on track. Obviously the math needs for the school are different than they would be for a homeschool, but my feeling is that homeschoolers have been much more successful than public schools. I'd rather emulate what works than what doesn't. :laugh: So does anyone have some wonderful math wisdom to share? I would love to hear about curriculums that we should look at further. Any help is much appreciated!! Thanks! Gayle
  11. I placed an order with Sonlight last Wednesday morning. It's been over a week and it's still not been shipped! I can't believe that it takes so long to ship an IG and 5 books. When I contacted them they said it takes 7-10 days to get an order ready to ship. I've not ordered from them before, but I'm very disappointed in waiting so long. Are they always this slow? Are that many people really ordering in September? I sure hope it's worth it, or it will be my last order with them.
  12. In my state, homeschoolers can access anything at the public schools. My two older kids have both done multiple sports at the middle school. It's been a wonderful experience for both of them. For us, it's the best of both worlds. My dc are very athletic and do travel sports as well, but the school teams have had great coaches and I've seen a lot of growth in my kids, both athletically and maturity-wise. I'm very grateful for the opportunity for my children. Gayle
  13. I am in that position. I really need to get a job. Prices are crazy and my husband's business is down because of the economy. He's a Chiropractor and has gotten insurance reimbursement cuts every year. So many patients have lost their jobs or their insurance has been cut. No one can afford out of pocket payments. It's getting hard to stay afloat. He owns his own business so we have to buy our own insurance. We pay almost $1,000 a month plus a $10,000 deductible. That's the cheapest plan we can get in our state. We just can't afford it any more. I was in tears the other day at the pharmacy after paying a $141 payment for a one month supply of meds that my son needs. I plan on going back to teaching if I can find a job. I just need anything with benefits. It's sad, because we have never had to worry like we do now. I wonder how things will end up for folks like us. Gayle
  14. Good point. They said they would accept the credits from Tri City Christian, a private school with a homeschool transcript service in our state. I am assuming that they would transfer in like any private school, but you never know.
  15. We wanted all honors classes because of the type of student in them. We would rather have him with students who may be more serious about school. I don't think putting him in an honors English class would help, though. We would just have to be fine with the regular class. Our high school also has a great Career and Technical Ed. department. There are multiple programs that give Running Start credits. It's definitely a draw for us. Gayle
  16. Just typing things out here really helped me to clarify my thoughts. We had originally planned on him going to high school full time, but backed off from that due to his dyslexia. We really wanted him to take all honors classes, but didn't feel he'd be ready. That's why he only enrolled in two classes to begin with. He thinks he's ready now and wants a challenge. We would have to put him in regular English 1, but I have no doubt he could do the work. I think he would feel differently if we had a robust homeschool community around here. Even after homeschooling from the beginning and living in the same are, we don't know too many other homeschoolers my son's age. It seems not many stay home for high school. It would be hard for him to enter mid-stream this year, so it's now or next year for full time. I'm kind of thinking now would be better because they have a freshman academy that helps transition the 9th graders to high school life. Thanks for helping me think this through. I'm glad to hear other opinions and experiences. Gayle
  17. My ds14 has recently told me he wants to go to high school full time. We have always homeschooled with good results. Our state allows homeschoolers to take classes and participate in sports, so he is registered for an honors science class and an elective at our local high school. He is also doing cross country there. School starts next week, so we have to make a decision quickly. I'm just not sure what to think. He has valid reasons for wanting to go, and we have been considering enrolling him full time in 10th grade. I've already cleared it with the school that they'll take our credits if we use a transcript service. If he goes for 9th, now would be the best time. Going midstream would be too hard, I think. I'm hesitant because I'm worried about the school atmosphere. I don't think it's all that great, but not terrible. He already knows lots of kids there since he did soccer, track, and basketball with the middle school. We live in a small town, and my ds is very outgoing. The academics are middle of the road. My ds has dyslexia and has difficulty processing things sometimes. After years of work, he's a great reader. His dyslexia comes out in his writing and spelling. We want him to take all honors classes, but honors english may be too hard. I guess I'm just having a hard time thinking we don't have one more year together. There are still things I want to work on with him. He's a good kid, but maybe not a spiritually sound as I'd like. We'd still do Bible at home. We have a good church with a strong youth group. Does anyone have any advise or words of wisdom? My dh has said that I'm the expert here... whatever I think is best is fine. I just don't know what's best! I've spent much time praying, but really want some extra counsel for such a huge decision. Thanks for any help you can give! Gayle ETA to add... That should be advice in the title, not advise :). I typed too early on too little sleep! Lol
  18. I know what you mean about their geography. Although it may be great, I just can't get past how dull it looks. Since we've already done so much geography through the years, I'd rather focus on history. My kids can identify most countries on a blank map, and know major rivers and landforms. That's a good idea to focus on government. Thanks! Gayle
  19. Maybe I'll have to take another look at MOH. Of course I already sold it :tongue_smilie:! We have enjoyed BJU's history, but I'd really like to delve more into literature and strenghten their love of history. Gayle
  20. Why do you think that is? I really like the looks of it, but admit that something is holding me back. Have you been happy with Notgrass? Thanks! Gayle
  21. That's a good idea! Do you know what you'll add to it? I was concerned about cramming all of world history into one year. That just seems like so much to cover if you want to really learn deeply. Thanks! Gayle
  22. I'll have to check those out. I've never looked at Trisms or Beautiful Feet. I did look at Biblioplan, but was kind of confused by it :tongue_smilie:. I think I looked at the Spielvogel book, I'll have to check again. Thanks! Gayle
  23. Good idea about not counting Bible. We have been doing it as a school subject, and then doing a devotional as a family later in the day. Maybe we could combine it all together. I haven't looked at Bauer's History of the Ancient World yet. I'll have to check it out. Maybe that would be a nice fit. I love Diana Waring's curriculum, but when I looked at it, it didn't seem to have as much content with only covering one topic per month. I do love her cds and we listen to them for fun :001_smile:. Maybe I should take another look at her program. Gayle
  24. We actually did MOH a few years ago. I kind of thought it was a little light, even though we did the note cards, some of the projects, and timeline activities. Maybe the updated version is a little meatier. I know what you mean about the BJU Geography. I have it on my desk, and I just get glazed over every time I look at it. I can't imagine a whole year of it. I'm sure it's very good, but my son and I aren't excited about it at all! Gayle
  25. My son is going into 9th grade. I have everything set for him except history. We have BJU Geography with dvds to use, but it just doesn't really look that great to us. He would prefer studying ancient history this year, and we've done lots of geography through the years. He is a smart boy who sometimes struggles. He has dyslexia but reads well and loves to read (after years of hard work!). We used IEW SWI B this year and it really helped his writing, so we plan to use IEW SICC B to continue his success. We will also be doing literature with BJU Lit. dvds, so we don't need writing or literature with our history program. I am thinking about using Notgrass, but would rather do world history in two years than one. I like the looks of MFW AHL, but don't need the extra lit. and Bible. I think that might be overwhelming to my son. He is also taking an honors science class and an elective at our high school, so he is going to have a lot on his plate as it is. History can be a bit lighter, I think, and not the focus of his day. This is his course line up: Bible- BJU Bible Truths (Old Testament)-- we don't have to do this if Bible is included with history English- BJU Writing and Grammar 1st sem.(for grammar only), BJU Lit. 2nd sem., and IEW SICC B Math- BJU Algebra 1 (or TT Algebra 1-- not sure yet) Spanish- BJU Spanish 1 Spelling - Phonetic Zoo (this is where his dyslexia is still evident-- he really needs spelling instruction) Science- honors integrated science at the high school Electives- Computer Tech 1 sem, and Science of Flight, 1 sem. at the high school He'll be at the high school from 11:30 - 2:10 daily, plus sports there. That's going to really shorten our school time at home! We start our school day at 7, though, so we have a few hours. He would like to continue with Latin, but I don't think he'll have time for that. He'll probably read The Fallacy Detective as a supplement as well. I also have an upcoming 8th grader who might do history with my son. She and my ds have always worked on the same subjects together, but it appears that MFW AHL would be too much for an 8th grader. I just don't know what to use for history. He needs something direct and independent, like MFW, but would that be too much with what we already have scheduled? We could drop BJU Bible and do Bible from the MFW guide. Could we drop the MFW Lit portion? All the BJU classes we use are with dvds, as he really benefits from direct instruction. He also enjoys them. They are pre-recorded from when they had HomeSat, so they don't cost any extra for us (beyond the subscription fee). My thoughts on options for history are: A. Use BJU Geography with dvds-- boring, but a history credit without a lot of extra work. Not my first choice. B. Use Notgrass World History alone-- ok, but we want to do world history in 2 years. It also looks like it could use some extra readings, but I don't want to have to "reinvent the wheel". C. Use MFW AHL -- looks really good, but kind of heavy. Would he have time for all that with his other classes? It's also a lot of money just for history. D. Other ???:bigear: ETA: I really want history to be from a Christian perspective. If you've read this far, THANK YOU! Please tell me what to use for history! :confused: Gayle
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