ksr5377 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 especially the older grades, do you think that they're heavy enough? I'm talking about their new lesson plans they have out now. When I compare them to the others I'm interested in they seem a little light. At least from what I can tell from looking at the catalogs. For example, MP 6th grade literature includes Anne of Green Gables, Treasure Island, The Bronze Bow & The Hobbit. VP has Around the World in Eighty Days, The Call of the Wild, White Fang, A Christmas Carol, Fehrenheit 451, The Jungle Book, Kidnapped, Little Women, The Lord of the Rings and The Yearling. I'm also looking at SL, but I wouldn't begin to lists the books included there. It also seems that this is the case when you look at their history programs. So I'm wondering if it will be a problem, or if it's a case of less is more. Maybe as long as I did everything MP has planned we would be fine, but there would be a little room to add if I felt we needed to whereas I would barely be getting everything done with the others? Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I love Memoria Press. I look longingly at their website and those plans already made up for me. I think they use solid materials. I use the Rod and Staff that they do for spelling, math, and English. I use their latin and I use their Famous Men of series for supplementing. I am purchasing (I think) their 5th grade science this coming year. But I am adding more to it. I have always followed WTM. For 5th grade WTM biology we should cover human body, plants, and animals. MP will cover birds and a history of medicine for science. I like both of these. I like the idea of going deep into birds instead of brief into all animals. But I want more in the biology, so I am purchasing another biology book and some hands on kits: a dissection one and an owl pellet kit. So we will do more than they have planned. I haven't figured out our exact schedule yet, but I am looking forward to our year. Since we have done and will do WTM I can't buy their plans, because they just don't line up with what we have done so far. But I think they are fine and I would probably use them if starting from the beginning. I would add if needed. Only 5 lit books is good IMO. Then you have lots of time left to read plenty of others just for enjoyment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indygirl Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I am really looking at the third grade package for next year. I asked on the forum about the read aloud list, which is quite extensive. It is not listed with the curriculum package though. I am wondering if there is a separate list for 6th grade as well on top of that? If you ask a question on the forum, Tanya is usually quick to respond. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 OP, the books you mentioned are in the literature package; they have guides for each book that have plenty of evaluation/comprehension questions for that book. Yes, it is less lit than SL or VP; but keep in mind that the student is also doing classical studies (more reading and evaluation work), American/modern studies (more reading and evaluation work), science (again more reading and evaluation), Latin, English grammar/spelling, and math. Sounds like enough to me. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkateLeft Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Yes, it is less lit than SL or VP; but keep in mind that the student is also doing classical studies (more reading and evaluation work), American/modern studies (more reading and evaluation work), science (again more reading and evaluation), Latin, English grammar/spelling, and math. Sounds like enough to me. :) :iagree: I had the opportunity to look at the upper grade kits at a homeschool conference last year, before they were on the website. I was pretty impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 On the MP forums they have said that these would not be the only books the children would be reading, just the only ones they go into depth on. Yes, VP has a more extensive list with guides, but doing all of their guides with the short answer questions (there is no real analysis going on through grade 6, only comprehension/grammar stage questions) is a lot, IMO. I have liked the look of MP but would surely assign more reading than just the books that come with the lit. guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 On the MP forums they have said that these would not be the only books the children would be reading, just the only ones they go into depth on. Yes, VP has a more extensive list with guides, but doing all of their guides with the short answer questions (there is no real analysis going on through grade 6, only comprehension/grammar stage questions) is a lot, IMO. SL has longer lists, but some of their books are shorter or at a simpler level than the other two lists, and they are not expected to write answers to questions about every chapter or even to write about every book. Mostly the SL books are discussed orally. I have liked the look of MP but would surely assign more reading than just the books that come with the lit. guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathy_overman Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I too want to believe that MP might work for us next year, so I ordered the Greek Myths and a Literature guide (3rd grd.) to review. I was hoping I could add/sneak them on to our current workload - not happening! I was very surprised by how challenging they look. The literature guide is very detailed. For example, the first thing we did was look up why Mr. Arable in Charlotte's Web is named Mr. Arable ... because Arable has something to do w/ farming in Latin. Similarly, the Greek Myths' study is a thorough review of each element of each story. To me, it seems very intense - and I would not want my DS to go to this level of detail for every book he reads. I now understand why there are only 3 books recommended - the books are studied not just read. That said, I still want to believe MP could work. I do like the Literature Guide and the Myths' study guide. The materials seem heavy on handwriting, serious, and challenging. I am trying to decide if my kids will like and appreciate the structure as much I as do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksr5377 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Thanks so much, I'm really hoping to make it to the convention this year so that I can actually get my hands on this before puchasing. From everyone's comments I see it makes sense to keep it on my list as a real possibility for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I too want to believe that MP might work for us next year, so I ordered the Greek Myths and a Literature guide (3rd grd.) to review. I was hoping I could add/sneak them on to our current workload - not happening! I was very surprised by how challenging they look. The literature guide is very detailed. For example, the first thing we did was look up why Mr. Arable in Charlotte's Web is named Mr. Arable ... because Arable has something to do w/ farming in Latin. Similarly, the Greek Myths' study is a thorough review of each element of each story. To me, it seems very intense - and I would not want my DS to go to this level of detail for every book he reads. I now understand why there are only 3 books recommended - the books are studied not just read. That said, I still want to believe MP could work. I do like the Literature Guide and the Myths' study guide. The materials seem heavy on handwriting, serious, and challenging. I am trying to decide if my kids will like and appreciate the structure as much I as do? The Greek Myths guide is rich--like cheesecake. Small bites work well. :) Here's how I make it work for us: There are usually two or three stories in each lesson. I write out the vocab words (in the guide) on the white board with the meaning; I have the boys listen for the vocab words as I read the stories out loud. If they don't catch them, I make a big show of slowing down and repeating it. After the reading is done, I go over the workbook questions and any map work orally with them. I then ask the boys to write a narration page (four sentences or so) about ONE of the stories; or sometimes it is a narration describing ONE of the characters in the stories (their actions, or appearance, etc.) They use blank top paper for their narrations and enjoy making an illustration for their narration. I sometimes have my oldest boy copy out one or two of the comprehension questions and his answer (which is easy for him, since we have already read, discussed, and narrated). These pages go into their notebook. I do the oral/written work with my two oldest; my younger ones listen in to the stories and try to shout out answers too. My four year old gets grumpy with me if she finds out I did Greek Myths while she was napping. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 especially the older grades, do you think that they're heavy enough? I'm talking about their new lesson plans they have out now. When I compare them to the others I'm interested in they seem a little light. At least from what I can tell from looking at the catalogs. For example, MP 6th grade literature includes Anne of Green Gables, Treasure Island, The Bronze Bow & The Hobbit. VP has Around the World in Eighty Days, The Call of the Wild, White Fang, A Christmas Carol, Fehrenheit 451, The Jungle Book, Kidnapped, Little Women, The Lord of the Rings and The Yearling. I'm also looking at SL, but I wouldn't begin to lists the books included there. It also seems that this is the case when you look at their history programs. So I'm wondering if it will be a problem, or if it's a case of less is more. Maybe as long as I did everything MP has planned we would be fine, but there would be a little room to add if I felt we needed to whereas I would barely be getting everything done with the others? Any thoughts? In case you haven't read it, this article (the chapter of a book, actually) on Multum non Multa posted on Memoria Press's website might help. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksr5377 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thank you for the link! That article was so helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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