jillian Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Bear with me this is going to be long: So we started school with dd last year at 4.5 and doing mostly 1st grade work (except Singapore 2a). We are mostly through SM 2a, so I know we'll continue on. We are finishing up Mr. Q Life Science. We also read through some of CHOW, did Black Ships Before Troy (she loved), and are going through The Odyssey now (again loves). We have been doing some basic geography too (continents/oceans/landforms/etc). Since we started up with school after the holidays we are moving onto all the above still, Grammar (parts of speech identification through identifying articles), Copywork/Handwriting (using Aesop's Fables as a guide). Next year I was thinking about using Memoria Press Grade 2 package (more or less) except doing Copybook I and II and introducing New American Cursive I (handwriting is the only thing she's "average" on), though she isn't writing on K or 1st grade paper, she needs smaller spacing. I would use SM math instead of Rod and Staff still. She's reading on her own, fairly consistently with only a little help still on sight words. We are actually reading Little House in the Big Woods this year. I'm not sure if we'd do their literature study guides or if we'd just use their reading selections. I know we are going to use their Introduction to Classical Studies for history. So I guess my question is should we go ahead and do Memoria Press with dd who will be 5.5 when we start next year, with mostly 2nd grade materials? Right now we do approximately 2 hours of school (including fun stuff like art projects). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2smartones Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I like MP, but I'd be leary of answering a question about a child so young this far in advance. Gifted/accelerated/whatever children, especially that young, tend to learn in leaps & bounds. You might be thinking about 2nd grade now, but might find yourself looking at 3rd or something else entirely when the time comes to shop. I've wasted SO much money in the past buying things that I thought would be appropriate, only to findout later they were below the level needed by the time we got there. I've tried, when possible, to by materials that are very flexible in level... things that can be used for multiple levels... so that I don't have to worry about what I need when I need it. Sorry for typos today... keyboard is almost fried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Blessings Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I don't know much about MP(though I like what I see). When I look at materials that are packaged together, I often hesitate to purchase it because it might be an inappropriate fit. It might be too much here, not enough here . . . or I would have to add this or that, etc. Also, I agree with pp- it is difficult to say where children will be in 6 months. I have also wasted money with buying what seemed right at the time, but didn't seem to fit when we went to use it. :( I do use TOG, however, and the flexibility between ages/stages is what convinced me to do that. Not to confuse the issue ... I am interested to hear what other folks have to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 I guess I have a tough time because we use our tax return for materials. i'm moving up a grade level though in general for everything. I wouldn't buy the package but parts of it. My library is pretty good so if I have to supplement I always can with good reading books (what I've done for science this year and geography/history) and we check them out for 3 weeks at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 I like MP, but I'd be leary of answering a question about a child so young this far in advance. Gifted/accelerated/whatever children, especially that young, tend to learn in leaps & bounds. You might be thinking about 2nd grade now, but might find yourself looking at 3rd or something else entirely when the time comes to shop. I've wasted SO much money in the past buying things that I thought would be appropriate, only to findout later they were below the level needed by the time we got there. I've tried, when possible, to by materials that are very flexible in level... things that can be used for multiple levels... so that I don't have to worry about what I need when I need it. Sorry for typos today... keyboard is almost fried. Do you have some good classical, easy to use options for accelerated kiddoes (read: challenging) that is flexible grade/age wise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Do you have some good classical, easy to use options for accelerated kiddoes (read: challenging) that is flexible grade/age wise? The Well-Trained Mind, a la carte. :D These kids bolt, and sometimes pause. I would put the tax return in savings and buy at the start of the school year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2smartones Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Things like science and history are generally much more flexible than something like math. (For example, I like Apologia and Bright Ideas Press for science and history resources.) I agree... put the tax money into savings and buy as-needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Yeah I think part of tax return set aside and dog eared for school. I guess I'm so lost on what to do with her sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Another recommendation to put tax money in savings. It will even earn a few cents while you make your decisions. ;) If you know roughly what you want now, make a spreadsheet to keep up with those items and what they cost, then pad that cost a bit (because you know there will be something you want later), and set that money aside. Never buy early for an accelerated child. You'll usually regret it. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2two Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 My accelerated daughter uses Memoria Press and we really like it. The good thing about MP is that if you call them they will swap out items in their packages but still give you a reduced rate. Tanya on the forums is extremely helpful. You may want to post their as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Thank you. I really appreciate that knowledge. :) I did run into the issues a bit this year, some stuff I thought sh'ed love did not work in the slightest for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleeplessnights Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 My kids have all been early readers & advanced in math, and we love MP! The problem with MP is that there is a lot of writing in the early grades. So, even if your child is advanced in most subjects, unless they can write a lot, you will have to make some adjustments. I would not skip a grade because the material gets considerably more difficult once you move towards middle school grades. For K-2, though, you might have some difficulty. We typically pick and choose their materials at this level. We don't do their K-2 lit guides; I just let them read. I like their recitation and enrichment activities for these levels. And feel free to do some subjects orally. When they reach 3rd grade, their extra subjects can be used at-level for advanced students. We use math at our own level, though we start using their lit guides (even though the texts are easy) in order to work on writing complete answers and vocab skills. My students also continue to read books at their challenge level every day. I have been very impressed with the work level in 3rd & 4th grades, it's just those first couple of grades that can be tricky. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Things like science and history are generally much more flexible than something like math. (For example, I like Apologia and Bright Ideas Press for science and history resources.) I agree... put the tax money into savings and buy as-needed. I think Apologia is great to use with accelerated elementary, also -- the readings are complex, and with the supply kits & notebooks it is open-and-go -- though we've dropped it b/c of worldview differences (I do have a big concern that the empirical scientific viewpoint is not handled well at all by Apologia -- if you are young earth and use this, I'd suggest finding a more robust source for critiquing the old-earth perspective). Bright Ideas is similarly unusable by me b/c of worldview, but it looks terrific for young-earth Protestants. Is Memoria Press' Latin popular with y'all who use MP for the early years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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