Next year, planning woes -- commiseration thread

[alisoncooks]

Anyone else struggling to choose a curriculum for next year?

Well, this is the place to get it off your chest!

 

My problem? MATH !!!

I'm feeling good about our language arts choices (already received them and they look perfect).

But MATH!!

 

How many times can one search old threads, read reviews, view samples?!

 

We're currently using Singapore but I think that we'll be leaving that golden path... :p

We weren't fond of Math Mammoth, when we had it in hand...

We're currently fiddling around with CLE, trying it out, but DD does not love it.... it's missing the FUN that Singapore offers.

Math in Focus might be an option, but IDK... wasn't a fan of the teacher's guides. Meh... if I want this approach, I'll stick with SM.

So I'm considering Horizons.... (but sheesh, the samples look so outdated and old-school... and not in a good, vintage way.)

And I'm leaning toward BJU.... (but is it behind? lacking? sure is pricey!)

And CLE sure is affordable.....

 

And ... and ... and around the internal debate goes.

Anyone else stuck on this merry-go-round?

[Edwena]

Me!!!!

 

I am struggling what to do for Spelling next year. My ds is finishing up AAS Level 5 and dd AAS Level 3. They love it but I am tired of spending 40 min/day teaching Spelling when it seems to me they are starting to be old enough to do it themselves. Plus in the upper guides a lot of what AAS is just spelling lists. There's not as much work with the tiles or teaching new rules. No offense to anyone. The are learning a few new phonograms, but they could do that independently.

 

I have no clue what to switch to. I have looked at gobs of things repeatedly.

 

I also am struggling what to do for Reading/Literature. I tried DITHOR when ds was in 3rd and it was just too much, this past year he's used CLE Reading and at first he didn't like it, but now he loves it. I feel like dd needs to being doing some kind of program now and I'm seriously considering DITHOR (which I no longer have). I don't know that CLE is a good fit for her. She is my free spirited one. I was thinking about doing DITHOR with both as I love the looks of it in the older levels, but ds would not rather switch. AAAACK!!!

[Mommy22alyns]

I'm struggling with reading/lit too. I can't decide whether to use CLE reading again or not. Rebecca likes it and it only takes half a year. Sylvia doesn't like it, and in third grade, it's still a full year. I also want Rebecca to do a little heavier assigned reading and analysis, but I'm not sure how. I also want to introduce poetry, but again, how?

[Heatherwith4]

Me too! I can't decide if I want to use MFW again, or go back to strict WTM. Thankfully, I have a while to decide.

[boscopup]

I've been going round and round on read-aloud type stuff for my rising 1st grader. First, I was going to just make a list of books we have to read aloud to him. Then I decided to make a list to match up with DS1's Core E books. I have the list, but just don't have them matched up yet (it should be easy enough to create). And then yesterday, my friend suggests Prairie Primer for him, since he loves the Little House books, and I could totally see him doing well with that type of thing (obviously using it at his level, slowing down as needed, etc.). So I don't know. I'm leaning toward the latter two options now... Going ahead with the library books that coincide with Core E, plus doing Prairie Primer a bit - maybe not all year, but off and on as we feel like it? I dunno.

 

As far as the important subjects go, those are no problem. We have everything picked out for that, as we'll mostly be continuing what we're doing this year, except DS1's math, since he's moving to prealgebra. We will TRY AoPS Prealgebra and see how it goes. If it's a bust due to age/maturity, we'll pick a different program and try AoPS again for Algebra.

[Soror]

Yep, me too, in Math.

[Hunter]

 

And ... and ... and around the internal debate goes.

Anyone else stuck on this merry-go-round?

 

 

I am a mess over comp and grammar. I am drowning in piles of books and cannot narrow it down to what I want to teach from. I last a few days thinking I am ready to commit to something, just to change my mind AGAIN.

 

I think I am confused about what is a hole. I think I'm confusing skipping the frosting, with leaving holes. Standards are SO wide AND expectations SO high, lately. The standards that we THINK we are supposed to be striving for are not realistic for all subjects for all students. It's the wide that is killing us. Few modern speakers and books are helping us CHOOSE. We need some help learning to triage and instead are being erroneously shamed into thinking we can do it all, and that there is something wrong with us if we can't.

 

I'm trying to teach skills that the average college student has not mastered to students functioning at a K-3rd grade level. Most of us here are trying to do that in math especially and other subjects. People are always raving over curricula that teaches what they were never taught. Maybeeee...we are NOT supposed to be teaching those skills to students at such low grades, at least not all of them, all of the time, in all subjects.

 

The past couple days I have been looking at The Dictation Resource Book, The large print lessons in Learning Grammar Through Writing, and just the core lessons in Write On! Maybe that is all I am supposed to be doing. Maybe that is enough. Maybe that is BETTER than FORCING more.

 

It's nice to have extra books around for MY self-education, but I think too often, I'm confusing my own self-education and interests with what should be directly attempted with students.

[ByGrace3]

Yup...commiserating! I finally think I have settled on writing: a WWE/BW combo. The other thing up in the air is spelling for dd-- continue with AAS, R&S, or PZ. Oh the decisions! :lol: thankfully math is the one thing I never have to think about. We are super happy with MM! :)

[PachiSusan]

I have struggled about Math for 2 years about NEXT year. I just can't settle in on the fact that we will have to be doing Saxon. I have always had a visceral reaction to it. Just looking at the books make me hyperventilate.

[Hunter]

I have struggled about Math for 2 years about NEXT year. I just can't settle in on the fact that we will have to be doing Saxon. I have always had a visceral reaction to it. Just looking at the books make me hyperventilate.

 

:grouphug:

 

I know this has been hard on you. I'm just hoping that it all works out better than you think it will, because otherwise you have been so happy with your correspondence school. Fingers crossed!

 

Buy some pretty paper!

[PachiSusan]

:grouphug:

 

I know this has been hard on you. I'm just hoping that it all works out better than you think it will, because otherwise you have been so happy with your correspondence school. Fingers crossed!

 

Buy some pretty paper!

 

LOL - that's GREAT advice actually. Melissa ADORES colored paper and I bet she'd get a kick out of it. Do you know any place that sells colored notebook paper with lines anymore? I used to have hot pink/purple and green paper when I was in high school!

[Koerarmoca]

I'm all over the place in just about every subject for all 4 kids lol.

 

It's not helping that I have no wiggle room in the budget. I'm hoping I can nail down a plan soon.

[Chelli]

LOL - that's GREAT advice actually. Melissa ADORES colored paper and I bet she'd get a kick out of it. Do you know any place that sells colored notebook paper with lines anymore? I used to have hot pink/purple and green paper when I was in high school!

 

 

Totally off topic, but I totally forgot about this! I used to have some of that too until our school cracked down and said white paper only. :crying:

 

Now I'm off to find some for my dds. :leaving:

 

Our school principal is much more understanding of personal preferences for pretty things.

[PachiSusan]

Found some!!!

 

http://www.officedep...ller-Paper-8-x/

 

Wish it was college rule, but for Math this might be a really good option for her!!! Thank you!

 

OOO college ruled too:

http://www.amazon.com/Astrobrights-College-Ruled-Filler-Paper/dp/B007SPT14Q/ref=pd_sbs_op_2

[Guest]

Last year, nothing excited me, so that made it hard. This year, I have just really struggled with WHAT to do; as in I just want to know the *right* answer; don't want to jump around next year like I did this year. I have gone back and forth on math. To use MFW or HOD (or something else). I think I am finally feeling some peace, but not going to spill the beans until I press "order". :D

[mom31257]

I think it is important to pick a math curriculum that you can all live with, then stick with it. More than likely no math curriculum is going to be perfect, but if you stick with one that you know has what you need, you won't have gaps from curriculum hopping.

 

I personally love BJU but only their newest editions. I did some curriculum hopping with some of your choices, but settled on BJU for these reasons.

 

1) Ds enjoyed the colorful pages and the length of the lessons (some teaching from me, then the front and back of one page).

 

2) The CD in the TM is so helpful with extra practice pages, drills, teaching charts, and enrichment activities to make it more challenging and fun.

 

3) They are a reputable company that tries to stay on top of current standards and educational trends, which matters somewhat to me because of standardized testing.

 

4) It is mastery approach, not spiral. Ds really was discouraged with programs like CLE because he didn't want to have to do 20+ problems day after day that he already knew how to do.

 

5) The lessons are manipulative driven which, although ds doesn't always need, sometimes makes the lessons more fun.

 

My plan is to use it through Pre-Algebra and re-evaluate what he needs for high school. He is my math kid who often understands concepts before the curriculum or I have even taught him. I think he will end up in engineering or the sciences.

[mom31257]

I had another thought about the fun part. What about having a math fun day each week? You could vary what you do, math games with dice or cards, playing bank or store, board games that involve a lot of math, etc.

[Ravin]

Yes and yes. We're doing all right with language arts with no formal writing curriculum (just copywork and dictation) and poking along in Spelling Workout and Simply Grammar. Lively Latin we'll be continuing. We're going to do a children and culture oriented history next year with no formal curriculum.

 

For math, we'll be continuing Life of Fred with games and reinforcing activities/supplements, but I'm debating whether to add a more conventional formal curriculum (and if so which one--MUS maybe?) or at least a workbook that will focus on hitting the high points of the common core because she has to endure standardized testing and it would be nice if it wasn't quite so out of synch. The standards make my head hurt trying to make sense of them.

[BlessedMom]

Yes, I am still undecided about a few subjects for the next school year.

[Sahamamama]

I'm struggling with reading/lit too. I can't decide whether to use CLE reading again or not. Rebecca likes it and it only takes half a year. Sylvia doesn't like it, and in third grade, it's still a full year. I also want Rebecca to do a little heavier assigned reading and analysis, but I'm not sure how. I also want to introduce poetry, but again, how?

 

This year for 2nd Grade, we used these poetry guides from Evan-Moor. We plan to use them again next year for 3rd, and possibly beyond. I bought mine as downloads, printed only what I wanted to use, and ProClicked them into a Poetry Book. HTH.

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/p/805/read-and-understand-poetry-grades-2-3

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/p/806/read-and-understand-poetry-grades-3-4

[Sahamamama]

I've been going round and round on read-aloud type stuff for my rising 1st grader. First, I was going to just make a list of books we have to read aloud to him. Then I decided to make a list to match up with DS1's Core E books. I have the list, but just don't have them matched up yet (it should be easy enough to create). And then yesterday, my friend suggests Prairie Primer for him, since he loves the Little House books, and I could totally see him doing well with that type of thing (obviously using it at his level, slowing down as needed, etc.). So I don't know. I'm leaning toward the latter two options now... Going ahead with the library books that coincide with Core E, plus doing Prairie Primer a bit - maybe not all year, but off and on as we feel like it? I dunno.

 

As far as the important subjects go, those are no problem. We have everything picked out for that, as we'll mostly be continuing what we're doing this year, except DS1's math, since he's moving to prealgebra. We will TRY AoPS Prealgebra and see how it goes. If it's a bust due to age/maturity, we'll pick a different program and try AoPS again for Algebra.

 

Hi, Boscopup! I'm going to throw another wrench into it for ya! :) These books are so sweet for First Grade. We plan to use them next year for our 1st grade twins. HTH.

[ByGrace3]

 

 

Hi, Boscopup! I'm going to throw another wrench into it for ya! :) These books are so sweet for First Grade. We plan to use them next year for our 1st grade twins. HTH.

 

 

My dd is a huge Little House fan and has read these several times. She reads the big ones too, but does love these. They are great! I think I may get this set for the year we do the second year of US history.

[Susie in MS]

Yep, I struggle with which unit study to do next. How to organize them and such.

 

Op,

Have you looked at Math Lessons for a Living Education? I am about to start my dd on these. Each week there is a story (involving twins' adventures) and the lessons bounce off of there. There are fun projects too. I wish I had found this sooner for my dd. LOF is working for her, but it is too expensive for us to continue. R&S, SM, ABeka and CLP all bombed for her. I really feel the hands on and story approach will be wonderful.

[elizabeth rose]

I was struggling with the same thing you were, should I leave SM or not. I've decided to jump ship! I ordered Rod and Staff for next year. Apparently math doesn't have to be complicated and tricky to figure out. I just wanted something clear cut and simple. It was hard for me to do this, I have used SM for 12 years with 3 different kids. I feel like I really know the program, and I really know it's strengths and weaknesses. To be honest, it just gets too hard for me to teach past elementary school.

 

I also struggled with science programs for next year. I don't want to do this every year, that's for sure! However, I am sure I will :)

[MrsBanjoClown]

I went around and around on writing for ds8. I finally ordered TWSS, and now I am trying to decide if I need to get a theme book or if I can just work it into our science/history curriculum myself. With a new baby on the way, time is going to be an issue. On the other hand, budget is definitely an issue as dh was laid off a couple of weeks ago and is still looking for a new job. I still need to get the rest of MCT Island for him as well. I'd like to get Beast Academy 3 for him, but we'll see how things go with dh's job search.I have the U.S. edition of SM and the textbook for BA 3A, so I think we will be ok on math even if we can't get BA.

 

I have also been struggling with reading for both boys. They are both good readers for their ages - at least 2 years above grade level. A lot of people have said to just let them read. I just want to make sure they don't miss anything. I do have The Moffats lit. guide from MP and the Alice, Peter, Mole lit. from MCT for ds8. I'm not sure what to do with ds6. He'll only be in 1st grade but is reading at least at a 3rd grade level. I've considered Explode the Code for ds6, but I don't know where to start him. His writing ability is on grade level.

 

Then we have science. We are currently doing BFSU 1. We will finish it during the year next year, and I'm not sure what to do when we finish. We do science every day, and the boys love it! We cover about 1 lesson/week. Sometimes we stretch the lessons out if we need to and take 2-3 weeks. I may just use some of the kits we have to flesh it out over the rest of the year - covering each topic in more detail. I want to wait until ds6 is a little older to start book 2.

[alisoncooks]

I think it is important to pick a math curriculum that you can all live with, then stick with it. More than likely no math curriculum is going to be perfect, but if you stick with one that you know has what you need, you won't have gaps from curriculum hopping.

 

I personally love BJU but only their newest editions. I did some curriculum hopping with some of your choices, but settled on BJU for these reasons.

 

Thanks for sharing! I went ahead and ordered our current year from BJU just so I could do some comparisons. I've never seen it in person...

 

Op,

Have you looked at Math Lessons for a Living Education? I am about to start my dd on these. Each week there is a story (involving twins' adventures) and the lessons bounce off of there. There are fun projects too. I wish I had found this sooner for my dd. LOF is working for her, but it is too expensive for us to continue. R&S, SM, ABeka and CLP all bombed for her. I really feel the hands on and story approach will be wonderful.

 

Thanks -- I've never heard of this. I'll check it out!

[AimeeM]

 

LOL - that's GREAT advice actually. Melissa ADORES colored paper and I bet she'd get a kick out of it. Do you know any place that sells colored notebook paper with lines anymore? I used to have hot pink/purple and green paper when I was in high school!

 

I wanted to ask you about this.

When I last spoke with Seton, I was told that as long as a child does their tests, they can opt out of their materials for said subject - so you could opt out of Saxon if you chose to do so, instead just doing the tests Seton requires.

[PachiSusan]

That is a great idea. I don't know what to choose in replacement though. She's always done Seton math and they don't write their own past 4th grade and truthfully, I have no idea which programs are similar to it.

[Lots of boys]

I can't decide on writing. We have done WWE 1 and 2 and WWW 2. Next year I think I would like to do WWE 3 and IEW but I hate to spend that amount of money if it doesn't work for us - ugh!!!.

 

At least I am happy with Math. We all love MM and will stick with it for the long haul :)

[AimeeM]

That is a great idea. I don't know what to choose in replacement though. She's always done Seton math and they don't write their own past 4th grade and truthfully, I have no idea which programs are similar to it.

 

Have you looked at Horizons?

[PachiSusan]

Have you looked at Horizons?

 

I actually haven't looked at much else since Saxon or MCP were my two choices for next year.

[waa510]

Yes! Spelling, Grammar, and Math will all be needing a next step plan in a few months. Sounds like forever to research but I've been going in circles trying to decide where to go with them! I feel like WWE is missing something, so I may add in MCT and kill my grammar and writing supplement needs with one stone. Dd has been flying thru her math so I'm stressing about that and wondering if spelling should become a more informal branch of vocabulary building as spelling comes naturally to her. I've mainly been feeling like we need to go sideways with a lot of our work. Here's hoping it all works out with a minimal amount of wasted money!!