Memoria Press - opinions, thoughts, anything to share?

[abrightmom]

As I am piecing together the next school year I keep returning to MP's site. I always drool over the catalog and I love their clean schedule grid that accompanies their full grade level packages. I don't want to use any full packages but I am looking at everything. I am most interested in their literature, Classical studies, Christian studies, and geography. If you've used any of these products in the past year I'd appreciate hearing the positives and negatives. I am also considering their Grammar/Comp. for 3rd grade that is tied to the literature in lieu of using WWE (although WWE is so very easy to get done....).

 

I am tenatively planning to use MFW's RTR with my crew and that makes the 5th grade lit. selections spot on for my rising 5th grader. I am also interested in the Famous Men series for him as it looks like I can schedule it once a week and he'd dig a little deeper than his younger siblings.

 

Thanks. :)

[sueh16]

I liked the third grade composition. They modeled it after WWE, but MP uses the same books as they use in their lit. program. Their grammar program is good, too, but it presumes that kids are also learning Latin grammar and that too much English grammar would be overkill. I also like the lit guides, but I don't always have my dd do every single assignment because that would take forever.

[laughing lioness]

I am most interested in their literature, Classical studies, Christian studies, and geography. If you've used any of these products in the past year I'd appreciate hearing the positives and negatives. I am also considering their Grammar/Comp. for 3rd grade that is tied to the literature in lieu of using WWE (although WWE is so very easy to get done....).

 

I am tenatively planning to use MFW's RTR with my crew and that makes the 5th grade lit. selections spot on for my rising 5th grader. I am also interested in the Famous Men series for him as it looks like I can schedule it once a week and he'd dig a little deeper than his younger siblings.

 

Thanks. :)

I have used and love MP for years Christian Studies is a great non-doctrinally oriented overview of the Bible, which includes maps and memory work. I sent a copy of CS I to oldest dd who is working with kids in a church as they have no Christian training. My kids have had a lot and still learn a ton from it. Classical Studies are a must have- fun. And we did geography this year- totally wonderful! We are doing the 2nd book this coming year! We are reading the Famous Men series out loud this year - we are on Medieval Ages. Dd10 is also listening to SOTW in her free time- and ds 18 listens in- They are one of the few catalogs I get and order out of anymore.

 

I liked the third grade composition. They modeled it after WWE, but MP uses the same books as they use in their lit. program. Their grammar program is good, too, but it presumes that kids are also learning Latin grammar and that too much English grammar would be overkill. I also like the lit guides, but I don't always have my dd do every single assignment because that would take forever.

dd10 is doing LC along with FLL IV. We switched form R & S, which she did NOT like. She is loving FLL lessons because I sit and do the whole thing with her- it is full of repetition and games. She is digging how connected it all is and cruising through LC I (she is also doing RS German). She loves Leigh Lowe !!

I'm not a lit guide lover- I do use MP's for stuff that is harder for me, like Trojan War, and ds 18 used Divine Comedy, too. I have a couple for sale if you are interested-- pm me :001_smile:

[laughing lioness]

I am most interested in their literature, Classical studies, Christian studies, and geography. If you've used any of these products in the past year I'd appreciate hearing the positives and negatives. I am also considering their Grammar/Comp. for 3rd grade that is tied to the literature in lieu of using WWE (although WWE is so very easy to get done....).

 

I am tenatively planning to use MFW's RTR with my crew and that makes the 5th grade lit. selections spot on for my rising 5th grader. I am also interested in the Famous Men series for him as it looks like I can schedule it once a week and he'd dig a little deeper than his younger siblings.

 

Thanks. :)

I have used and love MP for years Christian Studies is a great non-doctrinally oriented overview of the Bible, which includes maps and memory work. I sent a copy of CS I to oldest dd who is working with kids in a church as they have no Christian training. My kids have had a lot and still learn a ton from it. Classical Studies are a must have- fun. And we did geography this year- totally wonderful! We are doing the 2nd book this coming year! We are reading the Famous Men series out loud this year - we are on Medieval Ages. Dd10 is also listening to SOTW in her free time- and ds 18 listens in- They are one of the few catalogs I get and order out of anymore.

 

I liked the third grade composition. They modeled it after WWE, but MP uses the same books as they use in their lit. program. Their grammar program is good, too, but it presumes that kids are also learning Latin grammar and that too much English grammar would be overkill. I also like the lit guides, but I don't always have my dd do every single assignment because that would take forever.

dd10 is doing LC along with FLL IV. We switched form R & S, which she did NOT like. She is loving FLL lessons because I sit and do the whole thing with her- it is full of repetition and games. She is digging how connected it all is and cruising through LC I (she is also doing RS German). She loves Leigh Lowe !!

I'm not a lit guide lover- I do use MP's for stuff that is harder for me, like Trojan War, and ds 18 used Divine Comedy, too. I have a couple for sale if you are interested-- pm me :001_smile:

[laughing lioness]

egads.double post

[VeritasMama]

We used MP for 2nd grade and I just ordered the 3rd grade materials to look them over. I love the look of the composition and how it ties in with the literature guides. We are also going to use the astronomy and the D'aulaires Greek myths set. The grammar is a bit light, but as pp mentioned grammar is covered in the Latin. Their Christian Studies program is basically a Bible history course, which was perfect for us. They have also started offering SOTW with their packages, and we are going to use SOTW as a supplement to Christian Studies.

 

We use SM instead of RS math, and we also use a different spelling program. I appreciate the fact that they have recitation included in their lesson plans as well as read alouds. I combine with some other curriculum, so I don't use all their enrichment subjects such as geography, but I think that they are solid.

 

HTH!

[Clear Creek]

As I am piecing together the next school year I keep returning to MP's site. I always drool over the catalog and I love their clean schedule grid that accompanies their full grade level packages. I don't want to use any full packages but I am looking at everything. I am most interested in their literature, Classical studies, Christian studies, and geography. If you've used any of these products in the past year I'd appreciate hearing the positives and negatives. I am also considering their Grammar/Comp. for 3rd grade that is tied to the literature in lieu of using WWE (although WWE is so very easy to get done....).

 

I am tenatively planning to use MFW's RTR with my crew and that makes the 5th grade lit. selections spot on for my rising 5th grader. I am also interested in the Famous Men series for him as it looks like I can schedule it once a week and he'd dig a little deeper than his younger siblings.

 

Thanks. :)

 

I used their Lit for 3rd and 5th grades this year, and both of my girls really enjoyed the books and the discussions. My 5th grader didn't have any trouble with reading comprehension when we began this year, but the higher reading level and the discussions really challenged her and make her think. My daughters did Christian Studies I together this year, and we are planning on using CS II next year. We are enjoying going through the Bible from beginning to end, and it really is just a Bible course...we can discuss our own doctrine and beliefs during the lesson without any editing of what the workbook says. The States & Capitals course is not going well; I don't think my daughters have learned a thing. But that might just be my daughters. :tongue_smilie: My 5th grader did both FMoR and FMoMA this year (she did two lessons per week instead of one) and she found the books interesting and the material stuck. If she hears a name or structure that was mentioned in the books she can rattle off some interesting facts about it. I don't think I am going to be continuing with FMoG as is planned for sixth grade in the MP catalogue, though...I don't think that one day per week is enough for 6th grade, and my daughter has been complaining this spring that the readings are shorter than she would like. I am most likely going to use Kfamily's guides for Book of the Ancient Greeks by Dorothy Mills. We didn't use MP's 3rd grade writing...I don't think it was out yet when I ordered last spring.

[sleeplessnights]

Last year (calendar year 2012) my oldest used MP's 3rd grade package. He is now about 12 weeks into their 4th grade curriculum. We used their Christian Studies orally as a family, and he did Latina Christiana, States & Capitals, Greek Myths, and Astronomy individually. This year he is using First Form, Geography I, Famous Men of Rome, and Insects individually. We don't use their lit guides right now; I just let my kids read and discuss.

 

MP's products have worked very well for us, and I intend to have my kids work through their programs at their own individual levels. The products we have used have all been spot-on for ability level, and focus on memorizing the facts and stories studied. My son memorizes the vocabulary in the Classical Studies books (Greek Myths, FMR), and does his WWE narration/dictation from these selections too. It has helped to streamline our day and really helps him learn the material.

 

I was a little wary of the elementary science courses, but we have been surprisingly pleased. Last year in Astronomy, the majority of the year (3/4) focused on learning the constellations. The lessons incorporated a lot of the Greek myths that we were learning, and my son liked the dot-to-dot look of the workbook. Now when he looks at the night sky he can quickly pick out some of the most prominent constellations. This year in insects, the Charlotte Mason-esque reader talks about observing certain insects in everyday life and notes observations about the characteristics of the different types of insects. The workbook first teaches about classification and metamorphosis, and then each following lesson includes sketching the insects that are being studied, noting differences. My son loves carrying his insect reference book when we're out and checking out what we find! We definitely plan to continue their sequence next year.

[abrightmom]

Thanks to you all for sharing your reviews. I am so happy to hear that they're mostly positive ;).

 

Could you all speak to the teacher time vs independent time for each guide or subject?

[fourisenough]

Listening in... As we have finished most of our curriculum for this year (as listed in my signature), we're moving on. Two things 'on deck' for us are MP States & Capitals and MP 4th grade Literature. We'll begin with Heidi and States & Capitals next week.

 

I love the look of the grammar and composition programs and I adore that they tie into their literature program. Were I not such a FLL/WWE fan, I would use them with DD4 when the time comes (who knows, I still may).

[TheAutumnOak]

I am planning to use a lot of Memoria Press stuff next year, but I do have my reservations about the complete packages...I think they are fine when children are younger, but when you get to the middle grades, it is more like I would want my high school to look like...For example, I plan to read "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" in high school, not 7th grade...Actually, much of it can be done later than they schedule it, and that is the problem I have with using the packages...I am piecing together my own plan, and using the items I can from them in the years I need them...Overall, I like the books...I just plan to do the literature as discussions rather than a workbook I hand to them to do alone...The workbook aspect of it does not excite me, but the discussion questions, vocabulary, and other parts of the teacher's books do...

 

I am still trying to work out a plan I love and can stick too...I am also curious about others thoughts on this topic...

[Mama2two]

We are using most of third grade and plan to use a lot of 4th grade next year. We are a year behind in Latin and use different spelling and math. Next yaer we will use a different science.

 

Everything we have used has been wonderful. We have already studied insects in detail, hence the different science next year. Our current math and spelling work for us and is why I didn't switch, although I was tempted for spelling.

 

I love the recitation that comes with the plans and that there is so much built in memory work.

 

Their customer service is outstanding. I am really impressed with their responsiveness on their forums.

 

For us much of third grade was teacher time, but I still have them read to me and we enjoy doing history/science together

 

I think if you had a strong writer/reader you could have more independent time with the guides. I do anticipate much more independent work next year, and they have progressively done more this year. However, with this curriculum they were not ready for a lot of independent work at the beginning of the year. And I think that is the way the curriculum is intended.

[kathy_overman]

I love their products. They are interesting, easy to implement and academically challenging (for our boys).

 

We have used the Bird Study, Greek Myths, and several Lit Guides. My boys enjoy the books, but the writing is a lot of work for them. I like to push them with the writing, but it can be hard for them to complete some days.

 

I hope to order more MP books for next year.

[Clear Creek]

Thanks to you all for sharing your reviews. I am so happy to hear that they're mostly positive ;).

 

Could you all speak to the teacher time vs independent time for each guide or subject?

 

That depends more on age and maturity than the content of the guide...my 5th grader can complete her reading, workbook questions, timeline work, etc. on her own before we sit down together and discuss what she read, and the discussions can be as short or as long as we would like (usually about 15 min. per subject). My 3rd grader still needs me to sit next to her and we take turns reading the selection and then I walk her through the workbook questions...some of them she just answers aloud, others she answers aloud and then we work together on forming a complete sentence answer which she then writes down in the workbook. She doesn't write down the answers to everything in any of her subjects (MP recommends doing it this way up until sometime in 4th grade).

[2_girls_mommy]

Interesting responses. I have used this year from MP: First Form Latin, Prima Latina, the 5th grade science (Bird Study and History of Medicine) and Christian Studies I. I would have used the Insect study along w/the Bird Study this year. The only reason I didn't was that our co-op was using something different, but covering the same materials for my 3rd grader, so I let her join that class instead. I think I would have liked MP better.

 

The only one on your list is Christian Studies. We have liked it, but we don't use the workbooks much. Instead we started a Bible notebook (just a blank comp book) We do the readings together, either me reading aloud or we take turns. Then I use the questions from the guide as discussion, much like SOTW. Then we do memorywork time and I have them do something in the notebook. If I think they need to memorize the definitions I may have them copy them from the student book. Sometimes I have them take some copywork or we do a geneological tree of the people we are learning about or something. I like the quick study questions for memorization in the book. And I do have them do the review worksheets before the test. I just don't like all of the workbook answering so many written questions. They do enough writing in other subjects, but that is easily solved.

 

I didn't realize they suggested doing it together mostly orally until 4th grade, like a PP said. I always thought their stuff was way too much writing for my 3rd grader. That makes me like MP even more.

 

In the past we have read through FMoR, but I haven't tried the workbook w/it. I used it alongside LCI as a history supplement to SOTW that year.

 

Next year we plan on using from MP: 3rd grade Astronomy study (for 4th and 6th grader,) Latina Christiana I, Second Form Latin, and Christian Studies II. I will probably use their States and Capitals the next time we hit modern era. I use a lot of MP, fitting it into a WTM schedule, so I can't use their full packages even though I love a lot of their stuff.