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s/o Slower paced curricula


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Hunter mentioned in my "math that's behind" thread, that there needs to be more curricula aimed at students who are working at a slower pace (academically average/low-average or just late bloomers). I couldn't agree more.

 

So... can we make a list of what's already out there?

 

Most of the stuff we're planning to use this fall is slower paced: MCP Phonics, Oak Meadow, Teaching Textbooks.....

 

What other programs could be on this list?

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Mcruffy math is available from k-5 and it has to be the most gentle math. There are no test and no stress. It increses in difficulty very slowly. It jumps around alot and people seem to be annoyed by that. Mcruffy doesn't expect you to master then move on. You just work on the same things throughout the year and by the end of the year you have mastered it. Check out samples at Mcruffy.com.

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Thanks for starting this thread. :)

 

My 11yo works anywhere from 1-3 years below grade level. Sometimes she'll point out a grade level number on the cover of a book but for the most part it doesn't seem to bother her. We keep plodding along.

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Many unit studies can be used in a relaxed way or at a slower pace. Things like KONOS and FIAR and Beyond FIAR leap to mind. (FWIW, They can also be ramped up, topic studied in depth, for use by an accelerated or driven child if you have one of each.)

 

MUS is math that can certainly be more relaxed or used at a slower pace. School Specialty Publishing: The Complete Book of Algebra and Geometry is a good pre-algebra book. Evan Moor Daily Math

 

LLATL is a more relaxed full language arts. Queens Homeschool offers relaxed language arts materials. I like MCP phonics in place of a spelling program. I know my son can memorize lists, so I prefer just to use a phonics program. Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing

 

If you wanted a more crafty relaxed science, Great Science Adventures, would fit. School Specialty Publishing: The Complete Book of Animals would be good for a child interested in animals. Steck Vaughn Focus on Science for elementary and Wonders of Science Series for middle school would be a good workbook style curriculum. Science Daybook is another. (we used science daybook grade 5 this year.) Power Basics Science for junior high or lower level high school. Evan Moor Science

 

Social Studies/ History/ Geography- School Specialty Publishing produces a couple of books:The Complete Book of United States History, The Complete Book of Maps and Geography. Steck Vaughn puts out several books by Vivian Berstein that are full color and would work for a relaxed middle school or low high school. Walch Power Basics has a nice world history series that is a step up from Story of the World and could be used for relaxed middle school or low high school.

 

Every subject doesn't always need to be the most rigorous, over the top product you can find. That is a good road to burn out.

Mandy

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My 5th grader is using some materials "below grade level" (except they aren't truly graded).

 

Mr. Q science - very slow paced a week per "chapter" (concept). Easy to supplement with other reading or activities.

Complete Book of US History - written at about a 4th grade level, not super deep but plenty. Book says grades 3-5.

Story of the World - plan to use this 6th-8th grade with supplemental reading to beef it up as needed. Honestly, this is way more history than most kids learn so I don't feel it is behind.

I think GWG and WWW are both fine for normal-to-struggling students.

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We found SOTW late, and I am glad we did. It has been a better fit for my older son than my younger one, understanding and interest-wise. We started at grades 5 and 2, respectively, and my older son is advanced in his comprehension. But he has followed and retained much more from SOTW than my younger son without being bored or feeling that he was being "talked-down" to, which he despises. Because he didn't have to work so hard to follow it, he was freer to enjoy the material and mentally play with it more.

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I see you already have Oak Meadow as that was my first thought. Queen's Language Lessons (Language Lessons for Little Ones, LL for the Very Young, LL for the elementary child...etc.) are definitely a much slower, gentler pace. I would say All About Reading in that you can slow it down and the pace and hands-on nature works well whether your child is needing to accelerate or go at a slower pace.

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I really like the instructions in the first edition of TWTM for using Eyewitness science books. Instead of using them for grades 7-8, they can be substituted for the Wiley texts suggested for high school. Magazines and modern books can be substituted for the high school Great Books science, .

 

Most of the entire first edition TWTM that is based on trade books, can often be adapted one stage lower than it was designed for. Grammar stage used for Logic stage, and logic stage used for rhetoric stage, with just some carefully chosen parts from the higher level.

 

Arithmetic Made Simple can be used as cheap substitute for MOTL.

 

Write On! by Karen Newell is ungraded.

 

I wish there were more graded books that were geared towards slower development. Ungraded can be nice, but graded materials can be convenient.

 

Older editions of remedial junior college texts are dirt cheap at Amazon. Often you can find the TMs for these older editions.

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I know this may sound surprising, but I do think MEP can work really well with students who are "average" or behind, because it is so methodical, and there are introductions that are just that -- things are introduced, and the kid doesn't need to get it right away.

 

I also thought Reading Reflex was simple and direct, and by having the child use little cards to MAKE the words, there is none of the potential for guessing as there is if the child is reading.

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