Guest UKMOM Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Hello, May i introduce myself I am Uk mother who previously homeschooled DD1 and Ds2 until 2012. I had home schooled from 1995 my Ds1. . So precomputer, library card, encyclopedias etc routine. Ds2 then 13 and DD1 then 11 wanted to try school. So they enrolled in smallish local middle school for 11-16 year olds. They went had a great time ,socially but now ,because of financial constraints The local education authorities are merging their school and another at Easter. Orginally this was to be in September, but to save money, and other school has been condemmed by eduction authorities they are pushing ahead with a merger . That is why Iam looking for some input or direction. I have spent most January trying find their level in Mathematics, English (language arts) and Science I have found the following problems 1. Overuse of calculators left them struggling in mental maths for answers they have become totallly calculator dependent. 2. Long division and multiplication non existant, large addition ,subtraction sloppy with silly mistakes. 3 What I consider basic area,geometry,money. measurements, very poor. 4 Handwriting yikes less said , it turns out hardly even wrote by hand all computer input . 5 Spelling just as bad if computer did not have spell checker. 6 Seem they both have mental block for most grammar ,struggling . 7 From writing decently they are struggling to produce paragraph on just on one topic. So writing 5-paragraph essay would be like rowing across Alantic ocean 8 Basic like understanding water cycle , understanding forces, classification system etc just gone. 9 Reluctance in using books to find answers like dictionary ,or general reference books. They are good children with good hearts but they ,need solid plan follow 'even when I am busy with Ds3. I sent them to school, the teachers thought they were well prepared and well grounded . What happened ? It seems they spent a lot time filling in worksheets or role play ( teacher off sick a lot). Yet they both had good reports. If I go , back to basics could I use something similar to 'E,D Hirsch What your grader needs to know as guide'; Having looked also at Spectrum mathematics workbooks, and language arts . I have started wonder could work up grades with something similar arrangement. I have seen Currclick have 'Mark Twain Media' science workbooks seemed good guide if took individual topics science. My Dd seems to have lost more than my Ds2. I am a stay home mom but also have Ds3 who is 6 ,who is homeschooled .That takes lot time as he has speech issues. I am looking for straightforward sequence in mathematics., science and language arts so they can rebuild their knowledge . Spelling and handwriting they will need go back to basics . Mark Twain Media science workbooks seemed good guide if I,took individual topics science. I do need things with answer guides, I still have some resources but they are geared if they had not foregotten so much. It seems we have to go backwards to go forwards . Is it feasible ? Many thanks in advance for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfmommy Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The Great Source company has a good series of Math books. They cover all the topics with good explanations but no practice problems. Math on Call is the middle school level. They also have a science series but I have not actually seen these. They are more colorful than Core Knowledge and so may be more interesting. You might also look at Math Clues on Currclick. It reviews elementary math with problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Are you looking primarily at inexpensive workbooks that can be easily downloaded? Or are you looking for things that you think can be used at an accelerated pace? For science I like Evan Moor Daily Science better than Mark Twain, but I'm thinking your students would be offended if they saw it. You might get away with discussing it with them, though. Unfortunately the Mr. Q sale ended a couple days ago, as that might have been an option for you. Have the children learned cursive, or were you doing manuscript with them? If you taught them cursive, was it slanted or vertical? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UKMOM Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thank you Hunter, and Smfmummy for taking the time to reply. I have seen ' Math Clues' looked like I could use. The idea' Math on Call' with explanations looks to be good idea. Hunter downloads would be quicker for us to get up and running, so workbooks could cover first couple weeks at least . While I attempt to get other supplies. I think something similar to Mr Q in specific sciences would more use . Instead of just general science ,specfically Biology (Life Science) , Physics (Physical science) and Chemistry . I taught my children to write in Italic drather than Copperplate as the writing was quicker for them to produce clear legible handwriting. Some thing akind to italic is taught in public schools in U.K. Here in the U.K we have curriculum for all subjects, but from what I, have seen . This is taught I , find in totally unlogical sequence for Math, Language Arts, and Science with shallow knowledge not building on previous information or skills. I know a couple teachers in prviate schools allthough they feel have more freedom . They have found many cases teaching the same curriculum with extras added on. This is probaby why Galore Park took off as it, did very logical sequence building previous skills unlike majority material available in U.k . If cannot access downloads/textbooks I can make use of . The next best thing would be ,to have list of skills to achieve in these three subjects . The list probaby be between grade 3-8. I know there would be sub division within three subjects . Language arts, when I was in school English was divided into compostion,spelling ,reading and some grammar . They do teach more grammar now in U.k .I ended up by been taught by my Mom ,who had been taught in 1920's t01930's . Any suggestions would be welcome,as will not be first time I have cobbled together curriculum. Many thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The only problem with downloads of the NEW Core Knowledge eBooks is that the series is not finished. So if you are wanting to use it for a complete overview, you will be missing some topics. Most of the missing content is in the OLD 1990s 6th grade book, though, which you could take your time ordering in a hardcopy version. The OLD grade 6 is more advanced than the NEW grade 6, and contains most of the content listed in the NEW grade 7 scope and sequence of which there is no book. Are you typing on a phone, or is English your second language? Do I need to write in shorter sentences and limited vocabulary, to make it easier for you to understand me? Are you wanting to teach Italic manuscript or Italic cursive? Math Mammoth is still on sale, till January 31st, 24% off. You might like the Blue (topical) series, to further supplement Spectrum Math. The Blue series is ungraded and a bit cheaper than the graded light blue series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 If you like Galore Park, why not pick up their texts? You wouldn't have to worry about spelling/minor language usage differences and ought to be able to transition to GCSE fairly well afterwards if you completed their sequence. And since they're UK-based they'd probably arrive very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UKMOM Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Hunter, Thanks again for replying again. I own the following books. What Your First Grader Needs To Know (1991), What Your 2nd Grade Needs To Know. (1991),What Your 3rd Grader Needs To Know (1992), What Your 4th Grader Needs To Know (1992), What Your 5 th Grader Needs To Know (1993) and What Your 6th Grader Needs To Know (1993). I have only dipped into them and used them for reading aloud. English is my first language . I am ,tryinging to type with my left hand. My right is in plaster.Whilespeaking to my husband in Welsh. This does not always translate back into English very well. So when write in English ,my brain is still working in Welsh. My children's mother tongue is English . I am , looking to do review between roughly 3/4th grade to 8th grade. I, want to try ensure I do not miss out anything. . Math Mammoth along with Spectrum should cover the maths. I did think sale was only for homeschool coops. Thank telling about sale. . Finally I have always been involved with caligraphy ,so taught children basic Italic style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Okay, if you already have the full old series, GO FOR IT. Seriously, the old series 1-6 is a COMPLETE overview of K-8. You can supplement topics with library books, if need be, but it's an awesome checklist for you, and often enough in itself for many topics. Okay, good about the English. I can just write they way I normally write. If need be, I can write in a way that people who struggle with English can read easily. My normal way of writing doesn't work well in Google translator. Too much complex punctuation. So, are you all set with handwriting, or do you need suggestions of basic Italic workbooks? There was a sale for MM bundles at the co-op thingy, but all of MM is for sale at the Kagi website. I'm glad you found it. For writing, when you need downloads for older students I like Write On! by Karen Newell and Spectrum Writing and Spectrum LA. Here is the link to the free Write On Teacher Manual, and a couple good lessons. Direct links to pdfs http://www.kid-friendly-homeschool-curriculum.com/support-files/writeoninstructorsguide.pdf http://web.archive.org/web/20130122070655/http://www.kid-friendly-homeschool-curriculum.com/support-files/writeon37.pdf Links to webpages http://web.archive.org/web/20100209045138/http://www.kid-friendly-homeschool-curriculum.com/Homeschool-writing-contest.html http://www.kid-friendly-homeschool-curriculum.com/Write-On.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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