Jump to content

Menu

Do I need the Teacher's Manual for MCT, IEW, W&R?


MomN
 Share

Recommended Posts

I'd much rather NOT buy teacher manuals if I don't have to.  Can anyone tell me if I need them for these curriculum choices:

-MCT The Island Level (I definitely cannot afford both editions! Which edition is better?)

-IEW theme books like Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales (I do own TWSS)

-Writing and Rhetoric Book 1: Fables

I've never taught with any of these curriculums before and won't be buying all of them.  Just trying to compare prices and such.  Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can partially answer this one.  I've done both MCT and IEW. 

For MCT, I found it easiest to purchase the teacher editions, which contain all the material from the student editions plus some.  If I was reading a section to the kids, I'd just cover up any answers with my hand or a sticky note.  Anything they'd write in the book we simply worked on the whiteboard or on notebook paper.  (I actually bought these used and got a student and a teacher book, but I never used the student books at all.)

I used a couple different IEW theme books and only bought student editions.  What you choose to use may depend on your comfort level with the material, but if you already own TWSS, you are probably familiar enough with the style/material that you will understand what's being asked of the student.  Perhaps look at the student book samples online and see if you understand how to use them without additional instructions, and look at the sample from the teacher book to see if it seems to add anything necessary.  You can find pretty good deals on the clearance section of their site.

I've not used W&R, so someone else will have to chip in their two cents on that one.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used MCT Island Level (except Practice Island)

1 minute ago, eternallytired said:

For MCT, I found it easiest to purchase the teacher editions, which contain all the material from the student editions plus some.  If I was reading a section to the kids, I'd just cover up any answers with my hand or a sticky note.  Anything they'd write in the book we simply worked on the whiteboard or on notebook paper.  (I actually bought these used and got a student and a teacher book, but I never used the student books at all.)

Same. I only bought the teacher's manual and covered up the answers.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know, for Fable I'd recommend just buying the teacher book and not the student one.  We're doing it at the moment and are finding that a lot of it is done orally.  The kids spend longer playing with sentences if they know they don't have to write it down, and there are some lovely gentle copia exercises that are worth the time but don't really need to be written down.  Once or twice a week they actually pick up pen and paper to write a summary or elaboration of a fable, but the student book just provides blank lines for that and we have been using lined paper.  I wish I hadn't spent the money on a book for each kid.  The teacher manual is not strictly necessary - you could get by with just a student book - but the teacher book does have suggested answers, and on mornings when the chaos levels are higher than usual at my house I appreciate not having to think so hard myself 🙂

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, caffeineandbooks said:

You know, for Fable I'd recommend just buying the teacher book and not the student one.  We're doing it at the moment and are finding that a lot of it is done orally.  The kids spend longer playing with sentences if they know they don't have to write it down, and there are some lovely gentle copia exercises that are worth the time but don't really need to be written down.  Once or twice a week they actually pick up pen and paper to write a summary or elaboration of a fable, but the student book just provides blank lines for that and we have been using lined paper.  I wish I hadn't spent the money on a book for each kid.  The teacher manual is not strictly necessary - you could get by with just a student book - but the teacher book does have suggested answers, and on mornings when the chaos levels are higher than usual at my house I appreciate not having to think so hard myself 🙂

I second the suggestion to buy the teacher's book for Fable and use a notebook for your child's written work. I wish I hadn't purchased both the teacher and student books for Fable. I'd add that the teacher's book, in addition to having sample answers, provides the passages for dictation. You wouldn't have those with the student book alone. 

As an aside (in case anyone else would find this helpful) my older kids are using Commonplace, and in that case you could get by with just the student book but not just the teacher's guide. Each student needs his own books too, because by that point they're editing passages in the workbook. (Basically, what applies to Fable may not apply in subsequent W&R books)

Edited by Hillcottagemom
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use MCT teacher’s manuals only. Got them used. I did buy the new teacher’s manual for practice town and just write the sentence separately and draw 4 lines under it. Works for us. 
 

I also used teacher’s manual only for W&R. It has extra hand holding that makes it really easy. My kid did any written work on separate paper. I just read it to him as he sat across from me. Multiple choice questions, I read aloud and he chose verbally. Any crossing out material to shorten the fable was done verbally. I have a love for doing the work verbally though and he never had that book in his hands. 
 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/20/2021 at 4:42 PM, MomN said:

MCT The Island Level (I definitely cannot afford both editions! Which edition is better?)

Just get the TMs for everything and then also get a student version of the practice book (so you have a TM with answers and a blank student version).

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/20/2021 at 7:23 PM, caffeineandbooks said:

You know, for Fable I'd recommend just buying the teacher book and not the student one.  We're doing it at the moment and are finding that a lot of it is done orally.  The kids spend longer playing with sentences if they know they don't have to write it down, and there are some lovely gentle copia exercises that are worth the time but don't really need to be written down.  Once or twice a week they actually pick up pen and paper to write a summary or elaboration of a fable, but the student book just provides blank lines for that and we have been using lined paper.  I wish I hadn't spent the money on a book for each kid.  The teacher manual is not strictly necessary - you could get by with just a student book - but the teacher book does have suggested answers, and on mornings when the chaos levels are higher than usual at my house I appreciate not having to think so hard myself 🙂

I really, really like this idea of not making them write out everything!  Thank you for suggesting it.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, MomN said:

Any advice for finding MCT stuff used?  I've never seen anything of theirs used and it's so expensive new!

I got mine used on the Classifieds here.  You can also keep an eye on HomeschoolClassifieds.com or your local FB homeschool group, though I've had less success with MCT (and any other other less mainstream programs) on there.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, MomN said:

Any advice for finding MCT stuff used?  I've never seen anything of theirs used and it's so expensive new!

I just typed the name of the book and added used. Ebay, thriftbook, abe books, all have been helpful to get the books used. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...