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Favorite curricula picks for your visual learners


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Math: BJU (again), Singapore, and Math U See (if you use the blocks within the lessons)

 

Science: A Beka (although I'm not crazy about the language in the younger years) CLP, & Noeo

 

Grammar: Winston Grammar

 

Combined Programs: Winter Promise & Heart of Dakota

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Okay, I have two visual-spatial learners and many of the programs mentioned would not work for them because there is too much stuff going on to distract the child or the programs instruct via parts-to-whole, which is opposite of how the brain of a visual learner works. Or, do you mean visually appealing to the eye? My dc could not stomach Abeka products, Horizons Math, or Spelling Workout, but did well with Singapore Math, Sequential Spelling, and unit study type lessons in history & science.

 

Visual-spatial learners usually prefer big picture type programs that use whole to parts to convey concepts. We use some parts-to-whole products as the children enter logic & rhetoric stage. Think big picture then details. Visual learners need to "see" in their minds. With snippets of information, as provided in programs, a visual learner cannot connect the dots no matter how often you review the material. They simply cannot put the pieces together to form that picture or visual movie their brain needs to internalize and comprehend information. Horizon's is too busy & jumps around too much, and would drive a visual--spatial person crazy--BTDT.

 

 

 

  • Pathway Phonics or a program that teaches via word families--visual learners have a hard time with straight phonics--they lack the auditory skills to discern sounds. You can create your own program by looking a head, and locating easy readers to supplement each phonogram. The OOP School Zone readers work well.
  • Sequential Spelling--big hit! Visual learners love patterns & SS teaches via spelling patterns along with phonics.-But don't tell the children.
  • Primary Language Lessons
  • Miquon Math
  • Singapore Math
  • lots of manipulatives
  • Computer games
  • DVDs on grammar, math, science & history
  • Lapbooking
  • timeline books
  • notebooking
  • graphs & charts
  • lots of National Geographic maps
  • Eyewitness books
  • SOTW & activity guide
  • Five-in-a Row
  • forms of art--drawing, painting, sculpting
  • copywork
  • narration
  • information explained in narrative form with lots of descriptive language: mainlesson.org texts from the 19th & early 20th century
  • My World Science
  • Unit Study type programs for any subject

 

~NO workbookish type stuff~

Edited by Carmen_and_Company
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Similar to Carmen, our visual-spatial learner needs to see/touch, but not have *too* much on a page -- and not workbooks as much as possible. What worked here in general: read aloud A LOT; educational videos; field trips; kits/experiments; library books; lots of critical thinking puzzles. Enjoy! Warmest regards, Lori D.

 

 

- math: Miquon; manipulatives and booklets; Math Blasters and other software games; Math-U-See

- reading: great classic books from Sonlight, Ambleside, 1000 Good Book lists -- both me reading aloud to them, and aloud together "popcorn style" ("you read a page, I read a page")

- phonics: Reader Rabbit software series; Explode the Code

- handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears

- grammar: Winston; Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar; Mad Libs; Take Five Minutes: A Grammar Fact a Day for Editing

- spelling: Stevenson Blue Spelling Manual; Megawords; ABCs and All Their Tricks along with techniques from Sequential Spelling & Phonetic Zoo

- writing: Wordsmith Apprentice; Jump In

- vocabulary: in context of reading aloud; English From the Roots Up

- literature: Lightning Literature & Composition; Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings; Garlic Press publishers lit. guides

- science: hands-on; educational videos; field trips; library books

- history: read alouds; historical fiction; educational videos/documentaries; field trips; hands-on activities

- geography: globe; placemats with maps; mark-it maps; Beautiful Feet Geography guide & map pack; http://www.sheppardsoftware.com free online games

- critical thinking: mazes; hidden picture puzzles; word searches; mazes; Puzzlemania puzzle

- logic: Dandylion logic series; Critical Thinking in Patterns, Images, and Logic series; Fallacy Detective

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Unlike other posters we prefer work books. The key for us is that there can't be too many problems and the layout needs to be visually appealing. We like Singapore math and science, lots of picture books, Dick and Jane, homemade copywork and handwriting pages, SOTW with activity guide, Explode the Code, Calvert spelling CD, and Learning Language through Literature.

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The criteria for my VSL is:

 

Clearly visual not distracting

Whole to parts

Short intense lessons

 

For K-3 we used:

 

Phonics--SWR worked the best but she really just learned how to sight read on her own. I did make visuals for the phonograms.

 

Math--Singapore all the way.

 

History--Story of the World with coloring pages/maps for her to color while I read.

 

Science--Singapore My Pals are Here

 

After she learned to read we started Latin an composition:

 

Latin--Lively Latin

 

Composition--Classical Writing Aesops

 

Lapbooks--these are a hit and she looks at them again and again.

 

I've found that with my VSL that we do need very visual curriculum but not cluttered. A lot of the "living books" curriculum out there that use Usborne books really didn't work. Usborne books are very cluttered.

 

I also found that she needed short lessons or I would lose her attention so rather than have a lot of different curriculum we went with the LCC method. And have been using these techniques:

 

grammar is taught through Latin

 

CW is spread over two weeks doing analysis one week and writing the next

 

spelling is taught through compositon using a dictionary

 

she chooses the topics for the lapbooks and we spread them out over 2 weeks so we do 1-3 booklets a day

 

Lively Latin lessons are spread out over a month and I made her a reference lapbook so she has all her information in one place

 

She reads graphic novels and enjoys reading

 

Hope this helps.:001_smile:

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After only (ha!) 4 years of homeschooling my daughter, I have finally figured out that she is a global thinker, whole to parts, whereas I am a very sequential thinker, parts to whole. So I've been really re-thinking our curriculum lately. She LOVES Story of the World and Beyond Five in a Row, and we've always had success with RightStart for Math. Now I am wondering, is there a Latin program that is good for a visual learner and global thinker? We're using Latin Prep, and it seems really hard for her. So I've asked her about trying another program and she says no, much to my surprise! She really seems to enjoy the sense of accomplishment she gets from doing the lessons, but they are tough for her. So we are chugging along (very slowly!) through it. Do you think there is a better program out there for her, or should we just see it through?

 

Hmmm . . . am I hijacking the thread? Should I start a new one?

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We're using Lively Latin with our VSL 9 yo son with good results!

 

Lively Latin is working well here too, so is Right Start, Unit Study based History, Apologia and God's Design sciences, AAS for spelling and phonics reinforcement, Junior Analytical Grammar/Analytical Grammar for grammar and Classical Writing for Writing.

 

Heather

 

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