Okay so we have been using Hooked on Phonics. I have felt like dd is doing well. Now all of a sudden she hates it. Not quite sure why. Plus after searching long and hard for my curriculum for the year I've discovered that there are a few things that I'd like her to be learning that she really isn't. We used HOP b/c it was given to us. The whole entire set, brand new, free!! So does any one have a good suggestion of phonics?? Also do any of you use Math U See? My sil who is a ps teacher told me about it and I checked it out online. I wasn't really clear on the concept. And one final question. I try hard but I'm not very "crafty" on my own. Any good arts/crafts book suggestions?? Thanks so much.
We are using Rod and Staff this year for phonics. My ds is in 1st grade also. So far we love it. The first unit is mostly just review for him, so we're going through it pretty fast. We'll see once we get to actually learning new stuff, but I think it's going to work great. We started Math U See last year after finishing our A.C.E PACE'S. The MUS really helped him with addition, that's all we've covered so far. He can now give me the answer as fast as I give the problems. I'm not very crafty either, so I don't have any suggestions for you there. I bought a big book of crafts and wal-mart last year and we'll occasionally pick something to do out of it. Mostly I just provide lot's of supplies and let them do there own thing. Hope that helps, Lisa
We're using Horizons for phonics and we like it- started beginning of July. It's a little advanced though and the readers can be intimidating but it even says at the beginning of the readers that students shouldn't be expected to read them on their own till lesson 40. I looked at Rod & Staff and liked it, but I knew dd wouldn't. Horizons was more at the level she was at and is working well. Math is one of those things you have to look at yourself. We're using Singapore and Miquon.
We use explode the code for phonics. . .but that's just phonics. We actually use Sonlight curriculum for hte most part and are very happy with it. As for math we use Saxon. I love it. Others hate it. You just have to figure out how you're comfortable teaching. As far as arts and crafts go I have a few suggestions: First of all, my children's art teachers always praise them lots bc of their ability to think outside the box and be creative. They take real art classes and not crafts. I attribute this to my lack of craftiness. LOL What I did/do is allow them moderately free exploration with various media. I may give them an assignment/theme or I may just pull out the water paints. But I think a lack of strict structure in this area and not being made to produce crafts that look like the picture has had a really positive influence on their ability to produce art. Not that there's anything wrong with crafts. . . We use www.met.org and go to their children's section. This is the website for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They have some activities where they give brief history and then give an assignment. It's free and I really hate teaching art absent of the knowledge of history and/or great masters. That's just me--but it is worth checking out. And if I really get a crafty urge. . .I visit www.familyfun.com. I LOVE family fun magazine--highly recommend it.
Mus You can order a dvd from their website that will walk you through the program. It's a great visual to take in before you purchase. Michelle
Not really crafty, per se, but this book is excellent. It is our art curriculum right now: Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Kids in the Styles of the Great Masters by Mary Kohl We go to the library and check out books to see paintings from that artist, learn about his life and then try it out with the wonderful ideas she has in her book. I highly recommend it!
