First Year Homeschooling, Need good math and english curriculum recommendations

This is my first year homeschooling My boys of ages 10 and 14. I have currently been using the ACE paces. My 14 year old has gotten very frustrated this year because he feels the math and english is not explained well enough for him to understand and grasp it. Math was always his strength in public school. He was a straight A student, but he did require a lot of questions answered in depth. English has always been his weakness. He has been doing 7th grade English and Math. His grades are not doing well in these subjects and his attitude toward school is getting bad because of his frustration. I have decided to switch curriculums for these 2 subjects. There is just so much out there! I am considering Saxon 8/7 for Math and Shurley method for English. Has anyone used these and if so does it explain well? If not, any recommendations would be appreciated. Also, what is a good recommendation for art and typing for 4th grade and 8th grade. Thanks for any input!

 

If you want to spend LOTS of money, look into Teaching Textbooks for math. It's done on computer (which is why it's VERY expensive). Deena and I also use Life of Fred, which is rather cheap and reads like a story. If you search this site, you will find discussions on both those curriculum.

I've heard good things about Shurley Grammar, but have never tried it. Last year, we used "Easy Grammar" and really liked it. This year, we're going with Rod and Staff, and it's working well, too.

 

Abeka!

 

Kim,
I can't say this is your answer...just another thing to research & consider.
For my 7th grader we use VideoText Algebra. It is a daily DVD lesson that combines Pre Alg, Alg I, and Alg II into two years instead of three. they reccomend doing Geometry AFTER these two years are complete. (Most traditional schools usually break it up and do Geometry in the middle, and that is why it takes them 3 years to do Pre, Alg I, and Alg II.) It is about $300 new for the two years, but I bought a used one from a parent in our cover school for $150. There are 4 different teachers and if you get stuck, there is a toll free number to call to get as much tutoring as you need.
With this child, he is gifted in English, average in Math. BUT he always believed he was weak in Math because since he was gifted, people expected him to be a whiz in Math. His "math light in his head" simply has not gone on yet.
Last year he did Saxon 6/5, and 7/6, but we were told by many, many people that after 6th Saxon is not as strong. I would think a gifted math student would need more. The VideoText people have a booth set up at our curriculum convention every year, so I spent a LOT of time, (two years) had him sit down and do sample lessons, etc. making sure we liked this. He pre-tested ans even though he's only 7th, he WAS ready for Algebra. I just had a gut feeling this approach would get through to him.
What he likes is that the lesson can be done in such a short time. He is doing well with it. We are also fortunate to have another Mom in our cover school who has put 3 kids through VT, and has offered to help if needed. Our first choice had been to find a co-op class and outsource Math this year, but here none of the classes were for middle schoolers, so we went with this. It has worked great, all I have to do is basically grade his work, and has been a LOT cheaper than a co-op class.
Sorry that is sooo long, but we have had a great success.

As for English, last year I went to our local Teacher supply store and purchased a Spectrum Book (I think) for like $10-12, and used it, along with online free stuff for Writing. I put together a reading list of stuff we had, stuff oldest had read, stuff going along with our history curr., biographies, stuff he would be interested in, etc., and came up with a simple journaling plan, for Lit. So that curriculum was very inexpensive, but very strong and personalized. Is your son's 'weakness' in English in Reading Comprehension, or in Writing? Simply go back a grade level, and cut the big fat number off the book cover!
This kind of plan will also be one you can adapt to both kids.

Good Luck, and keep us posted.
Sorry I went on so long!

Miller

 

I used to teach middle and high school English, and I honestly felt like Abeka could teach itself.

Now, I haven't looked at their secondary materials in 6 years, but they used to be set up very nicely. They had a long section at the beginning that explained everything and gave examples. Then, they had 2 sets of 10 sentences for practice.

I really felt like it did a good job of teaching itself.

 

Well, you asked, lol!!! Now, do you feel you have TOO MUCH info? At least we gave you some ideas!

 

My kids couldn't stand Saxon Maths! We tried it twice, with a few years in between, because I wanted to like Saxon, but it didn't work at all. We used Teaching Textbooks last year and both my kids really liked it! This year we're doing Life of Fred math--different than normal classroom math, but thorough, so far as we've done it. Some people will tell you that LoF isn't a complete curriculum. Well, my dd's using it, and when I gave her a Saxon Placement test, she tested near the Algebra 2 level, and she's 11 and not doing Algebra yet! So, for us, it IS a complete curriculum and that's how we're using it!

We tried Shurley Grammar a long time ago. It didn't fit us--mostly rote memory stuff and chanting/rhyming things. It's changed since we used it, so it's probably better now.

I've always done work at whatever "level" my children need. They don't care about the number on the front (which most people would say is the grade they're in). One of the great things about homeschooling is that you work at the level they need, so they can have a strong base to draw from as they move forward. So working at whatever level they need should be a positive thing, because they're getting schooling as they should---at their level. It could be "ahead" or it could be "behind" (though we don't use those terms, since those terms are relative), but if it's what they need to build a strong base, then that's exactly where they should be! Other kids may be ahead, but you shild will KNOW what they're learning, instead of just getting through the book.

We used some A Beka, and liked it to s certain point. I like the Rod & Staff English, because it has such a good teacher book. It explains things quite well and my kids really learn!

Oh, about VT Algebra---We used that with our oldest, who is now a senior in a Christian Highschool. He did great with it for the first part, but about the last half of what would be Algebra 2 wasn't as clear and he struggled more. That could just be him, but I've heard that from others too. Teaching Textbooks is the same idea, but was much clearer and had more resources.

Now, remember, we're all coming from our own experiences. As you can see, what works great for one, may not work for others. You may have to try a few things before you settle in. If you get something and your child or children struggle with it, please try something else! There ARE things out there that will work, it's just researching (as you're doing by asking this question) to find what's best. If it's not working, don't "blame" the child, it may just be that the curriculum doesn't meet their learning style. After awhile you'll have a better feel for what may or may not work for your child!

Have you looked into learning styles? You can Google it and try to figure out which way each child works best, and try to find curriculum that will reach that method.

Sorry this is so long. Best wishes and you do research!

 

Deena, I told Rachael that Benjamin was graduating this year, and she had TWO things to say. First, "And I care why?" and second, "HE'S OLD!!!" (I told her the proper term was MATURE!!!l) LOL!!!

 

He's 17, that's not THAT old! She'll be there before she knows it!

 

I understand the frustration at Aces Paces, I have seen them and know a parent/teacher who used them with his children that is delighted now that hes my sons teacher at a school using SOS, it is ALpha Omega curric. I wish I got $$ for everytime I tell someone about it.. Some may find it boring, but it is pretty good if y ou want the 10 books format, keeps you on track and is fairly easy to keep up with I would say. That would be for English btw.. Math we are not as pleased with but its good, my dd was fine with it up to Algebra 1, then she couldnt get enough info an dI was not attentive enough to keep up with my end of it .. so we switched to MUS Math U See for math, we love MR Deme ( SP) and my dd loves watching his picture drawings etc.
She did Geometry with that after struggling for two years to get through ALg1 with AOP.
She now wants us to order ALG1 to go through , and "GET IT" this time. Since I do have the third one he will need it eventually so we will get ALg1 MUS, and maybe TT or something inbetween cause I hear so much good stuff about it!
Next year she will be out and is planning to take Business math, possibly with SOS, or we may order a program for the school and be the "sit in Teacher" for the Alg2 class of MUS.
We will see!

 

For art, I highly recommend artistic pursuits. We have only used the jnr high books, but dd LOVES them, they are self teaching, it is complete (art history, techniques, appreciation, creative projects), and she has created some amazing artworks. They do have other levels. Defineitely woth the $$ IMO

 

I would suggest Teaching Textbooks for math and Easy Grammar and Writeshop for English. These are all curriculums that explain things very well and all but the Writeshop can be done pretty independently. The Writeshop explains everything very well too.

 

I never heard of Writeshop. Oh, no!!! Not ANOTHER one for me to check out!!! LOL!

 

I am in a simmilar situation, next year will have a 12 and 9 yo...the 9yo is advanced and the 12 yo is not, so I plan on doing a lot of thier stuff together. Except math.
We are using Saxon for math, but for Algebra I am planning on TT.
We do scootch Saxon around for our own purposes. It did not have enough (any) metric, so we did a week of that out of different sources.
I am putting more of the geometry stuff together now...saxon has a lesson on perimeter...then other stuff then area...then other stuff...etc. So we have skipped some lessons to get the geometry together, and I am supplementing from other sources. He liked the metric stuff and he is enjoying geometry so I am going to stick with that.
My daughter liked Saxon ok, but she skipped the pre alg. book (tested out) and then felt very lost in Algebra, so she recomends not skipping the pre, no matter what you test into. (she was in a ps, gifted class and states most of the kids had difficulties with it...7th grade) I don't know if you would run into the same issues with a different program. Come to think of it, we do skip quite a bit in Saxon...there is some stuff I just think is useless...and we sure don't do all the problem sets. But with the exception of percents I like their explanations.

If you get any good ideas on the English...(I am keeping an eye on the thread) English (but not spelling) has always been a strong suit for me, and I am having some trouble teaching it; whereas, in my weak point - Math - it is easy to understand his mistakes. I am not sure a straight grammar program really helps with writing...and we have been doing more oral output this year, just to get him used to the idea of putting his opinions and thoughts out there.
Anyway...not to co-opt your thread...but ladies, I am very interested in the English ideas...I want to do the boys together on that.

 

We started using Rod & Staff English 3 & 6 this year. My 8 yr old does a lot of it orally due to some fine motor deficits that affect her writing. It's worked very well for her.

My oldest is an advanced learner and has also done well with it (we started with the 5th grade but switched up to 6th when I bought it mid-yr). She would have been fine all year with the 5th but the 6th is more challenging and she needed that a bit.

Many folks find R & S challenging depending on what they've previously used and it's definitely a no-frills hardback format....which is why the youngest does alot orally. I did buy the extra worksheets and those have worked well too. You could probably have both kids do the 5th grade book without a big problem (or 4th). I know Deena's then-6th grader used 4th grade successfully (just treat it as levels not grades).

My kids will be using 2nd and 4th next year. The oldest will finish 6th at some point mid-yr and then not sure whether we'll do the 7th grade or combine it with Lightning Lit or LLATL....6th grade is so thorough.

Rhonda

 

Have you figured out what you're doing yet?

 

Well, I looked at the Artistic Pursuits that Aussie mom recommended and it looked great. ds8 definitely wants to do art so that is a big possibility.
ds11 has no interest so he will stick with Dance for his "artistic pursuits"
I am hem-hawing about grammar and writing...I will get to feeling bad about it and then visit an unschooling site and start to feel guilty about feeling guilty. I sure don't want him to hate it the way I hated math.
But do I trust him to learn it if he needs it? dilemas dilemas.

 

You will probably have to encourage math, since he struggles with it. But that's okay. You can give incentives, and discuss what you do with math and he needs it to get a job, etc.

Did you look into Life of Fred? That sounds like more his style.

 

Hi,

Its better to approach online tuition classes for maths.

 

Welcome, Fedrik! While that might be a great approach for some, most of us here won't go that route. I think if you look through the curriculum available, you will find a wide variety of good stuff out there that allows older students to do higher math independently. Or, depending on where you live, there are often co-ops available for those classes.