Ok, (Deep Breath) . . . I need HONEST no-holds-barred opinions (and facts to back up any opinions) about my curriculum. I welcome all viewpoints. To help you, I have typed who we are, here... The curiculum is listed below... 1. We homeschool, because we cannot afford private Christian School. I do not mind group education, but I do not and will not ever let my children ever attend another government run school. 2. We like the traditional style of education and prefer a linear pacing. (Basically, the same type of education pacing you would get from a private school, meaning Public School, only better). 3. We use the library so much, they know our card number by heart. 4. I do not believe in children being taught things before they are ready. I believe in them mastering the material well, before moving on. 5. I have a classroom with about 398 too many workbooks and learning things, like counting cubes and so on... 6. I have no idea what I am doing. Am I doing this right? Am I teaching them too fast? Too slow? What comes next? and so on fill my head! Ok, here is the curriculum.... (Yes it is cheap, don't laugh....) "Learn at Home 1" by: American Education It is a single book with every week and every day laid out. It is cool. I love it!, So far... Haven't used it, but glanced over it. Been looking for a month for it and found it NEW on eBay for a total of $15 including the shipping! (Can you tell I am excited?) It is secular, and comes across as something that would suit undecided about curriculum, people like me. I really feel as though I can do this, eve if I only had a pencil and paper. But I need the crutch of a pacing guide. (NOTE: When the twins were little they counted things radomly. I actually got mad at them for this. Watching the TLC Channel, I learned that children do not have the ability to understand the concept of "Amounts" until about age 3.5 (Varies). I cried and feel gun-shy about WHEN I should teach WHAT. Thus the need for a pacer..) Here is a link to the general listing on Amazon for the grade 5 book, just to give you an idea of it, if you had never heard of it..... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156189513X/sr=1-1/qid= 1147236612/ref=sr_1_1/103-9988656-7628638?%5Fencoding= UTF8 Ok, bring on the critiques! Thanks! jen
Jen, Some of the reviews kind of critiqued those books. Some even gave other choices, but a lot talked about how they liked it. I do know they definitely need supplemented from on-line or other books or whatever. They don't go deep enough for what I want my kids to do. We do a lot of looking stuff up and really getting into subjects we're interested in, so it wouldn't work to move on too soon... What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't go deep enough, kind of skimms over what's needed, but doesn't help them learn the why's and how's. The price savings IS lowered somewhat by having to copy pages to make it work. However, I do that with the History we use, just to save the book for future or other use. Personally I think if you and your boys like it, I'd use it---at that level. I think it's better to get something else for higher grades that is more comprehensive. But with them at the level they're at, it may help with not having to worry about lessons plans, etc.! JMHO's.
If you can teach your children to love learning, to read well, and how to study(to take from a book the important information), then what curriculum you use becomes secondary. Dixiegirl
Jennifer, Your boys were 1st grade, right? I agree that the Learn at Home doesn't seem deep enough on it's own. BUT...there is nothing that says you can't use it as a base and add to it. In looking at the 5th grade level book on Amazon....looks like it might lag behind some of the other programs out there. I noticed several of the spelling words are on the Spelling Workout level C (3rd grade). They didn't give any pictures of the worksheets but...I know I have looked at these books before at Barnes & Noble. It's sort of like the "What your ____ child needs to know" books. They are great BUT...not solid enough on their own. First grade tends to kick things up quiet a bit from K then 2nd seems like lot's of review then 3rd...composition kicks in etc.... I really like some of the Steck Vaughn workbooks. Vocabulary Connections and Critical Thinking are two of my favorite and I also like Reading Comprehension. If you want to explore those more let me know and I'll point you the right way. How is penmenship? 1st grade math....simple addition & subtraction, a taste of money, a taste of time (McGraw Hill makes a Time & Money workbook that is real good for more practice on time and money. Most math programs just spend a small amount of time and then cruise on.) Take a deep breath....you'll make it. :wink: We might have to put an oxygen mask on ya but...we will. lol Are you planning to hit any of the bookfairs? SETHSA is the first part of June - that is probably the closest one and soonest one for you. www.sethsa.org HTH
I have looked at these ones before as well and considered using them as supplemental worksheet pages. I have the Everything for 3rd Grade book that is about as thick, this is one of my suppliment for Math and Lang Arts type books. The thing I have learned is that with boys you have to keep them excited about learning, both McGraw Hill and MacMillain do this, as well as even the Scholastic work books. They have some really good cd + workbooks that could be taught as the fun class work yet reinforces what they have learned in the Home Learning books. They are cheap at Walmart, under 10 dollars for worksheet book plus Cd. You may want to use them as extra because they are really colorful and make it seem like play, but they are really learning. I agree with you to allow the child to learn at the level they are ready to learn at, that is why my dd is on wacky levels of schooling. In some areas she is ahead some she is about norm for a girl of her age, but she is allowed to work at her own pace for the most part with an outline of what books should be completed in a years time. so far the preview our insides is only cover and table of contents on the web site you gave us.... am I missing something? Okay, it showed the science page now. Alpha Omega first grade books have similar things for what the teacher needs to ask and teach and objectives ets. I liked that too at first with my early years so that part is good. how much work does it make you the teacher do? Will you have the time and patence to keep up with its routine of teaching... those are questions I ask myself when looking at Curicculuim as well as the normal ones of will it teach her the right things, etc. Because we have to keep it real and know if we will do the work needed with that particular curric. I would say whatever works best, would work. If that one has a year plan then go with it and see if you need more. We found the time went so fast we needed more work just to fill time space. Of coruse libraries are good for that, cds, and books both! ALso remember in school we all used to watch Videos , well they were not called that then but film strips, lol, so I try to find educational film strips to watch on our tv occastionally as well. time fillers and educational seed planters! Okay, thats my critique of your choice. ( well I did address the actual product a bit eh?) Teacher Mom
I am like you..I need a guide to set the pace for me and then I let my DD move ahead or lag behind as she progresses through. If language is tough then I supplement language. If math is tough then I supplement Math. The same for when she gets ahead. I think this type of book will give you the guidance as well as the ability to see when something needs more in depth coverage. Just remember that their pace is theirs. This is a tough one for me. I tend to want to stick to the schedule. If mine gets something really quickly I second guess if she "really" has it. You just have to relax and pay attention and you will know. Good Luck!
We use the McGraw/ Hill with our ds. Total Math and Total Reading ( which covers Language Arts) along with the Basic Curriculum. This way you can let them work at their own pace. My ds is working in 4th grade reading and 5th grade math. I understand exactly how you feel. Try this web site it will give you a guiedline for what to teach. www.home2school.com It has really helped me. Sometimes you can go to your State Department of Education web site and pull up the curriculum for every grade.
I used that book for kindergarten and first grade I havn't seen the 5th grade, I think you might need extra supplement workbooks, for some of the topics aren't covered too well. The guidlines for your state need to be met if testing is required.
also, I have to say, the book is cheap enoug that you would pay more in ink to make coppies of the pages, I would order a second book.
I use the book and make my own supplements. I also use the net to get free worksheets. You will be surprised what is in the upper grade workbooks. You can go on and on just using things around the house. I have even started using reading books to help with Language Arts. To show the parts of speech and how a paragraph is written. We are learning how to write a story, by using the different types of books he can see different writing styles. You can almost hs for free. If you know exactly what they need to know and have access to lots of reading books. Math is one of the easiest to do for free. I have so many ideas that I am trying with my ld ds. Some seem to work, others don't work that well, and still others are a total flop. You got to keep on trying to find what works best for your child. I have found that my ds really don't work that well out of workbooks. My dd has to have the book in front of her or she can't get what is being taught. She is very gifted in Language Arts, while she struggles in Math. She has one of the most soothing reading voices, she puts the right amount of emotion into it. I love to hear her read. She is doing 10 grade level English and spelling and 8th grade math. She is considered 8th grade because of her age. But I hate having a grade attached to them. Jennifer it is totally up to you to decide what works best for your kids. I am still trying to find out how my ds learns best. It is process that only you can determine, because you are the teacher. You can use many different ways of teaching. I may use the books one day and all hands on the next.
I agree that it does not go deep. We have spent (Over the years) over A grand in school stuff. (We always knew we would homeschool and the stint in PS Kindergarten was a fluke and a waste of time.) So, we have every work book you can imagine. I really knew that we could homeschool for free. Heck, All I need us a library card, paper and pencils. But to make it fun... The work books CD's and other things add to the color... So, I really only needed a "Guide". Thankfully, we are dealing with 5 year old boys, and not older kdis. And what I mean by that is, we have more time to find out what works for us. I went through the book more today, and you guys are right about it being not very deep.
Right on, Sista! But my poblem is related to confidence. When am I expecting too much from them. You have to realise, my boys are doing 2nd grade moth (2nd grade by most standards) and yet, they need help on their handwritting. The questions I needed answered where: Am I allowing them to spend too much time on math? Should I press for more science? Should I press for more this or that and When??? Oh, and we ran out of money long ago, but I have a ton of work books... Now.. show me when to hand them what sheets.. << That's what I needed. But you are right on about that attitude. Thanks for the input!
No, they were in Kindergarten. They are only 5 years old. Oh! I totally plan on doing that. I really just needed a primer to tell me when to go where. I have toooo many work books and stuff. haha! I have the kindergarten version and the first grade version! I like those books because, knowing that they are not complete, is fine. But they are sooo helpfull for those of us new to HSing in helping us rememebr things we totally forgot about, such as the stories, the basics of math.. Horrible! One twin's teacher did not believe in "Seatwork" and he, writes and reads the worst of the two. (We wanted to put him in the same class with his brother as we really liked the other teacher, better. But of course We had NO CLUE what we were talking about... They were pulled out that day..) Yea, one is comming here, in August, I think.. CAN'T WAIT! Thankd for the input and the info! jen
Totally! We live at three of our libraries because they have tons of computer software you can take home WHOO HOOO! And, they let you take home reference books that are not the current year. So if it is a WorldBook Encyclipedia 2005, you can check it out! Same with movies and tons of stuff. Oh, I know! The twins handwritting needs work, BUT is this because they are only 5 years old? Or is ti because I am doing something worng? Is it to be expected that they do less? More? You see what I mean..? I saw one of those small silver beat up Film Strip rollers in a garage sale, once. Should'a bought it. Dayng it! Thankd for the info and stuff. I need to hear everyone's brain on this.
Thank you. I sure was hoping that I wasn't too much of a freak, to be the only one! hshshs! What's funny is, once I read through the weekly charts/outlines of activities, I felt like I no longer really needed the book. But, it was not available at the library and at only $15 total with shipping, you can't argue to much, eh? jen
I plan on doing that if I can get the book for as cheap as I got it, or at least as close to as cheap as I got the first one. (Baugt from a seller on eBay (Only one they had). The guy who sells them regularly charges $25 for the book alone plus shipping!
I am right there with you. The boys are measuring at differentlevels for different subjects and you know.. that is probably the normalest thing. I mean when kids in public school get boared, it is not always in every subject, on ly those that they alread "Get". We just happen to be keyed into our kids...
hey, one thought on the penmenship.... ( there are two of them so I said penmenship hehe) I think the little work books have stuff for that. my ds8 was horrible in printing until this year. I have been working to teach him cursive little by little with Alpha Omegas Life Paks, and telling him to do his best printing in some of the areas , and best cursive in others to keep him from stressing... funny thing is his printing has improved this year. My dd wrote fine from the begining but my older son did not and still does not print correctly. I think it is important to work with them make up your own little tracer pages for the alphabet or go toAbcteach or one of the other places and print some. I started printing cursive for my kids because something different sure helps! It is amazing what you can do with little or no budget isn't it. Just keep encoruaging them to do thier best in printing, but dont fret over it, they need to build strong fingers to print nice. Check your husbands writing too... mine calls his 'chicken scratch'.
Jen, If your boys love math and are going full-tilt with it---let'em go!!! THey'll have time to get to science and stuff when they're older! My middle child wasn't interested in reading or schoolwork until he was 6. It was almost an instant change. One day he was just not interested, the next day he couldn't get enough. In 2 months he went through the K and 1st grade book, and started on the 2nd grade one. He LOVED it! In that same time, he went from VERY slowly sounding out words to reading quite well, and by the end of the year he was reading chapter books. He didn't start young, as my other two did, but boy, when he started, nothing could stop him......and I just let him go! Sooooo, my humble opinion is, especially at this age, encourage them in what they're interested in, and save the "real" schoolwork (where you HAVE to do those classes) until they're a bit older and more ready for it! It'll fall into place, and they won't be missing out........
