We just hit our half-way point and for us things have changed quite a bit. We started out with Learning Adventures, and it was a huge flop. Apparently my DS9 prefers workbooks. So, we ended up going back to CLE Language Arts and picked up Spelling Power (helping SO much!). Started with Mastering Mathematics, bored him to literal tears, found Life of Fred and things have been great there! We are still somewhat using CLE Bible, though we also use Scripture Adventures. For science we use Simple Schooling and CLE, and Social Studies is a combo of an old A Beka book, a very old school text from the late 60's and Raising Refounders. Every time I've gotten a more unit study, literature-based or craft-based curriculum it fails. I have finally resigned myself to the fact that he is just a textbook/workbook kid, preferring a tangible book even to a website/DVD. So much for making it fun! LOL So what things have changed for y'all this year? Any big hits or misses?
My DS,11, is just the opposite! Right before Christmas we had to switch from an all textbook curriculum to an eclectic mix with more videos and hands-on projects. If he sees pages of all written text...his eyes glaze over and he completely tunes out. He needs visual stimulation and hands-on activities to engage him...otherwise he won't retain much of anything. He is also easily distracted (especially when bored) and hands-on stuff keeps him engaged and focused. I wish my son loved textbooks and workbooks...it would make things a bit easier and he could work more independently. But, I really enjoy homeschooling even though it takes more effort to accomodate my DS's learning style.
For my 6yr. everything is going great except for FIAR. The only thing he likes about it is the reading part. But when we are finished reading the book and is DONE! I keep giving it a try, however. He is loving his science and math. For both we are using McRuffy. I don't care for the math but he does. I think he is going to be a workbook kind of guy and that's great for me because I am a workbook kind of gal. For my 14 yo our Key to Math series has been a flop. It was great until we hit Alg. and then it was nothing but tears. Thanks to a wonderful person on here that loaded me thier MUS Pre-Alg. we are doing much better now.
Hits - Rod and Staff English (I was surprised there), Excavating English, Life of Fred Missess - KISS Grammar, self-designed physical science, free Greek curriculum We moved from KISS to Rod and Staff about 6 weeks ago. I just purchased our new Physical Science curriculum (CPO Physical, Earth, and Space Science) and we should start it next week. For Greek I switched my oldest to Athenaze which was a much better fit.
Stephanie, my kids are the same way! We started with Heart of Dakota, found out very quickly that the science was WAY under their ability, then realized the whole lit-based living book thing was so not their favorite. So I'm going to finish up the year with whatever free worksheets I can find. They love textbook/workbook stuff. I'm still going to try to incorporate library books, just because I want them to learn how to seek out info, instead of just the robotic-ness of read-the-chapter-answer-the-question learning.
The past two years were my hit or miss years. So far, everything this year has clicked. *whew!!* I'm afraid to try anything new. Don't fix what isn't broken, ya' know? :lol:
My son is 10 and in 5th grade. HITS: Teaching Textbooks Math 7, BJU Math 5, Spelling Skills 5 (Harcourt), Summer Bridge Book 5th-6th grades (Rainbow Bridge), The Complete Book of Maps & Geography (School Specialty), ScienceSaurus (Houghton-Mifflin), Khan Academy MISSES: Most of the Ambleside Online Year 3 books
For ds13: Miss: Monarch from AOP Science and History....too dry Hit: Spelling Power, Meet The Masters Art, Key to...Algrbra series Changed Science and History to Time 4 Learning...so far so good... For dd15: Miss: school textbook for Science Hit: Teaching Textbooks for Pre-Algebra, Mavis Beacon Typing For dd7: Miss: school textbook for Science Hit: Horizons Math, McRuffy Phonics, Meet The Masters Art, McRuffy Science
HITS- Progeny press study guides, Prima Latina, Flying Creatures Apologia, CLE Math, and MOH VOL 1 MISS- huge miss, Easy Grammar. We all hate it.
Hit: (at least for me, and the kids aren't complaining too much!) Words on the vine, TT 7 and Alg. 1, Streams of Civilization, Queen High School Language, college classes for Rachael Miss: Doing science (Apologia Physical Science and General Science) through a co-op type experience. The teacher is NOT living up to my expectations! Jury is still out on Progeny Press's Prince Caspian (with a friend!)
We haven't had any huge misses this year: YAY!! HITS: MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures, Easy Grammar, TT It's going OK's: A Beka Algebra 2 (surprised by that!), Simple School Forensic Science (We can't get some of the online links to work, but it's been OK.)
hits: all about spelling - we LOVE this misses: math - we tried Math mammoth but it's too handwriting intensive for my 6yr old. FIAR - I LOVE the concept and the books we've done but with four small children I just have a hard time staying on top of planning. We're switching to sonlight next year. FLL was a hit as far as my son was concerned, he likes it. I'm feeling very bored with it though so I tend to avoid it. Bad teacher/mommy. So I'm looking for something else to replace it.
None of my students are really crazy about anything I have them doing, but oh well. That's breaks. "The brothers" are only here about half the time, and when they are, they do about half a day's work in a day. Their mom texted today that they'll be going to Boys' Ranch as soon as the ranch has place for them. I don't know if they'll come back to school while waiting for an opening or not. The other big boy also just doesn't like school that much, although he is usually here if he's not sick, and mostly manages to get most of his assignments done. He just wants to be in public school so he can play football. He's not big on following directions. His dad's on vacation this week, so they're in Hawaii. :| The 8th grade girl is not crazy about doing state history, but I'm not sure if it's the fact that it's state history or just this book. She's a pretty compliant child and will do her best with whatever I give her. :angel: The new 3rd grader is used to doing what she wants when she wants, and isn't great on following directions. I'm insisting that her work be done completely and correctly and legibly, which is just really cramping her style! :lol: DGS is a wiggly boy, but he just really doesn't have much choice in whether he does his work or not. "Grandma's Rule," you know: First you do what I want you to do and THEN you get to do what you want to do.
Hits: Explode the code , Bob books, Phonics pathways , Right start math ( a bit of a bumpy start and had to hit the re-start button but doing fine now) , File folder games are a big hit as well. Flop: ACE boxed set curriculum ( Accelerated Christian Education) . Too dry for both of us.