Homeschool Chat Part III

[bellebud]

I would love some spelling recommendations. We are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature which includes spelling, but I think we need more. I've been supplementing with workbooks, but I need to know more of what's out there. Thanks.

I honestly just google x-grade spelling lists, and print them off. If you do it from a few different resources, you'll get a well-balanced list.

 

[erinmomof2]

Out of the blue my DH said today he wants me to start seriously looking into homeschooling. I have been hoping for this for a while now. I think getting my DD report card today woke him up to the fact that the teachers at my DD's school really do not know her.

Anyways, can any of you recommend a good curiculum that is not Christian based? So far I have looked at Calvert and Timberdoodle. Timberdoodle was so much cheaper so I wasn't sure if that means it's not as good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NHWX]

I would love some spelling recommendations. We are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature which includes spelling, but I think we need more. I've been supplementing with workbooks, but I need to know more of what's out there. Thanks.

We used enchantedlearning.com for supplemental spelling and it seemed to be just fine.

NHWX

 

[NHWX]

Out of the blue my DH said today he wants me to start seriously looking into homeschooling. I have been hoping for this for a while now. I think getting my DD report card today woke him up to the fact that the teachers at my DD's school really do not know her.

Anyways, can any of you recommend a good curiculum that is not Christian based? So far I have looked at Calvert and Timberdoodle. Timberdoodle was so much cheaper so I wasn't sure if that means it's not as good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know how old your DD is but when we went from a cooperative school to homeschooling, I tried creating some of our own curriculum (which I eventually learned how to do but not that first year) and ended up choosing some pre-made curriculum for middle school grades. Oak Meadow looks great if you have a kid who likes to write. We used music, art, literature and math from K12.com. I think I should have used Michael Clay Thompson's literature materials then; it would have been better than the K12 choice.

In the end, I suspect that for most families, picking and choosing some combination of premade and homemade is best. Someone here mentioned a homeschool social studies curriculum that had all kinds of great projects and games associated with it. I can't remember it's name but there are a *ton* of great resources out there. This thread has great people who have wonderful advice.

NHWX

 

[erinmomof2]

I will have a 2nd grader and a preschooler. I think my husband would feel better using a boxed curriculum just so we can be sure all our bases are covered. It seems like most of the programs are religious based and the ones that aren't are so expensive. We really can't afford $1,000 tuition. Are there less expensive options?

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

I will have a 2nd grader and a preschooler. I think my husband would feel better using a boxed curriculum just so we can be sure all our bases are covered. It seems like most of the programs are religious based and the ones that aren't are so expensive. We really can't afford $1,000 tuition. Are there less expensive options?

Check out time4learning.com

 

[erinmomof2]

Sorry to keep asking more questions, there is just so much information out there!

So has anyone used pear blossom curriculum to hs? I like that they have a complete curriculum and they are priced very well compared to most of the other places I have looked into. Any reviews?

 

[Nicolepa]

Does anyone use a formal writing curriculum? I really need to find something for my son for next year (4th grade). He hates to write. Nothing more on this earth that he dislikes. I am looking for something that is very step by step and will gradually build. I am looking at WriteShop, but it looks like they have K-2/3 program and then Middle school & High school.

Anyone used Writeshop, or have any ideas on something to use?

 

[sl_underwood]

Does anyone use a formal writing curriculum? I really need to find something for my son for next year (4th grade). He hates to write. Nothing more on this earth that he dislikes. I am looking for something that is very step by step and will gradually build. I am looking at WriteShop, but it looks like they have K-2/3 program and then Middle school & High school.

Anyone used Writeshop, or have any ideas on something to use?

Our girls have always enjoyed writing and they used writing strands curriculum. Before we started this, however, we did alot of sentence building with magnetic poetry. We made our own using magnetic paper and our computer. We did this so we could put words in that they wanted, like their names and their pets names. Plus, it was a lot cheaper. The girls are now almost 18 and 15 and they still play with this. Right now, my fridge says Jessa has stinky feet. Yoda is the coolest jedi. And so much more. Even my son who is not reading much gets in on the fun.

 

[robinsegg]

He hates to write. Nothing more on this earth that he dislikes.

Does he hate the mechanics of handwriting, does he hate coming up with something to write, or does he hate sitting down to do seatwork? If he hates the mechanics of handwriting, you can teach him to type. If he hates coming up with something to write, you could let him do copywork for certain days of the week and give him specific topics on which to write on the others (write about his favorite baseball player, what he'd like to do on a hike, what he likes best about swimming, his favorite food, etc). If he hates sitting down for seatwork, let him take sidewalk chalk and write outside or print out lots of words he could use and let him rearrange them into his story.

 

[bellebud]

Does he hate the mechanics of handwriting, does he hate coming up with something to write, or does he hate sitting down to do seatwork? If he hates the mechanics of handwriting, you can teach him to type. If he hates coming up with something to write, you could let him do copywork for certain days of the week and give him specific topics on which to write on the others (write about his favorite baseball player, what he'd like to do on a hike, what he likes best about swimming, his favorite food, etc). If he hates sitting down for seatwork, let him take sidewalk chalk and write outside or print out lots of words he could use and let him rearrange them into his story.

those are great ideas. My ds9 also HATES to write. When we do math on paper, at first I always write it for him (he has to tell me what to write and where to put the numbers). We'll do it this way for a while, then I tell him HE has to do the writing, but I only make him do a couple of problems w/ HIM doing the actual writing. But honestly, he'd rather do 50 problems w/ me doing the writing, than do 3 with him doing the writing. For for now, we go with it. I think I have to pull out the white board again... I remember him liking that. (I love these posts... they make me think).

He has horrible penmanship (as does my dh and most guys I know, so I don't really sweat it), but we have a "writing notebook" we've been using for copywork (Charlotte Mason style sort of). But I make funny sentences about him, or true sentences about him (always about him). It's sort of become a journal (My cousins came over to play today). Things like that. I also get in the dates (Today is Monday, January 2, 2011), because homeschooled kids (or at least mine), don't have to do this on a regular basis like in school. Also, whatever I feel he's lacking (he didn't know all the 12 months of the year - whoops!), so that was his assignment for his writing notebook for a few weeks, until he got it.

But interestingly enough, he is currently learning script (because HE asked to), and he LOVES it. I haven't mentioned to him that's it's WRITING... LOL!! I keep my big mouth shut and let him go to town w/ it. He says it's his favorite thing we're doing right now. Go figure... And his script is better than his print. I can actually read what he's writing. He puts so much time and attention into his script, and again, HE HATES WRITING!

For 'book reports', I let him do them verbally. I even bought a small digital recorder for him to do them, but he didn't really take to that. But some kids might LOVE that though. He simply tells me what's going on in the story after he reads. (He also has to read aloud to me, because I don't fully trust he's reading when he says he's reading).

I love bouncing ideas off each other!

 

[robinsegg]

those are great ideas. My ds9 also HATES to write. When we do math on paper, at first I always write it for him (he has to tell me what to write and where to put the numbers). We'll do it this way for a while, then I tell him HE has to do the writing, but I only make him do a couple of problems w/ HIM doing the actual writing. But honestly, he'd rather do 50 problems w/ me doing the writing, than do 3 with him doing the writing. For for now, we go with it. I think I have to pull out the white board again... I remember him liking that. (I love these posts... they make me think).

I also found number stickers for ds (when doing very basic arithmetic), so he wouldn't get so frustrated with the fine motor skills of writing. It worked like a charm
The basic thing is to find out *why* your child dislikes something and then work around it to get the skill you're *really* wanting to work on taken care of. The rest can be for another day

 

[Nicolepa]

Does he hate the mechanics of handwriting, does he hate coming up with something to write, or does he hate sitting down to do seatwork? If he hates the mechanics of handwriting, you can teach him to type. If he hates coming up with something to write, you could let him do copywork for certain days of the week and give him specific topics on which to write on the others (write about his favorite baseball player, what he'd like to do on a hike, what he likes best about swimming, his favorite food, etc). If he hates sitting down for seatwork, let him take sidewalk chalk and write outside or print out lots of words he could use and let him rearrange them into his story.

All of the above. We actually started teaching him typing last year. The majority of his writing I let him type, especially if it's a paper he's going to have to revise. That made things much better (no tears).

He can never "think of anything", even if I give him ideas. When he does get something on paper it's always very basic, no details. I try to get him to add descriptions/details and I always get "this is good, I like it this way".

He has Sensory Processing Disorder and it's difficult for him to get thru all the steps to writing. Thinking of an idea, topic sentence, ending sentence, detail sentences etc. We can talk about the idea but then when he goes to put it down it's gone. He just can't get from his brain to the paper. I think I'm looking for something like Daily Grams, where it starts out simple (like write a sentence) and gives him something small each day to learn.

 

[robinsegg]

All of the above. We actually started teaching him typing last year. The majority of his writing I let him type, especially if it's a paper he's going to have to revise. That made things much better (no tears).

He can never "think of anything", even if I give him ideas. When he does get something on paper it's always very basic, no details. I try to get him to add descriptions/details and I always get "this is good, I like it this way".

He has Sensory Processing Disorder and it's difficult for him to get thru all the steps to writing. Thinking of an idea, topic sentence, ending sentence, detail sentences etc. We can talk about the idea but then when he goes to put it down it's gone. He just can't get from his brain to the paper. I think I'm looking for something like Daily Grams, where it starts out simple (like write a sentence) and gives him something small each day to learn.

You might let him dictate to you, with you typing what he says. Then, the two of you could work on any editing (you would type *exactly* what he says at first). That would allow him to work through the creative writing process. The other thing I've done with a student who has issues with "getting it on paper" is letting them talk while I write out an outline. Each line gets its own sentence.

I've worked with my brother (now in college) who has trouble with words (he thinks *totally* in pictures). He would type out what he wants to say, then I would give him "notes" that would ask questions to help him give details. Each detail then became its' own sentence later. It's a long, drawn-out process (I could have written the paper in a third of the time), but it *did* teach him to write a paper on his own.

I used color-coding for him, but you may need to use other ways to differentiate parts of speech, the parts of a paragraph, the parts of a paper for him, depending on how he learns best. If an example that makes sense to him is available, it may help him with the mechanics

 

[cruiserkaren]

Out of the blue my DH said today he wants me to start seriously looking into homeschooling. I have been hoping for this for a while now. I think getting my DD report card today woke him up to the fact that the teachers at my DD's school really do not know her.

Anyways, can any of you recommend a good curiculum that is not Christian based? So far I have looked at Calvert and Timberdoodle. Timberdoodle was so much cheaper so I wasn't sure if that means it's not as good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I just stumbled upon Timberdoodle while researching for 2nd grade. I haven't found many reviews on it. I'm looking at both of these as well as I'd like to have something more put together. After starting out following The Well Trained Mind and dd hating it I hodged podged it for 1st grade and it leaves me too worried we're missing things. We went to time4learning but she hates the language arts part. Too easy and she is really bored with it but we are trying to stick it out til the "end of the year."

 

[erinmomof2]

I also found core-curriculum.com and advantage curriculum. Both offer a complete curriculum for a good price. I can't find many reviews about them though. Has anyone here used it?

I am looking into putting a curriculum together on my own, but since this will be my first year that scares me a little. If I do it on my own I don't know what I would use for History and Science. Science that isn't Christian based is hard to find, or I am not looking in the right places. I am just worried I will miss something on my own, especially since I am just starting out.

 

[bellebud]

I also found core-curriculum.com and advantage curriculum. Both offer a complete curriculum for a good price. I can't find many reviews about them though. Has anyone here used it?

I am looking into putting a curriculum together on my own, but since this will be my first year that scares me a little. If I do it on my own I don't know what I would use for History and Science. Science that isn't Christian based is hard to find, or I am not looking in the right places. I am just worried I will miss something on my own, especially since I am just starting out.

E.D. Hirsh... "what you're x-grader needs to know"... (can either be bought or borrowed from a library) along w/ a "national standards workbook for x-grade" at any bookstore, walmart, sam's club, etc. These 2 books together and some internet use is all you need. Seriously. At least borrow the E.D. Hirsh book from the library and look through it before you go spending money on a boxed curriculum.

 

[danjoealexis3006]

All of the above. We actually started teaching him typing last year. The majority of his writing I let him type, especially if it's a paper he's going to have to revise. That made things much better (no tears).

He can never "think of anything", even if I give him ideas. When he does get something on paper it's always very basic, no details. I try to get him to add descriptions/details and I always get "this is good, I like it this way".

He has Sensory Processing Disorder and it's difficult for him to get thru all the steps to writing. Thinking of an idea, topic sentence, ending sentence, detail sentences etc. We can talk about the idea but then when he goes to put it down it's gone. He just can't get from his brain to the paper. I think I'm looking for something like Daily Grams, where it starts out simple (like write a sentence) and gives him something small each day to learn.

Have you looked into Verticy by Calvert for the writing. You can purchase just the writing from them. It has been a life saver for my ds. This program is gold. My ds has dysgraphia and has many of the same problems as your ds. I love this program!

 

[erinmomof2]

E.D. Hirsh... "what you're x-grader needs to know"... (can either be bought or borrowed from a library) along w/ a "national standards workbook for x-grade" at any bookstore, walmart, sam's club, etc. These 2 books together and some internet use is all you need. Seriously. At least borrow the E.D. Hirsh book from the library and look through it before you go spending money on a boxed curriculum.

I actually already checked that book out from the library, I love it and plan on ordering it. If I do not use a boxed curriculum my plan is to use Saxon math and Easy Grammer. I would need to find something for History and Science. I would probably work off the spelling list I have from her school now. She loves reading and reads quite frequently so I don't think I would do a formal program for that.

What I like about a boxed program is that everything would be laid out for us and since this is my first year it seems a little easier. Plus my DD likes the structure of school and I think she would like a physical textbook more than something I printed off the Internet. It is a little overwhelming with all the choices out there. Plus it seems like all the programs I like the most are too expensive. I am trying to keep curriculum below $400 and that is harder than I thought it would be. I am debating starting kindergarten with my youngest as well so I would probably need something for that too.

 

[Nicolepa]

I actually already checked that book out from the library, I love it and plan on ordering it. If I do not use a boxed curriculum my plan is to use Saxon math and Easy Grammer. I would need to find something for History and Science. I would probably work off the spelling list I have from her school now. She loves reading and reads quite frequently so I don't think I would do a formal program for that.

What I like about a boxed program is that everything would be laid out for us and since this is my first year it seems a little easier. Plus my DD likes the structure of school and I think she would like a physical textbook more than something I printed off the Internet. It is a little overwhelming with all the choices out there. Plus it seems like all the programs I like the most are too expensive. I am trying to keep curriculum below $400 and that is harder than I thought it would be. I am debating starting kindergarten with my youngest as well so I would probably need something for that too.

My son (& I) LOVE Easy Grammar! As for the math, how is your daughter in math? If she excels in math I wouldn't use Saxon. I used it for my son and he HATED it. Too much repetition. We are now using Math Mammoth and he likes that much better. Another one to look at would be Singapore, it is very similar to Math Mammoth. Saxon is a good program, it is just very repetitive and kids who "get" math don't usually care for it.

Keep in mind, just because you use a box curriculum doesn't mean that everything has to come from the same company. It's a bit more planning for you, but if you carefully think about your child's strengths/weaknesses (or likes/dislikes) it can save you a bundle of time in the long run.