tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post7662738919123165355..comments2023-05-03T05:22:30.162-04:00Comments on Mary Haseltine: What We're Using This Year: Curriculum Choices 2014-2015Mary @ Better Than Edenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-55727973671211315282014-08-06T14:44:35.783-04:002014-08-06T14:44:35.783-04:00Yeah, I think the boys would love LOF. I will add...Yeah, I think the boys would love LOF. I will add that to the wish list!<br /><br />I saw on the Singapore website their release of the newer CC books and that they were discontinuing their older math programs in favor of CC materials. I believe I did a search, too, and found some discussions on message boards (maybe the well-trained mind forums?) and found some information there, too. <br /><br />I really feel like that science program may be the first to go once I get overwhelmed in a few months for exactly that reason. I was even nervous listing it here because I felt like I was committing! I love the idea of certain methods but the amount of books and back and forth that some involve is very stressful to me. But I'd like to think I'll give it a good try first!Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-44676408425643364682014-08-05T17:15:45.915-04:002014-08-05T17:15:45.915-04:00I think LOF is worth the cost - even as a suppleme...I think LOF is worth the cost - even as a supplement. Sydney reads it likes it's a novel and she is not Math person at all. The great thing about LOF is that they have held their value so far, so you'll likely be able to sell them and get your money back. But even if not...you have 4 kids and they would all get so much from them. Definitely ask for them for Christmas at the very least!<br /><br />I want to know more about Singapore and the direction they are going... We use Singapore.<br /><br />I'd love to know your opinion about the Elemental Science...I got the grammar stage for Chemistry and Biology last year and am not impressed with the layout. I find myself going from this book to that book..and I didn't like that I had to buy (or borrow) the books that the lessons were based on. We've done a few lessons from each and the content is good, but the layout is annoying to me. I much prefer to have everything in one place (like Language Lessons).<br /><br />I am planning to do some Shakespeare this year too...it's crazy how similar our curriculum is to yours. I'm going to try something new this year, though, with our schedule. I'm hoping to do SOTW 3 or 4 times a week for 2 months. Then we'll switch to Shakespeare and do that 3 or 4 times a week for 2 months. Then switch to something else. <br /><br />Planning our year is my project for August...Jill Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919221814694982320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-74536994900738604612014-08-04T08:13:35.945-04:002014-08-04T08:13:35.945-04:00Thanks Mary~~ That's really helpful! I think I...Thanks Mary~~ That's really helpful! I think I'll just jump in and order the whole thing. It looks like a good fit!<br /><br />Have a great day, friend!<br />Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/08164050250146561005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-23971676153072789882014-08-02T13:40:27.453-04:002014-08-02T13:40:27.453-04:00Wow! It's going to be so different with just ...Wow! It's going to be so different with just one! But I hope and think it will be a really grace-filled time for both of you.<br /><br />Unfortunately, you can't do it without the Teacher's book...that's actually the main part of the program. You *may* be able to do without the workbook, though. I don't think I could but you might be able to? I wish I could just scrap all formal grammar and let them read a ton and get it through osmosis but I think that'll leave too many holes. Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-37943521909658344932014-08-02T11:45:19.553-04:002014-08-02T11:45:19.553-04:00Mary
Thanks for the outline of your curriculum cho...Mary<br />Thanks for the outline of your curriculum choices! I will ONLY have 1 home this year...but he's my youngest and now's my chance to finally have some of that "alone time" with him! I'll so miss having everyone home.....it's time, it's time, but now, as Sept approaches, while I know they'll adjust ...I know they will, I'm the one who will have the hard time.... Sometimes I just long for the good old days of HSing where we read read read and discussed and did our own thing w/o having to submit labs and tests and etc to the SD and "prove" that the kids were learning/excelling so they could be considered for certain programs in honors and so forth..........so much "easier" those days....but then again, they're growing up and needing independence and honestly, the challenge that the high school can offer......I'm tapped out in certain subject areas after 11 years of doing this and I know when to throw in the towel! I know many HS longer but I have my limits..... Never thought I'd say that.<br />So, I've had your post sitting in my inbox until this Am when I can focus and really read your options and look into them. Even tho my kids have been in a few full length Shakes[eare plays, I bought the HT Teach Your Child Sh thru your link bc they really only have dramaturgy through those select plays....I need more exposure.....Love that. I keep getting it from the lib, but now I'll have it on hand.<br /><br />I wanted to ask you abt First Lang Lessons, Mary. Grammar.English, etc is my "thing." it's my area but it's also the subject I'm drowning in in books and materials...sometimes less is more and it's not that way with Eng/grammar around here...so I hesitate to buy even MORE. But I've been toying with the 1st Lang lessons for a while. Timmy is entering gr 6...is very bright and capable in the area of grammar but is severely dyslexic....So his writing needs a huge boost..in other words, he can state a grammar rule, but the applying of it...not so much...and his frustration level rises as he writes...he is very slow and methodical. I like the series though, from what I've heard....can I ask-- is the instructor guide necessary? And for him, entering gr 6 ( ish) I'm thinking from the "have a look inside" tab that level 5 or even 6 is suitable for him...4 looks "too" easy based on what we've done so far. I have to look further bc I don't see those levels...maybe go to the Bauer site. I usually choose a grammatical element to focus on as well as an author/poet/genre per month but I like that this seems to have done all the work for me.<br />I have to still iron out what I'll be using for his phonics/spelling/dyslexia ....not loving what I've used in the past, but he has made strides recently.<br /><br />But the TM for FLL? Necessary? good tips in there or can I do w/o it?<br /><br />Thanks Mary...I'll check back. Right now I've 2 drafts going in open blogger windows but I'd like to do my own curr choices post soon, mainly so that I can clarify my self ( ! ) what the heck I'm doing across all sub areas!<br /><br />havea great day, friend!<br /><br />~ChrisChris https://www.blogger.com/profile/08164050250146561005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-4610092133131067662014-08-01T07:14:39.890-04:002014-08-01T07:14:39.890-04:00Yeah, I'm learning that programs that involve ...Yeah, I'm learning that programs that involve too many books or too much stuff overwhelm me, too. Which is why it was freeing to just toss the texts and use their materials the way I wanted to. I guess my only tips are to make sure their strong in their math facts. Understanding the "theory" behind adding or subtracting is important but rather simple. What will set them up well for higher levels is if they can then get their addition/subtraction/multiplication facts down pat. Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-39378503720273005002014-07-31T18:51:53.035-04:002014-07-31T18:51:53.035-04:00No, I do not have experience with the upper levels...No, I do not have experience with the upper levels.....we have not gotten there yet. However, we are planning on continuing with it. We just started homeschooling last year and had to backup a little in math for our oldest because his math instruction had nor been very good. My husband used to teach high school math and he really likes ray's because it teaches kids how to use their brain instead of a calculator. janahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10757509343771700234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-42217062319916574622014-07-31T16:33:27.520-04:002014-07-31T16:33:27.520-04:00Yeah, it does. It was working well for the kids, I...Yeah, it does. It was working well for the kids, I just found it exhausting going back and forth between workbook, textbook, home instructors guide and thought: there has to be a simpler way than what I'm doing! I really wanted to just do the workbook because I'm mostly fine teaching as the workbook goes but felt like I needed a break. I prefer their way of laying out the concepts in an incremental way rather than other workbook programs, so maybe I'll give it another try now that I've had a break from it. I guess I seconded guessed myself also in that I felt as if they weren't getting a handle on a concept in the amount of practice the workbook gave as well. Any other tips?Christy from fountains of homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-13054169464561823132014-07-31T15:28:42.173-04:002014-07-31T15:28:42.173-04:00Hi Jana! Ray's looks so neat! I'm happy ...Hi Jana! Ray's looks so neat! I'm happy with Singapore for the early years now as long as we can keep getting the same edition. Do you have any experience with Ray's Algebra and up? There doesn't seem to be much online about it. I'd love to use LOF as a supplement. I think my older son would eat it up but I just haven't been able to stomach the cost yet! I should keep looking on Ebay because everyone says it helps so much with theory. Or maybe a good thing to ask the grandparents for for Christmas :) Thank you!Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-71273009662918613392014-07-31T15:22:26.401-04:002014-07-31T15:22:26.401-04:00I don't use all their books. In fact, so far ...I don't use all their books. In fact, so far I've ONLY needed to use the workbook for actual teaching. The first few years I bought the textbooks and felt like it was overkill and we stopped using them after a few weeks. I since sold all of them on Ebay :) I use the Home Instructor's Guide almost solely for the answer keys but once in a great while, I'll use it to clarify something I don't remember or am confused by. That said, math was always a strong subject for me and I enjoy teaching it so I was comfortable just using the workbook and knowing whether or not they were truly getting it. And for me, for math I don't worry TOO much about them understanding the theory behind it. For now, they just need to know how to do it and understand just some of the logic behind it. Someone who is not a math person might need to rely on the Guide a bit more. I tend to teach the way it makes sense to me and am okay with that but I do see my kids using different approaches to get the right answer and I think the way the workbook lays things out in the primary years helps with that. Does that make sense at all?Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-12508664140482534712014-07-31T15:15:23.600-04:002014-07-31T15:15:23.600-04:00I think it does. The way they explain math is INSA...I think it does. The way they explain math is INSANE. I'm not an expert by any means but I know enough to be very very suspicious. And just on principle I don't like the federal government intruding into education. As far as Singapore itself, they now have a "common core aligned" program but I'm hoping and praying that the normal Standards edition will still be available. For now, it is. I plan from now on to have the boys use a separate notebook for work and answers so that the workbook remains clean and reusable. I should've been doing that anyway to save money but now I'll also be doing it in case they decide to discontinue the normal edition we've been using.Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-85515512854230977062014-07-31T14:07:58.293-04:002014-07-31T14:07:58.293-04:00Mary this is my first time to comment, but I have ...Mary this is my first time to comment, but I have read your blog for a while. I used LOF last year for math for my children(grades 7,4,1) along with rays arithmetic and it seemed to work for us. LOF does seem kind of "light - weight" at first, but as you get into the harder concepts it becomes more challenging while still being fun. Ray's arithmetic(which I discovered after listening to a talk given by Andrew Kern) is an arithmetic series that was popular in the 1800s. It is a more straight forward approach. After trying different programs this is what has worked for us and it definitely does not follow anything to do with common core. I hope this is helpful. :) janahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10757509343771700234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-8310960728680807982014-07-31T12:29:01.447-04:002014-07-31T12:29:01.447-04:00This all looks so great Mary! I was just wondering...This all looks so great Mary! I was just wondering about the Singapore Math, I used it last year for first grade with my two oldest and I found it challenging to teach. I was so confused with all the different books and not knowing when to move to the next step, and I found that it was hard to explain simple concepts through the style. Am I doing something wrong? Do you find a way to simplify all the books together? Or is this simply not for me? Thanks!Christy from fountains of homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-60012960848021937302014-07-31T10:01:53.181-04:002014-07-31T10:01:53.181-04:00No! I love Singapore! What will we do? I'd lov...No! I love Singapore! What will we do? I'd love to hear your thoughts on Math and Common Core. Does it matter a lot for Math? I'm probably just hoping not to switch ...austen_n_burneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16521217291962002493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-17950509124983990282014-07-31T02:45:51.580-04:002014-07-31T02:45:51.580-04:00Love this, Mary. We have lots of the same stuff. :...Love this, Mary. We have lots of the same stuff. :) I like your philosophy on the younger grades, especially.Micaela Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04601442850363152303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-54775325911116024632014-07-30T18:49:27.087-04:002014-07-30T18:49:27.087-04:00Somewhere on the Elemental Website, or perhaps in ...Somewhere on the Elemental Website, or perhaps in the teacher guide they layout what Chapters in each level overlap...I wish I could remember where but I know it's there! On another note, thank you for being with Jill. I was a great consolation to the whole family, especially my mother and I, that you were there.Nella @McDonald's In Heavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02324910265728062898noreply@blogger.com