curriculum that you just loved this year??? - Page 2

[caefi]

We loved Worldviews for the Western World by Cornerstone Curriculum for our high schooler. Very thought provoking, exercises her critical thinking skills and broadens her horizons as well as laying down an awesome foundation for the rest of her life!

[kgianforti]

We love MEP, Miquon, and Singapore Math. And Sonlight Science K.

Those math programs are great for a conceptual and problem solving math approach.

We love the variety SL K offers.

[dotnetdiva]

We've only just completed one year homeschooling, but here's what we've loved for the Pre-K/K/1 year.

TOTALLY RAVE ABOUT EVERY CHANCE I GET

• RightStart Math (after trying 3 other math programs)
• All-About-Spelling (so glad we started early!)
• Story of the World and Activity Guide

EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH

• Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading - this does the job very efficiently, we're now almost done
• Handwriting Without Tears - we are on the second grade printing book, will start HWT cursive later this summer
• Wordly Wise 3000 2nd edition - the Kindergarten/Grade 1 is so fun and colorful, this is something we end up doing multiple lessons in one session, as my daughter begs for it. She loves incorporating new words in her vocabulary. I'd put it up in the Rave section, but it's not a subject I put high priority upon.

QUITE HAPPY WITH AS IT DOES THE JOB

• First Language Lessons (although it does go slow, I think we're going to do 2-3 lessons at a time.)
• Writing With Ease (love the literature selections and the intro to dictation/narration, but I think we're going to add an actual writing program, only because my daughter writes every chance she can get, and I want to teach her how to actually write)

There are other things we're very happy with, but since I failed to use them faithfully this spring, I don't feel justified putting them on this list, hehe. They would be: Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding and Artistic Pursuits.

As for the WTM forums, I would bet that a majority of the people there just enjoy the popular and busy forums, and aren't necessarily 100% classical. A big percentage admit in polls that they aren't classical in fact. I know I'm going to be giving up labeling myself as we just use what works for us.

[suzukiaustin]

Angela,

When did you start All-About-Spelling? Curious, because you said you were glad you started early. My 4.5 year old is interested in spelling (sometimes I think we are practicing for a spelling bee around here) and is working on long vowel sounds in The Ordinary Parents Guide.

Thanks!

[dotnetdiva]

We started All-About-Spelling at about 4.5 years of age. Waiting until later would have been a waste of the Level 1 book. We should be starting Level 3 soon, mid-summer probably.

[MyLittleWonders]

Though I totally agree with starting earlier if the child is ready (I have a feeling ds#3 will be starting Level one some time around the New Year), waiting until later isn't a waste of time either. Ds#1 was almost 8 when we started Level 1. We went through it quickly (I think it took a month and then he continued to progress. Now he is solidly in Level 4 and I can tell so much of it is clicking for him. Ds#2 started Level 1 at 5 1/2 and is in Level 3. I have had to slow down a bit for him (compared to ds#1) though he is doing well too. But, I think that many kids will still excel with AAS (and maybe make the connections more quickly) if it is started in first or even second grade. No matter how fast or slow one goes through Level 1, it is foundational for the program. I think ultimately taking the child's lead is the key (and as a disclosure - I am not anti-early-education; in fact, I tend to err on the side of earlier is better, though it took until ds#1 was half-way through 2nd grade to realize that is what I felt was best for my boys).

[momto4plus4]

Absolutely love:

Singapore Math
Explode the Code
Usborne for Science (bias though as I'm a consultant, heehee)

So glad for all your posts as we're always looking to expand and try new things.

[dotnetdiva]

We are on/off with Explode the Code workbooks. My daughter enjoys doing them, but sometimes they are a bit too much to try to add into our day. Half a year ago my daughter wasn't reading as fluently, so we didn't do the workbook pages with a lot of reading. Now, we are in an ETC phase once again, and she is just zooming through all those reading pages in ETC. I'll follow her lead if we'll continue with ETC 3 and up. I do like this program though, as it is great practice in reading/phonics, spelling, and handwriting (and even vocabulary)!

[tankgirl73]

Great thread! This year we've loved:

RightStart Math.

Life of Fred Math.

Intellego Unit Studies.

Meet the Masters art program.

Science Jim web classes.

Mosaic history/literature/world religion curriculum

Ecoutez-parlez french.

Sequential Spelling.

I should clarify that these are things that both I and my son enjoyed. There are a few others that I think have been wonderful for him, but that he wasn't running to do extra in his spare time, you know? And there are a few more I've got on tap, that I think he will indeed love, but we haven't actually used them yet.

[AnnR33]

Teaching Textbooks (grade 5) has been a big hit with my son and I like it too. Yes, it frees me up from teaching day to day math, but I help him a lot with concepts he doesn't quite "get." It's a win-win for us.

MCP Math is what I'm using for my "2nd" grade DD. I used this for 1-4 with my son so I know it's a solid program but it's just working really well for DD this year. She started the year saying "math is hard" and "I don't get it" but now she's doing great and enjoys doing it! I think it' built her confidence in math.

Growing with Grammar I'm using this for both my kids-son is doing grade 4 and DD is doing grade 1/2. it's a straight forward grammar program with no glitz but it has lots of review and does the job in 10-20 min a day. We'll be sticking with this program.

I've used Explode the Code for both my kids and it's a tried and true program at our house. I'll be starting it with my Ker this fall at some point.

Lastly, The Boxcar Children series and Jim Weiss CDs have been favorites of the kids. We listen to the CDs in the car and the kids ask for them each time we go somewhere-they love Jim Weiss's Greek Myths, Greek Heroes, and Tom Sawyer best so far.
I've read of a bunch of the Boxcar series out loud and my oldest has read them on his own. They like to hear these stories when we're camping on the weekends too.

[craft_media_hero]

Miquon Miquon Miquon

[Jenivere]

I think my favorite find this year and ever is Happy Phonics; it's perfect for my very active son.

Also:
R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey
Right Start Math

[Dakota's Mom]

We love Time4Learning. My son has been doing it since Pre-K and he just loves it. I like that I can print out the reports whenever I want so I can see in black and white how he is doing. I also print out the lesson plans and then mark down his grades for every day on that. We supplement with lots and lots of outside activities. We are involved with a Nature Center and an Environmental Center where he takes monthly classes. He is also a member of two Rocket Clubs. He is learning a lot about science by designing and building rockets. In fact he just received his Bronze Level Certification from the National Association of Rocketry. I believe he is one of the youngest kids to receive this. He is now working on his Silver Level. Rocketry has helped him in every area as he needs to use math skills and reading skills to build a rocket that will fly correctly. And then Science. Even History. This one hobby is the most exciting way to learn that we have found.

Kathi

[MamaMonica]

We loved Math U See. They liked that the guy on the video was funny and they didn't have to do a of repetition if they got the concept (but there were enough practice sheets available if they didn't).

[suzukiaustin]

Originally Posted by dotnetdiva

We started All-About-Spelling at about 4.5 years of age. Waiting until later would have been a waste of the Level 1 book. We should be starting Level 3 soon, mid-summer probably.

Thank you!!

[Plummeting]

MEP math! I spent a ton on Rightstart, but I like MEP better. If it weren't free, I'd pay for it. I like RS, too, but not as much as MEP.

[jlpumkin]

tankgirl73 - I've never heard of ecoutez, parlez - I'm so taken with it! Obviously you enjoyed it bc it's listed here... Is it easy to use? Fun? or was it just effective? It sounds silly but it nenver occured to me to teach kids French (though I've had 6 yrs of it). It feels like a lightbulb moment - hey I could probably really do this!! LOL... (so this is the part that you tell me I can & it's really fun for the kids so go spend my $$

btw sorry for the hijack