I decided to change the grammar program Marcus is using. He is currently using Bob Jones University English 5, which takes him all of 5 minutes to do, per day. However, I have noticed that he is doing it rather carelessly, without thinking about what he is doing. It poses no challenge to him and repeats to often. Since I speak English as a second language, I was initially drawn to the thick teacher's manual, but I think I've mastered nouns and verbs after 4 years of doing it with Marcus. I'm also not convinced that children need to know how to diagram a long sentence.
This program looks gentle, but not to easy, especially the later books. I like that it includes grammar, writing mechanics, vocabulary and handwriting all in one. I'm continuously looking at streamlining the programs we use in order to make more time for writing, reading, math and science. Let's see how this goes!
This program looks gentle, but not to easy, especially the later books. I like that it includes grammar, writing mechanics, vocabulary and handwriting all in one. I'm continuously looking at streamlining the programs we use in order to make more time for writing, reading, math and science. Let's see how this goes!
Marcus's novel study - also by Moving Beyond the Page, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick.
I have not had time to look at this one in detail, but have noticed that he'll be doing pencil drawings, creating a travel brochure where he'll have a research France and write a script for a short play. At this level the program is also written to the student with minimal input from the parent. I'm looking forward to seeing how he handles this. Again, this is not just a novel study where Marcus will just have to answer comprehension questions on the book; it's really a complete LA unit with lots of body. This should take him a while!
I have not had time to look at this one in detail, but have noticed that he'll be doing pencil drawings, creating a travel brochure where he'll have a research France and write a script for a short play. At this level the program is also written to the student with minimal input from the parent. I'm looking forward to seeing how he handles this. Again, this is not just a novel study where Marcus will just have to answer comprehension questions on the book; it's really a complete LA unit with lots of body. This should take him a while!
Poppy, written by Avi - a novel study for Danae by Moving Beyond the Page. We have done some of their novel studies before, and really liked the variety of it, as well as the creative ways in which it is approached. It's not really just a novel study, there is way to much to it to just be about the novel. (They market it as a complete LA unit.) This one will have Danae writing a multi-paragraph essay, writing up her research on owls and mice, creating puppets, drawing maps, dissecting an owl pellet, as well as contemplating the meaning of "power" in different situations. Should be interesting!
We'll start this after we return from Hawaii.
We'll start this after we return from Hawaii.
Yes, their customer service is really as bad/terrible/atrocious as they say, but I really like Winterpromise's science programs. We have used 2 in the past and although I only use parts of it, I think it is very well written and put together. It's a year program if you do it 2 times per week. We will mostly do science 4 days per week, more if the lessons are short or if we are very interested in the topic. It's designed for grades 4 - 6, so I'll likely have a adapt some for Danae. Reading comprehension is her ultimate strong point, and Marcus's weakest so between the 2 of them this should be about right! Marcus will still continue his "How Things Work" on Coursera and something else thereafter (not sure what yet,) but we are all looking forward to this. There is a lot of hands-on activities in there that I think Danae will enjoy. I also feel that this is a topic on which I will be able to add a lot into, if needed, and steer/follow them along rabbit trails as we come across it. These are some of the books we will be using: