SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   Marcee
   Member

   This is the time of year when I go overboard researching every possible detail of curriculum. It seems that quite a few of the 3rd grade programs have assignements like" student reads Farmer Boy to himself. My son cannot read at the level-at all. If you look at SL readers-he would need 2nd grade. We didn't really do formal phonics-I think he learned most of his reading through R&S Spelling. And while he can read a word, it doesn't mean he can spell it. So, he could read friend, but he wouldn't know how to write it and probably coudln't even guess by sounding it out. Today I asked him to spell crab-I got card, and then, "I mean b." My son can go to the dining room table to pick up his bowl, which then needs to be put in the kitchen sink-and he forgets where he's going in less than 10 steps! He's 8 and I have a slight feeling he has some ADHD/ADD-not sure which. He still writes some of his letters and numbers backwards too. 

   My DD is going into 5th and still doesn't know multiplication or division. These last 2 years have been full of curriculum changes. We jumped from one thing to the next-mostly because my DD hated everything and so I kept switching to find something she would like. (BIG mistake!) I can't teach math worth beans and when I try, she doesn't get it. We've done Singapore, TT, Horizons and CLE. CLE was by far the best one so far. I've looked at RS and MUS, but I don't even understand what they are trying to teach in the sample lessons  All of this change has made my DD feel like she isn't learning anything. She requested we go boxed this year because then she knows it all works together and everything is all planned out. I don't have a problem with that, but Good Heavens it can be way too expensive! ( I won't be combining the kids this year.)

   Both of my kids have to Benchmark test next Summer and I feel like I have done them a huge disservice, by being incosistent in SO many things.

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
2. 

   Oakblossoms
   Member

   I couldn't read and not offer you something. So, I am sending some hugs and a prayer. Maybe you can do a practice run for a test sometime in this next month. I think Seton has them for 25. Then you can see what they need to work on. Then just make some goals and really focus on just those areas. I have one child that totally bombed his tests last year. It was terrible. I never told him the scores. But, I did end up tears and just felt like I have completely failed him. He does so well in some areas but his reading skills are terrible.

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
3. 

   MamaSnow
   Member

   Have you ever looked into All About Spelling for your son? I've been using it with my dd this past year and it has really helped her to understand how to break words apart into their sounds to figure out how to spell them (and has also improved her reading by extension, although she was reading fairly well when we started the program). She has much greater confidence with both reading and spelling now - so I thought I'd throw that out there for you. We use and like MUS, so I don't really have any math suggestions for you. But hugs to you! You can do this, Mama.
   Jen

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
4. 

   nebby
   Member

   My 8yo ds is similar. He is reading though doesn't do it for fun like the other kids. I think he coudl read Farmer Boy but it wouldn;t be quick. His handwriting is horrible unless he is specifically doing copywork and I say it has to be neat or he will redo it. In math his numbers are often backwards (I remember once the answer was 9009 and he wrote his 9s backwards; do you know what that looks like?). He also cannot remember a thing we tell him. His life is a mystery. He never knows where we are going when I say it is time to get ready because he forgets and we try not to repeat things for him. I think he has some level of auditory processing disorder. We have tried seom things from diannecraft.com re supplements to help and I heard a good talk by someone at our homeschool convention but I am blanking on her name. I will try to gte back to you on it.
   Nebby
   http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
5. 

   nebby
   Member

   The woman who spoke on auditory processing was Candace Hawkins and her website is http://www.liberty4kids.com/lls.html
   Nebby

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
6. 

   pslively
   Member

   Your son sounds like a completely normal 8 year old boy to me.  Isn't this how all boys are?  I would hesitate to start thinking about ADHD/ADD.  Obviously, I don't know you or your son.  If you really feel strongly that something is wrong there, then you should look into that. 

   Do you read with your son?  Get a book and sit down and read with him.  Maybe the problem is that he just needs more practice.  My son has always loved to read, but I noticed that his abilities and retention dramatically improved when we actually started working on reading.  I got the Mcguffey Readers.  He started with the 2nd reader and he read each and every story aloud to us, one at a time.  Through this exercise, I found that he rushes through words he doesn't know and guesses at them rather than looking at them and figuring them out.  By the time we finished that reader, he was much improved.  (He did no narrations from that reader.  Rather, I let the other kids who were listening narrate to make sure that they paid attention.)

   If he really CAN'T read, them perhaps some remedial phonics instruction is in order.  We use Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading.  It's daily, it's basic, it's quick.

   For spelling, again, he was rushing through and not thinking about the words he was spelling.  For us, what worked was Sequential Spelling.  It's daily, it's basic, it's quick.  Not much writing and absolutely no prep time for me.   His spelling has improved dramatically.  I don't think it's the curriculum that is magic.  Rather, he is now ten and has matured quite a bit.  And the mere fact that we are working on this together and talking about it has made him start to pay attention to what he is doing.

   For math, can I recommend a really simple, old-fashioned, no frills math program?  We use Strayer-Upton for the spine of our math work.  I do mix it up and add in more interesting things like Life of Fred and the SCM business math, but that is not necessary.  These books are inexpensive.  I think they're about $13 each.  They are non-consumable hardbacks that cover 2 years of math each.  They are thorough and require no prep from me at all.  We liberally skip whole chunks of problems because there is so much there.  If my kids have mastered the concept, we just move on.  I never feel compelled to have them work the entire page just because it's there.  Again, simple, basic, quick.

   I love to have lots of variety and fun things in our curriculum.  I have the freedom to experiment with stuff as long as I keep our curriculum for the core subjects unchanging and consistent.  For us these core things are Strayer-Upton, Mcguffey Readers, Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading, Sequential Spelling, Writing with Ease, and The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study.  Those are non-negotiables that all my kids will work through.  I would encourage you to pick some really basic core books and stick with them.  Determine that you will see it through and then just do it day by day.

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
7. 

   BetsyR
   Member

   My DD6 is taking a reading class that I put her in in hopes of getting us past some of the developing skills that were leading us to butt heads. She actually reads really well in that she is on a late 2nd moving into 3rd grade level, but she doesn't like to let me teach her things or correct her. Anyway...I put her in the 2nd grade program which works on fluency, comprehension & advanced phonics. One of the things they recommend is to read the book to the child first then hand it to them to read. My DD knows phonics but truly learned to read mostly on her on & by sight so sometimes she reads "big" words then sits dumbfounded by a simple word (which is when our battle starts b/c I tell her to sound it out knowing she is completely able, but she refuses then I see it as an obedience issue...I'm trying to back off & have found that she likes me to cover my ears when she sounds things out then is able to immediately tell me the word). When I read the book first, it is amazing how much better she does reading it on her own (even if she didn't look at the book while I was reading to see the words). Perhaps try this & see what happens. I agree with trying All About Spelling as well...we have it but haven't started it yet so can't attest to real-life results. It uses phonics to teach spelling so would kinda kill 2 birds with 1 stone maybe.  There is an online "test" for Pathways Readers that might be helpful to you in seeing where he is with his reading & getting the appropriate level books to work with him.  Please try to let go of the idea that you're failing your kids...I think that most of us feel that way even when they may be excelling academically but the reality is that they would likely be doing worse & slipping through the cracks in public school & you have plenty of time to let them get to a new place developmentally & get "on track". There is the belief that we are pushing our kids too early with some academic skills, & I believe that ultimately it doesn't matter when they grasp concepts & accomplish academic goals b/c there is only so far one can go...I can't read higher than a college level even if I was 4 when I started reading (not that I was b/c I have no clue how old I was...that wasn't pushed when I was that young lol).  For math, RS may look confusing to you but possibly if you got the lessons, you would see that you will grasp it as you go along...idk, others have more experience with this than me : )  Best of luck & go easy on yourself!

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
8. 

   MissusLeata
   Member

   If my 5th grader didn't know multiplication or division, I would be very concerned. If you can't teach math, I would find a tutor.

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
9. 

   Marcee
   Member

   Thank you ladies for all of your support! I feel SO much better knowing that other children struggle with the same things as my son. I am going to check out the resources you have mentioned. You are all so wonderful! I love that the women here are non-judgemental and always offer gentle encouragement. 

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
10. 

    Marcee
    Member

    pslively-I assume you do Most Important Thing Youll Ever Study  with you child(ren)? I ask because RR lists it for grades 6-10. 

    Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
11. 

    pslively
    Member

    Yes, Marcee.  We do it all together and out loud.  We read through the specified Bible passage, taking turns a verse at a time.  Then I read the questions aloud and we discuss.  

    Posted 9 months ago # Report Post

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