SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   LauraNthree
   Member

   I just wanted to post about how excited I am to start homeschooling! A big THANK YOU to SCM for offering the guides for free. It is a tremendous help to me and helped me stay away from the "homeschool in a box" stuff. I am putting together a plan/schedule and have a whole list of books to buy from this site so it's definitely bringing you my business. ;)

   I did find alot of the read-alouds at the library so that will be a big help. As soon as I get paid I'm going to purchase all the materials and start getting things ready. I am a little nervous about managing with an infant, preschooler and first-grader...but I'm a tough cookie. I used to be a missionary and have some crazy stories to tell. Not much phases me. Except maybe how my kids act during the "witching hour" (4-6pm like clockwork they lose their minds). Lol. Jungle with giant flesh eating ants? No problem! Screaming crazy hungry children and burning food- ack!!

   Anyway, this is the rough schedule I'm working on. If anyone has any thoughts/suggested changes let me know:

   7-8am: Wake, cartoons, milk.

   8am: Breakfast, Bible story/memory verse

   8:30am: 106 Days of creation, outside play, nature journals

   9/9:30am: BABY NAPS, PRESCHOOLER PLAYS. Math, phonics, reading.

   10am: Free time/Computer time for 1st grader. Guided preschool curriculum (letter recognition, etc.) with preschooler.

   10:30am: History, read-alouds

   11am: Free play (Baby awake by now or maybe while we are doing history he wakes and I bounce him on my hip while reading read-alouds)

   12: LUNCH

   12:30: Arts and crafts

   1pm: Done for the day

    

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
2. 

   LauraNthree
   Member

   I should mention I decided to start with Module 5 so we can start with American History as most kids his age do. I am using Primary Arts of Language phonics curriculum (supposed to have a good combination of sight and phonics and I wanted more phonics than Delightful Reading) and am still undecided about Math. I'm not liking RightStart because the reviews keep saying it is parent-intensive...and I'm worried I will not have the time to do with the younger ones needing my attention. Looking at Mammoth Math or Singapore Math. Other than that I think I'm pretty much sticking with the curriculum guide suggestions.

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
3. 

   BetsyR
   Member

   Your schedule looks good to me. My only thought with it may be to be open to it not quite looking like that in real life practice b/c you know little ones do not typically think our plans are all that impt lol. I wanted to comment on RighStart...I am doing this with my 6yo & also have a 3yo. While they say it is parent-intensive, I'm not sure that it is in the way one might think with hearing that phrase. I sat down & gathered together the materials for the 1st month of lessons (we are doing 3 weeks on, 1 week off) so that I can just go to the shelf & grab the things. I read through the lesson ahead of time or just read through each part of the lesson as we go through it. For me, it is only parent-intensive in that I have to teach the lesson not just give her a worksheet yet what first grader can be given a worksheet on a concept they have not been taught & expected to figure it out especially if he/she doesn't read well enough to read through any instruction on the worksheet (my DD can read that well but many first graders cannot)?? So, unless you go with a curriculum that has video instruction of some sort (like Math U See or Teaching Textbooks) I cannot see that you won't have to spend time teaching that will likely not be much (if any) difference than what is required for RightStart. I've done some of Math Mammoth with DD (just the free worksheets offered) & it required me to spend time teaching the concept before I could give her the worksheet. Just offering that insight for you to consider. I've not done anything with Singapore other than read about it so cannot offer any thoughts there.

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
4. 

   suzukimom
   Member

   I am doing RightStart with my 8yo, 6yo, with a 4yo watching and a 2yo running around and I agree with Betsy...  Next year I'll be doing it with 3...

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
5. 

   Sara B.
   Member

   Agreeing with them about RightStart.  Hands-down, we love it - and that's with a 9yo, 8yo, 5yo (doing 1st grade work now), and a 3yo.  I have done other worksheet-oriented math programs before switching to RightStart, and in a way they were MORE teacher-intensive because you don't sit down and just play games with them, it requires you to actually sit there and teach.  RightStart, especially in the early years, is nearly all games, and so it doesn't feel like I'm teaching.  We're just playing a game, just like we do anyway.  HTH!

   Oh, and like Betsy said, definitely be open to your schedule not "working" sometimes.  Babies and toddlers especially really hate when we make plans...  ;)  Ha, sometimes my 9yo messes up my plans instead of the 3yo!  LOL

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
6. 

   missceegee
   Member

   i think the schedule looks pretty good, too. However, if you think you'd dislike parent intensive math (as I do), steer clear of right start. It doesn't matter how good the program is if mama doesn't like using it. I have a friend who uses right start and L.O.V.E.S. it. However, I've looked at it closeley and know myself well enough to know that I would H.A.T.E. it. I want open and go when it comes to math. My ds8 used Math Mammoth 1st & 2nd grades and it's independent mostly. I might go over a concept briefly, but then he'd fly on his own. We've switched everyone over to Math-U-See and we're loving it. However my kids watch the dvds (I do too, on occasion.) Steve Demme is our math teacher. My kids do it 95% or more independently. 

   With my 4 kids - 11, 8, 5, 2 - I am not going to play math games regularly. I like math and get it, but for me, I don't want another have-to on my schedule. 

   Just a different perspective. Trust your instincts, if math games and teacher prep don't appeal, look for something different.

   Christie

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
7. 

   Corie
   Member

   Just wanted to throw Christian Light Education's Sunrise math out there.  We've done Math Mammoth and MUS, and CLE has been a God-send.  This year, I am going to throw in Life of Fred a couple of days a week just to put a different spin on things, but I will NOT drop CLE math.  I am changing up just about everything this year, but CLE math stays!  Have a fun year!

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
8. 

   JennNC
   Member

   Agreeing with Christie about MUS. We are a math family and we love MUS. My kids are able to do most lessons on their own and they do very well. I think you are smart to be concerned about anything too parent intensive with the ages of your children. You've still got to be a mama to those little ones! :) 

    

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
9. 

   chocodog
   Member

   ditto to MUS!

   Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
10. 

    LauraNthree
    Member

    Thanks so much for all your input on the math curriculum. I'm leaning alot towards Mammoth or MUS...I'll have to take another look at MUS. (Mammoth is appealing simply for cost reasons also)

    I love the idea that RightStart is more games than anything else for the younger ages- just not sure I will have time to even sit and play math games. Of course that could be because I'm watching other kids over the summer so my house is VERY full right now. At this moment the baby is playing on the floor (with a diaper I need to change), I have 3 girls upstairs yelling/playing and 2 boys in the foyer yelling/playing.  Ages 7, 6, 5, 3, 3, and 10 months. Ack! LOL But in the Fall when I just have my own three kids, RightStart might be more doable. Hmm. Well I'm planning on buying everything in the next few days because I really want to come up with a week by week plan and can't do that without curriculum in my hands. At least I'm not that talented yet. ;)

    Thanks so much again. Now the baby is in the dog food. Ha!

    Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
11. 

    suzukimom
    Member

    Well, if you do decide on RS, I have made up a little plan for level B and C to make sure I include games - while still getting math done in the year (ideally.... I do feel it is more important to go the child's speed... and for RS level C, 18 months or 2 years is at times normal from what I hear on the RS yahoo group.)    I play the games during math time... so I don't need to "find time" to play them... I needed that time anyway....

     

    Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
12. 

    MamaSnow
    Member

    Another very satisfied MUS user here - little-no prep time for me, and I am already seeing good results in my dd - we switched from Math Mammoth about 4 months ago. I was having to tweak MM too much (add in games, extra practice, etc which I didn't have time to get organized) and the facts still weren't really sticking for her. Now they are, so everyone's happy. =) I originally went with MM for cost factors also, but wish now I had just started with MUS in the first place.

    Jen

    Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
13. 

    JennNC
    Member

    LauraNthree, what if you used MUS (or Math Mammoth, I don't know anything about that) as written, and then add in fun math games on the days when you have time? That way they'll still get a solid math program, but it is not dependent on you and how much time you have on any given day.

    Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
14. 

    momof3
    Member

    We used MM last year and although I really liked it, my son really doesn't!  I have yet to find a math program he does like actually.  So I would like to jump in and ask about MUS for those who use it.  Is each set supposed to be a full year curriculum?  How long does each lesson typically take to complete each day?  I will also have a preschool/kindergardener so I am wondering what I could start with him.  He is 4 but will be 5 in Sept so I probably don't really need to start anything too formal but thought I'd ask for opinions too.  

    BTW, I am jealous that you already have your schedule planned out somewhat.  I am still trying to figure it all out!  

    Posted 11 months ago # Report Post
15. 

    momof3
    Member

    I also wanted to add that I didn't find MM to be very teacher intensive but because my son didn't like it I had to stay right there to get him to do it.  Other than that, I really just had to go over a concept initially for a few minutes.  I think it's a good program.

    Posted 11 months ago # Report Post

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