planning and simplifying advice please

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • January 18, 2015 at 4:03 pm
    eawerner
    Participant

    Some of the other threads about changing things up for a season have really struck a chord with me. I have dd8 ds5 ds19mo and dd2weeks! 🙂
    I’m not sure how we’re going to muddle through our 3rd term but I’ve resolved not to worry about it. Dd8 does math, copywork, and reading (1ch/day) independently and will be able to keep that up at least.
    This fall I’ll have 4th grade, Kind, toddler, and baby. I think I will need as independent everything as possible to the point of cutting back/out any subject that’s not mandetory or independent.
    I’m especially interested in your thoughts on an ind. history as I would like dd8 to continue on with middle ages next year but don’t want it to hang on me being able to do family read alouds.
    All subjects though, and for both kids, do you have any advice for me? What might you do in this situation? I’m not looking to make this a long term change, I just see us needing to adjust for a year or so before we ease back into our regularly scheduled programming. 😉

    January 18, 2015 at 4:15 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    You know, one thing we make a lot of use of in general is audio books.  Not really during history as often, but in this situation what about trying Jim Weiss’s audios set in the middle ages, Story of the World volume 2’s audio (also middle ages), or even The Mystery of History volume 2.  There are also some good audio books/literature on Librovox or Audible you could use.  🙂

    January 18, 2015 at 4:41 pm
    Monica
    Participant

    I agree with the suggestion of using audio books!  We use Librivox, Story of the World, and Jim Weiss stories, also.

    My oldest two children (7th and 3rd) also use Teaching Textbooks for math.  My they-7YO started with TT4 last year.

    January 19, 2015 at 6:20 pm
    eawerner
    Participant

    Thank you for those suggestions. Audio history sounds like a good way to go.

    Any ideas for LA? Someone mentioned ELTL and that it covers a variety of subjects. But is it independent or teacher intensive?

    January 19, 2015 at 6:30 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    I guess what I’m trying to figure out is what you want for LA?  Here are the things that my 4th grader does (Joseph):

    Prepared Dictation using Spelling Wisdom from Simply Charlotte Mason.  Monday he uses the passage for Copywork.  Tuesday he makes spelling cards for the words he doesn’t know how to spell in the passage.  Wednesday he practices the words.  Thursday he practices the words and pays attention to the punctuation of the passage.  We talk about any interesting reasons for the punctuation if need be.  Friday I read it aloud a few words at a time and he writes it.   *** This knocks out copywork, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  It also takes no more than 5 minutes each day. ***

    Writing.  I use Brave Writer mostly as a guide for me, occasionally pulling project ideas, but often this is oral narration or written narration for Joseph.  The last two weeks he researched and wrote a newspaper article on Orangutans.  So the first few days were reading a book and writing down notes (written narration).  Then he pulled those together into a piece about orangutans during the second week.  Oral narration while I typed.  This week he started a creative writing piece with a mummy in it.  I just have him work on the current project for 10 minutes most days.

    What else goes in LA to you?  (I know everyone has different priorities.  For my Kindergartener this year he’s focusing on learning to read.

    January 20, 2015 at 11:12 am
    JenniferM
    Participant

    My fourth grader is using English Lessons Through Literature Level 2 this year.  She likes it and so do I!  It is not teacher intensive unless you choose to read aloud the Literature assignment.   My daughter reads them independently.  They are all in the public domain, so there is probably a librovox recording of each one as well.

    ELTL is designed to work on three lessons each week over a 36 week school year.  Here is a typical breakdown of each lesson at Level 2:

    1. Read assigned Literature (either 1 chapter or one story from an anthology.)

    2.  Short grammar or other language arts instruction,  (my daughter likes to study this portion independently.)

    3. A poem. ( I prefer to read aloud bc poetry is meant to be read aloud.)

    4.  A fable.  (I read aloud, then daughter narrates.)

    5.  Exercise (a sentence or two from the literature to mark grammar concepts- such as underline the first person pronouns.  We usually discuss this briefly).

    6.  Writing- copywork passages to choose from.

     

    That is the usual breakdown.  On a picture study day, there is no fable.  On a narration day, there is no grammar exercise.  I think at this level, ELTL is best used when the parent can be involved, but the lesson time is not long.

    Also, I find that my oldest, although capable of working on nearly all of her work independently, feels slighted if she does not have some one-on-one time with me. So, even if you choose completely independent lessons for your oldest next year, I would suggest setting some time aside each day to at least talk about what she is learning and show an interest in her work.  I’m sure you would, but just a little reminder. 😉

     

     

    January 21, 2015 at 8:41 am
    eawerner
    Participant

    Good question Tristan!   This year dd8 does copywork, oral narration (not as regularly as we should), and spelling with AAS.  AAS is teacher intensive but it works for us, so if I have one teacher involved subject per kid, AAS will be it for dd.  I guess I’m not really sure if I want to add in grammar and/or written narration next year.  She has a July birthday so the 10 year old age guide CM gives won’t really apply till her 5th grade year.  I guess looking at ELTL it was nice the way they did some poetry and picture study along with gently grammar and writing intros since I don’t know how much I will get to the extras next year.  I don’t know that she *needs* a grammar and writing intro next year though.  Does that make sense?

    For ds5, reading lessons will be about it.  I may start some letter formation with him as well if I can keep it in my head to go S-L-O-W and keep it to 5 min of instruction/practice a day.

    January 21, 2015 at 4:25 pm
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    Queens Language Lessons are independent at that age and have some gentle introduction to grammar concepts, copywork, poetry, picture study, creative writing.  You can see samples on their website and RR.  We used it one year and then went to Writing Tales which has more grammar and involves the teacher more, but we like it too.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • The topic ‘planning and simplifying advice please’ is closed to new replies.