Why am I debating so much this year...

[mchel210]

Ok...so I have 3 different curriculums laid out...LOL...I am really thinking of sticking with the first set...but I love the idea of WP or Sonlight.

My ds12 (7th next year)
Grammar:
analytical Grammar (Or continue with abeka)

Literature:
Lightning Literature 7

Writing:
Jump In

Spelling:
avko again

Vocab:
Wordly wise 3000 book 7

Math:
TT7 (cont. and switch to pre alg in jan)

History :
BF Medieval Jr. high and listen along with sisters in sotw2

Geography:
Continue mapping out US 2 states a week.

Science
Apologia General science

Logic:
Mind Benders B1

Debating about Spanish still

DD7 (going into 3rd)
Grammar:
Abeka Language

Literature:
Reading from Library...maybe sonlight books

Writing:
My first Book reports
abeka cursive with phonics

Spelling:
avko again

Math:
Abeka Math 3

Vocab:
Wordly wise 3000 book 3

History :
Sotw 2 with activities

Geography:
Continue mapping out US 2 states a week.

Science
Apologia science OR books from library...leaning towards library books

Logic:
Mind Benders A1

DD 5 (going into 1st)
Grammar:
Abeka Language 1
letters sounds 1


Writing:
abeka cursive

Spelling:
abeka spelling 1


Vocab:
Wordly wise 3000 book 1

Math:
abeka math 1 w drills

History :
sotw2 with activities

Geography:
Continue mapping out US 2 states a week.

Science
Apologia science or library

Logic:
Mind Benders warm ups

_------------------------------
Or do I do Sonlight core 1 and 6
with sonlight la 1, 3 and 7
same math and science as above...
--------------------------
Or
Winter Promise...with American set 1
La, science and math same as above just add in readers from wp?
---------------------------------------------

[Pata]

I think that your plans look fine. Why are you drawn to the others? Is it because something your doing is not working? Could you take pieces of them and fit them into your current plan, for example order just the read-alouds?

A word on Sonlight's LA, it takes the natural approach to grammar and there is very little instruction on the how's of writing. It wasn't a good fit for us.

[OhElizabeth]

Michelle, bumping you a little bit so you can get some responses. My observation would be that you're going to be able to group the 5 and 7 yo's together pretty well and that they don't have to be doing the same thing as the 12 yo. In fact, I would pick whatever is BEST for the 12 yo and let him proceed forward. Then do what is best for the 5 and 7 yo's. I know nothing about BF middle ages, but if you're happy with that for the 12 yo, then great. If you were only doing it to keep him with the youngers, then I'd decide what fits him best. As far as the 5 and 7 yo's, do you want to do SOTW or do you want to do american? I notice you're memorizing the states, so I didn't know if your heart is divided there. Obviously you need to chose, lol. WP AS1 seems better on the young side, since it has so much papercrafting, where SL 3 benefits from as much maturity on the students as possible. You could wait a year or two and SL3 would fit them all the better. So it's really what you want to do in your heart, what calls to you. You don't have to keep a 12 yo and 5/7 together.

What are you doing right now with your 5/7 and how is it working? Is there a particular thing you're drawn to in SL and WP?

[one l michele]

I would hesitate doing SL Core 1 with a 5 y/o. I am using Core C this year, my kids were age 5 & 7 at the start of this Core, my 7 y/o has defnitely pulled much more out of the history then his younger brother. We enjoy SL and will continue, however, if Abeka was working fine for you, don't fix something that isn't broken :)

[mchel210]

I had a long talk with my husband last night. His view is...if the kids remained in public school...they wouldn't even have touched on most of this work I am doing with them. So whatever I choose will be fine and will me much more then the schools are teaching around here!

I had also read someones tag that said...go ahead and make mistakes...SO...I guess it is ok. I will stick with my first plan and just add in the readers from WP and Sonlight as I did this year. I think my main problem is I have stuggled so much with him with English this year and he hates it ...that I want to get the right program for him. (But he completed most of our year and did awesome on the CAT for 6th grade...so I guess he did ok)

The only thing my husband wants me to change is that he asked me to add a clasical writing program and possibly do away with jump in and analytical grammar or abeka english.

My son had writing issues in the past and could not keep up. Now I think his hand strength is fine but he is using the crutch from the past to hold him back. He is not writing fast or using complete sentences. He goes for very simple sentences. They are never complex. I believe going into 7th grade they should be a lot more detailed.

My husband wants me to more copy work. So I am looking to find some free resources...or just let him do cw. I can always have him copy from different books we are studying.


Michelle

[Wendy in ME]

I would just have him copy from books you are studying and look into CW for older beginners. My dh and I have the "anything we are doing is better than the ps" talk all the time. He uses it to reassure me that I am doing okay and it does help me keep things into perspective. Good luck with what ever you decide.

[one l michele]

I had a long talk with my husband last night. His view is...if the kids remained in public school...they wouldn't even have touched on most of this work I am doing with them. So whatever I choose will be fine and will me much more then the schools are teaching around here!

I had also read someones tag that said...go ahead and make mistakes...SO...I guess it is ok. I will stick with my first plan and just add in the readers from WP and Sonlight as I did this year. I think my main problem is I have stuggled so much with him with English this year and he hates it ...that I want to get the right program for him. (But he completed most of our year and did awesome on the CAT for 6th grade...so I guess he did ok)

The only thing my husband wants me to change is that he asked me to add a clasical writing program and possibly do away with jump in and analytical grammar or abeka english.

My son had writing issues in the past and could not keep up. Now I think his hand strength is fine but he is using the crutch from the past to hold him back. He is not writing fast or using complete sentences. He goes for very simple sentences. They are never complex. I believe going into 7th grade they should be a lot more detailed.

My husband wants me to more copy work. So I am looking to find some free resources...or just let him do cw. I can always have him copy from different books we are studying.


Michelle

Talk with your ds and then decide what you feel is best for him based on your discussion. I think it's important if a child hates a subject that a parent discuss with them why. Perhaps he doesn't understand the approach? Maybe it's the wrong level for him? Does he do better with workbook style, text, or interactive programs? My oldest needs very detailed directions and thrives on a checklist approach, to writing and editing. I also figured out since he's such a perfectionist and sensitive about his handwriting (those with perfectionist kids know what I mean) that allowing him to type forces him to focus on the actual skill of writing, not physical act or look of it. It took many discussions and flops to find what works for him, we are at a really good place right now. Granted all subjects aren't likely to be "fun", but why continue something that is making either of you miserable, even if the results are there? Flashback to R&S grammar for us - shudder.