My thoughts on SWR, AAS, MFW, HOD, & MUS

[MommyInTraining]

:driving:I just wrote this to someone and thought I would share it on the board.

I am thinking of dumping SWR. I just don't have the time to sit down and plan it out and I think as the children get older it will just be too much. I am looking at AAS. I was hoping to use SWR to teach my 6yo boy to read, but as slow as I am getting it pulled together, it isn't happening. I read that you can teach reading with AAS, so I may try that route. I am finishing up MFWK in an accelerated mode (leaving some things out) for my 6yo and trying to do the same with Adventures for my 9yodd. I am thinking of putting my ds into Little Hearts and my dd into Bigger Hearts. I have already bought Little Hands for my 2yo and 4yo. I just don't have the time to commit to SWR. I sort of wish now that I would have went with MFW 1st, but was hoping to just use SWR for reading. I am having a hard time getting things done with the baby.

As for math, I had started Shiller Math with my oldest and did not like it. I did Singapore with her some and looked at Miquon, but neither of those seemed to suit us. I started over at Alpha with her and I feel like she is really getting it with MUS. At this point I plan on continuing her with MUS and supplementing with Singapore. I had my son go through MUS primer and I wasn't too happy with how he was doing with it (he is just about to finish it up). I had bought RightStart B and am going to go through that with him (also using it with my older daughter so she can learn the strategies introduced). I will then see about continuing him in MUS. I don't plan on go further than RightStart B, I just want him to have the foundation that it lays.

[Johanna]

It sounds like you got an awesome plan in the works! I wouldnt focus on the "regrets" Or what if's(we all have them:tongue_smilie:_)....just keep looking forward and pressing on!
We will both be doing Bigger next year! We'll have to keep in touch!

[KIN]

I just wanted to say that RightStart C is every bit as good as RightStart B and gives that same foundation for subraction and multiplication. :) SWR, IMHO, is a very open and go program once you, the teacher, understands it. I'm using it with my 2nd and plan to teach it with my 3rd next year. Guess I just wanted to pop up and say these are 2 great programs that are our tried and true here!

[MommyInTraining]

Oh, I'm back to considering making it work again! I am concerned about it taking too long with so many children.

[ELaurie]

and I have been very happy with AAS.

[KIN]

It takes us 2 hours to do our seat work every day. I teach the following and the boys work on independent work when not with me:

3yo 10-20 minutes of coloring, mazes, puzzles, workbooks pages with me
K'r - phonogram review, new words 2x week, daily quiz, reading out loud, Right Start math Level A
2nd - phonogram review, new words 2x week, My Wise Grammar 2x week, RightStart math Level C

We also do the following in another 1-2 hours:
Piano practice for both boys
Memory
Bible story
History or science alternatively

Both programs do take a bit of time to do. However, I feel these are the years to get a strong base in reading, math and writing and that these are the best programs to do so. I'm seeing the results in my oldest - he can spell over 3 years above his grade level, he reads anything he wants and he really understands math & how it works (and can do mental math quicker than me!). I also think both SWR & RightStart take a bit of time to see the fruits of your labor, but when you do - look out. :) Good luck with your decision!

[one l michele]

I've used it to teach two kids how to read, just by teaching them the basic phonograms, then multi-letter phonograms, then going through lists A-I, simply practicing using those phonograms to sound out words, then we start into the Sonlight readers and go back to list A focusing on spelling. I simply us unifix cubes for a visual, dictate 5 words for K, 10 for 1st on up, they write it in their logs with the markings, at the end of each list they are quizzed on those words and any challenging words from previous lists (I mark the word with two red check marks, then erase one when they spell it right). I will keep this method for my youngest next year as it is very efficient and produces confident readers. Also, although it's an initial expense, it's non consumable and I'll use it for three kids.

[MommyInTraining]

Thank you all for your input.

Kathy,
Thanks for your info.

Could you please share with me what other curriculum you use with your children (Bible, History, Science, material for your 3yo (puzzles, workbooks), etc.)?

Thanks!
:lurk5::bigear:

[KIN]

Sure, I'd be glad to share what else we do:

My 8yo 2nd grader:
Growing with Grammar (we'll be switching to Rod & Staff next year, he isn't retaining grammar)
CLP Bible (switching to R&S next year as well, just like how it looks better!)

My 6yo K'r:
Rod & Staff Bible readers for Bible

Together:
Apologia Astronomy
Biblioplan year 2 with STOW 2 as a spine

3yo:
Kumon workbooks - they have great tracing books, easy mazes, easy coloring, easy cutting, next year we'll do R&S workbooks (I used them with the other boys and loved them for age 4)
I also have all of the preschool activities from MFW. I just bought them separatley and use them on my own, not as the MFW preschool program, make sense?

That's it! HTH a bit!

Kathy

[lovemyboys]

:001_huh: AAS, HOD? I got the others! I went to look for abbreviations but didn't see these. Thanks.

[lovemyboys]

Thanks!

[MommyInTraining]

AAS= All About Spelling

[pixelroper]

just a thought, I used OPGTR for dd8, it was very easy to use, last year I introduced SWR for the mechanics & rules as a spelling program (we did several levels of SWO at first).