anyone use kolbe with their gifted child?

[jillian]

Title says it all--does anyone use Kolbe Catholic Home School with a gifted kiddo

[priscilla]

:lurk5:

[jillian]

thanks priscilla for the bump :) This is one of the few curricula that I have found that after prayer and discernment seems to be 100% right for us.

[Crimson Wife]

Are you on the TAGMAX list? I vaguely remember there being a discussion on Kolbe a while back.

I like some of the curricula Kolbe uses but not others, which is why I haven't enrolled in their ISP. The strongest part IMHO is the literature program. I really wish it wasn't so expensive because I'd love to give it a try.

[CleoQc]

I considered Kolbe very seriously, but it's not a match for us. DS is good with sciences and maths. Not with literature. And he would detest having to revisit the Ancients (Greeks and Romans) once again. He's done with that and wants to move on!

Personality wise, it's just not a match here. However, he is doing their Physical Sciences this year. It's the book from Prentice-Hall, with the schedule from Kolbe, and the online access that we got from Kolbe. We're happy with it for now.

[jillian]

Thanks everyone. DD seems to enjoy stories and science, and stories about science. I think we are definitely going to go with their religion program (with syllabi and what not). DD is still young but we are going to slow and steady starting next year with phonics and religion and such. Probably take a full year to year and a half to get through their K curriculum if that makes since.

I have been praying hard about it and letting God help me discern between Seton and Kolbe and I think I have an answer but am waiting for "confirmation" if that makes sense.

[jillian]

Are you on the TAGMAX list? I vaguely remember there being a discussion on Kolbe a while back.

I like some of the curricula Kolbe uses but not others, which is why I haven't enrolled in their ISP. The strongest part IMHO is the literature program. I really wish it wasn't so expensive because I'd love to give it a try.
no i am not, what is TAGMAX?

[Gratia271]

:bigear:

[Crimson Wife]

TAGMAX is an email list for families homeschooling gifted kids. You should know that it is a VERY active list- even in digest mode don't be surprised if you get multiple emails per day.

Information about subscribing can be found here (http://www.tagfam.org/).

[jillian]

thanks :) I will check it out

[CleoQc]

I meant to add that I looked into Kolbe for high school, not the lower grades. I didn't know about Kolbe then.
And come to think of it, I didn't even investigate because the kids were still learning English!

[jillian]

i appreciate all the responses, just praying for discernment

[OLG]

We did exactly this with our gifted ds. Kolbe allowed him to have a challenging program across the curriculum and he was ahead two years in their program when he hit high school. We did add some outsourced courses like OSU German and a few college courses for the last tow years on top of Kolbe. It is rigorous if you pursue the Summa program (which we did) and augment as needed. Most of the courses in their redesigned high school program truly are at (or even above) some college courses! Excellent curriculum. All the reading allowed for ds to max out on the SAT too!

Good luck with your decision!

Mary

[nova147]

Anybody do Kolbe with a young student? I was looking at their materials after reading this thread. DS will be in 1st next year, but would need to use 3rd grade math. He doesn't need any phonics instruction. I know they say they are flexible, but how flexible? And do they have people to help you choose levels? I am totally unsure about where to put him with their reading materials. I would love to be able to enjoy some of the benefits of "boxed curriculum", but with an accelerated learner, it's so tough! Not sure I could do all the adjustments just based on web descriptions.

[jillian]

Anybody do Kolbe with a young student? I was looking at their materials after reading this thread. DS will be in 1st next year, but would need to use 3rd grade math. He doesn't need any phonics instruction. I know they say they are flexible, but how flexible? And do they have people to help you choose levels? I am totally unsure about where to put him with their reading materials. I would love to be able to enjoy some of the benefits of "boxed curriculum", but with an accelerated learner, it's so tough! Not sure I could do all the adjustments just based on web descriptions.
from what i can understand if you fully register you can call the adviser assigned to you (same throughout your registration) and they will help with curriculum choices. also you can add +/- two grade levels to one subject in the core subjects without additional fees or just not get the syllabus for a course (i.e. phonics). i have a paper catalog i requested which is easier to navigate than their website.

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

I'm considering using the religion, history, and literature for high school but I doubt we'd use them for anything else. I like being able to piece together different subjects from different places.

[CleoQc]

I'm considering using the religion, history, and literature for high school but I doubt we'd use them for anything else. I like being able to piece together different subjects from different places.

LOL I'm like that too! I need to pick and choose.I'm thinking of using their religion and their sciences..