Oh Elizabeth

[LadyAberlin]

I thought I remember reading that you combined RS with BJU. Is that right? Did you combine from the beginning or did you add in BJU later. I have level A that I will be using with my k and I had wanted to combine it with BJU and I was wondering how you did it.
Thanks,
Heather

[LadyAberlin]

bumping

[OhElizabeth]

Heather, honestly I wouldn't worry about combining BJU and RS for a K5er! They're so young, have such a short attention span, and just don't need to do that much writing. Do RS level A as written, play the games, and just plain have fun! If you really feel compelled to add something, you could do some drill sheets that you print for free using the Basic Math Facts Worksheet Generator or do a handheld drilling device like Math Shark/Flashmaster.

The combining thing is a preference and really comes in a bit later, when you have more math facts you're trying to solidify. Level A of RS covers MUCH more than the K5 of BJU, so it wouldn't work well to line them up. What happens with RS is that as you get into the higher levels you have to really keep up with the games and DO the drill sheets (plain, boring, uninspiring) that are included in your workbooks. If you don't do those drill sheets, don't play the games, etc. it's going to come back to bite you. And even if you DO those games and drill sheets, every kid is different about how much time they need, how they learn best, etc. My dd did drill sheets till she was BLUE IN THE FACE and the facts weren't coming fast. I put her into the colorful worksheets, interesting stories of BJU and now they're coming. The practice is contextualized, interesting, colorful (she's a dominantly visual learner). The RS games didn't help her nail the facts because they're auditory. But you know, that's an individual thing about your dc and how they learn best, a bridge you'll cross when you get there. I think RS levels A and B are AWESOME and that you can just do them straight, not combining them with other curricula. If at a later point you see some things your dc needs extra, deal with it then. I just don't think you're going to need to with level A, honest.

BTW, I'm prego, and my next time around, that's what I would do, A and B straight, just adding in a Math Shark or Flashmaster for daily practice. I think it's more important to practice the facts than it is to stress over adding in a curriculum. I only added in a short time and finally realized our best option was to go all the way to one thing or the other. For me, BJU in those upper levels (3rd + ) had all the components in one place with one lesson plan number. I knew I was going to have to jump in a year anyway (after RS E), so I went ahead and jumped fully after RS D. I own E and may even use parts of it with her someday, as there are things in it I think are really cool (especially in the warm-ups!). Guess that change was a sticky subject for me. I liked the CONCEPT of RS so much, but I needed that extra practice, etc. all in one place. Dd responded well to the colorful workbooks of BJU. It was just the right change for us. Don't read into that anything implying that RS is deficient, not good enough on its own, etc. Especially at the early levels, you're NOT going to need more. Just do A and have fun! In the later levels, just watch your dc, your own propensity to get the necessary drill done, etc. and make your best decision about how to do it. Really, when people are combining RS and something else, they're not looking for more conceptual instruction, they're looking for more PRACTICE, something you can get lots of ways (playing the games, doing the drill sheets, adding a workbook, whatever). So that's my two cents: cross that road when you come to it.

[LadyAberlin]

Well that makes me feel better. I just saw everyone adding in some other program and I'm the type that wants things mapped out so I know where I'm going. Ds I thought would like the colorful workbooks, but he is liking RS too. He is more visual than auditory so we may need to switch eventually too. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Thanks for helping me out and congrats about the baby on the way!