Alright! Please tell me more about "Learning Adventures"

[Johanna]

If you are using this can you please give me a feel for how well this is put together. Is it easy to pull off? Is there lesson planning to do????
I love the idea of everything integrated!!! But, i just am not getting a feel for how the days would look using it.
thanks

[Jann in TX]

My dd's were in 3rd (advanced) and 5th (delayed).

I really liked seeing a detailed plan and then being able to make it my own. LOTS of good memories! :)

We did math and language arts on our own (we only occasionally did the LA sections because my girls were both below that level).

You need a good library--if you use Learning Adventures you will be checking out LOTS of books!

You do not have to do everything--and the author gives lots of ideas on how to make the program work for your family. Now there are worksheets available for those wishing a more traditional format.

This program provided lots of cuddle time (I had a health crisis that year) and my girls remember so much of what they 'explored' in the library books--even 6 years later!

We used it for Bible, Science, History and Art and 'read out louds'.

I would recommend this program for grades 4-6... I prefer to start integrating textbooks in 7th and 8th grade to prepare for high school materials.

One of my favorite 'tricks' was to give each dd a stack of Post-It flags (the tiny ones). They marked pages in the books they explored that they thought were interresting--and then they shared them with each other in our 'couch' time.

[Jann in TX]

We started our day with the Bible lesson.

Next came copy work and individual reading/spelling.

We then had some 'explore' time (this is what we called it) where the girls would look through their stacks of library books. I would sometimes guide them by talking about the facts in the manual--then they would 'search' for similar material in their books.

I would try to sneak in Math and Spelling before lunch.

After lunch we always had 'snuggle time'--this is when I read a chapter or 2 from the selected reading book and then we would talk about it (using the questions in the manual as props as needed).

Most afternoons I had the girls share from their library books and then journal. Once or twice a week I would also give them a writing assignment (both dds were seriously delayed in this area--but are now on grade level as high schoolers!).

Just remember you DO NOT have to do everything!

I thought the program was well organized...and easy for me to tweak.

[Johanna]

Yes, I adore the idea of this program..It really suits my teaching style...however, I think i will need to wait a few years as my oldest is in 4th grade (it will be over everyone else's head). I think I am going to go with a younger age unit study like HOD. But, I wish HOD had the LA integrated.
YOur review was helpful!

[Sanguine]

Thank-you, Jann in TX. I'm planning to use this curriculum next year, and your comments have been very helpful. Especially this one:

One of my favorite 'tricks' was to give each dd a stack of Post-It flags (the tiny ones). They marked pages in the books they explored that they thought were interresting--and then they shared them with each other in our 'couch' time.What a great idea.:)