Abeka DVD users, questions please!

[MommyInTraining]

I am trying to find out if Abeka uses talking animal puppets in their presentations or a lot of talking animals in their material.

I wrote and asked them and the person who wrote me back said she couldn't be sure that a teacher wouldn't use a puppet. For those of you familiar with it, can you tell me if there is a frequent use of talking animal puppets? Also, for assignments that use talking animals, i.e. Winnie the Pooh, Aesop's, can these easily be omitted or substituted?

Do the beginning readers have animals talking?

Thanks so much for any insight you can offer....

[Donna A.]

I know that the Maxwell's chose Abeka over BJU for this reason (or this was at least part of the reason), but I also know that they chose Rod & Staff for reading and spelling in the lower grades because of Aesop's Fables and some of the other stories in Abeka's reading program. They don't use Abeka for Lit or Reading at all... only for history, science, math and grammar. They use A Reason for Handwriting for handwriting, and something completely different for phonics/learning to read.

Have you seen their new book "Managers of Their Schools"? They talk a lot about this in that book. www.titus2.com

I know this doesn't answer your question about the classroom presentations on DVD, though.

What about My Father's World? I see that you're using that now. Is there a reason you're not wanting to stick with it?

[Mesa]

I'm only 4 weeks or so into Abeka's 3rd grade program. So far there hasn't been any puppets or talking animals.

[MommyInTraining]

double post

[MommyInTraining]

What about My Father's World? I see that you're using that now. Is there a reason you're not wanting to stick with it?


I was planning on going with Heart of Dakota this year, but it just seemed too overwhelming with the different levels. After plodding through Adventures for about 2 years with MFW, I really didn't want to go with them again. I had used K and Adventures and just felt like it wasn't what I wanted. However, I have entertained the thought of doing 1st and ECC this year after all. I had planned on combining everyone for science and history, but it seems like the little ones are just getting lost in the shuffle.

I just don't like what we are doing and am not sure what I should change. I still have my hands full with the baby and thought maybe DVD school would work for us. I really like BJU better than Abeka, but we don't do talking animals so that knocks BJU out.

Any thoughts?

[MommyInTraining]

Excuse my ignorance but, I know with BJUP you have to buy the complete grade, is Abeka set up where you can purchase individual classes?

Thanks!

[TraceyS/FL]

Excuse my ignorance but, I know with BJUP you have to buy the complete grade, is Abeka set up where you can purchase individual classes?

Thanks!

I'm 99% sure no - not until you get to the upper levels, 7th and up just like BJU.

There is an Abeka DVD user list on yahoo - i was on it at one time when i was pondering using it. I'm sure that you can get more help on a variety of levels there (in case you hadn't checked there).

[Donna A.]

Terri, I'm just looking at the resources you've got listed in your siggy. Wow, girl, you've got a lot going on! And I see some duplication... three math programs, two different preschool programs, and a phonics program which, at least when I looked at it, seemed very overwhelming and time consuming. (Although I haven't used it, so maybe that's not accurate.) Is there anything there that you can eliminate? Can you describe what you're using with whom, and what an average day looks like for you? Maybe a couple of us can help you get organized just a bit better without having to jump to a DVD program that it sounds like you don't really want, anyway.