tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post21829126095450890..comments2024-02-02T22:31:03.045-08:00Comments on Mt. Hope Chronicles: Mt. Hope Academy @ The Live and Learn Studio ~ January 2012Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-84391995811501676642012-02-02T10:36:34.520-08:002012-02-02T10:36:34.520-08:00Is that my friend Connie I see in the picture??! ...Is that my friend Connie I see in the picture??! Oh, I hope it is! You and Connie are friends I wish I could connect with more!<br /><br />Your book lists are always so impressive to me. While Ethan has finally become a "reader," he does not easily or willingly just pick up a book and read. It has to be a certain, known, sort of book.<br /><br />I started reading Story of the World to him this morning. We're starting half-way through Vol 3 with early American history to cover cycle 3 material. I figure we'll finish 3, then 4, then go back to the beginning. Hopefully that's not too weird!<br /><br />I desperately need to order more math curriculum, and I think we're ready for Teaching Textbooks. Every time I try to load one of their placement tests, it crashes, so I'm thinking of just ordering Book 5. Where did you start and were you happy with that starting point?<br /><br />Hope you're getting the lovely sunshine that we're enjoying!<br /><br />ElaineHeasleyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12485120575677953912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-10262095486272196592012-01-31T21:28:53.466-08:002012-01-31T21:28:53.466-08:00Tsh~ I haven't responded yet, because I'm ...Tsh~ I haven't responded yet, because I'm not sure I can answer your question satisfactorily. :) Teaching Textbooks is our main math curriculum. It is the best thing I've found for independent work with an endlessly patient 'tutor' (ha!), instant feedback, and constant encouragement. Some people feel that it is 'behind' (whatever that means). I feel that if math is actually getting done daily, all basic skills are being covered and then reviewed in a spiral approach, and my son is finally understanding math, then it is worth its weight in gold. For what it's worth, we had to take a break with math around the end of 2nd grade before we imploded. I don't know if his brain just needed a little more time to mature, but things are better now. At least his understanding of math...not saying lessons are done without a fight. Sigh. Also, TT3 works really well with 2nd graders because it starts out REALLY easy. And many people use it a year or two ahead of schedule (as my other boys are doing). So, to answer your main question.... we use Life of Fred as a supplement. I can't see how one would use the elementary series as a main math curriculum unless the parent is willing to run with the concepts presented and do tons of practice and exploring math on the side. I think the higher levels of LOF are more complete from what I've heard, but most people still use it as a supplement. I almost hesitate to highly recommend LOF elementary because of complaints I've heard from other parents...namely that they don't get it--at all. But I DO get it for some reason. Even when the book seems really random and silly, I can totally see what the author is trying to do and how deceptively simple it is. I think it is a GREAT way to get kids interested in math, especially right-brained kids, and to see math in all sorts of new ways. And my boys love it, as does my 7 yo niece. I wish we lived closer so that you could borrow the first couple of books and see how you and Tate like them.<br /><br />Jodi~ Wow, you've had a lot going on in your life. {{{Jodi}}} I can see how school would be put on the back burner!!<br /><br />Katie~ I'm glad you enjoyed the quotes. About the history and literature reading... I don't read all those books aloud. ;-P All our lessons are very teacher-intensive. (Math is *supposed* to be done independently, but that one is a battle so it still feels teacher-intensive. :-P) So whenever I need the boys to do something independently (which is often), I hand them a stack of books for history, literature, fine arts, science, etc. And they read them. And I add them to our list. And it looks like I really accomplished a lot. :) I'm terrible about reading books aloud, mostly because it is very difficult to get uninterrupted reading time with my 5 yo who doesn't stop talking and the 1 yo who needs constant supervision, but also because the boys CAN and DO read independently and I need a break from teaching. For history I read The Story of the World chapters aloud, but that's about it. And this month our reading list was extra long because there were so many books available on the topics we were studying (mostly the revolutionary war). Not all months are like that.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-44893191802486093392012-01-31T19:32:04.269-08:002012-01-31T19:32:04.269-08:00Heidi!
You so often move me towards truth. Thank...Heidi!<br /><br />You so often move me towards truth. Thank you! Love, love, LOVE the quotes from MC Thompson and Bonhoeffer. My heart resounded in a glad "YES!" as I read them. <br /><br />Also, so appreciate the "Meet the Elements" link. Am excited to pass it on to our CC group here. <br /><br />One question:<br /><br />Where do you find the time to read all the History/Literature/Historical Fiction?!! I am honestly and humbly asking this. I find read aloud (except at bedtime) often gets a back seat to all else around our house. Can you help me find some great windows of time you take advantage of that perhaps I am missing out on in our day?<br /><br />Thanks, Heidi!Katiehttp://www.slowingtosee.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-66389179659551683232012-01-30T20:19:51.535-08:002012-01-30T20:19:51.535-08:00I love those atomic models! Can't wait to mak...I love those atomic models! Can't wait to make some of those with my kiddos:) <br /><br />Sounds like you're having an awesome school year!Lora @ my blessed lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05579408092425311320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-56679751136766577532012-01-30T12:09:38.901-08:002012-01-30T12:09:38.901-08:00i'm sending my kids to your house, heidi. at l...i'm sending my kids to your house, heidi. at least the two youngest boys (almost 9 and 6.5). my father died 2 weeks ago after a 2month intense caretaking of him on my end (in another state). i still care for my 89 and 86yo in-laws (4appts/week on average) and a 3yo girl 40 hours a week, as well as homeschooling my 5 youngest, helping my oldest finish college well (she lives at home while attending baking/pastry art school) and taking my 19 and 18yos to their jobs (back and forth. back and forth). and we have 2 teenage moms living with us.<br /><br />i'm so done. we can't ever get school done. forget it.<br /><br />really wishing we weren't on opposite coasts-<br />jodi in paAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-57705032091044246832012-01-29T23:01:52.386-08:002012-01-29T23:01:52.386-08:00Question for you... How do you use the Life of Fre...Question for you... How do you use the Life of Fred stuff? Does it just complement other stuff, or is that your primary math curriculum? I'm desperately trying to find something that resonates with my very right-brained kiddo.Tsh @ Simple Momhttp://simplemom.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-15554185632963966252012-01-29T20:39:52.542-08:002012-01-29T20:39:52.542-08:00Love it when you do this, Heidi! Thanks so much. I...Love it when you do this, Heidi! Thanks so much. I'm especially thankful for the link to the convo between Leigh Bortins and Andrew Kern. I'm in a school slump, so I could use a good mid-year kick in the pants. :)Tsh @ Simple Momhttp://simplemom.netnoreply@blogger.com