Alternative LearningAre you a homeschooling mama? or maybe you unschool... or maybe you are interested in another alternative learning style? or maybe you don't have any idea what i am referring to?? this forum might just be for you! share your thoughts and ideas
For Kindergarten for my ds we're using.....
Alpha Omega Horizon's Phonics
Saxon Math
my own version of Five In A Row(some of their books seem to be hard to find and I wanted some more Christian and holiday related selections)
I love what we're doing and will use the same things for 1st grade as well.
Also, I grew up on Abeka, and don't really like it. Too many workbooks and busy work and consumable stuff. Not original at all. WE like more hands-on, original, practical stuff along withthe workbook for some balance. DS has a workbook in Phonics, hands-on work for Math, and a combination of Mommy-led and Child-led activities for the rest of his subjects.
For preschool, by the way, we don't follow anything. We just follow their leads and interests. We read, read, read to them, and do tons of different art projects, and talk, talk, talk about whatever their interested in.
With kindergarten, all you're trying to do is introduce basic concepts (what a triangle is, counting with 1 to 1 conrrospondence, etc), and instill a love for learning in them. You know....ignite that fire in them! I was a teacher pre-children, so I have to have that curriculum in front of us, even if we don't use it or branch off from it quite a bit. But I'm very dedicated to making sure it meets each child's needs, and keeps them "children"---ya know? There's time later on from academic stuff. Letting them learn by playing and exploring their world is the whole focus of our hs.
****Also---Mr. Rogers' is watched here EVERY DAY and is a huge part of our day as well. It's ds's favorite show, and we talk about it, do the activities ds thinks up after watching the show, etc. He addresses so many aspects of children that you can't even begin to describe all they many ways we use his show.
For Lauren (8th grade) we're using:
Math - Saxon Algebra and D.I.V.E. CD (a teacher teaching the lesson for me)
Science - Apologia Physical Science
History and Reading - Sonlight
Language Arts - Analogies and Wordly Wise
Spelling - Spelling Power (she's a weak speller so we're still doing it in 8th grade)
Language - Rosetta Stone Spanish
For Nicole (6th grade) we're using:
Math - Saxon 87
Science, History, Language, Health - A Beka
Spelling - Spelling Power
For Robert when he's ready:
Before 5 In a Row - plus he already loves to do simple workbooks from the bookstore so he can do "school" like the girls. :0)
Ann
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Ann
SAHM to 4 beautiful children Lauren ('90), Nicole ('92), Robert ('00) and Joanna ('02) and wife to Bob for 23 years.
Thanks you all . My notebook paper has quickly been filled with titles of books to look for on Wed., at the library, and websites to check out when time permits. I wish I could tell you what a help this will continue to be. You all rock!
I told Cody tonight that I absolutely do not want Kaylene going to PreK, b/c all she needs is here at home. And that I am even more interested in home schooling after today. Thanks a million everyone!
Katie
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I have been blessed with the job of being a mom to Kaylene (7 yrs), Kassidy (4 yrs), Cody (3 yrs), and Clay (born Jan '07). They are my greatest achievement and am honored to have them! I love, love, love my hubby, Cody, and I am so thankful that he is as supportive and helpful as he is.
I just wanted to mention how much I love homeschooling and I hope you will too.
Last year was our first year and I really felt like it wasn't working out too well. I felt like I wasn't doing enough or challenging ds enough.
It was only this year that I really feel I understand the process. I'm sure it will change over the years.
Don't feel too much pressure to *teach* or formalize anything. You will settle into the right approach for your family. You'll do great.
I have heard that the most money wasted it on K curriculum. We get all gung ho and buy a load of stuff. Despite my best intentions, I did it too. I've barely used any of it. So far the best money I've spent has been on 25 cent unlined index cards and a deck of playing cards. My library card has also been invaluable.
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My Parenting Blog! Respond with Love
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Love on granite Let go of all your heart’s holding
Everything weighing you down
And lay here with me, let the world be
For now
~Catie Curtis -For Now- from the Sweet Life album~
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Quote:
Originally posted by tara We're following an unschooling, child-led approach so we don't have a single curriculum. I would say that our biggest resource is the library.
Tara
Tara said it best.
We just started unschooling (been HSing for 3 years now though).
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KD
newly single mom to three awesome kids
arasmama wrote:
Yay, another enki user! We just ordered the kindergarten. I have a friend that uses it and I just love the multicultural aspect of it.
Yes, and the thing that struck a chord deep inside me was when I read WHY it is multicultural.... with the entire goal of Enki ed being to integrate the body mind and soul so the child feels a deep connection within himself~ the stories being multicultural is so that the cultures of world are exposed to them as all different expressions of the same striving human nature. The cirriculumn puts it much more beautifully of course!
I'll look forward to seeing you in the Enki yahoo group Alison (Lauren and Kimberley just bought it too I think- we'll have an amity contingent!)
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formerly known as sagemama
Sage Emma 10-21-99
Torin Rory 05-05-02
Rhys Maryn 11-15-04
MacEwan Arthur 05-23-2007
Originally posted by sagemama
Yes, and the thing that struck a chord deep inside me was when I read WHY it is multicultural.... with the entire goal of Enki ed being to integrate the body mind and soul so the child feels a deep connection within himself~ the stories being multicultural is so that the cultures of world are exposed to them as all different expressions of the same striving human nature. The cirriculumn puts it much more beautifully of course!
We are gong to order this too. I've heard only wonderful reviews about enki.
Isabelle will be starting 5th grade in the fall so I'd have to pull things together myself using the Teacher's Guide as a reference but I'm considering getting the K as a reference for our circle time for both children (Isabelle still loves morning circle and Mason is just beginning to really get into it). Then I'd have the K on hand for Mason to grow into.
Right now I'm using Oak Meadow but as more of a reference/guide.
For math I highly reccomend Horizons (by Alpha Omega...no religious content in their math though) http://www.aop.com/article.asp?chan_id=182
it's just as challenging, imo, as Saxon but not boring. I looked at it IRL at Lifeway Christian bookstore before buying it.
This year we're using OM's math and I'm not loving it like I did Horizons.
We are miquon math flunkies. It failed miserably here.
We've also used Sonlight in the past (although I tweaked it quite a bit to waldorf it up) Hated their Lang Arts. Loved their history and science. Their reading choices were great (tied into history) but my dd balks at being told what to read.
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~Dannielle
Momma to Isabelle (8/95) and Mason (1/01)
We are miquon math flunkies. It failed miserably here.
*lol* We are also miquon flunkies!! Did not work here either.
I put together my daughters 4th/5th curriculum too. I did use OM science but then chose other programs that I thought were best for grammar, vocab, and math. We used Calverts hardcover book "A Child's History of the World" for history and also read the books recommended on OM's website for middle grades. (picked and chose what we wanted to read)
It worked well and now that she is healthy and back in public school I can see how the vocab program that we used really helped her. She is really strong there and it crosses over into most subject areas.
I like this Enki so far... I have not gotten to the prices yet. I wonder if I could combine it with my OM Kindergarten. I'll homeschool our son for K and 1st grade and then he'll go to public school after that.
I was a teacher pre-children, so I have to have that curriculum in front of us, even if we don't use it or branch off from it quite a bit. But I'm very dedicated to making sure it meets each child's needs, and keeps them "children"---ya know? There's time later on from academic stuff. Letting them learn by playing and exploring their world is the whole focus of our hs.
Linear Mode
