amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Lilmamibella · 03-22-2006, 01:48 PM

I've been reading some books and I think I will be doing eclectic homeschooling. I need suggestions for second grade math and foreign languages. I've heard that its really good to teach more than one language. I would teach spanish and then something else. I would be learning along with them. I've heard of rosetta stone and muzzy.. is there any other foreign language programs out there? What do you recommend? I think I would be okay teaching reading, writing, and maybe science and history. I'm a little iffy on science and history. I want to let my son read regular books. I've also heard its better to let the kids read all levels of books. I would let them learn things that they are interested in and would try and make unit studies out of them. Its so many choices out there! Help!

3boysnagrl · 03-22-2006, 02:19 PM

something you might be interested in for science: www.livinglearningbooks.com It is a guide that gives you TONS of resources for different studies. We have 2 years worth here, and they are wonderful.

You might find something there that interests your ds - and it will take the work out of finding appropriate books. We have used the Earth and Space science guides. We also have the one on animals, plants and humans.

You might also want to just get a couple of good Usborne books to use as a guide. We used Encyclopedia of World Geography along with Story of the World for our history for a couple of years. We also used a couple of the science books and did notebook pages.

For history, many of us are using or have used Story of the World as a basic guide. Pick a time period you might find interesting. The main book is simply stories about the time period. Then you can use those as a jumping point to get more books form the library. The activity guides have reading suggestions in them. They offer read aloud suggestions as well as books that younger children can read on their own.

Another place I have used when not using their curriculum (I'm using the curriculum now because I am worn out for piece mealing for now), is www.sonlight.com The booklists are really good guides for what would be age/grade appropriate.

HTH

Tap dancin mama · 03-22-2006, 05:38 PM

We checked Muzzy out from the library and while it was fun to watch a few times, I don't see myself putting my kids in front of the movie *every day* so they can learn Spanish. Rosetta Stone is a great program, I had Bryce use it in 3rd grade, but I thought even that was a little early. It's all done on the computer while Muzzy is all video...

Chels~ · 03-23-2006, 10:35 AM

I have a second grader this year. For math we do Math-u-see; history we use galloping the globe as a guide (Includes history and lit. for each country); Science I have been using the Kingfisher young Knowledge books (We read a little then do a project listed in the back of the book).

We are not doing a Foreign language this year, but another program not mentioned is Powerglide Jr.

benNpeanutsmom · 03-23-2006, 10:50 AM

I picked up a Japanese immersion program back last
August for $1 at Comp USA. It has games on it and the boys never even realized they were learning Japanese. I couldn't get one of them off the computer, he loved the games so much.

Also, got Italian In the Kitchen from Daedalus books. It is a cassette tape with an activity book for ages 4-8. Think that was $5.

Lilmamibella · 03-23-2006, 02:52 PM

I've been online all day checking reviews and websites.
Here are the two picks so far for complete curriculum: Calvert and Abeka dvd

Now if I do a pick my own thing then here's what I've found and not quite sure of:

Rosetta stone for foreign language

Living learning books- science

Miquon math- math

Story of the world- history

language arts/writing/reading- well I haven't really found anything yet but that could be because I was focusing more on math and science. I would like him to read regular books. I would probably have him give oral and written book reports and/or write a couple paragraphs on different topics.

Art adventures at home- art
I would have him study a few artists as well.

Nothing is set in stone of course. I'm still trying to look for more reviews or suggestions.

My daughter would be in preschool. She's 4 years old. I would read to her a lot. I would probably just buy cheap workbooks to use with her and a computer program. I'd also do arts/crafts with both kids and lots of field trips! I'd also work on numbers. She knows all her colors and know most shapes. She can count to twelve. Both kids know some spanish. My dh is Mexican and we would like the kids to know more spanish so they can speak to relatives on the phone or even write to them would be great.

Lilmamibella · 03-24-2006, 03:11 PM

I requested catalogs from Sonlight and Calvert. I also printed out the brochure from Abeka. I showed my husband the brochure and explained that I'd also do Spanish with them. He was fine with the estimated costs of everything..He'd even like Destiny (my four year old) to have a curriculum. But, I'm waiting on the other catalogs to come in to show him. I like that Abeka has the teacher teaching for you and I would just offer help if they needed it. Its basically all ready to go for me. I also requested information from the home school association. On Monday I'll be going to a homeschool meet and see how they do things. I think the lady mentioned that they do co-op classes too. I'm so excited!

Tap dancin mama · 03-24-2006, 10:17 PM

If you are intrested in DVD type programs, Bob Jones University Press has a DVD program and Switched on Schoolhouse has a computer learning program. Just a few more ideas...

http://www.bjupress.com/services/bjhomesat/

http://www.aop.com/home/Curriculum_SOS.php

Lilmamibella · 03-24-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tap dancin mama

If you are intrested in DVD type programs, Bob Jones University Press has a DVD program and Switched on Schoolhouse has a computer learning program. Just a few more ideas...

http://www.bjupress.com/services/bjhomesat/

http://www.aop.com/home/Curriculum_SOS.php

Thank you! I'm going to check them out now.