Homeschooler Savvy

Update on Life of Fred - time for a change

OK so we finished Life of Fred Fractions and Life of Fred decimals and percents (ok well, we almost finished it).  But the shiny has worn off, we are now exploring Plan B. 

Plan b consists of Mortensen Math and Saxon Math.  Mortensen Math is like Montessori Math in plastic and extended to algebra, calculus and trigonometry.  We are doing the drill that goes with the Saxon math (it only takes about 20 minutes and it's done wonders for her speed).  More on all this later.

Another plug for Singapore Math

There was a very interesting article on a Los Angeles school which switched from its old math curriculum to the Singapore math curriculum and the number of students scoring at grade level on a standardized test jumped from 45% to 76% in ONE year.   

I knew I liked this curriculum.  It states in the article that it is a difficult curriculum to teach.  I would have to disagree with this (at least homeschooling with it up to grade 6 level).  If you get the home school help teaching version (I get it through Sonlight), everything is explained VERY clearly.  Anyhow, if you want to read more, here is the link and an interesting explanation about how this curriculum was actually originally adopted from Russia via China. 

Singapore Math have their own website, or you can get it from Sonlight Curriculum.  (And no, neither of them have bonuses for referral - unfortunate!)  If you are in the US, you can get a US version - so you can learn the metric and imperial measurement systems therefore not having to stay part of the WAM club (We ain't metric).  If you want to read an old post we did on switching between math curriculum's you can go here.

Factoid: Singapore is only 250 square miles: the size of Lake Meade - or 1/4 the size of Rhode Island.  It is part of the British Commonwealth of Nations.  Of course the fact that I once lived there for a year may also have biased my opinion of this math curriculum.

Aussie Kim

Earth day with NASA

If you are looking for some links about Earth on Earth Day, try the NASA site - it's got some cool stuff.  AND it's safe enough to let your kids look through their pages. 

Want to go into space to see Earth completely for yourself?  All you need is a spare $30 million.  Check this field trip out here. 

Want to see photos taken to date of Earth by astronauts?  See them at this link.   Ever heard of a crescent Earth?

Special Earth Day features on NASA.gov include:

--NASA EARTH DAY Web site articles.

--"Top Ten" Earth photos from the space station (selected by the Crew Earth Observations team).

 

--Blog with NASA scientist Sue Runco, who specializes in astronaut photography from space.

 

--Astronaut Don Pettit's "Cities at Night" video -- a personal perspective from his mission in 2003.

 

--Earth Without Earth? A feature story on the famed Apollo 17 photo of Earth.

 

--A video featuring some of the best Earth video, with narration by a scientist.

 

For these special features and more related to Earth Day, visit their website.

My best recommendation to show your kids - a 7 minute tour of Earth's Frozen Assets (the Cryosphere) - an amazing video made by NASA, which deals nicely with the whole melting poles issues. What better discussion related to Earth Day?

Happy Earth Day!

Aussie Kim

Science Experiments with TOPScience

Who are these people?  A non-profit organisation for teaching science?  How can you teach science with only paper clips and duct tape?  After teaching math and science in West Africa for the Peace Corps, with very limited resources, Ronald Marson became pretty good at exactly that.  When he returned to the US, he met his wife Peg (a design artist) and together they developed the TOPS curriculum. 

Pros:  The cost is VERY low, but the quality of learning is incredibly high. The booklets tear apart and the student pages can be photocopied for multiple students. The experiments are VERY straightforward, but the text of the student record pages REALLY get your students thinking (sorry, hypothesising) well.  So far we have used Electricity(#32), Magnetism(#33), Corn and Beans(#39) because they were part of the Sonlight curriculum.  We built (and drew) circuits, built compasses, and grew and measured monocots (corn) and dicots (beans).  They are each stand alone units, so can be done completely independent of any curriculum.  These are absolutely the BEST I have seen in science experiments.  Very simple and the kids build all the equipment the need from scratch.  They have a THOROUGH understanding of the stuff they study once they are done.  Perfect for homeschoolers!  Have a look at their website - it canvasses what they have very well. TOPS Science You may be underwhelmed by their website, but trust us, their product is first class.  If you buy through Sonlight, you can also buy the science supply kit with all of the materials needed. (However, most of the supplies are household related items. Check it out before you buy it.)

Cons: I can't think of any.

Anyone else used any other of their units?

Aussie Kim

Singapore Math to Saxon Math and back to Singapore Math (Our Fourth Grade Transitions: Another Perspective)

It must be the age or the year or something about Grade 4 that makes those girls want to change things up in math. 

Dearest Daughter (DD) at grade 4 decided that math was unnecessary for her career path. What was the point, she already knew how to add, subtract, multiply and do long division?  She even knew what fractions were and could add them.  What else could there possibly be? (HOW do you answer these questions? Please post!) 

The grass always looks greener on the other side, so after we established that math was actually REQUIRED for college entrance at Grade 12 (senior) level, DD decided the curriculum we were using was the problem.  Her friends didn't seem to have a problem with what they were doing, why couldn't she try their books? 

In a moment of weakness (courage?), I conceded this might be a good idea.  We took a placement test, and she went from Singapore Math grade 4 to Saxon math grade 6/5 (what her friend was doing).  We looked at her friend's book - she liked the look of it.  Unlike the economically savvy Louisiana Sue, I PURCHASED a new Saxon math book (thinking DD had FOUND her math calling).  We used it for 4 weeks, at which point she quietly asked if we could change back to Singapore Math.  Seems like she was surprised at how much repitition was involved in her friend's curriculum, it was very easy to understand, but she just wasn't used to going over things as much as they did.  So, with her happy to go back to Singapore Math, I ate the investment in the Saxon book, and we returned to our original curriculum.

The interesting thing is, I never had the same problem with Dearest Son (DS), so I suspect it was herself just testing the waters as to the flexibility of this homeschooling thing, and perhaps the teacher needed more ways to express the use of math in DD's potential career paths?  (I'll never know!).  Perhaps Math-U-See would be better.  Perhaps unschooling would suit her better? Perhaps I should stop second guessing myself! If it ain't broke don't fix it, right?

Pros: I would recommend Singapore Math to those parents of kids who are quick to pick up concepts, and are bored with repetitive practice past the point of mastery.  I particularly like the dual emphasis on the metric system and the imperial system right from the beginning.  They are taught both systems at the same time, and it seems to work quite well.  The metric system is not some foreign concept kept for "later".  They are very heavy on regular practice with word problems which get the kid thinking.  I like this too.

Cons: The Singapore Math curriculum is not the type of curriculum where the average kid can teach themselves. The Saxon math can be a self teach math book. It more closely matches US grade progression.  Saxon math is taught in small incremental levels, which in effect means basically the child can teach themselves just by working through the book.  Courses which the child can teach themselves are particularly good for large families, and also good for the self confidence of the child.

Singapore Math also has quite a good science curriculum...more on this later. 

Saxon math is also reviewed by Louisianna Sue on this website.

Any other grade 4 math transitional experiences out there?

Aussie Kim

If I had another kid to start all over with...

here is what I would use for a child who had just started to read, - in public schools this is traditionally around grade 1.

1. Reading: Sonlight Curriculum books "I Can Read It!" books This is a good place to start if you think your kids need more practice reading three letter words.  It is repetitive and funny for the kids, (read: painful for the parents) and they seem to love it.  Once they are through these books, they are ready for the Pathway Readers.

2. Reading: Pathway readers are by far the best next stage for kids that can read three letter words that I have seen.  (Imagine stories about kids who do not watch TV or play electronic games!) Just work through the books with the kids at THEIR speed. This means not making them sit there for longer than they can manage.  This may also mean in the beginning not doing more than 10 minutes a day - trust your instincts about how far the child WANTS to go.

3. Reading: "Explode the code" books 1,2,3.  These match perfectly with the "I Can Read It" books. One or two pages per day is plenty.

4. Reading/Vocabulary/History/Geography: Listening to good books, it is hard to go past the selection that Sonlight Curriculum provides for Grade 1 books for you to read to your child.  I only had trouble keeping their attention with "The Child's History of the World". At this age I suggest if it doesn't hold their attention, become a dramatic reader or move on to something else.  Geography puzzles are useful (USA and WORLD puzzles).  Geography games are fantastic.  You don't really need a curriculum for this stuff, just lots of great age appropriate books and games.

5. Math: "Singapore Math" If you started them off with Singapore Math for kindergarden or Montessori Math, then they just slide right on into the grade 1 math books.  The pages are still very kid friendly, and word problems are an integral part of the books.  If you didn't start them with Singapore Math, get them to take a placement test and if they can manage it, I would start them on this math curriculum.  I initially supplemented my math with a lot of Montessori Materials - these materials are amazing for simplifying the explanation of any mathematical concepts. We would play with these materials too.  I highly recommend the materials (beads and cards) which help explain the decimal system (counting in 10s). 

6. Science: daily nature walks, or weekly visits to zoos, arboretums and parks.  Introduce nature journaling if possible (keep it fun), collect fallen leaves and insects.  Learn how to press flowers and leaves, and go buy some insect pins and some Styrofoam and learn how to pin insects.  Get some great science books and just browse them.  Sonlight curriculum has some great picture books for this level and the next.  I would buy some of those "Why is the sky blue" type question and answer books, and use it regularly.  Explain the use of binoculars, look at the stars and moon with them.  Schedule a weekly or daily time for this (great for a "break" activity).

7. Art: Unlimited access to paper, pens, crayons and stickers; frequent supervised fun with paint, glitter, glue etc.  ONLY observational comments or reflective statements, eg. "I see you made the moon green!" OR "It looks like you put a lot of work into those clouds!" OR "What do you like the best?".  Don't turn them into praise junkies when it comes to art!  Pencil work helps strengthen their fingers for handwriting skills - the more the better.  CORRECT their pencil holding EARLY, or it will be a lot tougher later.

8. Practical Life Skills - as described by the Montessori Method- includes kid sized broom, mop, bucket, (they LOVE to help at this age, just accept any offers of help - no criticism!); spooning beans, rice (fine motor control, handwriting skills), etc etc. (See the post below for recommended books on this).

This is what worked best for me at that age for the essentials! Try and make sure that school at this age is FUN, relaxing and interesting. Remember you are laying the groundwork for the rest of your communal homeschooling life! 

We would be interested in hearing other "If I could do it over for my new reader or 1st grader".

Aussie Kim

ABeka to Saxon (Our Fourth Grade Transition)

I hate fourth grade math. I really should say, I hated fourth grade math until I started switching my kids in the fourth grade from ABeka Math to Saxon Math.

It was a bit of a struggle for me, for several reasons. First off, I really loved ABeka math in the early years. My kiddos were happy with it. I was happy with the progress they made. We were shiny, happy homeschoolers learning math. Until we hit the fourth grade.

When my oldest, Salamander, entered the realm of fourth grade math, he would sit for HOURS looking at his math book. The end result was three, maybe four problems worked and a definite spike in my blood pressure. I was aggravated, he was aggravated and most important of all, he wasn't learning.

Which brings me to my second reason for struggling over the switch. I had the, "You just have to stick it out, try harder, quitters never win,..." mentality. When he hit the fifth grade, I grudgingly agreed to give Saxon a try (a friend lent us a book, so it was free) and he was off like a shot. Math was so very much easier. He was happy, and my blood pressure was within normal limits once again.

Then came child number two. Slow learner that I am, I started her in fourth grade ABeka math, and for my trouble I got the same results. This time, however, I made the switch much sooner.

The third child is in ABeka third grade math. We're starting him in Saxon Math next year. What can I say? It finally sank in.

What I learned, and what I'm trying to share with you, is that you can't be married to an idea, philosophy or curriculum and sacrifice your child's education in the process. Homeschooling is about individualized learning, after all.

I don't mean to tell you that ABeka is bad, Saxon is good. It just didn't work for us. Your children may love ABeka math until the end. You just have to be willing to be flexible, and find what works for you.

Your blood pressure will thank you.

Sue