| Author | |
Vanna
Forum Pro
Joined: May 09 2008
Location: Kansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 331
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 1:07pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I know that I should have made these decisions already...seeing as it is August...sigh. But in true procrastinator form, we have yet to decide on a curriculum.
I feel that we need a structured curriculum, at least for this first year. I really like Sonlight but do not like that it's not Catholic. I like Seton but do not like that there isn't a lot of living books. I also like the cost of Seton much more than Sonlight...but I do not want someone else to grade and keep track of my son's work (Seton).
I don't know what to do. Any suggestions? Insights?
Thank you.
__________________
Wife to K  Mommy to B (ds18) and G (ds8)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 1:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
If it was me, I would pick Sonlight!
 Because I do!
When I very first started Homeschooling, over a decade ago (eegads!) I went with Seton. It was solid and structured and that is what almost every single family in the Catholic group I belonged to used.
I *hated* it.
DD *hated* it.
It left no time for snuggling and couch-time and reading and school was just something to be finished as quickly as possible so we could actually enjoy homeschooling.
I sent it back. It was so *not* what I wanted our homeschool to be like.
This is just us! I know many families who use it and love it and it works well for them.
It did NOT work for us.
It is hard to compare SL and Seton - they are SO different. MODG and Sonlight are more similar, IMO, but their focus is different - tho both use living books, etc.
I have used an item from Seton from time to time - a grammar book, or an art book. But in all honesty, I have never used one of their items all the way through - it has usually only been for a few pages and then when I see my kids eyes glaze over when I pull it out - nah, for us, there are just too many choices that don't have that effect. THey are very, very work-book-y. Even my little dd - who is a great fan of workbooks  , would pick CHC or even the Walmart workbooks over Seton ones.
Sorry, I know this probably didn't help much.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 1:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Have you considered Mother of Divine Grace?
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 1:26pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
or Kolbe?
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisbet
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2706
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 2:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
seton stinks. sorry, couldn't help myself. even with that said I have one enrolled for the upcoming year. (oldest ds)
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amyable
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3798
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
LOL, echoing everyone else.
I found it MUCH easier to Catholicize Sonlight than to make Seton "living" and "fun". 
ETA: whoops, accidentally pushed ENTER and posted. 
There is a SL-Catholic yahoogroup that is very helpful for ideas on what to add/remove from SL.
90% of what you pay for with SL can be reused for another child or sold - if you buy used, you can usually make much of your money back if you keep the books in good condition.
But you don't HAVE to send your work to Seton to be graded if you don't want to. Or you could enroll with just certain subjects that you feel you need help with.
__________________
Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amarytbc
Forum Pro
Joined: July 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 323
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Is there some reason why you can't register for a few Seton classes and use Sonlight history and science? I believe single course registration is $100 for k-8 and it includes everything plus they grade papers and answer questions if you are stumped. You could do English, Reading and Religion with Seton. The questions for book discussions are deeper and, of course, more Catholic than the Sonlight questions.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Martha
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 25 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2291
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 3:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I like seton's english and reading courses and find them worth it. enrolling in the course gets you the lesson plans, books, and grading. But you don't have to use their grading resource, just don't send it in. I usually don't.
sonlight is so far out of my financial league, even used, that I've never even considered them.
I find we have plenty of time for additional reading and fun not being fully enrolled in Seton. My oldest just started 8th grade yesterday and he is spending a LOT of time on his studies this year. I think that's appropriate and fully expect it to be more so each year from here on out, kwim?
It also depends on your personal family needs. Some times we do have to give up a little of what we like most to get more of what we need more. You might need structure more than you need lots of fun. We tend what and how we do things depending on the phases of life we are in.
__________________
Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Tina
Forum Pro
Joined: April 26 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 429
|
| Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Seton, IMHO, is dry and not very interesting to children (or me ). Especially their history and science. But this year, I am enrolling my dd12 in Seton for all subjects except math. My reasons have to do with her personality and temperment and maybe partly her age. She likes to know what is expected of her every day. She likes a schedule and a list and she wants to just work and get it done. And, frankly, I'm happy to have someone else "grade" her work. Not because I don't want to, but because that way she is held accountable by someone other than "mom". I really enjoy teaching the CM way, and dove into real books this past year. My other two dds loved it! DD12 "liked" it, but could not stand working around my schedule and her little brother's naptime. She will continue to join us for our Teatimes and some other things that she enjoyed. I think this will also be good for her to prepare for a future that might include a Catholic School, since she has never been to school.
But I probably would not enroll in Seton for a young child. It's just like "school at home" and not my idea of home schooling. But this is just my opinion. I like CHC for the younger years. It has structure and lesson plans but is not so dry.
Just my 2 cents.
__________________
~Tina
mom of 3 girls and 1 little man
The Best of Times
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
denise3578
Forum Newbie
Joined: June 30 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33
|
| Posted: Aug 06 2008 at 3:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We have just started using Seton this year, and I have to say it has been our best year yet. My daughter, who is 14 is in 9th grade. She has some learning issues (visual, and sensory) and their special services department has been very accommodating. I have also called on occasions with questions and they have been quick to answer.
I also thought "school out of a box" was not really "homeschooling." But I think it's a matter of how you do it. If you just hand them the workbook, well that's nothing special. But if you sit down with them, read the stories etc much discussion ensues. You don't have to fill in the blanks if you don't want to, you can use them as discussion points. My children actually like getting grades, and like knowing they are doing something that other kids do.
I am not too good at staying on schedule on my own, we have many doctor and therapy appts. So having a schedule to follow, however loosely helps us.
As far as the workload, it is flexible. There are parts that are required for the grade, and parts that are parent graded - those are optional. If you would rather spend that time doing read-alouds, or whatever - that's up to you.
Anyway, for us it has been great.
Denise in NJ 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Aug 06 2008 at 4:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've used the Sonlight reading lists for history on my own - not using the syllabus or being enrolled.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barb.b
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 22 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
|
| Posted: Aug 06 2008 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I use seton for English, reading and catechism and love it. I use choose other sources for the rest of the subjects. I haven't yet enrolled completely in seton because I just like choosing my own thing for science and history especially. The english program is very thorouph and for my younger 2 (K - but reading at 1st, and 5th) the readers are a good fit. They have the great option of enrolling in single subjects!
Barb
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: Aug 06 2008 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Vanna, I've been using Seton with some of my children. The best part is having the grading along with the online support for record keeping and tailored weekly plans.
If you don't want the grading and you want living books (not workbooks), is Seton a good fit?
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mariB
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 20 2006
Location: Vermont
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3815
|
| Posted: Aug 07 2008 at 6:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have used Seton in the past. One school year when my oldest was in 9th grade. Also, we have used Reading and English courses. If you follow the plans completely...you will go bonkers! The reason I switched was because my son kept complaining...
I am really a big fan of MODG...like Cactus Mouse said it really is a lot like Sonlight (living books). I have never used Sonlight but I have always wanted to...it has always been due to financial reasons. I have friends who use Sonlight and absolutely LOVE it. They will use nothing else.
Cactus Mouse is also right about the NOT snuggling on the couch with Seton.
I do respect Seton in a lot of ways. Their courses are academically solid. But I wonder how much the kids grasp after the course is completed.
I am pretty lousy at following lesson plans. But I find following MODG lesson plans a lot easier! Easier due to the fact that you can substitute.
For Catholic and living books thumbs up on MODG!
__________________
marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
leanne maree
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 25 2008
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 508
|
| Posted: Aug 07 2008 at 6:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi,
I very rarely post, but I quite like Seton.
we also use a living books approach mixed with Seton.
We mainly use English, Maths and Art.
history, science and music and geography are living books.
we sort of schedule living books inbetween book work, it seems to work for us.
I have added a book or 2 slowly, and try and have days of just reading and fun.
We set days aside for feast days and with the OlympicsGames, we will focus on them.
I just review our year at the end of every year.
God Bless,
Leanne
__________________
God is Love
Leanne
Loving wife to Dermot and Adoring mother to Louise, Kristie, Kieran & Brid
http://leannemaree.blogspot.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SunnyD.
Forum Newbie
Joined: Aug 06 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Aug 07 2008 at 6:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Last year was my first year homeschooling. We used Seton for all of our daughters and loved it! These year, the books are even better. My girls and I love that the lessons plans are already done and they can just start their work whenever they want to. Actually, they've already started working on schoolwork because they couldn't wait to tackle the new books that just came in a week ago! I love that I can go online and pull up the lesson plans, change what I don't want them to do, and print them out.
The counselors at Seton have told me that it is absolutely not necessary to do everything in the lesson plan. It would really be far too much. So the parent/teacher gets to choose what their child needs to do.
We love Seton because the Catholic books are wonderful, the lesson plans make life much easier, the counselors are always available, and my children love getting report cards!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
leanne maree
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 25 2008
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 508
|
| Posted: Aug 07 2008 at 6:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh i forgot to say, we don'y enroll,
leanne
__________________
God is Love
Leanne
Loving wife to Dermot and Adoring mother to Louise, Kristie, Kieran & Brid
http://leannemaree.blogspot.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Ouiz
Forum Pro
Joined: July 10 2006
Location: South Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 109
|
| Posted: Aug 07 2008 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm with Jennifer and Marianne -- big thumbs up for MODG!!
My next-door neighbor uses Sonlight and loves it (she is Protestant). I have seen the books they are reading this year and some of them look interesting...
...however, the layout of the program, the HUGE binder that comes with it, the look and feel of it... just wasn't for me at all.
I liked the idea of a classical education from the start, so I used some of MODG's ideas in the earlier grades for my kids (but with a lot of substitutions). This year for my oldest (5th grade) I am finding myself using more and more of MODG's syllabus -- it just fits our family better.
I love literature... and memorizing poetry... and learning Latin right along with my kids... grammar... and fascinating read-alouds for history. I like that the lesson plan is definitely do-able, challenging, and not overwhelming for me (as I struggle to teach 5 at one time).
__________________
Ouiz
Blessed to be married to the man of my dreams and mom to 8 wonderful children here on earth
B-17, G-16, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, G-7, B-4
Chez Ouiz
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Vanna
Forum Pro
Joined: May 09 2008
Location: Kansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 331
|
| Posted: Aug 08 2008 at 10:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I looked into MODG but it looked to be really expensive. Is that right? It seemed there was an enrollment fee and then you had to purchase all of the books too? I was a bit confused by the website. Maybe I need to look at it again.
I really think we will use Sonlight. They have a payment plan so I can pay about $300 down and then make monthly payments for the next 9 months. That is the only way we can do it.
My husband said that he felt Seton was too dry after looking through some of the materials they sent. He felt that ds would not enjoy homeschooling as much if we went that route.
I will look at MODG.
__________________
Wife to K Mommy to B (ds18) and G (ds8)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Caroline
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 04 2006
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 706
|
| Posted: Aug 08 2008 at 11:04am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Vanna, you can use the MODG syllabus without enrolling. The syllabus is only $30 and then, of course, you have the cost of books.
__________________
Devoted Wife to and Mama to three beautiful boys and another little boy due in September, and two beautiful souls in heaven
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Seton Question...
