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Angel
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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I got the elementary manuals I ordered from Montessori R&D yesterday, and my first impressions are that I am very pleased. These albums contain *a lot* of information. All of mine seem to be copyright 2004, so they're pretty much up to date. The Geography 1 manual is HUGE and tells you how to use the puzzle maps with elementary age, plus pin maps and other projects to do. The Chemistry manual is supposed to be for ages 6-12 and contains some quite advanced material.
The first 4 Language manuals seem to be quite detailed and full of plenty of exercises for 3 years of work for most children. What I was most struck by, even upon cursory examination, is how logically topics are laid out. (The first 4 Language manuals are meant to be used concurrently, so in order to have the full language program, you'd have to order all 4 at once.)
There are a few typos here and there, and I haven't checked out the math manuals yet. Also, the looseleaf manuals don't come three hole punched. I guess you could have these comb bound, but I was going to put them in binders. So it's going to take me some time to punch *all* of them! (Hopefully I'll get around to that this afternoon.) They were shipped quickly, though, and got here exactly when the company said they would.
I'll post more of my observations when I've had a chance to go through the manuals more thoroughly.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Land O' Cotton
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 8:32am | IP Logged
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Angela, I'm interested in the geography manuals. Did you buy all the manuals as a set? It seems quite expensive to get all the subject manuals, and I wondered if they might be sold in a set (as elementary) for a better price?
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Vicki
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 9:04am | IP Logged
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This is so great to hear Angela! I really want that Geography manual! I can't wait to hear what you think of the other manuals. Please keep us posted after you get a chance to look closely at the others!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Meredith
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 10:21am | IP Logged
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Angela, would you say that the Geography Manuals are more detailed than the MTC online Cultural Albums??? I'm also REALLY interested in the Math Albums. Also, do you mean that all 4 Language Albums work together at the same time? Thanks so much for sharing 
Blessings!
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Meredith
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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How exciting! I am very interested in the chemistry manual as ds wants badly to do some chemistry this year and though I could wing it, it would be nice to have a guide. Does the manual have a materials list?
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Celeste
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 9:21pm | IP Logged
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(Theresa, you are so cool--winging chemistry! I am in so much awe.)
BTW, if you ask with your order, they will hole punch at no charge.
I just finished going through Math 1 (elementary) and it is very thorough--lots of information, description of materials, how to present, purpose, some philosophy sprinkled here and there. No pictures, really. I also went through Geometry 1 and Geography 1 almost page by page, and I'm very impressed. RD Geography has more detail than the link; but it's elementary and the link is primary, so that's to be expected.
Oh, the geography has ways to mesh continent study with history, zoology, botany, etc. (it actually stresses the importance of this at the beginning of the manual).
Celeste
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Meredith
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
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Ooh, Celeste, I'm so glad to hear this, I really want the Geography Manuals. So could one start with Manual Volume I and cover quite a bit in a year (with a 3-6 and a 6-9), or do you think it's necessary to have them all???
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Meredith
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Celeste
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| Posted: July 18 2007 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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I THINK you start with functional geography, then geography 1. I'm not sure. Geography 2 is Elementary 2 (9-12). There's some overlap with primary in Geography 1. Definitely still using the puzzle maps and globes. Just more, broader, deeper.
Baby's calling
Celeste
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Angel
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| Posted: July 23 2007 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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Sorry about the delay in getting back to this thread! July's busier than Christmas around here. 
A few observations so far:
Language manuals 1-4: Each manual covers a different topic, which is why they don't follow each other in a progression. Manuals 1-4 cover grammar, word study, sentence analysis, and language mechanics. You'd probably need at least the grammar and language mechanics manuals to start off with, since you wouldn't want to wait to do punctuation (in the language mechanics manual) until after you'd finished grammar (manual 1). The sentence analysis manual recommends that you wait until after you've introduced the verb and "hunting the action" in a sentence to start sentence analysis, so you could get away with waiting to purchase that one. The word study manual is basically prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, antonyms, that kind of thing. And Language Manual V is more complicated grammar, sentence analysis for 9-12 yos.
Chemistry: This manual is a little weird. It includes a lot of the knowledge that I missed in high school chemistry, like writing equations for reactions, but you would definitely need a book of experiments to go along with it. The manual is laid out with different recommendations for each "level", which sort of correspond to grades. Technically I guess you're supposed to cycle through the manual, pulling out more knowledge and activities every year. Knowing the way you do things with Superboy, Theresa, a book of experiments or something like Real Science 4 Kids might be better -- especially if you have enough knowledge to wing it!  (I'm sorry; this is probably hopelessly vague, but the kitchen has suddenly become Grand Central Station... just let me know if you want more info!)
I'll be back to add more about the geography manual...
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: My Montessori R&D manuals are here!
