4Real Forums: curriculum advice?

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Living Learning
4Real Forums : Living Learning

Topic: curriculum advice?

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

Syncletica
Forum Pro

Joined: June 11 2007
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 450

Posted: April 16 2009 at 6:18pm \| IP Logged

I didn't want to hijack the other thread dealing with something similar, so I hope no one minds if I ask here.
We are struggling financially.
I have to make a decision soon for how I'm going to register with my homeschool board. Normally I've been 50% aligned - Math and L.A. - and that just means that I still choose what I want to use for those subjects, but try to make sure everything they require for that grades objectives gets covered. I get reimbursed $1100 for aligning 50%.
My dd has to be tested with PAT's this year (Gr. 3) simply because I'm somewhat aligned. If I went 'traditional', I'd get $700.00 funding and could do what I want. No hassles. I find I'm getting stressed out, b/c she really doesn't have much experience with story writing, and that's one of the tests. Look at the picture and write a story. It scares the dickens out of me. ("What if she fails?"

)
Anyway, I had full intentions of trying to do a full Charlotte Mason approach this fall, which would mean leaving the workbooks out of it, right? No spelling, L.A, Vocabulary workbooks would be used, right? I'm new to this.(For Math I'd probably stick with Saxon. That would be 25% aligned, not enough to qualify for the blended program.)
2 problems present themselves. I'll be having baby #6 in August. And, we could use the extra funding. I really wanted to go 'traditional' this time, (the previous years I went 'blended' simply for the extra funding), but I'm getting tired of answering the 'educationese' questions that I am often not sure how to answer or would just rather not be bothered. If you have any advice for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.
TIA!

Lauri B
Forum Pro

Joined: March 11 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 208

Posted: April 17 2009 at 1:30pm \| IP Logged

I think it would be less work to teach one or two troublesome skills through out the year than to do a whole CM language arts program. (Speaking as someone who has written her own curriculum for 16 years, LOL.) You could practice looking at pictures and writing stories once or twice a month all year. She just may be a pro at it by the time testing rolls around. I can't help but think that would be much easier than writing a CM LA curriculum with 6 children, one of whom will be a baby.

I'm not sure what state you're in, but I imagine there are support groups or online support groups with samples of educationese that you can imitate - particularly for 4th grade. Maybe your hubby could help with answering those questions, or a friend (online or not) who's especially good with that bluffy educationalese stuff!

As far as scoring poorly, rarely do schools WANT a poor scorer in their classrooms. She would bring down their averages. ;-)

Syncletica
Forum Pro

Joined: June 11 2007
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 450

Posted: April 17 2009 at 2:39pm \| IP Logged

So, (just trying to clarify

) you think I should align the 2 subjects, and get the extra funding then? I really don't have much experience with curriculum planning, I've just been 'winging' it. We accomplish what we accomplish and that's that. I don't have weekly or monthly goals, as yet. (Although I'd love to have some help with getting that done.) I was thinking it may be too hard to get all the narrations and dictations, etc. done with a newborn, a toddler, 2 preschoolers....etc.

But, yet, others have done it. So it must be able to be done, no?

Bookswithtea
Forum All-Star

Joined: July 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2621

Posted: April 18 2009 at 7:36am \| IP Logged

Syncletica, I don't understand what you mean about aligning with the homeschool board. You don't have to tell us where you are, but can you explain a bit better? Are you required to report to this board (state or national requirement) or is it a choice (like a charter school)? And are you looking for ways to align (and get the much needed funds) and still use a CM approach?

__________________
Blessings,

~Books

mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and

due 9/10

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com