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dolorsofmary
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| Posted: Aug 16 2011 at 7:45pm | IP Logged
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A close friend just completed MODG K with her child this past academic year and I am about to do the same thing starting in a few weeks or so. The two things she said that she did not like about it were as follows (and I have to agree with her so that is why I am presenting it here for your edification/advice please and thank you).
1) Her children LOVED having bible stories read to them randomly prior to MODG K and afterward the MODG K year it was work/assignment (yet during the summer their joy came back.) She felt pushed with the schedule to keep on schedule and so that one thing fed the other. This is my biggest worry - how do I balance learning and joy? She presented this problem to me and she is about to MODG 1st grade with her child and I am worried that she and I will experience this as well yet again this year.
2) The subjects are not intertwined like in an unit study.
On the hand I had read Laura Berquiste's Teach Tips and Techniques and the part of DYOCC that applies to my son's age and I am very very pleased with the classical curriculum approach which MODG uses.
Any advice anyone can give me?
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Rosemarie
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kristinannie
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| Posted: Aug 16 2011 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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I am not that familiar with MODG although I have Laura Berquist's book. I am doing a mix of Classical/CM/unit studies. I honestly looked at MODG a little, but decided against it for K. I would love it for elementary if there wasn't such a huge amount of American history.
That said, you don't have to follow the curriculum to the letter. You can make it your own. You can use what you have there and do it as you wish to do it.
I ran into a similar problem with CHC religion for K. We are using Who Am I? and the kids were miserable. They complained and said, "We don't have to learn about God today, do we?" That almost killed me! I want them to have a deep love for the Lord. I now do Who Am I? informally. While the kids are doing the craft from the book, I will talk to them informally about the lesson. That has worked much better for us. We also have a nightly family devotional (most nights) where we pray a decade of the rosary and read a Bible story from a Children's Bible. We also will sometimes read religious books during lunch or snack. They love the Children's Catholic Treasure Box books and the St Joseph books. That has worked really well for us.
I personally love unit studies for early elementary. This year, we are taking a trip around the world. We are spending 1-2 months on each continent (with 3-4 months on North America because we did an overview of the USA). We eat food from the region, read stories, do read alouds from the library, geography learn about kids, learn about animals, color, do crafts, etc. It has been a lot of fun. The kids are retaining so much and don't even realize that is "school."
I am really undecided about the future (after about 2nd grade). I definitely love the classical stuff. We will do Latin, Logic, Rhetoric, etc. I like the overview this year though because the kids really are starting to get it. We will read a story about New York city and they will say, "That is where the Statue of Liberty is." The whole map is starting to make sense to them. We read a story yesterday from China and they wanted to find it on the map.
I would love to hear how you like MODG. I am interested in a lot of it. I don't think I could do the whole curriculum, but I like a lot of it! I had planned to use Kolbe next year, but am rethinking that. I might just continue doing what I have been doing.
I really think that you will know once you start using it how it will best serve your family. Honestly, K should be really fun. It has been a struggle finding exactly what works for us. DS hated CHC Handwriting, but loves Zaner Bloser. He hated MCP Phonics and Explode the Code, but loves Memoria Press' First Reading Lessons (I actually had to pray about this one because I was desperate). I am not always going to change curricula just because DS doesn't love it, but I will do everything possible to make K fun and exciting.
If you ever need help, please pray about it. I know it seems nearly crazy to pray over curricula, but that has really helped me. If it works, great. If part of it works, great. If none of it works for your family, then don't feel guilty about quitting it. Enjoy the ride! Kindergarten is such an amazing year!!!! God bless and good luck! Sorry I rambled for an hour!
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John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Aug 17 2011 at 7:08am | IP Logged
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We've been enrolled with MODG for several years and the Kindergarten Bible stories are always one of our favorite parts. My kids have the cutest booklets of drawings from them! Even as an enrolled family I never rushed anything. It was fine! The point isn't to "keep up with the syllabus" but to make sure your children learn to learn and love to learn. If you get behind, no big deal, just go on to the next story. The thing about the program that should be remembered is that it's not so much the content that's being learned, it's the learning skill. A K'er who is to listen to a Bible story then narrate and illustrate is learning to attend, comprehend and then illustrate. The goal isn't to get through the Bible.
I agree that the subjects are not intertwined like a unit study. Writing and reading are included in history and for some years the poetry being memorized is also. But if you want a unit study approach it would probably be difficult to tweak things to that degree.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Aug 18 2011 at 2:23pm | IP Logged
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I keep the joy in K by not doing formal academics. We informally share the things that are most important to us and all the things we love...books, music, food, games, activities, play, etc. I just posted more here.
My "go to" in K are picture books...and lots of them. I honestly never tire of reading them and find them to bring me and my little ones great joy.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Sept 06 2011 at 7:28am | IP Logged
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I agree with Angie Mc. And I have had similar experiences with boxed k programs I purchased. The materials were beautiful, but it really sucked the joy out of kindergarten.
Instead we take an approach of lots of picture books covering almost every subject, lots of nature walks, lots of playtime, working on good habits and enjoying being little. I do keep a little structure in place only because I have three other children and a house to consider. I gentle routine is good for all of us and it makes sure that we have allotted time to DO all that fun reading and other activities.
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 11:19am | IP Logged
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Yes, just do the basics, read a lot, drill in catechism, nature walks, explore museums. As you just have the one, you can have SO MUCH FUN and still learn! A good time to join co-ops and just instil good habits like making his little bed, teeth bruhing, table manners and all that stuff that is harder once they are older and the habit is set.
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: keeping joy in grade k at home
