As a fairly seasoned homeschooler, I have had to learn this. Sometimes it is a hard lesson, other times it is fairly easy to take.
Already into our second week, I am having to make a couple of changes. Character Quality Language Arts is one of those changes. This is the second time I have tried this and really, it just is too much for our family. I can see how it would work ok for a smaller family or a family who has mostly older students. However, it is not a good fit for us.
So, I am now back to trying to find a writing curriculum for my third grader. I am debating a couple of different approaches. Write my own plans or,..hunt down something that will work? Praying, for now, as she is only beginning third grade, and is able to write sentences.
What do you use?
The other is one of our lapbooks. Even though my son is in sixth grade, with his dysgraphia, he is just not ready to research, write the information down and build a lapbook. So, we are doing a few things to make this better, because I LOVE the A Journey Through Learning TruthQuest supplements. They are wonderful and will benefit the family.
Here are the changes:
- Student will help me find the information.
- I will type it or write it down on a separate piece of paper that they will then glue onto the booklets.
- This will help them learn the steps of research and such.
My students on their own, will be completing some other lapbooks from A Journey Through Learning that will correspond with our history lessons. These lapbooks have study guides or use only one book to complete each booklet.
Many times when a curriculum isn’t working for our family, I will modify it or eliminate parts of it. However, with Character Quality Language Arts, it just seems that eliminating or modification for our family would be extremely time needy. Time for me is an issue, so, I am hunting.
So, have your found something that just isn’t going to work as planned? Is Modification possible?
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Also, for this age - I used Explode the Code, which gave us plenty of writing, spelling, penmenship, all in one. I think 3rd grade is too young for a full blown “writing” curriculum.
Debbie recently posted..First Day Mishaps
Queenshomeschool.com has some great material. I am using Language Lessons for the Secondary Student (for 7th grade) and I really like it. It is Charlotte Mason style, so it’s not too repetitive like most workbooks. It has beautiful artistry and small lessons and seems to be just enough.
Debbie recently posted..First Day Mishaps
When I started homeschooling, I used only Abeka. The hardest thing for me to do was changing parts of my curriculum-that whole comfort zone thing. I now only use Abeka Language/Grammar and their Math. I do not use the writing part of the books-just strictly the grammar.
We started using WriteShop this year and so far I really like it. I have only used it two weeks so time will tell but so far it is a good fit. We are using WriteShop I for 7th and 9th grade. My 3rd grade and Kindergarten students are using WriteShop Primary. I am not sure if she has it on the website yet but WriteShop had a middle school curriculum on the table at the convention I attended.
You might recall that I just went through the same thing myself - when I chucked My Father’s World in July! It was truly the last thing I expected to do, and I debated just making “tweaks,” too. But I did that last year and would have had to make too many changes to make it worth continuing. It was a stressful process in some ways - I’ve taken some heat for it from a few other moms - but I have total peace about the changes I made.
As for writing curriculum, we’re going to try WriteShop Primary C. Have you considered that?
Tina H. recently posted..10 Reasons My Kids Like Being Homeschooled
I could have written that myself! I have put primary language lessons and intermediate language lessons to the side for us after just a few weeks too. I’m going to give Rod & Staff’s Beginning wisely and see how that goes!
Melissa recently posted..The Homeschool Mother’s Journal - First Week of School!