Friday, March 29, 2013

Math-U-See and Common Core

This year, Math-U-See (the math curriculum we use in my home) changed their curriculum to align with Common Core standards.  I've heard a lot of negativity about Common Core in general as it is being implemented in public schools across the nation, so I was a bit worried when I made my purchase for the next level of math for Missa and Liddy.  Missa is about 2/3 done with Gamma so I got her Delta, and Liddy was waiting for me to buy her a Gamma book for a while now.  Well, I sat down with my Gamma materials from Missa and with Liddy's new Gamma books (student workbook and test book both) to see what changes there were.

First, a little background.  The Gamma level that Missa is doing is an older, comb-bound one from 2004.  Yes, the books are from the year after she was born.  Math doesn't typically change much, so I didn't have an issue with an older math book since it was free.  Math-U-See teaches mastery, meaning that you work on ONE topic at a time until you have it instead of doing a little bit of a bunch of things.  Gamma level teaches multiplication, so the entire level starts with 1*1 kind of problems and by the end of it your child will do stuff like 4,569*845 or something like that.  A traditional spiral program will teach basic multiplication facts and then immediately go into basic division facts (division is the focus of the Delta level).

I ended up going through every single page and problem in the workbook and test book both to compare and this is what I found.  There are no extra lessons or changes to any of the problems either book.  The only change is an enrichment page for each lesson, marked lesson page G.  These pages are exactly the same as the extra practice pages in the test book for level Alpha, only included in the work text instead of separately.  For example, page 3G is two dot-to-dot using skip counting, and page 4G is a pictograph with questions and a crossword puzzle.  These pages certainly going to be useful for some of my children who refuse to learn a concept without doing some sort of "fun" activity with it.  But I don't think that they add too much the program it stands simply because of the fact that Math-U-See is in fact a mastery based curriculum with systematic review.

Personally, after using MUS from Primer on up through my oldest about to start Delta now, I really like the changes.  The enrichment pages are totally optional, and do reinforce the material being taught in the lesson.  But also they do sometimes introduce a concept that isn't in the curriculum at that point to create a little "oh I remember hearing about that before" moment when it is taught fully in a later level.  I have up through Algebra 1 sitting here waiting for my children to need them.  I know many parents use the student materials as non-consumable texts, but my family is not one of them so we buy each child a new workbook when they need it.  I think that we may do most of the enrichment pages, but I'm sure there will be some that we don't do just because they don't need the extra practice or I don't want to take the time to teach whatever concept they are introducing.  The program is still the same if you choose to delete those pages, or you can use them and add a little to it.  Either way, you can't go wrong with the curriculum as it is now.

If you want a review of the teacher materials, you'll have to wait for another post because I've not had a chance to get into the Delta set I purchased for Missa (I had to buy the teacher set with DVD since it is the only level I didn't already have those materials)

Thursday, March 28, 2013

slow times and deliveries and other random things

The last couple weeks here have been fairly quiet for us.  We've plugged along in our schooling to a degree, relaxing a bit as the weather has been unpredictable to allow freedom to play outside whenever weather allows (in other words, not snowing or too cold).  But I'm not too concerned about not making as much progress as we should be, as I know that soon enough it will be hot enough that we won't want to go outside as much and we'll spend time inside, enjoying the air conditioning and having the time to pick up extra lessons.

The last couple weeks have also brought us some changes.  We have been going back and forth on what to do for history and science, especially as we have the tax money in and set aside the amount I'm using for curriculum.  One of the only things we did agree on so far is that I needed to order math and toner for the printer.  We both agree that it is time to start digging into US history after doing so much world history before this year, and then picking up with US geography when we brought the kids back home in January. 

The kids and I are all enjoying our foray into unit studies with lapbooking that we've done this year, doing short daily lessons on many topics and reading great books and exploring.  We are next going to venture into creating a nature journal for each kid (including Preston!) when we get our gardens built so that I can buy the little plants for us to grow some produce this year.  If I can save money on tomatoes, peppers, and other goodies that the girls enjoy as snacks daily (yes I have a couple who think bell peppers are better than candy) then it will be worth the effort and learning that we all will have to do.  The man across the side street from us grows corn every year, so I may approach him about growing some extra of it and us planting some extra of our goodies that both families can share (and maybe ask him if he'd be willing to come over and give us lessons on growing things, as he is a retired farmer).

Last weekend we made the purchases of toner and math materials.  Well, more specifically on Friday last week we ordered toner, then on Sunday we ordered part of our math.  I was given a link to a site that sells generic high-yield toner for my printer for half or more off (just depends if you buy the single, 2 pack, or 4 pack).  I've never used generic toner or printer ink before, so we opted to buy a single cartridge and see how it works.  Today my toner arrived, and I love it already.  I've only printed about 30 pages or so with it, but the quality is comparable, if not superior, to the actual Brother brand toner.  By the time my low toner light comes on again from this cartridge, I'll decide if I like it enough to get the 4 pack.  The single I bought cost $21 (compared to $59 for the Brother brand) and the 4 pack is $51, and they both get free shipping via FedEx Smart Post (this method it starts out on a FedEx truck but is then delivered to the local post office for them to deliver to you).  I do believe I will only use this generic toner from www.meritline.com as long as I own this printer.

I also managed to get an unbelievable score for us.  An online friend of mine got some fraction overlays for our math curriculum (we use Math-U-See) among a bunch of homeschool stuff she got, and sold me the overlays for $5 plus shipping costs.  This set retails from the company at $33 brand new, plus separate shipping costs, and I got it for $9.  That is a steal no matter how you slice it!  That on top of all the teacher guides and DVDs that a friend of Scott's gave us last year is going to save us a bunch of money in the long run.  I did have to buy the teacher guide for Delta level, which it is now on the way here from MUS along with a couple of student packs that I need for the two oldest so they can move up in math.  Liddy is ready to move up to Gamma and Missa is on lesson 22 of Gamma now, I needed the math as soon as I could get it here.  Kimmy and Jojo are working with me together on the concepts in Alpha and Beta, not using the teaching materials or student packs at all.  I'm just teaching them place value and addition/subtraction then we'll move them into Gamma probably by fall (which will mean another purchase and delivery from MUS).  Yes I just said that I'll likely have then doing multiplication this fall in grades 2 and 1.  That is the beauty of home educating, we can move totally at their paces in every subject.  I am rather excited at the delivery of our math materials this week, as I did get the new edition that lines up with Common Core so I can see what I think of it.  I'm not one typically to use materials that line up with the public school standards, but since we have discovered that MUS is THE program I need to use because no other method will likely work with Missa and her learning differences I'm ok with that.  I figure that if I really dislike the whole Common Core thing, I'll just sell the Delta guide and DVD and then find a used older copy of Delta.

Now, I am going to spend some time loving and snuggling on Preston as he snores in my lap.  He's moving to one nap a day right now on his own, so I'm trying to ease that transition a bit by letting him snooze on me midday and then he catnaps in the late afternoon.  I hope he adjusts soon and drops that late nap, it is affecting his overnight sleeping.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

busy week of anticipation then disappointment

I had a pretty busy week.  Last weekend we went out and I got to pick out a new dishwasher since ours has been limping for a while now and not doing such a great job at actually getting the dishes clean.  Having to wash dishes at least twice while running the dishwasher at only half filled just doesn't cut it for me.  Therefore, we got me a new kitchen slave that my husband feels is a need to make sure I have just one less thing to complain about (I do NOT like doing dishes, and we've had a dishwasher since my father gave us a portable for Christmas when Missa was a baby and we lived in the trailer so I've been softened and spoiled by the machine).  He says that spending the money now to make sure that I am smiling over clean dishes is beyond worth not having to hear me complain about all the dishes that we go through, and is cheaper than paper plates half the time.

We scheduled for the dishwasher to be delivered and installed today, and then made the decision as a couple to let the kids have the week off lessons so that I could deep clean my kitchen in preparation of the new dishwasher.  I got the kitchen halfway done to my liking before this morning's delivery, which isn't my ideal but it works.  The kids even helped with the cleaning, even down to Missa mopping the kitchen floor this morning until she slipped and fell on the wet floor (she didn't have a shoe on the foot not in a cast).

I should have known that the install was going to go badly when the guy showed up and tried to tell me instantly that we'd not be able to fit the new dishwasher in through the doorway to my kitchen.  I measured it myself before they arrived, the doorway is 2" wider than the dishwasher they were putting in.  He didn't like that, but double checked my measurement and then started.  Pulled out the old one no issues, then measured the space height before he brought in the new one.  It was 1/2" too short.

He tried to tell us that it wouldn't work, however we knew better because the way this house is done.  See, in the kitchen there is a lovely Pergo floor that I absolutely can't stand because it is such a light wood.  We have linoleum tiles waiting for Scott to pull out the Pergo and prepare the underlying floor (meaning tear out the old tiles and prep the subfloor, possibly replacing some of it).  This floor does NOT go under the dishwasher, it just goes up to the kick plate.  Scott popped out the floor board that is directly in front of the dishwasher and poof we have exactly 34 inches of height now for the new one.  So delivery guy goes out to get the machine and have his partner help him carry it in.

They get it in, and we discover one "small" issue.  I say "small" like that because it is just a little thing but it is a BIG holdup.  The people my grandmother bought this house from must have renovated the kitchen and moved the stove, as the 220 outlet for my stove is where the dishwasher goes.  This isn't an issue with the old dishwasher because how the design.  The machine sits up pretty high with a smaller area for the racks to go in.  The new machine is MUCH deeper, and the bottom is almost on the ground to allow for the taller area needed for my adjustable top rack.  It won't slide in with that outlet where it is.

We have an electrician coming out on Monday afternoon to take a look at it and tell us how much it will cost to move it about 4 feet to be behind the stove.  There goes what I had set aside for curriculum, just so I can have a working dishwasher.  Once that outlet is moved, the delivery guy gets to come back and finish installing my dishwasher for us.  We paid the extra to have them deliver and install it plus take away the old one, and I'm NOT going to give up the install part.  I've already spoken to his supervisor about it and he is going to call me on Tuesday afternoon to set up when they will come back out.  Until then, I hand wash every dish we use and try as hard as possible to not complain because my delicate soft hands are being ruined by dishes.

I really hope that the time goes quickly, and that the electrician doesn't charge us too much and can get it taken care of very fast so that I can have my brand new dishwasher up and running by the end of the week.  Until then, teamwork with kids and mom (and dad when he's home) will be how we do dishes.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

buying for the new year

It is that time when we have extra money.  The tax refund is in and we have begun to plan purchases now that we have dealt with the need for some furniture and a few other things.

My curriculum list this year isn't too bad.   Besides the obvious need for the next level in math for the two oldest ASAP, the only other major purchase is a subscription to teacher's file box at Evan- Moor.  Oh, and toner.  I need lots of toner.  The math for the younger girls, art supplies, random unit studies, and other goodies we will purchase as needed with money being set aside.  It is going to be a thrifty and fun year.

Of course, Scott felt a need to surprise me.  He originally planned to get my laptop fixed so I could get it back into the middle of our busy life, but then discovered that it was going to be less expensive to get a new one instead.  So, he did one better; he bought me a tablet.  Not just any tablet either; I was surprised with a new Kindle Fire HD this evening.  I have it all set up and charged, and am checking all the things I need for compatibility now.  So far no issues at all, and  I can even post on my blog with it.   I like it a lot more than I thought I would.

Friday, March 01, 2013

This week's happenings

This week has been fun and interesting for me.  We took a couple days off schoolwork unexpectedly, and we had lots of fun and even had a package arrive today in the mail.  Ready for this?  Here's my week, complete with a couple pictures.

Saturday is where I'll start, since that is the first day of "this past week" with today being Friday.  I started Saturday off by staying up entirely too late the night before, chatting online with a missionary friend of mine who is in Mexico.  I got to bed around 3am, figuring Scott could handle the morning meal so that I could get a little extra sleep.  I was wrong.  He had to go to urgent care for some pretty nasty pain, which turned out to be a severe kidney infection.  Which led to our taking Monday off schoolwork; the doctor told him he was to take that day off work and stay in bed so that the medications can give his body a good head start fighting off the infection.  Daddy at home is not good for our schooling, and we always just end up having to cancel the day's lessons when that happens.  He is too distracting to me and the kids, even if he stays in bed with the door closed so we don't see or hear him.

Sunday we got Preston's first pair of shoes.  I'm not talking those cute little leather soled crib shoes.  I mean REAL shoes with an actual sturdy sole to protect his feet when walking in public.  He was not impressed with his new little brown boots, but he'll get used to them soon enough.  I got them at Sears on sale for $10 (regularly $40) and I also got him a little track suit for $5.40 (marked down from $35).

Thursday we had a plumbing issue come up that had me on the phone most of the day, trying to find a plumber willing to fix it with our old pipes and access issues.  I couldn't find one, so tomorrow Scott gets to buy a shovel and do some digging in our front yard to find the access pipe that a previous owner buried under a raised garden so our regular drain guy can come fix it for us on Monday or Tuesday.  The issue isn't preventing us from doing the basic functions, we just can't do laundry until the drain guy comes to resolve the issue.

Then today, I got a package in the mail.  I placed an order last weekend at Amazon for a couple supplies that we need here.  Kimmy and Jojo are learning to tell time, so I got them a small learning clock to work with instead of the paper one that they made with their math books.  I probably should have gotten 2 clocks so I can teach them together, but this will guarantee that we have 1:1 time on a topic until I can buy a second one (tax refund whenever it gets here, then when they master time I can keep both and have a clock for me and one for Preston when he is ready to start learning to tell time).  They are both excited to start working on telling time with a sturdy clock today; they dislike having to be so careful with the paper one we have been using.

Also in the box was something for Missa.


I found a gap in Missa's knowledge when I did placement testing with her in another math curriculum before we started up again in Math-U-See, and instead of taking the time to search through all the levels I own (Primer to Algebra 1) I decided to just get her a workbook dedicated to that skill.  I've heard great things about the "Key To" series, so I decided to purchase the 4 workbook set for measurement.  She really struggles in this area, not knowing how many inches are in a foot and so on (I know part of this is my own failure to get it into her long-term memory when she was homeschooling prior to this year, and the school had trouble too), so we are going to do a season focusing on JUST measurement with her.  I'm going to start in book 1 as soon as she finishes her current lesson in Gamma, then when I feel comfortable that we've covered "enough" we will pick up Gamma again to finish it while we keep plugging forward.  I hope this series does as well as I've heard they do at teaching concepts.  If it does, then when Missa finishes Delta (the next level in her math program) we'll add the Key To books to her math (they have fractions and decimals and all that great stuff, so when we get to that point we could technically switch completely for a while if we wanted to once she understands the 4 basic operations).

Preston got something too in this purchase.  I was $3 short of free shipping for this purchase, so I added in a new cup for him to use.


His first straw sippy cup.  He loves it.  He is constantly trying to steal his sisters' cups if they have a straw, and doesn't do too well with drinking from a regular spout cup so I thought this would be a perfect time to move him up to a straw cup.  The kid LOVES milk, and now I don't have to hold him in my lap and fight him about holding a regular cup with a straw so that he can have his milk.  This also means that he can have his drink in the van too, just like his big sisters and their water bottles.

Of course, this week wasn't just about schoolwork, a sick husband, and a package coming in the mail.  We had fun together, and learned through living quite a bit.  This week we also had a lesson about dogs and their sense of hearing when Missa ran the sweeper and our dog kept attacking it and barking hysterically.  We had impromptu cooking lessons and some random extra chores that we did, discussed the process of a broken bone healing (as Missa got antsy a couple times and wants out of her walking cast so that she can run and play freely again), and the oldest 2 girls even did a small "written report" on an invertebrate of their choice (Missa did a starfish, Liddy did an octopus) while Kimmy drew a picture of a jellyfish.  We had a lot of fun together as a family through all the things we did this week, and learned things that cannot be taught by a curriculum.