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3rd Grade
When our kids were in grades 1, 4, and 7 we began
using a curriculum called Tapestry of Grace. TOG follows the “classical
method” using a 4-year rotating cycle of Ancients, Middle
Ages/Reformation, Early Modern and Modern. Based on a Christian
worldview, this is the BEST curriculum I have ever used. Having all three
of my girls using the same curriculum means that they all cover the same
topics and subjects, but each grade level has age appropriate activities
and expectations. Each Year Plan can be purchased in digital format (DE)
as well as in print. You purchase the lesson plans (instructions) for
Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 and then use them over again as you go
through each cycle. If you began this curriculum with your child in 1st
grade you would go through the 4 year cycle 3 times before he graduates
(going through Ancients in grades 1, 5, and 9). The reading books and
reference materials will change with each grade level as you go through
the curriculum, but you only have to purchase the lesson plans once. You
can purchase additional pieces to go along with the curriculum for
subjects like writing/grammar, map work, etc. We added our own math and science
for the older students and the Tapestry lesson plans provided
instructions for everything else...including hands on projects!
At first glance, it can be intimidating. I
honestly looked at it for 3 years and didn’t think I could do it, but I
eventually figured out that each Year Plan has everything in it for
grades 1-12 and I would never “do it all” in one year. We have now worked with Year Plans 1, 2, and 3
and I can honestly say that we are solid in our decision to use this
curriculum until our last child graduates from high school. You even have
access to online help including other users and the authors through the
Tapestry Forum on their website. Check it out by clicking here...
My quick overview of the Story of the World program:
SOTW is world history in story-book format. Reading this together is much
more engaging than reading history text with lots of dates and names that
children most likely will not remember. Older kids could read it on their own, or you can use as a “read aloud” and
include multiple ages.
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
We were first introduced to SOTW when we used Biblioplan for 2nd grade; SOTW was one
of the history spines. At first I did not like the story format at all; I
did not feel it gave enough dates and figures to give a true picture of
historical facts. However, after some review (2 years later), I was
informed by some friends that I simply wasn’t using it to my full
advantage. Using SOTW combined with encyclopedias and other historical
books it would have been better.
My quick overview of the Spelling Power program:
Spelling Power is a program that teaches spelling using lists of most
frequently used words. The book builds on the assumption that
phonics instruction alone isn’t sufficient to produce a good
speller. Rule-based spelling has to be combined with the teaching
of “visual spelling” – recognizing when a word is spelled correctly.
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
It did not take many spelling tests to realize that I had a child who
could not handle failure. Although she was not supposed to know the words
before we tested (they only study the ones they miss), she was in tears
after each morning’s drill. Not worth it. This is a great program, it just wasn’t going to work for us (see
Grade 5 for more information on Spelling Wisdom).
My quick overview of the Abeka
Language 3 program:
Abeka Language 3 covers Grammar, Creative
Writing and Dictionary Skills. The teacher’s manual has information for
each lesson as well as the answers for the student workbook.
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
This was an excellent introduction to formal grammar. Everything was
presented in a manner that both my daughter and I knew what to do. It is
in workbook format and that won’t work for everyone, but it worked well
for us and I felt my daughter was given a great introduction to proper
writing skills.
- Institute
for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
www.writing-edu.com
My quick overview of the IEW program:
There is no possible way to give a “brief” overview of this program, and
I do not yet claim to really understand it all myself, but it is well
worth the money considering you can use it from early elementary through
college!
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
We started with IEW by having my girls verbally give me key words from
text we read together. I wrote those down in an outline and then they
reworded the sentences to be new paragraphs. This exercise really helped
them to pick out key words from what they heard or read.
My quick overview of the Singapore program:
Lessons are done with your child from the Home Educator’s Manual. It
tells you what to say and do. Then parent and child go through the
Textbook examples together. Once the child demonstrates that they
understand the concepts, the Textbook points you to the correct lesson in
the workbook.
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
One word – fabulous. After printing and having my daughter take the
placement test from their website, we purchased the Home Educator’s
Guide, student text and student workbook for the 1st semester.
This was relatively inexpensive compared to some other math programs we
checked out. My oldest daughter took well to this program and we
proceeded to use it with our middle daughter when she began 1st
grade. Be aware that the program is generally considered to be a year
ahead of grade level so it is not uncommon to have a child in 4th
grade place in level 3 (especially if you are coming over from another
math program and may not have covered the same concepts covered earlier
by Singapore). We had a friend use Singapore from 1st grade
through 5th with her oldest daughter and at the end of 5th
grade the girl took an Iowa Skills Test and scored in the 10th
grade math. I think we’ll stick with it a while J.
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