Seasons of Learning

The initial review stated that Barton jumps into s...

2012-01-26T23:06:00.141-05:00

The initial review stated that Barton jumps into syllable division while simultaneously introducing syllable types. That is exactly what should be done in Orton-Gillingham-based reading systems (which is what Barton is). The purpose of teaching syllable types is to learn vowel sounds within a syllable, because syllable type determines vowel sound. The purpose of learning the syllable types is to not only be able to decode one-syllable words of various syllable types, but also to decode multi-syllable words containing any of the various syllable types. But as a Barton user and an Orton-Gillingham trained teacher, I must comment that the Barton system ONLY introduces three syllable types (open, closed, and unit) before beginning the basic syllable division rules. There are six basic syllable types, so that leaves 3 types that aren't even introduced at the point syllable division begins. By the time the Barton system introduces syllable division, 3 syll. types have been taught, so I don't see a problem beginning dividing words into syllables. Besides, one of the major tenets of the Barton system or any other O-G system is not to proceed faster than the student is mastering concepts.

I used the first 3 levels of Barton while homescho...

2011-12-13T19:37:27.818-05:00

I used the first 3 levels of Barton while homeschooling. My son didn't know how to read at all after Kindergarten and I used this method exclusively. Although it is very good, I don't think it contains nearly enough reading practice and the extra sheets you can print off are boring and tedious for a young child. It is difficult, because we are told you must use controlled text. But the controlled textbooks don't come until later (end of level 2? I can't remember now....) and when you do start them, they are not that fun. At least my son was not thrilled with them. Could just be him. :) I really think it is less about the method and more about the environment. I don't think it's possible for one mother to force the amount of practice necessary on a child with a profound reading/language disability. He is in school now and there is a whole team of people helping him. He has his teacher, after school help, a reading group, a reading tutor, a speech therapist, and a RTI teacher working with him. The amount of practice they can squeeze out of him there is so much more than I could at home. The problem is, they don't do nearly enough phonics instruction. They mostly are reviewing stuff he already learned but now he's actually remembering it and using it. Not controlled text, though, and I worry about him guessing and forgetting so much of the phonics he learned. I think that ideally, he needs a program like Barton WHILE being immersed in reading at school.

So good to hear from you. You're beautiful!! E...

2011-09-21T02:48:40.365-04:00

So good to hear from you. You're beautiful!! Enjoy those precious moments with your baby. You won't be able to repeat them, my friend. I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom. Praying right now.

Fall as a time to slow down and relax?! Where do ...

2011-09-20T00:43:34.350-04:00

Fall as a time to slow down and relax?! Where do you live?? I'm moving there!!!! :D But congrats on your (beginner's luck??) aim. Happy homeschooling to you as well.

Hi Trisha, doing well...been busy...baby is gettin...

2011-09-19T23:46:48.994-04:00

Hi Trisha, doing well...been busy...baby is getting big! Mom is in the hospital with cancer and kidney failure:( it's been a hectic summer. Hope you are doing well too my friend!

Tina, Just checking in to say, "hello." ...

2011-09-19T19:09:04.256-04:00

Tina,
Just checking in to say, "hello." I hope all is well with you. I'm sure Sweet Baby has gotten so big. :)

Thank you for your post. I would like to get timel...

2011-07-15T07:42:44.900-04:00

Thank you for your post. I would like to get timeline figures for kids.
my email: ursust@yandex.ru
Olga

Perhaps as believers we need to start taking God a...

2011-07-12T13:17:53.166-04:00

Perhaps as believers we need to start taking God at His word and actually do what He says. As you go through the Old Testament, God many times says to stay away from the gods of those around them. Don't even learn about them. Concentrate on Yahweh our Elohim and teach your children about Him and His instructions found in His Torah.
I do believe it is more important to teach from a Hebraic model of education than the Greek/classical model.

The books aren't particularly organized, they ...

2011-07-12T09:45:24.222-04:00

The books aren't particularly organized, they are more like "lumped together", lol! I try to keep similar categories "near" each other, but haven't done any purposeful organizing as of yet :) The ones in the baskets are typically the ones were use more frequently or access daily.

All About Spelling and Wilson Reading System are t...

2011-07-12T09:38:01.867-04:00

All About Spelling and Wilson Reading System are two different programs.

Thank you! I am loving it. It's about time for...

2011-07-12T09:36:43.307-04:00

Thank you! I am loving it. It's about time for a dusting though, is there an easy way to do that? LOL!

Tina, This is amazing!! I'd love a bookcase li...

2011-07-11T23:15:02.963-04:00

Tina,
This is amazing!! I'd love a bookcase like this. :)

Glad you all are enjoying the blog!

2011-07-11T17:05:40.830-04:00

Glad you all are enjoying the blog!

Wow! I may be a wee bit jealous! All that space, w...

2011-07-06T23:51:48.402-04:00

Wow! I may be a wee bit jealous! All that space, what a dream :)

Love it!!!! I'm always looking for places for...

2011-06-28T10:04:15.083-04:00

Love it!!!! I'm always looking for places for my hubby to build me more bookshelves too! Yours are especially nice!

I am not too happy about ordering on-line but I di...

2011-06-27T04:45:26.227-04:00

I am not too happy about ordering on-line but I did manage to order binders and pages from Keepfiling. Each binder got a different finger ring color and from that I organized it for each theme as History or Bible. The cards are now very easy to work with and it looks very nice.

i read your blog first time.Jigsaw puzzles are a g...

2011-06-15T06:23:18.297-04:00

i read your blog first time.Jigsaw puzzles are a great way of helping children learn and have fun. There are many benefits that they can get from these jigsaw puzzles..

I have been researching AAS as an affordable repla...

2011-06-14T12:01:58.107-04:00

I have been researching AAS as an affordable replacement for Barton. We have been getting Barton through our local University interlibrary loan and my daughter is starting on Level 4. I have been really pleased with the program and her progress. Unfortunately I may not be able to get it throught library and haven't convinced the education department that they should have a set on hand for their education students ;o). That would solve all my problems. REAL QUESTIONS, 1) Are the programs similar enough to switch at this time? We really like the wooden tiles and I need the instruction for teaching. 2) Is All About Spelling the same program as the Wilson in previous posts or is it yet another OG program?

I'm thankful I can post here without having it...

2011-04-23T16:31:49.457-04:00

I'm thankful I can post here without having it deleted because someone doesn't agree with me or doesn't like what I have to say :)

Thank you each for sharing your responses to the article. I value the various perspectives and enjoy learning from them.

Funny, I don't remember having to sign a form ...

2011-04-23T15:33:01.242-04:00

Funny, I don't remember having to sign a form that said that I agreed with everything - or anything - that SWB or anyone connected to her said or did. Heck, there are lots of participants on that forum that don't follow the style of education that she promotes!

I tend to agree with Mr. Quine. I do think we have...

2011-04-23T15:31:28.832-04:00

I tend to agree with Mr. Quine. I do think we have to be careful (as Christians) not to make a classical education more important than a biblical one. There are theological implications to the choices we make, even when choosing curricula.

Not everyone in the homeschool community is looking for conservative religious materials and others feel they can work around it if they stick with history or language arts.

Bottom line. Parents making curricula choices need to be aware of their own doctrinal beliefs so that they can discern for themselves what to use with their children.

Thank you very much for the information on Iota ma...

2011-04-23T15:25:34.685-04:00

Thank you very much for the information on Iota magazine. I had not heard of it and I will probably subscribe. I agree that classical does not equal Christian. I am personally only interested in secular or mostly secular classical materials. I find it frustrating when the two are mixed together as if you cannot pursue one without the other.

I found your thoughts to be very insightful and th...

2011-04-23T14:24:49.483-04:00

I found your thoughts to be very insightful and thought pondering. We must ALWAYS, as Christians, keep our eyes wide open. The devil comes to rob, steal and destroy. He doesn't walk in the door introducing himself, but through a slow, methodical, hardly recognized process. We are all fools if we don't continually re evaluate what we are doing, and more importantly teaching our children.

Anyonymous 4/20/11 You've voiced some valid co...

2011-04-23T13:53:47.067-04:00

Anyonymous 4/20/11
You've voiced some valid concerns and I appreciate you taking time to share your opinion and disagreement with the content of Mr. Quine's article. Bless you in your continuing hs journey!

Thank you Shonya :)

2011-04-23T13:49:58.194-04:00

Thank you Shonya :)