FOCUS GROUP MEETING NOTES 10/19/04


Suggestions for Language Arts.

Suggested curriculum included:

For Reading:

Writing Road to Reading from the Riggs Institute (also available from Rainbow Resource)--addresses all three learning styles, auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Riggs has the full program and supporting materials. Rainbow and Borders have only the books.

Calvert Reading Program: Also addresses all three learning modalities.

Saxon Language Arts materials: Address all three learning styles.

Sing, Spell, Read and Write materials: All three learning styles.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons---This is a book, available from Rainbow Resource and Borders, which those of us who have had experience with it recommend. It addresses only the visual and kinesthetic learning styles.

Magazines were suggested as a good supplement to any language arts program. They are generally visually oriented only, but do address various interests, (fiction, nonfiction, science, etc.), so could stimulate motivation for reading. Examples would be Cricket, Cobblestones, and Ranger Rick's Nature magazine. Other magazines we may want to get vendors approved for are the Zoo Books series and Young Rider (for kids who have high interest/love for horses but can't necessarily afford the riding lessons).

Reading Lessons (name of a program, not a tutoring suggestion)--addresses kinesthetic and visual learning styles.

Alpha Phonics--Addresses kinesthetic and visual learning styles.

(Note: Where vendors are not included, we couldn't recall who they were)


For Grammar:

Winston Grammar--K-8/available from Home Learners/addresses kinesthetic and visual learners.

Materials from EPS Publishing

Explode the Code: Program is primarily visual and is a progressive series of workbooks. Families have had good success with these and like using them.

Editor in Chief: Both workbooks and software/software addresses both visual and auditory learning styles.

Great Source: Comprehensive Language Arts program/vendor is already approved/the grammar component is good/visual learning style.

Transitive Vampire: Mainstream grammar book with interesting and fun examples of grammar errors and correct grammar using high interest subject matter like monsters, dinosaurs, etc.

Schoolhouse Rock software: Visual and auditory

(It was noted that all visual materials could address an auditory learner's needs if read aloud.)


Spelling:

Various games involving spelling practice such as Scrabble and Boggle.

The game Upward (not sure if we have a vendor who carries this): all grade levels and addresses all three learning styles.


Writing:

EPS Dictation Software (we couldn't remember the specific name of the program/software) and EPS editing software: visual and auditory learners.

Editor in Chief software: addresses all three learning styles.

Modern Curriculum Press: Carries portfolios highlighting various styles of writing. Visual primarily.

Materials from Pathway Publishing Company (Secular arm of Alpha/Omega)

Other suggestions included writing contests, either sponsoring them ourselves or creating a link on our website with continualy updated information about writing contests being sponsored by other organizations, magazines, etc.. It was also suggested that online writing tutorials run by a live person might be an option to explore.


Vocabulary:

Games: Fictionary and Pictionary

English From the Roots Up flashcard series/ could be adapted for most grade levels/ visual but could be adapted for auditory.

EPS Vocabulary From Classical Roots: Middle school and up/ visual. Could be adapted for auditory.

The Reading Teacher's Book of Lists by Fry, Kress and Fountoukidis, published by John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0130281859---not sure if we have a vendor for this/ possibly could be special ordered from Borders'.

The Vocabulary Teacher's Book of Lists, Edward B. Fry, Ph.D., ISBN 0787971014


I am e-mailing the math suggestions separately as this is so long.