Sorry you can't get it now! I'm thinking that they often have it on sale at the conventions, but it's been a while since I've bought there! Hope they still do!
I am just finding this thread and haven't read all of it. With the 20% off for April, I wanted to try it and see what it's about with elective type classes only. I got religion class for both kids (3rd and 6th grade) that they started this week. I also bought health for both for next school year and Indiana History for the soon to be 4th grader (our state doesn't require any particular curriculum for hs'ers, but all 4th grade school students do Indiana History. I will go with the tradition too). After two days of religion, it seems to be working out well. There are several very nice features. One I wish they would add is the ability to assign a class certain days of the week. It automatically assigns the days. You can go to the calendar and say it's a non school day or field trip or whatever so there is no school work assigned that day, but so far I cannot see a way to input certain classes being certain days of the week. Also, one thing to keep in mind is the student has 18 months to complete the material.
Jen, did you call and ask them? Maybe there's a way that you're not aware of, or maybe it's not there and they can build when they redo it, if they know there's a need for that.
I like the monarch idea-but want the set, without the religion-we need catholic. Wish I could put an elective in its place.....someone said you could use sos over and over-but there was a note that on the website that both monarch and sos expire after 18 months. Does that mean they just stop giving you the updates for sos?
yeah, BrandyBJ we have used ours for a few years I am using Sciience 8 for the third child, one is in college one is just in 7th grade.. so thats 6 years? Jen, I thought it said something abotu being able to asign it to certain days (Monarch) that was one of the selling points with me, check and see if there is a way would you? Cause that may made a difference for me with electives, I only do so many days a week kwim? THANK YOU! And thanks for posting your review!
Monarch expires, SOS doesn't. We tried to set up SOS last night. It's giving me fits!!! For one thing, you click on the tutorial, and it tells you 15 steps to set one part up, but it doesn't let you do it as you go, kwim. So I watched, then when I went to do it, I had NO IDEA. So I had to watch a second (and third) time so I could write down step by step what they want me to do. And that was only ONE thing!!! It's driving me crazy!!! Tell me that I will really like it once it gets all done!
I will look into it further and certainly plan on asking them to add that to the features for future updates. One thing I forgot to mention is if you have multiple children doing the same class, you have to buy the class for each and every child. Also, you cannot use the class more than once. These are just a couple of the things to keep in mind when considering. I didn't look at the full set because I do not want a Bible based curriculum for science or history, we already use different math programs we love (Horizons and Chalkdust). I don't think the religion class teaches a certain religion. I would describe it more as Bible class I guess and that may be what it's called. I'm not sure. AOP would certainly limit their customer base if they chose to sell a religion class based on one certain religion. You can buy whatever you need ala carte.
Jackie after having used it now for what 5 years ... hmm maybe 6 ? I can tell you you will findit easy after a while. Do you have any questions about setting up? I only have drama class today so will be gone off and on but will be back. WHEN YOU FIRST SET IT UP, Be sure and do the choice to set up your own calendar of days off etc. You have the newer version so there may be more options for you but it is so much better from what dd said! I always start with my schoool year then sign in a child-- one year we did all three on one computer so they each had a password so no one played tricks lol. I have my own percentages for what is worth what < I set the quiz for more than one chances and test only one in Math, but in Science i set it for more chances. But for T and F only one chance always. I also make everythign available to them the talbes, calculators etc at the level my kids started it I figured they knew the additions and such, and they needed it for major calculations on some problems it tells them to use it even . Let me see, Oh, if you set it up with wrong dates you can always go back and regenerate it, so dont stress! You can also set up a moch set of lessons on it I had two going for dd one year though and she got confused on what one to do, Lol I was using one for a helper for me, to teach with or do the lesson and remember the process to help her. but like I said she got confused so I deleted just that set. Hmm, okay enough info jammed into the computer! HAH! ask me any thing else I think its Dana who has it too who can give you some help tooo!
Jen I agree, they have a great set of elective bible classes too, they have a year or Bible survey where they go through the bible teaching many things from start to end too. We did that year with my older son. We also found thier younger Bible classes to be basic, not bias taught just the stories and lesssons from them. and sometimes what they can do with the words they read. Like to live more how God wants them to that kind of thing? but not a bias in one religion or the other just studying the Word, Bible.
I think I mess up by saying that I didn't want dates, and then when I went to set assignments, it told me that I needed the dates first. Whatever! Faythe is trying out the science right now. I've been TERRIBLE with her and science this year...haven't found anything that works...so I'm hoping to get her through the first unit before we quit for the summer. (The kids don't know it, but I plan on reading "George Washington's World" to them this summer, lol!)
Jackie that is the reason I started using it, for science because I was ot keeping up with the levels, I was great with grade school science work, but I knew I needed someting special for jr high, so science came in SOS form and they love it! That is one class I keep SOS for! Aside from the veiring I have done wbecause of co ops and now with dsyounger one we have tried differnt ones that made me like science, I like SOS bette than the computer version of Apoligia, but I will still use that for Biology for ds cause we have it! I have a couple years before that though ( sorry if my typos are worse today I am having tendonitis probs agian in thumb from the extra typing I am doing lately haha)
That's good to know! Faythe is 9th grade this year, and is doing the 7th grade science. I figure if we can get her through that, she can take Apologia Physical Science and Biology at the co-op her junior and senior year.
Thats a good year its good science ! John started it last year, but we lost it so jumped to 8th SOS science this year, he is off and on with that because his co op turned into a full course of Astronomy using Apoligia as a spine! the teacher (mom) really did her research and has a lap book, small books, extra hand outs projects etc for them! WOW! so I still have his 8th grade for him to finish up on by next year haha, Nice to start ahead and head back. Last year we did both SOS and co op for most of the year, he was almost done with 7th when it fell behind the shelving unit ( we just found it the other day haha) but I chose my computer to put this one on, and loaded it all up! That is anothe rbenifit you can load the whole thing up or use the disc! In the first years My dh made copies o fthe discs to have kids use those and not loose the good ones. but I think they made them so you can't do that now.
Jackie one of the best helps it is for me is not having to decide the grade! right now I am working on grading my drama class ( what was I thinking? lol it is hard to grade creativity! ) I have to have them in this week and am reading papers I had them do to review Our Town, and notes I wrote on different projects, and attendance, and behavioral grade drops... sigh, its tough being a MEAN teacher hahaha! I love that we did not put emphasis on grades in my house but it woud have been easier to decide what level to give them in somethings.. at least I told them that spelling would not be marked down but neatness counted on the review!
We were more worried about the different books being excluded in the bible lessons (that's the only catholic difference usually). But if the younger classes are basic, seems it would be completely appropriate, given they would (hopefully...hehe) be starting catechism anyway (uh, we'll see). Wait-so they can only take each class once....which is fine, if they do well. How is it handled if they do poorly? And does anyone know if you can get multiple levels in the set? My oldest has Asperger's and his testing ranges are all over the place. If I get him all 5th grade work, some of it won't be appropriate. Seems alot of people like the sos program.....
ya, the only one that does the books of the bible I think as a whole is one year you can check the scope and sequence
I think it is done like SOS however you set it up you choose how many times they can send something back if its not goign well
For Monarch you can let them try problems as many times as you want and you can also set up the grading scale. You change it under your administrative controls
oh cool, I am really thinking I like that idea, of using it for an elective, I forget which one I was looking at but will look more this weekend.
So-my son is studying geography(he's in 4th grade but this is a hs subject.) Soooo maybe we'll just order that elective (for on the side.)! Ha! And although most probably don't do this, can you order different sos programs all throughout the year? I can't find info on that..... Haha-I have to laugh...20% off the same month you have to pay taxes...
