A Beka just arrived and I am overwhelmed! Any suggestions on getting used to it?

Question

This is the first year we will be using A Beka and we are using it for the fifth grade. We haven't used a formal program before.

I knew there were lots and lots of books and teacher work but now looking at it, it is pretty intimidating!

Do you have any suggestions for getting used it? Any tips of how to keep it all organized? The books do a great job of telling you so much about time and schedule but when you aren't used to it, it is scary!

I guess a lot of what I am looking for are little things like do you leave all the teach books spiral bound or do you stick them all in a notebook? How do you actually use those teeny tiny little calendars at the front?? We put stuff on to an excell!

Any tips would be appreciated!

Answer 1

Don't try to do every little thing in A Beka.  We have always used just the workbooks.  We never even bought the quiz and test books.  I am with my kids and I know if they have learned it so there is no need to give a test or quiz.  Also in math and sometimes grammar we do some of the exercises not all of them.  I have each kid do as many as that one needs to learn and remember.  In other words: You rule the curriculum; it doesn't rule you.

Answer 2

Are you using Abeka for everything?  Abeka can be overwhelming!!!  Keep in mind that Abeka was originally designed for a school setting, where kids are typically in a classroom setting for 7+ hours.

The first year of homeschooling was hellish for me, because I used Abeka for many subjects, and used the teacher's lesson plan, etc.  It was too much, my son became bored and frustrated, and it was just a mess!  After a year, I realized that I was naturally a teacher and all I had to do was look at the material, and figure out how to teach it according to my child's learning style!  Abeka is about drill & kill, and in some areas my child needs that, and in others, he doesn't.  So why should I do it for all subjects?

The jist of my message is this:  go through the subjects, decide which ones REALLY need a teacher's guide.  For the ones that don't need one, send them back.  If the other subjects need the teacher's guide, use them for suggestions, etc, but don't use it verbatim.  Because then you're still doing a "one size fits all" education that the public schools embrace.  Find out how your child learns, and cater the lessons to them.

I hope that helps!

Answer 3

I and my roomate grew up together and homeschooled all our lives. We are in college now. We used A Beka off and on throughout our schooling and for the most part, it is an excellent curriculum, however, we basically followed the general plan of the curriculum but didn't stick to it religiously. As you go along, you will discover things you want to use and things you don't and that is perfectly fine. Go at your own pace and don't allow the books to overwhelm you; it's allright if you don't cover every bit of the curriculum, you will still end up with a well rounded knowledge of what is covered. Though we chose to pick through the A Beka books, what we read still amply prepared us for SAT's and college.

If you decide you do not like A Beka science, we suggest Dr. J.L. Wile's science book curriuculum, Apologia. They are well-written, concise, easy to follow, and interesting, even for people who don't consider science their favorite subject.

Answer 4

Hi! I know EXACTLY how you feel. I started homeschooling my children when they were in 6th(son) and 8th(daughter). (They both were coming out of gifted school programs) We had a really rough miserable first year because I thought I had to do everything in the abeka lesson plans. There were a lot of tears - mine and the kids.We basically just tried to bring the classroom atmosphere into the home. The following year we did Abeka again (because I love how thorough they are) but adjusted things for my son. My daughter (then in 9th) did the accredited DVD course. At first she was so overwhelmed because she couldnt get everything done (she's a perfectionist). When I called Abeka, they gave me the best advice ever that saved her (seems so simple in hind sight)  

    1. - HAVE THE CHILD TAKE NOTES ON NOTECARDS. (this way, they already have study/review cards).

    2. -ONLY HAVE THEM DO THE FIRST SETS OF ASSIGN. IF THEY DO WELL (for example, in English if they ace the first set of sent. don't do the second).

     3 -DO NOT LET THE CHILD REVIEW FOR LONGER THAN 5-10 MIN. (My kids were used to "studing". Abeka is designed for info to sink in a little each day. Once my son got a hold of this concept he really did well). I simply could not believe the time savers these 3 things were. This year, we are giving switched on schoolhouse a try and supplementing with the Abeka for my daughter. My son is sticking with the Abeka for most courses.

     If there was one thing I could say that might put you at ease (and what I finally realized mid last yr) is that God has trusted YOU with your children and knows that you will do just fine. Don't let a company's lesson plans rule your home - just use whatever you deem necessary to assist you. For exampe, my son has a hard time remembering things so the last thing I would want to make him do is memorize ALL the poems abeka has. I just picked one. The others he read and we talked about them. Or I would have him write his own. Things like that.

      Another tip that may help (and I wish I would have know in the beginning) is that when you do the Abeka dvd course they give you a sheet that simply has the assignment numbers only on a calendar. We just used that and then the kids got out their lesson plans that came from abeka with each class. That was so much easier than me making the LPs on the computer. Then I used the little cal. on the front just to hightlight tests for my info (know when to give). Another thing we do is a big 3 ring binder with all subjects in it. This is where we keep all  tests/quizes and a recording sheet in the front for grades. Like previous users have said, you really have to find what works for your family. Even if you use the curriculum in part, you'll be amazed at how much your child will learn. Both of my children test each year(Cal. Achieve. Test) and score in the 98 to 99 percentile.

    I hope you have a fun school year! God Bless you!

Answer 5

I'm glad you're using A Beka. That's a pretty well respected curriculum in the homeschooling community. Your kids will be much better prepared for college and a future life if you stick it out now even though it's tough.

Truth be known, different systems work for different people. You may have a period of trial and error as you try to structure your schooldays. A word of advice though... all the stuff you mentioned, calendars and such, are resources and not requirements. Don't get bogged down so much in the structure of the thing that you lose track of the whole purpose: learning.

A lot of details, like keeping it spiralbound or sticking it in a notebook, just comes down to personal preference. Honestly, timing is the same thing: some people like to get up and start at 8 am sharp, and others don't get started until 10. If something works well for you then stick with it; if you try something and it doesn't work then just try something new. Don't tie yourself down to one specific structure that could end up making school miserable for you and your kids. I will suggest a file system for you, though, that has worked for me in the past...

Really simple, and maybe obvious, but when I started doing this it changed my life.

You know those plastic drawers you can get at Wal-Mart or anywhere? Get enough of those, that you have one drawer for each subject, for each child. Make sure the drawers are big enough to contain the books and notebooks. All the books, notebooks, loose papers, and anything else related to that subject, stays in the drawer when it's not being used. You keep only current stuff, being worked on right now or unfinished or ungraded, in the drawer.

There are plastic file boxes that you can get at Office Depot or a similar supply store. They're about the size and shape of a small moving box. Get one for each school year, and mark the outside of it with a sharpie. Get an acordian file folder for each subject and mark the outside of the folder (ie, "Math 2007-2008"). All the papers, workbooks, notebooks, etc, that you are finished with, go immediately in that file folder, the same day that they are graded.

When the school year is over, you may want to sell your texbooks or use them for another child. But if you're keeping them and not presently using them, you can stick them right into the file box beside the files.

This way all your stuff is neatly put away. Grades are easy to keep track of since it's all in that folder together. And (God forbid) should truancy people ever come knocking, you have everything ready and documented.

Anyway, I hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

Answer 6

Hi-I loved ABEKA program for my son.....especially the Science and Spelling~!~I didn't use the entire curriculum BUT, I know what you mean about it ALL being intimidating...

My granddaughers are using Bob Jones U....this is their first year and they are finding it hard ...Because my daugher-in-law spends 2 hours each morning in "The Word"~she said she is doing 6-8 hours per day....a little too much at age 6 and 8 so split the subjects up, alternating every other day...

As for organization...I removed the assignments from it's binding and would staple each days assignments together for the entire week ...All the Spelling together, Math together, etc...and then paper-clip the bundle together on Fridays..On the 1st page (Mondays work first ) I would write WEEK 1  the date (lexample- Sept.1st-5th)...I labeled hanging folders in my file cabinet Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. etc......At the end of each year, I would clean out the files and put them in a "file-box w/lid" marked on the outside (Sept.2007-June.2008 Grade 5-students name)....

It makes it really easy this way...AND every two years I would clean the file-box out and keep what we wanted, burning what's left....

When your child goes into High School, you MUST save all their work for the entire four years plus!..., and still this filing system will work.....You can also use the Costco Milk cardboard) Cartons with the top flaps removed to store your child's Spelling in One, Math in one, History in one, etc...The kids can cover it with contact paper and decorate them however they want, and put their finished papers in each box everyday when it's complete...your job is to staple them together on Friday, paper clip the bundle and file it......Recording each grade....God Bless You for Being your Child's Teacher!

You will never regret what you are doing, even when it gets overwhelming, at the end of the day :) it's the best thing you can do for your children.......

Remember to let the child take "play" breaks in between every two subjects (each day), and if it's a boy, have them run, or exercise/ They need it more than girls  (trust me on this one!)....

Also, each day of school, I had my kids take a one hour time-out in their rooms (by themselves) to read any book they wanted, (not in the curriculum) or they would nap, and this was my time to go take a nap in my room, set my alarm and refresh each day....It also helps everyones attitudes, and we all need alone time every day...!...When we came back together, we would have a snack and I would let them talk my head off about anything that was on their heart...

Best Wishes to ALL>>>>>;)

Answer 7

My mom has homeschooled my brother and I from since i was in grade 5 (I'm in grade 12 this year). Usually, she gets a big binder for each of us. Then she takes the lesson guides out of the spirals and puts them in the binder and divides each subject with tabs. She highlights tests, quizzes, papers, exams, book reports, and other things like that. She also makes lists of all the essays(although there's probably not too many in grade 5), papers, and major exams we have due and when they are due. Each day, she makes a list of what we have due for the day for each subject and checks it off as it gets done.

e.i.:

English: -Poetry quiz

              - Homework

History: - Quiz 3

              -Homework

Bible:    -Homework

Math:    - Quiz 5

             -Homework

Also, we use the videos, which is a big help in higher grades, if you want to keep using ABeka. All of us really love ABeka.

Good luck!!

Answer 8

We've never used a formal curriculum before.  I'm very eclectic.   I hope someone comes along that uses it.

I would take it slowly and get used to it bit by bit if you can.

Answer 9

a WHAT??

Answer 10

A Beka looks intimidating, but it really is an incredible program. I did all my Jr. high, and high school with it and loved it, at least most of it. I helped a lot in the younger classrooms, and know a lot about the programs that A Beka has to offer. I would leave the books as they are, marking your spot as you go. You need a system that works for you and so if the small calendars don't, stick with your own system until you are used to theirs. The teachers at my school had their own assignment notebooks that they penciled in a few weeks ahead of time, and reused the next years, But excel is an excellent way to go (no pun intended). The most important thing with A Beka is to keep to a schedule because everything is by a weekly basis in the curriculum. A lesson a day, a unit in two weeks or whatever. BUT remember- you are homeschooling with your kids so take every advantage of having a blast-- don't be stressed out and just enjoy the time spent watching and helping them learn. don't follow the curriculum so rigidly that there is no creativity in your day. If you have more questions feel free to email.

Answer 11

Start slow.  Start with just one subject.  Do that for two or three weeks, then add another subject.  Do those two for a couple of weeks, then add a third subject.  If you don't finish everything by the end of the year, don't worry - most public schools don't either.

This method has two advantages.  First, you aren't so overwhelmed trying to figure it all out at once and second, you can see when it's too much.

I would start with the basics (math, reading, English).  If you get all these in and it only takes 2 hours, go ahead and keep adding one subject at a time.  If you do just the basics and it takes 5 hours, don't add anything more.  There will be plenty of time to do history and science (and foreign language and art and music, and ...) before graduation.  Get the basics down and teach them how to learn.  If they know this, they can learn anything, anytime.