A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers

* Bright Ideas Press

* Grades 4-8

* $34.95

We are a family that loves classical music.  My daughter plays violin, my oldest son plays cello, and my two youngest boys will hopefully join them someday. 

 I was very excited when 

Bright Ideas Press gave me a selection to chose from for my review.  I did not hesitate to pick this full year curriculum!  After using it with my children the past few weeks, I am so thankful for my choice!

I knew the moment I saw this book I would like it!  It is a nicely made product and with 298 pages it is so much more comprehensive than I expected it to be.  

Some Highlights of the Program:

• Organized and Well Explained-  Begins with "Dear Teachers" and an Introduction explaining EVERYTHING you need to know to implement this program, including a suggested daily schedule.
• Note-taking Pages and Student Review Questions- fill in the blank note pages as you read
• Composer Info Cards- students color, cut out, & glue composer photos onto an Information Card- filling in the blanks on the back. 
• Game Suggestions- including one to photocopy
• Folderbook Directions 
• Suggested Music-  web site suggestions for listening to specific composers & time periods
• Coloring Pages
• Timelines-  photocopy and fill in composers, relationships, major historical events
• Maps- photocopy and fill in
• Glossary
• Certificate of Completion 

This program contains 32 lessons with each lesson being done over three days per week.  Very doable and not at all overwhelming.  It begins with an overview of Ancient music, music of the Middle Ages, and Music of the Renaissance.  You then delve into the Baroque period, where you begin the study of individual composers.  The first of which is Antonio Vivaldi.

Each composer study covers approximately two pages of reading and two pages of fill in the blank note taking pages.  The child can write directly in the book or, if using the program with several children, you may photocopy these pages.   (It would be quite a bit of photocopying so I suggest purchasing each child a book).  

See sample pages HERE 

This can also be ordered as a CD-Rom for $29.95

MY OPINION

I LOVE this curriculum!!  There is not one negative thing I have to say.  It is very well thought out and comprehensive without being dry.  My two oldest children that did the program enjoyed it.  My 13 yr. old daughter LOVED it, my 12 yr. old son LIKED it.  They both really enjoyed the note taking-  no passive listening with this program.  As I stated previously we are a family who listens to classical music, but the internet choices they gave in the book often led us to more and more sites.  We occasionally found ourselves spending well over an hour researching composer pieces or time period music/history online.  It was fun!  Even my 7 and 2.5 yr. olds would wander into the room to listen to the pieces (and see the youtube photos).  

If you are looking for a composer or music appreciation study- I HIGHLY recommend this curriculum!

Bright Ideas Press has many other products for geography, history, maps, games, fine arts, science....

Be sure to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about this WONDERFUL product HERE  


I was given a free copy of this text in exchange for my honest review

    

The Write Foundation

The Write Foundation  is a writing program written by Rebecca Celsor after 8 years of successfully using her ideas teaching homeschooled students in a once a week co-op.

The following is from the Write Foundation website:

Many writing curricula focus on the different types of writing, such as creative writing, story writing, poetrywriting, persuasive writing, argumentative writing, informative writing, descriptive writing, book writing, fiction writing, novel writing, but the basic foundation of writing is assumed. The Write Foundation begins with the writing process, how a student formulates a topic, then a thesis, then supporting points, and by incremental teaching drills in the basics. In most grammatical subjects, we have found that failure is almost totally because the basics have not been learned. 

THE PROGRAM HAS THREE BASIC LEVELS:

• LEVEL 1- Sentence to Paragraph Writing:  Suggested ages- 11-13
• LEVEL 2- Paragraph Writing:  Suggested ages 12-15  
• LEVEL 3- Essay Writing:  Suggested ages 14-17

I was given a free copy of Level 2 Paragraph Writing in exchange for my truthful review.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

This program contains Step by Step Lesson Plans, Examples, Checklists, Grading System, and Worksheets.  

• Tells you exactly what you need to do- step by step
• No difficult texts or literature passages
• Good for reluctant writers
• Good for parents who are reluctant writers- or reluctant teachers of writing
• Does not beat rewriting into the ground
• Includes some great checklists for unsure students
• Teaches outlining- making an outline from a text, writing from that outline
• Includes optional use of Mind Benders logic activities for children
• Highlighter use makes this program perfect for visual & hands on learners

CONS:

• Confusion- Though all the directions are laid out step by step, it was often hard to understand the explanations until I had read through them several times.  I was often ready to pull my hair out trying to figure it all out.  There is much flipping through the pages. 
• Poor Sentences/Grammar-  I felt there were too many editorial problems in this program- in the teacher's instruction as well as the student work.  It contained poorly worded sentences, misuse of commas, and poor writing material in general.  I prefer my children to have modeled before them excellent writing material.  It does not have to be from classic works.  I think you can model simple, but excellently written material.  I felt that in an effort to make the writing simple enough for even the most reluctant writer, the writing in this program lacked excellence.  

SUMMARY

I love the idea of this program.  I appreciate the simple steps to writing.  I believe this program is best suited to the parent who does not feel confident in their ability to teach writing or who is teaching a VERY reluctant writer.  If your child hates writing and does not know where to begin- this program may just be what you are looking for.  It makes excellent use of highlighter marking for various parts of the outlining process, which would be ideal for the visual and kinesthetic learner. 

The author of the program is readily available and very helpful in answering questions.  (Another plus of this program).  

My children working through the Mind Bender and outlining exercises

The Write Foundation-  Ordering Information HERE

WHAT YOU GET For $100.00 + tax & shipping:

• Spiral Instruction Manual Lessons 1-30- about 160 double sided pages
• Student Worksheets- about 200 pages
• Additional Resources CD   

*This program can also be ordered separately by Lessons 1-15 for $65.00, and Lessons 16-30 for $65.00.  

I'm simply one opinion.  See what my fellow Crew members had to say about this product HERE