967: Friday Q&A: Fix It Up or Sell It, Are CHSM Shares Tax-Deductible, Financial Discussions in Marriage, Math Academy, Ambleside Online
Sep 25, 2023
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Deciding to fix up or sell a house, tax-deductibility of Christian Healthcare Sharing Ministry shares, financial discussions in marriage, math curriculum for homeschooling, the brilliance of Math Academy's algorithm-based approach, the importance of making learning enjoyable, Ambleside Online as an education resource
Math Academy is a comprehensive math curriculum that follows a spiral approach and provides personalized problem sets.
Ambleside Online is a valuable resource for homeschooling, offering a comprehensive curriculum and emphasizing literature and narration.
Early language acquisition and character development are important in education, and incorporating travel and historical fiction can enhance the learning experience.
Deep dives
Math Academy: A More Efficient and Effective Math Curriculum
Math Academy is an impressive math curriculum that is more efficient and as effective as traditional options like Saxon math. It follows a spiral approach, introducing new concepts and then reinforcing them through regular practice. It helps students quickly progress through topics they have mastered, keeping them challenged and engaged. Math Academy uses an algorithm to provide personalized problem sets, similar to having John Saxon himself guiding the student. The curriculum is comprehensive and covers all key math concepts, making it a primary option for math education.
Math Academy and Life of Fred
The speaker discusses the benefits and drawbacks of using Math Academy and Life of Fred for math education. Math Academy is a screen-based curriculum that provides text explanation and problems, while Life of Fred uses absurd stories to explain mathematical concepts. The speaker prefers Life of Fred for its engaging narrative and context, but sees the value of Math Academy for its customized text-based approach. They also mention using Sherman lectures as supplementary materials.
Ambleside Online and Charlotte Mason Education
The podcast explores Ambleside Online as a resource for homeschooling, specifically its connection to Charlotte Mason education. The speaker appreciates Ambleside Online's comprehensive curriculum and world-class literature. They highlight the importance of literature and narration in a Charlotte Mason education, and discuss the overlap and compatibility between classical education and Ambleside Online's approach. They also emphasize the need for individual adaptation and adjusting the curriculum to suit a child's interests and learning style.
Language Acquisition and Character Development
The speaker emphasizes the value of early language acquisition, believing that children can easily learn multiple languages before the age of 10. They also stress the importance of character development and virtue education, incorporating stories and discussions about character qualities. The speaker mentions their focus on world schooling, combining travel with educational experiences, and connecting historical fiction with visited places. They encourage parents to prioritize their child's interests and adapt the curriculum accordingly.
Testing and Memorization
The speaker discusses the role of testing in the learning process, citing research that demonstrates the benefits of testing as a learning tool. They advocate for incorporating more narration-based testing in homeschooling. They also stress the importance of memorization, particularly in language acquisition, and mention the value of memorizing beautiful poems and hymns.