Frequently Asked Questions
About Epi Kardia Christian literature-based Curriculum for Homeschooling Students
We often get the following questions about our
literature-based homeschooling curriculum -- so for everyone's convenience we have organized those FAQ into
the categories below.
First, we begin with FAQ pertaining to ordering
curricula, then questions regarding our Daily
Lesson Plans, followed by those that relate to our Unit Programs. Under the Unit Program
section,click on each heading to see the answers
to the questions under that age level.
If you do not find the answer you're looking for in
this collection, feel free to email us at infodesk@trainupachildpub.com and we would be glad to personally answer your questions!
Click here to print this page.
Ordering
1. How do I
order products from this website?
Simply click on our Catalog, then navigate to:
2. Why does the page look different than
your site when I buy from your online shopping cart?
We use an authorized retailer to make sure your
financial transaction is handled safely. Train up a Child Publishing does not receive or retain
your credit card number or other personal information related to your purchase. The name of the authorized
retailer we use on this site for tangible items is CCNow (1-877-226-6977). You will see CCNow on your
receipt and credit card bill, so please do not forget that the "CCNow-TUACP" on your credit
card bill represents your purchase from Train up a Child Publishing™.
For our Daily Lesson
Plans:
1.
Should I buy the regular curriculum (Unit Programs) or the lesson plans?
If your home school would benefit by having pre-made lesson plans for all of your subjects other than
math and foreign language, you should consider lesson
plans. If you have trouble knowing what you should teach for art, for
geography, or difficulty coming up with fun projects or science experiments, you should choose the lesson
plans.
If you
enjoy and have the time and discipline to create
your own lesson plans, you should choose the regular Unit Program curriculum. Additionally, if finances are a major issue, our Unit Programs curriculum is our more cost-effective option, as each component covers a
three year period, except our Secondary Unit Program for high school that covers four
years.
Many people purchase both, or buy the lesson plans and the
Parent Manual. There are many more ideas, projects and book selections
in our Unit Program curriculum, as well as unit overviews summarizing each period in history and an extra
unit of Resources listings that are not in the lesson
plans. In addition, although the Daily Lesson Plans are very clear and easy to implement, the Epi Kardia Parent Manual has much more detailed information regarding teaching and evaluating writing, for
example, than the lesson plans. The lesson plans give Epi Kardia curriculum structure; the EK curriculum gives the lesson plans flexibility. However, you may use the Daily Lesson Plans without purchasing the
manual.
2. What if the reading or activities are too easy or too difficult for
my particular child?
Feel free to modify an activity so that it fits your
student. If he has a fine motor difficulty, for example, you might want
to shorten his copy work selection or let him dictate some of his other writing assignments to you, rather
than have him struggle to do all of the writing himself.
Generally our reading levels lean towards the higher rather
than the lower end of the scale. However, if your student is an exceptional reader, and you find the
reading is too easy and you own our Unit Programs as well as the Daily Lesson Plans, refer to your
Epi Kardia units and pull additional reading selections that are on the
same topic as the books in your lesson plans. So follow the Lesson Plans, just add additional
reading.
Note: the copy work, vocabulary and spelling words (in the younger grades) are pulled from the
reading specified in the Daily Lesson Plans, so they would no longer be quite as relevant to
your student if he does not read the stated assignment.
3. Do I have to use all of the books that you
recommend?
No, you don’t. We give you a book list in every set of our
lesson plans and tell you how many and which weeks we use each book. If you need to substitute another
book for one that is used less often, that is perfectly O.K.
However, realize that the copy work, spelling,
vocabulary and many writing assignments are pulled from our core books, so replacing one of those
might be more challenging. However - you can still effectively teach using different
books - just follow our lead in the Lesson Plans.
4. Why don’t you have Scripture memory work for each week?
As each family has a preferred version of Scripture and each
student has differing abilities in this area, we left Scripture memory work up to parents’
preference. We do hope you include this as part of your homeschooling!
5. Why do you include copy work in your lesson
plans?
We believe in many of the principles and methods espoused by
Charlotte Mason (see our article Charlotte Mason in a Nutshell http://www.epikardia.com/charlotte_mason_in_a_nutshell.html
) who used copy work as well as narration as a
very useful method for students to learn how to write and remember what they have learned.
Copy work also provides well-written, published examples of good writing, which
is much more relevant to students than random worksheets and workbooks. We have found that grammar rules are
much easier to teach and remember when taught within the context of ‘real’ writing, as
well.
6. Why do you include out-of-print books?
The out of print books we suggest are particularly good
works. At the time of publication, they are readily available either
through your public library system or for purchase as used books inexpensively online at
Amazon.com , Barnes & Noble, and/or
Half.com.
7. How do I evaluate my student’s writing?
There are many hints and answer keys for specific
assignments in the lesson plans. Also, much general information
is given about how to evaluate students’ writing in the Epi Kardia Parent Manual, which is available separately.
In our High
School courses, we include answer keys, grading rubrics and evaluation tips for each and every
assignment.
8. These plans
look pretty difficult to start after a long summer vacation. Do I have to do
everything?
Of course, you don’t have to do everything suggested in the
lesson plans! They are to be used as a guide, but please tailor
them to fit your family.
We suggest you ‘transition’ into school after an extended
break. You might want to take one to three weeks, for example, to do the
first week’s work, or add in math (or foreign language) in the second or third week of school, rather
than in that first week.
9. What if I get behind on the plans because of illness or
vacation? That is no
problem. Each day is numbered, rather than dated, so you can just pick up
easily where you stopped.
10. What if it
takes us longer to complete the work than the plans allow?
These plans are to serve, not enslave you! Work at the pace
that fits your family. There is no law that states you have to finish on
anyone’s schedule other than the one that fits your family. We can’t
emphasize this enough! Many people opt to skip some more minor assignments if they need to, to finish
when they would like to finish. Others decide to work on a few areas over
a break.
11.
Are there any special instructions for printing the plans?
No, they should print just fine the way they are.
You do have to have Adobe Reader, which is available as a free download:
Get Adobe Reader
here.
12.
May I print additional copies of the lesson
plans?
Of course, you
may make as many copies as you need for use with your own
family, but we request that you not copy, e-mail, or otherwise
share with others our lesson plans, projects, ideas, or methodology. Additionally, if you have purchased a
digital trial Ancients unit, we ask that you not offer it for resale.
FAQs Pertaining to our Unit
Programs:
1a. At what age should I begin using Epi Kardia Homeschool Curriculum with my
child?
1b. What is the difference between your Kindergarten Program and the Primary
Unit Program (K-2)?
1c. I have two children, one in Kindergarten and one in second grade. Do I need to
buy two different programs?
1d. Does the Intermediate Unit Program (3-5) overlap with the Primary Unit
Program (K-2) in any way?
1e. If I purchase the Primary Unit Program and the Intermediate Complete Program,
do I need two of the Epi Kardia manuals and CDs?
1f. Why are some of the books denoted as R:2 (interpreted reading
level, second grade) more challenging to my son than others with that same notation?
1g. Why do you recommend waiting until 3rd grade for formal
writing? My child loves to write, but she is only in the second grade.
Should I stop her?
2. Third
to Fifth Grades
2a. Does the Intermediate Unit Program (3-5) overlap
with the Primary Unit Program (K-2) in any way?
2b. There appears to be a large leap from 3-5 to 6-8
in the reading levels and book lengths. Why is that?
2c. If we do not use all of the
books in 3-5, should we still move on to
6-8?
2d. If my child cannot read some of the chapter books
independently by 5th grade, should we not move on to 6-8?
3.
Sixth to Eighth Grades
3a. Why are there so many experiment books on this
grade level compared to others?
3b. Should we be choosing as many books per unit on this level? The
books seem to be longer and I am concerned that we won't have enough time to read as many books.
3c. On what type of writing assignments should my middle school
student be focused?
3d. We used textbooks for writing and history in elementary school,
but are switching to Epi Kardia now at 6th grade. Will my child be well enough prepared to use your
program?
3e. Is there an overview of world history that you would
recommend?
3f. What grammar resource do you recommend on this grade
level?
4.
High School
4a. Why aren't there any science books listed on the
high school level book
lists?
4b. Do you have recommendations for math and science curriculum at
this level?
4c. Why don't you have any reading levels for the high school book
lists?
4d. What is the purpose of the list of people, places and events at
the end of each unit?
4e. Can my student get high school credit using Epi Kardia? What
courses can be acquired through your curriculum?
4f. Can my child get credit for just reading books or does he have to
do something with the information in order to receive credit?
5. Private and Cottage
Schools
5a. How do you decide which of the Epi Kardia books
should be used in each grade level when utilizing this program in a private school?
5b. Do students need to have a copy of each book in order to use this
curriculum?
5c. Is it really possible for teachers to replace reading, language
arts, science and history textbooks with whole books in a classroom setting?
5d. Obviously, this would require teachers to instruct their students
differently. How difficult is the transition and do you offer any support?
5e. How do teachers handle students who are ill or take time off when
there aren't copies of every book for every child?
6. General
Curriculum Questions
6a. Why do you only sell complete lesson
plans for Kindergarten, first, third and fourth grades and one level of middle school? Do you plan on selling
daily lesson plans for other grade levels?
6b. Can I use other programs, such as
spelling and grammar curriculum, while using Epi Kardia?
6c. Is it okay for me to change the documents
on the Tools CD?
6d. Do I have to complete Epi Kardia in one
year?
1a. At what age should I begin using Epi Kardia curriculum with my
child?
It really depends on your child. Parents
often use the book lists as early as 2-4 years old, reading aloud and exposing their child to excellent
literature.
Phonics then becomes the next logical
step, typically beginning between the ages of 4-6, depending on the maturity of the child and his ability
to focus on a lesson long enough to make it profitable.
Projects, language arts skills, and
science concepts are best added to your child's program when he demonstrates a desire and the ability to
learn.
1b. What is the difference between your Kindergarten Program and the
Primary Unit Program (K-2)?
Our Kindergarten Program is designed
for parents who have a Kindergartener and prefer pre-written daily lesson plans. Some homeschool parents
enjoy the flexibility of designing their own daily plans. However, beginning homeschool parents may
prefer to start with a program that outlines each day in detail.
In contrast, The Primary Complete Unit
Program is designed to be used over a period of three years and requires that the parents actually plan
their lessons, with some assistance from the Parent Manual.
1c. I have two children, one in Kindergarten and one in second grade.
Do I need to buy two different programs?
If you use our Kindergarten
Program for your kindergartener, you will also need
to purchase another program for your second grader. You can choose between:
-
-
our
2nd Grade Daily Lesson Plans (if you would like daily lesson plans already created for
you)for your second grader.
You may also choose to use the Primary Unit Program (K-2) for
both of your children if you do not need pre-written daily lesson plans and feel comfortable creating
your own.
1d. Does the Intermediate Unit Program (3-5) overlap with the Primary
Unit Program (K-2) in any way?
Actually, in relationship to history
books, there are overlapping book listings. Books that you read to your second grader may be listed in
the Intermediate booklets so that your 4th grader may read them
aloud or independently. This allows parents to use books in creative and flexible ways. For example, your
third grade child may read a book to your first grader that is on both of their reading
lists.
1e. If I purchase the Primary Unit Program and the Intermediate
Unit Program, do I need two of the Epi Kardia manuals and CDs?
No. The Epi Kardia Lower Grades Manual
and CD runs from K-5th grade so you don't need to purchase a
new manual/CD until you get into the Preparatory Unit Program(6th-8th grades) . It contains tools for various grade levels from K-5. You should purchase only the
unit booklets for one program, which saves you $20.00.
1f. Why are some of the books denoted as R:2 (interpreted reading
level, second grade) more challenging to my son than others with that same
notation?
Determining the reading level of a book
is not an exact science. We basically look at the vocabulary, content and sentence length when we decide
upon a reading level. Books that we recommend for certain grade levels may be suggested at a higher or
lower grade by another curriculum company. The authors use their combined years of both classroom and
homeschool teaching experience to make these determinations with the understanding that these are
recommendations and that children on any particular grade level vary greatly in their personal
abilities.
1g. Why do you recommend waiting until 3rd grade for formal
writing? My child loves to write, but she is only in the second grade. Should I stop
her?
We recommend waiting to teach formal
writing because often children are asked to write before they have developed the ability to do
so. This can result in frustration and leave a child with a
negative impression, which is not something we like to see. However, as with reading, children develop at
different rates and if a child demonstrates a desire to write, by all means encourage that behavior! You
should still evaluate the written work so your child does not develop bad happens that will have to be
repaired later, which can also lead to frustration.
2a. Does the Intermediate Unit Program (3-5) overlap with the
Primary Unit Program (K-2) in any way?
Actually, in relationship to history
books, there are overlapping book listings. Books that you read to your second grader may be listed in
the Intermediate booklets so that he may read them aloud or independently. This allows parents to use
books in creative and flexible ways. For example, your third grade child may read a book to your first
grader that is on both of their reading lists.
2b. There appears to be a large leap from 3-5 to 6-8 in the
reading levels and book lengths. Why is that?
The middle school years
transition a child from elementary to high school. With the abundance of reading required for most high
school curricula, Epi Kardia included, it is essential that middle grade students have time to make that
transition successfully. It appears, from experience, that children adapt to such changes better in 6th
grade than 7th or 8th. As well, by making the change in 6th grade, they have more time to adjust to the
more challenging material and most 6th graders demonstrate the ability to do just
that.
2c. If we do not use all of the books in 3-5, should we still
move on to 6-8?
Probably. Most families do not use every
single book in any given set of curriculum. They may bypass a book because of content, lack of interest,
reading level or availability of the book. We do strongly recommend that the core books be read (they
have the book symbol next their listings), but even that may not be possible if those books aren't
readily available. A majority of the books read would be a worthy goal. Do keep in mind that children
using our curriculum typically 4-6 times as many books as most other curricula requires. Also note that
between K-2 and 3-5, science and history concepts are often repeated. However, the 6-8 curriculum may not
cover basics that are assumed to have been addressed in elementary school. Therefore, you would want to
be confident that the general science and history topics have been covered before moving
on.
2d. If my child cannot read some of the chapter books
independently by 5th grade, should we not move on to 6-8?
It is not the books themselves that are
the concern, but your child's reading level. There is a significant jump from 5th to 6th grade and you
want to be sure that your child can make take that step. Our recommendation would be to look at
the Preparatory (6th-8th grades) sample and select a few 6th grade reading level books to use in evaluating your child.
Remember that the sample is from the Civil War unit, meaning that it is later in the school year, so if
your child struggles a little, that's okay. If your child really can't read any of the books and
comprehend them, you might want to consider one more year on the 5th grade reading level. Another option
would be to pull independent readers from the 5th grade curriculum, but read with your child using the
6th grade level books.
3a. Why are there so many experiment books on this grade level compared to
others?
The middle school years
are an excellent time to learn about why things happen and also to develop an understanding of the
scientific method. By doing experiments, students discover rather than just read about
important scientific concepts.
As
well, the hope is that older students will find science more enjoyable and easier to understand through
experimentation. Most high school science programs require labs, so it makes sense to prepare your student for
that environment, as well as providing him with experience writing up lab reports and understanding the process
of laboratory science. Click
here for a simple review form of the scientific method. Click
here for information about creating lab reports. For examples of middle school lab
reports, click here. Remember, you can adapt these materials
to your homeschool student and situation.
3b. Should we be choosing as many books per unit on this level? The books seem to be longer and
I am concerned that we won't have enough time to read as many
books.
No. You are correct; the
books are longer. You want to stay within your weekly guidelines for each unit if you plan
to finish in one year. This will probably require choosing fewer books per unit. However, you'll note
that there are not as many books listed at the Preparatory (6th-8th grade) level, for that reason. Some
parents plan the history units over 1.5 years, allowing them to
cover all of the material twice in middle school. This gives them longer units with more time to read in
each unit, but the material isn't covered as often.
3c. On what type of writing assignments should my middle school student be
focused?
Again, the idea is to
prepare your middle school student for high school. Longer reports (not quite research paper length) of
4-8 pages utilizing a thesis statement (main idea), outline, research and note-taking, as well as
resources are a good starting point. Essay styles such as expository (a factual essay designed to teach
or inform) and narrative (retelling of an event) are certainly appropriate with a length of 4-6
paragraphs. Continued skills practice by pulling examples from books being read is essential. Simple lab
reports provide wonderful writing opportunities. Poetry and short story writing should also
be assigned during the middle school years.
3d. We used textbooks for writing and history in elementary school but are switching to Epi
Kardia now at 6th grade. Will my child be well enough prepared to use your
program?
That depends on your
child. If you feel that your child has really understood and retained the information from the texts, he
should have a basic foundation. He may not have the detailed ideas and examples that an elementary EK
student would have, but he can pick up much of that if you use EK faithfully throughout middle
school.
3e. Is
there an overview of world history that you would
recommend?
Yes
- Kingfisher History of the
World contains enormous amounts of information
for reference purposes. Note that it does have evolutionary material in the beginning, but overall the
information is quite valuable. It not necessarily a daily reading resource, but
is readable and provides an interesting overview
text. It also can be used to develop note-taking skills.
Another
resource that is even more readable is Susan Wise
Bauer's, The Story of the World. It is a 4-volume set that reads more like a story than a historical text. It may not be as
useful for reference, but it is much more palatable for some readers.
3f. What grammar resource do you recommend on this grade
level?
The Little Brown Handbook
is Elizabeth's favorite. Although it is a college level
text, you can find the answer to almost any grammar question in it. This book will also take you through
the high school years as a grammar resource. It has multiple examples and a very detailed, user-friendly
index. We do not recommend using the assignments in the text.
Note: a new copy of this handbook is extremely expensive. However, it is readily available used. Don't
worry about the edition...grammar hasn't changed much over the years!
Dana has
enjoyed using Writer's
Express (4th
- 5th grades), Write
Source 2000 (6th - 8th)
and Writer's
Inc (9th-12th). As they are written to the student, they are especially helpful in the younger
grades in explaining specific grammar points in language easily
understood by an elementary aged
student.
4a. Why aren't there any science books listed on the high school level book
lists?
In high school, students
have very specific science courses such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There are not whole books
designed to teach these courses in full at the high school level, although you might find some helpful
supplements.
4b. Do you have recommendations for math and science curriculum at this
level?
In the past, Elizabeth
used BJU which
was sufficient for Algebra, but became challenging later. Her biggest issues with the curriculum was that
it didn't provide enough explanation or examples for a mom who is not math oriented. Switching her
daughter to Math-U-See, she found much more success and has been especially pleased with the instructional
DVD that provides a teacher demonstrating each problem type. Math-U-See is also very reasonably priced
for a curriculum including a DVD. Apologia is by far Elizabeth's favorite
high school science curriculum and she has had the Chemistry evaluated by college level Chemistry teacher
and the Biology evaluated by a microbiologist who is also a college professor, both with favorable
results.
For Math, Dana has enjoyed
using Teaching Textbooks. It has a DVD component which shows the solution of every problem in the program, and
covers Pre-Algebra, Algebra I and II, and Geometry, as well as lower levels of math.
4c. Why don't you have any reading levels for the high school book
lists?
Actually, there
are reading levels in the form of Most Challenging (MC), Challenging (C) and Less Challenging (LC) noted with
each book. Numeric grade levels are not applicable in high school, for the most part.
4d. What is the purpose of the list of people, places and events at the end of each
unit?
This list primarily offers
the student and parent an overview of the time period in a list format. It may be used to select a topic
for a research paper or essay, create a timeline of events, research and write mini reports or just
orally review people, places and events. You might have your student initially highlight anything on
the list that she can orally explain and then research those things that aren't
highlighted.
4e. Can my student get high school credit using Epi Kardia? What courses can be acquired through
your curriculum?
Most definitely!
Throughout the Secondary Unit Program, PCC (Possible
Course Credit) listings in the high school book lists note
which books can be applied to which courses. Some of the possible course credits include World History,
U.S. History, World Literature, American Literature, British Literature and Religious Studies or Church
History. World History may be divided into I and II because of the extended time periods. You can use
these listings to create your own courses wit this program.
Additionally, if you would rather not create your own high school courses, Epi Kardia has
created high school courses for you: American
Literature, British Literature,
World
Literature, Essay Styles for High
School, The Art of Public
Speaking, The Steps to
Writing a Research Paper, American History
I and World History I (coming soon). Read more about our high school courses
here.
4f. Can my child get credit for just reading books or does he have to do something with the
information in order to receive credit?
While state laws vary on this topic, we
strongly recommend that students do something evaluative for each unit. Options include short writing
assignments, oral or written narrations, book reports, artistic expression, projects, timelines, and
maps. We don't typically make tests for each unit, but some parents like to do so. Essay tests are
usually the best possible format for older students to express all that was learned from the
reading, but with younger students, narration oten
suffices.
5a. How do you decide which of the Epi Kardia books should be used in each grade level when
utilizing this program in a private school?
We have already divided books based on grade level for a school setting. As well, we
can alter booklists as needed to meet the needs of the school. Contact us directly for more information
at infodesk@trainupachildpub.com.
5b. Do students need to have a copy of each book in order to
use this curriculum?
No. Most schools could not afford for
students to have a copy of every book and it's unnecessary anyway. We do recommend specific books per
grade level as classroom sets. As well, we suggest multiple copies of certain books for work in small
groups and pairs. Finally, all other books would be utilized primarily by the teacher in presentation to
the students.
5c. Is it really possible for teachers to replace reading,
language arts, science and history textbooks with whole books in a classroom
setting?
Not only is it possible, but it's better!
Students who use Epi Kardia in the classroom often express how much more they're enjoying history and
science. They remember information better because of the unique and interesting presentation. Epi Kardia
emphasizes writing assignments and hands-on projects which are often overlooked by textbook publishers.
As well, students receive an education that is detailed and fascinating, often demonstrating more than
one viewpoint, rather than having to only be led by the viewpoint of the textbook publisher. Finally, Epi
Kardia promotes classroom participation and more interaction between teachers and
students.
5d. Obviously this would require teachers to instruct their
students differently. How difficult is the transition and do you offer any
support?
The transition doesn't have to be
difficult. Epi Kardia allows teachers to actually do what they've been trained to do...teach! Teachers
who are flexible and enthusiastic tend to operate better with Epi Kardia. As well, schools who are
looking more at character training, Biblical influence and mastery of skills will find this curriculum
truly beneficial. A "big picture" point of view is definitely a plus when using Epi Kardia books and
materials. We do offer staff training and support tailored to the needs of the school and faculty. For
more information contact infodesk@trainupachildpub.com.
5e. How do teachers handle students who are ill or take time
off when there aren't copies of every book for every child?
Typically, there are books in the library
that parents can check out to use in the interim. Often, in private and cottage schools, parents purchase
books and establish a home library so that their other children also benefit from the excellent
literature utilized in the program.
For more
information about using Epi Kardia in the Classroom, click here.
6a. Why do you only sell complete lesson plans for some of the grade levels? Do you plan on
selling daily lesson plans for other grade levels in the future?
We originally designed Kindergarten Complete to assist moms who were just starting their home school
journey. Our thought was that more experienced moms would appreciate the flexibility and economy of
having a three year curriculum, so we designed the other grades in that manner. However, over the years
moms have requested that we add daily lesson plans, so we have listened! In addition to Kindergarten
Complete, we also have Daily Lesson Plans for first, third, and fourth grades as well as one level of
middle school plans that can be adapted to use for 6th through 8th grades. We plan to add plans for 2nd
and 5th grades as well as at least one more level of middle school in the future.
6b. Can I use other programs, such as spelling and grammar
curriculum, while using Epi Kardia?
You can use Epi Kardia as you see fit. We make recommendations in the
Parent's Manual, but ultimately you need to do what is best for your unique family situation. Epi Kardia
was designed to be flexible enough to allow incorporation of other curriculum.
6c. Is is okay for me to change the documents on the Tools
CD?
Actually, we developed the CD tools as Microsoft Word documents so that
every parent could adapt them to fit their family. The great thing is that you can alter the document,
save it on your computer, and you will always have the original on your Epi Kardia CD.
6d. Do I have to complete Epi Kardia in
one year?
Again, Epi Kardia was designed to be flexible. We recommend the layered
affect of history that comes from studying all of it each year, but some of our parents are more
comfortable completing the program every two years. This seems to be particularly true in high school
when the material becomes more challenging.
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