I had cottage press 1 time and really looked at it.....I should have put my thoughts into words...somehow it wasnt "right"...helpful I know. I am really leaning toward memoria press intro to comp or fable, classical academic press fable 1, or writing tales...

I had trouble with the same thing....I never did figure it out. I don't know how to tag people, but 8filltheheart might have an idea.

I'm listening in. I've been looking at imitation style writing particularly CAP and MP classical comp......thought WWS looks perhaps good too and treasured conversations....

My 7 almost 8 yr old has been enjoying the christian liberty press text American Pioneers & Patriots. It is a big thinish hardback with pictures and has short little stories of pioneer children and then questions which I do not use. It is perhaps not great literature, but she is learning some and enjoying it, and its independent not busy work;) My 4th grader has read a few landmarks and other mostly biographies recommended by simply charlotte mason for 4-6 history and memoria press suplemental american history reading. Both are good lists. I can't say he always liked them, but they were good for him;) and very age approprate. They read for about 15 min 3-4 times a week for history. I loosly sort of cordinate it with history. I alternate days or books for science and history so they don't read for both in one day. Like history 2x a week and science 2x a week or 2-3 weeks of history then 2-3 weeks of science. I am planning to up the time next year, but this year 1 was 2nd grade and the other somewhat dyslexic so 15 min was good. They also each have an assigned "fun" (literature) book to read daily.

I will look at 6 traits again too...just saw that.

That was supposed to go with the above post....not sure what happened...

Yes I've thought that too, but it's also no fluff, predictable, and to the point;) She might take the dry gladly for the rest.... Writing tales looks good too. I also like some of English Lessons Through Literature, but not the book choices, and I already have Spelling Wisdom and handwriting..... Also with a baby this summer fewer parts might be good....I looked a lot at writeShop, but it looks messy! My mind isn't made up yet though.....

I know, but I think she'd stop being creative if I turned it into anything required or resembling "school". She only likes to write when it's her idea, and not really all that often. Mostly she'd rather play pretend or run around outside. She has done well with some fable retelling recently in language lessons for today. She also doesn't seem to mind the narrations from that text. She is getting better at them. She just doesn't like to narrate history or books she's read on her own. Thats what made me start thinking of this.

Same rising 3rd grader. I have a thought. What ya think of the combination below? Memoria press Classical Composition Introduction or possibly Fable if I combine with 5th grade bro. Simply Charlotte Mason Spelling Wisdom and Using Language Well Perhaps Memoria Press English Grammar Recitation Maybe 1 Memoria Press literature guide in January when we hole up for good sentence writing practice. She is also writing in Bob Jones 3rd grade science workbook We have a Bob Jones 3rd cursive workbook When I asked her, her only response was whatever took the least time...;)

I'll have to check on those R and S books. My 3rd grade dd loves spanish and thise would be right up her ally. I'm looking to continue it over summer with her. She loves song school, little pim....anything. That sounds great. I speak a bit of Spanish....not fluent, but not too bad.

She did All about reading 1-4. I had it for my oldest. It was much easier than doing it on my own with my orton gillingham tutoring materials. (Daily with babies in tow is different than paid tutoring lessons....;)) I almost waited on level 4 (she did it in 1st grade...pretty easily). She still knows most rules and hears her brothers All About Spelling lessons with the rule recitation. A 1 yr crash course may be helpful later....any ideas on what to use? I am kind of leaning toward using Spelling Wisdom for now.

Perhaps she's more average....I'm not sure I'd know. I'm a terrible speller and ds is just as bad;) I am all for OG spelling. I'm trained in it too. I used it to teach both kids to read (and starting again x3...), and oldest totally needs it for reading and spelling! I honestly thought I'd never use anything else, but dd really learned to read more by sight (Dick and Jane really clicked for her...), though I made sure to teach her through phonics as well. Her spelling is visual memory too, I truely think. She is challenging my OG only philosophy;) while ds is cementing it....hahaha

For a natural speller, would you do traditional spelling lists or studied dictation? Why? Give me reasons, research, thoughts, and opnions;)

Yes, thank you both so much. In many ways it's freeing. I am finding my trial with Horizons for my older 2 going well this spring. (I switched both kids when 4th grade really didn't fit as I didn't really like the 2nd grade level the first time through and didn't like it any better this time. Also, this student works really well with something that has some independence built in. ) I think I'm going to keep both of them in Horizons. I will let my kindy kid be a seperate decision. Thanks

Yes. To needing a teacher. I like teaching math and fully expect to teach it whatever I use. I actually like to horizons manual better. I am better at adding then subtracting from curriculum.... I have several things I add in when needed (kate snow facts that stick, montessori stuff, calculadders, strayer upton....) Also RightStarthits really hard on place value but my 2nd grader has now encountered that 3 tens and 7 ones equals 2 tens and ____ones in horizons. She totally needed my base 10 blocks to do lots of them.....It was a different way of looking at it for her.

Yes, I can totally believe that, but how do I figure that out?;) I think I could probably make either work, so perhaps I should just pick one and go on? I would like to stick with whatever it is for everybody if I can😉

My 9.5 yr old does this too. My in law is a teacher and said it's not uncommon. I'm interested in wht others say.

I have 1 of those journals; I think I'll try it 1x a week for her. Thanks for the idea. I also like the atlas page it would be good for her and 5th grader. Perhaps I'll assign 1 per week. I think it'd be great. I just bought some uncle Josh outline maps. 5th grader burns out on writing really fast!

Thanks for these ideas, Lori. I don't think that my own writing is all that great. I like grammar and can write a decent college paper, but I am pretty formulaic and unimaginative;) Thats why I was looking at WriteShop D. Do you have any ideas of resources to help me help her? I am not afraid to come up with my own curriculum, but writing is not my strong suit, so I'd at least like to borrow from others. Thanks for the history report ideas. I can add some of those ideas to the world geography and cultures course I'm making for my kids for next year. Also, we don't homeschool over summer, instead we farm and garden. And yes, I know that there are other students like her- I`m glad. Then, others can give ideas;)

I have been thinking about this child more. She strongly dislikes narrating and world rather make up her own story. She is artsy and creative. She just wrote a 1 page story today about a dog. This amount of output is new, but not suprising to me. I want to encourage her creativity. Does this help anything? Any different recommendations or thoughts? What about BJU? Perhaps more grammar, but it is more creative writing....She likes her own ideas not someone elses.... Now my son just wrote a good solid long paragraph changing a fable today, but they 2 are very different students.....

Kind of a spin off of another thread. How long does it take you to teach a BJU math lesson for middle/late elementary? What books do you use? Would it work for a bigger family?

Another thought, this child really dislikes narration. She will do it and has gotten better at it this year, but she doesn't like it. She does like to write, though she doesn't write alot.

I know writing strands should be used more often. 1x a week is what we can do with grandmama who has successfully taught it 5 times already;) I am looking to do stuff to augment it. I am just not sure that language lessons for today is what I want for this child. It is what I have used for a different child. I just remembered that I have cottage press primer 2. Anyone have any thoughts on it? Is it any more than language lessons for today? Does nobody like writeshop? I glanced at writing tales. It may work too. I don't want a lot of grammer now. Hitting it in middle school with analytic grammer is my plan. Also her spanish has some as needed.

I am doing withTeaching Writing Through Guided Analysis with my 5th grade son next year. I haven't gotten it printed yet. Would you do it with 2 kids 22 months apart? Ok by academic i mean non fiction. Like reports ectra...

My daughter is using MFW language lessons for today 3 this year. Last year she did level 2 (She's using it a grade ahead. I don't consider her a grade ahead though. It's just this curriculum.). I am looking to add in more writing for next year. She will be in 8 and in "3rd" grade in the fall. I don't think I want something as formulaic as Institute for Excellence in writing. I have looked at and wondered about the masterboooks writing strands (but I have the older ones, and Grandmama will do them with her about 1x a week starting soon. Are they really that different?) I have also looked at WriteShop. I am open to all ideas. My goals: I want her to write good paragraphs and perhaps a short report. I am interested in both academic and creative writing. I want grammer included and applied to writing.