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.

Ok, I am looking at BJU as a possible switch from RS. My biggest concern is not being able to do Algebra in 8th. I also am looking at miquon for my kindy student, so this is mostly older levels (3rd and 5th) questions. Looking at manuals BJU looks about 1/2 year behind where RS is for 3rd and 5th. How do you place? And like I said my husband who is an engineer wants algebra 1 in 8th.

For history, I'd check out beautiful feet. They have around the world with picture books and Early American for 1st. You pick 1. We are working on early American now, and love it. There are nice longer meaty picture books to read and copywork or coloring to do and some oral questions. I really like it for lower elementay. WWE is scripted, so if you like that you could go that route. You could also "just do copywork" and "oral narration" on your own. Simply Charlotte Mason has a book called hearing, relling reading, and writing that guides you with that. I also think that Baur has an older book, perharps still has it, that is a "make your own" WWE like thing. I wouldn't really add in grammar till 2nd or 3rd grade. My plan is light grammar till Middle school then do analytic grammar. There are lots of routes here-lots of personal preference. I also like MFW language lessons for today. It starts in 2nd too. It has copywork, narration, oral composition, some written composition, light grammar... Another on to check might be cottage press primer 1, but probably not till 2nd grade. I would continue AAR over the summer and some math, perhaps just finish RS a then start fresh in the fall. Its more exciting and everyone needs a break;) Add in lots of outdoor nature study and art projects and enjoy having a little!

But he's only in 4th now. Would you ever jump "ahead" in BJU?

Janeway, could you elaborate? He is going to be in "5th" next year. Also, I have the 5th grade manual for bju (4th edition). With RightStart we have already covered through chapter 11. How would I place him?

I have only used Horizons (4th) with 1 child for a few weeks. He is getting division down finally. So in that sense its "working". I think I'll probably keep it for him at least. They have a nice long (like 12 +) lessons focused on division. He understood it just fine going in, but was terribly s l o w. It seems less sprial that RightStart honestly now... I like RS B, but not A or C so much.... So I was thinking of switching all the way down... I am just not sure that I won't "mess up" I guess... I worry about this way more than likely is necessary;) Aboit a cd of extras... I like having it all in the book, but even Horizons has extra sheets in the tm that I can copy if needed. Thanks for your thoughts

I am planning a countries and cultures study for next year. I am pulling from severa. Sources including My Fathers World. Does anyone know what is in the student sheets other than Bible verse coloring pages and outline maps. I'm just wondering if they'd help us?

Thanks for the thoughts. I like to teach math, but 15-20 min each oer day is more what I can do than 45... Mostly the games for drill bogged us down. The kids didn't like them and didn't want to do them and i didn't have time to teach and then drill x2 or 3. Peterpan, how long does it take to teach a lesson? Is there enough drill and practice? My son usderstood division and coild do it, but until we switched into horizons, he was painfully slow. He is starting to pick up speed now. Past 6th grade or perhaps prealgebra doesn't really concern me. I plan to use Foersner Algebra.

As we add to our family, our current math program (RightStart) is becoming unsustainable. It needs way more drill and review than I can get to with games ectra. It has become particularly apparent with my 4th grader. I need a math program that is more streamlined. I am happy to add in fact drill via flashcards, math facts that stick, calculadders, but I need it to have plenty new practice and review in the lesson not as games that i have to participate in. I like to teach math, so teacher friendly is not necessary. I like to have a teacher book so I know what the point of the lesson is and any review that I should give the student. I have narrowed it down to Horizons or BJU. I actually like Horizons teacher book better and it looks more streamlined, but is BJU "better"? I also want to be able to do algebra in 8th grade. I would have to skip a BJU book or something to do this? My son is finishing this year with Horizons and boy he needed the long time spent on division practice. The review is good for him too. He needs to get plain faster at arithmetic. But will it help me lay a strong foundation in elementary? We will use Foerster for Algebra and likely Jacobs geometry. ETA we will have k, 3rd, 5th in school next year plus littles

My 3rd kindergartener Horizons math K with extra games and manipulatives All About Reading 1 with montessori pink and blue series stuff (into 2??) Beautiful Feet Around the World with Picture books plus anything I add from various sources;) with older sister Study animals and ecosystems around the world for science, and nature study D'nealian moving from tracing sandpaper letters to slate to copybook at his speed Spanish listen in with sister on Songschool Spanish 2 and little Pim with little sister Read Bible together and weekly memory verse

I think they have suggested grades in the front somewhere...

I aphad said the above was tentative....boy is it:) As our family grows some things just aren't serving us too well... The bold is the changes I've made as I evaluate this spring.