I'm planning out our schedule for next year (BEFORE I buy curriculum, so I will know what we will actually have time to do--my eyes are always bigger than my stomach :tongue_smilie:), and I am feeling overwhelmed. How long does the Mom actually spend doing school? I will have a Kindergartener, 2nd grader (really a 3rd grader, but we kept him back for social reasons), and a 5th grader (plus a 3 year old). This is per day: History/Science = 1 hour (I will include Art History alongwith the History) Memory Work/Bible = 1 hour (the Memory Work includes memorizing Bible passages, plus the other things they should memorize) Math for both + 5th grader's Logic = 1 hour (I think I can help both boys with their math at the table at the same time) 2nd grader's Language Arts = 1.5 hours 5th grader's Language Arts = 1.5 hours (I think I can overlap 20-30 minutes of their LA) Kindergartener = 1 hour That's almost 7 hours!!!! And that's not even including Latin which I was hoping to start next year. Thank you for ANY advice!

This year is our first year homeschooling using the Classical Method, and in planning for next year, I have realized that we didn't do much memorizing of basic facts this year. :001_huh: Is there a big list somewhere that lists things to memorize? I know there are suggestions in the WTM book, but I'm looking for a master list. For instance, what things should they memorize in Grammar? We're not doing History/Science/Art/Music this year, so we can focus on LA and Math and getting them up to grade level. Should they memorize the addition and subtraction tables? I'd like a master list so I can start them memorizing things before they come to it. (for instance, in Grammar, I've figured out that he should be memorizing the helping verbs, but so far they have only taught am,is,are,was,were,be,being,been,do,does,did,have,has,had and I know there are more, but there is no master list in the grammar book. I remember in grade school the inside covers of the books had all the important things to know. Thanks!

I saw a book online last year that I think would be perfect for one of my children, but I can't remember what it's called. It taught a different phonics rule each week, and used copywork/selections from literature for the daily work, all reinforcing that week's rule. But I can't remember what it was called, and I have had no luck searching online. Does anybody know what it is? It was associated with Charlotte Mason on the website I saw. Thank you,

Can you please give me some recommendations for my 4th grader... I didn't know what I was doing our first years of homeschooling, and now I realize he is deficient in basic phonics and spelling. I've used spelling and phonics books with him, and maybe I'm just not teaching correctly, but nothing really sticks. I've used Explode the Code--he went through a lot of the books on his own. I'm currently using Spelling Workout, and he's doing a lesson every 2 days and getting 100% on most of his tests. He learned to read with 100 EZ Lessons. But he doesn't know even basic spelling/phonics rules--for instance, doubling the consonant when you add a suffix to a short vowel single-syllable word. He can memorize the word lists for the Spelling Workout, but when he writes on his own, he makes all sorts of basic spelling mistakes. Often, he'll say a word that I know he read (he reads voraciously, well above grade level) but has never heard, because he'll say it wrong. I saw a book online last year that I think would be perfect for him, but I can't remember what it's called. It taught a different phonics rule each week, and used copywork/selections from literature for the daily work, all reinforcing that week's rule. But I can't remember what it was called, and I have had no luck searching online. Does anybody know what it is? It was associated with Charlotte Mason on the website I saw. Thank you for any advice.

I'm looking for a program to teach my 4th grader the basic phonics/spelling rules (I didn't know what I was doing our first few years h.s.ing). What is ETC? Thank you,

Wow, thanks! I got online to search this forum with the exact question tdeveson asked, and what a blessing to find my exact question and an answer. :-)

This was me a little over a year ago! We've been using Math-U-See since then and it has made a TREMENDOUS difference for my son (9 years old and only now beginning double-digit addition). He is a visual learner (as I am) and I have always struggled with math, and was afraid to teach it, and we were using Singapore and it was just NOT working--he was not getting it and was frustrated and hated it, etc. etc. I love MUS because it's visual--the videos are awesome--I don't have to worry about how I'm teaching it--I let him watch the video every day, and do the worksheets, and if he's struggling, we'll use the mathblocks to help smooth out any bumps. I wish I could have learned math this way.

Thanks for all the ideas. I think the early-early-early Sat. a.m. would work best for me. To answer someone's question, I think anything more than 20 min away is not close to a store. :)

If I go on Saturday (which seems the best option), then it makes it really hard to do other fun things that day (birthday parties, family/friend get-togethers, fun outing, etc.), because it takes me several hours, plus all the putting away. I've been alternating--one week groceries, one week errands. I'd sure like to cut back the time I spend too. Just wondering when others do it (especially if you don't live close to the store, so it's more of a half-day job). Thanks!:)

thanks for all the great ideas!:)

I'm making up our schedule for fall, and I'm wondering how you use up 45-60 minutes doing math? (following the recommendations in the WTM) We use Math-U-See and I have one son in Alpha, and one in Beta. I already have them watch the video each day, and then do a worksheet. What else could/should I do? More than one worksheet a day? Or half of the time memorizing math facts? Which, actually, now that I think about it, that's what I should do, since when else will they learn those math facts, right? They both need to memorize the addition facts. Another question regarding flash cards and memorizing facts. How do you get them to memorize them? Is it best to do the flashcards randomly, or in order? Should they be able to say all the addition facts (up to 9+9) by memory, as they would say the multiplication table? I'm already having them memorize and be able to say the ones that add up to 10, and now I'm wondering about having them memorize all of them. Then, do you have them memorize subtraction facts too? I've never heard of a subtraction table--is there one? Thanks! This is a great resource for me jsut starting our classical education journey. :)

Thanks Kristina, Your post was very helpful for me! I've just realized the same thing about stealing "me time" throughout the day.;)

That's a good point about not having to go back to square one. However, I think he really needs phonics. He pronounces what I think are simple words wrong (pronouncing "vacant" as if he's saying "vacuum" or pronouncing "a-e" words as if they didn't have the e on the end). I thought the Phonics Pathways would be good for him, because the reviews say they use it for remedial work, even with adults. He's never had phonics (beyond what sounds the letters make). I have made so many mistakes with his education! Oh, how I wish I'd read WTM when he was in Kindergarten! I was thinking he'd probably be able to get through most of the Phonics Pathways book this summer, since he already reads so well. Related to this, when he reads, he skims and can finish a book in a day, or else he'll pick up a book and start reading in the middle. Those are the only two ways he reads. I feel like he should be reading much slower (to really retain what he's reading) and be able to read a book from start to finish. Do you think this will be corrected following the WTM methodology, or should I try to work on it during his recreational reading times? Thanks!

okay, thanks!

I know. I just spent $14 on the 1999 book, using my precious curriculum money (I'm frantically trying to sell stuff on Craig's List to get enough), and--knowing myself--I won't be able to rest knowing there's a more recent edition out there! I've decided to just bite the bullet and buy it--I'll be much happier in the long run. :-) I had already noticed it's not easy to find the A Beka language arts books.

Thanks everyone!

Oh no!

Hello, I'm very new to the Classical method. I a wondering about the history timelines. Why do they not recommend them until the middle school years? I was planning to use Veritas Press' flashcard sets--would it be better to just follow the plan in the book then? (the Usborne Histories and the Kingfisher) That would certainly make it more simple. :) Thanks!

Hello, I was unaware that there were two editions of the WTM, and I am about a 1/3 of the way through reading (and marking) the 1999 edition. Is there a place online where I could get an updated list of the curriculum she recommends? I hadn't thought about it, except in a previous post of mine about Latin, someone mentioned the Latina Christiana which she recommends in the 2004 edition. I had really liked that one when I was looking in a catalog, but since it wasn't recommended in the book, I was just going to go with what she recommends.

Right now he's not doing any grammar, but I already have English for the Thoughtful Child, so I was planning to use that. He really doesn't even know the basic parts of speech (adjective, adverb, etc.)--would a 4th grade grammar text cover that? (I had started out with one curriculum but did *not* like their language arts, and somehow just never started him on it--kind of bouncing around from curriculum to curriculum)

I am planning to buy the Veritas Press flashcards for Bible and History (this will be our first year doing Classical Education). We won't have the money to buy all the books ourselves, but I was wondering if anybody has the Genesis-Joshua and the O.T./Ancient Egypt sets...... Could you tell me which books are essential? (used frequently and through the whole year) I will try to find those used somewhere. Thanks,

I've just received The Well-Trained Mind (1999 version) and am thoroughly enjoying reading it. I have some questions, since we'll be starting in the middle with our soon-to-be 4th grader who has never had any phonics, spelling, writing, or grammar (to speak of), but he's been reading well above grade level since he was 5 and devours books. 1) The book says not to start Latin until after 2 years of grammar, and also it says to start Latin in the 3rd grade. Should I wait to start Latin with our son until he's in 6th grade (after he's had 2 years of grammar)? Or could I do something like the Sing Song Latin program without negative consequences? 2) My plan is to start this summer (I've just ordered Phonics Pathways) with all of his Language Arts, and to try to get as much done as possible (working through the summers to catch up). Is this what I should do? I was already planning to do some school with him during the summer. On the plus side, we have 3 other boys, the next oldest will be 1st grade this fall, so I can do it correctly with them! :)

We've taught our two oldest using this, and they do not need to know the letters beforehand.

Awesome--this will give me lots to go with. Thanks for all the great ideas!

I would like to teach American history every year, in addition to the World History. What curriculum would you recommend? I have soon-to-be 4th and 1st graders. Thanks.