Really? Why don't you like it after 5th grade?

I like to think of teaching reading as ocean tides. Sometimes the tide is coming in (and the child is progressing steadily) and sometimes it is going out (with the child seeming to hit a standstill.) What has worked for me is to have multiple resources I can switch between depending on where they are at. So while they are steadily working a program, (I like Dancing Bears) I continue along adding in Explode the Code. When we seem to hit a snag, we set Dancing Bears aside for a bit and use something else, even back stepping a bit if necessary. (Reading Pathways is my choice). This way the child doesn't get discouraged with their struggling. With this method, they can review material and gently begin to move forward again. Adding in computer games is always a gentle practice as well. When it seems like the right time, jump back into Dancing Bears and just keep making adjustments as you go.

bumping

What do you all think of Christian Light Language Arts?

Kathleen, I wanted to check in with you to see how this all turned out for you. As it is, my mind has changed dramatically over the last few years as I am now a single mom of 5, homeschooling 4 and my oldest and I go to college full-time together. Michelle

I am in college and I am looking for recommendations for a writing/grammar program for my kids. Their grades are 5th, 8th, and 11th. Video instruction would be a plus, but not necessary. I just want something solid, they can do on their own in this subject. I would be checking in, especially with the youngest. What have you used that you could really recommend?

Dave Ramsey would say no. No debt.

I am finishing up my first year in college as a 41 year old, homeschool mom of 5. Next year I am set to either take the easiest math I can find or CLEP out of it this summer. (My degree only requires 1 math). My preference would be to CLEP so I am planning on doing some studying this summer to prepare myself. So far, I am considering using ALEKS.com to help me. Does anyone have any recommendations to help this extremely non-mathy girl (but extremely motivated!) prepare to CLEP out of math? ANY advice would be appreciated!!!

If you use Christian Light Language Arts, but use a different spelling program do you just skip that portion in the light units? What if you also use a different handwriting? Would I be wasting my money on this program? I really want a workbook based Language Arts program for my 5th grade daughter next year. We used BJU this year but it is so expensive.

Wow, some excellent advice here ladies. I am posting just so I can refer back to these posts in the future. I also live in Ohio, have graduated one and have four more coming along.

Some great ideas here! Thank You!! I was thinking of long term projects and activities. I love some of your suggestions. I was also thinking of things like a big leaf collection/identification project organized into some sort of book or display. Not necessarily THAT project, but something like it. KWIM?

I really like the idea of multi-week projects for the kids to complete during our science units. I got the following one from Elemental Science, which I really love the looks of but it has such bad reviews! So I am thinking of writing my own units but I want to add the multi-week project idea. Here is the one from ES sample: Unit Project ⣠Plant Growth Project — During this unit, you will record the growth of a bean plant. This week, begin this project by planting your seed. You will need dirt, a small pot, water, and a pinto bean seed. Fill the pot with dirt and gently press the bean seed just under the surface of the dirt. Water the pot well before placing it on a windowsill that receives direct sun light. Over the week, check your pot and water the plant when the soil is dry. On Friday, measure and record how much it has grown on the Plant Growth Record Chart Any ideas?

The title explains it all! :)

I have an older edition of this curriculum sitting on my shelf and I am thinking of using it with my 11 year old daughter next year. She could use the time to improve her reading skills and grow in independence before starting with Heart of Dakota Creation to the Cross the following year. Anyhow, I am a little confused about the readers. I see their are Advanced Readers and Regular readers. Some of the titles overlap, so I am guessing the Advanced Readers are just more books read at a faster pace. My question is this: I will be including my 8 year old son in our schooling, and I would be using the regular readers with him. He is not really reading very well yet and would be unable to read these on his own. So I noticed that the readers are not lined up. For instance, regular readers starts with Pocahontas and the advanced readers start with "A Lion to Guard Us". Later she would be reading Pocahontas so I am wondering if it will be confusing? Any thoughts or advice? Thanks! PS I would like to add videos/websites/activities to this so if anyone knows of a website that has some of this already laid out, I would be grateful!

bumping for help!

We are primarily Charlotte Mason style homeschoolers but I am in college and I'd like to look into some sort of science program for my 11 & 8 year olds next year. Something fun but not overly time consuming. I don't mind experiments as long as they are easy to implement. Any recommendations?

I have an older edition of this curriculum sitting on my shelf and I am thinking of using it with my 11 year old daughter next year. She could use the time to improve her reading skills and grow in independence before starting with Heart of Dakota Creation to the Cross the following year. Anyhow, I am a little confused about the readers. I see their are Advanced Readers and Regular readers. Some of the titles overlap, so I am guessing the Advanced Readers are just more books read at a faster pace. My question is this: I will be including my 8 year old son in our schooling, and I would be using the regular readers with him. He is not really reading very well yet and would be unable to read these on his own. So I noticed that the readers are not lined up. For instance, regular readers starts with Pocahontas and the advanced readers start with "A Lion to Guard Us". Later she would be reading Pocahontas so I am wondering if it will be confusing? Any thoughts or advice? Thanks! PS I would like to add videos/websites/activities to this so if anyone knows of a website that has some of this already laid out, I would be grateful!

I have an old version of Core D from 2001 and I like everything about it except the read alouds. I really prefer the updated read-alouds in the current catalog. So I was thinking about just reading those in the order they would fall. So if anyone could share the order they are read in the Instructor Guide, I would be grateful! Here are the current books: Sign of the Beaver Witch of Blackbird Pond Johnny Tremain Toliver's Secret Carry on Mr. Bowditch Walk the World's Rim Justin Morgan Had a Horse Calico Bush The Journeyman Swift Rivers Child's Introduction to Poetry Lawn Boy Tree in the Trail Secret of the Sealed Room The Candymakers

I always seem to ask questions that get all the controversy. It cracks me up! lol All I asked was how to write a rule for my new co-op and now I'm being told to skip it all. lol If my house was a beautiful park with a couple acres and had its own naturalist, I might go with this idea. People, I'm sorry everyone feels like I'm doing a disservice to my homeschool community but there are other homeschool co-ops in my area. We have one classical conversations group, and several others that are traditional co-ops. I realize my ideas are different, but that is why I like them. That is also why someone else may like them. I don't participate in those other co-ops because they are not what I'm looking for. Someone else may be looking for something new as well.

Also, I'm sorry for giving the impression that one parent per child is required. That's not my intention. Basically I just want to see the parents involved. For instance, I have 3 or 4 kids I will be bringing. We might sit down and do the nature journaling all together but once inside I might be more of an encourager or helper while they are doing woodworking. When there is a book talk, I would listen more than talk. But I would be focused on what was going on with the kids, not talking with the other parents off in the corner.

King fu panda, The reason for the parents participating in the nature journaling is to enrich them as people and to see the beauty around them. Same reason why the kids do it. My intention was never just to keep them busy. I was saying I don't like it when moms do that and this would be a solution but it wasn't the reason for the idea. I just want the parents to be as engaged in these wonderful activities as their kids. As for the babysitting, I might see about hiring a couple of high school girls to be possible babysitters for those who may not have someone. It would be low cost, but not free. I'd rather not do the co-op if I had tons of littles around. I still think it is a co-op. I plan to have some of the parents lead different activities. I won't be hiring everything out. I have to say thanks to everyone as you have given me a lot to think about. I am sure I'll come here with more thoughts as I develop my plans.

See, I am wondering, don't people have grandmas or friends who could watch their kids for them twice a month? I realize that some might not, but wouldn't most?

Because as of right now, I am the lone member. lol I intend to bring in people after I have the framework set, but sometimes too many ideas lead to too many ideas KWIM? I have been homeschooling for 14 years, spent a good majority of that on steering committees of groups and co-ops or at least participated as a member/teacher. Several years ago I started a homeschool group, (not a co-op) from the ground up and it is still going strong today. I wrote by-laws and set the general way of it in motion including a leadership team. I am not part of that group anymore because #1 I am a full time college student and I don't have time for it. #2 It doesn't meet my current needs. It is now mostly younger kids and they do not hold classes. #3 It has changed a bit over the years, and I find attending their field trips and such frustrating because of the two problems I mentioned above.

Yes, I am preparing the lessons so that the parents will be fully engaged doing their own projects alongside the children or working with the children. We will not have a teacher in the traditional sense of the word. I am thinking more of a guide with the parents being co-learners with their children. The group will be a Charlotte Mason inspired group and I will be brining in naturalists and other guest speakers/teachers. Think of it as Suzuki music lessons style. The parents focus should be on the topic at hand and their children. It is not a time to catch up with friends. I will have parent nights where we can get together minus the kids for those purposes.

This co-op is unique in that we will be meeting in different locations around my city. There will only be one room for the classes in which we will all work together in a multi-age setting. There will also be a lot of outdoor activities near bodies of water, in forests and such. It is not possible to safely have younger children involved. I should also mention that this is going to be only 2x a month for a total of 6 sessions in the fall and 6 in the winter.