I have had lots of problems with kids taking excessive time to do a subject - I think our worst was 2 hours doing 2 review pages of math. I tried something new this week and it has been really working well, so far... I give them copy of all of their work to be done for the week, broken out by days, they select the order that they do it in and even how much. Already, they have done the next days work ahead of schedule (on a couple of subjects only). Would your children benefit from a little freedom to make their own choices? You still pick the work to be done, they pick the order to do it in. Maybe you have already tried this, I suspose with 9 years under your belt, I am probably not suggesting anythig new. Well, I hope something I said helps:001_smile:

I am starting to think about next year TOG 2, and will have 3 3rd graders in upper Grammar books. This year they were lower grammar, so we read them all aloud - no problem. Next year, I want them to do more independant reading, we will still read some aloud because I will also have a 1st grader, but short of getting 3 of each book, I am not sure how to do this. I am particularly thinking about the SAP books. Thanks for your thoughts!

We are doing MUS Beta as our main, 3 days per week and Singapore 2A 1 day per week or for fun. I like the foundation of MUS but I think it's important to learn math from different perspectives. Next year I plan to do Singapore Word Problems.

my son did MUS finish Primer and start Alpha SWR - learn phonograms only reading - Bob books and Dr. Suess type books handwriting - I am teaching cursive to him Explode the Code books 1 and 2 Listening in on TOG year 1 history - lots of coloring HTH!

Maybe your dc will really rise to the occasion and be of great support - I will pray for that!

nt

I will love to add a few word documents to my blog, but I can't figure out how to save them as a jpeg so I can pull it up in my blog. Any computer savy people out there who could tell me how?

:001_smile:

I have been trying to get committed to the accountablity of a weekly reporter blog and the organization of my own "thinking" place - so maybe if I tell you all about it... so here it is.

It's hard to think that school does not need to take 7 hours, but I really believe that you can get the core stuff done in a 1 -1 1/2 and move on to play - which at that age is very important!!!!!! So I think you are doing great. Laura

then for the 3rd graders. That having been said, he likes to do everything they can and is quickly catching up in both math and reading - so including him in Latin is reasonable. I think that Prima Latin looks like a gentler start, Lively Latin looks more fun and all encompassing, so getting my youngest a little older will probably help. I have not looked in the Sing a Song (hope I got the title right), but I will look into that as well. Thanks for the thoughts. Laura

and I have absolutly no need for the teacher manuel! Laura

It's a mom and son club, started by another mother. we meet about every 1 1/2, the boys read a book and answer a few questions (pre-determined and in a binder from the start of the group) and color a picture of their favorite scene. then we all get together and the mom's direct a short (30-40min) conversation, answering the questions and a little moral discussion, and then they play. It has been great for my son, he is hs for the first time this year and it is with his ps friends and 1 new hs friend. Also, each boy hosts the club and when they are host, they pick the book. My only wish is that we had a master list to choose from, I am a little concerned for upcoming subject matter because not all the mom's feel as I do and about conservative topics (ie. no talk about drugs, war or sex - keep in mind their ages) and good literature! hope this idea helps. Laura

does anyone have any thoughts on which program would be best to start with? I am thinking 1 year of Prima Latin with 3rd and 1st and then Lively Latin the next year with 4th and 2nd... Laura

You could look into the Dinos from China now at OMSI - it's susposed to be a very impressive display of dino's and artifacts - I'm sure they would also be a good source for books on the subject... Laura

Important to note: I am a little scared of Latin and totally uneducated on the subject. I like things really spelled out and clear to follow. I will also need lots of support in the correct pronunciations. Please help! Laura BTW - thanks to eveyone who responed to my earlier question about WHY Latin, I needed your support and information for all the "doubters" in my life :)

I am seriously thinking about teaching Latin to my 3rd graders next year, but I need to fully understand WHY? Please share with me why you teach Latin to your kids. My thought is that it will help teach spelling (root words and pre/suffix), grammar and vocabulary (base words) as well as set them up for learning another language in a couple of years. I have never studied Latin, am I placing too many expectations on Latin? I like the looks of Lively Latin the most, btw. also, btw, I am not planning on teaching a separate grammar rogram (Writing Tales 1 is on my for sure list though). thanks for your thoughts.. Laura

I will have to work on our schedule and try to implent your thoughts... Anymore thoughts would be welcomed! :) Laura

Thanks! I am looking into all of the suggestions, but I think the IBLP is perfect! I looked at there wisdom books curriculum and loved it, but felt that it was too big for us and not a perfect fit. I wanted something smaller and this, initally, looks perfect! THANKS! Laura

i am not a morning person and 3 of my 4 are also not morning people. i find that everyday gets stared slow and late and then I get stressed trying to get everything to fit it. How do you moms start your day? how you changed your natural tendency or have you just adjusted your day? of course my dh is a total morning person and is gone before we even get up! so he is no help at all :) Laura

I have 2 nd grade triplets, and I see that it is time to break things out a bit (this is our 1 yr hs). My son is ready to move ahead in math but needs extra phonics time from his sisters... how do you individualize their studies without making anyone feel "bad" and how do you find the time to work with each when they are all still so needing... so far they have not been able to stay focused and do any independant work. Laura

I would like to teach my dc (6-7) character building qualities with a foundation from the bible but also with everyday life components... anyone ever heard of something like this? Laura

I am looking for a fun way to do math for a week or two, unit study type thing -grocery store? farm? I want it to be for 2nd graders, focusing on addition, subtraction, measuring, the basics. ANY THOUGHTS would be appreciated. Laura :)

the race is over, but my kids don't know that - I will check this out:) Laura

My 2 nd graders are doing MUS and really doing well. This is our first year hs and I have been very focused on catching up the basic facts, which were missing after last year. While I believe that those facts will be something we will work on for year to come, I want to make Math pop to them... so here's the question Are there fun, relavent, live giving unit studies for math that I can buy mostly complete? My friend last night told me about a unit that her daughter did in ps where the kids earned money by doing math problem to spend on live stock. Horses cost so much and took up so much space on the farm (a piece of large graph paper), chickens required ... cows the same. So the kids had to earn the money,, do the math to find out how much to spend, spend it and work out the size/space of each animal on the paper. Then decorate the farm by coloring, cutting out and drawing. Does anyone know of anything like this? and Where to get it. I could probably figure it out, but I already have so much on my plate, I would love to skip that step. Any thoughts on making Math fun, relavent and real would be appriciate. Laura :)