Laura, I just noticed that you are new here. If you search my posts on CW, you will find my explanation of how I went through the Homer core and took notes. That was really helpful for me. Additionally, you can check out my blog. On the righthand sidebar, I've posted my lesson plans for Aesop and Homer B. HTH.

Kiss Grammar

Thank you all for your replies. I did do a search both here and on AO and found lots of good stuff. I don't remember where on the website, but the author says if you are spending more than 5 minutes analyzing sentences, then you are doing something wrong. That's why KISS is popular among CM'ers. Short lessons using real literature. It really looks good. I downloaded the second grade workbook for my 4th grader. We started it yesterday. One lesson only took a few minutes. And like others said, that 2nd grade book is LOADED. This is intense grammar presented systematically and in small bites. I also liked the inclusion of punctuation exercises--something she wasn't getting in JAG.

Laura, I was like you, hearing all the talk about how hard and confusing Homer was. I was so intimidated that I used 3 other writing programs before finally breaking down and giving Homer a try. I was delighted to discover that the core book was fabulously detailed and easy to understand. It took a little effort on my part to wade through the info, but it was certainly worth the effort. In fact, after a few weeks with the workbook, we switched to doing it without the workbook. I liked the flexibility of doing our own thing. I'm sure others will disagree, but I wanted to encourage you. :D

Will that cable be compatible if you are going from a pc desktop to a Mac laptop?

Well... since you phrased it as "absolutely necessary," I answered NO. What is crucially important in the elementary years is Reading, Writing, Math, Grammar (preferably Latin). Mastering those skill areas is the most important thing. Other subjects like science and history can be studied more informally. And as my oldest enters junior high, I am struck by the fact that I spent far too much time and energy on History. We all love it, so it was fun, but I did not need to stress myself out over it. He has learned tons on his own, just following his interests. I did not have to make it as formal and time consuming as I did. Check out the Latin-Centered Curriculum for more thoughts on this.

I clearly have way too much time on my hands, but... tell me about KISS grammar. I really like the idea of analyzing real sentences. It seems a lot like the approach to grammar that CW has, but with much less time involved. The author says 5 minutes a day. I'd love to hear what any users of KISS grammar have to say. Thanks.

Lisa, Mother of Divine Grace sells a syllabus for Henle Second Year, complete with daily lesson plans and quizzes and tests. It costs $35. Memoria Press is also offering an online class for Henle Second Year as well.

We really enjoyed The Shakespeare Stealer and The Shakespeare Scribe. We also really like Robin Hood by Roger Greene.

Sounds like the perfect time to switch to First Form, Memoria Press' new middle school Latin program. It's in beta testing now but will be available in the summer. I'm switching my dd10 to First Form; we've also completed 1/2 of LC2. First Form can be used by anyone 10 and up who has completed LC1--or an older student with no previous Latin. First Form is awesome. The explanations are very thorough and there are lots and lots of pages of exercises and drills. It's a much better book than LC2. And the great thing is, the vocab, etc. that she has already learned in LC1 and 2 will repeat in First Form so that it will be a mix of new material and review. Maybe you could just drill grammar endings and vocabulary for a while and then switch to First Form. I am really excited about it. Like I said it's got great drills and lots of practice exercises and it will also include an activity book with puzzles and Latin readings too.

Memoria Press has another book in the works that will cover 1900 to the present. HTH.

Michelle, Have you looked at Living Book Curriculum? I'm going to use their Foundation Year for my youngest.

Alana, Click on the link for my blog in my signature. On the right sidebar you can download our master weekly schedule and the weekly schedule for 6th and 4th grade. We are LCC. HTH.

Alana, Great question and one I've been wrestling with. The truth is Homer is intense so I didn't require any other writing. However, Homer doesn't last an entire school year, so that gives you other options. I have noticed that the lessons in CW Poetry don't take long at all, so I am introducing written narrations this term. Again, what is happening in Homer is essentially narration anyway. So, it's oral narrations in our content subjects during the Homer Weeks,and written narrations during Poetry. At least that is the plan for now.

aha. Thanks.

Complete lurker here who obviously has too much time on her hands, but what is BSG?

Laura, I've only scanned the other replies and this might not be helpful to you at all, but I thought I'd throw it out there. I used to teach AP English and I was often surprised to find that writing I didn't think was particularly good got quite high scores on the AP exam. Students of mine who received C's from me often scored perfect scores on the AP exam. Why? Well, I finally concluded that the graders read so much, so fast that they often give a score based on an impression of the writing. They just don't have time to closely exam the writing. If the essay gives the impression that the writer knows what he is talking about and has presented it coherently, then it receives a good score. I guess I'm trying to say that a good standardized test score and a good essay are not necessarily the same thing. Sad, but true. So, even if you think that what your son wrote was not that great, perhaps it is good enough to score well. Another thing to consider is that the grader will (they can't help it) compare the essay to the other peer essays, rather than to a model of good writing in his head. Does that make sense? I don't know if it is the same in the UK, so take my thoughts with many grains of salt. I guess I just sympathize with your tutor friend. I can see myself reading something that was only adequate and saying, yep that would score well--even if I didn't think it was exceptional. Just another perspective.

Angela, I have felt the same way about using VP history. I dumped it and switched to SOTW, then switched back to VP having learned how to make it fit my needs. One thing I've done is to use a narrative spine, like CHOW or the Famous Men Series. I read all the chapters, not just the ones listed on the cards. Additionally, I've got a history read-aloud going too. I also do NOT use the worksheets at all. If you like them, you could try doing them orally for a while. Also, there are 32 cards, which means that in a 36 week school year, you could schedule 4 weeks to cover non-Western countries. I just read out loud from SOTW to cover those. Just a few thoughts on how you could tweak what you've already got. ETA: what I like about VP is that they limit my history focus to just a few key events. It's easy to get overwhelmed and try to master everything. It's not possible and will only drive you crazy. On the other hand, I like the narrative flow of history, so I don't skip around the history spines, I read them cover to cover. Sometimes that means covering events in a slightly different order than the cards, but that has not been a problem.

Wow! Thanks for the heads up!

Here's what I'm planning: Literature and Theology: Omnibus I--which includes the Shakespeare and Plutarch readings (ala AO) Ancient History: Streams of Civilization and Guerber Story of Greeks and Story of Romans Latin: Second Form or Henle units 3-5 Math: Complete BJU Math 7 and then Life of Fred: Fractions and Decimals English: CW Diogenes/ Poetry B/Our Mother Tongue/ Simply Spelling Science: Earth Science/Geography Logic: Fallacy Detective Picture Study, Composer Study, Poetry ala AO Swim Team Baseball Team

Page 38 of the Aesop core: Developing an Outline. HTH!

Hmm. That is strange. I can only imagine that he answered a specific question that she asked. Brian and Cheryl Lowe are both in the yahoo group for First Form Beta. And the information I've been sharing has come from that group. There must be some confusion somewhere because Highlands does NOT use the First Form series in high school; and as I said when they use it in junior high, they are doing 2 forms per year. I don't see how one form could equal a high school credit, but then again some people use LC that way. Who knows? I know that the First Form series is not designed to be used one per year in High School; that would mean that a student would never get to read anything like Caesar. The person who posted that info may have asked Brian if First Form *could* be used in High School, and of course it *could* but it is not designed for that. It is specifically designed for middle school and moves way too slowly for a high school text. Like I said, a student would never get to read any Latin at that rate. But again, everyone has different goals.

My 6th grader just finished the Henle 1 syllabus from MP. He liked the looks of First Form and asked to switch. About half of First Form will be review from Henle so I am anticipating no problem getting through First and Second Form in one year--Second Form will also have some review. And then if we(or you) decided to keep that pace, then Third and Fourth Form would be completed in 8th. And yes, that would be followed up by Henle 2. Although I have no problem slowing that pace down if necessary. And if you haven't had any Latin before, you might strongly consider slowing down that pace. Getting to Henle 2 in 10 or 11th grade is still quite an accomplishment. First Form will be officially released in the summer and Second Form will be in beta (or so we are told) in the Fall.

Okay, Memoria Press is in the process of updating it's Suggested Course of Study, so look for that. What I'm being told right now is that you have a couple of different options depending what your goals in Latin are. You can go LC1 then First Form, Second Form, etc. (which replaces Henle 1 and covers the Latin grammar), then go into Henle 2, translations. Students at Highlands do go through LC1. New students (4th and up) who haven't had any Latin start in First Form. New students (7th and up) do First Form and Second Form in one year, completing the entire Latin grammar in 2 years. so were does LC2 fit in? Good question. Right now they are telling me that if your goal is to read and translate, then skip LC2 and do First Form. If you just want a couple of years of exposure to Latin without any further Latin studies, the do LC1 and LC2. I will say that First Form is a much better book than LC2. I am switching my daughter from LC2 to First Form. The explantions and the workbook pages and the drills are just plain better.

Well, First Form does drill, drill, drill. And I like the drills. But, while First Form is different from PL, it does follow the same weekly schedule week after week. But the explanations are much more sophisticated than PL. This is a rigorous Latin grammar program. And there will a supplemental book with activities and Latin readings, as well as DVDS. We really like it and my son is switching from Henle (where he was excelling) to First Form just because he likes the layout better. And I like the drills and quizzes and tests. If you like variety, you might consider Henle with the MP guide. Might be a bit much for the 8 year old however. First Form is for any older beginner and 4th grade and up who have completed LC1. (Lively Latin is the equivalent of LC1).