Well, not S&E... but we are using Life science this year with the student texts/workbooks, teacher manual, and investigations DVD—all 3rd edition. It's perfect for us! I don't think there's any need to the online or full DVD course. My little man is loving science. He's enjoying learning... and retaining it, too.

Thank you, prairiewindmomma. Here's the thing. I'd like to find an alternative that covers History, Theology, and Literature together, similar to that of Omnibus, instead of breaking them into three separate subjects. If I am to do the latter, I may (most likely) continue with Western Civilization by Spielvogel, KJV Bible studies via Bob Davis of North Country Chapel and Blue Letter Bible, and Invitation to the Classics. Has anyone already scheduled a similar line-up? Perhaps Omnibus will get better once we're through the Genesis and Exodus portions. Maybe I'll hold off making any decision until we get into the Epic of Gilgamesh.

We are working through Omnibus I together this year, but it is possible that I may replace it. I'm just not sure where to turn at this point. I like the idea of Omnibus, but the execution is lacking and it seems as though there are liberties taken that don't hold up to scripture, imo. I feel it's a sort of hit and miss, so I'm not necessarily impressed. My little man is somewhat disgusted with the discrepancies. I'm so thankful that he picks up on them, too, and we discuss, but I just have a feeling—I've been trying to fight, since we already own the materials and have it all planned out—that perhaps there is something better out there that we can use together, that won't cause us to cringe and doubt its accuracy or usefulness. Someone please tell me that there is no perfect curriculum out there and that, despite these hiccups, it's still a worthwhile guidance tool. Otherwise, what are your suggestions for other options?

Coming from CC Cycle 2 (way back in 1st grade) and then using Latin for Children (levels A-C), LfC was far more beneficial than CC. LfC is memorization, and in context. ETA: I had thought that we'd do CC memory work at home, but there was just so much better out there to use that it wasn't necessary or desirable. To CC's credit, we do prefer their skip counting songs as a precursor for learning math facts. We still use those up to this day when in a pinch. Lol!

Between having completed FLL Levels 1/2 (the older combined edition), 3 & 4... and R&S English Levels 6-8, my little man's grammar is (usually) top notch. I often use him as my grammar consultant and editor. Lol! I probably would've used ALL if it had been available back then, but I've been pleased with the results of both the aforementioned. WOL seems like a cross between FLL and Shurley English, with a CAP twist. Shurley English parses sentences, as does WOL. R&S and FLL (?) diagrams sentences, or at least I believe SWB recommends diagramming. My little man prefers diagraming over parsing, but he has to know both since we're using CAP's Latin materials (i.e., Latin for Children and Latin Alive). It's been a win win for us. Consider that CAP has released only one level (two books) of WOL, so only a year's worth is available at present.

I'm most curious about this, but budget is tight, so we'll have to wait. We tried a monthly science box subscription elsewhere and it turned out to be a worthless flop. That being said, I believe this one has the potential to be a winner. Please come back and share your thoughts after you have received your box and given it a go. :thumbup:

Has anyone subscribed to this yet? It's kind of pricey, but I'm wondering if it's worth it. https://thimble.io

We've always had a four day week. This was determined by my hubby's work schedule. That being said, our upcoming and past two years are different from the first several years. K-4th: 7-day study week. 4 days on, 3 days off. Roughly averaging 6 weeks on, 1 week off. All studies were accomplished in these 4 days, by the end of the study year, before summer break. Extracurriculars (i.e., martial arts and music instruction) were on set days and may or may not have fallen on our study days; it just depended on which side of the week my hubby was working, and so we were flexible every three-ish months. (36 study weeks + 6 break weeks + 10 summer vacation weeks = 52 week year) 5th-7th: 6-day study week (due to hubby's rotating schedule). 4 days on, 2 days off. Roughly averaging 7-8 weeks on, 1 week off. All studies were/will be accomplished in these 4 days by the end of the study year, before summer break. Extracurriculars (i.e., martial arts and music instruction) were on set days and may or may not have fallen on our study days; it just depended on which days of the week my hubby was working. (45 study weeks + 6 break weeks + 9.5 summer vacation weeks = 60.5 week year)

One of my little man's favorite things to do in the grammar stage was to listen to the States and Capitals Songs while we played Sequence States & Capitals. Great times that I will never forget! Geo puzzles are nice, too. We also used MP States and Capitals for geography this past year in sixth grade to solidify them, alongside VP's 1815 to Present history. Simple and easy. We'd used MP's Geography I and II previously. Next year we'll use MP's Geography III, which includes a States & Capitals review section. I used to think it was a non-issue, learning the states and capitals, when my little man was younger. However, my view point changed in recent years. It isn't just about history or geography, but it's about government, too. How and where the state and local, as well as federal, governments are run. It's important to know. Small pieces in a bigger puzzle, but important to know. Why not make it fun and easy to learn those facts sooner than later? ETA: My little man also enjoyed reading through Yo, Sacramento! and Yo, Millard Fillmore! Cracks him up.

Check out my post in this thread: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/614096-is-the-teachers-cd-really-necessary-to-teach-omnibus-1-at-home/

http://knowledgequestmaps.com/products/history-helps/a-journey-in-liberty-us-constitution/ Knowledge Quest is having a Going Out Of Print sale that ends today. One of the items included is a highschool government course: A Journey in Liberty by Dawn Boyer.

Has anyone already cross-referenced the fourth edition of Spielvogel's Western Civilization: A Brief History with Omnibus I and II? Or possibly the enhanced third edition of Duiker/Spielvogel's Essential World History?

Have you listened to any of the free webinars by Lee Binz. She has one posted on her site right now. I highly recommend it!!! I believe she covers exactly what you're asking. The Homeschool Parent's Guide to High School Grades, Credits, and Transcripts!

Not to be a stickler here, but as I'm trying to figure all of this out myself, because my little man's starting Omnibus I this fall, it's my understanding that VP recommends only one credit (for English) if only Primary *or* Secondary books are covered — as indicated on their chart ( http://resource2.veritaspress.com/Resources/downloads/OmnibusTranscriptInfo.pdf ) — opposed to three credits earned if *both* Primary and Secondary are completed simultaneously. My question: Does Omnibus adequately cover American History (1 credit), World History (1 credit), Economics (1/2 credit) and Government (1/2 credit) as required for 3-4 Social Studies credits on a high school transcript? Also, if three credits—that being one credit for history/social studies, one credit for English, and one credit for Religion/Theology—are awarded for both Primary and Secondary books completed, which category does Theology fall under on a transcript—Social Studies or Electives? If Social Studies, then does that mean two credits are given for each level of Omnibus each year? So that, essentially, the student would earn two credits for Social Studies and one credit for English if he were to complete Omnibus Primary and Secondary books each year? Side Note: I want to steer clear of double-dipping, as well as overworking in one subject/category, on the high school transcript.

Now that my little man is officially in secondary, I find myself wishing I hadn't given away our old 1980s World Book Encyclopedia set that I thought he'd never use. What are your secondaries using for research sources? Google? Wikipedia? World Book or Britannica encyclopedias—hardback, CDs, or online??? What works best for your learners?

Oh good! So glad for you! I wouldn't want to be without my OLLY. :) I hope they continue to support and improve it.

Looks like you're not the only one who has had problems with the license link. Unfortunately, they are slow in responding. http://riversandyears.com/forum/discussion/comment/1733/#Comment_1733 http://riversandyears.com/forum/discussion/comment/829/#Comment_829

I love OLLY! I'm in the process of creating our lesson plans for next year. Have you searched the OLLY Forum? Perhaps this thread may help.

Never have I heard of the word niggling, or ever even seen it used. But now, after looking up the definition, I love it! Lol! Thanks for that. CAP W&R is entirely different from WWS. WWS does not use the progym exercises. Here's a helpful thread to read that may clarify it all for you: My evaluation of numerous writing curricula Where to start? Well, we started with WWE 1-4, switched to W&R 1-4, then went back to our initial course of study with WWS I. It looked like this: K5 - WWE 1 (1st half) G1 - WWE 1 (2nd half), WWE 2 (1st half) G2 - WWE 2 (2nd half), WWE 3 (1st half) G3 - WWE 3 (2nd half), WWE 4 (1st half) G4 - W&R 1 & 2, WWE 4 (second half) G5 - W&R 3 & 4 G6 - WWS I Deciding which tools to use for writing this upcoming year (7th grade) has been difficult for me. While I'm glad that my little man gained the experience in working through WWS I, I'm positive that I don't want to use WWS II next year. I contemplated between going back to W&R or trying CC or ??? After discussing it individually with my little man, and then my husband, and then holding a group meeting, it has been determined that we're going back to W&R—Books 5 & 6. My little man's writing flourished with W&R. He enjoyed writing despite whatever challenges arose. I want him to love writing once again—both outside AND inside of curriculum. WWS killed any interest in writing. W&R was always an adventure. I'm afraid an experience with CC would be half and half of each. While the structure of CC appears nicely laid out, W&R seems to have more hand-holding instruction and guidance for both student and teacher than CC. That being said, I was unaware of any video option with CC. Regardless, my little man has begged to go back to W&R. It was fun, engaging, easy at times and yet challenging as needed. I realize now that he grew in his writing abilities with W&R. It was slow at first (Books 1 & 2) and then immensely more with 3 & 4. I'm not saying W&R is perfect, but it's more perfect for us than others. I still recall my own niggling dissatisfaction with it, which is why this decision was so difficult for me. However, W&R will once again be our tool of choice moving forward.

As stated on VP's site, "The Teacher CD-ROM duplicates the student text and inserts answers to all questions, provides grading tools, and much more." Yes, I believe that you'd want the Teacher CD. Whether it's because I'm running on a mac or have an older edition (c2005/2006), I'm only able to access the Teacher's Manual Files—copy of each chapter with answers to all questions, as well as tests with answer keys—and the Grading Calculator... but not the much more portion. That being said, I certainly wouldn't want to be without it.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with both. You said what my mind was struggling to put into words. I believe it may be back to W&R for us.

My little man has used WWE 1-4 and W&R 1-4. We're aware of the differences and still undecided. :laugh: As to what I want my writing program to cover..... well, that is where I'm coming up short for an answer at present. I have a like/dislike relationship with both. Due to irregular circumstances causing our study year to run longer than initially planned, we're finishing up Week 29 of WWS 1. I may need to wait until after the Final Composition in Week 36, so that gives me some time to compare and contemplate before I make a final decision.

Thank you! Somehow, I missed it on their website last night.

Hmmm... has Book 6 not been released yet?

The TM does contain 2 pages of teaching guidelines at the beginning, but it really is only an answer key. MP also offers a lesson schedule that is sold separately, but (again) it's not a teaching instructional guide either.