This is great to know, Jean, thank you! I did not realize that your kids were able to work through it on their own. That is great news for someone with little or no knowledge of Spanish looking to teach her kids! This was a very helpful piece of information - thanks again! AmeliaBinMO

Thanks, Nan! Yes, even a semester without a tutor would be great. This whole foreign language thing really intimidates me, though. With other subjects, I feel fairly confident that I can at least squeak along and help the kids until they get later in high school when they have other options such as dual enrollment. Foreign languages are a whole different story, though. I am useless at even the most basic level. I honestly know that I cannot even choose a program well, much less teach it. Perhaps I should start pricing tutors now, so that I have time to recover from the shock before I need to implement. Thanks for the encouragement. Despite my inadequacies in this subject area, it is something that I really want the kids to learn. Thanks again! AmeliaBinMO

Jean, I've read many of your posts regarding SOS, and remember you saying that it was helpful that you knew Spanish so that you could help. Do you think that SOS is a program that my dd would be able to work on her own if I could have a tutor come in once a week for help or questions? My dd is bright and very proficient with grammar thanks to R&S. Thanks for your input! I appreciate it! AmeliaBinMO

I am feeling like a "bear of very little brain" here at this point, but I am trying to keep afloat! My main concern in not taking an incremental, super baby-step approach will be that my kids will be asking questions that I am unable to answer (since I don't remember the little Spanish that I learned). But perhaps that is why I'll probably need to have a tutor come in at least once a week from the beginning. Okay, knowing my abilities here (or lack thereof), I guess that I have just figured out that I'll need a tutor from the get-go. I was hoping to put off the tutor expense until later, but that does not seem wise. Okay, ladies! Thank you so very much for your time and effort here. I really don't know where I'd be without you! AmeliaBinMO

Thanks so much for your reply, Reya! I especially appreciate the help that you gave to explain my whole-to-parts and parts-to-whole confusion!

Hello, all! I know there have been many Spanish questions here lately. I know, because I have been reading them all! If anyone can help with this question, I would appreciate it greatly! Thank you! Can you please briefly explain the difference between whole-to-parts and parts-to-whole when referring to language programs? The feeling that I get is that whole-to-parts would involve more immersion, whereas parts-to-whole might involve more learning vocab, how to conjugate the vocab, and then put it all together (?). As an example, the kids have used Latina Christiana -- would this be a parts-to-whole program? If my vague idea of what this means is anywhere in the ballpark, I'd like to look at a parts-to-whole Spanish program for the High School level. Can anyone here help me identify which of the high school Spanish programs are considered parts-to-whole? When making recommendations, please assume that I remember nothing of the Spanish that I had in high school, and will be no help whatsoever to the kids (sigh). Thanks a million for your time! With appreciation, AmeliaBinMO

We have used both Chalkdust Pre-Algebra and Saxon 8/7 in our home. Comparing those two, in my opinion, Chalkdust Pre-Algebra is more rigorous and would provide better preparation for moving into Algebra. Chalkdust Pre-Algebra has been quite successful here! Again, only my opinion -- I know many who successfully use Saxon all the way through! Those are the only two Pre-Algebra programs that we have used. HTH! All the best to you in deciding! AmeliaBinMO

Thank you for posting this!

Hi, Sophia! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with OYAN! Your input as one who has used the program is very valuable. I am reading many glowing reviews of this course, and that is making the decision of whether or not to use the program an easy one. It is great to hear the enthusiasm of someone who is doing something that they enjoy so much. Thank you so much for lending your expertise to help answer my question – I truly appreciate it! Please send a big, “Thank you!†to your mom also for allowing you to help me out! :001_smile: All the best to you as you complete your novel! Go Sophia! :001_smile: AmeliaBinMO

Jackie - I just had to write you another message after checking out that workbook at the NaNoWriMo site. That is amazing -- and huge! And FREE! Woohoo! :001_smile: Thanks again! AmeliaBinMO

Sue -- thank you also! It is great hearing another success story, especially when this will be a fair investment of both time and money for us. I appreciate the input also about the online forum and webinars -- very good to know! Thank you again so much for your time! The program really sounds like a great fit for my dd! AmeliaBinMO

Hi, Jackie! Thanks so much for sharing that website! It is just packed with great information! I think that I'd better wait until dd is finished with her schoolwork today before I tell her about it -- she is going to flip! :001_smile: I would not have known about this opportunity if you had not pointed it out. Thank you so very much. My dd is an idea machine, who spends her spare time writing stories, poems, or screenplays (which she then has fun acting out and filming with her younger sibling). Writing is certainly something which I know nothing about; it is definitely an innate passion of hers which I am attempting to help foster. I am so appreciative of those of you who are chiming in with these wonderful ideas which will help me with this process. Thank you again! AmeliaBinMO

JenneinAZ -- I can't thank you enough for taking the time to help me out with this. I truly appreciate it! Your insight has given me a lot to think about. Thank you very much! I wish all the best to your dd on putting the finishing touches on her novel! What an awesome accomplishment! AmeliaBinMO

Thank you, JenneinAZ! If your daughter has finished her novel, it sounds as if she is doing quite well with the program! That is great! Your comment of, "I gave her the dvds and the books and let it go," is very helpful to hear. That will help free up my time during the day for my younger. I suppose the only question that I would have for you (now that you've used the program) would be, "Would you recommend this program?" Thank you so much for your input! It is truly appreciated! AmeliaBinMO

Kareni -- Thank you so much for taking the time to post! I joined the group and checked out the message and responses -- it was very helpful! It made a lot of difference knowing that the novel writing portion lasts one half year, rather than extending the whole year. I really think that dd would love the program (and she does, too). Thank you for mentioning the yahoo group, also! It looks as if it will be a great resource! AmeliaBinMO

Hi, everyone! Last night I searched, and I think that I have read nearly every thread on this board about the "One Year Adventure Novel" and many of the other creative writing programs that have been discussed. I've looked at the links provided and read enough descriptions of products to make my head swim! "One Year Adventure Novel" sounds very interesting, and the online video clips look engaging and impressive. What I'm wondering, though, is how well my dd will be able to work with the same story concept for a whole year. I fear that dd will at some point want to move on to work on something new. Even though new story elements are being learned, a year sounds so long for an 8th/9th grader to keep re-working the same story! But, perhaps I just don't understand the program well enough since we've not used it yet :confused:. I would love to hear from any experienced users of OYAN -- especially those who have completed it. Perhaps my fears are unfounded, and OYAN can keep interest and momentum going for the whole year. That is my only concern regarding the program. Thanks to anyone who can give input or insight regarding this -- I appreciate it! AmeliaBinMO

Joan, thanks so much for summarizing the 10th grade book -- that is very helpful! I appreciate your input! AmeliaBinMO

I just ordered R&S English for eighth grade for my oldest for next year. I realize that during the course of next year, I will need to choose which English program to use for review (and I will want some review) for the high school years. I know that many here change from R&S after eighth when doing just review in high school. Do some of you change English programs because the R&S grade 9 & 10 English books do not make good grammar review books? I've been wondering why those who have had success with R&S in the past choose to change programs after level eight. I haven't seen the 9 & 10 books other than the samples that are online. If anyone can give me some "food for thought" as to why I might (or might not) want to change from R&S for solely review in high school I would greatly appreciate it! I don't know if I'm asking this question because R&S works well for us and I'd like to stay with what is comfortable, or if I'm asking because I'd like to put R&S behind us after eighth and do a happy jig like I've never done before! :001_smile: Thanks a million for any thoughts and/or advice! AmeliaBinMO

What a nice message, Jean! As your homeschooling journey comes to a close, I wish you all the best on your new adventure, whatever it may be! Thanks again!

Jean -- thank you! It is so kind of you to share this! Our homeschool has truly benefitted from your knowledge over the years. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom and experience! It is greatly appreciated! Thank you! AmeliaBinMO

Last year at a public school book sale I was able to pick up a copy of "A History of the United States" by Boorstin. I recognized the author's name from discussions on these boards. Jean, if you would be willing to share the lesson plans that LunaLee is referring to, I would be very grateful! Thank you in advance to Jean or anyone able to help! I really appreciate it! AmeliaBinMO

Wonderful! Thank you also for your help, melmichigan -very good to know, and makes great sense! I appreciate you ladies pointing this out. Thank you so much!

Several years back, Usborne had a series of reading books that my kids enjoyed. Some of the titles were, " Fat Cat on a Mat," "Big Pig on a Dig," and "Frog on a Log." Your library might carry them. I just looked at Amazon, and it looks like they are still in print. Here is a link (to see more in the series, scroll down to "Frequently Bought Together" and "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought"): http://www.amazon.com/Big-Pig-Easy-Words-Read/dp/0794515010/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268777152&sr=1-1 HTH! AmeliaBinMO

Thank you very much for taking the time to post this, Kareni! Even if I go with Sonlight, at only $9, the Hewitt syllabus would be helpful to have. It sounds as if it has a lot of the writing ideas that I am looking for! Thank you again - I appreciate it! AmeliaBinMO

Super! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, JanOH. This is just what I needed to know! Thank you again! AmeliaBinMO