Here is mine :). http://www.lifeinaiken.com/2013/08/wordless-wednesday.html

Here is mine :). http://www.lifeinaiken.com/2013/08/wordless-wednesday.html

Wordless... at least they aren't my words. Life in Aiken

This is our first year using HO. I went through each chapter and picked out key terms, dates, and people for my children to define. That makes sure they spend some time with the text. I often have them summarize the stories included in the book. Whenever there is a main theme, such as how civilization developed, they write a short essay explaining the theme. I also have them read historical fiction, The story of Science, and other works that relate to the time period. Finally, I looked at Discovery Streaming and Youtube for videos that add to the content. So far it is going really well. Chris

My youngest son would have the same problem. He likes people more than he likes particular activities and if we don't get out to see someone often, he has a hard time. Could you schedule a play date with some of the girls? I'm guessing that someone is feeling the same way you are. I also enjoy having mom time while the kids play. My boys are older now and more independent. We have dropped out of our weekly playgroup, but I am really missing the moms.

Our eye doctor began wearing contacts when he was eight. My youngest began wearing contacts when he was nine, at the doctor's suggestion. He is now 11. His prescriptions were so different in each eye, that the doctor said it would greatly help his coordination. He has had no trouble. It took some convincing by the doctor to let us try them with our 9 year old. I was mostly concerned with hygene. We made a big deal about explaining how important it was to have clean hands and went over the proper hand washing technique. We also threatened that if he got an infection, he would be back in glasses. My older son began wearing contacts at 11. No problem there either. He is very nearsighted and once he tried contacts there was no going back. Chris in SC

Thanks. The Killgallon grammar looks really good! This will help him see the importance of grammar. I agree that having a complete understanding of sentence structure will be helpful. Part of our problem is that he is taking a separate writing class, so we just skip the writing and move on to the next grammar lesson. I might just give him review assignments or work in Killgallon on the days where the lesson is about writing, to slow down our pace. Thanks so much for the help!! Chris in SC

Thanks, I might do that. Any one else have an opinion?

My 7th grade DS is questioning the usefulness of Rod & Staff English 7. He is growing bored with the complexities of verbals and noun clauses and diagramming them. I am losing him. I have slowed down and some days he really seems to get it, but two days later he is confused. Part of it, I am sure, is his lack of desire. My question is how useful is this information? How do I justify it to him? Should I switch to a less analytical text, or continue to let him practice until he gets it? Chris in SC

We are using them along with K12's Human Odyssey for my 5ht and 7th graders. I am assigning her chapters where relevant to HO Content. Chris in SC

We have never used AG, but I am a huge fan of R&S. It is repetitive throughout the years, but it seems to get more complex each year. I am so excited that my children are getting such a solid education in grammar. We do the lessons orally and then they do any worksheets or some extra problems as necessary. It doesn't take much time, and it really works. I am planning to use it through 10th grade at least.

I agree that you can teach logic stage critical thinking in science just as well as history, so I wouldn't worry about that. I would make sure he is learning history through the logic stage. The information will have a different impact since he is now learning it from a "logic" mindset instead of a "grammar" mindset. Sounds like you are doing a great job at that. Chris in SC

I read to them while they eat lunch. I usually read a chapter or two if they request more. I'm guessing it is about 30-45 minutes per day Monday - Friday.

We start at 8:30, but my youngest is usually at it by 6:00 doing anything he can get done independently. He likes to see how early he can finish the school day. Many days he has done all his handwriting, math problems, reading, and spelling before I am back from my walk! Then we start in with the math lesson, grammar, history and Latin... We break fro lunch at 11:30 and are usually done with the day by one or two.

We tried one a few years ago and it was a dud. I don't really remember why, but they are off my list.

I bought the guide first and found it very time consuming to come up with passages and copywork that met the specifications. I ended up buying WWE 2 and found it very useful. It even turned my 2nd grader onto some new books. Both are nice so you can see where you are going but if I had to choose, I'd choose the workbook.

Good for you! It seems all it takes is one really good book to get them going. My ds is reading them now. I guess I'll have to pick them up next.

We are in Aiken, SC about 15 miles across the river from downtown Augusta.

We are in Aiken.

I thought it might be fun to meet other WTMers.

I can't help you with Biblical info b/c we are secular homeschoolers, but starting at the beginning is really helpful. It gives them the background for everything that happens later. If you decide on SOTW, have your 4yr old listen to the stories too. That way he/she will have heard the stories if you decide to keep them all in the same time period. There are lots of legends and things that preschoolers will love in the ancient time period.

I did one lesson/day took a summer break and finished the second half of the book in December (it took 1 & 1/2 school years for 1&2). Then we went on to Rod & Staff 3 and it was an easy transition. We ended the year in the middle of the text. I'm not sure how that will work starting the new year without all the review they usually build into texts. We changed to R&S because my youngest wanted to be like my oldest who has only done R&S. This was after I bought the FLL3 set!! Oh well, it will be cheaper in the long run.

Check your local community college or university. Ours has a lending library of science kits intended for public school teachers but they let homeschoolers check them out also. We can check out things like microscopes, rock collections, telescopes, scales, dissection kits with the complete curricula. We only have to purchase the consummable materials. Most kits come with enough stuff for 30 kids so we can invite friends over to join in the fun.

Your best bet might be to get the teachers guide since it includes years 1-4 and read the objectives for each year. Try the year that you think will work and adjust as needed. When you find the level that works you can buy the workbooks if you want. I have them do all their writing on looseleaf paper that I order from HWOT so I can use one workbook for both children. Last year I started my 4th grader in level 4 (just using the teacher's book) and ended up backing up and having him complete the second half of the workbook 2 while my 2nd grader started from the beginning of the workbook. My 5th grader was having trouble with dictation, but was doing really well at narration. Hope this helps!

It seems the best way to teach the love of reading is reading and discussion. The best way to make reading a chore is to add busywork to it. We use the lists in TWTM, but most of my 2nd grader's reading came from SOTW and he also chose books that were used in WWE. After reading the selections in WWE, he asked to read several of the books. With the more difficult books, I would read a page then he would read a page and we discussed the charaters, plot etc. It is fun to experience a book together.