Ambleside Online does American history every year. I believe they do American biographies in 1st and This Country of Ours in 2nd-5th. Highland Latin does American or Geography every year. They use Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans (Edward Eggleston) for K-2 along with biographies such as the D'Aulaire books. In 3rd they focus on the geography of the U.S. - memorizing the states and capitals, etc. (4th/5th are world geography) followed by another Edward Eggleston American history book in 6th. Core Knowledge/Pearson (What your ____ needs to know) does American every year. They do biographies in K, a two year run through history for 1st-2nd followed by a more in-depth four year cycle in 3rd-6th. What I do: I do American and World as well. I follow Core Knowledge for K-2. For 3rd-4th I use Oak Meadow 4 and 5 (both American history) but I combine them. Rather than running through American history twice in two years. I do a two-year cycle of American History - adding in some of the Core Knowledge 3rd-6th as well. For 5th-7th I use Hakim's History of US along with the teaching guides. Not there yet, but I plan to use Oak Meadow 8 (U.S. Civics) for 8th and I am still undecided on high school. All grades include additional tweaking throughout, simply because I enjoy it.

This reminds me of when I used to wait tables in college. I worked the midnight shift. We would get groups of teenagers in, usually 15 or 20 at a time and they would always order 15-20 waters with extra lemon and then pour a ton of sugar into it. And then an order of fries for the table. I know it would drive the management crazy. But I always thought it was thrifty and perfectly legal. The lemons don't cost the management much money and the kids never caused any trouble - just looking for a place to sit and chat. So I'd usually just bring a bowl of cut lemons for the table. I always drink water (or coffee) when we go out. But I would not allow drink sharing or ordering water and getting a drink instead.

I'm going to take a teaching position. It is part of my original agreement with dh six years ago. :D I was a cradle-robber (and I'm still completely unapologetic :tongue_smilie:) so my dh will only be in his mid to late 40's when the youngest is in college. Our agreement was that he works - currently 70 hours per week - so I can be a SAH/homeschool mother and when the dc are all successfully on their own paths he cuts back to 30 hours or so (although he could even accept early retirement at that time,) I teach and we spend our free time traveling or out on the water. We have been very lucky that it has worked out so well to this point. Dh goes in to work so early, he still has two full afternoons, two additional evenings and a full day off to spend with the family each week, despite the longs hours he works. And the kids get the joy of rarely being required to do school work when he is home.

I posted this to the K-8 board, but am not getting much response. Could anyone with experience using Singapore and Dolciani help me with this decision? My daughter was getting burnt out on Singapore Math after level 4. We do the main text/workbook, intensive practice and challenging word problems. So I went ahead and let her stop Singapore and start Dolciani Pre-Algebra (1970.) She is still in the first book of the two book series. She is doing fine with the pre-algebra book and enjoys it more than Singapore. She would like to simply continue on with it into Dolciani Algebra I. I had always envisioned going back to Singapore 5 in the fall. For those that are familiar with either/both programs, what do you think? Are there areas of Singapore 5/6 that I should definitely cover? Only the text/workbook? Only the challenging word problems? I actually wouldn't feel at all bad in telling her she simply has to get back to the full Singapore 5 curriculum come fall. She doesn't mind math, so even this would be OK. But her preference is to just continue in the Dolciani books without Singapore 5 or 6. What would you do?

Thanks Paula! LOF and Dolciani seems like a good combo. I will definitely check the table of contents and see what I can figure out. I think I will at least have her do the CWP books as well.

My daughter was getting burnt out on Singapore Math after level 4. We do the main text/workbook, intensive practice and challenging word problems. So I went ahead and let her stop Singapore and start Dolciani Pre-Algebra (1970.) She is still in the first book of the two book series. She is doing fine with the pre-algebra book and enjoys it more than Singapore. She would like to simply continue on with it into Dolciani Algebra I. I had always envisioned going back to Singapore 5 in the fall. For those that are familiar with either/both programs, what do you think? Are there areas of Singapore 5/6 that I should definitely cover? Only the text/workbook? Only the challenging word problems? I actually wouldn't feel at all bad in telling her she simply has to get back to the full Singapore 5 curriculum come fall. She doesn't mind math, so even this would be OK. But her preference is to just continue in the Dolciani books. What would you do?

I don't really think Mr. Michael was trying to say CLAA is the only 'good' education, I think he is saying it is the only 'true' classical education as in attempting to replicate the education (and remember this is a Catholic program) of the saints and great religious leaders as far back as he can go (Moses.) I believe he is stating that those who are attempting to give their children a Christian, classical education as was given the religious greats of the past are being misled in thinking the current 'classical' programs will get them there. And, I'm really just trying to clarify. It is not my intention to insult SWB, a woman whom I hold in great regard, and on her own forums. The fact that this discussion can be held here says volumes. I personally think she provides a solid liberal arts education and truly appreciate all she does for the homeschool community. Mr. Michael was promoting his own curriculum on HIS site by explaining in detail how it differs from a well-known essay used as support for the current classical education movement. SWB has essays on her website (site resources page) explaining how her curriculum is different from other well-known classical/CM approaches as well. And yes, I will happily admit Mr. Michael writes a more direct contrast while SWB writes with much tact. :)

I don't know. My dd is part of the test group. The petty school reading program will not be complete and available until late summer or so. I know it teaches the Latin syllabary followed by English. I haven't yet seen the end to the program. My degree being in secondary education, I know very little at all about early childhood education. All of the research I have done on the Michael's program has pointed to a very solid, complete and well-researched program put together by a qualified, devout and motivated family. The secondary level material agrees with my own research and thoughts on education - so I have been utilizing the early reading class strictly on faith. It is good to know other knowledgeable educators find the base to the program is solid and I look forward to seeing where he goes from here.

I received all of my backordered Singapore CWP books except level 3 this past week. One box on Monday and a second box yesterday. So, they seem to be coming back in now.

Actually, that is exactly how it is done. I find it very comforting that you approve of the method. :) I know beginning reading/phonics is an area of strength for you and I don't know much about it myself. I taught my first two girls on Hooked on Phonics because I picked it up at a garage sale :001_huh: Luckily it has worked fine for them. My third dd is taking the petty school reading and it does use the syllabary you linked.

http://www.cstone.net/~bcp/BCPIntro2.htm Here are the lessons that go with the program. I found the Pearson history books (used) cheap on homeschoolclassifieds.com

I found this link while cleaning up my folders this morning - it could have something useful. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/6823/mercy.html

It is 97 degrees in my house and the humidity must be near 90%. It has not dropped below 90 degrees day or night since the air conditioner died on Sunday. The air conditioning tech said he would try and make it on Monday - nope. He said he would definitely be here by 3:00 pm today - obviously not. Neither the company nor my landlord are answering their phones today - I wonder why???? :banghead: On the bright side, I had wanted to drop a few pounds before the two weddings I have to attend over the next three weeks. I feel certain I have sweated off at least two or three. :)

It can be edited for a certain time period. I think six or seven days.

If he earned them through a reward system I don't see any reason not to sell them. If the tickets were a blanket gift to all employees I don't see any reason not to sell them. If it is a rotating pool where some employees go to one event and then another set to the next event, etc. I would return the tickets for another family to enjoy. My dh's company has all three. Employees cannot sell the tickets from the rotating pool, but the others are gifts/rewards and they belong to the employee to do whatever he wishes with them.

95 here as well. Our air conditioner died yesterday. It is still 90 in the house at 10:30 at night - and that's with all windows and doors open and the one fan in the house on high. :glare:

Pre-algebra My book actually says Pre-Algebra (copyright 1970) but those are the first three chapters followed by: Numbers, Numerals, and Algorithms of Arithmetic Number Theory Geometry Coordinate Systems on a Line etc The Dolciani Pre-Algebra course is generally a two book (two year) program.

1st - 3rd D'Aulaire's Greek Myths D'Aulaire's Norse Myths Black Ships before Troy Wanderings of Odysseus In Search of a Homeland Stories from the Arabian Nights Stories from Shakespeare Andersen's Fairy Tales Grimm's Fairy Tales Lang's colored Fairy books McCaughrean's Myths and Legends of the World Aesop's Fables

There were samples of Omnibus in these resource pages. The Dialectic and Rhetoric guide used to outline all six years of Omnibus as well. Sorry I can't open the links to verify that this is still true (I read them a couple of years ago.) I have satellite internet now and it would use up my downloads for the day. :rolleyes: http://resources.veritaspress.com/SL_Resource_Download.asp

I really like curriculum downloads. We use some now and will certainly use more in the future. I like to see a full chapter/segment/unit as a sample, so I know exactly what to expect. But, we don't currently have any children with enough interest in astronomy/space to justify supplemental materials.

I would like my children to set up a website this summer. How do I go about this? It must be very basic because I really don't know much at all. It needs to be cheap and safe enough for my children to use it (while supervised.) We would not be selling anything. I just want them to have the experience of learning to set up and maintain a website - not a blog. This can be an ongoing learning process. I do not expect them to learn everything they need to know over the summer. I typed in free website and cheap website and received many pages of hits, but I don't know anything about any of the companies. Suggestions?

Ahh, I have the student text and no teacher's key! Any chance you want to sell yours? :D Or maybe we could trade back and forth. :lol: Thanks for the link to the book on Amazon. I always forget to check there. Is the Teacher's Key simply the answers or are there instructional tips, additional information, etc.?

I have a preschooler next school year. (ds 4) Oak Meadow K Saxon K lots of read alouds Karate

Does anyone own a teacher's key to Frank Allen's Algebra I? OR know where to get one? Thanks!

We're over the $1500 mark, but that includes online classes for the older two ($1200 next school year.) I try and buy everything else used and look for curriculum that I can reuse with each child. As long as we stay under the cost of one month of private school for four children - I don't feel guilty. :D