This model is not exclusive to CC, nor is most of the material that CC uses. We attend CC and love it. I'm even a tutor. Most of CC's materials are gleaned from other sources. The classical model is age old. Companies market it in slightly different forms, but it is all basically imitation of what came before. Who owns knowledge, after all? I'm glad that the families in the new organization can benefit from it, just like we have benefited from CC. :001_smile:

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tiger-Chinese-Night-Autobiography/dp/0887763200 I don't know if this is too young for your daughter, but it has nice illustrations. We read it when dss were young, studying China, and taking art lessons.

Dss have been using Singapore math and RightStart math. When they finish Singapore 5B, I may switch them to ThinkWell grade 6 math. I've viewed some sample 6th grade math lessons for free but the only sample lectures available are from the beginning of the 6th grade class and it's hard to judge what the rest of the class will be like. I'm not sure if it will be challenging enough. Any opinions re: 6th grade math or the ThinkWell math program in general? TIA

It's something I figured out instinctively when I learned Spanish decades ago and I know other people who taught themselves the same way. Basically, you just make the sound of the letter "d" in rapid succession, move your tongue down just a bit while still making the sound, and then blow air out while you continue making the sound. When my sons were very young I taught them this way because I knew that this simple rolling sound gets you the most bang for your peso in terms of sounding authentic. Acquiring that one sound will make your accent so much better. I taught it to dss long before they started a Spanish curriculum because it's easier to learn at a young age. Give it a try, if you haven't already. Even if you can't quite get it, tell your children how to do it so they can learn it while they are young. You said you may try Spanish for Children. Oddly enough, when dss started Spanish for Children last year I was delighted to see that they describe the same method. I remind my kids that if they pronounce their "r"s correctly, muffle their "d"s, and clip their vowel sounds, they will be on the road to developing a good accent. HTH

Originally Posted by Gratia271 I have three like that. DH says they come by it honestly since I am an attorney. :tongue_smilie: I too passed the attorney gene on to my kids. They are more argumentative than I care for and I think they read, "You Can Negotiate Anything" while in the womb.

They are in an IEW class for the second year in a row and within a month it was clear that one year of IEW was enough for them. It gave them a great jump start with writing but it was time to move on. The class is part of a Classical Conversations Essentials program so I didn't want them to drop the class. I just have dss write WTM style outlines from the weekly source materials. Every so often they will ask to write an essay instead and I allow it. The IEW materials work OK for this, but I plan to move them onto something meatier. HTH

Is it any good? Just how bloody is it? TIA

Is it any good? Just how bloody is it? TIA

Yes, history does change--My husband rewrites history all the time, and he says the same thing about me! :D On a more serious note, when I was a child my favorite dinosaur was the Brontosaurus and we still have an old book of dinosaurs that contains a chapter about Brontosaurus. Take it from me, a living dinosaur, history does change.

Very solid.

At times they love piano, and at times they hate it, but I am requiring it and they always end up telling me they are glad they are learning it. They are in their second year right now. Dss took a group voice class two years ago and when the teacher asked them to get up and sing a song impromptu, one of them sang "Dona Nobis Pacem" in his version of an operatic voice. I didn't even know he knew the song, except that we had once listened to it on the Prima Latina CD. He has a fascination with opera, so I didn't want to shortchange him if that was something that requires an early start. My other ds likes contemporary praise and traditional hymns, and I want to equip him, too. In light of all this, you ladies have given me exactly the info I need. I knew I could count on your collective wisdom. Thanks again!

Dss, almost 11 years old, have inherited dh's singing voice. Since dh's mother laments not giving dh formal singing lessons, I am looking into voice lessons for my dss. Most of the teachers I've run into so far are women. I'd like to hear from the musically gifted members of the Hive on whether or not the teacher's gender makes a difference. Opinions? TIA.

These comments help. Thanks so much.

How significantly does the 3rd ed. improve upon the 1st ed. in its instruction on Middle School Outlining? TIA.

This was one of my favorite books in Jr. High and nothing stands out in my memory as inappropriate. Since it is a collection of short stories, you could always get the book, glance through the stories and, in the event there is something inappropriate, have your son skip that story. Ray Bradbury wrote short, often poignant, science fiction that is too good to miss. HTH.

I'm tutoring 5th and 6th graders for 24 weeks. They must prepare and deliver a public speaking presentation each week. I'm looking for step by step weekly assignments that will build their skills in all aspects of public speaking. TIA, Hive.

I'll be tutoring a mix of 5th and 6th graders for Classical Conversations and I want to plan out 24 weeks of public speaking by the students. I'm looking for a book that gives a step by step plan for developing public speaking skills. Any suggestions, Hive? TIA

follows a chronological sequence. It's probably more limited in scope than what you want but might provide part of what you are looking for. We found the lectures delightful. The only thing that didn't receive unanimous praise from us was Greenberg's occassional use of the word "dam*." The series is published by The Teaching Company. Some public libraries have the DVDs or VHS tapes. HTH

The reviews sound great! So, was the comment I heard about the series glorifying criminality and having too much magic out of line? Anything else to cause a parent concern? TIA.

TIA

TIA

Most posters on these boards are above board on these issues. Once, however, I purchased a curriculum that was greatly overpriced because a former poster on this board raved about it. Whenever there was a thread about the particular subject, she would recommend the program. It turned out to be a mediocre product and I have never used it. In one of the poster's later posts it came out that she was good friends with the curriculum's author. She probably truly believed in the product even if she was trying to help out her friend, but knowledge of the close friendship would have definitely altered my assessment of her posts. All this to say, "Caveat Emptor."

I haven't used Shurley but can offer a partial answer. The Royal Fireworks Press website has a summary of how to use the various MCT books. It is very helpful. What part of SoCal are you in, by the way? :)

I've been looking for one of these!