I've been a die-hard CW fan through Aesop, Homer, Poetry, but I'm getting discouraged with Diogenes. I feel the girls are not writing very much (especially compared to what they were doing in Homer) and that I'm in over my head. We even did all of Aesop and some of Homer without the new student guides, and I do buy the philosophy of the program. I guess I'm looking for encouragement to stick with it through Diogenes into Herodotus, but I'm thinking of trying SWB's rhetoric method she describes in her lectures. . . maybe I just need a change. My dd's aren't complaining about CW (any more than they complain about any writing, although they love sentence shuffling!) I think it's just my insecurity with all these progymnasmata terms! Heather in VA, in another post you mentioned you were pleased with the results you were seeing at the high school level. Can you elaborate on that at all? Maybe I just need a change for a while. . .

We bought it to use as a wrap up for each topic and found it corny and pretty simple in terms of content. I certainly don't think it's high school level material, but granted I don't have any kids who have gone through a traditional high school, only my high school! It was somewhat entertaining to see what outfit the lecturer would wear next. . .

I was going to post a link but their website doesn't seem to be behaving at the moment. I've ordered all sorts of penmanship paper from them and it's white, not newsprint. I would call them directly if their website doesn't work; they are always extremely helpful and their prices are great. They are often at conventions, too, if you're going to one soon.

We're now in our 6th year and there's no way to learn it all ahead of them! We're also doing Great Books and Latin together. I do plan ahead for history and science, but it's not really necessary to know it all in order to to that.

I was looking for some ideas for American History - Government at the high school level. Any recommendations?

We're wanting to jump from Latin Prep 2 into either "So You Really Want to Learn. . " or Oxford Latin Course. I've been able to look at the Oxford Latin Course, but haven't seen SYRWTL in person. We've loved Latin Prep but feel it's too short on deeper explanations of grammar now that everyone is getting older. I like to see Latin to English, and English to Latin transation work, which Latin Prep has, as does Oxford. Does SYRWTL? Any other thoughts or experiences?

Thanks! That gives me a place to start. . . and who says the kids are the only ones learning anything!

I'm trying to follow SWB's method for teaching rhetoric/writing by outlining a section from Weston's book (that's easy!) and then doing a writing assignment for each section (that's where I'm stuck!) It sounds very easy in the writing lecture and TWTM, i.e. read the section on writing a "slanted piece" and then write a slanted piece, but in fact I'm having trouble coming up with the writing ideas. Anyone else going this path? Any ideas, thoughts, encouragements? Thanks!

Having spent way too much time on both of these, I would have to vote for the treadmill. I think you can have much more variety: slow, fast, uphill, downhill, etc. I also find the recumbent bike uncomfortable after a time. Good for you for hopping on!

So what have you been studying in history lately?

I think with four kids you'd be really making things difficult for yourself if they are in different history years. I would just use different resources, different expectations, different reading lists, for each age. That's what we've done, but I only have two, and they are three years apart.

In general, we've liked the projects in the Make It Work series. Good range of choices and not overly simplistic.

I've used SE off and on over the years and never liked the busy pages and politically correct photos either. I just bought CPO Earth Science this week and it sure looks a lot clearer.

We've always used the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ordered from Piedmont Educational Services) to satisfy our local school district's reporting requirement. It doesn't seem to be available anymore and I'm wondering which one to go with for the future. The CAT V is easy to obtain and administer, but I understand the Stanford is a more rigorous test but I've always been reluctant to jump through the hoops to administer it (since it is just for the school department ;) The effort involved to get a group on other homeschoolers together to administer the Stanford seems to put more emphasis than I would like on the whole process, iykwim? Any advice anyone?

It certainly looks good but we haven't actually done anything yet because I just got it! The lessons/projects are clearly explained, the materials, what to do, the reproducibles all look good. I'm impressed with it and I've looked at a LOT of science lab books in my day!

Although we go for the .7 leads! I agree it's great to not have someone sharpening all the time. Although recently my elder has reverted to plain Staples pencils, of which I have several boxes on hand, but she uses a hand sharpener!

I'll be interested to hear what responses you've got because I'm looking for the same sort of thing. I did find this great book of labs and lessons which is for grades 7-12: "Environmental Sciences Activities Kit" by Roa from Jossey-Bass Teacher (Amazon.) It has lessons and labs activities and there look like a lot of doable labs for a homeschooler. HTH

We have finished two years of Latin, using Latin Prep among other things. We'd like to read some more Latin outside of the textbook so I'm looking for suggestions on Latin Readers. We've also been reading the text in "Ecce Romani." We tried "Harrius Potter" but it's hard going because of so much unfamiliar vocabulary. Any recommendations? Anything involving mythology would be highly popular, or history. . .

It seems to me, to a large extent, it depends on the implementation, not the curriculum.

We do the same, History MWF and Science T Th for 1 1/2 hour blocks, sometimes more. Works fine for us.

I think it depends on the school. I told a few teachers I had been working with that we were going to start homeschooling, and when the general population of the school knew the last few days we were there, the teachers were much more supportive and understanding than the parents. The teachers all seemed to understand why I was doing it, whereas the parents did not.

We're in Saxon 76 and beyond. We don't skip any problems.

These look like just what I'm looking for. In fact, Focus Publishing is in my town! P

Wow, that looks like a great site. Have you been working through it or are there ways that you can use it like an "on-line reference?" I think I want a reference book where I can look up a particular syntax/grammar topic I need more understanding of.

We've been happily using Latin Prep for years, but I'm starting to feel I need a little further information on some topics that aren't explained as thoroughly as we need. For instance, it's not clear to me when to use the pluperfect vs. past perfect. I have a copy of Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, but it's so archaic and difficult to find things, I'd love a more updated reference where I can bone up on certain things in order to have a better understanding. Can anyone recommend anything?