. . . under the teacher intensity of this math program. Math is not "my thing" and I confess to liking the safety net of traditional math but aspects of RS (mental math, the abacus) drew us in :001_smile:. Is there a way to glean some of the advantages/benefits of Right Start without having to use the full program? I think, for the long term, using a less teacher intensive program as the foundation (just so math is getting done day to day - I am very interested in using CLE math!!) and supplementing with Right Start concepts/ideas (I'm thinking about the Abacus book/worksheet and using the games at times) might be a winning combination. Oh, and while the games idea is so great (it makes sense to me) there has been this huge reality check -- playing games takes quite a bit of time. I am spread thing amongst several learning levels and games aren't happening/can't happen as often as would be ideal. I see my youngers moving up the ranks and also needing this teacher intensive math teaching/game playing and I'm ready to turn tail and RUN :auto: This is a battle between what is ideal and what is realistic. Just wondering if you've struggled with this and if there are any experienced RS users/believers who have had to balance this out. Thanks so much.

So sorry if this is redundant . . . Just need help knowing what to order. Here's the scenario and what I own: DS7 and DS5 will be starting simultaneously. DS7 will fly through Level One. I will only hit what he needs as far as understanding how AAS works and just make sure there aren't any holes. I expect him to use it very briefly. DS5 will have a slower pace of course :). I own Level One, the tiles, the phonogram cd. I want to order Level two for DS7. With Level two do I also need to order another set of (?) phonogram cards or student materials or something (not sure what) so that each child has their own card file? I can't imagine keeping track of both boys in one card box - I think I'll want to keep their stuff separate so I can at a glance who is doing what. Anyway, I only have the Level One materials for one child. So, what do I need in order to use it with two children and then moving DS7 to Level 2 very quickly? Any corrections to my thinking on this would be welcome as well!!! I hope I made sense!! Thanks so much! Katrina:001_smile:

I also have a son who is fascinated with Ancients and American history. He wants to study both and it's hard to refuse him!! I am totally inexperienced but have been grappling with a number of ideas . . . . I think (and again this is PURE speculation :)) that at this age we should do one of two things (for us this would be for second grade - we have been challenged in figuring out our "path" and have recently devoured books like the Well Trained Mind and Latin Centered Curriculum which have been inspiring): 1. Use My Father's World Adventures and just have fun with American History and start a chronological study of history a little later. Adventures seems like a very appropriate amount of material and challenge for a 2nd grader and with the addition of a variety of books to read would be plenty of challenge. It would definitely satisfy my young son's thirst for knowledge of America. He could continue to read about Ancients on the side and listen to SOTW or MOH audios. 2. OR study history the WTM way (which is my first love) BUT dabble in American on the side via reading great books (have looked to MFW, WP, BF, HOD for ideas here) and perhaps using other resources (videos, audio books). I think the American studies would be an "on the side" thing for my reader/s rather than something I "teach". I realize that following the chronological study of history will give us plenty of focus on American History in context which is very appealing. However, we also don't want to wait that long to expose our kids to some of our nation's history (the more fun stuff that appeals to their little hearts and minds - pilgrims, famous presidents, American symbols like the flag, Statue of Liberty, etc.). So many wonderful things to study, books to read, etc. and so little time, right?! I don't think there's any harm in doing it your own way as long as you aren't completely overwhelming yourself or your kids which is why there should probably be a "main" focus and then a "side line or stream" that is driven by the reading child (who can read on his/her own). I have agonized over this very issue (multi stream or two-stream) and I continue to . . . . :lol:

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for the :grouphug: and the counsel!! There is a swirling vortex of curriculum choices and methods out there!! I guess we ARE getting somewhere . . . doubts creep in though I just had to ask if I'm missing something! Thanks a lot!!!

Hi MominBC!! O.K. Yahoo that you have Memoria Press kindergarten!!!! My K'er is 5.5 (6 in May) and reading cvc words well and just getting ready to move to the next level of phonics instruction (I guess that would be long vowel sounds?). I, like you, have been sad about my pathetic plans for kindergarten (for both of my boys) and when I read the MP plan I was beside myself with joy!!!!!!!!!!!! This was after reading Latin Centered Curriculum but that is another discussion altogether . . . . (happy happy) My question for you is: Do you think a K'er jumping in mid school year would be challenged and blessed by the MP K plan? I realize it's still new for you so your experience with the curriculum is very limited. I don't want to do something that is too easy but he needs something more consistent and "special" at this point. What are you going to do for first grade? Just see the MP plan for K through to the end and move up to first grade mid-school year next year? If my questions don't make sense please ask. :lol: Thanks for sharing.

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Writing instruction is on the forefront of my mind and I'm wondering if anyone can help me put the scope/sequence for writing "on paper". I just started using WWE with my 7.5 year old. The narration is a cinch so far. (I'm ashamed to say that I've not implemented narration before now. We are newbies.) Copywork is easy too. We have picked up the pace and are doing a copywork and narration on the same day. Again, it's very easy and takes minimal time. I am very dense :001_huh: and confess that the writing process (how to teach it/break it down) is not intuitive for me. WHAT am I accomplishing by going through WWE? It doesn't seem like enough but perhaps it is for now. I do think I want to use Writing Tales and them move into Classical Writing at some point. Meaningful Composition is intriguing as well. However, I am confused as to how WWE fits into that (I see that there are several levels - again, I don't know enough about writing instruction to see where it's going and whether or not it is stand alone or would be used alongside or in the place of WT or CW). I THINK that WWE 2 is more his skill level but I don't know - what kinds of skills are being built into him with WWE 1? Would WWE and WT or CW dovetail nicely or is there overlap? I wish I could figure that out on my own but I'm just not getting it! My son generally moves up a grade skill wise right about the new year so though he's a first grader he is doing great with 2nd grade work. I am going back over the writing sections in TWTM and WWE. I will continue to pore over samples and read more on the progymnasmata on the CW site. Thanks for reading my very long post here!!! This group is fantastic!! I have gleaned so much wisdom already.

Blessings to you for even reading this!!! :) I have several questions . . . I guess I'll start with phonics. Is it important for a child to actually have phonics rules committed to memory OR is the application of those rules all that is needed?? My 7 year old is a great reader. He is at the end of OPGTR and doing fine with it - just needs to take his time to read multi-syllabic words but can read them just fine. He devours books. I never did any kind of systematic phonics with him - he just kind of took off and I was stunned. I made him fly through some of the later OPGTR lessons this past month just to see if he'd stumble. I am CONVINCED that I've totally messed up in laying a good foundation in so many ways . . . . mastery comes by repetition (I think :) ) and I want my boy to be solid in his foundation. Any thoughts????????????????? I am have been way. too. lax. MFW 1st grade has been fun for him but the phonics was a cinch (so didn't add anything in the way of challenge). Should I remediate his phonics instruction or strengthen it in some way or just move on? He is doing Rod Staff Spelling by Sound/Structure 2nd grade. So far so good. Also FLL and WWE. Boy #2 is 5.5 - can read CVC words fairly well and is working on harder words now. I don't love SL1 (blech on the creative writing, copywork isn't inspiring, the readers are just O.K. for me, he is great with ETC). I honestly didn't know what to do and made a desperate attempt to get something that was at his reading level (I was about to give birth to #4 and feeling crazy.). I think MFW1 moves too fast for phonics and is also lacking in review to solidify concepts for a slower student (like my 5.5). He may do fine with it later on but not yet. Do I just jump into OPGTR and plod through it? Memoria Press materials and Reading Made Easy both look inspiring. I don't want to struggle any more in this critical area of instruction!! My littles coming up the ranks will greatly benefit from their Mommy figuring this out now. I've shed many tears in recent weeks as I've read and researched. Praise God that I am figuring it out now . . . that is something to be thankful for. Thanks for your help! I have greatly FEARED posting anything. I have searched and read a lot but couldn't find an answer to my specific question. :D

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