Thanks

Okay to bump this up? I know there are a lot of TOG fans out there!!

Does anyone know of a child-safe internet search engine? I want my 11yo to be able to search for info online on his own, but Google renders WAY too many objectionable sites, and sometimes you just never know what's there when you click on 'em. If you have any to share, I would be much obliged.

It's been years since I used TOG (I used it in its first edition), but I've heard it has been improved upon since then. I'm thinking about it for my son, 11, who needs more discussion/critical thinking. Is the program "scripted" so that Mom doesn't have to read all the books, too? We don't do worksheets, so I don't want to pay for a lot of stuff we won't use, nor do we need a writing program. Advice? Recommendations? Thanks!

DS handwrites everything, and still there are problems. His handwriting is small and cramped. Even when he was printing (when he was small), using the larger-lined paper, he would write small. I currently have him writing almost everything, since he is just learning touch typing on the computer. I have asked him to rewrite many assignments, especially this year, now that he is in sixth grade. It works to a point, but then he gets lazy. Should I be a stickler and make him keep rewriting, or make him work in penmanship books again? (I hate to spend the money again!) I hate to be such a "nag," but when he himself can barely read it, I feel we have a problem. Incidentally, we have always used Getty-Dubay Italic penmanship, and it worked beautifully for all my other children.

First, does she understand what the predicate is? That needs to be made clear first. If she knows basic sentence structure (subject + predicate (or verb, or verb phrase) = complete sentence), you can go from there. It is important for her to learn that the predicate is what comes after the subject. We used the terms predicate and verb phrase interchangeably until the children understood it thoroughly. She also needs to remember nominative = noun. I taught my kids this by showing how both these words start with "n". (If you've studied Latin, it's easier, since Latin nomen = name, and a noun names a person, place or thing.) And, of course, she needs to know that an adjective describes a noun. You can see it's critical to understand the parts of speech and their functions. Drive home the fact that both predicate nouns and predicate adjectives follow linking or being verbs. (Again, she will need to understand what these are.) I always told my kids to think of it these terms: The boy is happy. Boy = happy. (PA) The boy is a sailor. Boy = sailor. (PN) The dog looks sad. Dog = sad. (PA) The dog is a beagle. Dog = beagle. (PN) Does that make sense? Hope it helps some!! :001_smile: My kids made notecards with each part of speech and examples, and put them on a ring to study. We did the same for lists of linking verbs and other hard-to-remember items. It really helped!

My 11 yo learned to write cursive the same way my other 3 children did, with Italic penmanship. They all write quite neatly, but my youngest's writing is atrocious! We've gone through all the Italic books, and he does beautifully in them. It's when it comes down to writing his own work that his handwriting falls apart. Even he can't read it sometimes! Should I be making such a big deal out of handwriting is this computer age? If so, what can we do to improve? Thanks for your input.

A Patriot's History of the United States, but have not used it yet. It is by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen, and subtitled "From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror." It was recommended by a friend, and I'm told it is from a more "objective" perspective (i.e., less politically correct!) We have also used Paul Johnson's A History of the American People, but that is probably for your older students to adult level. HTH!

We read, narrate/outline, and discuss, discuss, discuss! We have the Sonlight mark-it wall map for mapping, as well as individual maps in their notebooks. They have kept a timeline, also. Sometimes we use the TQ think/write questions, sometimes not. But I assign written work (reports, essays, research papers) relating to their history studies using our Write Source writing handbooks as a guide. My younger children have done lapbooks, too, which are a lot of fun. If your kids like hands-on projects (crafts, cooking), there are plenty of sources on the internet and in the library to supplement your studies. Also, try a movie or history-related video. TQ has worked extremely well in our homeschool, and we are amazed at how much we have all learned!

Saxon Algebra I and II worked very well for two of my 4 children. They are both strong in math in general. We didn't exactly use Saxon "by the book," skipping some exercises that were not really needed (i.e., already easily understood). For second child (dd), a creative non-math type, nothing we tried worked for her, especially traditional school texts, until we found Teaching Textbooks. Now I know there's been discussion that TT "isn't good {or complete} enough" to qualify as a high school course, but it is certainly MORE than sufficient for a good performance on the ACT/SAT, and entrance to college. And it seems to work well for those who need clear explanations and examples to clarify concepts. Also, if your child isn't headed into a math or science career, this is certainly adequate. I feel TT is an excellent program, and my dd came out understanding Algebra MUCH better than most of her public schooled friends! FWIW,

Was just journaling about this very topic! My second child, dd, really needed to be away, but parting was difficult. She's a sensitive girl, and was really homesick the first week or so. But she's also outgoing, and has made numerous friends already, become active in a few clubs and organizations, and seems to be doing well. We do correspond daily in some form or another. It is definitely quieter around here, as she and I are of similar temperments and clashed often. Still, we have a very close bond, and I miss her. The older child is very self-sufficient and responsible. He's quiet, a bit of a loner, and very devoted to his studies. I don't worry about him anymore, but we still keep in touch regularly, and he still chides me for being "such a mom" (he'll be 21 in December). I guess I habitually mother him, even though he's far away! :001_smile: I worry somewhat about dd, just because she is so trusting and fun-loving by nature. But she is at a Christian college, making Christian friends, so that is a comfort. They had an orientation weekend for students and families, and I came away feeling much better than I had before we packed her up to go. I do feel a sense of relief that we, too, have no college prep stuff to work on this year. I can take a breather for a year before second dd has to start. She is already thinking about what she wants to do, but hasn't narrowed anything down yet. She'll take the PSAT for practice next month, but that's all we're going to do right now. I need to recuperate!! I can certainly empathize with your feelings, Gwen!! I'm right there with you! Blessings & peace,

Anyone using this? Can you tell me what you like and what you don't like, specifically? Also, have you noticed errors in the text and/or answer key? I only ask because we used Latin for Children when it first came out and that edition was full of errors that made both teaching and learning frustrating for us. Thank you!

I had no luck with that whatsoever. But it would depend on your children's ages and stages, I would think. I used the first edition of TOG way back when with 4 kids in 4 different levels, and it was overwhelming for us. FWIW,

As we use the Think/Write questions, they are a product of gradual reading and learning. They build on what you have learned up to that point. So, if you do history a la WTM, you'd be having your children outline or narrate (depending on their ages) as they read, right? That's how we do it. Anyway, when they get to the Think/Write question they have a focus from which to develop an essay. Thus, essay writing is incorporated into TQ. If you're looking for a Q & A type format, TQ isn't that. TQ relies heavily on discussion, interpreting what you read, and formulating thoughtful ideas and analyses of the historical events you're studying. When the children are younger, I think you could get by with simple narrations alone. We didn't use Think/Writes when the kids were young, but we sure discussed our reading a lot!

Is it working well for you? Anything "bad" about the program? Thanks!

TOG first edition (managed to resell at half what I paid) Numerous books from Critical Thinking Press (probably over $200 over several years). Only ones we really used were the MindBender books. My kids thought they were fun! A couple of Sonlight TMs (like several others, we liked the books, but found the schedule too much. No time for other things!) Two different complete logic programs: Traditional and Material Logic, Classical Rhetoric; and Introductory and Intermediate Logic. Great Source Reading Handbooks - my kids use their writing handbooks, but the Reading Handbooks have turned out to be useless. At the elementary level, we tried Alpha Omega lifepacs one year when I had a colicky infant who never slept. Our kids hated those workbooks. I could probably think of more, too, as I am also a curriculum junkie. I just love trying out new things! I'm glad my kids are older now, so I don't have to buy a lot anymore. The younger ones are using the hand-me-downs from the older two!

I'm looking for discounted price and/or inexpensive shipping. Thanks!

I never saw TQ as "heavy-handed" with regard to religious content, no moreso than TOG. But what I did like was it made for GREAT discussions when compared to our own personal theology, and helped my children (and me!) learn to think for ourselves. There's a lot in TQ we skipped, but that is the beauty of it. You're not locked-in to reading pre-selected books on certain days and finishing "on schedule." Yes, I used the classic version of TOG years ago, but didn't care for many of the books selected, especially at the rhetoric level. Not sufficiently challenging, IMO. We actually did Egypt, Greece & Rome in one year, so by default we had to skip a lot. Didn't lessen our learning one bit - we cycled through again at an upper level, digging in deeper where we glossed over the first time through. TQ is just what it calls itself - a GUIDE. TOG is a full-fledged curriculum, like Sonlight, for example, with all the work pre-programmed for you. It is definitely a personal decision, and each family has to go with what works best for them.

We tried Latin for Children from this publisher, and were frustrated by continual errors in the text and answer key, or missing information. I finally returned the program to them for a refund, as it was such a hassle for us. I'm wondering, since the Spanish is relatively new, if it is as error-filled as was the first edition of LfC? Any input on that? Also, the Galore Park Spanish: is it as expensive as Latin Prep from the same publisher? Can you even get it in the US? Thanks!

I thought it was expensive when I bought mine 6 years ago! It's WAY more expensive now! If you plan to recycle through it, it may be worth it. Of course, by the time you get to the cycle again, it will have been revamped . . . again, and they will offer you an upgrade (discounted, of course, but it still costs you). It was not worth it to us, because it was not a good fit for our situation at the time. It was extremely time-consuming (I got burned out quickly with 4 kids in 4 different levels), and had way more stuff included than we ever needed or wanted. There are other reasons, probably not relevant here, why it wasn't a good investment for us. However, it is a good curriculum, just not for everybody.

TQ is relaxed, and adapts to all ages. Superb book recomendations! To study ancients with small children, you really don't want a lot of structure and busywork like TOG offers. That's why TQ works so well. At this age, they only need to read age-appropriate books on the subject, and maybe do a few hands-on projects. TQ works well for older students, too. It relies heavily on just discussing what you read, but you can assign writing based on the reading as well, if that is your preference. We also do notebooking, both at the younger and older ages. I've found that by using notebooks and lapbooks my children really retain what they're learning. I tried TOG many years ago with children in all four levels, and, frankly, it just burned me out. I think it's a good curriculum, but not for everybody. I prefer a more relaxed, spontaneous learning environment where children are free to explore their little "rabbit trails" on topics that interest them most. TQ lets you adapt to your children's individual needs. FWIW,

This is by the same folks who do Latin Prep, right? We tried that and liked the program very much . . . but the cost was prohibitive, as you had to purchase it through the UK. Where do you buy yours?

We tried Latin for Children from this publisher, and were frustrated by continual errors in the text and answer key, or missing information. I finally returned the program to them for a refund, as it was such a hassle for us. I'm wondering, since the Spanish is relatively new, if it is as error-filled as was the first edition of LfC? Any input on that? Thanks!

Also, where they can be purchased inexpensively (if possible) Thanks so much!

I can't find a beginning Spanish program for my 11 yo that is neither too babyish nor too difficult. I have some Spanish from my high school days, but would like to start slowly with him with a good program geared toward his age range. Any suggestions?