[Which handwriting curriculum for the "artsy/creative" 5yr old?]

There is a great handwriting website: http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/. You can make your own sheets, with your own choice of content. I used this for learning cursive and copywork. My 4th grader doesn't like writing, but he enjoyed these sheets.

[New to homeschooling...help with science and language arts!]

I also strongly suggest The Well Trained Mind book. It is my homeschooling bible, my goto book for doubts, confusion, being overwelmed..........it is actually falling apart on me because I have read through it so many times :crying:. Susan has a way of putting you at ease about your decision to homeschool. It is not easy, but it is very rewarding. I am a Type A personality with OCD tendacies and a love for check lists! Not the best combination when schooling 5 kids (4 of them boys). So I get overwhelmed quite often because I think I have to get them through every subject, every day. I use the WTM book, a planner and lots of prayer to keep me focused. I recommend using the WTM book and a weekly lesson plan to help you stay focused on whats important and then let God do the rest. I wish you all the best and will send up some prayers for your family :grouphug: .

[Confused about Latin programs]

We use Visual Latin http://www.visuallatin.com/ We did do 3/4 of the first Latina Christiana before burning out on that. Ideally, I would use both programs. I should mention that I did take 4 years of Latin in highschool which I vaguely remember! Dwayne's explanations of grammar concepts are the best I've ever heard. Best of all, he makes my son laugh and want to do Latin every day!

 

 

Is Visual latin strictly video and online? How does the parent become involved?

[Confused about Latin programs]

I use the Big Book of Lively Latin for my son. It covers grammar regularly. It also has history of Rome, which your child may or may not like.

 

I did not care for the other Latin programs - LC was too dry and with LfC, I couldn't stand the videos. Other people have loved them, though.

 

Is there any chance you could post a notice in a local homeschool group asking if someone is willing to just show you any of the above? There really is no substitute for seeing them yourself. You will get a range of people who all swear by different programs, but if you see them for yourself, you will have a better idea of what works.

 

 

Thanks! that is a good idea so I posted to my group and hopefully someone will have something for me to look at.

[How long does a lesson in FLL 3 take?]

we do one lesson a day and it takes about 15 - 30 minutes in FFL3

[Help, my dc can't skip count in Classical Conversations!]

I used review games. Hundreds charts, big numbers cut out and he placed them in order. Lots and lots of games helped to make it fun and retain the info better.

[Confused about Latin programs]

I am looking for a latin program that will cover grammar concepts. I have read several reviews on here and I am just plain confused. I would like a program that is engaging to the child. If it is too dry, they will not get into the study. I use Analytical Grammar for my 6th grader and FFL4 for my fourth grader. I don't want to add too much grammar, so maybe I can replace something? Any opinions would help!

[If Math Mammoth has worked well for you, please comment here!]

I have used it for 3rd and 5th and both my boys loved it. They can read it and understand it on their own and do the problems without much help from me.

[Need help findig the right history curriculum]

We use a mix of of Diana Warings Ancient civilizations and the Bible with Mystery of History

[If you have used Abc teach]

I have also been curious about this site. It looks great, but is it worth the money....

[fyi, Target dollar bin find: mini dry erase markers]

thanks for the fyi!

[Free Classics Audiobooks]

wow. thanks so much!

[Trying to find free notebooking pages (basic)]

and thanks for the great links!

[Trying to find free notebooking pages (basic)]

Currclick has Scribe pages on sale for .50 and they are great. They have themes but also includes blank pages.

[Science living books?]

thanks for the ambleside link! great stuff.

[What to do after Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading?]

We did OPGTR also and then just read alot of books aloud, independently, as a group and he also reads his own instructions and schedule. For any words spelled incorrectly or words he can't pronounce, we put on our Trouble Words list and go over them.

[For kids who love lapbooking/notebooking, is the membership to notebookingpages.com]

I have a subscription and LOVE it. Especially with the new publisher, it is even better. the kids can make their own notebook pages and type the information right into the notebook page. There are some freebies out there, but I have yet to find anything to compare to notebookpages.com. Oh, wait, there is one other thing that I use, the Scribe pages. those are really good also and I got mine from currclick for like .50......here is the link:

 

http://www.currclick.com/index.php?keywords=scribe&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=&sdate_from=&sdate_to=&stime_from=&stime_to=&x=0&y=0

[HOD Does it stay this good or am I dreaming?]

I almost went with HOD this year, but decided not too because my budget wouldn't allow for the price, but it is nice to see that people really love it. I can plan for it next year.

[SOTW/Middle School questions]

I am using SOTW for my 4th grader and Mistery of History for my 6th grader. I have a schedule that cross references both books chapters so that my boys are always learning about the same topic, but reading from two different books.

[How long for Saxon Math 8/7?]

My ds started 8/7 this year and I was wondering the same thing. It is taking him a little over an hour to do his work. He reads over the lessons, I help him if he needs it and then he does the lesson exercises. Right now, I have to split the lesson up into 2 days, 1 day for the reading and lessons and 1 day for the mixed review problems. I bought the DVD for him in hopes that he can learn better by watching that. If he does math any longer than an hour, he startes getting frustrated and loses focus.

[Does Saxon Math eventually become self taught?]

there are DVD's that older kids can watch and learn on their own.

[Murderous math series]

I had a hard time with the website also! I was overwhelmed and couldn't focus.

[Latin's Not So Tough Opinions]

Thanks for the replies. I really want the "why" of grammar included in our Latin choice so it seems that I may need to switch. I am planning on using Henle in later grades and First Form Latin is a good starting off point?

[Murderous math series]

are these books good for younger kids also?

[Latin's Not So Tough Opinions]

I am starting Latin with my boys, ages 11 and 9, this year and we have started using Latins Not So Tough. I like the look of the program, easy to use and has some games and flash cards with it. I would like some opinions from those that teach Latin on how beneficial this program will be. It goes up several levels but if I need to switch, I would like to do it now before we get too far into this program. Thanks!