Perfect - thanks, that's exactly the sort of thing I want. But do you know where I can find a list? Something to work through and give me a bit of direction on days when my brain is fried (most days - I have 5 kids :smash: ) I know I'm lazy, but if I go the library without a plan it will end in disaster!

I am currently working through SOTW 4 with my 10 and 8 year olds. They are enjoying it a lot, and getting quite a bit out of it. However, my 7 year old is bored stiff! His little brain just can't manage all the politics. Can anybody give me any ideas of what to do with him for history for a few months (maybe 6 or so) until I finish up SOTW 4. Then we can all start again with ancients and he can enjoy SOTW1. I realise that no harm will come to him if doesn't do any history, but he is asking to do some, just pitched more at his level. Is there a series of books like the Lets Read and Find Out ones, but for history?? That's the kind of thing running through my mind.

There is a version of Quran written for children. It is a big book, and my 10 year old still needs a fair amount of help to understand the context in places. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1467990531/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1423695137&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=yahya+emerick&dpPl=1&dpID=51kePwiLt6L&ref=plSrch The same author does a book with only the final part of the Quran. This is the part that most Muslims are most familiar with, and many of the themes are less complex(talking about heaven and hell for example, instead of inheritance laws) http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1463783272/ref=pd_aw_sim_b_1?refRID=0XKV9B65HWBHF6EWDQEG Goodword publishers have many books about Islam for children.

I've gone for fact over novels for now. It's just not the same!

I finished all the outlander books. My DH just doesn't get it.

You might look at Enemy Combatant by Moazzam Begg. I read it as an adult so not sure about its suitability for a 7th grader though.

She likes to write her own stories. I would say she is my most creative child. She dislikes the rigidity of WWE. Having to get things perfect before she can write it down. The actual writing is not an issue, it's the 'thinking' that she has problems with! She has been finding it it exhausting for a while now, and I think there is an element of brain freeze creeping in - one of the main reasons I think switching would be good. She reads the selection herself but often needs to reread in order to answer the questions and/or summarise. When it does come to summarising she rarely picks out the main points, she picks out the random snippets that she enjoyed. It is lovely and sweet, but leaves us with a disjointed summary at best. She certainly doesn't want to retell everything - not because she would mind writing it down, but because it isn't all in her brain anymore. Once we have actually talked through a reasonable narration though she can remember it just fine and writes it down easily. The dictations are just slow. She can do it eventually, but it usually takes many, many repetitions. She just finds that so disheartening. Thanks for your thoughts. It's good to know that you are enjoying W&R, that's one of the things I am considering. I'll go and have a look at the other threads I think. Just as an aside - I was under the impression that TC is limited to the US. Do you know if that's correct? That's an issue for me unless I wait until my DH is next over there which won't be until May or something I think.

DD is 8. She has done WWE1 and 2, and is now about halfway through 3. To say she hates it would be an understatement. She struggles a lot with both the narration and dictation, although she can eventually manage to do it most days. I love the philosophy behind WWE, but wonder if there is a more painless way to do this? I worry that she is not benefitting from the lessons because she is spending the whole lesson thinking she can't do it. I have been looking at Writing Tales and W&R Fable. I wondered if one of those might help here? I have IEW also, but wanted to wait a bit more until she has some of the other skills a bit more solid. I could just jump ship to that now though, and go back to WWE3 later. What would you do? Grateful to mull it over with you all.

Can I ask why you are using essentials not RS A. I could get essentials much more easily here. Just didn't love it before, but I suppose it's not that bad. Thanks for all the other thoughts. I'd forgotten about MEP. Might have a look at that again. We have dabbled in the past.

Can you all please make a decision for me? My 4 year old is ready for some gentle maths introduction. He is not ready for math mammoth 1 or Singapore 1a that I have on the shelves. With my olders I dis Singapore early bird and/or essentials but I just don't love it and can't face it again. I tried miquon with my number 3 but I just couldn't get my head around it. I have been looking at right start math a. Would that fit the bill? It does seem expensive and we are not in the US so I'm bothered about spending a lot of money on something that won't do metric or our money. I've also been toying with mcruffy. Just because it's colourful and fun I think! What should I do?

:laugh: :lol: :iagree:

Lovely! Let's have a party......the kids can stay at home

Can I whinge too please? I have a stinking cold and all 5 of my delightful offspring have chosen today to go berserk over every.little.thing!! We did get school done, and I think I kept my temper pretty even, but I am really glad today is over (it's bedtime here now)

This is for my arty 8 year old. I want good quality pens in lots of colours. Ideally I would also like them to be fairly robust and washable in case my toddler decides to do some artwork on the walls! Any recommendations?

I want that too!

Hi Laura, got so busy I didn't get chance to reply. You are right in that he needs to memorize more. It is something he is working on, but he doesn't do well with chants and such. He is much better at memorising things after frequent use. I want to find more things for him to do so he can learn it without the pain!

Thanks for your input. I wondered about first form as it seems pretty popular. I know it uses ecclesiastical though, and for some reason that makes me wary. I'll have another good look at it I think.

Thanks Laura, I hadn't seen those books. I'll go and check them out. Yes, he is doing the workbook after each chapter as a sort of test/review. It just doesn't feel like enough for him to properly get his head around everything now that we are getting deeper.

My ds, almost 10, has been doing latin prep for about 6 to 8 months. He did GSWL before this. He's pretty bright, but doesn't always enjoy challenging his brain! He does ok with Latin prep, but I just feel like he could do with a bit more time on each new thing. Where would you recommend I go from here? I suppose the options I'm toying with are a. Start over from the beginning, b. Start a whole new program that moves a bit slower or c. Add something in as a supplement (not sure what though) Any thoughts very gratefully received

I'm angry too.

To all my sisters, and everybody here. To those who strived in Ramadan I pray Allah rewards you with the best of rewards.

It could be scromboid toxin in the fish http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scombroid_food_poisoning

Umsami I think you have hit the nail on the head. I think the solution for this ongoing conflict lies in the hands of America, and at present the governing powers in America do not choose to use that power for finding long-term peaceable solutions. That said - there will be peace. Just maybe not in my lifetime.

I have 5 kids age 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2. I want to start a timeline but I'm stuck on how best to organise it. Ideally I'd like a wall timeline - I think it is more fun and therefore more likely to get done. But, with 5 children I can't imagine myself doing 5 or even 3 timelines, so my youngers are going to miss out. I was considering having a wall timeline for everybody, with only snippets of information or pictures on it, and then each child can do their own book timeline as and when they are able. But does that sound ridiculously ambitious??! So, can anybody shed any light on this for me? Any ideas? Any must-have recommendations?